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Chapter 61: Lore Master
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Warrior of the Way Chapter 62: Lore Master
Never one to pass up a free meal, Trace quickly followed before Rhychard could turn it down in his rush to escape. James Bartlett wasn't so quick to follow his wife, however. He pulled the dirty rag from his back pocket and wiped his face and then his hands. He then tossed it to his son. "You didn't see a spider. You okay?"Rhychard wiped his face, taking his time as he tried to think of what to tell his father. He couldn't exactly say he saw visions of flames. His father would think him crazy. It was hard enough to convince himself that he wasn't off his rocker.Handing the towel back to his father, he said, "Yeah, I'm fine. I saw a shadow or something in my periphery, and it startled me. That's all. It's what I get for allowing my mind to wander and not focusing on what I was doing."His father stared at him. "A shadow, huh?" He nodded. "If you say so. Come on, let's get some grub before your friend eats it all." He patted Rhychard on the back as he started into the house.Rhychard l
Warrior of the Way Chapter 63: Lore Master
September. Buttercup wished that it would cool just a little, but in Florida at eight-thirty in the sweaty a.m., it was still humid and sticky, the coolness of night never lasting long. She was glad she wore her dark hair back in a ponytail as she could imagine what a drenched mess her neck would be while she sat on the bench at the Harbor City Transit Stop 52. A giant oak covered the stop with its branches offering a minuscule amount of shade, but heat was heat regardless. She kept trying to adjust the business skirt she wore, not used to anything so…covering.She took a deep breath. What on earth was she thinking? She had no business trying to be something other than what she already was, a street hooker who earned her keep by spreading her legs for any john who came along with twenty bucks he could sneak past his wife. Who did she think she was trying to get a real job somewhere and get off the streets?Rhychard believed in her, as did Kree and Tryna. The Warrior supported her and e
Warrior of the Way Chapter 64: Lore Master
Buttercup just waved sweetly at him as the other lady took her seat, offering a quick thank you, and then setting her briefcase at her feet. Buttercup glanced at the briefcase, thinking the lady would learn what she meant about right turns in about five minutes if she didn't hold on to the case. Ah, well, you could only offer knowledge to people; they had to apply it for themselves.The lady turned slightly, facing Buttercup as she extended her right hand. "Hi, my name is Alana Leary. My car is in the shop, so I have to ride public. How is it? I've heard horror stories."Buttercup shrugged as she shook the woman's hand. "It's not New York, so I'd say you're pretty safe. I've been riding for years, and I've never seen anything worse than Vince's right turns.""You don't drive?""Never learned. Besides, bus fare is cheaper than gas these days."Alana laughed, short, petite giggles. "I can see your point. Still, I hate not being in control. Plus, I enjoy the freedom my car gives me. There
Warrior of the Way Chapter 65: Lore Master
She kept glancing at her watch as one by one they called the people sitting with her to go back for their one-on-one. She turned her paperwork in and had nothing to do except wait. She hated waiting. It left her alone with her thoughts, and lately, they were far from good. Kree was her silent cheerleader. Only the elven hound knew how scared she was at following through on her quest to completely remake herself. Rhychard had too much to deal with, and he had already done so much for her. This was now up to her. She had to do it for herself."Miss Valentine?" The tiny woman, barely Buttercup's age by the look of her, stood there with a clipboard, looking down on Buttercup. She was accustomed to being looked down upon. Of course, she hadn't gone by her real name in years and almost didn't recognize it when the woman spoke it out loud. Laci Valentine seemed the perfect name for the sex industry whether a prostitute, a porn star, or a stripper. She started going by Buttercup because she di
Warrior of the Way Chapter 66: Lore Master
It was a tough decision. Did he want to go chase down his brother and find out why Karl stood their parents up, or did he want to go home and deal with a hyper elf who wasn't even supposed to be there? Some days, Rhychard just wished he had stayed in bed.Going home meant he would also have to deal with Logan and the mysterious landscapers, which really sounded like a Hardy Boys' title. He decided he'd rather handle one headache as opposed to two, so once he pulled out of the U-Store-It parking lot, Rhychard headed south. Like the rest of his life, Karl's living accommodations weren't anything to brag about. Actually, honest people avoided going anywhere near the slums, which is what Feather Lakes had become. At one time, the small neighborhood had high hopes of catering to a snobby clientele, but it never happened. The houses were small boxes with only one or two bedrooms, tiny kitchens, and bathrooms the size of closets. How the developer ever thought people with money would want to
Warrior of the Way Chapter 67: Lore Master
Rhychard took the steps one at a time, wanting to delay the encounter as long as possible. It wasn't long enough. The screen door was the only barrier between the porch and chaos, and as he peeked in, he could see chaos was too soft of a word. "Karl!" Rhychard jerked the door open as the knot in his stomach tightened. The place was trashed. Not just from a lazy homeowner, but ransacked. Broken glass littered the floor, cushions were ripped open, and the stuffing thrown about, tables were broken. Someone had been searching for something. "Karl!""Holy…" Trace stood in the door. "Is he here?"A quick search of the house revealed the same catastrophe in each room, but no Karl Bartlett. "Damn!""Rhychard! In the kitchen."He would have run to Trace, but the house was too small, and there was too much debris on the floor. When Rhychard stood in the kitchen doorway, Trace pointed to a puddle of blood on the cheap linoleum. "There's more." Lots more. Bloody handprints were all over the back d
