by Skyler Grant
"That'd be for the best," Tobias said.
Alex and Helen made their way along the narrow path out of the village headed towards the keep, not resuming their conversation until they were clear.
"I'd half-expected to find nothing left of the village," Helen said.
"So Yasmine is lying about not knowing what is happening to the other Glitch Hunters though. Wonder why that is?" Alex said.
"You think they did something wrong?"
"I don't know, but most of the places that she told us we might wind up going for quests are inside Youlash—inside the borders of a nation that killed our predecessors."
"Changes the thinking a little, don't it? About sticking around?"
Alex nodded, thinking as he walked. The oddities involving this House of Bats didn't bother him as much as it did Helen. To Alex, it seemed someone just wanted him to prove himself before investing more in him, which was an attitude he could respect. There was also the fact that somewhere else he had agreed to all this, he still believed that. Even if this job had just become even more dangerous.
"You going to be leaving then?" Alex asked.
"I don't know. What I do know is that I'm a survivor and whatever way offers my best odds of survival is the way I'm going to jump."
"What about your contract?"
"That matters to you?" Helen asked and shrugged. "I don't know if I care. Some other me at some point decided it was a good idea to get into this. If she knew it was going to almost certainly get me killed, then she certainly didn't have all the information. Again, I'm a survivor."
"We don't know what the dangers out there might be, but if we agreed to something, I think we’re duty-bound to try to get it done," Alex said.
It was hard to tell through the rain that it was now approaching late afternoon. Their adventures had taken most of the day. When they finally reached the keep they found it silent. There was no sign that the others had made their return.
"I'm surprised Yasmine didn't beat us back," Alex said, as they made their way into the inn.
"Maybe she had more luck with Morgan than I've had," Helen said with a chuckle, stopping by the bar to grab a couple of tankards of ale and bringing them to the table.
"Or he wound up setting himself on fire with his caster," Alex said.
"Giving that man any ranged weapon is a peril, much less one that can set things on fire," Helen said as she settled down and slid one of the mugs across.
Alex took a sip. "Is he really that bad?"
Helen chuckled. "There is a small armory here. Shit bows, but better than nothing. Me and Morgan tried them out one night. I'm an amazing shot, by the way, and he broke three bows."
"Surprised that the soldiers would have invaded this place and not looted the drinks or the armory."
"Weren't much in the armory, I think this is stuff back from when the keep was held by the military. Like I said, crap bows," Helen said.
"You're going to call your gear now so much better?"
"Nya took one hell of a beating and didn't die. Not at once, at least. I'd say it did everything you could want."
"I still wonder why they ran like they did. Especially if they knew they were going to die anyways."
"Maybe the gear is the reason why? They knew they were going to die and that we'd be coming, and they wanted to give us a less crappy start than the one they'd had?" Helen said.
It was a grim thought, but a possible one. If so, it made Alex all the more determined to stay alive and make that count for something. They spent a few more hours in idle conversation as night fell.
Then came an unfamiliar voice in the courtyard calling out, "Hello? Glitch Hunters?"
10
“Are your families safer with Glitch in the world? It isn’t a question of if a Glitch lives or dies, it only matters which we kill first.” Hya Fokle, Daughters of Purity
Alex and Helen silently made their way to the courtyard. There was a young man standing there, his simple attire suggested he must have come from the village.
Alex stepped out while Helen remained in the shadows, "Who sent you?"
The man jumped and said, "Uh ... Message for Mistress Cinquedea from Master Tobias. He said to tell her that someone from the village went to the army after the visit in town today, and they've since come asking questions."
"Tobias has our gratitude. You'd best go before the soldiers arrive here," Alex said. The man was happy to do just that, turning and sprinting away as fast as his legs could carry him.
Helen stepped out of the shadows. "Fuck, do you think they got the others?"
"Maybe. Although Tobias sent the message to Yasmine, so it must mean the soldiers hadn't give him any indication they had her. Whatever the case, we need to go and go now. I wish we could warn the others, if they’re still out there."
"I've got an idea for that, but let’s get our supplies first," Helen said.
They packed up their bags. When they left the inn Helen turned to aim her arm inside and unleash her potion-caster. A vial flew out and hit one of the tables inside bursting into flame.
"When it hits the alcohol it should be a beacon they'll see, if they're still out there," Helen said.
"And a distraction for us. There’s that crack in the rear wall we can use to make our escape," Alex said.
They were outside the walls before they heard a whomph in a distance, the sky lighting up as the fire behind them burned brighter.
The keep was built atop a large hill and the only real path was to the front entrance. It was treacherous making their way down the back of the hill. Even with their night vision there were numerous stumbles that sent them dropping unexpectedly down to a painful impact.
By the time they reached the bottom both had nasty bruises, fortunately mundane injuries that should heal quickly.
"We should head north, out of Youlash territory," Helen said.
