Chapter 157: Champion, Chapter 85: March of the Dreadnoughts

Aidan

The Realms

Seventhday, 4th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1

Early Morning

Ceallach Macht, Mistvale Highlands

Despite the sun still kissing the eastern horizon, many of Ceallach Macht's citizens showed up to see the expedition off. Crowds of centaurs, harpies, and catfolk milled around at the edge of town, keeping a respectful distance as their leaders and heroes said their goodbyes.

Aidan, of course, had to deal with four women in varying stages of distress. Sunnild clung to him, crying against his chest. He hugged her back and nuzzled her soft crest feathers, whispering reassurances. Brighid was slightly more restrained, but Aidan could see how much she hated being parted from him again. Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes and trickled down her cheeks.

Ailis, stoic and restrained as ever to outside appearances, nonetheless gave him a hard, passionate kiss. "Go forth and conquer, my King. We will be here when you return."

"And you had better return," Aoife said, arms crossed beneath her breasts. Her emotions were fainter than normal without the bracelet on, but Aidan could still feel the sharp-edged love, like a broken stained glass window set back in place with inadequate glue, behind her words. "If that dragon beats you and takes over, I swear I will haunt you for the rest of your lives."

Aidan snaked an arm around her waist and dragged her into the hug with Sunnild. "I'll be back," he promised, "and with one fewer threat to a peaceful life with all of you. I love you all." And Eldrid, too, but she wasn't present. The blue-haired Captain was still unconscious and in the care of her first mate. Sunnild sobbed again and wrapped Aidan even tighter in her arms and wings.

He wasn't the only one dealing with a tearful harpy, either. A few yards away, Wolfryn was trying and failing to show Ysbail a brave face. After a few halting words, she gave in and flung herself at her mentor. "I want to go with you," she cried loud enough for Aidan to overhear. "I want to be there to watch your back and help you fight."

Ysbail looked embarrassed and unsure of herself. She patted the raven-feathered mage on the back and whispered something that only seemed to make things worse. Wulfryn shook her head hard, then pushed away from Ysbail. Aidan thought for a second that she might storm away. Instead, she reached up, grabbed Ysbail by the hair, and dragged her head down into a heated kiss. He had to fight to hold in a laugh at the utter shock on the centaur's face. Then he looked away, giving the pair a little more privacy.

Noon

Starchaser Territory, Mistvale Highlands

A few hours later, Eldrid finally approached Aidan. "So," she started—in English—followed by silence.

"So," Aidan replied in the same language. Then, with a crooked smile, "A needle pulling thread."

Eldrid blinked for a moment before comprehension dawned. She giggled. "I haven't heard that in ages. We watched that movie in elementary school. Well, the rest of the class watched, anyway."

"Eh, my parents were old-fashioned like that. Big fans of musicals—The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, Singing in the Rain, all that stuff." Aidan shrugged, then glanced down at the woman walking beside his summoned steed. "Anyway, what's up?"

The silence stretched on for a little while longer before Eldrid asked, "Why did you do it?"

"You'll have to be more specific, I'm afraid."

Eldrid's cheeks grew pinker. In a quieter voice, she said, "You had me begging, but you used your special trick anyway." She glanced up at Aidan, silver eyes inquisitive. "You threw the game instead of winning it. Why?"

Aidan leaned back and applied pressure to the reins, stopping his mount in place. He reached a hand out toward Eldrid. "I feel weird talking down to you like this. Hop aboard."

The Captain eyed Aidan's hand, then the horse. "I've never ridden before."

Aidan couldn't help but smirk. "Oh, you've ridden before, Cowgirl." Eldrid's blush deepened. "I won't let you fall off, I promise. It'll be fine. C'mon." He wiggled his fingers.

"This better not just be an excuse to feel me up," Eldrid said, but she took his hand. Aidan helped pull her up onto the saddle in front of him, then wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Not just that, no," he said with a snicker. Eldrid smacked his thigh. "I'll behave as much as you want me to." Another smack. "Anyway, back to your question."

A tap of Aidan's heels against the horse's ribs set the gelding to walking again. "There were a few reasons. The most relevant to the way you worded your question, though, is that it was kind of a test. Not for you, for us."