Warrior of the Way Chapter 68: Lore Master
Rhychard glanced back at the corpse draped over the damp boulders. The right arm now floating in the brackish water, buoyed on the rippled waves that rolled in from passing boats. The Unseelie and humans have teamed up again, it seemed. Creatures of the Void didn't care about secrecy as much as the Seelie apparently. Still, the main thing right now was that Karl was alive. At least, until his older brother caught up with him. "Who are you, and why are you here?""I am Ohlin, and I am one of those chosen to safeguard your family. Sheehan, the other assigned to guard your sibling, went to follow said sibling.""Rhychard! Where are you?" Trace stepped out of the back of the house.Rhychard needed to leave, but he still needed more information. "Any idea who did this or why?""No, Warrior. We are here to safeguard against creatures of the Void. We are not to interfere in human affairs. I only acted because of the gargoyles."Rhychard nodded. "I need to go and so do you." He turned as he he
Warrior of the Way Chapter 69: Lore Master
Okay, so this day has totally sucked and it's not even four o'clock yet. Rhychard and Trace drove around Harbor City for the next couple of hours, trying hard to determine where Karl went. However, the more they searched, the more Rhychard realized he didn't have a clue as to what his brother did or where he hung out. Rhychard called his mother, telling her that he tried stopping by his brother's place, but Karl wasn't home. He avoided the topic of the place being trashed and the dead body out back. "If he shows up there, have him call me. Better yet, make him call me." Karl obviously forgot to follow through on things he was to supposed do.Rhychard dropped Trace back off at his house, then returned to his condo and the chaos awaiting him. He wasn't looking forward to the encounter. With any luck, Tryna had arrived and shuffled the unannounced elf back to the Land Under. Rhychard still had no clue as to why Famallumi was above ground, but he was sure it would bring trouble. Elves alwa
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Warrior of the Way Chapter 263: Summerlands
While their mother piddled in the kitchen fixing them a plate of fajitas, the Valentine sisters sat on the living room sofa, legs folded under them. Maria Valentine put most of the house back in order after Baltabek's attack, but the destruction remained obvious to Laci. She held tight to her sister ever since the Summerlands, scared to let her go. Jayden, of course, fussed at her to stop being a mother hen.Once everyone arrived back at Rhychard's Thinking Rock, a place Renny decided would cause the least amount of sightseers, the witches and Famallumi returned to the Murky Cauldron while Rhychard placed a still-weak Jayden in the back of Laci's car. The eldest Valentine wasted no time or words as she headed straight for home."I almost lost you," Laci said. "I don't know what I would have done if that happened.""Probably moved into my room since it's the biggest," Jayden said with a shrug."That's not even funny," Laci snapped, shoving Jayden's hand away from her in disgust.Jayden
Warrior of the Way Chapter 262: Summerlands
Rhychard wasn't sure what he hit, but he found himself spinning backward, the Guardian Sword leaving his hand as he hit the ground with a hard thud, the air whooshing out of his lungs. Scrambling to his feet, a pain tugging at the back of his head from where he hit the ground, the first thing he noticed was Laci sprawled on top of Kree. Renny! He jerked his attention around until he saw her still gripping Jayden's arm as both women lay stretched out on the grass. However, he didn't see the wall he ran into, knocking him back on his ass. Another glance around, and he noticed the salt circle and the three witches sitting on the ground, eyes closed as they chanted. An older man he didn't recognize stood behind Wanda, his face a mask of admiration.A groan alerted Rhychard to Baltabek stirring, and Rhychard lunged for his sword. The demon moved faster, however, and shot a burst of his demonic power at the Warrior, knocking him back against the invisible barrier, the air he just managed to
Warrior of the Way Chapter 261: Summerlands
Rhychard heard screams, but he couldn't tell whose or where they originated. They might have even been his for all he knew. Pieces of the broken table jabbed him in his back and legs, and he felt blood making a trail down his side. Groaning, he tried to sit up. He must get up. Renny needed his protection as did his parents.:Warrior, Baltabek is heading to your home,: Kree sent. Rhychard could hear the elven hound moving toward him through their connection. :He hid among the woods along the creek.:"Rhychard!" Renny shouted, and then he felt her hands on his arms along with someone else's on his other side.:Well, he knows how to make an entrance.: Rhychard sent.He could hear shouts of panic coming from the parking lot and other apartments, people screaming at the sudden explosion.Glancing up, he noticed the other set of hands helping him to his feet belonged to his father. His mother stood by the sofa, her face pinched with concern, and Tryna picked herself up off the floor from whe
Warrior of the Way Chapter 260: Summerlands
