Book 2. Chapter 42

Book 2. Chapter 42

After the defenders dispersed, Brin followed Kevim to try to get a word with him. He hung back while Kevim conferred with what was left of the towns leadership, following along behind quietly. Kevim stayed between others the entire walk, though,then headed towards the Prefits house. The Prefits front room was a big conference room where the Council conducted their business. Apparently it was still in use even though the man himself was indisposed.

Brin called out before they went inside, Kevim, sir, can I?

Not now. Kevim waved him off, and stepped inside. The leadership, Balbi included, followed him inside, but a firm glance at the head [Farmer] made it clear that Brin wasnt welcome to follow.

Brin tried to listen outside the door to get an idea of what they were talking about, but the place mustve been enchanted against eavesdroppers. He tried using [Call Sound through Glass] on the windows, not to make any particular sound, but more to see if he could figure out how to listen through the Skill, but the window flashed red. Some kind of magical protection? Brin took off before he could get in trouble.

Well, that was a bust, but the chances that Kevim would take him seriously even if he could get his attention were slim to none. Who would he listen to? A fellow [Hunter], maybe? Brin decided to track down Luiza, the [Gatherer] turned [Huntress].

After asking around, he found that shed been positioned near the south gate. She was one of the [Hunters] who patrolled the walls, making sure that nothing climbed over, and taking notes of spots where the undead were trying to hack through. Pretty soon, the gate defense wouldnt be the only battles of the day. The town would have to do the same thing to repair sections of the wall as the undead started to break through.

When he found her, she didnt stop her quick pace, so he fell in beside her. Hey, Luiza, hows it going? Hows that new and improved [Trickshot] treating you?

Actually, he could just [Inspect]. When he did, he realized that shed already gone up to level 32 and gotten a new Skill, [Effortless Pull]. It decreased the magic costs of all her offensive bow Skills. Right now she only had one of those, but now she could use it much more often. The perfect choice for leveling during a siege.

Never mind, looks like youre doing great! Brin said before she could answer.

Its weird, to level so fast after being stagnant for so long, Luiza admitted. Her eyes never stopped scanning. Up and down the walls on one side, and then peering through the alleyways on the other. Do you mind? Im actually in the middle of a shift.

I dont mind at all, said Brin, pretending that he hadnt noticed the dismissal. I was wondering, does Kevim listen to you?

I guess he probably would if I had anything to say. He always has time for fellow [Hunters].

Could you talk to him for me? Before she ran away, Tawna came and talked to me. She said that we can win this, we just need to hold out for a little longer. She wanted me to make sure that Kevim knows that we shouldnt surrender. Although, honestly I wonder why she didnt talk to him herself.

Luiza snorted. Oh, I can answer that one. Kevim hates Tawna. Underhanded people like her drive him crazy. You probably didnt know this, but when Tawna was on trial for what she did to you, Kevim was the one who tried to push for her to be executed.

Balbi is going to try to talk to him, too, but I dont think hell listen to her.

Luiza laughed, then remembered she was on patrol and moved her eyes twice as fast along the walls, as if some infiltrator was waiting for her momentary distraction. You got that right. Nobody likes Balbi. Shes good with laundry, though. I accidentally left some sugar candy in a pocket in my blouse one time, but when I got them back from her it was totally fine. The shirt was clean, too.

So can you talk to him? asked Brin.

Sure. I bet I can convince him, as long as I dont mention Tawna or Balbi or you.

Whats wrong with me?

Uh I really need to keep moving. Luiza zipped forward, and Brin let her go. As long as shed talk to Kevim, that would be enough.

He walked by Perris shop next, but found the door locked. He heard banging coming from inside, so he peered in the window. Perris was at his counter, but hed set it up as a work table. He was striking a pile of leather with a wooden mallet. The leather didnt look the right shape for a person. Brin had to watch for a few minutes before he understood. It was the right shape for a bull, or a dog. Poco, Ferir and Lup were some of their strongest fighters now, but they needed armor, and Perris was the best person to make it, especially now that the town didnt have a [Smith]. Ademir might be able to help with armor, but something told Brin that Ademir was already busy.

He went to Ademirs shop next. The door was locked there, too, but when he knocked and called out, Ademir opened the door for him.

Ademsi 2000 lay sprawled out on a table. He was riddled with scars. The wood was splintered in places, and the perfect artwork of his massive frame had been vandalized with rents and gashed. Hed seemed so indomitable during the battle that it was hard for Brin to believe what he was seeing. If Ademsi were a person, he might already be dead. No, he would be dead, judging by the deep gash in the back of his head.

H-how are you feeling Ademsi 2000? he asked.

I feel grand, the wooden man said with a smile. Today was a triumph!

Ademir scowled. You couldve died.

I saw no foes there that could truly test me. I stalked through them like a wolf among sheep, and there were none to interfere, said Ademsi. Brin couldnt help but smile at the matter-of-fact tone. Ademsi wasnt intentionally bragging, he was stating the absolute truth.

How are the repairs coming?The origin of this chapter's debut can be traced to N0v3l--B1n.

Ademir set down a chisel and hammer hed been working with and sighed. Hes in no condition to be walking around like this, and I dont think Ill have him ready to go by morning, not at this rate. It would be one thing if I could have a [Woodsman] regrow his broken pieces, the way you would if you needed to fix a fence, but theres no one I trust enough to bring in just yet. Carving out new pieces to replace them would take too long, especially if I want to do them up special and strong like the ones he has now. Patching them is an option, but my levels in [Tinker] just arent enough to do this as fast as Id like. I might have to use cement or glue at this point, but those come with their own problems.

What about glass? asked Brin.

