The captain turned over his shoulder and said, "What now, slave? Oh sorry, former slave?"
"I want your name," Zack said calmly, blood pumping faster through his veins. "So when I rip out your heart from your chest, I'll knew who it was that tried to get in the way between me and Yemiri."
The guard captain cursed, pushed Leyna and Ulfric to the side, and grabbed his axes. He took a battle stance, all the cocky swagger he had just a moment before gone. His smile was still there, but it was no longer the half-friendly mask he had worn. It was all teeth.
He sneered, "I was hoping it would get to this. I only ever heard about your exploits in the Rings from my men. Never had the chance to see it myself. But there's no way a slave could ever beat someone like me. Adjutant Lagrand was right. You need to learn your place. The name is Torlock, by the way. It'll be the last name you hear."
The twin in red sighed mechanically, "Nuel, it is time we fight."
His brother nodded as well, "Agreed, Puel. Master Lagrand said the fighter is most likely an Elementalist. We shall show extreme force."
So, the Adjutant had somehow known that Zack was an Elementalist. In hindsight, that shouldn't have surprised him. If he were the only Elementalist in a backwater town and heard about a slave who exhibited extraordinary healing and strength, then it'd be easy to make the connections.
Torlock laughed darkly, "Elementalist? This slave? You've got to be--"
Words were for mouths, and Zack was all hands.
Within the span of a blink, his calves tensed and exploded. The good captain of the guard raised his ax barely in time to block Zack's fist. The sound of a bell rang from the collision of metal and flesh.
If it had been the day before, when Zack still had a thin wiry frame, Torlock's ax might have simply flown away. But Zack had invested into rebuilding his entire frame, giving him new access to not just more muscle, but more of the trollbear's strength.
His knuckles rocked into the flat of the ax and kept pressing into Torlock's face, burying the ax into the man's skull. Half a blink later, the man fell to the ground, his head completely crushed. For that brief moment, Zack didn't feel like a beast. He felt like a man, and it felt good.
Fire erupted next to him, and he jumped back purely on instinct. Expecting his boots to land on snow, they instead landed on ice. He slipped, and the ice beneath him formed into crystalline spike, piercing his foot. Bright pain erupted from his foot.
Fabiola's spear cut the growing ice spike, and Mannic pulled Zack away from the ice. A path of ice led back to the twin in blue robes. His eyes glowed dark blue.
The other twin's eyes glowed bright red, fire coalescing around his hands.
They were Elementalists. Zack had killed the captain of the guard only to fight Elementalist, one of ice and the other of fire. Before he had time to think over the revelation, Mannic lifted him up.
Something clicked from Oslo's direction, and two bolts whizzed from his crossbow. Several knives flicked through the air, immediately followed by Fabiola. The fifty guards weren't waiting either, forming to surround the Wild Brigade in a half circle.
If they formed a complete circle, it would spell doom for him and his friends. Fabiola was the most skilled warrior Zack had ever seen, dancing between the fire combusting only a few inches away from her face and the tendrils of ice barely skinning her arms. Her spear struck like a snake, but ice walls five inches thick were leaked out from the ice Elementalist's hands.
Astrid muttered, "We're not gonna win. Fabby's good, but those two twins are better together."
Injured from the surprise attack, Zack bit down the pain and rushed to help the desert woman. Unfortunately, he had only made the situation worse. Where Fabiola had formed a natural rhythm with her fighting techniques, Zack had come in arms swinging wildly like a manic beast.
He clawed his hands through a wall of ice formed suddenly from the ice Elementalist's hands, but another one just formed around his ankles, locking him in place. A bolt of fire speared toward his face, but Fabiola's spear shattered the ice around Zack's ankles, and he dodged. But the fire still caught his hair, causing it all to burn away nearly instantly.
Zack jumped and rolled out of the way into the snow, headfirst. The fire was cooled off, but Fabiola was on her heels against the Elementalists. She was not afraid, but Zack could tell she was nervous. He realized they were completely surrounded.
The Elementalists were too skilled and too odd in their way of fighting for them to win. That left only one option. They needed to flee. But how? Nearly fifty guards had them surrounded. Mannic, Oslo, and Astrid had managed to kill a few, but even they were pressed.
A man's voice shouted near Fabiola. "Go!"
Ulfric, Leyna's son, grabbed the Elementalist in the red robes, hugging him like a bear. His mother had done the same to the ice Elementalist, frost quickly forming around her neck. She looked to Zack and yelled, "Look for Henslow!"
Fabiola's eyes widened in shock at the gruesome scene. Instantly, Ulfric began to catch fire, even burning the robes of the Elementalist. He screamed but did not let go.
