by Han Yang
I know I had some die. I had seen it myself. The centaurs fought back, ineffectively, but they did kill a few troops. For the first time, I didn’t hit a mana exhaustion.
Minions Matogator 131, 722, 1177, and 1229 have died beyond repair. Find their bodies to claim their Zorta. Mana reduction 100. Reduction avoided due to necromancer enhancement.
“Umm… glad that didn’t repeat four times. I just checked my stats. 1496 out of 1500 minions. Four more than I expected, honestly. Oh well. Minions, find their village and bring me the mares and any prisoners alive,” I commanded.
Six bolts of golden light shot down from the heavens, picking up dead goblins and distracting our thoughts. I had to hope that was the majority of our dead. I did syphon off more than a hundred and twenty-five Zorta from my dead minions.
“Where was I? Oh, right, what the hell happened?”
“They’re expecting a fight, and if I had to guess, they know the human army is nearby. Normally, I can sense these things, but I failed. I triggered a ward but within moments it was a dash for my life. The situation was that simple,” Asha grumbled. “Oh, thanks for the healing. Charlie wanted to fight at first. Luckily, this boy realized we needed to run, and run he did.”
“Hmm… Interesting. Thoughts?” I asked.
“They’ve been dealing with the human scouts and set crafty traps. They may not be the brightest species, but they certainly aren’t always moronic. I ran north, and they figured the human army was the opposite direction, likely becoming reckless for an easy kill,” Asha said.
“Your goblin army is attached to your minions, Boss,” Nee reminded me that most of our army was terrorizing the forest, leaving us vulnerable.
I waved away her concern then realized that is exactly what the centaurs had done.
“Raid their camp with half my army,” I ordered Asha.
Charlie galloped away, weaving between trees for where Sprinkles stomped on the enemy.
Boom!
The large cyclops flared with blue shielding. The five goblins he carried inside his rib cage suddenly fought an overwhelming amount of power.
Crack!
A lightning strike of impressive power concentrated on his neck. The point of impact shimmered with crackling power until -
Pop!
The head came free, and the body stumbled, retreating from whomever he fought. The skeleton found his head, taking a knee to stick it back onto his neck.
Repair: Sprinkles Moonguard. Reattach head. 112 Mana required. You have 14/255 Mana. Consume .019 Zorta to restore mana and repair Minion (YES) - (NO)
A series of gusting wind spells almost toppled the giant skeleton in the distance.
I selected yes, watching a tornado of black magic grip the skeleton’s head. The swirling power lifted then connected the head to the neck.
Whatever creatures fought in the distance ceased casting after the skeleton became whole again.
Lessons. My matogators and even Sprinkles could be defeated by magic easily. That was something I would need to be mindful about. Especially since the goblins charged with shielding Sprinkles were under leveled.
I glanced around hesitantly, starting to feel I’d grown too overconfident while hoping some hidden force didn’t descend on us.
“Half my minion gators return to surround the command element,” I ordered with a mumble. “Alright, get the caravan moving. We have a lot of ground to cover and standing still makes us an easy target.”
“Yes, Boss,” Nee and Yermica said.
The female troll wasn’t as revered as Nee, but she still held sway.
Krona rode his ram up to talk. “Excellent victory, Boss.”
I shrugged. “Centaurs are as smart as their chieftain. Really a shame how they rely on the herd mentality,” I said, not taking pride in the victory.
“A win is a win,” he said. “Minimal losses too. Again, excellent victory, Boss. I’m glad only so few were lost. We dwarves tend to not angst over easy wins.”
“Absolutely true, and I plan to have many more victories where the enemy underestimates me,” I told him. “Can I help you?”
“A few of the lads unleashed crossbow bolts into the enemy…” Krona said, letting the sentence hang.
“Tarla, thank the mercenaries for their efforts with a hundred Zorta,” I ordered.
She nudged her ram for our treasury wagon and Krona followed her. The hundred was more than they deserved but enough to placate them. I had no issue hiring mercenaries and would probably see if Zozo Hold would manage to let me hire some.
