System Break

Chapter 29: Seeds of Fear

The mountainfolk returned and together we set out plans for the night attack.

I lay on my back and rested while watching the sky. The clouds were gathering, and I hoped for a dark night.

"I'm nervous," Ailen said.

"Don't be. What's the worst that can happen?"

He thought for a moment. "I die and face ridicule."

I laughed then stopped myself. Skanvord was on guard duty and seemed trustworthy but there was no sense taking risks.

"You won't die unless I die first. Use your range and stay out of harm's way."

He sighed. "You're different before a battle."

I snorted. "Nah. I just can't make a lot of noise right now."

"If anything happens to you, I'll do what I can to get you back in. Like, they'd be mad to keep you out anyway. It's just a matter of time before you crack more stuff open."

Reyas lay on her side staring at us.

I smiled at her. "They must think we're crazy when they hear you say stuff like that."

He chuckled. "Do you think they're NPCs or real people."

Reyas glared at me.

"I'd bet my life they're real. If not, the programmer deserves a Nobel prize."

She whispered loudly, "You tell us to be silent and now you don't stop chattering."

I put my finger to my lips, and she huffed and rolled over. Now I had a great view of her round ass. I sighed in appreciation.

Ailen chuckled to himself. "I wonder how long before you crack that one open."

I snickered. "She's a tough nut to crack, but such a beautiful specimen will be worth the effort."

"You're a brave man Benzhi," Ailen said.

"Tree-folk or Svartalfar friend. We're not men."

We rested until the sun went down taking turns at standing watch. When the last rays of light disappeared, we crept slowly towards the mine.

We watched and waited for the soldiers to eat. The cook served them first while the workers waited. The camp had several torches, but we were in total darkness. And my hunch was right, all the guards ate together with no one on watch.

We spread out in a long line and Ailen had use of the large boulder while the rest of us lay on our stomachs.

He looked at me and I could see his bright green eyes. I nodded and he let his first arrow fly.

The six guards were all sitting at their table. Talking and downing their meal. It was one of the best times for a surprise attack. Their attention was not on their surroundings but their food instead. And a heavy meal at the end of a long day would make them lethargic.

An arrow pierced the back of the neck of the first guard, a crossbowman, and his head flopped onto the table as blood gushed from the wound.

The other five barely recognised they were under attack before the second slumped with and arrow through the neck. The fletching was visible from the rear and the point stuck out the front; the guard was transfixed and his blood spurted like a fountain. The precision and power of qi arrow made it a formidable weapon.

The remaining four scattered and the workers panicked. The three swordsmen brought their shields up to guard their faces and chests. They gleaned the general direction of the archer from the arrows transfixed in their comrades.

Amongst the chaos there were workers running into the mine and turning over tables. The guards crouched, ignored them, and steadily moved up the hill. Ailen continued to assail them with arrows. It kept their focus on him and they did not seek for more dangers lurking in the dark.

Ailen took down the last crossbowmen per his orders. The swordsmen didn't worry me but a bolt in the head did.

The remaining three swordsmen hunted Ailen and I slowly got to my knees, then crouched and when the dark shape was in striking distance I moved like a missile. A glint from his shield shone under a moon's light and it was enough for me.

The sound of my bare feet thumping on the ground made his head turn. I aimed my spear behind the shield and took him through the side. He screamed but the words made no sense. My spear penetrated through his chainmail and padded armour all the way through his spleen. He crumpled as his scream waned and fell to the ground.

He was in shock and I didn't hesitate to place my foot on his pain racked body and heft my spear loose. The exit wound was worse than the entry with blood and guts pouring from his side.

I jumped back as a sword slash came down where I was standing. The soldier was closing on me again, and an arrow bounced off his shield

My spear licked out and he swept at it instinctively with his sword. My kick was about to launch him into outer space when an axe appeared in his helmeted head. Reyas had cleaved the metal apart with a vicious blow.

I ran past her. "Thanks, beautiful." Her sneer was reward for my thanks. It looked adorable on her.

I did not need to worry about the last soldier because he was already hacked to pieces by the other two mountainfolk.

"You didn't need me," I said, "This was too easy."

Skanvord grinned with splattered blood on his grey beard. Flek's hair was already flame red so a bit of blood would have gone unnoticed. Skanvord wielded a large two-handed axe and Flek a pair of wicked knives.

For a moment I thought they might attack me.

"We go down," Reyas said as she chopped off another head and threw it at me.

I nodded and heard Flek whisper, "Make sure the ones who escape see him."

I pretended not to hear and followed her down carrying the dripping head in one hand and my spear in another. The workers were in panic, some had run, some were in the mine cowering while others were frozen in the camp.

Ailen stayed out of site and watched for anyone picking up a crossbow or any other sort of resistance.

I skipped and waved the bloody head before throwing it into a gaggle of stupefied workers.

"You're not welcome here." I pointed to the head. "If that wasn't painfully obvious. Anyone still in the hills when the sun rises will die. Anyone who returns will die." I closed on one of the workers. "And when I kill you with my cursed spear so your soul travels through the portal storm to join with the monsters."

If my alien looks and nakedness didn't scare them, I hope my words would. Whoever was in charge could send soldiers back, but I wanted to scare the living hell out of the workers. It would be impossible for them to work the mine - with no workers.

I caught the eye of a young man. I bared my teeth at him and hissed. "Please stay until sunrise. I would love to kill you."

Reyas stood close and whispered, "I thought we were going to interrogate them."

I pushed her down to her knees and she acquiesced. "Silence." I playfully petted her hair as I stared at the workers who were scrambling for belongings.

"Leave everything and go," I shouted. "You do not have time to collect your earthly belongings."

I heard Reyas grumble.

"Shush pet I will satisfy myself with you later. We must clean out the vermin first." I kept patting her hair and she went along with the act. I grinned. I was having fun.

Flek and Skanvord exchanged confused glances but remained quiet. I pointed to the mine. "Ensure they're all gone." And the pair walked to the entrance. We could hear screaming and shouting from within and a few minutes later workers emerged, some bloodied.

None offered resistance but when I saw one loitering at the top of the ridge looking down into the camp, I brandished my spear and pointed. "Arrow." I said. Moments later and arrow appeared in their chest.

I raised an eyebrow back in the direction where Ailen hid. I had meant for him to scare them not kill them. But I shrugged and menaced a few slow-moving workers.

Within the hour the campsite was vacant, and the mountainfolk counted their haul of weapons and tools while we ensured they all headed back to the fort by the lake.

There was an old man who was slower than the rest. When I caught him, I asked, "Do you want me to send you to the next world now? You are slow and weak."

He grimaced. "I will make it before dawn demon spawn."

"You are indeed wise, I am a demon spawn, ensure your master knows these are my mountains and if he sets foot in them, I will kill him and all his people."

The old man spat. "Laugh while you can demon. The kingdom of Loctris is not afraid by the likes of you. Oh, kill me now if my words offend you but they are the truth."

I laughed my most evil laugh. "No, no. I relish the chance to send their souls to the monster realm."

He shivered at my words. My intent was clear, I wanted them to be afraid of the unknown, the mystical threat of a fate worse than death.

I stood and waited for him to limp away. I reached down into my gut and brought forth a deep, rolling laugh and filled the low hills with the best evil laugh I could muster.