Eldrid relaxed a little as she grew used to the horse's stride. She leaned back against Aidan's chest and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Hm. How to put this?" Aidan absentmindedly rubbed his hand over the smooth skin of Eldrid's bare midriff as he thought. He settled on, "I'll just put it all out there, I guess. Eldrid, I have developed feelings for you, and I'm not talking about lust. I enjoy spending time with you and would very much like it if you were a more permanent part of my life. I kind of had a feeling like you might feel the same, so when it came time to end things last night... Well, I performed a bit of an experiment."

"An experiment?" The horse whickered as Eldrid shifted her weight so she could look over her shoulder at him.

"The way I worded my Intent meant it should only have affected people who love me, at least a little." Silver eyes widened, then narrowed. "Sorry if that crossed a line. By that point, I wasn't entirely thinking straight."

Eldrid was silent for a few seconds. Her gaze swept back out to the rolling hills in front of them. Then, Aidan felt her hand pat his thigh. "I wish you'd just asked, but I can't really be mad at you over it. I straight-up dared you to claim me, after all. You have a way of doing what I want in unexpected ways, Lord Aidan."

All the tension seemed to flow out of Eldrid's body then. She snuggled back against Aidan and rested her hand on his. "Well, no use denying it, then. Yeah, I think I'm falling for you, too. Things are a little weird still, though. You understand that I can't just stay with you forever, right?"

Aidan clamped down hard on the bolt of sadness that ripped through him. She wasn't rejecting him, he knew that. His emotions were less sanguine about it. "I know," he said, forcing his way past it. "You'll have your own missions to complete. And even beyond that, you're too free-spirited to become a soccer mom."

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That drew a warm chuckle from Eldrid. "Oh, I don't know." Her fingers trailed higher on Aidan's leg. "I could be persuaded to settle down for the right price. But you're right. Our Patrons have plans for each of us, and there's still so much of this world to see. That said, I can't very well abandon my responsibilities in Ceallach Macht, can I? Not after you went and put me on the Council and all." Her eyes twinkled in amusement.

"Ah, but that was only because you were putting down roots all on your own." Aidan squeezed his arm around Eldrid's waist. "Rules are rules, after all."

Eldrid craned her neck up and brushed her lips across Aidan's. "Well, either way, I have reasons to return. And, speaking of returning, your fiancees were quite adamant about my duties regarding you." Another kiss. "I'll be sticking to you like glue. And, oh, I just realized I forgot to pack a tent." She pressed a hand against her cheek in a gesture of mock surprise.

"Yes, forgot, I'm sure." Aidan's response was dry as a desert. "I'm afraid accommodations are tight, but if you promise not to steal the blankets, I think I can squeeze you into mine." Eldrid snickered. His tent was enormous since it doubled as the expedition's command post.

"Are you sure it's not you who'll be squeezing into me?" A wiggle of Eldrid's butt against Aidan's crotch made extra sure he didn't miss the implication. "I promise I'll be on my best behavior. And..." Eldrid twisted around until she sat sidesaddle, then embraced Aidan in a fierce hug. "Thank you."

Before Aidan could respond, Eldrid slid down off the horse. She blew him a kiss, then turned and walked toward her troops. Aidan shook his head and glanced down at the bulge in his pants. "At least it's less obvious up here in the saddle..."

Firstday, 5th week of the 11th month, Age of the Chosen 1

Late Afternoon

Mist Stalker Territory, Mistvale Highlands

The expedition crossed over into Mist Stalker territory in the morning. The event was peaceful, with the border patrols obviously having been warned to expect their arrival. The afternoon was rather more exciting.

"Monster!" One of the harpy scouts shouted as she dove down into the column. "To arms!"

The response from the Snow-Water Rider mercenaries was immediate. They formed ranks around Aidan and the wagons like a well-oiled machine, spears and shields braced against the unknown. Archers lined up behind them, bows drawn and arrows nocked. Above them, a squadron of harpies circled. Aidan Invoked a Burning Barrage and scanned the nearby hills, looking for the threat.

It didn't take long to appear.

An immense centipede skittered into sight, dozens of legs churning against the ground, propelling its gleaming, carapace-covered body forward at a frightening pace. Its bus-sized, bulbous head was low to the ground, though its antennae swept high up into the air before disappearing behind it. Mandibles the length of pikes opened and closed as it charged straight toward the column.

"Archers, take aim and prepare to fire," one of the sergeants uttered in an impressively calm tone. "Spearmen, brace for the charge."

