Before I start on the collar I address her presence. “Gem. I appreciate your desire to keep me safe but I would prefer it if you watched the tail end of the group ahead. You can even have a person ready for me when I’m done with this one.” Gem looks at the three women sticking close to me and her expression becomes serious. With a simple nod she turns and speeds off after the retreating procession. I get back to work and remove the collar before sprinting ahead to start the process on another one directed to me by Gem. This goes on until we get to the safe house. When I enter I can see Grace already arranging everyone as I asked.
For a while everyone just waits in anticipation as I remove more of the slave collars. Just as I remove the second to last collar there is a lot of noise from outside. I think that someone finally discovered that the slaves are gone. A moment later the last person in line for collar removal, the male centaur, collapses to the ground. I rush over to him and see that he is shaking like he is being hit with a tazer. Gem, who is suddenly next to me in front of the downed centaur, says “It’s the collar. It’s incapacitating him.”
I hadn’t seen it before but I have no time to waist. If the alarm has been raised then they may start doing a building to building search. Time is limited. I reach down and latch onto the slave collar with my hand. Pain surges up my arm from the device. At least this is a lot more manageable than other things I have experienced recently. The electrical current locks my hand around the collar, making it so I can’t release it. I can tell this is only a fraction of what the centaur is experiencing since the effect isn’t directed at me.
Concentrating, I fight through the distraction and pain I feel. I set it aside in my mind, mentally walling it off. Removing the enchantment on these collars was always difficult due to the active nature of it, but it’s different now. The resistance is much stronger and feels like it’s actively fighting against me. The collar in my locked up hand increases the voltage and feels like it is squirming in my hand. I’m glad that I’m getting better at removing these things because it probably would have drained me dry of mana to attempt this the first time.
Finally the collar’s gem goes lifeless and the centaur stops twitching. Dropping the collar into my storage I’m done, all the slaves are free. I don’t let myself celebrate just yet though. They still need to avoid being taken again. Down to just under 400 MP I don’t have nearly enough to create a portal. Even if I down a potion it would still take some time for my mana to regenerate over the 1000 MP that it costs to cast Spatial door. With the sounds of guards pounding on doors nearby I don’t think we have time. Good thing I have another option. Thia has been relatively idle and hasn’t used any of her mana. She herself has 900 MP and her ability from our bond, Mana Transfer, allows her to share what she has with me at an even ratio.
Fast as thought, I send her a request and mana starts flowing into me. When I have enough for the spell to get us out of here and one other thing I close the link so she will stop. If I didn’t she would have given me everything she had and passed out from it. Thinking quickly I know this is a good spot and we may use it again if we can so I don’t want suspicion brought here. Rushing over to the trap door into the sewers I use Shape Earth to obscure the signs of our passage, including the scrape marks on the floor in front of the hidden door. That way they won’t suspect this is where the slaves escaped to.
Done with the changes I step to the line of people and turn to my group. “Quietly tell everyone that we will be moving quickly through the door when it forms and to keeping moving so that everyone gets clear.” I point to Grace and Timbre as the strongest here. “I need you two to make sure the centaur moves quickly through so the last of us can follow.” Last order of business I have is with Curt so I look to him. “I will be back to the inn in a week or so to discuss how we can move forward from here. Make sure someone there can get a message to you. Will you be ok here during the search?” His cocky smile is all the answer I need. No doubt he has skills for avoiding detection.
Ready to leave this place I step in front of the double line of people and start casting. The base amount of time it takes to cast is thirty seconds but with my skill level and stats it’s a little less. Soon there is an ephemeral door standing in front of the head of the line. There is a moment of shock from the former slaves but then there is a pounding on the door from the guards doing their rounds. This has the effect of spurring the line into action, the whole thing springing forward almost as one. Faster than I thought possible, everyone is through to the keep in Thunderbird’s Roost. Even the recovering centaur was able to hobble through at a decent clip. The last to enter the threshold of my spell, I give a farewell wave to Curt as he starts to fade from sight. I step through and as soon as I’m on the other side I close the portal back to Riverock and let out a sigh of relief.
As I look around the main hall of the keep, I can see guards set up to greet the new comers and a few more are coming into the room. I even see a few of the people we freed previously wearing the armor of the guards nearby. They are already speaking to a rapt audience of newly arrived individuals. I take a moment to count the number of people we brought back. There are thirty-four freed slaves and Grace, besides my party. That’s a total of thirty-five new people to the population. Hopefully.
A moment after I finish my count there is a shout. “He’s here! Send for the captain.” I catch a brief glimpse of a young rabbit beastkin bound away to the door and down the stairs beyond.
Looking in the direction that the shout came from I see one of the rogue brothers that I have worked with in the past. “Hi Ian. Long time no see.” I can never tell the two apart so I cheated, using Identify.
He chuckles as he looks around at all the new arrivals. “You have been busy haven’t you? The council has been running itself ragged finding people places around town and helping them adjust, but you just keep sending more. Been going well for you it seems.”
