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
Rex’s companions were just about to draw their weapons to begin assaulting the pogona, but Smarluuten stepped between Rex and his companions, with his stump and good arm raised.“Please do not attack him, this is part of the bonding process, we cannot interfere,” he hissed, projecting his voice so he could be heard by everyone.“The f**king thing is going to bite off his arm!” Kealy yelled, starting to draw her daggers from their sheathes, the rasping of steel against leather following her words.“Everyone stop!”All members present, Smarluuten included turned to face Rex, who had now calmed completely and was looking at his group members.“He is not hurting my arm, his teeth aren’t even biting into my arm. There is a strange dangly thing tickling my hand though,” Rex said, turning back to face the pogona with a curious expression on his face.“If he wanted to cause injury to you, your arm would look like my own,” Smarluuten hissed, lifting the stump and showing it to Rex. “Soon you w
With the improved speed of the mounts, Rex and his companions covered much more ground, reaching a town called Ghordan, which Kiri said was only half a day’s trip away from the capital. Stopping the group just as the sun had touched the horizon, Rex turned to his group, “I think we can camp out of town for the night, we have a good elevation to see what is around us in all directions, guards close by with the town and a stream within easy reach for clean water.” “I like the sound of that,” Kealy groaned, not wasting any more time in dismounting, and stretching her legs, “This bloody beastly thing rocks back and forth so much I don’t think I’ll have any more skin left on the inside of my thighs when we arrive.” Her complaining earned her a glare and snort of hot air mixed with spray to the face from her horse. “I think he has grown to like you,” Venya said, stretching her own legs, coming up next to Kealy and bumping her playfully, she leaned in close and whispered something to her t
It took another hour for Dilo and Grub to finish getting the campsite set up enough for Karinna and Kiri to bring a now barely conscious Rex into the tent, Kealy and Venya arrived shortly after the last tent was erected, a large waterskin carried under Kealy’s arm. “Take it into Kiri and Karinna,” Dilo directed, pointing to the largest tent at the centre of the camp. Kealy dashed into the tent, and a few moments later she was ushered back out, “How is he?” she yelled, Kiri’s hand quickly closing the tent flap before answering. “Grub is sure wonky leg will be ok,” Grub said, laying his hand on her shoulder. “He is strong.” “Thanks,” Kealy said, her voice low. She turned to Venya, who laid her arm over her shoulder, and they walked away, Venya turned back to Dilo, “We will have the fire and seating arrangements done in a moment.” Dilo nodded and then took a step back, Grub was staring at her, a strange expression on his face. “What?” she growled, raising one eyebrow. “Wonky leg wil
Knowing Dilo’s intention to drag the most immediate threat away, Kiri dashed forward, and after a quick chant under her breath, reached out and clutched Dilo’s forearm. “What are you doing?” Dilo growled, quickly glancing down at her arm. “Making sure you survive this,” Kiri smiled, looking into Dilo’s eyes with an intensity Dilo had only seen once before. Once Kiri’s spell was complete, she slumped and fell to her knees, panting heavily. Dilo was about to reach down when a sudden sense of danger changed her course to be a roll to the side. Not a heartbeat later an overhead chop passed through the space her head had been in. “Ha! It seems beefcake has gained some speed since we last met and no longer plays a stupid meat shield,” Norian said with a grin. Dilo gritted her teeth at Norian’s use of her old nickname. She has grown up in a place where looks for a woman were everything, and due to her natural muscular body shape, many of the other thinner women taunted her. The moment s
Norian’s head spun toward the town, then after a few seconds, she turned back with a broad smile, “You almost had me, there aren’t any town guards coming? Are there?” “Actually,” Dilo growled, her smile breaking across her lips, “That is the reason we are doing our utmost to prevent you all from leaving. Rex wanted to give you all an opportunity to leave, but I wanted to delay you until our companion returned with them.” “All of your companions are present and…” Norian trailed off, looking toward Grub and Kealy, then down to where Karinna had dragged a barely conscious Kiri to the campfire and had her propped up against a log, then back to Dilo and Rex. “Your intelligence would say one is missing?” Dilo growled, her smile widening as Norian’s smile faltered slightly and the muscle at the side of her eye twitched. “You know our praetorian is busy handling Rosie. But please, don’t rush to decide on your next move, I have all the time in the world.” Since she had stopped fighting, Dilo