I got some cooking just in case I decide to go that way, but itll burn him when I apply it. I could make the pieces ahead of time and then cool them down, but thatll take too long.

Let me try.

Ademir nodded slowly, and Brin noticed the dark bags under Ademirs eyes. He mustve been pulling late nights lately.

Brin scooped up some of the glass hed been working with. Broken bottles, odd shapes, failed experiments and the like. He brought it over to Ademsi and began to work.

He didnt overload [Shape Glass] this time like he had on the battlefield. That was fine for emergencies, but if he went slower it saved a lot of mana. He used a chip from a broken bottle, and lay it over one of the smaller cuts on Ademsis arm.

That cloak. Its enchanted against heat vision?

Yeah, and Zilly has something similar. After Myra made a set for you, Zilly found out about it and wanted a pair. Only, she asked in the typical Zilly way so Myra dug in her heels and refused. We didnt even know shed made them after all until tonight when we searched their hut after they were gone.

Ok, but that doesnt explain why you even think Tawna needs your help.

We dont have a lot of time! Davi glanced at the line of stakes on the wall, as if contemplating just climbing over. He sighed. Her plan failed. Even [Weavers] can fail, you know. Something happened, and Tawna had to bury Myra underground and then run to lead the enemies away. Shes trapped.

How do you know all this?

Marksi followed them in secret.

Brin shook his head. Marksi told you all this? How?

Davi grunted in irritation, then whirled towards the wall. If youre going to yell, then yell. Im going to go find Myra. He climbed the scattered line of stakes easily, and then slipped over the top of the wall.

Brin didnt exactly have much choice. If he alerted the town, then the undead really would converge over here. Zillys [Rogue] might be able to stay hidden, but she had focused on combat rather than stealth, and he didnt like Davis chances at all, not if the undead were on alert.

He climbed over the wall after him. The field between the forest and the town was empty, but this would still be the most dangerous part. There was nowhere to hide, and the light of the stars made the area seem as bright as noon day. He knew that was just his darkvision playing tricks on him, and besides, without a heat signature it should be very difficult for the undead to spot him, but he couldnt shake the feeling of being exposed. Still, there was nothing for it. He ran across the field.

All his workouts had paid off, and by the time he crossed the long, open stretch of land, he wasnt even winded, and he was glad to see that Davi was doing fine as well. Even heavy breathing was too much of a risk, since there was nothing wrong with the undeads ears. Well, there was nothing wrong with their hearing.

A short walk into the forest, he heard Zilly whisper. I cant believe you brought Brin again.

He spotted her then, in the shadow of a tree, dressed all in black. Marksi stood on her shoulders, his long tail wrapping around her tightly. He flinched when Brin turned around the corner but didnt flee. That was a start.

Hey Marksi, said Brin.

Marksi let out a sad cheep.

I get it. Itll be over soon, Brin said quietly.

No talking. Lets go, Zilly hissed, and then led the way.

They crept through the forest, doing their best to stay absolutely silent. Zilly moved ahead, using her [Perception]-enhanced senses to stay away from any undead patrols. They often turned to the left or right with no explanation, and once they even doubled back for a few minutes before heading forward again. She also seemed to be listening to Marksi, who would tap her back with his tail to indicate the direction they would be moving.

Brin had a hunch of where they were going. Tawna had given him that one for free. Theyd be near the snake pond.

One part of him wanted to stop and insist that they turn around and go back to town. Myra really didnt need help. The only reason he didn't was because he knew it would fail. There was no way Davi would turn aside from rescuing the girl he liked. Teenage hormones were an absolute law of the universe.

Were they throwing a wrench in Tawnas plans by doing this? Did he care if they did? Tawnas plans were Tawnas plans; they didnt always benefit the people around her. At the same time, they did always benefit Myra, and he didnt want to put her in danger.

Davi wouldnt want to put Myra in danger either, and this rescue might actually be putting her more at risk. That was an argument hed probably be able to make, if he was willing to talk at all. Here in a zombie-infested forest, they couldnt dare to make any extra sound.

These dumb kids really had him in checkmate. There was nothing left to do but follow along and keep them from getting themselves killed.

Brin heard a click from a forest. Not a snap, not the tap of a tree branch against the trunk in the wind. A click. Then another, until a small chorus of clicks came from all around them.

Damn. Lets run, said Zilly.

She darted forward into the night, and Brin followed. Even at this speed, Zilly was silent, but Davis feet started to thud against the ground, and Brin had to admit his steps werent perfect either. He used [Call Sound through Glass] to project a sphere of silence around his feet, but Davi wasnt carrying glass around, and Brin hadnt figured out the trick of moving his summoned sound away from the glass source yet. He ran closer to Davi, and then widened the silence field until it covered Davis feet, too. He made sure to keep their ears clear, though.

For a few minutes, they ran in silence, and Brin began to think theyd outrun whatever had been making the clicking sound.

Suddenly, Zilly stopped. She unsheathed her sword, so Brin brought out his spear. Ahead of them, an undead soldier stepped into view. He made a clicking sound, and another three walked from behind the trees.

Hed never heard the undead shout orders, he realized, but he knew they had to communicate with each other. Apparently, they clicked.

And the clicking wasnt stopping. More were on their way.

Well have to break through, said Zilly.

Wait, said Brin.

An undead in resplendent armor stepped in front of the soldiers. He hefted a blacksteel warhammer on his shoulder, heavy and crude and completely at odds with his Bog Standard plate.

Hi Simao, said Brin.

The undead Simao made an apologetic smirk. He was so recently deceased that he barely looked dead at all, more just pale and sick. Sorry about this. But you know, being dead isnt as bad as you probably think. Youll find out soon.