Unbound

Chapter Six Hundred And Twelve – 612

Priest, Felix growled as the door clicked close behind him. What the hell did you do to Imara?

The others had only just set the large table back onto its feet, and they blinked owlishly at Felix as he stalked forward. The priest, for his part, only looked tired.

The Hierophant trained her directly. The methods are known only to her and the High Guard, but I know they wereintense. Brutal. The power I have seen her put on display is greater than my own by an order of magnitudeand I am frankly surprised that you are still standing, Mr. Nevarre.

Shes very, very strong and Ive tangled with some real nightmares. All Ive done is put a pause on her attack for now, but itll resume before long. When that happens, I need to know whats going on with her. Her Spirit. Its wrong. The priest nodded. Youre aware?

I am. Shethe Hierophant did something to the girl. I dont know what, but it deprived her of all emotion. All desire. The only thing that remains is the need to follow her orders.

Empty Spirit? Beef asked. Like Hallow?

Not like yours, Felix explained. You externalized your Spirit. Whatever was done to Imara has stripped her almost completely.

Almost? Faer asked. I traveled at her side for months, and felt not a ripple of emotion outside of her daily ablutions.

Her daily what? Evie asked. Tzfell had finished healing her arm, and she rotated it slowly.

She would ruminate upon the Light of the Trackless One, and Faer swallowed. She would commune with Him.

Talk? To a god? Thats not normal, right?

No, Beef. It is not, Vess said firmly. The Pathless is said to only speak to the Hierophant. It is a part of her power.

Not any longer. Imara is the Chosen of the Pathless, and a piece of His power flows through her. Faer shivered. That emptinessit is not truly empty. There is no her remaining, but she is filled with the Light. Itconsumes her from within, powering her advancement and Aspects.

Felix ran through his fight, recalled in perfect, excruciating detail. The woman all but bled golden light, and when he attempted to use Unite the Lost on her, the Pathless had immediately blocked the way. Can it be blocked? Stopped?

Can you snuff out the sun?

Deep inside of his gut there was an eager rumble. Felix ignored it. Not yet.

Faer raised an eyebrow. The Pathless is a font of infinite power. So long as He remains, I suspect that Imara will continue on, fighting for Him. She has been emptied of all that was once mortal. There is only the Pathless for her, now.

No ones beyond saving, Felix insisted. My Skillit wouldve worked if the Pathless hadnt interfered.

Hedirectly intervened?

Talked and everything, Pit confirmed.

Faer clearly didnt know what to make of that. That is notThat would make you the third person He has made contact with directly. But more importantly, that worries me. To speak through someoneI do not think enough remains of her for you to save, Lord Autarch.

An instant image, recollection gone sour, assaulted Felixs Mind. Captain Doric, bloody and trapped beneath the rubble. Felix clenched his fists until blood poured from between his scaled fingers. It was only a single man, someone Felix didnt even know that wellbut it clung to him like a stain.

A warm hand slid across his shoulder, gripping him gently. Vess was at his side, her soft brown eyes staring into his own. You did what you could.

IYeah. And it wasnt enough, he finished for her.

Harn cleared his throat, just returning to the room. Tell us, kid. Are we runnin from this Titan or not?

Beef, can you explain the battle? Vess asked, speaking before Felix could open his mouth.

Me? Sure. I saw it all. We got to the gate and it was melted, and all these Sun Trolls were attacking

The explanation went on for five minutes, Beef giving a blow by blow of the fight from his perspective. A part of Felix was impressed; the kid really had paid attention.

Then he punched her so hard, she vanished, Beef finished excitedly. All of them were crowded around the table now, the leaders at least. Outside the Claw was hastily putting their caravan back together.

Shes dead? Evie asked.

No. But I put every ounce of Strength I had into that hit and my Skill. The System marked her as defeated so hopefully that means shell be woundedand shes at least an entire mountain away from us now. She doesnt have a way to fly, otherwise she wouldve fought my Adamant Discord better, so that means weve got a little time. Felix frowned, running his scaled hands across the map before him. Not a lot, but some. Time enough to carry out my plan.

And that is? Harn asked.

We need to get Archie, whether he likes it or not. To do that, we need to find him.