The two rebels had given their lives to give Zack and his friends their only chance. He yelled, "Wild Brigade, retreat!"
With his new found strength, he sped the opposite direction of the Elementalist who were quickly breaking from the grips of Leyna and Ulfric. Fabiola followed. Zack barreled into several guards, a few of their axes digging into his torso and shoulders. He didn't fight the pain but fed it to the hunger.
Luckily, the hunger was no longer a terrifying beast like before. He still had control. Astrid, Oslo, and Mannic were already heading toward the cliffs before the Frozen Sea, twisting through the trees. He'd follow their scent, trusting in Mannic and Oslo's ability to navigate them while losing the guards and Elementalists. No one knew these woods like the brother-hunters.
Fabiola was at his side, keeping step with him. Zack would have been faster except for the gaping wound in his legs.
He didn't know how long they ran for, but by the time Oslo and Mannic stopped, even Zack was out of breath. Astrid collapsed to the snow and began shivering. They were at the edge of a cliff of the Frozen Sea. If they jumped, they could land on the ice and escape until they hit water or the ice beneath them broke.
After that, who knew what they would or even could do? Their followers were far out of sight, having lost them inside the woods due to Oslo's directions. Although powerful, the twin Elementalists were clearly not trackers.
Faboila huffed some air. She said, "What now?"
In their escape, Zack realized something important. Of course he wanted to save Yemiri. He had built up a protective nature around his friend and future wife for his whole life, even long before her ankle broke. But now? That instinct to protect her had extended to his friends, including Oslo and Mannic.
Zack stared at the hole in his foot. It had frozen over, but he didn't feel the cold due to the trollbear's flesh. He could run with his friends, maybe even to another town. Oslo know the Astorian coast like the back of his hand. They could hunt for food better than anyone they knew.
He thought Yemiri, caught in the Adjutant's tower. The anger he had felt earlier had grown and it had given him clarity. It wasn't just about saving Yemiri anymore. He never gave a damn about the revolution of Bergen and its people. His anger didn't stem from the injustices they faced.
It was more personal than that. His anger was directed to the Adjutant. Time and time again the man he had never once met in person had actively been a thorn in Zack's side. And all for what? Because the man had a thing for Yemiri?
If Yemiri was truly happy, then Lagrand would have never needed to resort to so many underhanded tactics, regardless if they were well within the law.
Zack sucked in a cold breath and said, "We've essentially cut all ties with Bergen. We can't do business there and we are now branded as fugitives. They're expecting us to run and escape. So, we don't do that. We double back."
Astrid shook her head in disbelief. "Are you nuts? I'd follow you anywhere, Zack, but you're being crazy. None of us even knew the Adjutant had two Elementalists that could kick both of yours and Fabiola's butts on hand! And he's their boss. That means he's more powerful than both of them! What are you thinking?"
Zack flexed his fingers and he calmed the hunger. He said, "I have a plan. But first, we need to see Renton. Oslo and Mannic, can you get us back without us getting tracked?"
Oslo nodded gravely. "Through the woods, yes. But I can't do anything about us getting into the walls of the city. I know how to get around places I've been, but that's it. It's not like I have a knack for getting into places I shouldn't."
Everyone instantly looked to Astrid. She looked genuinely confused. Still out of breath, she asked, "What?"
14
"How did you get here again?" Renton asked, bewildered.
Zack, Oslo, Mannic, Fabiola, and Astrid were all completely covered in dirt. The dirtiest was Zack, and he didn't seem to happy about it. His hands brushed off as much of it as he could He looked to Astrid for her to explain, which she happily did. "We dug under the wall."
"We?" Zack asked with an annoyed growl.
"Zack did," corrected Fabiola. She was busy cleaning off her spear. "His Elementalist strength made him the easy choice. Although, the ones immediately behind him were hit with the dirt. Mannic patched up the hole we made when we entered, and the Winter's snow should have covered that all by now.
Zack said, "It's not like we could just waltz back into town now that we're fugitives of Bergen."
Renton pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly doing his best to not look or sound frustrated. To his credit, even after they had showed up inside Ring two and snuck into his sleeping chambers, he did not act startled or surprised. He didn't even raise the alarm or call for the local guards. Not much seemed to faze the man.
The manager of the Rings said, "The whole town is on high alert. I've never seen this many guards out on the streets, probably covering the walls, too, but I haven't left my Rings since they called early curfew."
He sounded annoyed, and added, "If this whole thing cuts into my earnings for the Rings, I am going to turn you and make you fight for me forever, one hundred wins or not."
Zack knew the man didn't mean it. If Renton had any intention of getting them in trouble, he would have done so already. Zack didn't know why, but he felt a sincere sense of trust for the man. He was a greedy bastard, but his word was good and true.
