“Is there something my elegant self can do for you?” she asked, one hand resting on her hip as she slid her waist to one side.
“I think she just offered? Yes, yes. I think she did. Tell her she can take her clothes o—”
“Remain with me,” Ash said, ignoring Locke.
“That’s a given,” Tala murmured, lifting her left hand off the handle of her blade and flicking her hair. She never broke eye contact with him, though, and it was obvious she was expecting a more direct answer to her innuendo.
“Later, I’ll take you up on your Elegant Self,” Ash replied finally. “We’re kinda getting ready for a fight.”
“That would be why I offered. A perfect time for some stress relief,” said Tala, getting straight to the heart of her push. “Let’s go find an out-of-the-way place and pull out a bedroll. I have no experience but I’m sure we can make it quick.”
“I like this idea,” Moira offered, nodding her head and meeting Ash’s eyes as well. “We should do this.”
“Later,” Ash said with a small chop of his hand. He really didn’t want to deal with this right now.
“But—”
“We’ll talk about a three-way, or whatever it is, later,” Ash said, cutting off Tala’s words before turning to the closest cultivator. At least they listened to him. “Do a quick check-in with everyone. See if anything is going on.”
“Of course, Master Sheng!” said the woman as she put her fists together. Bowing her head deeply, she ran off at a jog a moment later.
“—way?” Tala asked, looking to Moira. The long rabbit ears were practically hanging over the Owl’s head.
“Ah… where we both tend to Ashley at the same time,” Moira said, nodding her head once. Her large eyes were calm and her facial expression was neutral. She looked unbothered by the conversation.
“Oh, I see. I would think my elegant self should be enough for him, but I wouldn’t mind it, I think,” Tala said, looking thoughtful. “You are my comrade, of course, in this. Perhaps it would be better if we did do such a thing going forward.”
Rolling his eyes, Ash threw up a hand and moved away from the two of them. They were the last thing he wanted to deal with right now. He had much larger problems.
Reaching the gate where they’d entered, Ash could still feel the heat of the melted stone and iron.
Chunhua and Mei had made sure nothing would be passing through in any way. The short entry tunnel that passed under the wall was plugged with ten feet of hot, yet hardened, material.
“There’s a group out there,” one of his alliance members said as he drew close.
“What?” Ash asked, his attention being yanked away from the gate to the woman.
“There’s a group. It’s right out there on the horizon,” said the woman, and then she lifted an arm to point. “They don’t appear to be the Dokkalfar, nor Wraiths.”
The snap of wings heralded the fact that Moira had decided that this required her to go look. Her form passed up into the sky above him and headed that way, confirming that thought for him.
“Keep an eye on them,” Ash said, realizing he’d have answers from Moira soon enough.
“Of course, Master Sheng,” said several of the women around him.
Turning, Ash saw Mei moving toward him at nearly a full run.
“She really is beautiful. And… maybe I’m just the asshole who says it out loud, but she is lovely to watch,” Locke said.
Ash couldn’t deny he was having difficulty not admiring Mei at a full run.
“Ashley,” Mei said, while she was still thirty feet away. “A group of cultivators just arrived! It’s another sect’s group that was exploring the same area.”
What? Yet another group?
Does that mean the group out there is the same?
“No. It isn’t, unfortunately,” Locke grumbled.
What? What does that mean?
Locke didn’t respond, however. He remained absolutely silent.
“Okay, and what about them?” Ash asked, wondering what the urgent race on Mei’s part had been about.
“I had Chunhua help them up to the top of the wall. Can you please come and speak with them?” Mei asked, coming to a stop in front of him. “It would be better coming from the head of our alliance, rather than just the mistress.”
“Oh, yes. I can do that.”
“I’ll remain here,” Mei said, smiling at him. “Return when you’re done.”
Walking up to him, she laid a hand to Ash’s face, her fingers lightly curling into his jaw. Then she pulled his head down and kissed him for several seconds before letting him go.
“Run along, my love,” Mei said almost under her breath, before stepping past him and toward the group of women there.
Did she just—
“Yes. Now, go. She’s not wrong. It could be problematic otherwise. Dominance and control matter a lot here.”
Starting off at a quick jog, Ash did as he’d been instructed.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get that far. Halfway to his goal, Moira dove down to land on the stones in front of him.
“Ashley! You must come back! Quickly!” Moira said, even before she could stand up. She’d landed badly and her knees had gone out underneath her.
“I need to—”
“It’s Kin! They’re all Kin! And they’re moving faster than we thought! They’ll be here very quickly,” Moira declared, interrupting Ash. “Not Dokkalfar, but there are some of those, too. All people from Tala’s veil.”
Turning on his heel, Ash started to sprint back the way he’d come. Even going so far as to put Spring Step into each stride, propelling himself along the wall at a speed not even a world-renowned sprinter could match.
Quickly flying past him, Moira zipped along ahead of him towards his destination.
Thinking about the fact that he wanted to fly too, Ash glanced out to the distant horizon.