Loquis, one of two Claw members present, cleared his throat nervously. SirLord Autarch, that ishow can we catch him? I understand the last plan was to canvas the city with our peoplebut by your own estimation, we dont have time for that.

Stone solid point, Loq, Evie said, causing the Half-Orc to straighten slightly. Beside him, Mervin rolled his eyes. We cant track him, true enough. Laur said he wiggled through that rock so good hes lost. Plus you cant find him with your Unbound locator, Felix.

Youre right. But we know for certain where he will be. Felix tapped the map, which showed the mountain gates into the Clan Hold.

Youre kidding, Harn said with a sharp laugh.

What? Beef asked. Where will he be?

The Vault of Nine Kings, Vess said, her voice disbelieving. That is the plan?

Yeah. Id wager all my Territories that hes on his way there now. Felix stabbed his claw into the map and through the table. But were gonna rob it first.

Avets teeth, Evie said with a grin. Now this is excitin.

Do you truly think he will persist with a foolish heist when things are so dire? Vess asked.

Harn grunted. He will. Hes a rat fleeing a sinking shipbut he thinks the way out is through there.

The ritual. The one to take us home, Beef said. He looked at Felix. We gotta get it.

Eager to leave, too? Evie asked.

Leave? No, Ino. But we should have it. Just in case, Beef finished lamely.

The plan is to corner him at the Vault. Failing that, so long as we get the ritual then Archie will come to us, Felix pointed out. The real problem is Imara. She wont stop until she captures him, and Im not letting her do that.

Vess frowned. How do we reach this vault?

If weve access to the Clan Hold, then there are two access points that I am aware of, Tzfell offered. Reaching them, however, is problematic. They are both within the Nightfall Palace.

The Hinterlords home, you mean? Laur asked.

The same.

So the plan is to break into a kings castle, sneak into a magic vault, and steal everything? Evie spun a knife in her hand, idly. Im likin this idea more and more.

Felix smirked, but there was no humor in it. Thats the sum of it, yeah. But weve got a few flies in the soup. The first one is time. We need to get this done in the next day, or we risk Imaras return. The second is getting into the Clan Hold in the first place, and the third is getting back out. I had hoped he cut himself off. Hed hoped for Doric to reach his contacts in the Hold on the pretense of trading It doesnt matter. We need a new way in. Any ideas?

Perhaps, Laur said, lifting a slender hand. The Unbound, when he departed from us he slipped through the stone like water. Likely a power inherent to his Lost Race. But, the Elf strode to the fireplace in question, pointing a long finger at a portion carved to resemble an immense Dwarfs beard. Here. And here. The matrices of the stone remains disturbed.

Meaning?

It was rippled, as if vibrated at an extremely high speed. In the chaos I recall hearing unfamiliar strains of Harmony, but at the time I could not place them. I believe Archibalds Skill uses the Chant intrinsically, manipulating the Grand Harmony to move through solid stone.

So we can track him by the ripples he makes? Vess asked.

Well, yes, I suppose so. But doing so would be the equivalent of finding a snow hare in a blizzard. No, what I suggest is moreactionable. I have seen this rippling before: the wards of the High Road and near the walls of Birchstone bear their likeness.

Likely where the guy tunneled through to get into the city again, Felix said. Wait. Is that why the High Road wards were failing?

Precisely! Or that is what I am hoping. If so, then there is a weakness we can exploit. The Elf tapped the fireplace. I just need to study the ripples again, and I might be able to learn more.

Felix snapped his fingers. Thats perfect. Mervin, you and a contingent of the Claw go with Laur to investigate the wards around town. The sooner the better.

Mervin saluted and hustled from the room, the Elven Chanter following with a touch more grace.

Thats the way in set, Evie said. What about the way out? I dont fancy walkin into a death trap more than a few times a year.

I have an idea for that, and you are the perfect person to handle it, Evie. Felix pointed at a portion of the map that was close by, if quite near the next district. Go here. Take Beef for backup, and hirewait, lemme just write it down, thats easier.

Felix scribbled a note on a blank piece of map before ripping it off. Tzfell gave a pained gasp, and Pit practically radiated disappointment at his cavalier treatment of the maps, but Felix didnt much care at the moment. Here. Find that guy, and dont take no for an answer.

Evie glanced over the note, and Beef did the same over her shoulder. She grinned. What if they get all feisty?

