Runeblade-Chapter 221B2 : Growing Problems, pt. 1

The morning sun was low on the horizon, shining brightly in their eyes, as they made their final approach to Deadacre.

With Truesight fortifying his vision against the glare, Kaius could comfortably see the smudge of brown that was the circle of cracked earth that surrounded the small Frontier city’s walls.

The fortifications themselves were jutting over the horizon—standing out in a thin grey line.

Whooping in excitement, Kaius urged them forwards, happily sharing with his team that they were close.

He’d never thought that he’d be one to enjoy spending some time in the city, but after another week of nothing but open plains and knee high grasses Kaius was on the verge of letting a beast gnaw on his leg if it meant a change to the monotony.

Settlements weren’t perfect, but the flat open plains of the Frontier were just so damn boring. Even the continually growing aggression of the local monsters wasn’t enough to change that. It had none of the dynamic vibrancy and changing scenery that he’d loved about the Sea—the way you could walk a league and feel like you’d been transported somewhere entirely different.

To his left, Ianmus perked up at the news that the city was only an hour or two away on foot. The mage was even more sick of their travel than he was. It wasn’t so much that Ianmus was accustomed to the creature comforts of urban life—though he definitely was, no one could call the man a seasoned woodsman. In Kaius’s opinion, it was more likely even more extreme boredom than his own.

Ianmus was used to having libraries, experimentation, and research to fill his time—something that was quite hard when you spend a dozen hours walking every day. Every time they went more than a few hours without there being some problem or novelty to occupy the man's attention, he started to make up his own time wasters—going glassy eyed as his mind wandered on who knew what.

At the very least, they’d kept him occupied for a full day with their discussion on asking for Rieker’s help in founding Porkchop’s aspect—and letting him in on the existence of Honours.

Ianmus had agreed wholeheartedly, immediately seeing the value in an expanded pool of front running delvers hunting for the kind of feats that would provide them as a reward. Plus, the guild had all manner of theorists and researchers, who he’d said would likely be able to piece together a wider picture of potential feats that could reward one.

He’d let slip that he even had a few ideas of Honours they could attempt for themselves. Right before they hit their hundredth level, Ianmus wanted to cast a spell with his entire store of mana.

It’d likely wipe him out for days with severe mana burn, but he hoped that there would be one for using a certain amount of mana in a single spell.

Kaius thought the idea had some merit, but if Ianmus failed they’d have little way to tell if it was because it didn’t exist, or if the man just didn’t have enough Intelligence. With nearly a full third of his stat points going towards it, it would unbalance him too much to invest more into the attribute.

On the other hand, Kaius had far less issues doing so. Sure, he’d started putting his spare point into Vitality when he crossed level fifty—and would continue to do so—but with his wealth of Honours he was still far ahead of the curve.

Ianmus had thought it would be worth trying to expend his mana as fast as possible, to see if there was an Honour for spending mana in a short enough period of time—something glyph-binding was uniquely suited for.

He didn’t see the harm in trying, since all it would cost him was a little time to reinscribe and regenerate his mana. Though, he’d probably wait until the same level as Ianmus. If it existed, it would probably be ‘before level one-hundred’ like Ruthless Underdog II. Waiting would net him a greater chance of having enough in the tank to actually achieve that goal.

Letting his mind continue to wander, Kaius slowly picked up his pace alongside his team, happy to almost be back in the city—even if their return meant a waiting scolding, hard training, and the sharing of tightly held secrets.

…

A plume of dust billowed from the base of Deadacre’s walls, obscuring the gates and tying an anxious knot in the pit of Kaius’s belly.

“You see that?” Kaius murmured, nudging Porkchop.

“Yeah.” Porkchop replied.

“What’re the chances the guards are fighting?”

“I’d say they’re pretty high.”

“Think we should check it out?”

“Absolutely.”

Kaius looked to Ianmus at his left, who was frowning in the direction of the walls—his eyesight not as good as their own, even with the benefits of his elven lineage.

“Yes, we’ll take him.” Porkchop interjected with a snort, reading him like an open book. “But only if you carry him when we’re running there.”

Snapping back to Porkchop, Kaius raised a brow at his brother. He wanted him to do what?

“What? You’re strong enough, aren’t you? Or does it feel a little weird to carry a grown man?” Porkchop teased, giving him a grin that showed off entirely too many fangs.

Rolling his eyes, Kaius looked towards their distracted mage, before he smirked as an idea came to him. He crept up behind Ianmus, his friend still watching what was happening at the base of the city walls.

“I’m going to get you back for this, you know.” he said silently through his bond.

“Oh, please, you think this will be just as funny as I do.”

“True, doesn’t mean I’m not going to try though.”

Once he was in a single stride of Ianmus’s back, Kaius blurred into motion. He swept his arms out, ducking down before he ripped Ianmus off his feet in a bridal carry.

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Ianmus yelled, flailing madly in surprise.

“What the…put me down, you dog!” the mage hollered, doing his best to wriggle free.

Kaius only laughed, tightening his grip around Ianmus’s chest and knees. Even if Ianmus was taller than he was, his Strength was enough that it felt about as difficult as picking up a toddler—and Ianmus’s was low enough his protests were as easy to ignore.

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“Come on, princess, we’re going for a ride.” he replied, dashing over to Porkchop.

“What in the hells do you mea…”

Ianmus’s words were quickly replaced by a yelp of shock as Kaius kicked off, his leg burning with exertion as he sailed through the air.

Grunting as he landed on Porkchop’s back, he kicked his feet through the leather loops that hung off his brother’s under-armour.

“Have you tried eating less?” Porkchop grunted, rolling his shoulders as he adjusted to the sudden weight.

