Chapter 49 — A Terrifying Encounter

  As the wagon rumbled its way back into the jungle pulled by Fancy, their rented raptor, Toren let out a breath of relief. They’d concluded their business and made it safely out of town—hopefully without drawing unwanted attention.

  He hefted his new broad-headed war maul, trying to get used to the feel of the weight. The slit in Laiya’s helmet turned his way before returning to scanning the trees and undergrowth for danger.

  The [Weaponsmith] had known exactly what Toren was seeking and had a fair number of similar weapons already made. The muscled man had readily explained that all-steel construction wasn’t necessarily the best choice, steering him toward huge hammers constructed of lead wrapped in steel, each with a thick, wood haft.

  Apparently, Toren wasn’t the only [Warrior]-type to have the Strength, Skills, and Abilities to make heavier weapons an obvious and devastating choice.

  Carrying it around was still going to suck as bad as swamp mud not wanting to let go of oiled boots. Maybe he’d get a free Strength or Constitution increase?

  The maul wasn’t his only purchase after reuniting with the Hatterwicks. Like the rest of his party, Toren’s armor was now drawing ambient mana to power its new enchantment.

  He was quite pleased with the apprentice’s work. In addition to the common material-strengthening, the [Apprentice Enchanter] had worked into the array engraved on the interior plates: a [Resist Ability] effect.

  Reducing the effectiveness of Abilities that penetrate the armor whether through or between the plates had been high on Toren’s list since his encounter with the [Assassin], even if it came with significant downsides. The apprentice warned him that the effect would also resist beneficial Abilities such as armor reinforcement or healing and that it wouldn’t stop Skills that spot weak points through observation and experience.

  This was still a good trade-off. Skills that spot weak points might be more common, but Abilities that ignored armor and caused mortal wounds were far more dangerous.

  The tier-2 arrows, he was less happy about. What they could afford was single-use and expensive. Even with the unexpected gains from the conclave property sale, purchasing three significantly depleted their remaining coin. Toren felt bad about using Laiya and her mother’s reparations for the purchase, but with the coming high-tide, both women opted for better safety.

  The arrows were stored in a sealing box that kept them from degrading—not an ideal situation should they be ambushed.

  The notice snapped him out of his thoughts and he sensed it.

  “Off the road, now!”

  Toren’s terse shout was too late. He looked up just as the tier-2 lizard’s shadow passed over them. Wings trailing from its arms. Not a dragon, a wyvern.

  “Laiya, the tier-2 arrows! Hurry!”

  Laiya frantically undid the ties on his pack and worked the box free, dropping it with a clatter of wood on wood as the wagon lurched over the edge of the road, almost flipping over. The wheels slipping down the loose gravel lining the side of the steep ditch was the only thing that kept them upright.

  Bow at the ready, Toren held his breath, waiting for the dangerous beast to turn, but it didn’t.

  Silence settled over the jungle. The only sounds were Falma’s calming whispers to Fancy and the beast’s rapid breathing, the girl’s new [Beast Handling] Skill showing its effect to ease the raptor’s terror.

  Emina gripped onto the wagon’s bench for all she was worth, an arm wrapped protectively around her youngest. Warnel’s eyes were wide, and the man fearfully glanced between Toren and where the wyvern had gone as Laiya finally handed over one of the enchanted arrows.

  Having delivered the needed arrow, the armored girl scurried to collect her fallen spear and climbed back into the wagon, also readying her gaze and weapon toward the sky.

  When it looked like the beast wasn’t returning, Toren made a decision. “Falma, get us back on the road and away from here.”

  Fancy was eager, and once the difficulty of getting the wagon back over the side of the ditch was solved, Falma let the raptor run. Toren kept his eyes on the sky, the enchanted arrow thrumming dangerously with power.

  The jungle noises gradually returned with the distance from the wyvern sighting, but Toren and the Hatterwicks remained tense and ready for attack from the sky or the jungle.

  “Was it after livestock?” Emina suggested against the wind of the wagon’s passage when they passed a road that led to a farming stead, holding her cloak’s hood in place with her hand.

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  “Will Joric and Kota be okay?” Falma worried.

  They all felt relief upon reaching the Blue Raptor Ranch and finding everything normal, the animals calm in their pens and saddled raptors tied up by the tavern.

  Toren thought about warning the people there about the wyvern but decided not to chance another Conclave member recognizing them. Instead, as when they passed Marton’s farm, they continued on.

  Evening settled on the jungle by the time they arrived back at the stead to find the claim barrier still intact. Through [Mana Sensing], Toren identified a small patrol of zoots watching the property from a safe distance, nothing else of note.

  Emina cleared her throat. “Even though everyone is tired from the danger and the long day, the claim stakes will need recharging before we can relax.”

  Warnel groaned. “Let me and the girls get feeling back into our legs and behinds first, Emy.”

  “I need to take care of Fancy, mom,” Falma whined, the way exhausted teens often did when asked to do extra chores.

  “And if the mana runs out first? We’ve all seen what happened to the family that lived here before us,” Emina countered.

  Toren could only imagine the grimaces expressed under each helm at that. He had been unconscious for the clean up of Steader Levish and his family’s remains, but it couldn’t have been pleasant.

  “I’ve got more mana now, so-” he started to say, trailing off as a shard from the Celestial Mirror appeared when the wagon passed through the claim stakes’ protection array.

  “Something wrong?” Emina asked, worry returning to her voice.

  Toren did a quick scan of the property using the stakes’ array and shook his head. “No, we’re fine. The stead is as we left it. I’m just not used to how the enchantment works yet. What I started to suggest is that you, Warnel, and I should have enough mana to charge two stakes each, that way the girls can rest up or get started on unloading the wagon or whatever.”

  Emina nodded. “Alright, you heard Toren, girls. I don’t want to see you slacking.”

  “Yeess, mom,” the daughters reflexively replied.

  ~~~

  Name: Toren of Theravos

  Race: Human

  Age: 20

  Profession 1: Level 5 Burningblood Berserker (4300/10000)

  Mana: 72/72

  Strength: 16

  Constitution: 13

  Dexterity: 14

  Agility: 12

  Wisdom: 12

  Intellect: 8

  Will Power: 18

  Perception 15

  Appearance: 8

  Charisma: 8

  Luck: 10

  Attribute Upgrade Points: 4

  Traits:

  Sacrificial Guardian

  Abilities:

  Burning Blood (Rank 1) Proficiency: Mid

  Control Blood (Rank 1) Proficiency: Low

  Flurry of Blows (Rank 1) Proficiency: Low

  Ability Upgrade Points: 4

  Profession Skills:

  Severe Wound Recovery 5

  Focus Rage 3

  Combat Awareness 3

  Berserker Knife Arts 1

  Spear 9

  Club 8

  Pain Tolerance 5

  Physical Conditioning 5

  Intimidate 3

  Skills:

  Danger Sensing 2 → 3

  Stealth 18

  Mana Sensing 14

  Wilderness Harvesting 12

  Theravos Language 11

  Religion 10

  Meditation 5

  Bone Strengthening 3

  Divided Focus 1

  Hunting 20

  Archery 19

  Running 12

  Wound Binding 8

  Arithmetic 4