For the moment, these dwarves were freeloading and exploiting the fact I needed allies. A hundred Z was nothing to me and everything to them. An unforeseen cost of doing business, but I unhappily paid it.
A dark and brooding cloud of black magic blotted out the sun. The storm intensified as the heavens themselves became hell. Raining reapers descended on the massacred centaurs, impacting the forest with puffs of fallen leaves.
From between the trees, I saw reapers slamming bodies down for ghoulish hands to reap flesh.
My reaper’s translucent form popped out of my chest to watch the display. I could feel the being give a hearty laugh. I shuddered and ineffectively tried to shove him away.
A hundred and something new centaurs stood within the forest, Delsy bringing them to join our moving caravan.
The clouds parted, revealing the sun, and my reaper retreated.
With her part done, I closed my eyes to find my center. I stopped my mount. The clack of hooves and the sound of complaining wheels rang heavy in my ears as I focused.
I reached out, only wanting to consume.
The centaurs were worth only a few Z each, making their submissions easy. I selected every available orb into one option.
Claim or Consume Zorta. Claim option will be limited until you free additional space or upgrade as a necromancer.
I selected consume.
Zorta: 1271.229 (Consume) or - Drop option has been removed. Drops must be done on an individual basis. Confirm Consume (YES) - (NO)
I almost selected yes. Almost. Instead, I pulled in my aura, disconnecting from the orbs.
I witnessed something I never thought possible - mounted goblin cavalry unleashing spells on the enemy.
“Nee, the rest goes to the goblins and the trolls who charged bravely into the fight. The caravan does not slow. Be quick about it,” I ordered.
“As the Boss commands,” Nee said, before turning to triumphantly shout to her returning goblins atop gators.
She yelled at them to collect the loot and raise their power. Triumphant cheering erupted from the goblins, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
Tarla finished handing out the hundred Z to the dwarves then came to ride at my side. Her sour expression spoke volumes. I gave a terse smile, hoping to alleviate her frustration.
Nope…
“We could have used that Z,” Tarla said, her nose tilted up into the air.
I didn’t need to remind her that we had enough for the moment. She was thinking long term, on a different scale.
“Aye, we could have. It’s worth it to upgrade our main allies, I feel,” I said. “I’m sorry you’re on the road again.”
She huffed, letting out her frustration. “I shouldn’t be sour. I really shouldn't be,” she grumbled, trying to convince herself. “It’s just not even four hours out of our home, and we’re attacked. Frustrating, I tell you, frustrating.”
“I wish we had a nice beach to retire on,” I teased.
“Yes, well, if we did that, Bell would likely be dead, and these folks all killed as recompense for the enemy not finding you. I’ll get over it. I had just set up a nursery and finally had a home of my own,” Tarla said, a hint of pain in her voice.
“It’ll be okay, my darling. It’ll be okay. Oh look, here comes Sprinkles,” I said, nodding in the direction of the massive skeleton. Sprinkles carried a big blanket that had been converted into a bag, but that wasn’t what drew my
attention. I caught sight of something else behind him. “What’s that?”
An image on the distant horizon flew in a hover. I reached into the bag on the back of my saddle, rummaging for a spyglass.
When I extended the device, and set it to my eye, I saw a griffin with a fancily armored rider.
“Ah, the prince or one of his knights. We’ve been scouted. I bet we make it to Zozo Hold before they do,” I said.
“Last report was they had foot infantry,” Nee said, raising her voice to be heard. The crafty goblin was a few dozen feet back, clearly eavesdropping. “We’re all mounted. There’s no way they keep up with us. Their cavalry is light in comparison to ours, at least that is the report.”
“You can keep running because Toneba and the Arax faithful and they’ll never stop,” a whiney male voice from above said.
I glanced up to see Sprinkles loomed over me with what I had to assume was camp prisoners.
“Are they bound?” I asked. Sprinkles shrugged. “Are they in rope binding?” Another shrug. I sighed. “Set them down and let Nee properly shackle them.”
