Stone and Blood: Act 2, Chapter 4

Stone and Blood: Act 2, Chapter 4

Chapter 4

21st Day, Lower Wind Month, 1 CE

Florine spent the next few days with the Zern, learning what she could about the Abelion Hills, its people, their relationships, and the region’s recent history. For the most part, the venture had proven more fruitful than she had expected, though the Zern did have a variety of blind spots that she believed stemmed from their nature.

Foremost amongst these was anything to do with how economics and trade worked between the tribes. As an insectoid race that lived in highly-structured hives, the Zern had little in the way of appreciation for those concepts. Insights and observations on culture also had a flavour distinct to their species.

As a token of goodwill, King Beebeezee assigned Boobeebee to accompany Florine on her tasks. And, so, another member was added to her party.

“Do the Zern have any needs particular to their race?” Florine asked as they made their way back down the Thousand Sinkholes.

“Needs?” Boobeebee said, “Do you mean food and such?”

“Amongst other things,” Florine said. “My information on the Zern before coming here was limited to notes on consumption and location. The appearance of your King was a surprise – he looks so different from the rest of you.”

Florine wasn’t sure whether it would be rude to point that out to the King, so she simply smiled and interacted as if nothing was wrong.

“Ah, that is a common question for the few who see our males,” Boobeebee said. “All I can say is that is how things are. It is just as strange to us that your males and females mostly look the same.”

She supposed that she could accept that. No one questioned why men and women looked the way that they did, after all.

“As for my needs,” Boobeebee said. “It will be lonely being away from home, but it is not as terrifying as it first seemed when Jaldabaoth forced us to fight for him in the Holy Kingdom. We can eat any sort of meat that can be found in the area.”

“What about rest or any cultural practices?”

“At home, we take many naps. Outdoors, we can be active for days at a time, but our rest is long.”

“Come to think of it,” Florine said, “I don’t think I’ve seen Liolio ever sleep.”

“Liolio always sleeps,” the Miq atop her head replied.

“You do?”

“One part of Liolio sleeps while another part is awake. Liolio is always asleep and always awake.”

“I-Is that so? Well, so long as I’m not somehow abusing you...just let me know if you need to rest.”

Liolio hopped on her head several times.

“The Miq always guard the herd. How can one always guard the herd if one is entirely asleep? This is silly.”

“Where will your journey be taking you?” Boobeebee asked.

“Everywhere,” Florine answered. “But, for now, we’re on the way back to the administration’s local office before heading out on the next leg. According to the map, we’ll be following a river back down and most of the trip will be back through the Baafolk and the Ylii-miq’s former territory.”

“I see,” the Zern said. “So we’ll be travelling down the Long Horn, is it?”

“The Long Horn?”

“It is the name that the Baafolk gave this tributary of the Abelion River. The Short Horn joins it further down. Under Buser’s leadership, the Baafolk territory expanded to straddle both rivers.”

She wondered how many names the tribes had for the same features. The notion was bound to be one of many sources of confusion if they didn’t keep careful track of everything.

According to the administration’s map, the new highway was supposed to go through the thinnest part of The Neck and across the former Orc and Baafolk territories before running west along the forest south of the Thousand Sinkholes where the Zern lived. From there, it would connect with the fortress city of Kalinsha, where the hole in the Great Wall created by Jaldabaoth remained unrepaired. Considering the dire financial state of the Holy Kingdom of Roble, those repairs wouldn’t come any time soon so the Sorcerous Kingdom offered to enact the repairs in exchange for a permanent exclave in the fortress city.

On their way back through the Ylii-miq’s former territory, they came across a convoy on its way back from delivering supplies to the tribes further west. Florine eyed the Death Knights shouldering the steel rods attached to the cargo containers’ frames.

“So, Liolio,” she said. “Your life with the Ylii was something like what you’re doing right now? Sitting on their heads watching out for potential dangers?”

“Liolio sits on head because Human is so skinny,” the Miq replied. “Ylii have many places to sit.”

“Could they ride on something like the cargo containers?” Florine gestured at the steel box.

“Liolio does not know...”

“How about you try?”

The Miq’s talons dug into her scalp. It was a good thing that she had damage reduction.

“Liolio has done no wrong!” He gave a distressed peep.

“Huh?”

