“Yohan, come quick! Horrors have struck the heart of our home!” Cried out one panicked wizard, racing down the stairs.
No. He couldn’t focus. There wasn’t enough foliage for him to lose his spirit within!
Forcing himself to calmness, John stepped in the heart of his tiny grove, gasping as a tremendous surge of understanding rocked through his psyche as he placed 1 of his 2 remaining points into better understanding Woodland Step, sensing the ancient Faerie Rite somehow become a part of him, his own connection to all the forests of Jordia growing in ways strange and profound.
He shuddered, realizing it still wasn’t enough. His still felt his surroundings constricting him, and he sensed no trace of that woodland canopy where a captain and lieutenant hungry for love and each other's company had embraced the most ancient of all rites under, John having paid silent awkward witness, that location at the edge of the woods forever emblazoned upon his mind.
You have placed an additional point in mastering Woodland Step. Congratulations! Your Rank 3 Arcadian Power now has a range of 100 miles and a casting time of 5 seconds!
He then winced, realizing he had just invested an unnecessary point. All he had to do was augment the spell with his Domain power modifier, and he'd have a 20-mile range. Of course, that wouldn’t have made it any easier to cast within such a tiny cluster of trees crammed into a basement chamber serving as an underground laboratory of horrors.
Going for broke, he boosted the Rank 3 Power regardless, giving it a range of 200 miles at a reduced cost of 36 mana and a casting time of 4.5 seconds, thanks to his Rank 1 in the Faerie Magic skill.
There it is! All self-recriminations instantly faded to nervous excitement as he sensed his target location at last, peering deeply into the heart of his tiny grove, somehow sensing how his tiny cluster of trees suddenly extended endless miles between the realms of Faerie and man, taking a single step forward as the roar and cry of furious mages faded to the rustle of leaves, and there he suddenly was, perched upon the very branch he had once played the voyeur from, just days ago.
He took a deep breath of crisp, pine-scented air and chuckled with relief, filled with awe and wonder as what he had accomplished finally sunk in. He had just escaped a coven of hostile mages and traveled countless miles with a single step!
He took a few steadying breaths, waiting for his mana to trickle back up to full, an elated smile turning to a concentrated frown as he thought up his plan of attack.
After wracking his brains for minutes he didn’t have to spare, he could only think of one path that could possibly lead to an outcome that didn’t result in his death, the death of his friends, or cutting down countless soldiers who, for all John knew, were innocent of all knowledge regarding the dark experiments committed upon countless children. True, he had woken up to men trying to kill him, but unlike the movies, where you knew just who to root for, John couldn’t blame them for trying to protect Jordia from Earthly horrors infecting their world. The thought of cutting those men down just like all the soldiers that had been butchered by that nest of horrors, just like Agneta had been… no. That was one path he refused to walk.
With his blades sheathed and reflective shield held at the ready because he was not a complete fool, he made his move.
20
“Intruder! Halt! Raise your hands and surrender immediately!”
John stared calmly at the pair of nervous guards eyeing him so suspiciously. They both wore full suits of dominion armor that really did look like lacquered ABS plastic, if the flash he had gotten from Sophia’s mind and his own memories of the entire Nova Wars series, which Mitch had gotten such a kick out of watching endlessly, were anything to go by. The pair of blaster carbines they were pointing his way looked as serious as death, however.
John took a deep breath, taking no aggressive action, yet knowing he didn’t dare to act cowed before these men, not with what he was planning. He had schooled his features into a mask of haughty disdain as he gazed at the imposing structure he had fled from just days ago, which really did look like a massive futuristic research facility. It was a striking contrast to the primeval woodlands it was surrounded by, or the village of cobblestone, hardwood, and slate tiles he had stepped away from just minutes ago.
At least the guards were taking him seriously, uncertainty as much as fear marking their gestures, blasters lifted but not aimed straight for his face as he sensed they would have been for any serf or commoner that dared stumble upon these grounds in the middle of the night.
