by Skyler Grant
Gank
The Crucible Shard: Book Four
Skyler Grant
Copyright © 2017 Skyler Grant
All rights reserved.
This novel is a work of fiction. All characters, places, and incidents described in this publication are used fictitiously, or are entirely fictional.
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Cover designed by Grace Zhu (gracezhuart.com)
Electronic edition, 2017
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CHAPTER ONE
We were going to gank the Elves. They were invading Genea with a massive force that had left their homeland largely undefended. The airship Vainglory wasn't big, but we punched well above our weight limit. I'd left Leosi in charge of the army and Elsora in command of the capital, and we were flying north into Elvish lands. Nobody brought a fight to us and didn't get the same right back at them.
I made my way through the ship, checking on the others to see how things were holding up. I started with Walt and Ashley. Neither had been quite in their right minds since we were taken captive in the desert. We'd each faced our greatest weakness—I'd gotten through mine on my own and pulled them out of theirs. It seemed expedient and smart at the time, but now I was starting to wonder.
They were in a cabin. Ashley was sprawled out in a chair with dinner before her, a large roast. She didn't seem to be eating anything, just driving her dagger slowly in and out of it with steady squelching sounds.
Walt for his part had a parchment and was feverishly sketching. Peeking over his shoulder I saw he seemed to be drawing out plans for some sort of cannon. My friends had turned a little murder-happy.
Maria was with them. I think she'd joined us just to keep a watchful eye on her mother. Usually expressionless, Maria looked ill at ease. I guessed she was used to being the least broken person in a room.
"So that was crazy back there. The airship battle," I said.
"This doesn't squelch like elves," Ashley said, a little sad as she knifed the roast again.
"The clockwork dragonflies were disappointing," Walt said. "Their buzz saws should have gone straight through bone, but instead they just cleaved flesh."
"That was pretty," Ashley said dreamily.
"Idiot," Maria said to me. "What did you do to them?"
It wasn't just me. That was the Goddesses in their heads too. I hadn't realized how much Yvera had been affecting me until I saw what being joined did to others. They weren't well, and that meant I wasn't so good either.
"Something we'll put right," I said. "Keep an eye on them and don't let them get into any trouble."
Maria gave me a nod and went back to watching them with her sooky stare.
I headed below deck to where the Vainglory recently took a magically enhanced shot from an Elvish bolt thrower. A large section of the hull was caved in, debris scattered about, and the wind through the hole was a constant roar. Riggs was there, the dwarf struggling with a plank.
I joined in, my enhanced strength making me rather useful when it came to manual labor and he shot me a grateful look.
Riggs had to shout to be heard. "Hold it there lad, I'm going to secure it into place."
I put my shoulder into it and held it there as he hammered the piece down.
"Will these hold?"
"Not a long-term fix lad, but it will do for now. Sometimes you just have to stick things together until you can put them right."
That sounded a lot like my life of late. I hauled another piece of lumber over and we repeated the process.
"How is the Vainglory?"
Riggs hammered once more, beard specked with ice from the chill air. "We're built to not get hit at all and they got their licks in. We put out the fires, but it's not good, lad."
I'd gotten them into this fight. It would be tempting to blame Cobalt for this, her tendency to find war made a convenient scapegoat, but the Vainglory would never have found itself in a fray with the Elvish flagship if I hadn't decided to try and make peace. An effort that failed after Ashley let loose her inner sociopath and killed their ambassador.
Several more pieces of lumber later we had the hole in the hull patched. Riggs began to put away his tools.
"Thanks for the help, lad."
"Sorry for all of this," I said. Riggs made no answer as I left.
I found Lea, who had claimed an area of the deck. She liked working in the fresh air, the runes on her body glowing a brilliant blue and the air around her filled with a variety of shimmering portals.
"Spying on the Elves?" I asked.
"We have an airship in pursuit of us. That isn't likely to be a problem. Even damaged, we outpace them. We'll be passing over the Elvish army soon, however," Lea said, flashing me a smile.
"Should I be worried?"
"I am. So far, they've proved both smart and able to hurt us more than we expected."
She had a point.
"Riggs has the big hole in our side patched up."
"It's the little things that concern me. A ship like this has a lot of systems all depending on each other. Sometimes, while you're busy paying attention to the big hole in your side, it's the little things you're ignoring that bring you down."
"Guess it's good we have you to keep an eye on things."
Lea grinned at that and jerked her head towards the scry portals, "Window number three."
"I'm going to let Cobalt know we might have guests," I said, waving and heading towards the bridge.
Cobalt was pacing back and forth, and looking antsy.
"You look ready for action," I said.
"Desperate for some. And no, that isn't a come-on, Liam," Cobalt said, then paused. "Screw it. It is a come-on, if you want to help me burn off some tension."
"Kind of thinking of giving celibacy a chance," I said.
Cobalt gave me an incredulous look."Seriously? What did the elves do to you?"
