“Wait…stop?” Hailey said. “Did I hear that right?”
Devon nodded. “I have a plan.”
Chapter Forty-One
“YOU CALL THIS a plan?” Jeremy asked.
“Zip it, Jeremy,” Devon said as she stood at the rear of the group with eyes closed, focusing on her connections to the Stone Guardians. She’d managed to get the lead golems to hesitate, their footfalls no longer shaking the city. But her control was tenuous.
“Okay, Devon,” Torald said. “This end is fixed.”
Devon nodded. “Tamara, where’s the best spot to hook a tow line on my bike?” Though they weren’t as common as the army of toddler trailers that infested St. George, she also remembered seeing parents who, still desperate to keep riding once their kids were too big to be crammed into wagons, connected their bikes to their kids’ with a length of bungee cord. The kids trailed along behind, balancing and occasionally pedaling while their parents grunted and sweated up the hills.
Some people were seriously insane, but at least they’d given Devon the idea.
“Wait a minute,” Greel said. “Are you seriously so lazy that—”
“Dude, can it,” Tamara snapped.
The outburst was so unexpected that Devon glanced at the lawyer and almost laughed at the look of offense on his face. But at least he’d shut up.
“On the frame above the fork but below the stem, I think,” Tamara said.
“Uh…”
“Should I do it?”
“Yes please.”
In truth, Devon was inclined to agree with Jeremy’s skepticism. It did seem like a ridiculous plan, but it was the best she could come up with. When Tamara clapped her shoulder, Devon broke her concentration on the giants—they immediately started stomping forward again—and raced for her bike. A ten-foot length of rope now attached it to the seat post of Torald’s ride. She nodded. Good.
“All right. Now everyone get ready to think like a sail.”
“Like a what?” Jeremy asked.
“Hold onto your hat.”
As she climbed onto her bike, Torald edged forward until the line connecting them went taut. Devon grimaced. This was going to be tough. “All right, on the count of three. One, two…three.”
Devon pushed off the ground and got her feet on the pedals as Torald stood on his pedals and cranked. Her bike lurched forward, and Devon wobbled like crazy trying to keep control. After a moment, though, the motion smoothed out and she was able to pedal lightly to ease Torald’s load.
“Okay, everyone get ahead of me,” she called.
Once the group was clustered in front of her, Devon cast Levitate to raise her bike off the ground. By taking her feet off the pedals, she was able to paddle at the cushion of air in the manner she was used to and thereby avoid falling over.
Tamara looked back and laughed. “Cheater,” she said.
Devon was concentrating too hard to respond—the shuddering of the earth was getting closer, and the presence of the nearest Stone Guardian pressed even more heavily against her mind. Gritting her teeth, she cast Downdraft.
As the sudden surge of wind caught her friends, the party struggled to keep their bikes upright. Everyone but Tamara squeaked in surprise, wobbling and weaving and nearly crashing into one another as the gale shoved them forward.
“Holy tailwind!” Torald shouted as his pedal strokes sped.
The scenery raced past, buildings and rubble and vines blurring as Torald’s sudden burst of speed yanked her bike forward. Devon grinned and almost laughed as she felt the Stone Guardians’ presences recede.
Paddling her feet, she yelled at the group to keep pedaling and to hold onto the speed as long as they could. Eyes on the cooldown timer for Downdraft, she swung her backpack around and pulled out a Savanna Mana Potion - Mid. Shoving it into the basket of sticks fixed to the diagonal tube of her bike frame—according to Chen and Tamara, the proper name was a water bottle cage—she glanced back to see the horde of stone golems falling farther behind.
You realize you’re only getting away with this because you have 8 skill points in Improvisation, right?
Devon snorted and ignored the game’s commentary. This was traveling in style.
***
“Out of mana,” Devon called.
At the head of the group, Tamara nodded. “No worries.”
“Huh? You know that means no more wind, right?”
“Yeah, but look.”
