“That’s our Rex,” Kealy snickered, shaking her head, “Pulling off the impossible.”“I don’t understand,” Rex shrugged, seeing Kiri was still flicking her eyes between the tattoo and his face. “I was there for five days in your memory, did some fishing, hunted a few werebeasts, and a mountain troll and then got hit on the back of the skull from a hill knoll. After I successfully completed a solo hunt of a wool-coated tembo, elder Mwindaji gave me this.” He lifted his forearm to show the small tattoo.Hearing of Rex’s achievements shocked Kiri even further, “You did all of that in only five days?” Then her brows knitted in confusion, “I’m not sure how five memory days went by in the space of just over one hour of real-time, something isn’t right.”“Should’ve brought Grub,” the man sullenly whined, “Sounds like Grub could have gotten skin mark hunting of those beasties. Knowing wonky leg, they would have been the big beasties too!”“A fully grown tembo is a master hunter’s prey, who sugg
Smarluuten turned to face Dilo, one side of his lips curling back, revealing even more teeth, “Your nest mate does not smell your origins?”“Well no. We must use words to pass that sort of information on, and he had not,” Dilo growled, her words raspier than usual from the shock still coursing through her.“That was something I had yet to share with anyone,” Rex sighed, reaching out to put a hand on Dilo’s. “Not the way I wanted anyone to find out, but what Smarluuten says is true, while in my realm, I was soul bonded with a dragon. His name was Fafnir.”“You share blood with the son of the eldest?” Smarluuten breathed, his small eyes widening, one of his hands trembling slightly. “We must pay homage to the high bloods. I will make all arrangements.”“No!” Rex said, getting to his feet sharply, the action startling both Smarluuten and Dilo. “I cannot have anyone else know about this unless I wish to have them told.”“But…” Smarluuten started to hiss, almost pleading, “As a lesser, I m
Seeing Carey ready for a fight, Brend and his retinue all drew their weapons.“Stop you fool!” Carey said, rounding on Brend with a snarl, “This many people exchanging blows will be too loud and will draw the guard's attention. If I am reported killing any of the lizard’s guards, the godking will have ALL our heads for disturbing the peace accord.”“I didn’t think a master assassin would know fear,” Dilo asked with a smirk, raising an eyebrow.“Careful with your words young experiment,” Carey warned, turning back to Dilo and waggling a finger, grinning slightly. “You will not always be inside of the lizard’s protection.”“Then you should know that the moment she leaves this town, I will have her back,” Rex said, meeting Carey’s glare without fear.“I have been told you are a strange one, but do not doubt for a second that I could gut you like a fish if I wanted,” Carey said, patting his daggers confidently.“Oh my,” Kiri said, smirking, “Is that the scent of fear I can smell on the ai
Entering through the portal after Dilo and Kiri, Rex’s eyes widened. He had known he could open quite an impressive magical space, but this seemed even more than he thought he had done.“You’ve outdone yourself,” Dilo growled with a broad smile, looking around the large, flat open space. “Last time I was in here, it barely contained that cottage over there.” She was pointing to a small log cabin Rex had placed inside just before putting Dilo in here for the first time.“I’ve opened more space than I expected,” Rex said, stretching through the burst of chest pain he felt from the effort.“I do not think this much space will be needed, I can only imagine the strain it will put on you to keep it maintained,” Kiri said, placing a hand on Rex’s arm, and leaning into him.“Seems ok for now,” Rex shrugged. He could only feel the slightest pinch in his chest at the present.“Yes, and the more we bring in here, the more strain it will put on you. That and keeping the zone temperate enough to g
With only an hour left before their arranged time to be at Smarluuten’s mansion, Rex and his group readied themselves for the upcoming festivities.Cassius had loaned Rex a light cotton white shirt, covering that was a short sleeve shiny black leather coat with gold buttons down the front. He wore black slacks with a spare pair of Cassius’s tanned-coloured leather ankle boots. Karinna had made alterations to the outfit so it fit Rex’s frame snugly.“What is this made from?” Rex asked, feeling the smooth leather coat.“To the east, there are swamp lands surrounding a large number of stone crypts. No one knows who is buried or why they are there, but there is a wide range of creatures that reside in the swamp. One such animal is a black deathclaw wolf. Its hide can be tanned, and what your wearing is the result,” Cassius said, aligning his own red vest, which was similar in appearance to the one Rex was wearing but had a breast watch dangling from a chain that was hooked through the cor
“Introduce a humble one to the companions who are deemed worthy enough to travel with someone such as yourself,” Smarluuten hissed to Rex, bowing slightly.“This is Dilo, Kealy, Grub, Venya, Karinna, Cassius and…” Rex said, smiling while pointing to each companion that had fanned out behind him, each member bowing their head as Rex pointed them out, getting cut off before the last member.“Kiri,” Smarluuten growled, his smile fading, and his red eyes narrowed to slits.“My, it has been quite some time,” Kiri smirked, dipping her head, slightly slanted to one side so she could keep an eye on the lizard.“Not long enough,” Smarluuten hissed, baring his teeth.“You asked for my entire nest to be present for this, Kiri is a part of my nest,” Rex said, stepping between the two, raising one eyebrow at Smarluuten.“Wait,” Smarluuten hissed, cocking his head slightly, “She agreed to serve under you?”“Gladly,” Kiri said before Rex could reply, a broad smile on her lips.“Without bloodshed? Or
“I’m guessing by the looks on your faces, something isn’t right?” Kealy asked, frowning at seeing the expressions on Rex, Kiri and Smarluuten’s faces.“What is it?” Venya asked, her face paling slightly when she noticed the serious tone in the air.“How many doorways are there?” Cassius asked Smarluuten, going into defensive mode.“Three. The one you came through, the servant's entrance through there,” Smarluuten said, pointing with a claw toward an archway-shaped set of fern fronds, “The last is through there, but that entrance is barred. The only other way in would be through the roof.”“Judging by the sound we heard, someone seems to be taking that route,” Kiri said.“Well seeing as our party has been interrupted earlier than the schedule,” Cassius began, “I think we should move Karinna away from here. I would be a much better combatant knowing she was safe.”“I think Kealy, Venya and Grub should go with her,” Dilo said, raising his hand to interrupt Grub’s incoming protest, “Even
Parrying another heavy blow, Rex cursed under his breath. Between the sheer size and weight of the Messer sword mixed with the momentum behind the lieutenant’s attacks, he was constantly damaging the blade he currently possessed, even in the low light, he was already seeing nicks in the blade’s edge. What was more annoying was how easily the slender attacker seemed to be able to swing the blade with such force.After stepping to the side to dodge a downward chop, he growled as he had to bring his sword up again to parry the blade because his attacker changed their stance and was able to bring the blade in a backward sweep in the direction he had moved to, a lot quicker than he anticipated.“You aren’t holding back now, are you?” the silky voice asked, changing the position of their feet and stepping forward for a lunging thrust attack toward Rex’s stomach.Frowning with frustration, Rex stepped into the attack and using his palm, battered the blade on the flat edge, pushing it off tar