Chapter 547: Challenger (1/2)
Chapter 547 Challenger
Modano walked up to the guard. He was about to speak when the man vanished.
What?
He looked behind himself but there was nothing. He gulped and tried to open the stone door.
Need a key.
It was suddenly dark.
Where am I? Did I die?
A torch burst to light to his left, blue eyes illuminated in the darkness.
He staggered back. I’m dead.
“Don’t shit your pants, buddy. You did well,” Lilith said as she stepped forward.
Modano saw the outline of two men on the floor next to her. Soldiers. He didn’t know if they were dead but they didn’t move.
Her form was shrouded in ash. She stepped with confidence, her obsidian armor not reflecting much of the light.
Modano tried to follow her and stumbled on a root.
A few coughs resounded nearby.
We’re in the prison. How did she? The guard. She can move people?
He felt something on the ground, something like sand.
It felt warm, energy flowing into him that seemed to calm him. The scratches on his arm that itched suddenly vanished. He didn’t see it but he knew.
Healing magic. It’s different than what I’ve experienced before. Like a soothing song from a bard. Or the sweet taste of Kilproot.
“Don’t be afraid,” Lilith said. “I’ve come to help, if that is what you want.”
People started moving now, hiding before as not to be selected for interrogation, or worse.
The only light came from the woman’s torch, suddenly replaced by a gnarled wooden staff that started shining with a pure bright light.
The ground was ash, moving through the whole makeshift prison, touching each and every one of the people present. Slaves, farmers, hunters, and even soldiers. Those who would defy Conner.
“And who would you be, Shadow?” a man asked, his voice steady and calm. He stood up and walked past the many people around, occasionally lending a gentle touch.
Jensen.
The officer had kept his armor, proudly wearing the colors of Baralia. His graying hair and beard did nothing to diminish the order his sheer presence demanded. Even here, as a prisoner.
Modano focused hard on the ground, hoping the man wouldn’t spot him. His shame was big enough.
Opposite him stood Lilith. The woman didn’t have the same dignity. She felt more like an assassin to Modano, or a predator. Her stance was casual, showing no concern for the gravity of the situation and her position in it.
He feared it was justified.
“I’m the one they call Lilith,” she said.
A few murmurs went through the hall.
Jensen didn’t laugh or dismiss her claim. He looked at her with stern eyes. “You have fought against Baralia. You have killed hundreds of our men and women. Why should we want your help?”
“Lord Harken refused to surrender. I gave him an out, and he attacked. Those who fled or didn’t fight, I spared,” Lilith said.
“Cowards, the lot of them,” Jensen said, his voice firm. He sounded disappointed more than accusing.
“And what’s this then?” she asked, gesturing around herself. “I see farmers, slaves, people scared and imprisoned in a camp that seems to be made up of soldiers. Is that the proud Baralia army you think so highly of, Prisoner?” Lilith asked.
“Don’t think you-” Jensen started, a low growl interrupting him.
‘ding’ ‘You have heard the call of Lilith. You are paralyzed for three seconds’
Atiom, protect my soul…
“I killed a man, one of your soldiers, who was torturing a woman in a small building nearby. I’m sure you heard her screams. I did. He seemed to have enjoyed it. She was barely level twenty. Now I’m not sure if she had critical information of army movements or killed a hundred of your company but frankly, I don’t care.
“Your High King has abandoned you, used the Order to sacrifice whole cities for a chance to enter the Realm of Life. The rituals were stopped, the Empire is laying siege on Baralia as we speak. And you, Officer, have become bandits that hide in the woods. Deserters who shouldn’t speak of cowardice.”
The officer started moving again. He looked tired now, his mind reeling with the information she had shared.
Rituals, siege on Baralia… they’re already there?
Modano had thought Lys would never be able to advance that quickly. He assumed they would fight at the border, in a war that would come to an end with treaties and agreements in a year’s time.
“No more slaves. Everyone here that was one is free now. The prisoners too. I’ll bring you all to Gyffold after I’ve dealt with whoever is in charge of this band of common thieves,” Lilith said.
“I can’t let you slaughter my men. Conner will pay for his crimes but they fought for Baralia. I’m in this prison because I disagreed with his methods and actions, as are others. He can’t kill us without facing a revolt. Many are split but the power of him and his closest allies is overwhelming,” Jensen said as he prepared for battle, several spells activating instantly.
He charged Lilith with a leap, his hand glowing with power.
Modano hadn’t seen the man fight but he felt the heat from where he stood.
Lilith just stood there, his fist connecting with her chest as fire spread on her.
He tried to retreat but found her hand wrapped around his wrist.
“I won’t kill you,” she said. Grinding cracks resounded when his wrist was squashed within her grasp.
She let go of him, the man taking a step back.
His face looked slightly strained but he hadn’t even cried out.
“Why?” he asked. “Are you not the Shadow of Riverwatch?”
Lilith’s eyes seemed to sparkle.
She’s smiling.
“That was explosion magic, wasn’t it?” she asked.
Jensen didn’t reply.
“Not exactly an efficient use, is it?” Lilith said. “Don’t worry, I’ll give your soldiers the same choice that I’ve given to many before them. I will trust Gyffold to judge those who take my offer.”
Modano’s view suddenly shifted. He found himself flying, his arms flailing as the wind rushed past.
The lights below shined bright.
His vision shifted again, and again.
He nearly fell as his legs wobbled below him. Shouts resounded in the distance, far away.
More people appeared around him and yet more. Eight, maybe ten seconds had passed.
The sunlight had gone, but the early night was cloudless. He saw the frightened faces of people clad in rags, with dirtied faces, bloodied backs.
Some dared speaking, most remained silent.
Lilith appeared amidst them, Jensen close to her.
“I trust you can defend these people from a bunch of wolves,” she said.
The man looked around. “Form a circle, not too tightly together. Those who can fight at the edges. No light, no noise. Will you return?” he looked to Lilith with the question.
“Shortly,” the woman said and vanished.
Modano winced when Jensen glared at him.
“You brought that demon here. Look what you have done,” he said. But his voice lacked bite. He felt the same shame that drove Modano to desert his company.
___________________
Ilea was surprised how many of the soldiers had noticed her quick evacuation of the prisoners. Most people supposedly didn’t look up but at least ten of them had spotted her.
Cloudless night doesn’t help.
Well maybe it might.
She spread her wings, flying high enough to be out of range of most mid range spells and projectiles but close enough for most of them to see a silhouette, moonlight to her back.
Her comment about common thieves had been a provocation of course. This was a war camp. She doubted that she could’ve infiltrated it without space magic. A few people still noticed her passing, just too late to understand the significance.
Shouts resounded throughout the camp by now, torches flaring up all around as the single entrance was shut with a quickly raised stone wall. Teams formed up, weapons and arrows at the ready. She saw the glimmer of a hundred spells amidst the light.
All of them had gathered in a central open area with various stone structures, ready to face whatever foe they faced together.
Veterans, the lot of them.
Reluctantly so.
She smirked.
Perhaps she could’ve used the imprisoned officer but she feared he would rally them up against her in the end anyway, causing more meaningless deaths for honor, revenge, or nationalism.
This time she chose to imitate the recent Werebear, charging down into the midst of the nearly two hundred strong group.
Monster Hunter released and washed over the people present, only a few resisting the effects entirely.
Now they know what and who they’re dealing with, she thought and casually landed on the soft earth, feeling the near palpable fear in the frozen warriors close to her.