Tamara pointed over the roof line of the buildings ahead and to their left. When Devon followed the line of her finger, her eyes widened. For some reason, she’d imagined the Stone Forest as a gray and lifeless place, but peeking out behind the spires and towers of Ishildar was a multicolored tree, bands of what looked like brightly hued agate and gemstone creating wavy lines in the petrified wood.
“Hanging a left,” Tamara called.
As the party turned onto the next wide avenue, Devon gasped in surprise. Ahead, grown over by the vines of the jungle, the whole frozen forest was similar to that first tree. Crystals sparkled in the sun, and some branches seemed to glow from within, the translucent stone allowing a bit of daylight through.
When they drew within a block of the city border, Devon felt her connection to the Stone Guardians ebb. The creatures seemed to realize that the intruders were nearly gone from Ishildar, and, one by one, the golems returned to a sort of stasis, their minds once again sinking into the slow cycling that marked most of their existence.
At the very edge of the city, the party braked and waited for Devon, who canceled her Levitation and pedaled the final few feet to catch up.
“Well, that was interesting,” Greel said.
“Admit it. That wasn’t just interesting, it was epic.”
The man snorted. “I see no need to encourage you in such harebrained plans.”
Rolling her eyes, Devon nodded at the tall granite pillar that stood about ten yards into the petrified forest. They’d encountered a similar monolith in the Argenthal Mountains. The bindstone would allow them to reset their spawn points to its location, and better, now that she’d traveled to it, she’d be able to use her teleport spell to travel between here and Stonehaven. Regardless of whether she recovered the final relic, at least the group wouldn’t need to bicycle through the city while chased by stone giants again.
After wheeling her bike to the stone, she laid her hand against the age-smoothed surface.
You have discovered: The Stone Forest
You receive: 55,000 Experience.
Quest Updated: Venture to the Stone Forest
Objective complete: You have discovered the seat of the ancient Skevalli Vassaldom.
Now, how about you work on finding the relic…
P.S. Watch out for dragons and stuff.
Devon sighed. Okay then.
***
Tamara might have been able to ride through the Stone Forest, but for the rest of the party, there was no chance. Neither Bob nor Greel had any clue what had caused the gigantic trees to petrify, but whatever the event, it had been sudden enough that leaves had turned to stone on their twigs. In the centuries since, wind and rain and gravity had plucked them and sent them clattering down to litter the forest floor as a carpet of razor-sharp stone chips. Twigs and branches had fallen too, some so thick they came up to Devon’s waist. Stony bark, often with veins of needlelike crystals, gouged her leather armor as she clambered the debris, and when she jumped down from atop thick branches, she kept slicing her palms open when she planted her hands to absorb some of the impacts.
As beautiful as the area was, especially the crystal veins, she would rather have hacked her way through jungle. After just a quarter hour’s walk, she’d had more than her fill of the place.
On the bright side, unlike some of the vassaldoms that had covered dozens or hundreds of square miles—an area far too large to search in the time they had available—the former Skevalli region covered jus
t a narrow strip of land between the city and the nearly vertical rise of the dark and sullen-looking Skargill Mountains to the north. And, by some miracle, there was an actual road through the wood. Though the paving stones lay buried under heaps of rock-leaves, they peeked out now and again, proving that what appeared to be a deliberately constructed corridor through the trees had been cut long ago by human hands. Chances were, the road once connected the vassaldom’s capital to Ishildar. If there were clues about the relic’s fate, they would likely be somewhere within their former population center.
“I’m starting to think this thing about dragons is just a cruel tease,” Jeremy said as he walked behind her.
“You’re that eager to get roasted alive?” Devon said.
“Well, maybe not. I’m not sure my wardrobe would survive it.”
She rolled her eyes and glanced back to check on the rest of the party. Walking single-file, the group seemed energetic enough to keep hiking for another hour or two, and it was just after noon in-game. Eventually, they’d have to set another camp to recover from the fatiguing ride, but maybe the group would reach some sort of landmark before then.