The cultivator that could fly still hung there in the air, facing an equally motionless opponent.
Neither had moved and they seemed content to stare one another down for the time being.
“They’re probably insulting one another.”
That… that’d be oddly accurate, wouldn’t it?
Up ahead, he could see Moira and Mei both looking down the wall toward the exterior of the fortification. Clearly something was ongoing out there now.
Finally getting back to the point where he’d started, Ash looked out to the field below.
The group down there was fighting with the Soldier-Wraiths. They were clearly holding their own for the moment, but it was also obvious that it wasn’t going to last.
Numbers alone would eventually decide the fight, as more and more Wraiths appeared and headed their way.
Standing near the front, was a man Ash recognized almost instantly.
It was Travis. His cousin.
Clearly, he’d weathered some tough conditions though. He was wearing an eye patch, wielding a spear, and looked considerably different than the last time Ash had truly seen him.
He was surrounded by people that Ash couldn’t even begin to identify or discern.
Trav… Trav is here.
I need to get Trav out of there!
A massive portal tore itself open to the east of Trav and his group.
Practically the size of a car wash, it yawned open ominously.
Stomping out of it came a beast that looked like something out of a horror novel.
With more than a few arms, long deadly barbs jutting out from hard colorless skin, and a mouth as big as a sedan, its head turned slowly to look at everything around it.
Somehow, it noticed Ash and his people first before anything else. Black eyes, the size of soccer balls, focused on the wall.
Then it leaned its head back and let loose a massive roar. One that went up in volume and pitch until it was nearly an ear-shattering shriek.
A screech that made Ash grit his teeth and hold onto the wall even as he shivered un
controllably.
“It’s a Lord. Why the hell is a Lord-Wraith here? The hell is going on?” Locke asked.
I’ve been asking you that since the beginning!
Accelerating faster than a thought, the big monster began rushing straight for the molten gate.
Can… can it get through the gate? It’s all—
“Yes. It can and will. We need to plan what to do next, because it’s coming in,” Locke grumbled.
“Moira, go tell that group over there to come in behind that Wraith. Tell them that,” Ash said, turning toward the Owl.
“They will not listen to me. I already spoke to them and—”
“Tell the man… the one with the eye patch… that Ashley is here. And he’s telling Trav to get inside already,” Ash said.
Moira stared at him for several seconds before she simply leapt off the wall and began flying away.
Straight toward Trav.
“I need runners. People to run along both sides of the wall. We’re going to head back toward the keep,” Ash said, then gestured to the thick, ugly building near the rear of the whole area.
It was meant to be a last-ditch defensive position and Ash imagined that once the wall was breached, they would need it for just that.
Two women went off without another word, sprinting away along the walls.
“Do you thi—”
Mei’s words were interrupted when the Lord-Wraith clearly hit the molten gate.
Ash didn’t even need to look to know that’s what had happened.
A massive chunk of the still cooling material broke free of the plug and fell to one side. There was no time to think as the rest of the molten material began shooting out of the gate entry like it was toothpaste being forced from the tube.
Spraying out wildly, the scorching semi-solid debris began to set everything on fire as soon as it touched it.
Ash watched for another second before the Lord-Wraith came storming out in a very similar way as the seal had.
Including the fact that it was on fire and covered in what was most likely a form of lava.
Screeching in pain, the massive monster bumbled to one side at first and then started walking in another direction.
Howling once more, it finally stopped and stood absolutely still as fire, glowing orange earth, and molten iron rolled down it.
Then it toppled backward and laid there unmoving.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Lord-Wraith die like that, but… it works,” Locke said. “I think it’s time to fall back, though. With the gate unblocked it won’t be long before it cools. That means Wraiths coming in.”
“—everyone to the fort,” Mei said in a commanding tone to someone. “Go, now. You, go the other way. It’s our best course of action now that the gate has failed.”
Remind me to thank her later.
Looking out toward Trav and his group, Ash could see them heading for the now open gate.
It’ll be too hot for them to get through.
“Quite likely, but they do have their own way of solving things. You can leave it to th—”
Stepping off the wall, Ash dropped down into the courtyard next to the gate.
Walking off the landing, he started to dodge through the fire and flames to get to the gate.
This whole area is going to go up, isn’t it?
“Well, yes and no. Anything burnable will definitely go up rather quickly. But there’s no life left anywhere. Most things have rotted out.”
Hopping over a patch of lava, Ash stepped out into the gateway.
Looking down into its interior, Ash could tell that there was no way Trav and his people would be able to get through.
There was simply no way.
The heat alone would likely cook them and that didn’t even take into account the molten material that’d be a hazard all its own.
Standing there, thinking, Ash had no idea on how to handle this.
A brush of hot air blew through the gate entry, bathing Ash in heat that felt like it’d burn the hair off his head.
Grimacing, he held a hand up in front of himself to shield his eyes.
In that moment, he realized that maybe he had an answer.
Smother it all. Then just leave a patch of Qi on the ground.
“It’d cost us almost our entire Qi Sea. We’d be relegated to—”
Not waiting to discuss the matter, Ash reached out and spread his arms to his sides.