"Wait!" commanded Aidan as he spotted something off about the situation. About a third of the way down the monster's length was a web of dark lines and dots that looked unnatural. He squinted, trying to make out the details, then gestured for one of the harpy scouts to approach. "See there, on its back? Can you do a quick flyby for me and see what that is?"

A sweep of wings and a rush of air was his answer. Tension climbed in the caravan as the scout sped through the air towards the onrushing monster. It was still quite far away, and it was difficult to tell its true speed thanks to the distance and its size, but Aidan put it at least equal to a slow gallop.

Thankfully, the harpies acting as his eyes and ears were among the quickest available. Two anxiety-inducing minutes later, the scout spiraled down to a landing next to Aidan. "Riders," she reported. "One behind the head, a couple dozen farther back where you spotted them, Lord Aidan. All catfolk."

Aidan relaxed a hair. There was still a chance this was an attack but given the information at hand... "I think this is Searlas's summoner. Everyone, stay vigilant, but don't make the first move." Officers saluted and passed the message along.

Before long, they could hear the giant monster's approach even when it ducked behind a nearby ridge. A low, ground-shaking rumble like a herd of horses stampeding overwhelmed the tense silence. Then the centipede crested the hill and barreled down towards the caravan.

It looked even bigger and nastier up close. Each segment of its body was as wide as a house. Its back was an iridescent blue that contrasted with the fiery orange of its underside. Its legs and antennae were black as night. Dark, oily liquid spattered to the ground from its mandibles.

Closer and closer the monster came. "Hold," Aidan warned when he saw the archers drawing back their bowstrings. They glanced to their commander and eased off a hair when the order was confirmed. None of the soldiers were happy about it, though, and that didn't improve as the centipede showed no sign of slowing down. The thunder of its passage grew into a calamitous din as it charged nearer, nearer, a hundred paces separated them, fifty, twenty. Aidan raised his hand, gathering the shining motes of explosive magic at his fingertips and preparing to launch them.

Then he sagged in his saddle as the centipede swerved to the side, roaring past the lead elements of the column. The titanic sped past Aidan, hooked around the rearguard, then slowed to a stop when its head passed him again on the other side. It settled to the ground, having completely surrounded the expedition, and its riders jumped down to the ground. A moment later, the monster wavered like a mirage and vanished. The ever-present fog rushed to fill the sudden empty air.

"Lord Aidan, I presume?" a young male catfolk asked with a sneer on his face. "I do not know why I expected someone with any refinement." He raised a square of cloth to his face and sniffed. "What a foul stench. You reek of sweat. I regret ever incurring this debt. Lord Searlas's assistance was not worth spending a week in these circumstances. Tell me you at least have a tent large enough for me and my entourage."

Aidan glanced past the irritating noble. A handful of guards with leather armor and short swords lined up behind the summoner, but they were outnumbered three to one by mostly-naked catfolk women. Each of them, warriors and women both, wore a polished steel or silver collar around their neck.

Wrath filled Aidan at the sight. For one brief moment, he gathered his will to unleash his Burning Barrage on the arrogant slaver. He clamped down on the impulse, shoving it away, clawing control back. "If you did not bring your own supplies," he said, striking with words instead of magic, "that is on your head. This is a combat force, not a pleasure cruise."

"Hmph. As if you sleep alone at night. Everyone knows of your appetites, 'Phoenix King.' How many women are you up to now that you bought one off Searlas? Five? Six?" The delighted look in the catfolk man's golden eyes told Aidan he hadn't managed to keep his face impassive.

The insult stung all the worse because, while the summoner's tone and implications were rude in the extreme, he wasn't entirely incorrect. While Aidan didn't rub the caravan's nose in it thanks to his sound-canceling magic, he did sleep with Eldrid the previous night and intended to in the future. It was somewhat hypocritical of him to deny others similar relief.

On the other hand, Eldrid was a warrior in her own right. She'd proved that beyond all doubt by defeating him in single combat. Aidan doubted the timid-looking slaves huddling together would be more than a distraction if a fight broke out.

"Enough. You are under my command whether you like it or not. Gather your slaves," Aidan didn't bother to hide the contempt he felt, "and fall into formation. We still have a couple hours of marching before nightfall." As much as he hated it, he needed this asshole. He didn't have to make things easy for him, though.

Zurai

Pronunciation Guide (infinitesimal spoiler warning, names only without any details)

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