Taking in the scene within a few minutes, Rex could see the entire area of the bottom floor of the tavern. He was standing on the top of a platform that lowered two steps down to the main floor of the bottom level. Over three-quarters of the space was taken up with circular tables with a mixed number of patrons seated around each table, across the far end of the room was a long wooden bar with two people behind serving the customers and two girls scampered throughout the tabled areas bringing drinks and food and taking away the emptied plates and glasses to a room behind the bar, to the far left of the bar against the wall was a doorway with a set of stairs that could be seen through the archway heading up. Against the far-right wall was a small, raised platform that had a golden-haired woman singing an upbeat tune strumming on a lute and just behind her was a tall wiry man with a strange bowl haircut beating a drum. “You going to just stand there like a weirdo or come and organise ou
Gary was staring at Rex waiting for a response before the woman called Rosie stepped in and grasped his large bicep, “Please stop making trouble.”“I wanna know if he can arm wrestle, that aint makin trouble issit?” Gary replied, his words slighted by drink.“He is deep in conversation with the Assiarian woman before you intervened, let’s find him later?” Rosie said, her voice turning a little sharper and more authoritarian.“Assarians!” Gary spat, looking up at Karinna with scorn, “Wasta space and good air I reckon!”“I’m willing to arm wrestle him,” Rex said, standing so quickly Gary was bustled back slightly by his movement, Rex was sure the bump would aggravate the irritated man, but he simply looked down at Rex, rubbing his sternum where he was struck.“Little man hits good, come,” Gary said, his tone changing to cheerful, beckoning Rex to follow ov
“Kealy can you follow Dilo and make sure she doesn’t start the fight early, I guess we will wait outside and make sure the soldiers don’t do anything unfair in this silly bout,” Rex sighed, nodding to the archway before scratching his chin. “I would like to ask if we could come, I have a vested interest to see how this bout goes myself,” Karinna asked. “Why would you have a vested interest in how our affairs go?” Venya asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. “Call it intuition,” Karinna said, “It is a gift and a curse for my race to have these kinds of things. I cannot explain why, I just have this feeling that we should accompany you outside.” She shrugged at not being able to explain it any further. “Rosie called you an Assarian, what is that?” Rex asked as they made their way through the tavern, Rex gaining a few cheers and claps and the shoulders from the men in the tavern from his win over Gary in the arm wrestle. Cassius cleared his throat from behind them, getting Rex’s att
The instant Dilo heard Rex’s proposal, she released her grip, “I submit.”“Hey!” Rosie said through gritted teeth, “That isn’t fair, I only won because he said something to you to make you stop.”Dilo chuckled low in her throat as Rosie released her grip, “You won this fight, but like the idiot you are, I actually won in the long run, and you don’t even realise.’Unlike Rosie, Dilo had full control over her mind and actions while the battle adrenaline coursed through her body, so she knew what Rex’s proposal meant, but with Rosie’s brain being fogged and from lack of experience, she had only just realised what Rex had said as her pulse slowed, and mind cleared. Her shoulders sagged once she comprehended why Dilo had given up.“A good lesson here I think,” Brend said stepping forward and patting Rosie on the shoulder, “Rex’s friend, sorry I didn’t ca
“Ok,” Rex said, sitting up a little straighter, “You have my attention.”Dilo sighed loudly and her shoulders slumped forward a little, “I thought that would. His message came while you were at the river. I wanted to tell you about it straight away, but no good time came up, but I wanted to also let you know I have no intention of responding to him, like I said earlier, my loyalty is mainly to you, but also by extension to anyone you deem worthy to be a part of our group.”The soft sincere tone Dilo had while speaking resonated with Rex, he could tell she genuinely met what she said about her loyalty, he just was not sure why it had changed so quickly. “What did he want?”“He wanted me to let him know where I was. I get the feeling he thinks I am a prisoner in need of rescue. I wanted to get your thoughts on replying saying my allegiance has changed,” Dilo said her tone remaining soft, with only the sma
Taking in his surroundings as he came through the doorway and out onto the roof, Rex’s senses were on high alert as he snapped his head back and forth, checking corners, shadows and places one could hide to ambush from. Just because Brend and his group of soldiers had not caused any issues for Rex and his group yet, did not mean they wouldn’t try something while he was alone.“Someone is on high alert,” Rosie chuckled, turning to see why Rex’s footsteps had quietened, stopping one foot onto a two-step rise to an open-roofed pagoda with a few low wicker chairs and a table.“One cannot be too sure,” Rex shrugged, still wary even though Rosie seemed at ease.“I can see the sense in that,” Rosie nodded, “I have no reason to do you harm, plus after seeing you defeat Gary, I would be more worried about you overpowering me.”“I consider myself more of a pacifist when possible,” Rex sai