“Do not leave Liolio behind! Liolio has worked hard, yes? You have not been eaten, yes?”

Florine looked up in confusion.

“Why are you...I just want you to try and see what it’s like. I’m not mad at you or anything.”

Liolio sat down, clearly unwilling to move. Florine sighed.

“Then how about we get some of your people to come and try?”

They separated from the convoy, with Liolio guiding them back to his tribe. The sounds of the Miq calling out their warnings announced their presence far in advance. Though she couldn’t see him, Florine felt that Liolio’s bearing grew more proud the closer they got to his home.

Or is it his home?

“Liolio,” Florine asked, “why did your people end up gathering here?”

“It is the place of meetings,” Liolio said. “Where Miq without Ylii and Ylii without Miq come together. The Ylii are gone, but we do not know where else to go.”

How long did two races have to live together for them to not know what to do without one another? Florine regarded the thousands of Miq staring at her from the shadows of the hidden hilltop grove.

“Isoroku,” she said, “could you have the Ministry of Transportation dispatch an empty convoy to our location? Have our army liaison come along, as well.”

The Elder Lich raised a bony hand to its head. Florine produced the binder of racial dossiers from her Infinite Haversack, flipping it open to the profiling of the Miq. A sense of anger rose within her when she found no mention of the Ylii, but there was nothing to be gained from being angry.

Will this work? I suppose we won’t know until we try.

Florine dismounted, walking up to the edge of the grove. The assembled Miq eyed her warily and kept their distance, but they didn’t flee.

“Why have you returned, Human liar?” A voice sounded from the crowd.

“I’ve just returned from visiting with the Zern,” Florine replied. “The work that I spoke of – I’ve given it some thought and I’d like to try something out.”

If the Miq’s way of life consisted of riding things around and keeping an eye on the surroundings, then maybe they could ride the convoys around. If they could manage that, then the next step would be adding them to the area’s security patrols. Being around Ludmila as much as she did, Florine was well aware of the need for Rangers in the Royal Army. The Miq seemed naturally suited for the role, providing unsleeping sentries for the unsleeping Undead patrols.

She looked up at Liolio. The Miq bobbed his black-plumed head in the approximation of a nod. They seemed to pick up on others’ mannerisms quickly.

“Alright, can you do the next one up?”

Liolio pipped again. The call matched the one he had made when they entered the Thousand Sinkholes.

“What does that one mean?” Florine asked.

“We are being watched,” Liolio said. “By one of unknown identity or intent.”

The liaison’s pen scratched over its clipboard again. When it stopped, Florine asked for the next call, which wasn’t the one she expected.

“What’s this one for?”

“We are being stalked,” Liolio replied.

Florine supposed that very few would willingly stalk an infantry squad of Death-series servitors. What predators that remained in the area probably fled as soon as they caught wind of them.

After the next call, which was the one Liolio had made just before the Zern appeared before them, Florine nodded to herself. Four calls would be very simple to keep track of and pay attention to – especially considering the single-minded tendencies of the Undead.

“Are there any other calls that you use?” She asked.

“Hunting calls,” Liolio answered.

The crimson gazes of the Death Knights seemed to flare in unison.

“...hunting calls?” Florine said.

“Competitors that must be driven away,” Liolio said. “Enemies that must be trampled and destroyed. The Miq will chase and mark them. It is dangerous, but it must be done.”

“Well, let’s hear it. Just for reference.”

Florine felt Liolio shift on her head. He let out a piercing cry. She let out a shriek and ducked as the Miq on the containers dove at her. The Vampire Bride threw herself on top of her and Liolio let out a startled squawk as he was dislodged from his perch.

When Florine uncovered her head and looked up again, the Miq had returned to their containers. Liolio stood on the ground nearby, eyeing her dubiously.

“A lord would not do that, Human liar,” he said.

Pretty much every Noble she knew would have done that. Except for Ludmila. She would have probably snatched a Miq out of the air and twisted off its head.

“You need to understand that not every Lord is the warrior sort,” Florine told Liolio.

“This is true,” Liolio said. “Are Human Lords magic casters?”

Several lines from Fundamental Principles of Magocratic Governance floated through her head. She waved them away.

“I’m not one of those, either. I’m just a regular Noble – a civilian Lord. We do other sorts of things.”