Tansy walked over to where Alex's backpack lay on the ground from where the gnome dropped it when they first entered the Summerlands, pulling out the container of salt that rolled halfway out. As she stood, she couldn't take her gaze off the dark pack, remembering its owner and how far he came since walking into the Murky Cauldron that first day. Her heart twisted, and she did her best to keep the tears at bay. She didn't know how much time they had, so she needed to make sure she completed the barrier spell before Renny arrived with Baltabek.Kayla and Wanda sat off to the side, Kayla with her arms wrapped around her knees as she stared at the last spot she saw Alex, and Wanda absorbing her surroundings. Since the demons had been cast out of the Summerlands, the dank grayish color slowly faded away, replaced once more by the lush greens and vibrant colors of the flowers that filled the Land of the Dead. They had even seen the return of some of those who had already passed on from the
Warrior of the Way Chapter 259: Summerlands
"Mom! Dad. What are you doing here?" Rhychard just stood there, staring. He didn't need this right now."Your father thought I was crazy," Catherine Bartlett said. "He even made sure I didn't have any hidden wine bottles anywhere. Empty wine bottles, that is. I had to drag him here to see for himself.""You're alive," Rhychard's father said as he stood there and stared at Renny, his brows bunched in disbelief. "How is this even possible?"Rhychard sighed. "I've discovered just about anything is possible these days.""Hello, Mr. Bartlett," Renny said as she casually closed her purse, hiding the gnomes from sight for now. Catherine didn't handle them well last time, and Renny didn't know how Rhychard's father would react. "I'm sorry we didn't come over and tell you. We've just been…well, we've had our hands full."James Bartlett swooped in, wrapping his arms around Renny and giving her the tightest bear hug she ever had. "I can imagine you have," he told her, his voice filled with enthus
Warrior of the Way Chapter 258: Summerlands
Rhychard watched as Renny gathered up the other Warriors and returned them to the Guardian Sword, only to reappear a moment later with Pux on her shoulder. Laci paced the entire time until Renny returned, eager to be on her way to protecting her sister. With the bridges gone, she had no other way back to the Land Above than Renny. None of them did, actually. Rhychard ran a hand over his long, dark hair, worried about what they would find when they arrived in the Valentine household, concerned for his brother, just as Laci showed concern for her sister.Tansy still stood off to the side, holding a sobbing Kayla and a shaking Wanda. Both witches shifted back to normal once the demons left them, but still wore the wear and tear from the possession. Rhychard hoped they would continue to heal with time, at least physically. He highly doubted Kayla would heal emotionally anytime soon considering her hands snapped Alex's neck even though the demon controlled her. That would be a heavy weight
Warrior of the Way Chapter 257: Summerlands
Karl stood there, still not sure what he should be doing or even what was actually happening. He saw what those demons did to downtown. He couldn't possibly stop one if it showed up now and took over Jayden's body. Glancing over at Famallumi, he wondered just how much power the elves possessed. Gormec seemed to always have his giant hammer nearby, and while Karl had seen its power before, was it enough to stop the demons? There were only five of them against a demon like the ones who killed a witch and almost defeated his brother, the Warrior. Karl didn't particularly care for his odds."How do you feel?" he asked Jayden, his hands over his chest."I'd feel better if you'd stop staring at me like I'm about to go off my meds," Jayden snapped."How about I go and fix us all some lemonade?" Jayden's mother suggested. "It'll give us something to do while we wait for the others.""Do we even know they're going to be here?" Gormec asked, leaning on the handle of his hammer. "It's been longer
Warrior of the Way Chapter 256: Summerlands
The witches continued to shout their chant, their power strengthened with their success. Baltabek sent a blast toward them, but Rhychard blocked it and hurled the power at the demon's feet, the ground exploding and shoving Baltabek up and backward into the air. The other Warriors quickly pressed their attack while the demon lay on the ground.Kayla let out a wail, slicing the air, and dropped to her knees. The demon inside of her wasn't so easily taken, however. With clenched fists, he shoved his power at the witches, doing his best to stop their chanting. Rhychard caught one of the bolts before it struck Tansy, but the next slipped past him and struck Laci in the chest, somersaulting her backward to land on the ground in a heap.Kree leaped up on his back paws, spinning in midair before racing over to the fallen witch. Rhychard could hear her moan and breathed a sigh of relief that she still lived. :Is she okay?: he asked Kree.Kree leaned down, pressing his muzzle against Laci's sho
Warrior of the Way Chapter 255: Summerlands
Rhychard blocked another blast, sending it off to the side to explode into the ground. The gnomes fought from inside the ground, churning up the soil the demons stood upon and causing them to slip and lose their balance. Kree darted in all directions, drawing the demons' fire while he attempted to get close enough to bite one of them. The witches sent their power at the demons, Rose from behind and the others in front, doing their best to keep Baltabek and the others from focusing on any one person. They all did their best to bide Renny time to bring the other Warriors out of the sword, but Rhychard wasn't sure how much longer they could keep it up.The demons who possessed the witches spun, one sending a bolt of power at Rhychard's head and the other one sending one at his feet. He swung his sword, blocking the bolt to his head, but missing the one aimed at his feet. The magic snatched at his ankles, spinning him around and dragging him to the ground. His sword arm hit the ground, his