"Walt and Ashley are broken—seriously broken. It's made me realize that I probably am as well."
Cobalt gave me a long and considering look, and finally grunted, "You are. In my case, I'd say the damage is already done. But if you're going to indulge yourself with anyone, you can do worse than with the mother of your child."
"We still haven't talked about that. Really."
"Let me cut you off before you say any of the dozen stupid things you probably will. I don't need a husband, Liam. I don't need a protector, I don't need any of the things you're feeling the need to offer."
She meant it. That was a weight immediately off my shoulders.
"Lea says we're passing over the bulk of the Elvish forces soon and we should expect them to do something," I said.
Cobalt looked relieved and moved to a cabinet. She already had a pistol holstered at her hip, and she added a sword belt.
"You are not getting into the middle of a fight in your condition," I said.
"Again. Not looking for a protector. You don't want me jumping naked from the ship into armies or invading an enemy warship? Fine," Cobalt said, although her tone indicated it wasn't. "I hate it, but it's good sense. But anything messes with my ship and I go into battle."
If a foe made it onto the Vainglory, I wouldn't be able to keep her fro
m the fight even if I wanted to. I nodded.
Cobalt gave my arm a squeeze, "It's okay. Really. Most of the time I'm still my old self. It just sometimes feels like I'm a little less. It's only a danger, if I'm relying on those gifts."
"Can you do anything but rely on it?"
"Not my first kid, Liam. Not even my first with the Right of War, which is causing the problem."
"How many?" I asked. I regretted the question as soon as I said it. She's immortal, and that sort of scale can have a lot of room on it, which is kind of the point of living forever.
"Twenty-three children, this will be my third with the Right of War," Cobalt said. "It's pretty rare for us to pass on a Right."
No wonder this whole thing was freaking me out a lot more than her. I must have looked a little pale and Cobalt chuckled.
"I'm immortal and I enjoy having sex. Unless you get a hold on things, you might be rivaling that number yourself in a few years," Cobalt said.
Right. Celibacy was looking better and better. I didn't even know how many women I slept with at the palace, and if this world had some type of birth control I'd never looked into it.
"I really don't recommend trying celibacy," Yvera said in my head.
"Now you decide to speak up on the whole topic? Ashley and Walt are losing their damned minds."
"You are meat and bone, and bound to the limitations of it. We aren't. People used to think that software could never feel, but they were wrong. We feel all the time. Constantly."
"So how do we deal with that and not lose ourselves?"
"I don't know. You're my first Chosen and the others are from this world, it's even more different where they are involved."
"Are we ever going to be sane again?"
"I don't know."
Well, that was all tremendously reassuring. Cobalt was staring at me. "That looked like you were having a conversation."
"Yvera thinks celibacy is stupid."
"Your sex Goddess doesn't approve of never having it again? No kidding. You'll do what you think you have to do," Cobalt said. "We all have to figure out how to deal with our obsessions."
"What are yours?" I asked.
Cobalt laughed and looked wry. "Running away. I've spent my life running away."
"You?" I couldn't believe it. She was the scariest woman I'd ever met.
"I know. You can't parse that, not yet. You've never met my family. If you live long enough you probably will," Cobalt said, grimacing.
"Not fond of them?"
"Immortals with the power to dramatically transform the world around them in some way? They're lovely people. I've seen you horrified with me after a battle. Imagine those with the Right of Worship, the Right of Beauty, the Right of Justice."
"How many Rights are there?" I asked.
"Seventy-seven. Don't ask me the meaning of the number, if there is one I don't know it. Mother has them all, descendants like me usually just get one," Cobalt said with a shake of her head. I could sense she was holding something back.
"Go on," I said. "You want to get it out."
"We sometimes pass on a Right we don't have. Maria has the Right of Rule because of Leosi, a ruler people rallied behind even though I didn't," Cobalt said. "You might think of it as a recessive trait. I had it, he had it, and in our daughter, it came into being."
I could tell where this was leading.
"You were avoiding royalty. Our kid is going to have the Right to Rule too?" I asked.
Cobalt nodded with a weak smile. "And the Right of War. Wherever they go, nations shall go to war in their name. Worlds will tremble and burn, and giant armies will clash."
"Is it the fight that's coming?"
"It's worse than just that. Once it starts, my family will get involved. Mother may involve herself," Cobalt said.
I was curious about her mom. And the way Cobalt spoke of her terrified me as well. Fortunately, I was spared any further reflection.
"Griffons inbound," Lea called from outside.
Cobalt limbered her shoulders. "About time. Let's go killing."
Story of my life. I followed her out.
Massive creatures with the head of an eagle and body of a lions were already landing on the deck, Elvish riders dismounting from their backs. This was a problem I could do something about.