As she turned back to the trail, motion deeper in the trees caught her eye. Devon stopped walking and peered. There. Again. Just a flicker.
“You see that?” she said, pointing.
“See what?”
“Something in the trees.”
Hailey’s cast bar lit up as she used her True Sight ability. “Shit,” the woman muttered.
“What?” Chen and Devon asked together.
But Hailey didn’t need to answer because, a moment later, mist swirled up from the forest floor and down from the low-hanging branches. For a second or two, the tendrils and swirls collected into pillars, and then with a barely audible pop, dozens of Mistwalkers solidified in the forest ahead.
Devon backpedaled, closing ranks with her group. Steel sang as the melee fighters in the group drew their weapons.
With a hissing laugh, one of the Esh stepped onto the roadway. Devon thought she recognized him but used Combat Assessment anyway.
Mistwalker Scorpion Wyvern Keeper (Faction: Rovan) - Level 26
Health: 1391/1391
Mana: 675/675
Resists: Water-based Attacks
Immune to: Light-based Attacks
What? No fair. The stupid freak shouldn’t be able to just switch which kind of “keeper” he was.
But of course, his title made her wonder…where were the wyverns?
Moments later, a jet of flame shot across the stone treetops.
“Ah, crap,” Jeremy said. “I was joking about the dragons, okay?”
Chapter Forty-Two
“I COUNT AROUND forty Esh and…looks like five wyverns.” Hailey’s voice held a raw edge. “Level 35 on the dragonkin. This doesn’t look good, guys.”
In response to the woman’s words, the Wyvern Keeper laugh-hissed again and held something up. It looked like some sort of smooth stone rod. With a sinking feeling, Devon focused her attention on it.
Item: Starlight Rod
A relic once held in trust by the Skevalli people, vassals to the great city of Ishildar. It’s rumored that only the worthy can touch this without being burned by cold starlight.
Use: Lances targets of evil alignment with a beam of super-chilled light, causing paralysis and 549-612 points of damage.
Too bad he’s immune to light-based damage, eh?
Quest Updated: Venture to the Stone Forest
Well, that sucks. Looks like the Mistwalker guy has the last relic. Must have been listening in on your conversations lately.
New Objective: Not sure how you’re gonna do it, but take the Starlight Rod from the Wyvern Keeper’s cold, dead hands. Or take it from his alive and much-more-powerful-than-yours hands. It’s the “take it” part that matters.
She shoved away the popup as another jet of flame shot down through the trees, this time burning straight for the party. Devon screamed despite herself, instinctively raising a hand as if to defend her face. The snap of leathery wings rattled the forest, the wind and vibration snapping stone twigs as the wyvern hovered above.
“Veia guide us and shelter us!” Torald shouted as he ran forward. He went down on a knee to brace and raised his shield as a silvery glow formed around the metal. A dome of shimmering light burst into existence over the party, anchored on the shield. Dragon fire slammed into the barrier and washed over it. Intense, nearly blistering heat sank through the magical protection, but no flames passed through. Devon let out a shaky breath as she looked at her health bar. Still full.
A few paces ahead on the road, the Mistwalker grinned. He gestured toward the other Esh, waving them back. Apparently, he wasn’t too concerned about the threat the group posed and figured the wyverns were more than enough challenge for Devon’s friends.
“Now might be a good time to inquire whether I have information that might offer assistance in the present situation,” Bob said. “Seriously. Because you’re looking pretty hosed.”
Devon gritted her teeth as she dashed toward Tamara to offer whatever small protection she could. “Bob, got any tactics or stratagems that might help here?”
“Imprecise wording, but I’ll cut you some slack due to extenuating circumstances. And actually, yes. You remember my former master…?”
The whistle of wings cutting the air sliced through the forest as another wyvern dove, then pulled up suddenly to hang in the air, red glow lighting the creature’s belly. Backlit by the sun, the bones in the small dragon’s flapping wings looked like a bat’s long fingers.
“Dude, skip the prologue.”