Kaius scoffed, readjusting his grip on his ornery teammate who was still silently trying to wriggle free.

“This is extremely undignified, Kaius!” Ianmus protested.

“Oh shush, it’s the quickest way to get there—unless you want to leave those guards to sort out whatever that is by themselves?” he replied, dismissing the man's complaints.

Ianmus paused at his words. Evidently, he realised that for all of their joviality, both he and Porkchop were serious about coming to aid Deadacre’s defenders.

“Just make it quick.” he whispered, halting his insistent wriggling.

“You heard the man, Porkchop! Let’s make this quick.” Kaius said, grinning.

Ianmus’s eyes went wide.

“Well, if he insists, who am I to refuse.”

Kaius tightened his knees, holding himself firmly to the saddle.

“Oh by the shining spire, please don’t.” Ianmus pleaded.

“My good man, I have no idea what you mean!” Kaius replied, holding the mage tighter as he leaned forwards in the saddle.

“Yes, you do! Please don’t!”

“Are you perhaps a little overheated, elfling? You seem to be in hysterics over a simple evening ride.” Porkchop teased, before he dipped into their private bond.

“You ready?”

“Yeah.” Kaius replied, still grinning wildly.

“You bastards, I’m not going to forget this one.” Ianmus said, scrunching his eye’s shut.

Kaius laughed, before he felt like he was yanked backwards by a mountain troll as Porkchop tapped into his amulet, accelerating to his full sprint in moments.

Squeezing his legs for dear life, he let out a long holler of excitement as the air rushed through his hair. Porkchop’s feet pounded a steady rhythm in the earth, each hastened bound kicking up clods of dirt and propelling them across the plains like he was a bounding hare.

It was exhilarating, speeding across the open ground like this—made him feel like he was an air elemental, soaring where he pleased.

Ianmus, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying it less intensely. His eyes were scrunched, alabaster complexion washed out further to a pallid grey. Kaius could see the man's lips moving as he muttered a steady stream of words, but the speed of their approach ripped them away before they could reach his ears.

No doubt the man was cursing ever having met them.

Turning his attention to their destination, Kaius found his view of the commotion at the gates quickly resolving.

At the speed Porkchop was moving at, the strides practically melted before them, drawing them close enough that he could see small figures racing back and forth—a chaotic thrum of bodies.

It was a fight alright—a rather desperate one from the looks of it. Beasts, judging by the low smudges he could see flickering back and forth in the haze.

Still, as best he could tell, the guards were handling it. They’d formed a line, using shields to deny the assaulting monsters the opportunity to pick them apart, while archers above loosed arrow after arrow into the targets below.

Not that Kaius thought that meant they could slow their approach. The monsters assaulting the gates looked like they outnumbered the guards by four to one, a tangled wave of bodies that smashed into their line again and again.

Thankfully, they’d be there to help in a few minutes at most. Porkchop at a full sprint was practically faster than lightning, when compared to their normal easy pace they travelled with.

“Hit them hard when we arrive, I’ll jump off with Ianmus before you do.” Kaius said, the blurred figures slowly coming into focus.

Dogs, by the looks of it—mostly lacking fur, though they made up for it with a thick leathery hide.

Now that they were close enough, Kaius could see the guardsmen at the gate's faces. Tense eyes, filled with anxiety, duty, and fear. Sweaty beading on their brows, glinting in the sun.

They were putting the dogs down, bleeding them dry with a dozen spear points every time one grew desperate enough to assault their shield line.

Yet, they weren’t without their own casualties. Prone bodies, huddled in the thin space the defenders had left between their backs and the shut gate behind them. Red blood spilled from a dozen wounds, desperate allies and comrades pressing rags into the injuries in the hopes of stemming the bleeding long enough for Health to seal the bites.

Not all of them were successful, or so the still form dragged off to the side of the main group suggested.

It was easy to forget sometimes, how slow natural healing was without a skill like his own Lesser Regeneration. Sure, everything would be fine in minutes if you had enough Health, but that was little comfort when you could bleed out in half that time.

Baying yips filled the air, joined by the sounds of desperate shouts and clanging steel.

Porkchop roared, letting loose a Bulwark’s Challenge. The guards jumped, more than a few freezing at the sound of another predator—though Kaius saw them snap out of it quickly when they noticed him on his brother’s back.

The dogs, on the other hand, reacted to Porkchop’s challenge with snarls of fury—at the distances they were, the skill was stretched thin enough that it didn’t force them into focusing on them. It did, however, distract them long enough for a full dozen to go down with spear points lodged in their skull.

Deadacre’s guards straightened at the small victory, buoyed by the approaching assistance.

Then the moment came.

Kaius pushed down on his foot loops as hard as he could, sending himself up and back.

Ianmus gasped, only barely ready for the sudden dismount.

Porkchop continued forwards, tapping into his amulet a second time as he descended on the pack of dogs like a rampaging drake. They immediately focused on the greater threat, swarming him.

Bracing himself, Kaius’s feet touched the ground. Still backed by the momentum of their charge, he slid for a full twelve strides over the dusty and hard earth before coming to a slow stop.

Kaius set Ianmus down on his feet, gently shoving him towards the onlooking defenders.

“Healing time, princess.” he teased, the jab enough to shake the half-elf out of his daze.

Giving him a final withering look, Ianmus set off running towards the guards. They parted to let him pass, not questioning the mage’s approach.

Drawing his blade, Kaius smiled as he watched Porkchop fling a dog through the air with a heavy swipe, blood spraying behind it in a long trail as his brother’s jade claws cleaved straight through its ribs.

He raced in.