After Rex said his goodnights and departed, Rosie was left trembling and breathless as the shock of what she had done finally hit her, “I don’t know why I did that.” Remembering what had happened as she walked back down to her room, a voice halted her outside the door of her room. “Where were you? You seem happy about something.” Looking at where the voice had come from, she nodded and then shrugged, “Squad leader Brend. I was upstairs with father. I’m just heading to bed now.” As she turned back to face her door once more, something out of the corner of her eye drew her attention back. “Why are you dressed for an outing? Going somewhere at this hour?” Looking at his riding equipment and warm travelling coat draped over his shoulder, he grinned before shrugging smugly, “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’ve just returned from the garrison.” Seeing a smugness more than usual in his body language piqued her interest. Brend was usually secretive when he left to send and receiv
Cassius’s mind reeled once he heard Rex’s declaration of crossbows being aimed in their direction, he didn’t think they would have had time to set something like that up before they closed in their position. The soldiers had accosted them as Karinna was purchasing some supplies to ask if they could travel in Rex’s company. She had told him last night before retiring for bed that she had a vision that had followed Rex and released a whole township of Assarians from the clutches of one of the godking’s death camps.“I find myself at a loss,” Cassius admitted, not being able to catch any glimpse or sheen of the metal parts on a crossbow that would be shining in the sun.“I have it sorted. We will need to focus on ending this fight quickly, or at least holding out until the guards arrive. I think I heard someone say they ran off to wake and warn Smarluuten about the godking’s soldiers violating his laws in his town,” Rex said.“A sound plan,” Cassius said with a nod, “Assuming the crossbo
“Well,” Rex coughed, “How do you know they came with ill intentions?”“They confessed under duress of course,” Queen Ullysarius said, casually waving her two left-sided long-clawed hands dismissively. “Do you wish to unveil the fleshed ones? Or shall I?”Turning toward Cassius for guidance and getting a confused shrug, Rex turned back, “I’ll do it.” Rex noticed the queen seemed to deflate slightly at his answer. ‘Strange response,’ he thought.“Shall I accompany you?” Ullysarius added in, quickly sidling in next to Rex, her eyes shining eagerly.” You know, in case it is decided they will visit the beyond. I would be honoured to send them there myself, blessed one.” Rex noticed she put extra emphasis on the title.Rolling his eyes, Rex moved to the first covered figure, reached under the hood and flipped it back.“Brend?” Rex asked, shocked to see Rosie’s squad leader kneeling before him, a strange black substance stuck over his mouth to prevent speaking, and his hands and elbows were
The moment Rex allowed Karinna to join him, she immediately started to mutter under her breath with her hands outstretched, slowly walking towards the young, downed woman.“What are you doing?” Cassius asked, taking a step forward to attempt to get a better view as to what Karinna was doing.“You need to stay back, the magic woven into this woman is highly unstable,” Karinna snapped, shooting a sharp glance toward Cassius, stopping him in his tracks.Raising his hands defensively, Cassius, along with Grug, retreated a few paces back and away from Karinna and the downed woman.“Grub be thinking how such small girlie make all buggies dead,” Grub asked, squinting suspiciously toward the young woman.“This poor girl has been subjected to a horrific amount of opposing magic. I am surprised she has not exploded already and killed us all, bringing this entire nest down in the process,” Karinna said, pausing her spell-casting to check the young woman’s pulse. “Before she can be moved, I must
Rex, Cassius, Hussin and Grub were on full alert as they moved through the archway and entered into the well-lit, large cavern. The first thing Rex noticed was the amount of crazak bodies strewn around. He estimated there were at least thirty here, all looking like they had died while trying to fend off an attacker.“Be alert of your surroundings,” Cassius said after leaning over and pressing his hand onto the shredded chitin of a downed crazak that was closest to the archway. “It’s still warm, I would say the fight happened only 15 minutes ago.”“These quilix died in fighting circles,” Hussin said, surveying the carnage. “It is our most used tactic for our primarily non-combat nest members. Whatever did this used raw power to overcome all present.”“To slay this many buggies, thing must be strong,” Grub said, kneeling down next to another crazak and running his hand over its limbs, tracing the deep gouges in its tough chitin with his finger. “This buggy was ripped in pieces. With stro
