Woad Children (Challenger's Call Book 3)

by Nathan Thompson

  ERROR, my mindscreen projected. Previously corrected algorithms are once again attempting to subvert the Challenger’s natural increase in power. Further accomplishments may be necessary to overwhelm unauthorized restrictions. Further examination by the Starsown or Avalon itself may be necessary to determine the algorithm’s origin.

  That was annoying. We had done well here, but I needed to be able to Rise soon, because my enemies were still growing stronger. I would have to find some other way to grow—

  Update, my mindscreen beeped again. A Chaos-based, Trial-level Challenge has officially been overcome by the allies and inhabitants of the Woadlands. Both the source of the Trial as well as the Dark Icon sponsoring it have been removed from the world. Power will be gained by all parties as well as the planet directly, reversing harmful mutations and applying beneficial ones in their place. Crops will become more durable, produce more yield, and provide more benefits upon consumption. Animal life will adjust to become more resistant to diseases and the elements. Childbirth has become safer and more successful for all species. Finally, the increase in vitality will specifically grant all life +5 to Strength, Constitution, and Intelligence, as well as an increased resistance to cold due to better circulation of nutrients.

  Creatures that directly participated in overcoming the Trial will additionally receive +10 to Strength, Constitution, and Intelligence as well as an even greater resistance to cold.

  As the Challenger of Avalon and the primary one responsible for defeating the Trial, all benefits are doubled. ERROR: multiple Earthborn Challengers detected in the vicinity. Applying the award of power to both Challengers.

  Holy status update, Teeth groaned as the information swept through us. Also, why does it now feel like we didn’t skip leg day?

  Before I could answer him, a new torrent of information poured into me from my mindscreen.

  A nascent Planetary Lord has participated in the ending of a Trial. Right to Rule has been gained. The Lord will receive the same benefits as the inhabitants who participated in the defeating of the Trial, +10 to Strength, Constitution, and Intelligence, as well as increased resistance to cold. The Lord further gains +10 to Wisdom and Charisma for lending assistance on an allied planet.

  ERROR: detecting allegiance from at least one Icon of the Woadlands. Right to Rule has further been increased. Further detecting that the nascent Lord has played a direct role in ending the Trial, including the use of his personal retinue. The Lord will further gain an increase in Wisdom and Charisma equal to the highest increase granted to a member of the Lord’s warband. As a Challenger has been detected among the Lord’s warband, said increase is +30 to Wisdom and Charisma. The Planetary Lord has also gained a deeper tie to this world, allowing for a deeper association with this world’s ancient magic and skills. The Planetary Lord has gained an increase in affinity for inherent Woadfolk skills as well as the right and ability to make use of Woad tattoos. Affinity for Water and Earth magic has also been increased. ERROR: Detecting a pre-existing affinity for Woad tattoos and several Woadfolk skills. Also detecting maximum comprehension for aforementioned Ideals. Applicable power is attempting resolution…

  Something inside my body shifted. The pressure inside of me grew heavier.

  Applying resolution, my mindscreen informed me. The Planetary Lord will receive assistance from the planet itself during the creation of his first woad tattoo. The nascent Planetary Lord will also gain two ranks per Rise in his choice of Elder Woadfolk skills.

  I still had no idea what the woad tattoo would do for me, but I could always make use of more skill ranks. Especially since Breena had enough stress as it was.

  The Challenger has successfully negotiated an agreement with the Icons of a planet, and has honored the first part of his commitment. The Challenger has taken an additional step along the Path of Kings. The Challenger has completed his first journey along said Path. All previous benefits will be increased. The Challenger has also gained an affinity for influencing beings under his command.

  The Challenger has successfully led his forces against a planetary Trial, resulting in the completion of said Trial. The Challenger has taken an additional step along the Path of War, leading to the completion of his first journey down said Path. All previous benefits will be increased. The Challenger has also gained an increased awareness of battlefields, allowing him to have a better sense of all present combatants.

