Book 1: Chapter 33: Dread II.

Book 1: Chapter 33: Dread II.

A scare, Raffnyk grunted as we sat in the dusk shade of my yard. Nothing more. Just the good baron flexing his might and showing us that distance means little to him. Officially, I am certain it was some rubbish like sending the troops to see if we needed reinforcements, given how long this has taken.

Too long, I assume? I replied with a grunt and accepted the flask he passed around. After my confrontation yesterday, I needed a drink to take the edge off my nerves. The resounding tiredness in the humans sigh made me nod in pity as he rubbed at weary eyes. I felt that, I really did.

Part of my wants to make some pretty reassurance, tell you well be okay. He quietly spoke after a few moments of silence.

That would be a fucking lie. We are, quite frankly, trapped in a massively undesirable situation. The baron choosing to force our hand made the situation markedly worse. With the Apex up the mountain, our task of culling monsters is proceeding at a frankly glacial pace. Ive told my riders that any hint of contact with it means theyre to break off and retreat. But despite that, Weve already begun to lose good soldiers. And now, He is beginning to apply pressure from the other side.

Caught between the anvil and the hammer. Lerish remarked from where she sat.

One of the barons adjudicators paid me a visit yesterday, I mentioned, swirling the viscous liquid inside Raffnyks flask before I took a sip. Potent stuff. Or maybe that was amplified because I hadnt had booze in so long. Didnt particularly miss it either. Splendid person.

Lerishs normally tight features visibly soured as I described what had happened, culminating in an abrupt spit of disgust at the ground.

Valencia.

You know her?

Of her. The huntress snorted. Nothing good, anyhow.

Raffnyk made a noise and leaned back, features flat.

This Adjudicator presents a unique threat to myself and my soldiers. I would say us but you are not in deep enough to yet withdraw. Make no mistake, we are all individuals experienced in killing monsters. I know my men and women are all decently leveled. Some are even approaching their level twenties. We had expected this expedition to be, frankly, overkill.

Doesnt look that way now. Lerish grunted and I nodded along.

Seems to me like youre beset on all sides. I mentioned and took another swig, then passed the flask back and wiped at my mouth.

We still have the good queens decree. But I fear he will inevitably find a way around that, given time. The man has a single-minded focus for brutality.

He seems highly motivated. I concurred. The woman mentioned something of a past grudge, in that regard.

SIlence fell now as Raffnyks face turned uneasy. I could smell the uncertainty from his body and he chewed over his words.

Just spill it. Lerish growled. Whatever occurred between your order and Ironmoor in the past changes nothing about what I think of the man.

A shrug was the only response I could give at his questioning look. Truth be told, if the man had not bothered me again and again, I would have been content to just let him rule from his far-off tower. But even now, I had no strong feelings either way. Aside from the physical dread I had felt in the presence of his Adjudicator yesterday, I was not overmuch bothered by him and his schemes. Inconviencinces, yes, but such was life. I had found that the measure of a man wasnt wether or not he could avoid lifes hurdles, but how well he dealt with them once they inevitably slipped beneath his feet.

Fine. The human finally straightened. But do not judge me for the actions of others.

Go on. I waved him onwards as he glanced around as if looking for a verbal nudge.L1tLagoon witnessed the first publication of this chapter on Ñøv€l--B1n.

Valencia. I addressed the elephant in the room. Who and what is she?

Shrugs were all I received in return.

Given that Ironmoor has been a long-standing enemy of my order, we have kept tabs on him over the years. From what little I know, she followed him back from the endless campaigns and firmly cemented herself as his Adjudicator. To put it bluntly; I have no gods-blasted idea how she came to his service when by all accounts she is the more powerful of the two. Yet she has chosen to serve him, and has done so with bloody efficiency over the past few years. But aside from that, and her list of bloody merits, there is little I know of her.

Shes a Cursed. Lerish neatly threw that bomb into the proverbial room.

Which means what? I inquired.

Raffnyk looked like he wanted to throw up as Lerish answered.

Shes either a husk overtaken by the demon invited into her body, which would make her a Taken, or a Fiend.

You couldnt tell? By what means did you acquire this knowledge anyhow? Raffnyk demanded.

Dont ask. Unless you want me to lie. But anyway, Cursed is a class that hides another class beneath. Like how Spy or Sabateour are hidden beneath other, ordinary classes. In one path, she has been consumed by a demon and is a living manifestation of that corruption and malice.

And the others?

She consumed the demon, broke it beneath her will, and now wields its unfettered power with impunity. I honestly dont know which one is worse.

So we are caught between her or the Apex. Raffnyks head was now firmly buried in his hands and the flask of liquid courage had run dry. You now know the stress I deal with every single day.

You have Garek as a friend. Lerish offered. That is far from nothing. In all this, if he commits to your cause, you gain a massive boost to your forces. Consider that. You have a very well-level minotaur firmly at your side.

Hes a farmer. A man come to seek a peaceful life. Even if I had to, I would still detest dragging him into this.

I already am in this. I interrupted with a frown.

Any deeper. He reiterated with a sigh. Look, I wont lie. You, just sitting here, are already a large buffer between us and Ironmoor. The elf and orc up the road are too, to a different extend, but nobody is stupid enough to fuck with them, and they dont care for mortal affairs. As long as Ironmoor leaves them alone, they wont intervene. So, theyre effectively removed from this conflict. Leaving, essentially, you and this Adjudicator as perhaps the strongest people on either side.

Isnt Ironmoor also fairly high-leveled? I asked Lerish. I recall you telling me so.

Levels do not equate combat prowess. I have no doubt he could hold his own with a weapon, but I suspect the barons skills lie firmly in ruling and overseeing his lands now. Hence why Valencia is his primary executioner.

Interesting. I nodded. Please, continue on.

Morning came before our conversations ended, as talks drew long into the night, any idea of sleep was discarded and plans to move forward were drawn up. Yes, the situation seemed bleak, but I was not one content to wallow in endless misery and induce headaches wailing about my problems. Rather, I would search for solutions and be done with it.

By the time the sun had begun the strain over the horizon, farewells were said, departures were made and the cows mooed for attention for pasture. Another lovely day approached, and head spinning from both ideas and lack of sleep, I heaven myself up and trudged off to the fields where my duties called.