Steelforged Legacy 4 - Chapter 7

Chapter 7

“Blair, enough!” Casey protested as the over-eager Gale Cat flailed about while trying to find her balance on his shoulders.

“You shouldn’t have teased her,” Vibeke snickered as she watched her spirit beast try to use Casey as a jungle-gym. Aiden was running around Casey’s ankles, yipping frantically as he either encouraged his fuzzy friend or tried to chastise her for doing something he couldn’t.

“I didn’t tease her!” Casey protested, finally getting hold of the scruff at the back of the over-sized kitten’s neck.

He didn’t need to lift her, Blair immediately went limp in his grip knowing that the game was over. Both of the young spirit beasts had quickly learned that ‘Uncle Casey’ was good for fun, but if he got serious they needed to listen closely.

With the spirit beast no longer struggling, Casey gently scooped her off his shoulders and draped her over one arm while using the other to rub her ears gently. Blair promptly wrapped her forepaws around his elbow and began purring, while Aiden let out a jealous whine as the Tinderfox scampered along the ground.

“If you want a ride, then hop up on Magnus. You know how it works, Aiden,” Casey told the sparkling fox.

They’ll get fat if they are allowed to ride me constantly, Magnus grumbled. It’s why I kicked them off, and why you got a passenger by laughing about it.

“They are still children, Magnus,” Casey reminded the elk.

And children need to run about and burn off their energy, Magnus replied haughtily. If they don’t, then they cause problems like they have the last few nights. I may not need much sleep, but I enjoy having what little I do need.

Casey couldn’t really argue with Magnus on that. Over the last week of their return trip, the two young spirit beasts had definitely shown their age. While he’d been used to thinking of Magnus as something of an angsty teen, by comparison to the twin menaces of Aiden and Blair he was positively mature in his demeanor.

And of course, Vibeke and Einar were mostly useless in controlling their new companions. Both were lost in the amusement and joy of the new bond. Something that Casey vaguely envied them for. He could easily imagine his own wonder at the forming connection with an elemental creature like this, but his bonds with Magnus had been forged during flight for their lives.

It doesn’t lessen the bond, Casey, Maude said gently to him as he handed Blair off to Vibeke, who continued spoiling the dozing cat. They may have an easier road than you, but they also don’t have such lofty goals as we do.

I know, Maude, Casey replied with an internal sigh, letting his wrist drape over the hilt of her seax form as they wound along the road that led between the south and west peaks of the Roaring Mountain. I just can’t help but think about some of this and how frustrated I am at being cheated. I still wouldn’t trade my bond with you for anything, but I can’t help but envy them a bit.

I’ll just need to remind you of what you can look forward to, then, Maude replied, sending him the ghost of a kiss. Plus, you can’t argue that it’s adorable watching those two dote on their future partners. I am confident that Aiden and Blair will bond with Einar and Vibeke, which has a good bearing on their future because they’ll need to fight hard to have a chance to keep up with us.

Agreed, Casey replied with a quiet smile as Aiden bounced around Einar’s ankles until the big man picked up the Tinderfox. Aiden didn’t wait to be invited, immediately crawling up Einar’s chest to drape over his shoulders comfortably while his sparkling tail trailed behind him like Einar had sprouted a red ponytail amongst his thick brown hair.

“Well, I’ll be glad for a bath and a chance to actually use my rooms,” Einar chuckled, reaching up to rub Aiden under the jaw with two fingers. The gesture got a little cackle from the Tinderfox and Aiden playfully nipped at Einar’s fingers for a moment. “Plus, it would be good to get some guidance on how best to care for our new friends.”

“Agreed,” Vibeke sighed, slinging Blair onto her shoulders as well.

The Gale Cat wiggled into place happily and began purring once more, rubbing her face into the back of Vibeke’s head hard enough that it actually pushed her head to one side and made her walk funny.

“It wouldn’t be so bad if Casey wasn’t so obsessed with training constantly,” Einar mock-whined, shooting the man in question a wink instead to let him know it was a joke.

“You wanted to know how I grew so fast after leaving the Silver Hammer lands? This is how,” Casey replied with a shrug.

