Chapter 781: Allies (1/2)

“The wreckage is cleared away, though there are some disputes between Riverwatch adventurers and the war machine pilots from the Pit. Some of the metals are apparently quite rare. Some of the merchants and smiths in the city are evaluating the materials right now,” the middle aged fire mage explained, the woman clad in a decorated light metal armor. The Riverwatch coat of arms was displayed on the chest piece, slightly marred.

Trian took a sip of his tea as he waited for the officer to finish her report. He had moved to Riverwatch for the time being, in case of another Taleen attack, and as a way to show how serious the Accords meant their support. Several teams of Sentinels, Dark Ones, and war machines had remained in or near the city.

“No functioning machines were sighted in the scouting efforts,” the officer spoke and looked to Trian, a few of the other present Riverwatch nobles glancing his way.

“That matches our reports,” he said.

“We have yet to determine the reason for their attack in the first place. It’s unprecedented,” one of the nobles spoke, a younger woman wearing a white two piece dress.

“The change in their behavior is not something we can possibly investigate,” another spoke.

“Is there any information you can share on that?” Alistair asked, looking at Trian.

“We are investigating the circumstances of the attacks ourselves. A split effort between protecting the affected settlements and finding a potential source of the attack. Sentinels are searching through the northern forest for Taleen ruins, though the information we have suggests there shouldn’t be one present,” Trian explained. He knew of course that Ilea was the most likely reason for the attack. She had started helping the Cerithil Hunters with the collection of the Taleen keys, and she had even attacked their capital. Alistair however had to consider his city and peoples.

He didn’t exactly look forward to the next weeks and months, depending on how many more attacks there would be. They could likely deal with the machines but every guard was on high alert, the entire city in lock down. With every passing day the political pressure would build, and Riverwatch would look to the Accords for a solution or an explanation. There would be no reason for him to dread these meetings but considering Ilea’s actions were the catalyst for the attacks, he would have to tread very carefully.

Mopping up after her adventures, he thought, suppressing a smile whilst under the scrutiny of the gathered nobility. They wouldn’t openly accuse Lilith or the Accords, but these could become seeds of discontent in the coming decades.

“Important talk, keep it somewhat under wraps. Meet me at Meadow, now if possible. Taleen are dealt with,” Ilea’s voice reached his mind.

Trian didn’t show a reaction, processing the little information she had sent as best he could. Dealt with?

“I need twenty minutes,” he sent back after some consideration. She did include if possible. Important but not an emergency.

The rest of the meeting concluded without any more surprises, the city remaining on high alert for the time being. Trian left towards the teleportation gates outside the town, changing into his battle armor just in case. He flew up and signaled for the Sentinel currently on guard duty. A young woman by the name of Heather. Light green feathery wings kept her in the air far above the bustling city, her yellow eyes taking him in.

“I will be away for a while. Act at your own discretion,” Trian said.

Heather nodded before she returned to her duty, Trian flying downwards and over the walls. He skipped the long queue to the Morhill gate and was let through by the guards without showing any identification. There had been a few teleports in the past week. He immediately made for the restricted gate leading into the domain of the Meadow. Most people going north would seek the Hallowfort gate, the requirements to use it far more relaxed than that of the Meadow.

Once again he was enveloped by white light, Trian moved through the fabric of space before he appeared on another platform, the mana around him instantly more noticeable. He could feel the presence of the ancient tree.

“Greetings, Headmaster. Ilea is waiting. May I teleport you?” the Meadow spoke.

“I told you, just Trian is fine. Go for it,” he sent back, still trying to get used to the instant long range teleportation and telepathy using beings of space. For the third time he was moved, his stomach lurching slightly but his high vitality preventing the sensation from lasting more than a second. He had heard the gates weren’t exactly the most pleasant experience for those below level fifty. Nothing comparable to a week long journey of course, but there were a few puke related incidents when the gates were first opened to the public.

It wasn’t enough to train space magic resistance, as many of the Sentinels learned in the days after.

Trian found himself standing next to Kyrian, Claire, and Catelyn. He saw Ilea leaning against a nearby pillar.

“He’s here. Care to tell us what this is about now? Either of you?” Claire asked, glancing between Kyrian and Ilea.

“Showing is better,” Ilea said.