Alex said, "I want to try to find Yasmine and Morgan first. They could be in danger."
"With them not coming back or sending word, they could be dead."
"Our bracers haven't let us know that yet. You saw how we got notifications when those other Glitch Hunters were reset."
"All right, but a simple desire to help is no plan. You got one?" Helen asked.
"Go to where we last saw them and take it from there."
"After that rain? There aren't going to be any traces left."
"Analysis mode can pick up a lot of things the naked eye would miss, and I think my version is more sensitive than most. If it doesn't work we can keep going to wherever you want," Alex said.
"I'll hold you to that," Helen said, and shook her head. "Fine. Let’s go."
Picking up the path meant heading towards the village, so they took it slow and cautiously. When they got close they went back to the rise where they could observe what was going on.
They hadn't been the only one to start a fire. Most of the huts were ablaze and the villagers were sprawled out, butchered in the street.
"Did they do this because we visited today?" Helen asked.
"We didn't call the soldiers here. The villagers must have tried to protect us after what happened last time," Alex said grimly.
Helen stared flatly at the scene and grunted, "If we find any of the soldiers alone I want to stop and shed a little blood. These were their own people."
Alex marveled at how her words were without expression. Determined. Of course, his own were the same. There was this sensation that he ought to be horrified by what was below, that this was what a good and decent person would feel. While he didn't like what he saw, he felt only quiet anger, nor horror or outrage.
"Let's go," Alex said.
It took a few hours for them to find the cave of the Cockatrice, the two corpses of the beasts still sprawled out.
Alex toggled his analysis mode and began to search around. By default, it wasn't finding much. Perhaps he needed to give it a better idea what he was searching for.
"Bracer, high
light tracks," Alex said.
Circles and lines filled his vision and were replaced with flickering beads of light on the ground. The rain had erased almost everything,but the merest remnants of what remained still painted at least a somewhat coherent picture.
There were the tracks of the Cockatrice themselves. Those he could disregard and he found that with an instruction the bracer removed them from his view.
There were the tracks of four humans, and knowing which way he and Helen had left let him eliminate those as well.
"This way," Alex told Helen.
Only a few minutes away a collection of charred rocks brought up a new prompt.
Scorch Marks
Identifying
Glass Shards
Potion Ampule
Likely cause is a Fire Round discharged from a Potion-Caster
"Morgan practiced with his potion-caster here. It looks like he actually managed to get off a round and not set himself on fire," Alex said.
"They didn't burn themselves up then. They should have headed to the river after this?" Helen asked.
"Looks like it."
There were barely any traces of the tracks now. Following them often required setting out in a direction and hoping to pick up another trace to confirm it was right, and if not backtracking to try the whole routine over again.
The tracks did lead to the river, and from there went in the opposite direction Alex and Helen had chosen earlier in the day.
It was another ten minutes of walking until up ahead Alex saw a large glowing patch and motioned for Helen to slow down.
There were a lot of tracks and churned ground—and three bodies that had been stripped.
Alex knelt to inspect the corpses and Helen joined him.
"They were here? Wonder if they killed these people or went looking for whatever did," Helen said.
Alex was hoping to figure that out himself. Looking over the first corpse, text began to scroll.
Male
Human
Age 25-35
Probable cause of death a piercing injury to the throat most likely caused by a sword or dagger.
That much Alex could tell for himself. He shifted his attention towards the second corpse.
Female
Human
Age 18-25
Probable cause of death multiple stab wounds to the abdomen.
Three stabs, she had put up a good fight against whatever had killed her and hadn't gone down easily. He turned to the last corpse.
Male
Human
18-25
Probable cause of death skull fracture from a blunt instrument. There also appears to be a slashing wound to the neck.
That was what Alex had been hoping to see. The bracer might not draw any conclusions from this, but Alex could. The presence of blunt fatal wounds as well as those caused by a sword meant they were probably inflicted by a Glitch Hunter.
Alex pointed at the third corpse. "Songhammer and Songblade wounds. This the work of our friends."
"Only three of them? I'd have expected them to kill more, if they were attacked," Helen said.
"Odd that. Might have gotten swarmed," Alex said.
"I know how that goes," Helen said. "Got a direction?"
"Easy, they made quite a mess. You're sure you want to do this? You weren't into coming this way at all," Alex said.
"I didn't want to waste our time with an army breathing down our back. If Morgan and Yasmine are in trouble, of course we're going to help them."
Judging by the tracks there were about twenty of them and all on horseback. It was hours through the darkness before they finally saw a campfire in the distance.
It was a small encampment. One man stood watch while the others slumbered. In the middle of them were Morgan and Yasmine, their hands bound behind them and attached to stakes driven into the ground.
"Wish I had a bow," Helen said.
"Not much use against Glitch, but handy for these guys. I'm not picking up any sort of resonance, are you?" Alex asked.
Helen closed her eyes and tilted her head for a second. "No, not a thing. They're human. How do you want to handle this?"
