“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
Once Kiri rejoined them, Rex pulled her aside.“What did you do with Carey?” he asked, looking around Kiri as if expecting him to be restrained and following her.“I did what was necessary to gain information,” she replied, looking to the spot Rex had seen her earlier, the only thing left now was a large pool of blood.“Well, I hope it was a fruitful endeavour?”“I got enough from him before he lost his life, I planned on sharing what I learnt when we returned to camp,” Kiri replied, smiling wanly. Rex could see something was haunting Kiri which he thought strange for her, he had started to consider her emotions near on impregnable besides her said declarations when it came to himself.Nodding, Rex turned back to the calamity inside Smarluuten’s garden. He was in two minds about offering to help them clean up the mess around them, but the Drakken got in before he could make up his mind.“After a night like tonight,” He hissed, appearing beside Rex, forgetting his arm was missing once
Rex turned to face the person standing to his side, Dilo grumbling as her fingers released her hold on him.“I’m sorry, do I know you?” Rex asked as he stood and closed half of the distance between himself and the visitor.“We have never met,” the man dressed in shiny black armour said, removing his helmet to show jet-black hair a few inches long, a short stubbly beard and a prominent nose. The man was medium height, thick-set through the arms, shoulders and chest, telling Rex he was a warrior and the way he moved was graceful, smooth and purposeful telling him the man would be well trained. “My name is Invictus Damen. I have been dispatched by the lady of blades from the capitol to find the people who came through the portal, and my search has finally led me here, and after some questioning of multiple sources, the path finished with you.”“I’m curious how you know the person who went through the portal was me,” Rex asked, a small smirk creeping onto the edge of his mouth as one of h
Once the meals were distributed between everyone in Rex’s group, plus the addition of Damen, the topics of conversation were light and unimportant.After an hour, Damen rose, thanked Kiri, Kealy and Venya for the amazing meal and then turned to Rex, “Can you walk me out?”Nodding and rising from his seat, Rex turned to the three women who had prepared the meal, “Amazing as usual.” He had just turned to follow Damen when a hand grabbed his wrist. Looking down at who had stopped him, his head tilted slightly seeing Dilo’s scowl toward Damen’s back.“I think he has recognised me, please be careful,” Dilo growled in a low voice, her tone more worried than usual.“If he has, I think he would be able to see how different you are compared to who you were, like we all have,” Rex smiled reassuringly, patting her white knuckles that were gripping his wrist with his free hand.Grunting her response, Dilo inhaled a deep breath and exhaled loudly, turned and walked over to where Kiri had begun to
Once Rex’s eyes finally opened, he found out he was fully sprawled out in the middle of his bedding. The weight from Kiri and Dilo pressing on his body was gone, so after his vision cleared, he looked from left to right. Not seeing either woman, he sat up and groaned slightly as he pulled his body upright, then after a few light stretches to help get his body going, he threw on his shirt and wiping the sleep from his eyes, he pushed open the tent and walked into the light just breaking over the horizon. “About time,” Dilo growled, looking up from her warm cup. “Here I thought someone was going to have to come and wake you,” Cassius said, raising an eyebrow as he stroked a whetstone along the edge of his blade, stopping to apply a tiny drop of oil onto the stone before continuing. “I was unaware everyone was waiting for me,” Rex sighed, doing his best to stifle a yawn. “YOU were the one who said to wake for training before breakfast,” Kealy said, “So shall we begin so we can finally
Rex whistled in surprise at the sight that beheld them when they followed Smarluuten to the town stables. Five freshly groomed and saddled horses stood ready, all tied by their reigns to a post, the three largest of the five had medium-sized saddlebags over their rumps. “Not to talk bad about a gift as extravagant as this,” Rex said hesitantly, counting the horses, then his companions, “But we seem to be one beast short?” “I have realised Kiri will travel in the locket you have,” Smarluuten hissed, waving to Rex’s neck, “But for you, I have something more worthy of your higher blood station.” Rex’s head cocked slightly, then went to confused as Smarluuten’s massive maw split into a broad grin, showing off his many rows of teeth. He was about to say something to the drakken when Smarluuten’s throat bulged out, and then a strange hissing, an almost wheezing sound emanated through vertical slits running down his neck. “That almost sounded like a call,” Kiri said, scrunching her nose
“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