Chapter 297: Good pep talk

Chapter 297: Good pep talk

The longer the group waited in the 'guest room' in relative comfort, the more uncomfortable Mason got. It might have been a personal flaw. Paranoia, Blake might say. Mason just thought it good sense.

If this were a 'normal' situation—at least as 'normal' as being the guest of a bunch of medieval fantasy bird people might be—he might accept they were really 'guests'.

But this was the game, the post-apocalyptic AI shitshow, and they weren't just here to sit around and nap on a couch while some 'prophet' took care of everything.

"Why you look miserable?" Alex said, drink in hand and what for him counted as a grin. As usual, from the stone-faced eastern European, Mason honestly had no idea if this was supposed to be a joke.

"Because I can't get drunk," he answered, deciding to take it as humor. Alex just nodded like this made perfect sense, and Mason had no idea if they'd exchanged witticisms or facts.

"Want me to go take a look around?" Carl said, stretching and sitting up on the edge of his seat. Mason frowned, considering it but not thrilled about the idea of annoying his hosts if Carl got caught.

The man might be basically invisible with his new power, but Mason could smell him from across the room. He had to assume animal-men might have similar powers or senses.

He shook his head, then started disentangling from a napping Becky, about to go talk to the priest when Streak growled and stuck his head up from the floor.

Mason didn't sense it, but he trusted Streak.

He was up with his Claws ready to spring, crossing to the door before anyone had time to ask what the hell. He listened but heard nothing, then focused his mind on Streak to understand.

"The window?" he asked, a little confused. He crossed and stared out at the sky from a barred window, noticing it had some kind of thick wooden shutter to completely seal it off. He sighed as he saw the large, plane-like silhouette somewhere in the clouds.

"I'm guessing that's a not-a-dragon."

Carl came running to see before Mason turned away. Getting a look from so far away didn't do him much good. Was it even his problem? The priest came to look next to Carl, soon making another religious gesture as he stared.

"Nephus protect us," he said, shaking his head. "That’s a Destroyer."

When Mason made no special indication of recognition or alarm, the priest raised a brow.

"An elder drake. The most dangerous threat to civilized folk across this land. Since men made records."

"This is my worried face," Mason said. "So what do we do about it? Couldn't it just be...flying by?"

The priest snorted. "The great drakes are nothing if not predictable. It only shows itself when it wishes, and always on purpose. It wants a sacrifice."

Mason didn't much like the sound of that. He wasn't a fantasy-world bird man, but he was pretty sure if he was king and needed to find someone to feed to a dragon, some not entirely welcome guests might do nicely.

"They're going to feed us to that dragon, aren't they," he muttered. The priest smirked but shook his head.

"Not unless you have royal blood, and different bits between your legs. No. It will want the princess, or the queen. But she may be too old now." He sighed and looked away. "It must have sensed the weakness here. This may break what little strength is left in the ruling house. But they'll have no choice but to comply. If they do nothing, the beast will ravage the city."

Mason sighed as he gently woke Becky. When she was up and conscious he stood and headed for the door.

They climbed several more flights of stairs, passing a few curious guards who stared long and hard but didn't stop them. It probably helped that not a single one of them actually carried a weapon—with all of them now having something innate.

There were several open balconies now where the bird guards and probably servants came and went to the royal floors. Mason stepped out onto one and looked up.

"We could climb the rest of the way easily enough. Or at least I could." He sighed. "But I didn't bring any damn rope. Becky can probably manage but I expect it's a bit much for..." Mason glanced at Seamus and the priest. "For the rest of you."

"Oh!" Seamus grinned. "I can fly now. Well, hover. Float? You can probly just pull me up."

Mason blinked at that, but decided just to accept it.

"I'll find my way up," said the priest with a smile. "Don't be afraid, my friends, Nephus will be there to greet us in the afterlife. Our deaths to the Destroyer will be quick. And after, eternal glory."

"Good pep talk," Mason said, and the man beamed like it wasn't sarcasm.

With that Mason grabbed Seamus with one hand, and the roof of the balcony with the other. He pulled himself up rather easily, put up a leg, then lifted himself and Seamus over. The Irishman stared and swallowed at the top.

"I, um, didn't start floating yet."

Mason met the man's eyes with a 'best remember that moment' amused grin, then reached down to help Becky. He pulled her up just as easily, and she gave him a much more enjoyable, private look.

"You figure this thing's as bad as that priest thinks?" she asked as they climbed up towards the mostly flat top of the castle.

"Probably," Mason said, then looked back and gave her a wink. "But so are we."

At the top of the structure Mason discovered they were completely alone. It seemed the bird guards had all fled inside, probably to report to superiors to figure out what the hell they were supposed to be doing. Or just because they were terrified.

It suited him fine. He watched the silhouette of the creature growing larger and larger as it circled and descended, clearly wanting everyone to take a nice, long look.

Mason obliged. He flicked through Endless Quiver and summoned his elven bow, judging the distance as he turned on Hunter's Mark.

Turned out it didn't work from such a distance, but he wasn't that concerned. He had a plan already as soon as the thing got in range.

Killing it in the air seemed incredibly unlikely. No doubt it was covered in hide or scales too strong and thick to pierce deeply. But it took huge, wide wings to keep a body like that in the air. Mason watched the thin flesh and grinned, eager to punch a few holes.

"We get it grounded," he said to the others. "You burn those wings as soon as you're in range, Seamus. Becky will keep you alive."

"Aye, aye, chiefy," Seamus said, his staff appearing in his hand.

They all stood and watched as the creature came lower and lower, the immense size becoming increasingly clear.

"But um," Seamus asked with a swallow. "Who's going to keep you two alive?"

Mason ignored the man, an eagerness already pumping through his limbs. He was in range now, and the thing was still coming closer. He drew back his bow.