It had come up in conversation a few times, questions about how it was that he was so far ahead of the others and continued to grow so fast without obviously consuming all the resources he had at his disposal. He’d shared some of his training habits and the three had sparred each night and taken time to meditate and work on drawing in the rich ambient qi of the Windsong Valley each night.

What had actually sparked the conversation had occurred during the trip when Casey had been rooting through his bags and found the small collection of aquatic spirit beast cores that he’d taken from the troll nest after the Bronze Fist drengr had drawn the creature away. Things had been so frantic that he’d forgotten and just tucked the cores into one of the pockets of his pack, which had been promptly slung into his storage belt when he got it and forgotten them.

He’d offered to share the crystals with the other two, who had refused initially. However, when Casey pressed they’d each accepted two to help speed their cultivation, saying that more would risk tainting their Legacy and altering the trajectories they had planned. Casey had then split the remainder with Magnus.

The Gladewalker Elk hadn’t hesitated at all, devouring the cores like they were grapes without a single moment of hesitation, much to the amusement of the others. And Casey had taken to using the cores like he had used the Fomori cores in the past, going through his weapon forms while holding one in his off hand and another pressed to Maude’s hilt.

Maude had insisted that the extra water qi would actually help balance them out, as quenching was a necessary part of forging to improve strength. Trusting his companion, Casey had cycled through the cores over the course of three days, drawing the qi out of them and feeding it into his Soulforge.

Now, they had returned to the Roaring Mountain, nodding in greeting to the others of the clan as well as a few of the new recruits that had apparently been taking their time in moving to the next stage of their training and were only now just heading out to search for their companions.

“You two go and get cleaned up,” Casey said as they neared the gate that led off the main road and into the housing inside the western peak. “I’ll see if I can finish that request that the Gale Cat gave us.”

“You sure, Casey?” Vibeke asked with a tilt of her head that was mirrored by Blair on her shoulder. “I wouldn’t feel right just leaving it to you…”

“Yeah, it’s fine,” Casey replied with a negligent wave. “I’m not the one who's working on bonding with a baby spirit beast like you two are.”

The indignant yowls from both Blair and Aiden told Casey that neither of them appreciated being called babies, but the two spirit beasts definitely let themselves be babied by their partners to calm them.

“If you are sure, Casey. The Gale Cat made it sound like it was something that we could handle when we had a chance, not that we needed to race back and pass up on a shower…” Einar asked, but Casey could tell his big friend was really looking forward to getting cleaned up.

In the time he’d been traveling, Casey had gotten used to the sort of ‘camping grime’ that one ended up with while having to bathe in streams and ponds rather than hot baths. If there was a single thing that he missed from his time back on Earth before coming here, it was hot showers. But the benefits he had right now vastly outweighed that one pleasant amenity.

“Yeah, I’m sure. You two go rest and get your little ones settled. Maybe check with some of the senior drengr to see if they have any books or scrolls on caring for them. So far everything has been sensible, but I’d hate to have something simple stunt their growth,” Casey suggested.

That idea actually caught more traction with the two, and both Einar and Vibeke agreed to that and promised they’d keep an eye out for anything regarding the Gladewalkers, though neither looked hopeful on that front.

I should think not, Magnus muttered into Casey’s mind as the trio separated. My kind do not bond with mortals.

And what do you call your current situation, Magnus? Maude teased him.

An arrangement between kinfolk. Casey healed me when I was injured, risking his own life to protect me. As such, I have adopted him as my brother. The benefits of this arrangement are easy to see, but I also wouldn’t have risked it if not for your presence, Maude. Your bond with my brother was what convinced me to take the chance.

Magnus’ reply was not what Casey had expected, and clearly was more than Maude had gotten out of the animal before, because she was likewise stunned into silence. It was the most thoughtful and considered statement they’d gotten out of the Gladewalker Elk yet.

Of course, Magnus had to ruin the cultured image a moment later.

Come on, let’s get this over with. I can offer some encouragement to get you moving if you need.

The flick of Magnus’ tail rising was the only motivator Casey needed to stop hesitating and start moving, stepping forward and slapping Magnus on the rump behind the saddlebags.

