Chapter 646: Speaker (1/2)

Chapter 646 Speaker

The flight to the southern mountains took longer than Ilea had expected. I’m too used to my own awesomeness, she thought, having to slow herself down behind the flying formation.

Around her flew about two dozen Paladins and Inquisitors, some carrying healers, others more warriors. A large part of the higher leveled members of the Corinth Order were here.

“What do you think?” Kyrie asked, flying close by.

“I don’t know these people. You tell me,” Ilea answered.

Joel grinned, sparks flaring up on his lightning wings. “The Speaker is strong, but he’s not a fighter. The Inquisitors he got on his side are who they should worry about.”

“There are too many unknowns. Bryce had to choose a frontal attack if they want to save the honor of their Order and any resemblance of pride,” Kyrie said, his shadow wings barely moving.

“Frontal attacks work,” Joel said. “Lilith just showed as much.”

“The Speaker isn’t a mindless beast. He knows about everyone here and he knows this is not a fight he can win,” Kyrie said.

“His plans failed. The longer they wait, the longer he can prepare,” Ilea said.

“Yes. And yet a risk remains. I’m worried about the cards he has yet to play. Nathanael will be desperate. He isn’t a man known to lose,” Kyrie said.

“Ah, you worry too much brother, as always. Bryce will slaughter anything the Speaker can throw at them,” Joel answered.

“Soon we’ll see,” Ilea said. “How long until we’re there?”

“Twenty more minutes at this pace,” Kyrie said.

She rolled her eyes.

“You didn’t have to come, you know?” Joel said with a smile. “But to be honest, you’re the reason I’m not worried in the least.”

“Why are you two even here? Shouldn’t you be protecting the king? What if this is all a massive diversion and the city is being attacked instead?” Ilea suggested.

“It isn’t,” Kyrie said. “Should there be a danger here to Halstein or Kroll, we will take care of it. And if we can’t, we have the highest chance of getting out alive.”

“And someone has to keep these lunatics in check, right Bryce?!” Joel shouted, laughing when the Paladin didn’t react.

“I thought you trained with him before,” Ilea said.

“He’s usually not that tense and serious. That man was so ready to slaughter those demons with his group of holy warriors until you stole the moment. Brilliant fireworks by the way, maybe we should hire you for our next festival,” Joel said.

“I charge exorbitant rates,” Ilea answered in a dry tone.

“We’ll just pay you in food. I hear you ate up half our coffers worth,” Joel replied. “Wish I would’ve been there for the betting.”

“Betting?” Ilea asked.

“How much you would eat. I hear Kyrie lost a month’s worth of pay,” Joel said happily.

His brother frowned but didn’t comment.

“Why weren’t you there then?” Ilea asked.

He grumbled something and Kyrie replied in his stead. “He’s banned from any event involving general nobility. For good reason.”

“It only happened twice,” Joel said, shaking his head.

“What about Jeanne?” Kyrie asked.

“Ah yes… Jeanne. Okay three times. No reason to be so strict. I’ve already missed dozens of events,” Joel said.

“We’re not allowed to participate anyway. You had your fair share in the kitchens, I’m sure,” Kyrie said, his words figuratively cutting his brother apart.

Ilea smiled. “You’ve been at this for a while, hmm?”

“Our first battle was in our mother’s womb,” Joel said.

Kyrie just groaned.

The lightning mage grinned. “I won.”

“Your poor mother,” Ilea said.

“Yeah. She died,” Joel said, dodging the knife thrown by his brother. “Decades later, in her own bed. Don’t act like that Kyr, you know she despised us.”

“And here you are, confirming her opinions,” Kyrie answered. “Enough of this. Focus, we should expect an ambush.”

The three were flying at the rear of the loose formation, Bryce in the middle and now gesturing for the troop to land.

“Attack on foot?” Joel asked.

“They will expect an aerial strike,” Kyrie said.

“Just send in Lilith and be done with it,” Joel grumbled.

“What could one helpless woman ever do?” Ilea asked.

The man chuckled to himself.

They all landed in the lightly forested area, mountains rising up in the distance, the chain that separated the plains from the Isanna desert to the south.

Ilea smiled, taking in the fresh air after being in the city and stuffed halls for a while. Her armor active, she stalked the group of fast moving holy warriors, the same who would’ve likely tried to kill her had the plan of the Speaker worked out. Space magic to the rescue, she thought, watching both Joel and Kyrie move to the side and farther back, their own orders likely suggesting they don’t participate in the thick of the coming battle.

Ilea herself didn’t have that restriction. She had shown her might against the demons, a part of it at least but based on the fear she saw in the warriors’ eyes and the discomfort she felt all around, it was more than enough. They knew not to mess with her or hers, both Kroll royalty and the Corinth Order itself. To think they were the ones going as far as hunting healers not associated with an Order, she thought, looking at the backs of the armored people.

They didn’t seem particularly impressive or dangerous to her but she knew her views were a little skewed. Based on her talks with Donnavon, Mateo, and Bryce, she could see the Corinth Order becoming a more progressive part of human society. No healer would have to fear them or any other Order anymore, not with the Sentinels around. Gael could likely take on Bryce already, and time would only increase their might.

Still have the Order of Balance to visit. But they seem less problematic overall compared to all the shit Orders I’ve met so far. The Azarinth weren’t exactly anything more than just powerful either.

The Corinth warriors at least seemed disciplined and experienced, even those who couldn’t fly not making a lot of sound as they rushed up the slope.

_____________________

Naomi couldn’t help but glance back from time to time. The royal guard had long distanced themselves from the loose formation but Lilith was right there, easily keeping up. She looked so different now. When she had first met her in the sewers, the woman seemed cocky and bored, a pretty normal adventurer besides the respect she somehow managed to instill in Bryce and Donnavon. Entirely justified of course, as she learned just a few hours earlier.

Her eyes weren’t particularly focused, her entire body covered in the dark ash armor lined with now dulled embers. They had seemed brighter before, when she used those fire spells to slaughter the demons. A few of the Paladins who had faced the creatures before had warned the others of the savagery and resilience of the creatures. Naomi wondered how this woman managed to get the power she now wielded. A pact with a powerful creature? Some ancient class that allowed her to bypass dangers in battle? There had to be something. Some reason why the gods allowed for this to happen.

Perhaps she herself was sent to us by Hella herself? To guide us? To let us see the corruption within, to unearth the horrible plans of Nathanael? Is this what a god looks like? she wondered, glancing back again to see the blue eyes looking forward, almost bored. Of course she would be bored, dealing with us mere mortals.

Lilith’s steps were loud. Her armor must weigh quite a lot, and yet she kept up without any discernible struggle. Naomi hadn’t heard her complain or breathe louder at all.

Bryce signaled to hold.

Naomi stopped behind a tree, looking up at the steep slope, no obvious path leading up to the fort visible a few kilometers away. She had seen it before, but only inquisitors trained within its halls.

Lilith stopped in the middle of their formation, not hiding at all as she looked up to the fort, her eyes moving slightly as if she was scanning the walls.

“Eight people patrolling. They will see us approach,” she said.

Bryce looked back as if the woman didn’t just claim to see people that far away. “Understood. The plan was never to attack without being seen. This angle will make it difficult for their spells to benefit from broad impacts. Highest levels to the front, prepare for battle, brothers and sisters.”

Naomi unsheathed her two handed sword. She could tell that Lilith’s earlier presentation had taken the wind out of their sails, even Bryce not sounding quite as boisterous as before. It is our own we will face, she thought and steeled herself for the coming battle.