I smile at the rogue, in good humor now that I’m home. That thought makes me stop for a second. Home. It really does feel more like home here than it ever has anywhere else I have lived. “Yes. I have done well in helping people and making new enemies.”
He looks at me worriedly but it’s the newly arrived Grondar that asks for clarification. “Is there something we should be worried about?”
I really don’t know much about this noble that apparently has it out for me, but I don’t think it’s something to be taken lightly. Still, there is almost no possibility that he will be a problem tonight. “It could be in the future but there is nothing to worry about at the moment. I will brief the council and you in the morning, when everyone is well rested.”
He nods thoughtfully at my statement but puts aside his curiosity since I promised to talk about it tomorrow. Then he briefs me on the immediate situation here. “It has been quiet here since you left, except for the stir you caused by sending people back. There is some information you should know about that we got from the scout you sent back when you left. Nothing critical at the moment though so we’ll go over it with you in the morning unless you wish to hear it now.”
“No. It has been a long night and I think it’s best if everyone just gets settled in for the night. We’ll get a fresh start in the morning” I tell him. “Do you need help organizing this lot?”
“HAH!” He shakes his head at me after the barked laugh. “After the first time you sent people back here Dolan sat with the council for most of a day working out what to do with new arrivals. They even set a plan for integration into life here. I believe his words were ‘I bet me beard this ain’t the last of em me son in-law be sendin back here. Best to get it set now than be caught flatfooted once more.”
I can feel my face heat up at the son in-law part. I glance at Azzaria talking to some of the new arrivals and feel a warmth in my chest. I also notice someone else has taken an interest in the conversation as of late. Gem isn’t far away and trying to look like she isn’t listening in, but failing at it. The stiffening o
f her posture at Grondar’s words were a dead giveaway if not plenty of other things. Might have to keep an eye on that one. Realizing I have gone silent for an amount of time that may seem uncomfortable I respond to Grondar politely. “Yes, well this won’t be the last of the slaves we can free. I hope. There should be a little more time before the next batch though.”
“That’s good. It should give us time to get the new citizens settled in.” He must see the exhaustion in my face at this point because he lowers his voice and leans closer. “We can get this lot some food and a place to sleep. You should get some rest milord.”
The concern in his voice and the use of my title makes me think I look about as bad as I feel. “You’re probably right. I could use some rest before I get started on important things. Draining my mana was tiring. I’ll see you in the morning then.” Turning to the door on the right in the back of the hall I’m joined by Azzaria, Timbre, and Thia. We go up the stairs to the master suite and all take a shower. I’m drying off when I hear talking outside the main door to the hall in front of the suite. Quickly pulling on a clean pair of pants and a shirt I head over to the door to see what the disturbance is.
The others join me as well, having heard the raised voice in the hall too. When I open the door I find it blocked by Gem, who is arguing with a guard. “I must stay close to him. I owe him a life debt” says Gem.
The guard must have been having this argument with her for a while because he has obviously heard this before and rolls his eyes. He doesn’t make any aggressive move since she is acting non-threatening, and maybe partly because she is an attractive woman with bountiful assets, but he isn’t letting up either. “That is why we have guards here. You need to follow the captain downstairs to find you a room to stay in.”
I’m behind Gem while I stand in the doorway but I can still see her cross her arms under her bust. The guard, a young male foxkin, goes glassy eyed for just a second as his eyes drift down from her face. I have to give it to him though because he recovers almost instantly. Shaking his head he looks back to her. That is when he notices me standing there in the open door. His eyes widen a little. He opens his mouth to say something but I see Gem’s posture change with a cocked hip and an arched back to display her assets. I know that look from when she tried to use it on me back in her cell.
Her voice once more sultry and seductive she tries again. “Come now. I am sure that it would be fine if I just stayed here in front of the door waiting?”
This action actually makes me very angry. Not enough to kill her outright but I do cast a Water Whip that snaps right over where her scaled butt is. There is a loud snap sound from the spell and an accompanying eep sound from Gem. Swinging around she looks to her attacker while rubbing her butt with one hand. Her eyes widen at seeing me but I don’t give her a second to speak. I step forward and poke her hard in the collar bone. “Don’t you dare, ever, even think of using mind magic or whatever that skill is on my people unless asked to. Especially the guards. If you are caught it will be the best case scenario where you are just banished from my lands.”
At my pronouncement her eyes get even larger and I can see a little panic in her features. It’s that panic that cools my anger and her apology helps. “I’m sorry Vol” She lowers her head before continuing. “Please forgive me. I promise that it will not happen again. I won’t dishonor myself or your trust in me again.” She sounds a little choked up too.
I have never been good at holding onto my anger in front of a crying girl. Releasing a sigh I tell the guard “Thank you but this woman has acknowledged a life debt that was recognized by the gods so I don’t think there is anything to worry about.” With the mention of the gods both the guard and Gem’s eyes nearly bulge out of their eyes. Noting their reaction I turn to Gem. “What? As I understand it the gods are thought to be the ones that actually make the messages we get.”