Hunter’s Sense activated! Embrace the scent of unwashed bodies stinking of fear! 10 Mana spent. Upkeep cost: 10 Mana per minute.
He smiled then, daring to pause for long seconds as he caught the nearest guard’s gaze.
The nearest guard is worried. He senses there is far more to you than meets the eye, and thanks to Mindreading, you now know just what he fears! 1 Psion spent.
Perception check made! Insight check successful! - Somehow you can all but taste the rigid patterns of behavior governing their fighting styles. What’s more economical than implanting 2 years of combat training into the minds of every Dominion trooper? Save a fortune in time and resources, and save specialized individual training for the soldiers destined to excel in their chosen fields! The only drawback is that this makes their attack sequences exceedingly predictable, which suits any Highlord with Psi-Tactics perfectly. Highlords just like you!
Can’t arm the rabble without keeping some sort of edge, right? Is it any wonder that no soldier-led insurrection has ever successfully overthrown their masters? Not that you knew that before, but gazing into this man’s terrified mind, you sense all the lessons those Dominion memtapes pounded into his skull. Never cross a Highlord under any circumstances!
Congratulations! You have just discovered one of the greatest secrets and weaknesses of Dominion troops. Their movements are utterly predictable to Highlords trained for combat who take a moment to Mindread at least one of their foes! Psi-Tactics multiplier of 100% in effect! You have +4 to all martial skill checks per level your Psi-Tactics exceeds their Psionic Defenses (which are nonexistent!) You presently enjoy a +8 bonus to all combat skill checks against all rank & file Dominion soldiers!
John chuckled softly, filled with a sudden rush of deadly confidence. His cold smile made his mindset utterly clear to the pair of nervous-looking guardsmen.
“My name is Highlord Johnathan Everwood Farreach and I will speak with your master immediately. Should you dare to cross me, you do so at your peril.”
The closest guard frowned, borderline terror replaced by sudden skepticism. “We are not complete fools, whoever you are. Everwood is the name of a Magelord holding, and the Farreach clan holds no sway here. Not any longer. For you to dare claim—”
“It’s no concern of ours, fool!” hissed the soldier whose mind John had pierced so utterly, before turning to face John, bowing deferentially before him. “Very well, sir. Just wait here, and I shall inform the captain of your presence at once.”
John couldn’t help flashing a cynical smile at the man’s backside. If in doubt, pass the ball further up the chain of command was a mindset that seemed to hold true on Jordia every bit as much as it did on Earth.
Castling activated! Psi-Sense in play! John took a moment to ward and ready himself, feeling an icy clarity come over his thoughts, suddenly sensing all the pieces on the board of his mind, thanks to his Psi-Sense, Infravision, and the fantastic boost to his awareness that Hunter’s Sense provided.
He smiled as he sensed the pair of guards drawing a bead on him from behind cover a short distance away, focusing most of his attention on the half-dozen men rapidly approaching. Four seemed to be rank and file soldiers, one wore a captain’s insignia similar to Agneta’s, and the final one taking the lead was a scowling individual whose thoughts were a complete blank to John.
The surly-looking man was decked out in a silken puffy sleeved tunic underneath a crimson red doublet covered in semi-precious j
ewels with a short silver cape that ruffled in the breeze. He march-stomped forward in tight-fitting burgundy leggings, with black leather boots completing the ensemble.
John did his best to hold back a smile. Even more so than the villagers, this Highlord looked like he had just stepped out of the Renaissance fair with his flashy noble’s garb and tight fitting hosiery. And the blue tricorn hat he wore with a certain amount of flair just set it all off perfectly.
“My name is Highlord Rojan, and you are trespassing upon my lands, sirrah! I will have your name, rank, and purpose for intruding immediately. And if you dare think to deceive me, you will pay a steep price for your insolence!" he said with a calculated sneer, hands gripping the Elementium hilt of what could only be a dwarven blade, still sheathed. However much he looked the noble fop, his deadly dwarven blade alongside the small Elementium shield he had secured to his belt, much like men of means had once worn blade and buckler back on Earth, centuries ago, were no laughing matter.