A flat projection of his solidified Qi grew out from him.
Widening it until it filled the bottom of the entry, Ash then began lengthening it. Extending it further and further towards the other side.
“That’s far enough.”
Cutting the feed from his Qi, Ash stood there feeling light-headed. He’d never commanded so much of his Qi out from himself, let alone holding it in thrall at the same time.
Lowering the massive Qi board, Ash pressed it down to the ground. Forced it to go as low as absolutely possible.
“Don’t bother trying to lift it to get the ceiling. Your cousin and… they’re coming.”
Looking up from his work, Ash saw Trav and company riding quickly toward him.
The massive weight that rode across his Qi nearly took his breath away. It felt as if he was the board of Qi itself, and that he was being crushed down into the stone.
Gritting his teeth, Ash did his best to reinforce himself and hold onto the Qi. Keep it solid and firm, giving his cousin the chance to get out of the plains and into someplace that was at least more defensible.
Riding toward him was Trav.
He had the look of a man who’d suffered much. Toiling at a life that was unforgiving and unrelenting.
Scarred, worn out, missing an eye, but still his cousin.
Trav rode past, his one eye staring hard at Ash as he did so.
Giving him an easy smile, Ash did his best to look friendly and welcoming even as he struggled to hold the Qi in place.
“To the fort, Trav,” grunted Ash. “I’ll catch up.”
Trav stared at him for a second longer as he rode past, but then kept going. Spurring his horse on. His people all watched Ash as they rode by, but no one did or said anything.
When the last horse came off the Qi board, Ash let out a sigh of relief.
“Can’t retract it. It’s tainted. Shatter it into spikes. Like caltrops. That’s the best we can do. Then we need to get going ourselves. Those Soldier-Wraiths are—”
A horde of Wraiths began trying to swarm into the gate. They were likely following Trav and his people.
Right!
Detonating his Qi board, Ash turned and started to run to the fort.
Only to stumble over his own feet and end up face down on the ground.
“You’re a bit worse for wear. We should probably—”
A strong arm looped around underneath him and then pulled him up off the ground.
“Come on, then. My elegant self will carry you,” Tala murmured, settling Ash over her shoulder. “Do not grab my ass.”
Staring down at Tala’s rear end and legs as she began to run toward the fort, Ash felt tempted to do just that.
Briefly.
In mere moments, it felt like she was flying across the ground, each step more like a bounding leap.
“You run impressively,” Ash muttered, watching her backside and legs as she moved.
“Thank you,” Tala said between bounds.
Twenty-Five
Tala grunted and put Ash down. By the time his boots hit the stone of the fort interior, he already felt better.
Admittedly, while the view of Tala had been nice, being carried like a bag of potatoes had not.
Grabbing at his shoulders, Tala held onto him as if he might just tip over.
“I’m alright. Thank you, Tala,” Ash said, reaching up to set his hands atop her own.
“You have enough to function, but not enough to actually do much,” Locke explained. “If you can hold out for a few hours, we c
an take a Qi pill to fill up a bit.”
This whole mission is a waste of time and resources.
Trying to find treasures and fight for the sake of fighting. This is stupid.
“No, it’s just very cultivator-centered. This is something many of them would choose to experience, and consider it a blessing.”
Then they’re all idiots. I’d really rather not be doing this.
“Yes, Chosen One. You’re certainly defying convention,” Locke murmured. “Because I’d likely be on my fifth round of ‘how many harem girls can I sleep with today’.
“And I’d definitely take a turn on the bunny rabbit. I bet she could lick the paint off a car.”
Blinking, Ash realized he’d been staring into Tala’s face for the better part of ten seconds.
Without saying anything.
“You may,” Tala said, staring back at him.
Uh.
“Kiss her. You may kiss her,” Locke explained.
I d—
“Do it! Kiss her! Now! Or she’ll flip out on you later!”
Realizing Locke was right, Ash went with it.
Leaning towards the tall, lovely Kin-woman, Ash pressed his lips to hers.
Her hands on his shoulders tightened even as he continued to kiss her.
A handful of seconds passed before Ash pulled back. Tala stood in front of him, her face relaxed and her eyes still closed. Her ears were standing up perfectly straight and she looked to be lost in her own mind.
Pulling away from the Kin, Ash patted her hands.
Not waiting any longer, he turned and walked away from her, looking around as he did so.
Thankfully, no one seemed to have noticed his minor romantic interlude.
“Mei did. She likely won’t say anything, though. If anything, she’ll approve of it. Tala and Moira will both defer to her more readily than the others,” Locke said, countering Ash’s thoughts.
The inside of the fort appeared to be exactly what Ash had been expecting to find when he’d first seen it. Except it was suitably dirt-covered and looked like it had served as more of a tomb recently.
He was standing inside what was essentially a throne room. One that was littered with broken pottery, skeletons, and cast-off weapons.
It looked to him as though the remains of tables, chairs, and anything that could be moved had been brought into this room.
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