Bob sighed. “Fine. In the early years, when my master was just a wizard left to guard the Greenscale Pendant—not the lich you encountered—he often made trips into the city where he attempted to clean and restore a small section of his beloved Ishildar. It was a pointless struggle against the jungle, but when cursed with everlasting life, you’ve got to do something, right? Anyway, the longer the Curse of Fecundity remained in place, the more difficult my master found it to cross the border into the city. Eventually, even with all the power he gained in his long years, he found that he simply couldn’t enter Ishildar. It was as if an invisible wall had slowly coalesced.”
“So you’re saying that you don’t think these guys can follow us into the city?”
“It’s possible that the curse prevents vassal races from entering, yes. It’d explain why they waited until you exited the city to spring this little ambush.”
“But if we retreat into the city, I’ve got the guardians to contend with.”
“Fair point. Though I daresay being smashed is probably more pleasant than being roasted alive.”
The air above began to crackle as the hovering wyvern opened its mouth and flame appeared in its throat. Devon used Combat Assessment.
Awakened Wyvern - Level 34
Already intelligent when awakened by Ishildar’s magi, an extended family of wyverns once lived peaceably with the Skevalli griffon keepers. Awakening granted the dragonkin the power of tongues, allowing them to speak telepathically with the other intelligent races of the region. Unfortunately, it seems the corruption has removed whatever filter allowed them selective hearing for thoughts of others, and the never-ending stream of voices in their minds has driven them mad. With lives measured in thousands of human lifespans, these creatures have basically been doomed to eternal torment.
Immunity: Fire-based damage
Weakness: Ice-based damage
Health: 5489/5489
Mana: 4560/5699
//Pathetic. Die!//
The wyvern screamed into her thoughts as another flame jet tore through the forest, the lead fireball barreling down on the party. Torald shouted again and raised his shield. Most of the fire again washed over the group, but a few tendrils broke through. The flame licked Devon’s neck, sizzling in her ear. She smelled burnt flesh.<
br />
Hailey’s cast bar lit up with Guide Vitality.
“Run! For the city,” Devon yelled.
Whirling, she grabbed Tamara by the arm and dragged her back along the roadway. Through the trees, she could still spy Ishildar’s outskirts, but with all the obstacles in the way, sanctuary looked so far.
She neared Valious, who still stood with his mouth agape. Suddenly, the man’s lips pulled back, and an angry flush rushed up his neck and over his face. The man gave a bestial roar and…rushed the Wyvern Keeper? What the hell?
Shocked, Devon watched over her shoulder as the man’s feet moved at twice the speed of a normal player. Somehow, incredibly, he managed to shoulder into the boss and send the Esh stumbling back. With another roar of anger, Valious made a wild swing at the Mistwalker. Devon let out an astonished squeak as somehow, the noob’s sword actually bit into the Esh’s thigh, opening a gash that spurted blood. Devon kept running, shaking her head in amazement. How could a level 5 player even hit that guy?
Unfortunately, Valious’s charge was short-lived. Devon glanced back in time to see the Esh bring a fist down directly on top of Valious’s head. The man crumpled, dead.
The group was in full retreat, sprinting with everything they had. Devon heard another set of wing beats, and she spun to see more fire brewing in a wyvern’s throat. She cast Freeze, and the fire fizzled in an enormous cloud of steam. Following through, she summoned a Wall of Ice across the road behind the party, thinking it might slow ground-based pursuit by the Esh. Unfortunately, the barrier only caused the pursuing Mistwalkers to disintegrate into scraps of fog that flowed over and around the wall. But when the tendrils of mist raced past the party and began to coalesce on the road before them, Devon cast Downdraft and shredded the forming bodies.
A song pealed through the forest as Jeremy played a riff on his harmonica. His haste buff appeared in her interface, and Devon felt her feet accelerate. Ishildar drew closer.
Vault of the Magi: A LitRPG Adventure (Stonehaven League Book 5) Page 24