John gave a respectful bow of his head, ignoring the scowling officer and the stone-faced soldiers behind him. “As I told your guards, I am Highlord Johnathan Everwood Farreach, and I am here to claim my brother Michaelmas Farreach, who I am given to understand you are holding under duress.”
Rojan’s eyes widened. “How dare you accuse me of such, sirrah!”
John flashed a cold smile, taking a deep breath, all but sensing the soldiers behind him readying to squeeze the triggers of their weapons, now gazing at the captain to give the subtle nod.
Highlord Rojan’s frown deepened, his mental probes unable to penetrate the dark fortress within John's mind. Of course, John doubted it would hold so well, should the man before him attack in earnest, but at least Rojan knew he was no common serf, as these men seemed to think most citizens of Jordia to be.
“Mitch is pinned in the portal chamber. Property I believe my father once had full rights to, which you have apparently overtaken by force under what pretext I don’t know, since you obviously didn’t challenge my father for rights to this territory.”
Rojan squeezed the captain's arm. John felt the soldiers behind him ready themselves. "What of it, you Terran bastard?" The Jordian noble sneered at John's cold expression. "Oh yes, I know all about your kind. Your father's assertions of ownership are irrelevant. I have at least as much claim to this territory as he! It is only because that coward retreated to Earth alongside the Highbloods and their entire coven of allies that they were even permitted to live! Your father's territorial rights are being contested in courts all over Jordia, as well as those of the entire foul coven he dared to align himself with!"
The man’s cold lips wormed into a nasty smile. “So it is only fitting that his former partner assert Claimance over this territory. Territory I of course had no idea he was using for such foul, base purposes. After all, it is only a matter of time before Jordia's courts void all your clan’s claims!”
He gave an angry squeeze of his sword hilt, glaring at John. “Your brother has dared to invade my territory yet again with his foul experiments. Rest assured, I have informed the local inquisitorial branch of all your clan’s transgressions! Despite being warned never to return, your brother and the forces under his command have used an interplanetary jump gate to invade my lands. By ancient codice and treaty, I am well within my rights to cut down those who invade my territory without violating any accord.”
John’s eyes widened, sensing how the Highlord before him was twisting terms to justify coldly butchering his brother. “My brother has done no such thing. He is fleeing devastation back on Earth! The people with him are the farthest thing from any invading force. They are fellow survivors, my classmates and friends! He is jumping to lands our family owns, that you have taken by force! By your own words, the courts have not finalized any decisions regarding these lands, so the only invader, sirrah, is you!”
He took a deep breath, collecting himself, focusing on what mattered. He cared nothing for Highlord politics, and his interest in this territory he had barely escaped with his life was minimal at best. His only real goal here was to rescue his brother and friends, but it seemed the most expedient way to do that was to play for all the prizes on the board before him.
John forced a diplomatic smile as he met the Highlord’s furious gaze. “I see only one way out of this impasse, honored Highlord. We duel, here and now, for the rights to these lands. It can even be to first blood, if you wish. The courts will accept this, no?”
The Highlord’s eyes widened. John smiled. “I am a Farreach. The blood of my father flows through my veins, and I have conducted no questionable experiments. Should you defeat me, I will formally declare these lands yours before the courts, and that should give you the edge you need for your claim to supersede all others. All I ask for in return is to let my brother and my friends go. That’s it.”
He quickly turned to the guard captain, who looked more than uncomfortable at John meeting his gaze. "I have already scanned your soldier's minds. I know you are a Dominion officer charged with maintaining the integrity of an interdimensional jump portal. I know that you and your men have no jurisdiction or interest in the affairs of Highlords. I name you witness to my formal challenge of Highlord Rojan, and I would entreat you and your men to step back and avoid interfering in what is a matter between Highlord Clans.” John’s gaze hardened as the man paled. “Should you fail to do so, as a Dominion officer, you will be in violation of the accords.”