“Why am I involved in this?” the fox asked.

“Because I trust both your opinion and that you won’t instantly attack everything,” Ilea said. “Through the gate,” she said, motioning towards the strange fluctuation of space she tended to summon.

“Again,” Trian murmured under his breath. His beard generally helped mask his whispers but he knew everyone here could hear him regardless. He sighed and stepped through after the smiling fox.

And came out on the streets of a Taleen dungeon. He hadn’t seen many of them in his time but the design was instantly recognizable. The magic behind them vanished the moment he stepped through. He looked at the ashen clad Ilea, the woman twirling before she curtsied, no dexterity stat high enough to mask her lack of training. She looked at them with her piercing blue eyes. Trian knew her well enough to know she was just putting on a show, but with her overwhelming magical power it was sometimes difficult to forget who was hiding behind the dense ashen mantle.

An even denser woman, he thought.

“Welcome to Iz. The capital of the Taleen,” she spoke.

Trian looked around and saw smoke rising behind some of the four and five story stone buildings. He heard sounds from all around, suggesting there were others here, though it all seemed metallic, some of it monotone. The street they stood in was cobbled and clean, pale crystal light shining down from above. He assumed it was a massive cavern, similar to the one containing Hallowfort. But the capital of the Taleen? Ilea had mentioned the city before, the swarms of machines, the keys she went to collect. Wait. Is that why…

“And do welcome the new Guardian of said capital,” she added, gesturing to a silver machine slowly moving over one of the nearby buildings.

The machine jumped down, landing in a smooth motion. It did not touch the ground, instead standing just above it. Green eyes looked down at the group, two silver arms extending in three fingered hands. It wasn’t a Pursuer, but something quite similar.

“You got him a new body,” Claire said.

Trian gulped and tried to look past the machine. He saw a group of smaller Guardians rush past into a side street, those not hovering but running on the ground with their six dull green metal legs. He glanced back at the green eyes that now looked at him. “Not just one. Or am I wrong?” he asked and allowed himself a slight grin.

“You are not,” the machine spoke. “I am just one of many, though commanded by the same mind.”

Claire raised her hand and rubbed her eyes before she walked aside and sat down on a small stone wall in front of a building.

Catelyn glanced between them all. “Ilea. Are you telling me the Taleen machines in Iz are now under Aki’s control?”

Ilea smiled.

“Not just Iz,” Trian said as he walked towards the machine. He stopped a meter in front of it and looked up to meet its eyes. “Does that mean you’re no longer a Sentinel?”

“Of course I’m a Sentinel,” Aki said. “And I will remain a Sentinel. There are some things we have to discuss. I believe the current group is a good starting point. Please follow me.”

Trian smiled as he turned back to Ilea, the woman touching Claire’s head with magic flowing between them. He glanced at the fox instead. “You seem largely unfazed.”

“That is because you humans have difficulties gauging my expressions,” Catelyn said. “What about you?”

Trian chuckled and joined the silver machine’s side. He wanted to think it was Aki, but he knew his friend was just controlling the being. Or was he all of them? It hardly mattered. “I’m just proud how far you’ve come,” he said, glancing over to the machine.

“This has nothing to do with me, Trian. I was simply given control,” Aki spoke.

“You were ready,” Trian answered.

The machine was quiet for a time before it nodded ever so slightly. “Thank you.”

“He’s been strangely cryptic about what he wants to tell us,” Ilea said, helping Claire get up. “I still think there’s a small chance of him trying to murder everyone. Oh most of the Cerithil Hunters are still around by the way. Just so you don’t attack anyone.”

“Elves and Taleen,” Claire murmured. “I’m feeling a pounding headache coming. It’s gone… it’s coming again.”

“I’ll keep healing you, don’t worry,” Ilea said. “Oh and look at this neat thing,” she said as the ash around her neck receded slightly, the yellow crystal amulet glowing with power.

Trian looked around when he noticed the shimmering barrier around fifty meters away, a golden dome covering everything.

“Can’t move while it’s active,” Ilea said. The barrier moved closer to about half the distance before it dissipated once more. “It’s pretty fucking durable too.”

“Where did you find that thing?” Catelyn asked.

“Ancient vault,” Ilea said, as if that specified anything at all.