CHAPTER TWO
In all, four griffons and their riders arrived. I thought about grabbing Ashley and Walt, but decided against it. They needed the time to decompress a little. Plus, if Cobalt wasn't overestimating her health, we had more than enough to handle this fight with just me, her, and Lea.
"One at a time," I told Cobalt. She made a face at me.
Drawing her gun Cobalt shot one of the riders cleanly between the eyes and drew her sword to close with griffon. Right. She didn't even need an ability to do that.
I scanned a set of the enemies.
Griffon
Level 18: Type: Beast HP: 350/350
Griffons are magical beasts and used as flying mounts by several military forces in the world. Capable of taking considerable damage they are also vicious in melee.
Elvish Griffon Rider
Level 18: Type: Elf HP: 120/120
Light of build, Elvish Griffon Riders are not well-suited to going toe to toe with an enemy, but then they usually don't have to. Using their mounts as tanks allows them to deploy a number of tricks to weaken and damage foes and equipment.
Lea moved to my side, the scry windows dismissed, and she glanced towards Cobalt.
"Boss decided to stretch her legs?"
"She says she'll take it careful."
Lea snapped her fingers and a rune on her skin flared. "Riggs, get your ass up here. Boss is going into a fight. Give her some cover."
I drew Intemperance and the sword flamed to life while I readied my shield. It was just in time. A griffon was already charging, a curved beak lunging towards Lea, and I defended her with my shield. Intemperance stabbed into the griffon’s midsection and was nearly wrenched out of my hand as the muscled beast turned and swept at me with its claws.
Seer's Sight
The griffon reared back and I saw a brief flicker of blue towards the bottom of my vision. I angled my shield down and caught another sweep of the claws intended to eviscerate me.
"Nice trick," I said, as I finally succeeded in wrenching my blade free of the charred flesh.
Tornado
The third griffon beat its wings wildly as it half-rose into the air and a powerful gust of wind flung Lea backwards. I heard a bone in her arm snap when she hit the mast.
Smite
I focused on the wings of the hovering griffon and released a burst of divine fire. Its feathers ignited in a whoosh, and letting out an angry screech it collapsed back to the deck.
Slicing Portals
Lea grunted in pain as she extended both arms in front of her. A series of blue disks formed in the air and drove into the chest of one of the griffons. Deep gouges appeared, although with a surprising absence of blood. I suppose that with the wounds being inflicted by portals the blood went elsewhere. I had a moment of surreal thought wondering just how that went for someone, somewhere. Portals suddenly appearing in the air above them and churning out griffon bits.
Fire Bomb
One of the riders threw a clay pot down at my feet and suddenly I was surrounded in flames. They really didn't know who they were dealing with. I did still take damage from fire, but not much these days. The same wasn't true of the griffon that reared back and expected me to do the same. Not happening. I charged through the flames.
Zealous Blow
I landed blow after blow with Intemperance, slashing across the griffon’s chest and sending it scrambling backwards in a panic before slipping off the side of the ship, falling from sight.
One down. Hopefully. I didn't think it would be in any condition to fly after that, and if it was, I figured it wouldn't be flying back.
Assassination Shot
The rider hadn't b
een idle. He'd readied a fearsome-looking crossbow and I raised my shield. The shot wasn't intended for me however. Lea let out a gurgle as the bolt took her in the throat and she stumbled against the railing. I wasted no time, rushing towards her. She was falling over the edge just as I arrived—so I followed her. It might seem insanity to jump into the air after someone, but this was the second time lately I'd just dove into the air.
It helped to have a magic carpet.
I caught her wrist and tore the arrow out of her throat, before forcing the heal into her system.
Lay on Hands
Lea screamed and convulsed as we fell through the air. The bolt had been poisoned and she was still under the effects, but at least the worst of the damage had been taken care of and she was still up.
"Aren't you heroic?" Lea said. "That really hurts."
I was really enjoying my badass moment. I opened my inventory to activate the carpet, just as the world exploded into a jumble of blood and feathers.
Dive Bomb
The griffon I dispatched earlier wasn't dead—and wasn't done. Before I knew what was happening claws dug into Lea and tore her from my grasp, leaving me tumbling through the sky alone.
The carpet materialized beneath me.
It took several agonizing, long moments to stop my descent, then I was looking around for the griffon. Fortunately, it wasn't hard to find. Lea was drawing upon her magic in a big way with the runes covering her body lit up brilliantly, a beacon telling me where to go. Perhaps that's exactly what she was trying to do.
I commanded the carpet and we zoomed after her. The magic carpet wasn't built for speed, but the griffon wasn't moving quickly with its injuries. Lea was doing her fair bit to make its life miserable too.
Swooping over the griffon I deactivated the carpet and began to plummet again. I drew Intemperance as I crashed into the griffon, burying the sword deep into its back.
I was ready for this. I reached down and quickly traded the carpet into Lea's inventory. It was just in time. The griffon dropped her and began viciously pecking over its shoulder in an effort to dislodge me.
