Chapter 2117

Chapter 2117

Devick was sweat-slicked and radiantly grinning by the time Jawem finally staggered to the waiting team in front of Malloon’s gates. The Hobfootie team was one of an entire throng: the rolling hills around Malloon had almost been entirely settled. Children in bare feet shrieked and chased each other down word, muddy paths. Nearby, an anthropomorphic rat squatted above a fire and sold skewers of roasted squirrel.

The low field directly in front of Malloon had been filled with shabby-looking huts. Meanwhile, several laborers carried rare poles to a clear area, setting up a more permanent-looking tent. Likely, this would become the central alehouse for those unfortunate enough not able to pay for entry into the city.

But Devick’s voice cut right through the low drone of Malloon’s defensive barrier and the babble of surrounding activity. “What a delight this is! These vests really work wonders! Despite our physical gifts, Tell, Jawem, and I all were in the second half of the team! Very markedly too.”

We were the last three, Jawem tried to wheeze out the words, but couldn’t find the air. He slapped the opposite shoulder to deactivate the equipment. Only once the Engravings disengage could he gratefully suck in a breath of air.

Still smiling, Devick patted him on the shoulder. “Take the rest while you can; we will be wearing these for the fast and slow runs as well. Oh, man, I need some food. Anyone have any of that walrus meat left?”

“We ate it all,” A woman muttered as she rubbed her stomach.

Jawem wanted to vomit at the thought of food. Several of the other players snickered behind their hands at his predicament. Most of them accepted his presence as a necessary evil to also have Devick, and also respected his capability on the Hobfootie team, but disliked him personally.

Especially because he often became especially brutal in Crusher training drills when anyone showed too much fondness for Byuresk’s daughter.

Before they proceeded closer to the obnoxiously droning barrier around Malloon, a massive flare of energy nearby had them all whipping around. A wave of Nether crashed against his face and Jawem’s instincts activated. He scrambled to put himself between the source and Devick, but hadn’t accounted for his body’s lingering exhaustion. His feet caught on one another and he ate dirt.

A howling wind rose up. Other travelers nearby screamed and began to scramble off the road to Mallon. The halfway erected tent swayed and collapsed. The owner screaming and tearing out his hair as he heedlessly ran to check if the pole had fractured. From a nearby hill, a pillar of Nether pierced the cloud covering. It umbrellaed outward, seeking to entirely encapsulate the city.

Before Jawem could even push himself back to his feet, an equally domineering bolt of energy shot out from Malloon’s barrier. In a single touch, it pierced through the pillar of Nether and began to eat its way down through the energy. In the next instant, a group of serious-faced, powerful individuals rushed out of the gate and made a beeline toward the source of the energy.

His voice echoed out through the hall as he stepped to the side and allowed the group to pass. Despite the look of annoyance on his face, Jotem followed the instructions. Demetrius took three steps forward and bowed as well. Randidly walked a little further until he stood on a black circle in the middle of the marbled floor and bowed his head briefly. Then he looked upon the face of Faelmac Westrisser.

He blinked in surprise, struck by a weird sense of familiarity in the sharp features. Yet suddenly the recognition aligned. He knew these features if only related by blood. Randidly sucked in a breath: he had seen them in the sleeping face of the Patron of Feathers. Except while that Patron and also Lady Iellaya had been called the raven-winged darkness, Faelmac Westrisser had ivory feathers as pristine and clean as freshly fallen snow.

I would bet Faelmac Westrisser... is the Father of the Patron of Feathers. Something else occurred to Randidly. Then although their names are different, it’s possible-

“Nether King Hungry Eye, welcome to my home,” Faelmac leaned back in his chair. He was a humanoid with tanned skin and silver eyes. Ivory feathers ran along his arms and a few more fluffy varieties clung above his ears. He burned in Randidly’s vision, a nebula of intense energy. Within the center of that supernova of energy, Randidly could almost see his image sleeping. A massive ivory serpent, its feathers acting as prisms and releasing little rainbows of light.

He leaned sideways and placed his chin upon his fist. Below him on the dais, several guards stood at attention; Randidly recognized Dogoel, the leader of the group who had been attacking Elhume’s Patrons. A small smile played across Faelmac’s lips.“However... I must admit I have a question for you. Why did you interfere with the business of my men when they were sent to deal with the representatives of Elhume?”

It was not an auspicious start. But Randidly allowed his own lazy smile stretch across his face and gambled. “Would you have truly dealt with those individuals, Faelmac? Considering their leader... was the daughter of your new Undersecretary.”

Faelmac grunted and waved a hand. “A half-daughter, only. And if it isn’t my responsibility to educate the straying children of my subordinates, whose would it be?”

Randidly’s mind raced at the confirmation. That’s why even in the present day, until they betrayed him and tried to reach the Pinnacle, the Swacc Family was kept so close to Elhume’s side. Because after the Patron of Truth was killed, how could he not protect her family?

Westrisser leaned forward. He had long fingers that gripped the armrests of his throne. “Let me rephrase. Why should I let a Nether King who stood against me just walk into my hall, unpunished?”

Randidly pushed those thoughts away; he couldn’t afford to be distracted while dealing with this man. Sizing the feathered warrior up, he definitely could push Randidly into shattering his way out of the memory. Lifting his chin, Randidly replied confidently. “Because that was that, and this is business for the benefit of Malloon.”

For a second, Faelmac Westrisser simply studied him. Then he smirked. “I agree entirely. Alright, Nether King Hungry Eye. How do you intend to benefit Malloon today?”