He said, "The Adjutant's lackeys are Elementalists. Fire and Ice."
Renton bit his lip. "Makes sense. I suspected so."
"You did? How? Is there a way to tell if someone is an Elementalist?"
"Not that I know of. But they don't call me Goldeneyes because I love money. I just know people. Those twins were too relaxed when near my guards, like taking them out wasn't a problem. I'm surprised they gave both you and Fabiola a tough time."
Fabiola grimaced. "The warrior in me hates to admit it, but those Elementalists were out of my league. Their powers were too unpredictable."
Renton nodded appreciatively. "Then that means you're ten steps ahead of any desert warrior I've met. Humility doesn't come easily to your people."
To Zack, Renton's words sounded like an insult, but Fabiola had clearly taken it as a compliment, blushing.
Renton added, "All of you are screwed. It's that simple. You can't do business in Bergen. You're outlaws. The possibility of buying your friend Yemiri's title is out of the question. The Elementalists can kick even your considerable hind to the snow, and we still don't know how powerful Lagrand really is."
Zack took in the words and said, "I actually have a thought on that. I think the Elementalist twins are in the first state like me. All of their elemental powers came out of their bodies. If they were in the second state, they'd be able to manipulate their elements around them."
Renton nodded. "Makes sense. Lagrand is most likely in his second state. He was exiled here for something at the capitol. The man used to be the Treasurer to Empress Wenshin. Other than that, I haven't been able to uncover much besides his wife had died before he came here. The man never leaves his tower."
Zack was taken aback. "You know about Elementalists? That means you already knew what I was?"
Renton gave him a sly smile. "I wouldn't have gotten to where I am in life if I didn't know about Elementalist, boy. I had suspicions that you were one, too. Though, I've never heard of a flesh Elementalist. Didn't even think it was possible."
Mannic rubbed his red beard and asked, "Why do you think Adjutant Lagrand is only in his second state? I only know what Zack has told me."
Renton said, "If he was in his third state, he could grant his powers to others temporarily and have them shoulder his insanity. In all my time here, I never heard of a man or woman walking around with ice powers."
Oslo asked, "What about the ice Elementalist Fabiola and Zack fought?"
Renton shook his head. "From what I heard, the man seemed to be well versed in his Elemental powers. They're twins. Stands to reason they gained their Tesseracts at the same time. Besides, pawns are given elemental powers temporarily."
Zack agreed. The twins were too powerful, and more importantly, too coordinated in their attacks. That spoke years of experience fighting together. Even if Fabiola wasn't caught off guard by their powers, they still would have killed her eventually.
He needed to find a way to defeat them.
Renton sighed. "I can't do anything for you, if that's why you're here. The way I see it, you have two choices: leave or fight. If you fight, you'll die. That simple. If you flee, I can sneak you on a ship right now."
Zack shook his head. "Out of the question. Yemiri is still here."
Renton placed his hands on Zack's shoulders. It was the most fatherly behavior Zack had seen since his own father died.
The man said, "Think about what you've gained since coming here. You've made friends, more power than you could have ever dreamed of, and money. I know you love your friend, but no one leaves that tower unless the Adjutant wills it. No one."
Zack shook his head. "No. If it was Astrid or Fabiola or Mannic or Oslo, I'd do my damndest to save them too. Even if it was you, I'd try to save you. I protect friends."
He paused for a second and asked, "Tell me this, Renton. What happens to the harem candidates who enter the tower?"
Renton's face firmed up. "I have no idea."
Zack nodded. "We aren't here to ask you to help us to escape. I came to you because I have a plan. Don't worry. We aren't going to storm the tower. "
Renton took a step back, studying Zack. He asked, "Then why are you here?"
Zack told him his plan. Then he told him again because Renton didn't quite believe how stupid it was. When he finished, Renton shook his head and said, "Mad. You're all mad."
He looked to Astrid. "And you? You're okay with this? You always seemed the most sensible of the lot with your 'fight another day' attitude."
Astrid shrugged. "Zack's my man. Zack's...our man."
Zack asked. "So can you do it? Right before she died, Leyna said to find Henslow. Can you get us to him?"
Renton said. "I can. It'd be difficult, but I can. The man is the head of the rebellion. Very militant. But why would I help you try something so insane? What do I get out of this?"
Zack smiled. He had been waiting for question. "Because I can offer you something no one else can. It'll come at a risk, but if I fail, you lost nothing. If I don't..."
He leaned in and whispered into Renton's ear. When Zack leaned back, he enjoyed watching the leader of the Rings' face contort from disbelief to wonder to pure greed.
The Flesh Elementalist Page 11
