Chapter 219: Knowing Her Role

Chapter 219: Knowing Her Role

Tala and Thron talked for a little while about small things. But soon, it was just about time for Tala to leave so that she could attend Be-thric at the meeting.

As she stood to go, she noticed that, through her mage-sight, Thron was looking a bitweak.

Thorn, why are you running low on magic?

He gave her an odd look. Where would I be getting magic, in here?

Tala looked around and realized that Kit was, indeed, devouring all the magic that she output, sequestering it away in a new, seemingly limitless, reserve.

I need to spend some time in the main hold, while you are out. He didnt say that he had been virtually trapped in here with her for the last few weeks. He was due for a break, even if only to recharge.

Tala nodded, then smiled as an idea came to her. Let me see.

She held out her hand, and an orb appeared within it, screaming. AAAAAAAAAAoh. Hello. Will you break me, now?

Both Tala and Thron had flinched back, away from the scream, even though it died off quickly.

Terry hadnt moved.

Tala cleared her throat, ignoring the edge of happiness that the sphere projected at the idea of being broken. Why, if I may ask, were you screaming?

She somehow felt the orb direct its attention towards Terry. I was buried alive.

But you arent alive. Youre a trapped human soul, and I wish I could free you, but I cant.

Well, Im certainly still here. Unless will you break me?

No. I need you. I can deal with the horror of using a trapped human soul later Things arent ideal, and I have to work with what I have.

Thatsjustwonderful

Throns eyes widened, seemingly understanding Talas idea. Oh, no. No. I cant use the power.

Tala grinned, tossing the sphere to the dwarf. Take Rob, get a magic purification item, or find another means of using the power that comes from him.

Rob? The dwarf had caught Rob easily and was now examining it.

She shrugged. Hes an orb; Rob is a nice anagram that makes sense to me. Rob, do you have a name?

Some insufferable creature has named me Rob, and Ive no other name.

There; you see? Tala ignored the grumpy false personality.

Thron sighed. Ill see what I can do.

Good. Tala called up the door out, and they exited.

Terry rode on Talas shoulder and Thron carried Rob.

They stepped out into the side courtyard, now empty of workers.

The world beyond is but another world of limited capacity. They both ignored Rob.

Absently, Tala reached back and grabbed the doorframe. Just before she pulled, she thought she saw a cat sitting on the table, watching them leave.

She was already pulling it off the wall, however, so the view through vanished. With a shake of her head, she hung Kit on her belt.

Thron gaped at her.

She froze. Ohwow. I I didnt even think before doing that. I wanted to bring my sanctum with me, and I acted without considering.

He closed his mouth. Thatsthat will be insanely useful. You can keep the whole thing with you at all times?

So it seems.

-Smooth, Tala. Really keeping the suspicion to a minimum.-

Hush, you.

They found Be-thric nearby, seeming just having finished his dinner, if the servants carrying empty dishware away from his table were any indication.

His eyes immediately snapped to Talas hip and the pouch there. Interesting. It retained the ability to take that form?

Tala nodded her head in acknowledgement. It just felt right, and when I grabbed the doorframe She shrugged.

That is a wonderful ability. I am glad it will be easy to keep with you.

Thank you, Pillar.

Thron bowed. My Pillar, Eskau Tali has granted me use of this fount. Would you authorize the acquisition of a means of purification, so that I can utilize the power source within?

Be-thric considered for a long moment. Yes, I think that would be a wise use of the thing.

Im right here. Either talk to me or break me and set me free.

Tala suppressed the unhappy feeling in her chest at the orbs words.

The Pillar shook his head and continued to address Thron. Find a way to muzzle it, too. It should have sufficient power to keep you in reasonable shape, even in sparselands, yes?

Yes, Pillar Be-thric.

Good, then be gone. See that it is done.

The dwarf bowed to the Pillar, then to Tala. As he turned to depart, Tala had a thought.

Thorn?

He stopped. Yes, Eskau?

Try to find the creators of that sphere. If you can, you might be able to make use of it more efficiently, as they will know the design intimately.

Be-thric gave her an acknowledging nod. That is an excellent suggestion, my Eskau.

Thron bowed again. As you suggest.

Without another word, he departed.

I am glad that my little gift has worked so well for you. The defenseless human look suits you.

I have no idea how I should take that Tala looked down at her hands and nodded. It will make me less conspicuous, thank you.

Of course. We cant have you scaring away your targets before they are slain, now can we? He smiled menacingly.

She released the working, and her illusion returned her to a normal appearance, a human appearance.

The guards reluctantly resheathed their weaponry.

Be-thric cleared his throat. Now that the important parties are thoroughly introduced and greetings have been exchanged?

Cuan nodded. We can discuss business. What do you want of my master?

Be-thric shook his head. No, no. That is not the way we should handle this at all. First, I will tell you what we are offering.

That caught the candidate off guard, and he straightened, clearly intrigued. Go on.