“None of that now! You’d likely kill some poor innocent new person by leaving one of your stink-clouds here in the door.

Magnus snorted derisively, but picked up into a trot when Casey walked past him.

It would definitely get someone’s attention, Magnus insisted, amusement thick in his tone. Do you know how to get to Runa’s rooms?

<><><>

Casey did not, in fact, remember how to get to Queen Runa’s rooms. The corridors were both too numerous and too winding to find his way, something that he had learned before after leaving a meeting with the head of the Roaring Mountain. 

So Casey did what most men refused to do and asked for directions.

“You want to meet with Queen Runa? Thinking a little above your station, aren’t you?” sneered the third drengr that Casey had asked, turning away and striding off along the ring-road that circled the central valley of the Roaring Mountain. He left in his wake a strong smell of patchouli that gave the impression that he’d been rolling in the stuff until it clung to every inch of his skin.

Rather than call after the man like Casey had the first two, he just blew out a sigh.

What a prick, Maude commented in his mind and Casey didn’t bother arguing with her on this one.

Maybe you should try the kitchens? Magnus suggested helpfully. The cooks would know where she is, I’m sure. Runa would be someone that they’d need to keep track of so they could send food up to her.

“You just want me to do that so you can steal snacks,” Casey countered.

Not incorrect, but also not my only motivation, Magnus replied airily, tossing his head and making the briars in his antlers rattle.

He’d spent the last ten minutes trying to find someone who could either get a message to Runa or would give him directions of where to go. Since the Gale Cat had asked them to not disclose the contents of the message, the first person he’d asked had dismissed him for wasting her time. The second had waved him off saying that he should speak with his trainers to ensure the message needed to bother Runa.

And the third was just a prick, like Maude said, Casey thought with a sigh as he glanced around the open field.

Now that the little tent-city that had been constructed was gone, he could see small groups of drengr practicing in different spots on the grass. Most of them were sparring with wooden weapons or barehanded, and a few were performing the sort of active meditation that he’d been doing at or around the hill in the center of the valley. He hadn’t wanted to bother them, but it was beginning to look like he might need to intrude on someone’s class to find out who he was supposed to talk to.

Seriously, this is annoying. Everyone is acting as if I should know what to do and who to talk with. I’ve only been with the clan for a few weeks and our group just got back with new companions… Casey grumbled internally.

It’s possible that they are mistaking you for someone who has been here longer, Maude suggested. Magnus is a good deal larger than the tykes, and you are far stronger than most aspirants.

“Still a shit way to act,” Casey mumbled under his breath, staring after the drengr that had just spoken down to him.

Though most of the people he’d met with the Roaring Mountain had been at least polite, there had been a few assholes as well, and it was hard to not let those bother him, at least a little.

The man that had just dismissed Casey stopped suddenly by a doorway to one of the shops that sat along the inner edge of the valley, shaded by the peaks, and appeared to be talking to someone. From the vigorous waving of his hands and gesturing over his shoulder, the man appeared to be complaining to someone.

“Fun, why does this remind me of someone complaining to the manager?” Casey muttered as he watched. Maude didn’t reply, but he could feel amusement flowing down his bond to the goddess. “The next one that is rude, I’m going to have Magnus fart on.”

I normally wouldn’t do such on command, but for you, brother? I’d consider it, Magnus replied haughtily, grunting quietly as he sidestepped to avoid a man with a small hand-cart. I might even do it without your request if they stink as much as that man did. Flower and natural scents are supposed to be subtle and blend with the world around them, not violate the nostrils of passersby.

Casey didn’t want to draw his own share of Magnus’ ire by pointing out that there were plenty of plants that did just that, instead just calling it a win that the elk was as annoyed with the other man as he was.

Apparently completing his tirade or complaint, the patchouli man turned and stormed off a moment before someone familiar emerged from the doorway.

The man was tall, with an elegant high ponytail that left his long hair blowing in the breeze and Casey recognized him from his bearing alone as the man scanned the fields and his gaze settled on Casey.