Alex studied the camp. Surprise was an asset in any battle and right now the advantage was theirs. There was also the darkness—the fire had mostly died out. Thanks to their bracers Alex and Helen could still see. On the downside, it had been a long day and they hadn't had any sleep. Alex was feeling it and knew that Helen must be as well.
"Are you good for another fight?" Alex asked.
"I'm not at my best, but I don't see where we have a choice. We wait and let them have a day on us on horseback and we won't be catching up," Helen said.
"If we can take out that sentry, we might be able to kill the rest while they sleep. I'd rather that than a fair fight."
"That would be a job for me. I'm the stealthier of us," Helen said. "I don't like how they're positioned. They made camp in a smart spot and the sentry has a good view.
"We could grab Yasmine and Morgan, and take off on the horses before everyone wakes?" Alex asked.
"Think you know how to ride one?" Helen asked.
As usual it wasn't a casual question.
"I think there’s an echo there. Do you?" Alex asked.
"Yeah. I think so and I'd bet Yasmine does, but Morgan? He doesn’t strike me as the horsey type."
"It’s either we ride off before they can follow, or we take out all of them. I’m worried they must have some sort of surprise to take down the others like they did. I don't want to find out what that is," Alex said.
"Can we ask them?" Helen asked.
Alex hadn't even thought of trying.
"Bracer, I need to communicate privately with the Cinquedea bracer. Is that possible?" Alex asked.
Bracer to Bracer communication is a higher-level function
You are not authorized to access this functionality
Bureaucracy in the middle of a rescue, Alex wasn’t amused.
"Bracer, Yasmine Cinquedea and Morgan Pike have been captured. I am attempting to mount a rescue but I am not sure what I am facing."
Request Escalated
Request for Bracer to Bracer communication is denied
Hunters Cinquedea and Pike have been notified of an incoming rescue attempt.
That was something. It wasn't nearly enough, but it was something.
"They appear to be capable of it but are denying my requests," Alex said.
Helen couldn't keep the sarcasm from her tone. "Yes, these are people worth following and helping."
Yasmine was stirring, turning her head to survey the surroundings. With her own night vision she soon caught sight of them and gave a sharp nod in one direction.
That part of the camp didn't seem to be any better for an approach, four sleeping rolls set up there. If Yasmine wasn't indicating an opportunity it meant she was probably identifying a threat. One of those four slumbering forms had to be the wild card that neutralized the others.
Helen saw it as well.
"I'll get close and see if we can't settle this whole thing in silence," Helen said.
"If it gets loud, I'll work on freeing them and getting a sword in Yasmine’s hands," Alex said.
11
“The most critical component of a great adventure is agency. The hero must have the freedom to make choices and those choices must have consequences.” Fragment of parchment from the first age.
Alex and Helen advanced towards the encampment, Alex came to a halt beside a bush and stayed there kneeling as Helen slipped closer to the sentry with her sword drawn.
A single sentry couldn't look in every direction at once and given the chill of the night they were prone to spending some extra time near the fire. That killed his night vision and gave Helen the chance to draw closer.
Helen was in no rush up until the last moment, waiting on the edge of the firelight until the sentry turned away. Keeping low, but at a sprint, she slipped up behind him, one h
and gripping his mouth as the other drew the Songblade across the bared throat.
It was so practiced it seemed as if Helen might have done it a hundred times—perhaps she had. The sentry struggled and flailed and, in his struggle, kicked at the fire sending cinders soaring through the air to land on nearby bedrolls.
That was going to wake a few people up—and that was going to rouse the entire camp. Alex began to move, not worrying about stealth. Now it had become a matter of time instead of silence.
Helen had already made her way over to one of the spark-laden bedrolls and drove her sword down into the throat of a woman.
"We're under attack!" screamed a man looking up wide-eyed at Helen. He was silenced by a hammer blow that cracked his skull.
Alex reached Yasmine and Morgan, and crouched to inspect their restraints. They were a purplish metal shot through with specks of red.
"Damn it, Glaive, they have a mage. Loud is not how you handle this," Yasmine said.
Sparks of blue energy formed a vortex in the air near one of the figures rising from his bedroll. The sparks formed an arrow which propelled itself towards Helen. Helen seemed to sense it before it arrived, driving her blade through the abdomen of her latest victim and swiveling the man around so the blast hit him the back. The force of the blow drove them both backward several feet.
Alex had to get Yasmine out of her restraints. He tried several strikes of his hammer but the metal wasn't yielding.
"Left wrist. Pulp it so I can slip it out and then give me your sword," Yasmine said.
Alex wished that didn't make sense. It was the bones in Yasmine's hand and wrist that kept her from being able to slip out of the restraints. Shatter them and she could pull herself free. Being mundane damage it should heal eventually, but Alex was already well-experienced with the fact that it didn't avoid the pain.
There wasn't time for hesitation.