Tala scanned the guards. None were of a higher race. They were low level enforcers, likely intended to keep lesser threats away from the candidate Eskau while Cuan dealt with other heavy hitters. That makes sense.

We offer wealth, protection, advancement, and an honorary place in the House of Blood.

Cuan frowned. You wish to unite our Houses, somehow? My master is not yet a Pillar, and even if he were, a title in another House would not behe shook his headYou know all of this. What are you playing at? What do you want of my master?

Be-thric grinned. That is where there has been amisunderstanding. We dont want anything of your master. We wish you to leave your House and join ours, bringing your protian weapon with you.

The guards behind Cuan froze, processing what Be-thric had just said, their eyes widening in shock.

Be-thric grinned. Choose quickly, or I fear your guards might try to choose for you.

Tala could practically see the calculations running through the candidates head. Then, a small smile pulled at his lips, fully revealing his pointed teeth for the first time, and he spoke quickly, Advancement to Honored, and a hold of my own in another city.

Done. Be-thric clapped his hands.

The sound seemed to break the general tension of the situation as everyone began moving at once.

The guards reached for and began to draw their weapons.

Cuan started to stand, moving away from the guards behind him.

Be-thric lowered his hands to his lap.

Tala targeted the fifth ramp up, the one she had been building in the bench beneath Cuan, at her bloodstar, some dozen feet overhead.

The slab which was the top of the stone bench ripped itself free, picking up the startled candidate and flinging him upward and towards Be-thric and Tala.

Tala immediately broke the working, and the bench dropped, slamming into and skidding across the ground.

Cuan had enough presence of mind, to tuck his legs against his chest as he and the bench landed heavily.

Be-thric had to lift his feet to avoid the stone hitting him.

The Pillar gave her an amused look, even as he rocked forward, placing his feet down and standing on the now stationary benchtop.

The guards had once again frozen in surprise.

Tala stepped forward, knowing her role.

There were eight guards, and she had four stones. She knew which for shed kill with the stones, shed even likely get a double-kill with one stone, as the guards were nicely lined up at the moment. Even so, she had one thing to try first.

Guards of the House of the Turbulent Ocean, you have a choice: Return to your House and report the lawful defection of your candidate Eskau or die here at my hand.

The guards looked at one another, her appearance under the illusion was clearly still in their minds. Well, and the fact that I just ripped a few hundred pound stone from the ground with seemingly no effort.

-They have no way of knowing if that was you or Be-thric, though.-

Thats fair.

Behind Tala, she heard, and saw thanks to her mirrored perceptions, Cuan hand Be-thric a glove which radiated the power and magic of a protian weapon. Then, the two simply began walking back towards the House of Bloods hold.

One of the guards called out, Hey! You cant just leave.

Cuan didnt look back, but Tala heard Be-thric reassure him that his Eskau had things handled.

She sighed. Alright, make your choice. I dont wish to stand here all day.

The apparent leader barked an order. Our charge is being taken by another House, defend! C group, breakaway and report.

Tala shrugged. As you wish.

Even as two of the guards turned to sprint away, Tala directed her workings to their targets, and the balls were ripped from her hands.

The air snapped as the projectiles easily broke the sound barrier in the first foot of travel. Shed ramped them up incredibly high.

Six of the guards dropped in various states of death, including one of those who had turned to run.

One of the tungsten balls had been deflected enough off the spine of the shark-man that it had killed one of those Tala hadnt accounted for.

Huh. She immediately began ramping up untargeted gravity on four more balls, just in case.

-That was a bit sloppy.-

Two heads had simply burst apart, one more had clean holes punched through, and the final three had lethal wounds through various parts of their chests.

Im glad that vital organs are in generally the same places. To be safe, shed hit the least human targets in the head. Brain obliteration is a fairly reliable kill.

Tala began walking forward, even as the last runner turned back in horror, having only taken a couple of steps before his friends fell. The shark-man made a particularly resonant thump as he hit the ground

The last man still standing to face her had skin of alternating orange and white, a more bulbous head, and several other clearly aquatic oriented features. Some sort of fish-man?

His sword trembled in his hand, but even so, he stepped to his left, putting himself between the runner and her.

That was brave, a little stupid, but still brave.

Shoo. Tala waved for them to go. I had no ill will, here. I offered to let you go, so go.

The runner took off, and when she made no hostile move, the final guard turned and followed as quickly as he was able, only occasionally looking back her way.

Tala dropped Kit on the ground, and it opened in the form of a simple square hole.

With relative ease, she dumped each of the bodies through that hole. That done, she replaced the pouch on her belt.

There was some blood on the ground and the bench was wildly out of place, but otherwise, things looked as they had before.

With a sigh, Tala bent and righted the stone blocks that had supported the benchtop.

Then, with a surprising strain, she was able to lift the slab and carry it back, returning it to its proper place.

There. Tala dusted her hands off on each other and turned, walking quickly, but not rushing, to catch up with Be-thric and Caun.

Two armor pieces down. Only seven more to go.