“So Rex,” Kiri began once they packed their cooking utensils. “I believe there is a part to this story you have not told us.”“What part is that?” Rex asked, raising one eyebrow at her.“The part where you earned the ‘blessed one’ title,” Kiri replied with a smirk. “I am most curious as to who has blessed you to elicit such a respectful response from a creature powerful enough to kill almost all of us.”Kiri’s question seemed to draw all eyes to Rex, even Cassius and Grub, even though they already knew the story.“Well,” Rex began with a little sigh as he gathered his thoughts, “I was originally tasked with performing a deed, in return for a favour. The queen then brought me through a portal to a place to have the agreement sealed by someone she called an ancient. She cannot deviate too far from some mission she was brought here to do, or something like that. Anyway, there were more ‘ancients’ than first agreed upon, almost like a council-type setup. The agreement was then changed to
“So this ‘dragon’ that is bonded with your soul is what has given you your potent abilities and now has unlocked some of your weaker magic?” Venya asked, for the fifth time. Rex had explained his meeting and bonding with Fafnir in great detail, but it seemed like Venya still did not believe him to be telling the truth. “Dragons are myth and you’re telling me your whole family line has bonded with one?” she had retorted, each time he tried telling her.“I too find his story to also be a touch fanciful, but it would also explain how he has performed such incredible feats that we have ALL witnessed. So I think it to be prudent to believe him. He has never lied to us before now, has he?” Kiri replied, finally being the one able to silence Venya.Rex had just begun to thank Kiri when Queen Ullysarius’s voice wafted across the magical space, silencing everyone.“Blessed one, we must speak.”“Sounds like I’m needed once more,” Rex sighed.“I can’t wait to be back in the real world and away f
Rex had only just erected his archway for Grub and Cassius to pass through when he was stopped, turning to face who had called out his name.“Before you go, blessed one,” Paool said, tilting his head slightly in respect. Her magnificence would like you to focus on binding the conduit. She has informed me of the importance of unlocking your once powerful magical talent for what lies ahead of you.”Rex was about to ask what he meant by that, but before he could utter a word, Paool had spun on his heel and with a faint crack, had disappeared.After the momentary shock wore off, Rex clicked his tongue in amusement at how Paool had chosen to take his leave, then spun and entered his archway.Once the quick lurching sensation from the portal had worn off, Rex’s mouth dropped open almost instantly. His spiritual space had expanded exponentially. As he took in the new surroundings, he was accosted before his brain could register what was happening.“Rex!!” a familiar growl entered his ear. Fo
Not wanting to see how Taalook had ‘Dealt’ with Norian, Rex moved on with his plan.“Anyone else wants to travel the same path as Norian?” Rex asked, watching everyone intently. He noticed the remaining squad members all wore a mixture of shock, and fear except for Barton who had disgust written over his face.“Well Barton,” Rex continued, walking up to the kneeling man. “If I release you, will you still pursue us seeing as your commander has perished?”This question elicited a moan from Brend as he struggled against his bindings.“Something to add Brend?” Cassius asked, coming to stand before the man.“Blessed one, I should warn you,” Taalook growled, stomping up to Brend, clenching two clawed hands on his right side. “He was the most aggressive fleshling. That is why his bindings are so tightly wrapped. The insect was annoying me.”Allowing Taalook to remove Brend’s gag, it did not take long for Brend to also decide to not take Rex’s lifeline.“You do not know how the godking’s army
“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 Kiri 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 Kiri was doing.“You need to stay back, the magic woven into this woman is highly unstable,” Kiri 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 Kiri 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,” Kiri said, pausing her spell-casting to check the young woman’s pulse. “Before she can be moved, I must separate and sec
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