I trust you to do what you do best. Felix looked to the teen Minotaur. Beef, keep her safe.

We will, Hallow said, her Homunculus form still wrapped around Beefs chest.

Uh, yeah, sure. ButI told you Im not old enough to drink. What if they dont let me in?

Cmon, meathead. Lets go.

Evie all but hauled the seven foot Minotaur out of the door, and Felix could feel Hallows other forms soon mobilize from the stables out back. Felix ran his hands through his dark hair, the stress building up across his chest and shoulders.

Right. That just leaves information gathering, which Ive already assigned to you Tzfell. Vess, please assist her in finding out everything we can about the Undermount in as little time as possible.

Certainly, Vess agreed, and Tzfell nodded.

I do know a bit about the Undermount, Faer said, his sad voice gaining some strength. My time with the Hierocracy has made me privy to a great many things, and I once read a first person account of a foreign dignitarys visit. I recall it quite well, and I can summarize at least the first few levels of the place.

Vess reached over and handed the man a scroll of vellum and an inkpen. That would be wonderful, Hierei Faer. Please jot down all you remember.

Please, call me Kellis.

As you wish, she said with a diplomatic smile.

Last but not least, is our task, Felix said, looking at Pit, Harn, and the Half-Orc Loquis. We have to figure out a way to combat an Unbound stronger than me, with enough firepower to level this whole city.

A tall order, Harn said. Whatd you have in mind?

Keystones. As many as you can make.

Harns head rocked back. Huh. Yeah. Could work. Same schematics?

Yeah, but focus on Stamina and Health. Mana is gonna be pointless.

Harn grunted in confirmation. Array only supports thirteen. Works best that way.

Then try for a full set.

Aye.

Im sorry, what are we making? Loquis asked.

Contingency plan, Pit chirruped.

That isremarkably unhelpful, the mage said.

Heh. Anyone know of a Domain around here? Felix asked.

Tzfell raised her head from the books she and Vess were already pouring over. There is one further down the mountain. Its strong though, and is suppressed regularly by the Forge Knights.

Felix tapped his lips. Thatll have to do. Right, he slapped the table. Get started on those and Ill be back as soon as Im able.

Aye. Loquis, lets round up my apprentices, Harn said, grabbing the mage by the arm and heading out the door.

Pit, its just you and me on this one. Itll be faster than dragging anyone else along.

Just like always. Pit hesitated, thinking. If itll take a while, we should pack snacks.

Felix forced a smile. Ill pass. I think Ill have enough on my plate.

Pit trotted across the room, beelining straight for the leftovers.

Felix.

Vess? Whats up?

Are youwell?

Oh. Im fine. Imara strained my Body Aspect, but its nothing I havent dealt with before. Across the room, Pit stuck his beak onto platters and shoved things unceremoniously into his saddlebags.

That fight with Imara was tough, there is no doubt about that. ButI am speaking of other things. Of the captain.

Felix clenched his jaw and didnt answer.

I saw it happen, though it was almost too fast for me to perceive. Hehe saved your life.

I couldve survived, Felix whispered.

You dont know that

Ive survived so much worse than a hot sword through my middle, Felix said, a bit too loud. His head felt like it was stuffed with cotton and set on fire, all at once. Imara, sheand Doric just jumped in. No thought.

Vess was quiet for a long moment as Felix struggled to master himself. It was stupid, he told himself. He barely knew the guy. And yet

Imara killed him, Felix. And, perhaps I overstep myself, but it would not sit right with me if I remained silent. She took a soft, unsteady breath, as if she were rushing her words. Do not seek vengeance.

Felix blinked. What?

She nodded to the corner, where Yintarion slept curled near the fire. When I faced down my peoples hated enemy, a Dragon, it took everything in me not to seek its destruction. It let me down someunwise paths. With the aid of my friends I found my way to the right of things. Vengeance is a dull stone; handle it too much and it will blunt your edge.

They stood there silently for a time, regarding the fire. The logs popped, shifting as pieces of them were gnawed away.

I have seen so many die, Felix said at last. Too many.

So many had died while following him. His cause. Doric had died saving Felix. Just like Magda.

Never again, he told Vess. Never again.

Pit returned to his side, and the two of them walked out of the suite.