Liolio didn’t look like he believed her. Florine took the Vampire Bride’s proffered hand, getting up and brushing herself off.

“Let’s get going,” Florine said. “I have a lot of work to do back at the base.”

It was close to midnight by the time they returned to the Dale of Defiance. Florine found Lady Shalltear filing her nails while waiting for a shipment of food to finish arriving via Gate.

“That’s quite the noisy entrance,” her liege said.

“Good evening, Lady Shalltear,” Florine lowered her head in a curtsey. “We’re just trying something with the Miq here. They should quiet down once they get used to their new surroundings.”

“Couldn’t you have ‘tried something’ with sexier subjects?” Lady Shalltear asked, “I’m into all sorts of things but these don’t tickle any fancy.”

“I must work with what I have, my lady,” Florine replied. “Oh, by the way, this is Boobeebee. King Beebeezee of the Zern assigned her to accompany me as a local expert. Boobeebee, this is Lady Shalltear Bloodfallen: the Minister of Transportation of the Sorcerous Kingdom and my liege.”

Boobeebee bent her body slightly, then winced in pain. Florine cringed and looked to Lady Shalltear.

“My Lady, is there something you can do about her injury?” Florine asked, “She’ll be accompanying me while I go around and it would help if she could move unimpeded.”

The Zern hero looked back and forth between Florine and Lady Shalltear, evidently confused by Florine’s request.

“I could,” Lady Shalltear answered, “but it will hurt.”

“Nothing pains me more than being unable to fight to my fullest, Lady Shalltear,” Boobeebee said in a clear voice.

“Oh, good answer,” Lady Shalltear said. “Not even the slightest hesitation. That’s much better than I’ve heard from certain Humans.”

Something warm splattered against Florine’s face. She flinched, and, by the time she looked for whatever hit her, Boobeebee was collapsing to the ground. The entire left side of her torso was missing. Ichor and organs spilt out onto the grass and she spasmed repeatedly after falling into a pool of her own gore. A gasp escaped Florine’s lips. Liolio’s panicked cries filled the darkness.

“「Regeneration」.”

The glow of healing magic washed over Boobeebee’s twitching form. Lady Shalltear licked the yellow-green ichor on her fingers.

“Ick,” she made a face. “Scratch insectoids off of the list.”

“My lady,” Florine swallowed, “is she going to be alright?”

“Hmm...she has way more hit points than most. This may take a while. You should clean that stuff off of you, by the way. I was thinking that I could lick it off of you before I hit her, but after having a taste...”

Florine used a Trooper’s Towel to clean herself up. When her attention returned to Lady Shalltear, her liege had a wine glass cupped in her palm. A Vampire Bride carefully poured a crimson liquid into it. Once it was filled, Lady Shalltear came over, taking Florine’s arm and leaning against her as they watched Boobeebee slowly reconstitute.

“While she may have not tasted great,” Lady Shalltear said, “this is somewhat entertaining. Do you think she’ll start screaming when her chest finally closes?”

“...I wouldn’t know, my lady.”

She wasn’t sure if it was because Lady Shalltear had wondered aloud, but Boobeebee didn’t scream. Several minutes after she was struck down, the Zern hero rose to her feet.

“I-It’s healed?” She tested her shoulder gingerly, then raised her arm with a wonder-filled voice, “It’s healed! Thank you, Lady Shalltear! Thank you so much!”

“Don’t thank me,” Lady Shalltear yawned. “If Florine hadn’t asked, I wouldn’t have given you a second glance. Anyway, it looks like the shipment’s done. I’ll be returning to E-Rantel, now.”

“Have a good night, my lady,” Florine lowered her head. “Thank you for fulfilling my request.”

“Mhm.”

Once Lady Shalltear’s Gate closed behind her, Florine had the Miq hop over to a set of loaded containers. After she saw the convoy off, she returned to the administration’s tent in what she now realised was probably a wide, shallow crater.

“Thank you for asking to have my arm restored, Lady Gagnier,” Boobeebee said as Florine unloaded her notes onto the table.

“You’re welcome,” Florine said. “Honestly, I think it was just as much for myself as it was for you. I couldn’t stand seeing you like that. You said that the pity of others wounds you, so I hope you’ll forgive me for it.”