  I had never heard of Paths containing ‘journeys.’ I would have to talk to Stell or Breena about that…

  Update: sufficient energy has been gained to circumvent hostile algorithms. Attempting now.

  Wait, I thought at my mindscreen, don’t—

  A crushing, piercing weight settled over my chest, and it felt like my heart had suddenly seized up. Before I had time to question my instincts, my subconscious had already grabbed hold of the weight, wrestled it about, heaved…

  And pushed.

  And pushed.

  And then pushed one final time.

  I attempted to throw out one last expletive before I blacked out, but failed.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: GOING WOAD

  I woke up to another barren wasteland, with an oppressive sky and mocking voices over my head.

  He has done it again, the first voice said in a disappointed tone.

  What? the second voice exclaimed in exasperation. To this extent? How? There were so many protocols in place at this level. No matter what he tried, he should have been unable to advance. Which protocol failed to work properly?

  This time the speakers sounded as if they were right next to my ear. But I couldn’t see them no matter where I turned my head. In fact, I couldn’t see anything but a multicolored, shapeless mass that shifted all around me.

  Judging by the readings, the third old man replied, all of them. At once. Three times in a row.

  How did he even do it? the first voice asked.

  Brute force, apparently, Third answered. He just kept overcoming difficulties until the pressure on the algorithms was too great to bear.

  But the data shows that it has only been a short scale of time since his last Rise, Second pointed out. For him to have gained this level of accomplishment… The old man trailed off.

  He would have had to thwart a Trial, Third confirmed.

  As I concentrated, details began emerging out of the formless mass. The first sensation came in the form of touch, as my feet realized they stood on shaky, loose ground. Like standing on a pile of books, or balls in a children’s ball pit. I shifted to remain steady, as the frightened old men continued to talk nonsense about me.

  Then this has finally become serious, First said. He is walking down the same road as the ancients of his race have walked before. If he forms a habit of such interference then the Expanse will know the same terror that gripped it in the time of the tyrants before him.

  “Why?” I asked, looking up because I knew the frightened old voices were standing over me no matter how close they sounded. “Tell me why I am so terrifying? Why does saving lives scare all of you so much? Why is overcoming a Trial a bad thing?”

  He speaks to us again, Second sighed.

  Must he? First groaned in disgust. This is so undignifying.

  Just cover your mouths and keep your distance, Third said. And make sure you don’t step where he has, or you’ll spend forever trying to wash off the taint.

  “Wow,” I said as I searched for a proper expletive for these guys. I failed when I remembered all the things that these decrepit idiots had said about Stell. “Okay,” I decided, and began pushing against the heaviness I felt from the sky above me. This time, though, I didn’t tear right through it. I pushed just enough to stretch it, letting me stretch to my full height. I began walking, kicking clutter out of the way until I found something high and solid enough to step upward on.

  What is he doing? First asked, sounding tense.

  I pushed, kicked around, found another solid mound, and took another step upward.

&
nbsp; He is coming closer! Second shrieked. He is coming closer! Stop him!

  We cannot, the third said in a trembling voice. This whole landscape is meant to contain him!

  “But I can leave on my own, apparently,” I said to the figures. “This time though, I’m not doing so without answers.”

  He demands much, First said in disgust. Shame on him.

  You do not know just what you’re asking of us, Earthborn, Second said in a nauseated voice. You do not know the violation others feel when they must talk to a member of your race.

  Tell him nothing, Third cautioned. His kind defiles the Expanse with every bit of knowledge they gain.

  “In that case,” I replied, pushing and moving upward again. “I’m on my way over to give you three a hug.”

  You would not dare, First spat, though I heard uncertainty in his voice. A lowly Earthborn like you? Touch one of us? Do you think the Expanse would even allow such an indignity?

  “Maybe a punch instead of a hug?” I offered, taking another step up. I thought I could make out their shapes ahead and above me.