Godking Darius had never slept much in his old life, this habit leaked through to his current reincarnation. This worked well to keep his entourage of close advisors on their feet, as well as not allowing anyone to catch him unawares, which was in his top three of most despised things.He was currently perusing through his latest report papers, lounging back on his large high-backed throne chair, just sitting slightly offset to his large black obsidian desk. He always sat facing the doorway allowing him a good view of anyone who entered into his chambers. Feeling a pulse of energy approaching, he smiled evilly. Darius knew this weasel-featured advisor well. Turning slightly back to his table, he stashed the papers he was reading and turned back to face the door, interlocking his fingers across his chest and waited. A few minutes later, a soft knock on the door could be heard.“Enter,” Darius said, allowing a slight sliver of magic into his voice. He had learnt from his earliest time s
During their trip from the throne room, Paool questioned Rex about his incredible ability to heal wounds.After seeming somewhat satisfied with Rex’s vague explanation about being bonded with an ancient creature and sharing some of its traits, Paool then asked about how he was hiding the presence of other beings, explaining he could sense multiple scents emanating from him.“Why does smart buggy not be asking Grub about him?” Grub suddenly blurted out, appearing next to Paool, startling the crazak.“Uh, this one does not know what to ask of you delicious-smelling one,” Paool replied after a few seconds, his name for Grub eliciting a chuckle from Cassius.Before Grub was able to respond, Paool stopped suddenly, his action not being noticed by the others for another two steps.“Everything ok Paool?” Rex asked, instinctively resting his hand on the pommel of his sword while his eyes darted between both ends of the tunnel they currently traversed.“Yes, blessed one. This humble one was ju
Chapter 104Thirty minutes later, and with great effort, Rex was able to be upright without nausea or a pounding headache and was now seated at a small table in the cavernous room he was placed in.“Uh, I feel worse than ever,” Rex said, reaching out and picking up a strange blood-red coloured food object he guessed was fruit from a stone bowl in the centre of the table he was sitting at, Grub to his left and Cassius to his right. Both men, he could see, had a worried expression poorly hidden in their facial features. Turning the food over in his fingers, he could not attribute the shape nor colour to any fruit he had seen, during his time in Oak, nor even during his time in Dracoterrum and this realm.Clearing his throat slightly before speaking, Cassius broke the silence that came after Rex’s declaration, saying while also looking at the food Rex was studying, “They call it a “Smuur”, whatever that means. I have not been able to ascertain a translation to our tongue, but I believe i
“Now now Dorian,” the younger, gentler female voice said in an almost sing-song tone before Rex could reply, “I remember, gods quite a long time ago now, where a man once told me, ‘A man’s secrets are his very being. The ability to strip a man’s secrets and lay him bare is a travesty to his core.’ With that in mind, how could you allow any of us to assault his mind and take away that which doesn’t belong to us?”“Sounds like Tillian has found herself a young interest,” the older woman’s voice said, almost mockingly.“I can admit, unlike some of us, that this young…I am sorry, Rex was it?” the voice from Tillian said.“Yes, my name is Rex,” Rex nodded, finally being able to have a voice amongst the seemingly ending squabbles of beings unknown to him.“I had forgotten if you classed yourself as an adult or child still,” Tillian’s voice said softly. “I know so little about your race I’m afraid. I doubt even Gillart could shed any light on this.”“Hullans would be the closest to his race
Doing his best to keep his heart rate and thoughts on the correct path, Rex took a step back out of instinct, causing the hive queen to stop one step above where he stood and raise the two eyebrows on the left side of her face.“Do you not intend on agreeing to our deal?” she asked, her voice going flat.“Uh, sorry. Old habit to give myself room for a fight if needed,” Rex said, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead as he realised he had also unknowingly taken an unarmed fighting stance.“Hold out your hand,” the hive queen said, smirking seeing Rex relax from his fighting stance in seconds.Doing as requested, but keeping his muscles taut and ready to react at a moment's notice, the hive queen strode forward, striking the tip of his thumb with one of her claw tips so fast Rex did not even see the queen move her hand. After feeling the pinch, he looked at his thumb, seeing the blood now slowly trickling out from the tiny wound.“Uh, that’s strange,” Rex said, still staring curio
“Balrog!?” Rex spluttered, his mind whirling. “But Fafnir said she was…”“A demon?” The hive queen said, her voice almost like a low growl sending a tingling sensation down Rex’s spine.“Uh, yeah,” Rex sighed, hoping his admission did not seal his fate earlier than expected, “I believed it because he was a dragon and she didn’t look anything like the crazaks that attacked earlier on my journey, or now I’ve seen you, doesn’t resemble you either.”“Do all humans look the same?” The queen asked, raising two eyebrows over two eyes on the left side of her face while looking down at Rex.“Well, no,” Rex replied. Then it dawned on him, “Same race, look differently. I must admit I’m now curious about how that happens. Our looks differ due to quite a lot of things like race, gender, and heritage of the parents, is that the same for you?”“No,” the queen replied with a quirk to the edges of her mouth. “You are tempting and intelligent, quite the tantalising mix indeed. Our looks depend on our l