He did as commanded, and I kept moving with the caravan. The second half of my army continued to trickle in, the defeat and looting of the centaur base completed. Asha trotted Charlie out of the forest, heading directly for me. I kept my guards, the living minions, as a buffer, only letting in those I trusted.
Charlie nipped at rams on his way in.
“The warhorse is mad he had to flee earlier. Um… the camp had a few mares, minimal loot, and three enemy scouts. The mares are going to the back of the formation to help carry pregnant goblins,” Asha said.
“They fought on their skeleton cavalry just fine,” I said.
He chuckled, shaking his head. We both knew a few had fallen off.
Nee brought over a man who was bound, gagged, and stuffed on the back of a ram. I didn’t recognize him, and he didn’t seem like a cocky type of fellow. His young features, sandy brown hair, and brown eyes spoke of a hard life. The damn age reduction magic made it hard to gauge a man’s age accurately.
I glanced back, seeing Yermica forcing a young minotaur toward us at a trot. The horns were short, the face a mix of rage and calm. Another educated minotaur if I had to guess. He fought his binds and chewed on his gag.
“Hmm…” I muttered and twisted my face into a frown. “Ungag the human.” I waited for Nee to rip his gag out. “Who are you?”
“Light infantry, Dasha rank, my name is name Parr Tanroo,” the scout said, and I figured it out quickly.
He was a nobody scout that the centaurs had caught.
“Why didn’t they kill you?” I asked.
“I was next, I think. They ate my scout partner last night,” Parr said.
“Are the details about the army worth dying over?” I asked the young man.
He opened his mouth then shut it. The centaurs hadn’t beaten him, and he seemed healthy. My guess was they’d just slit his throat before it was cooking time. I glanced at the minotaur, noticing his leather armor was well crafted.
“Who’s the minotaur?” I asked, trying for leverage that would likely work.
“Never seen ‘em,” Parr said. “I’ll never betray Arax for a demon. So best to kill me because torture will gain you nothing.”
While I wasn’t a skilled interrogator, I didn’t see the need to lie.
“Right. There’s a human champion and a Prince coming to kill me with Arax faithful. They have cavalry, infantry, mercenaries, and mounts. You’re useless to me. I’ll let the dwarves deal with you,” I said, waving him out of my sight. I pointed to the minotaur. “Ungag him.”
“Freninick, at your service,” the minotaur said in an eloquent manner. “This impressive skeleton picked me up in a matter of moments. I was spying on the camp, looking for you. Do you have any books?”
I snorted with laughter. “You know Oskariver?”
“Oskatriver. Close, and yes. I believe you met my mother, Jeelina,” the minotaur said.
I nodded. “Draw a weapon or make an untoward motion, and you're dead. I’m only being rude because I’m on edge,” I said, and Freninick nodded. “Release him.”
“You’ve grown just like father predicted. It is truly incredible. I came to join you,” Freninix proclaimed.
Tarla reached over and raised my jaw. Freninix pushed a goblin off a ram, hopping onto the mount without a care. The goblin slammed down, propping himself up with a string of curses.
“Silence, slave,” Freninick said with disdain.
“Ah, so, a few things. Please dismount the ram,” I said. Ferninix grumbled but did as requested. “Stick my soldier back onto his mount and tell him you didn’t understand he had achieved battle prowess status.”
“You let the goblins fight?” he exclaimed.
“Have the minotaurs not done that?” I asked.
“When our walls are threatened, sure, but they’re always under leveled. I apologize. Father said you would be… different,” Freninick said, clearly swapping the word different in at the last moment.
“Do you have a nickname you prefer?” I asked.
“Nick works, Lord Damien. Do you have a mount I can ride?”
“Magic type?” I asked.
“I’m an anti-mage. If a mage or spell is nearby, I blast anti magic at it to consume the mana. It ends out being a trade. It’s terrible magic for a minotaur to try to level,” Nick admitted with a sour snort shake.
