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
“You want to do what!?” the physiker asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.“Rex’s natural constitution does not allow foreign magic to penetrate his inbuilt defences, but if we augment your healing with a little of Dilo’s life force, I believe Rex will not deem it a magical attack and his unconscious body will recognise Dilo and allow the magic to perform its purpose,” Kiri said, her voice still rough and raspy.“You want me to augment my healing weave, with blood magic?” the physiker asked, her tone going cold and flat.“Well technically it is not blood magic, so to speak,” Kiri sighed, rolling her eyes. “Dilo is not the one drawing on blood to boost her own magical ability. It is only being used as a clean and unblemished medium that will be familiar to Rex to allow his natural defences to lower enough for your healing magic to help cleanse enough of the poison his body cleanses the remainder itself.”“You’re trying to sell me on a technicality,” the physiker said with a scowl, put
“Well…” Rex said loudly, lowering his fork onto his plate and sitting it on his lap, doing his best to stifle a loud burp.“That was incredible!” Kealy said, letting the plate she was licking fall away to stare at Grub. “You have to let us know what it was.”“Grub told you, Grub know good meal,” Grub smiled warmly, patting his own full stomach. “Now food is done, Grub’s friends drink good Kuumakun spirit.” He rose from his place at the fire and walked to his lopsided tent at a brisk pace, leaving everyone at the fire staring at his back with mixed expressions.“Am I the only one that was impressed by how he simply threw mystery ingredients into a pot, before adding whatever that thing was he caught, the end result was giving us a meal so good it left us speechless?” Karinna asked, looking around the fire with a grin.“I must admit I may have to up my own cooking game,” Rex said, getting chuckles from his companions. “I half want to know what it was, but on the other hand, knowing what
Rex had just mentally called his mount and leapt into the saddle when Kiri pulled her horse close enough to speak, but not too close to have her mount spooked by the large moving lizard.“You must tell me how you do that.”“Do what?” Rex asked, his nose pinching slightly in confusion.“Being able to command a mount mentally is incredibly rare. Most mounts require verbal communication or physical touch to receive their orders, like these horses. But I never heard you call for the pogona, and yet it came when you looked off into the distance,” Kiri said, eyeing Rex closely.“Uh, it’s hard to explain,” Rex said, stroking his face while trying to think of how he could put what he did with the pogona and Fafnir before that. “The best way for me to explain would be, I put the picture of him in my mind and speak. I still only get broken words here and there as a response, but most times I can fill in the gaps.”“He speaks to you as well,” Kiri said shaking her head with an incredulous smile
“I don’t like this,” Dilo growled once Rex had arrived back to his companions and told what he and the crazak had conversed about.“A hive queen that wants to meet sounds…” Cassius said, trailing off as his mind started working.“Like an easier way to eat Grub,” Grub said, grabbing his elbows and shuddering as the thought of crazaks tearing his flesh from him entered his mind.“That did cross my mind,” Rex said, inhaling deeply and holding it for a few brief moments before expelling the air.“But you’re feeling something different, aren’t you?” Kiri asked, noticing Rex’s surprisingly relaxed posture, even with the imminent danger they could be putting themselves in.“It's hard to explain,” Rex started with a slow nod. “I get this strange tingling in the back of my head that has been quite effective at warning me of danger. During the conversation with the crazak, even though there was easily enough to overwhelm us, I had no tingling of danger, and none even showed hostility.”“Relying
“Uh…” Rex moaned as his darkened vision finally cleared and he was able to take in his surroundings.“Welcome back,” a familiar and calm voice wafted into Rex’s consciousness.“Cassius,” Rex groaned as his eyes opened fully and he saw a slender man standing over him with a broad friendly smile. As he began to sit upright, he could still feel slight dizziness and he inhaled sharply as a bout of nausea struck him.“Slow and steady Rex,” Cassius said, kneeling and steadying Rex. “You were out for half a day after opening the gateway. I think it may be due to the amount of people who passed through the arch. At the time I didn’t think about how much effort and energy it would take to allow so many through, for that, I am sorry.” Cassius continued, his chin dropping slightly in shame.“I didn’t think of it either,” Rex said, smiling as the nausea and dizziness passed and he was able to look around. “Where are we?”Smirking at the admission of shared fault, Cassius looked up, glad for the c
“I sense something is off today visitor Rex,” Hussin said, his small black eyes focused on Rex and the two sleeping companions a short distance behind him. “We usually celebrate the coming of another sun as one, but I can see something bothers you.”“One of your smalls almost attacked us last night, so we just stayed prepared, just in case,” Rex said, standing to greet Hussin.“Ah,” Hussin sighed with a slow, knowing nod. “I should have foreseen this. I apologise,” he continued, clenching his two lower claws while keeping his upper two straight, placing them between his eyes.“Foreseen what?” a slightly bleary voice called from behind them.“A small has yet to receive the gift of shared consciousness from our queen, so they still have slight impulsiveness which sometimes leads to rash decisions,” Hussin said, looking at the small contingent of crazaks all lined up, kneeling all facing the mountain. “I must join them for welcoming the new sun, you may join us if you wish. Or not, the c
After an hour of Grub’s complaining about the trek, Rex finally gave in and caught up with Hussin who was leading the group around the base of a huge mountain.“How far from the entrance are we?” Rex asked.“Ah Rex, in mere minutes we will be entering the mountain, and back onto familiar ground,” Hussin replied. Rex could have sworn if the giant insect could have smiled, it would have done it then at just merely mentioning getting to re-enter the nest. Rex was just about to slow and allow Grub and Cassius to catch up when Hussin called to him, “Please Rex, come. I would like to be seen returning with you beside me.”“Uh, sure,” Rex replied, a little stunned. But after a quick shrug, he caught back up to be beside Hussin.“Even in our hive-minded colony, there is social status,” Hussin said. “I cannot have you be seen following behind me when the queen herself requested your presence, like a common worker. Therefore, you must be seen leading with me.”“Even in a colony led by a queen a
“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