  He’s not listening, Second said.

  No, he isn’t, Third sighed.

  If he touches us, we will never live down the indignity, First said. Others will believe they can take our positions, our power, and our slaves. We will lose everything. Even that which we have hidden.

  Speak, Earthborn, Second said in defeat and disgust. Speak, and come no closer. And shame on you, for the filthy ambitions you have already displayed.

  “The feeling’s mutual, you obnoxious jackasses,” I spat. “Now tell me what exactly I have done that is so terrifying.”

  That answer is simple enough, Third said grimly. Look to your feet.

  I glanced downward, and my eyes finally made sense of the objects beneath my feet. What I saw almost made me step backward, and lose all of the progress I had gained, all because of the horned skull gaping at my feet.

  I had been climbing a hill of bones and corpses.

  This is what you have done, Earthborn, Third explained. In ending the Trial of a Thrall World, you have aborted and starved thousands, possibly millions of other organisms.

  “These are,” I began, kicking away the small horned skull. But it was only one of many, and the very next moment I noticed a horse-like skull just inches away from my right foot, a Spawn’s skull. “These are Horde.”

  “They are perhaps the most cunningly designed race in existence,” Third replied gravely, projecting his voice to where I could hear him clearly. “Their creation filled a niche in the armies, slave camps, food processing, and entertainment centers among a dozen different planetary empires. The business opportunities their potential provided would have been enough to lift several fading dynasties back into their proper place.”

  “They kill, eat, and degrade people in the most horrible ways possible,” I rebutted. “Your omission of such things frightens and baffles me.”

  “We know,” Third sighed. “The degenerates among your ancestors reacted much the same way. It was the last straw the Council refused to bear.”

  “Tell me what the Council is,” I demanded, kicking away the Spawn skull and lifting my foot as if to take a menacing step upwards. “Tell me what my ancestors did that enraged them so much.”

  “Did?” Second scoffed. “What didn’t they do?”

  “The Council was the governing body of most of the Expanse,” Third answered me. “Their rulings maintained a healthy balance between the numerous worlds and allowed for countless civilizations to flourish. There has never been, nor will there ever be, any ruling body like it.”

  “And the Earthborn were members,” I stated, recalling what the other beings inside Avalon had told me. Also, I recalled that this jerk just extolled the Horde as a galactic economy boomer.

  “No,” Third protested vehemently. “The Earthborn were a leech. A race of parasites that attached themselves to a key position and never let go.”

  “Okay,” I said thinking, “that would mean that they either granted the other races a resource to where they couldn’t afford to do without my ancestors, or we became so powerful that you were forced to acknowledge us. Judging by how asinine you three are, I’m guessing it was the second.”

  “You are wrong, but certainly closer than you were with your first guess,” Third said, and I thought he made a spitting motion as he did so. “Your ancestors certainly didn’t provide us any resources. Instead, they denied the entire Expanse of thousands of resources.”

  “Really?” I asked sarcastically. “I didn’t get much of a hoarder vibe from what I’ve learned about them.”

  “Learned about them?” Second asked suspiciously. “He should not have been able to learn about them on his own.”

  Which means I probably wasn’t supposed to learn about them from you, I resisted pointing out.

  “It is irrelevant, Third sighed, especially now. Your race, Earthborn, attempted to change the very way the Expanse functioned. They rose up on their own, seizing power from others, overturning their empires and economies, and for the longest period of time we were all forced to tolerate it. But in the end, your people reached too far, and so the civilized races seized their chance to end their collective nightmare. We were unable and unwilling to wipe you out for good. Instead, however, we enacted every protocol we could to keep your people from seizing power again. Now as I behold you, however, undoing the same resource that forced the Council to turn on you in full, I fear we may have been mistaken.”

  “Were we?” Second asked, dubious. He is still only one.

  “The first rebel Earthborn was only one,” First said. He still proved to be too many.