Mercantile + Diplomacy check – critical failure! Mindreading check – success! You thought you had made a tempting offer where everyone wins! Too bad you had no idea (until now) how much Rojan despises you. It’s almost like he abhors you personally!
Rojan sneered. "Trying to turn my own men against me? Men I have paid good credits to stand by my side? I see you're just as much an abomination as all your father's experiments, Terran half-blood!" His eyes glittered with a certain dark glee as John blanched. "That's right, half-blood. I see no Highlord before me, only an abomination!" He turned to the captain. "Tell your men to purge my lands of this creature at once!"
But John was already moving, darting to the left as blaster fire streaked through the air, his heightened reflexes and Psi-Tactics allowing him to twist and dodge just as he if he could see exactly where his foes had targeted, alerted the instant those soldiers twitched their fingers, such that the streams of blaster fire ripped into the men he had been facing while completely missing John.
The captain immediately shouted at his men to stop firing. Of course, their polymer armor stopped most laser fire. What it didn't stop was the flood of vines covered in razor-sharp bronze thorns now entrapping them from the handful of burs John had thrown at the cluster of men he faced.
"Vinea Sanguine! Vinea Sanguine!" John cried, first focusing on the burs he had boosted with Rigidity and Domain, then quickly incorporating them with the now deadly blades of bronze grass tearing into his enemy's feet in a twenty-foot diameter.
The air was suddenly filled with the screams of men whose feet were pouring blood from multiple lacerations, forced to hang limp in agony as their limbs and bodies were pinned in place by the flood of metallic vines wrapping them tightly together, fresh streams of crimson spurting from wherever bronze thorns pierced the reflective mesh between polymer plates.
But John had no time to focus on the captured men as a furiously shouting Rojan had been savvy enough to roll free of the trap before the vines could sprout, charging John with shield leading, dwarven blade held high.
Quickness check made!
It was all John could do to rip his own reclaimed saber free of its sheath to meet the furious onslaught, understanding at once how much trouble he was in as his foe's blade, the edge now glowing a brilliant blue, tore into his shield.
John cried out, flinching back, just barely avoiding losing his hand, so deep did the blade cut the almost worthless Dominion tool.
“Fool! Do you truly think any Terran hybrid, any weak half-blood,
has a chance against a true Highlord? Your head will be in my personal pain vat before the night is through, worm, count on it!”
And John cried out as horrid darkness blasted through his mind.
You have been struck by Ego Whip! You have saved against Crushing Despair. Ego Whip has partially pierced your defenses! You have suffered the loss of 30 Health and 0 Psions!
The Highlord narrowed his gaze. “You’re actually able to ward your mind.” He flashed a chilling smile as he raised his blade in a hanging guard once more, its wicked blue glow making it clear John’s shield could do little to counter it. “Not that it will do you any good in the end. Prepare for death, Farreach spawn!”
The man charged forward and John felt a rush of exhilaration mixed with terror. His opponent was skilled, cocky, and had already dismissed John’s skills as a warrior. And when he lashed out with his blade, determined to cleave John’s shield in half, John was ready.
Finesse check made! Sword and shield skill check made!
He adeptly rotated his shield as the humming Elementium blade bit deeply into the rim, twisting and extending the Highlord’s arm as the blade was caught and the force of the blow transmitted from edge to flat. And in the instant his foe was exposed and off-balance, John was lashing out with his saber, cleaving into Rojan’s exposed wrist.
The man screamed as blood spurted from his wound, as did John. For few maneuvers are executed perfectly in the arena of combat, and for all that John had successfully twisted shield and caught his foe's blade, there had still been sufficient force and expert coordination behind the Highlord's blow to bite into John's arm, a suddenly alarmed Rojan immediately jerking back and yanking free his blade before he could lose it, and what should have been a wrist-cleaving blow was mitigated to a gusher that nonetheless left at least a few of the Highlord's tendons intact.
You have suffered 30 damage and a Medium Wound! -3 to all actions using injured limb! Adrenaline surge in effect! Wound penalty temporarily reduced to -1!
Queen Killer Page 28