“How would that work on me?” I asked.
“You utilize passive magic. It would only apply if you were actively casting or unleashed a fear spell,” Nick said.
“Thank you. Here in a bit, I’ll give you a big gator with orders to follow your commands if they don’t harm one of us or you try to flee our forces on its back,” I said. The four thick fingers on each hand smacked together in a delighted clap. “Now, for some answers.”
“Naturally. What would you like to know?”
“What can you tell us?” Tarla asked.
“I’m well versed in many subjects,” Nick said, using his long stride to keep pace.
I saw Parr returned to being gagged and tossed onto a ram behind a goblin. I frowned at my latest guest, not wanting more problems.
I raised my voice and shouted, “Increase the pace!”
The caravan’s speed only slightly increased. Nick went to raise a thick finger, but I waved it down.
“I’m in need of information. The minotaur war against Tarb. What went wrong?”
He grumbled and said, “I wasn’t allowed to go. The mission was restricted to those with level ten skills. I haven’t been on many adventures due to my studies.”
“Surely you heard something,” Asha commented.
“Yes, Tarb fell with the combined might of the Great Herd. The aligned horde marched for Litroo but clashed against a response army. The reinforcements for Tarb joined an army with a large contingent of troops hunting a human champion necromancer.
“Father caught wind of a rogue human champion. And. well, obviously so did General Karde. Since we provided you harbor, he forbade any official military members from joining the human force. They’re hiring mercenaries, some of which are minotaurs. That is why I was sent to you,” Nick said.
If my plan wasn’t diabolical, I would have worried more. If he was a spy, it wouldn’t matter, though. Hiding from that griffin was impossible and my plan didn’t require deceit.
“Alright, we heard something similar. I won’t lie, you’ll earn Zorta and experience working for me. You won’t always like the work,” I told him.
He nodded and replied, “There’s minotaurs within Prince Lao’s ranks as hired hands, and General Karde traded gold and knowledge for his tale of your encounter. Umm… Speaking of which, the humans are expecting you to have ten minions, maybe a hundred - and for them to be goblin runts.”
“Ha! Well, they saw what they’re facing. I guess I’ll give the scout to the dwarves to ransom off. You can stick around. We ca
tch you trying to send unsanctioned messages home, and it won’t end well. I still think I can trust others, but I will be more careful,” I admitted.
“And the books!” he said with a happy grin that only a minotaur could pull off.
I nodded to Asha who went to my personal wagon.
“Is your father and the General looking for an ally in me?” I asked.
“Yes and no. I’m to surrender if you fall. Our mercenaries will take me home if they defeat you,” Nick said.
“Ah, a bit of bet hedging. Please both sides a smidge, make it hard to lose, and it doesn’t matter who wins. Smart,” I said.
“Yes, well, the humans underestimated the General at Tarb. He is ancient and wise but you slipped through his fingers. He says his mind was filled with thoughts of flaying loose lipped soldiers and not how a pesky human managed to escape Tarb or pretended to be from Ostriva.
“He did capitalize on the information you provided, though. They used the coastline and hit the city at night in a silent ladder assault. The entire city was captured or slain in a few hours. That is part of why I was sent to you - to trade if you do win. Gold, books, raw ore, silver, and other metals for slaves. Human slaves,” Nick said.
“Bell’s mother,” Tarla gasped, connecting the dots.
“I have a plan,” I said, hoping to calm her. “You’re not going to like it, but you’ll have to trust me. Can this Prince… crap, I forgot his name. Toneba and him, can they catch us?” I asked.
Nick's brows furled, and he even tilted his head slightly.
“Who’s Toneba?”
“The champion of Arax who is in that army,” I said.
“Oh… Well, that would be worthy of sending a message home. However, I’ve no means. Based on the scouts’ reports I overheard, they’ve been hard marching for weeks. But no, your army is drastically smaller, no roads to make, and are all mounted,” Nick said.
“Trading with the dwarves it is. Then I’ll tell you all about step two,” I said.
