B2 Chapter 156: Deadacre pt. 1
byThe grass started to die about a league from Deadacre. First it grew pallid and limp, a few tough patches holding on desperately to life while they eked out a meagre existence in rock hard cracked dirt.
It took maybe fifteen paces before even that was gone. A stark demarcation, one that encircled the whole city. No one knew what caused it, the eerie desolation that just sat in the middle of the frontier. A perfect circle, where the ground was flat, hard, and nothing living grew.
Oh, there were plenty of legends. That it had been the sight of some duel between high-tier delvers during the shattering of an empire. That it had been cursed by the gods, and all who lived there had their fortune sapped from them. That a dragon had descended, the might of their breath so powerful that the land still cowered from its potency.
Kaius doubted any of them were the truth, but regardless, nothing grew in the league from Deadacre’s walls. Something quite fortunate, from a defensive perspective at least. Nowhere for beasts or armies to hide, and a clean and even sightline for the city’s watchers.
Shading his eyes from the sun, Kaius stared at the city. It had been locked down; that much was clear. Scouts roamed the top of the walls, far more than he remembered there being on his last trip, and nothing entered or exited the western gate around the left hand side of the wall.
The east though? A train of people snaked out, easily a hundred or more. With the acuity of his skill enhanced eyes, Kaius made out all manner of people.
Huddled and weary families, carrying their meagre belongings that they had been able to take with them. Mercenaries and delvers, heavily armoured with impatient expressions on their faces – as if waiting with the common rabble pained them. A few farmers, eying the others suspiciously as they huddled around carts full of produce. Merchants, with their caravans and guards, each pulled by beasts trained from birth or bonded to their drivers.
At least, he assumed. Even trained animals were a bit of a risk to keep around if they transitioned to a beast, at least without relevant skills to handle them.
Kaius could even see the telltale potent shine of the brightly coloured Hiwiann. A travelling convoy, making camp just past the people waiting for entrance to the city. Painted in saturated reds, yellows, blues, and every other colour under the sun they looked like they had been assaulted by a field of wildflowers – and the flowers had won.
Standing out against the dusty brown of the ground, and the faded grey of the city wall, they yanked at his attention, drawing the eye. A valid tactic for the travelling traders, and a definite boon for the city that they had arrived at this time. With more than two dozen massive carriages, their convoy outnumbered the line waiting for entrance significantly.
He didn’t miss their vigilance, nor the number of guards they had. No sane bandit attacked the Hiwiann, how seriously they treated blood debts was legendary. Unfortunately, Kaius doubted that rogue beasts had such compunctions.
By the walls, more than a dozen guards watched the line. Far more than normal, but understandable in the current circumstances. One by one they would wave groups forward, talking with them for a few moments before waving them into the city.
One turned to look in his direction, before nudging another guard to his left and pointing in his direction. An ocular skill, Kaius realised. Potentially even Eagle Eye.
Locking eyes with the man, he waved. The guard gave him a nod, before waving to the back of the line. He acknowledged the guard with a thumbs up, who promptly lost interest in them, turning back to the deluge of people hoping to get entrance to the city.
“Come on,” Kaius said. “Let’s circle around and join the line.”
“It’s strange to see so many people. I mean, I knew to expect it, but the city is far bigger than I thought it would be. How do so many people bear to live so close?” Porkchop asked.
Ianmus chuckled. “If you think this is big, just wait till you see a proper metropolis like Mystral, or some of the cities in the Dukedoms.”
Kaius leaned forwards, ruffling Porkchop’s head. Ianmus had the right of it. Even if it was the largest place he had ever been, and he fully agreed with his brother, he knew there were many, many cities larger than Deadacre. The place housed roughly twenty thousand, practically a hamlet compared to others.
That was the frontier though, most preferred a less rough and tumble lifestyle than what was found out here.
“I’m more surprised by the amount of people waiting to get into the city. It’s been weeks, I would have thought the people who would shelter behind walls would have already arrived. It must be getting bad.” Kaius said, watching the slow moving line that they were gradually growing closer to.
“Really?” Ianmus asked, looking at him with surprise. “I honestly thought there would be more.”
Kaius smiled. “Most people who live on the frontier are as tough as an ox and thrice as stubborn. Honestly, the people from Deadacre and Grandbrook to the north-east have a bit of a reputation for being soft.” he explained. It was mostly ribbing, but when there were only two major ‘cities’ in the frontier, the people who braved the more wild parts in remote communities often took the risks as a point of pride. He doubted any of them would make the trek lightly. Not unless something truly bad happened.
Ianmus looked at him in disbelief. “Deadacre. Soft.” he said, shaking his head at the thought of it.
Kaius let out a low chuckle, though it was half forced. “Maybe not soft, but definitely more luxurious than a village of a few hundred out in the middle of nowhere. The locals must have already made it into the walls, if they aren’t defending their farms. These ones have to be from further afield, it must be bad out there for them to come so far.”
As they crossed the hardbaked ground, they grew close to the line. Hard eyes watched him, eying up his gear, and staring at Porkchop with suspicion. Weary fathers, hardened guards, and curious delvers. Kaius let it wash over him, his back straight.
“Gods, they’re looking at me like I’m a half second from eating them.” Porkchop grumbled as Kaius caught him side-eying a particularly wary caravan guard who was resting his hand on the head of an axe belted at his waist.
“Pay them no mind. It’s understandable, all things considered. Most will have it far rougher than we do. Besides, we’re still a good half mile from them and you’re pretty huge. I’d be worried too.” Kaius replied, already having turned his focus to Ianmus.
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The elf had grown quiet, more than usual, with a pensive air hanging over his head. Whatever it was, he was sure the man would share it soon enough.
“Thank you, both of you, for getting me here in one piece.” Ianmus finally said, breaking the silence. “Are you sure there is nothing I can do to reward you?”
Kauis smiled to himself. So that was it. “You already have, my friend. Your oath, and teaching us of Masking is more than enough. I know we will most likely go our separate ways, but in the future I would be happy to travel with you again once more.”
A measure of tension left Ianmus’s shoulders, and his forehead unfurrowed just a little. “…I’d like that, if fate wills it. You’re an interesting pair, and I get the feeling that you are not done with your discoveries or excitement. I’ll leave it there though, we’re almost to the back of the line, the two of you should Mask yourselves.”
Kaius nodded at the magi’s words, shrouding his class and soul in a thin sheet of Will. After days of practice, holding the barrier steady required little focus. Little more than a subtle awareness of it tugged at his mind, something he could keep going for hours if he must. Though, having it directly tested was still arduous in its own right.
Thankfully, analysis skills were not ubiquitous, and peering into someone’s status was highly rude without cause. That social nicety made far more sense to him, now that he knew it was possible to sense those probes.




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