She nods then says “That’s right I did get a notification about that. I was so interested in getting the collar off I forgot.” She turns to the guard with a winning smile but doesn’t say anything more.
“As you say sir” he says before turning and leaving down the hall.
“Alright Gem. How about you stay in one of the extra bedrooms instead of out here in the hall?’ At her reluctant look I reassure her. “No one is using it at the moment anyways. Just follow Azzaria here. She will lead you to a room you can use.” I step back and go to the bedroom. Timbre and Thia follow along while I hear Azzaria speak to Gem as she leads her away.
Chapter 20
After waking up and doing the usual ablutions, I meet Gem in the area that serves as a living room while the others finish up. Sitting on a couch I realize that I never used Identify on her.
Gem: Female Lamia, lvl 13, Desert Priestess. HP: 100%
That’s interesting. She is a priestess by class, which could be really useful if she is a dedicated healer. “How was your night Gem?”
She coils up in front of the love seat nearby then leans back and takes a sitting position on it. “It was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in quite a while. Thank you Vol.”
“No need to thank me. I notice that your class is something called Desert Priestess. What exactly can you do?” I may have been a little direct with the question from the blush her cheeks take on. I remember that viewing another person’s status is considered an intimate act here, but maybe there is something to just asking about it as well.
Before I can apologize, she answers the question. “As a priestess of the desert I have magic in Life, Dark, and Water. All things that are revered in the desert. As a priestess this is focused on healing and strengthening my allies.” She says this all shyly to me. I’m a little confused by such a change but she has been like this ever since I threw off her attempted mind control…or manipulation…whatever it was, back in the cage.
Speaking of which “What was it that you tried to do to me in the cage before I freed you?”
Her eyes bulge a little at my question but then she asks one of her own. “You didn’t even know what you were doing?” At the shake of my head she answers my question. “That was a life magic spell. It allows me to influence a persons emotions. With my looks and that spell I can usually get men to do what I want. For you to be able to resist it you must have some resistance to Life magic or a high WIS stat.”
Makes sense. I have both and magic armor active. “I do. What do you plan to do now that you are free?” Before she can say something stupid like “I’ll repay my debt to you” I raise my hand to stop her. “I didn’t ask you to swear a debt to me. Don’t you have family or friends you want to see again. I can probably help you get back to where you came from if so.”
Her face falls and I can almost see tears start to form in the corner of her mesmerizing eyes. With a slightly trembling lip she takes in a deep breath to calm her breathing. After another breath to compose herself she speaks in a soft, quiet voice. “No one is left. I don’t have anyone. My people are nomadic and we moved through the eastern desert from one oasis to another. We recently came to one that was close to the edge of the sands. That is where the humans…I-I mean slavers.” I just smile warmly at the slip and let her continue. “That is when they found us. We were only a small group and most died in the attack. Some got away but my father, brother and I were surrounded. We all fought but there were too many, and when it was only me left they captured me with a net and collared me. My mother died a year ago from an illness, and now it is only me.”
I get up and join her on the love seat, careful to avoid stepping on her tail. “I’m sorry that happened to you.” Then I hug her and hold her tight for a moment. She doesn’t respond at first and when I’m about to let go she clamps onto me in a fierce hug as she buries her face into my neck. Then there is another set of arms encircling us both. Followed by another two pairs that turn it into a big group hug. Apparently the others caught the tail end of the story. We just hold her like that for a little while, comforting and supporting her. After
a few minutes I can feel the silent sobs slow down and eventually peter out.
We all slowly release her from our hold and she looks around at us while wiping her red eyes to remove the tears that tracked her face. When she is done she speaks to all of us. “Thank you. You have all done so much for me that I don’t think I could ever repay you and now you are so kind to hear about my problems. To answer your question though, I want to help you. I did swear a debt to you but I also want to help you and possibly others, who like me, lost their freedom. I just used that as my way of staying close to you.”
“Well thank you for the honesty, and I think you could be helpful. You are little behind us in levels but we can help with that too. We could use a dedicated healer for our group. Now that everyone is ready though lets head down to breakfast.”
Before I stand Azzaria speaks up. “One minute” she says. Then she leads Gem back into the bedroom she is sleeping in. Surprisingly Thia follows them. I just sit back and think about all that Gem just told us. I feel sorry about what happened but there is nothing I can do about it now. I can only help and support her in whatever she wants to do going forward.
When they join me and Timbre once again I lead them all downstairs. We sit at the table with a few of the guards enjoying a late breakfast as everyone exchanges small talk. At one point I set my fork down and look to Gem. “What do you want to do. I will be focusing on getting stronger but you don’t have to do that to be useful. It’s up to you.”
A Mage Rising: (The Chronicles of Herst 2: A LitRPG Saga) Page 38