  “But he is no first Earthborn,” Second scoffed. “He can barely call himself one of the Dusk Era.”

  “Stell”, I said suddenly. “What about Stell?”

  “It is just as we told you,” Third sighed again. “The Last Starsown has been sentenced to suffer the punishment her actions have merited. This is an issue that has been settled back in the Dusk Era of your race.”

  “That’s nonsense!” I snapped. “Stell wasn’t even alive during that era! How could you possibly sentence someone before they exist?”

  “In her case, easily,” Third replied. “The Starsown’s reproduction are easy to chart, much like the movement of the stars they are tied to. The birth of the one you named Stell was charted to occur at an appointed date, and her appearance and nature were quickly predicted based on the genetics of her family and the star she was tied to. Once those predictions were complete, it was a small matter to rule a conviction, decide on the sentence, then auction off the privilege of carrying out that sentence.”

  “No!” I shouted, fed up with all of the constant nonsense I’d had to put up with. “Stop it! Stop saying nonsense! You cannot justify passing a prepartum conviction for a crime that may never even occur!”

  “Highly irrelevant,” First snorted. “And frankly insulting, to say the least. Then again, you are an Earthborn. Implying that a unanimous conviction, agreed upon by literally every single civilized race on the Council to be unjustified, is rather par for the course when it comes to your race.”

  A scream tore from my mouth then. The dragon in me roared, and I leaped forward, swinging my newly taloned hands at the hazy shapes of the old men. I heard them hiss in surprise just before they fled backwards and upwards. I went crashing down upon another pile of Horde bones.

  “Ah,” Third said when they flew a safe distance away. “This explains much.”

  “Does it?” First replied. “It makes him quite cannibalistic, does it not?”

  “Exactly,” Third affirmed. “And at any rate, we should be relieved. The source of his strength has been discovered. He is still contaminated, but he will not reach the height of the Earthborn of old.”

  “Then he is nothing more than a minor roadblock,” Second said in relief. “We—I mean, the Expanse is safe. The Starsown’s claimant will take care of him. Our
job is done, and we need not interfere.” I felt his gaze fall upon me. “This is as far as you go, little mutant. You will not reach our height.”

  “You are forgetting,” I roared at them.

  I swiped a talon directly into the emptiness above me, this time tearing it apart.

  “These are not my skies!”

  #

  My eyes snapped open, and the roar died in my throat as I realized I was back in the Woadlands.

  “Evening, darling,” Merada’s accent washed over my ears. “Gave us all quite a scare now, didn’t ye? How are ye feeling now?”

  The beautiful Woad Princess was standing over me. No, kneeling, I realized, she was kneeling over me. I was in a room similar to that of the Woadfather Monarch we had discovered on Avalon. Which meant I was actually in the room of the new Woadfather Monarch we had just helped create in the Woadlands. The wooden cavern was much barer, lacking all of the furnishings that the Keeper Queen had accumulated. I was resting next to the cavern’s pool, with a number of cloaks stuffed around my head as padding. Breena appeared to be snoozing nearby, also resting on some kind of cloth. Merada was smiling patiently, still waiting for me to answer her question.

  “I’m pretty sure I’m okay, now. But I don’t know, Merada,” I answered honestly. “Passing out after overcoming Challenges is starting to feel like a recurring theme for me. I think you’re the only one it still scares.”

  Merada snorted.

  “Ye think a bad thing happening more often makes it better?” she asked.

  “Point taken,” I answered. I started to stand, but she stopped me.

  “Hold still a wee bit longer,” she said. “I’m almost done.”

  “Done doing what?” I asked suspiciously. The next moment my eyes widened in realization. “Merada, where are my clothes?”

  I was naked from the waist up, and even below I was only clad in undertrousers.

  “Most of them are still being washed,” she answered, not paying any heed to my sudden alarm, “along with yer armor. Ye need to wait a bit before ye can put them back on.”