Chapter 796 (2/2)

This seemed to puzzle the interloper. “Is it really so strange that I would speak with you as the Procession nears its end? You have located the runes that you have so desperately sought. Even now, thousands toil away to excavate the site of the ritual. Alta promises to deliver on all of the promises she has made… even as her constant ‘operations’ have rendered her unrecognizable. A metal queen that smells of brimstone and ash. Tension fills the air. This world seeks clarity. I have a way of brute forcing the issue, but I would rather not. Instead… I would much prefer you stop this yourself.”

The interloper’s expression darkened. “If I am forced to move… it will not go well for you.”

“Is that a threat?” The High King asked quietly. His hand was only now starting to regain feeling. He had no true confidence in facing this foe. But still-

But still, some part of him wanted to fight so badly. Wanted to struggle and scream. Only then could he test the edges of himself. Only then would he be able to understand how badly he was left scarred by his dethronement. Every day was one that he lived in fear that he would never be as much as he had been. For each Soulless that he struck down-

“Oh High King, you have fallen quite far to reach this land, have you not? Careful you do not forget what caused you to rise to such distant heights in the first place.” Then, as quickly as he appeared, the interloper vanished.

*****

Randidly opened his eyes, somewhat annoyed to be pulled out of his Soulskill so suddenly. But in the last few minutes, a wave of Aether hit the fleet that caught his attention immediately. There were very few entities that could produce Aether on Tellus, and all of those were at the level of being dangerous to Randidly.

So he returned to himself and considered the problem at hand.

Despite Platton’s very pessimistic predictions, the assaults on the fleet down the Hallat were relatively few. Part of that was due to the Wights gathering for what was clearly a major offensive against Hastam, but also it was because of their speed.

Platton had the trip from Hastam to the sea taking three to four days. Randidly managed it in nine hours.

Most of the individuals on the boats were locked in their own meditations, attempting to further comprehend Randidly’s images. As such, Platton was mostly isolated in his slack-jawed shock that they had made such a brisk time. To Randidly, to take so long was already starting to wear on his nerves.

Not that it was Platton’s fault that Randidly was becoming increasingly irritable. The real problem was his Soulskill. Randidly was hoping he would be able to push through his mission on the Death School continent before he was forced to deal with the problem of his Soulskill. One of the solutions he was aiming for required some preparation there.

But the timetable had escalated. Not due to his actions, but…

It appeared Alta had realized that she was going to die soon. She had become truly desperate, relying on violence and threats to bind the entire Procession to her cause. With her growing familiarity with the image of Ash, she also had the firepower to back it up.

Honestly, if the image of Ash wasn’t constantly burning away at her body, Alta likely wouldn’t have been able to survive the infection so long. At this point, her and the burning image of Ash were starting to blend together.

Still, that was an issue for another time.

Following the scent of the Aether on the salty sea air, Randidly’s Perception spread farther and farther. Very soon, his face was twisted into a scowl. Cursing softly to himself, Randidly stood and gathered Platton’s attention. “Platton, careful. We’ve got company. A boat is coming. A big one.”

Platton didn’t question Randidly outward, but his eyebrow twitched. It was clear from his expression that it would be highly unusual to encounter another vessel here. Randidly shook his head helplessly. The other man would know soon.

When the other ship arrived, it dwarfed the longships that Randidly’s crew was using to sail. Normally, vessels the size of which Randidly now utilized would be just begging for trouble on the high seas. They simply couldn’t handle the waves of a true deep sea storm.

Of course, Randidly simply shifted the wood of the longboats until they were a more capable vessel. But most people did not possess the advantages that Randidly had.

This vessel was the size of a cruise liner from old Earth. It was a massive thing that must be able to house thousands of people. For all that its presence here was concerning, at least it was clear that this wasn’t something that had been made by Wights; this was the work of one of the descendants of the Spearman.

As the ship was making a beeline for the fleet, they didn’t have to wait to find out which one.

“Mr. Ghosthound, I presume?” A serious older man announced from the bow of the ship as it loomed over them. The old man stood at the edge and bent at a 45-degree angle and then shouted down toward them in order to communicate. “Excellent. You have been summoned aboard. The great Oracle has seen fit to venture forth. Your presence is required.”