“That might have worked out better than expected,” Casey mumbled as Rangvald, one of the drengr who had been the head examiner in the testing weeks before, started across the field towards him.

We can only hope. Drengr Rangvald seemed like a fair man the few times we saw him, Maude drawled.

Magnus just gave another grunt and Casey started forward to meet the man with the elk in tow.

“Greetings… hmm, was it Drengr Casey?” Rangvald said after he got within ten feet of the other man, his eyes studying both Casey and Magnus intently.

“Yes, I am Casey Sullivan. It is a pleasure to meet with you again, Drengr Rangvald. Thank you for your work acting as the head examiner for my intake,” Casey answered, coming up short and giving the other man a short half-bow of his head as Maude had taught him.

“I was told you’ve been harassing passersby for… some reason?” Rangvald asked in an even tone, but his left eyebrow rose questioningly.

“If by ‘harassing’ you mean asking for directions or assistance, yes,” Casey replied, doing his best to keep the irritation out of his tone. “I have a message I am to pass along to Queen Runa that I am under orders to only give to her. I arrived back at the Roaring Mountain less than an hour ago after traveling out with my companions to help them find their potential bondmates. I haven’t even stopped by my room yet.”

“Ah,” Rangvald said, the ghost of a smile slipping over his stern features before vanishing. “That might explain some of it, then. Let me guess: Eager to find your potential future spirit-beasts, you and your friends raced off the day after the celebrations? Well, your friends at least—since you already have this fine fellow here—and you   ran off with them?”

“It seemed prudent to not waste time,” Casey replied with a frown.

“Oh it is, but you also inadvertently put yourself at a minor disadvantage by hurrying,” Rangvald chuckled. “There will have been a guide to the Roaring Mountain and our ways placed in your rooms that same day, and it would have information on not only your expectations but how to contact higher ranking drengr for assistance and planning your training.

“While we allow the first few months to develop as you need to hopefully find and bond with a spirit beast, there are some classes and training courses that you’ll need to take part in to ensure your skills are polished and you can operate in groups as well as take care of your bonded companion properly,” the older man said, finally winding up his long explanation.

Casey grimaced, fighting the urge to slap a hand over his face.

“I was, quite literally, planning to head back to my room to rest and start looking into that sort of thing as soon as I deliver my message…” Casey sighed, getting another ghostly smile from the older drengr.

“Then it is fortunate that you ran into me. Queen Runa should be taking her noon meal soon. Are you sure that this is something you want to bother her with?”

Rangvald’s tone shifted to a more stern one for the last part of his question, and Casey nodded firmly.

“I was ordered to speak to her alone regarding this. It is a matter of some urgency, though not so dire that it would be worth interrupting her if she was in a meeting.”

“Fine,” Rangvald said with a sharp nod. “Follow me, then. We shall get your message delivered so you can get back to what is most important for a young drengr: learning.”

<><><>

“And that is what the Gale Cat Monarch told me to pass along,” Casey finished, standing at attention in front of the sturdy desk that Queen Runa sat behind.

The leader of the Roaring Mountain was just as imposing in private as she was in public. The qi that rolled and boiled inside her increased the pressure in the room to the point that Casey felt like he was back in front of the Gale Cat Monarch. Though, just like the Gale Cat, Casey didn’t feel any fear at the moment despite knowing he was vastly outclassed by the woman before him.

“That is… not a good sign,” Runa murmured thoughtfully, rubbing her chin with one hand while a slab of bread smeared with soft cheese hung forgotten in her other. She’d been eating when Rangvald had brought him in, and the imposing woman had given him a pointed look before thanking Rangvald and sending the other man away.

“No, that was the impression that I got as well,” Casey agreed. “The Gale Cat Monarch said something about an earthquake and lava pools being the last time he’d seen something like this and it was concerning him enough to send word along through me, since he is wary of leaving his lands.”

“Makes me wonder why the patrols that are already in that area haven’t sent word back yet,” Runa muttered, staring down at her bread and cheese without seeing. “Or why he chose you…”

Casey didn’t comment on that statement. Runa already had guessed that he wasn’t from this world and pressed him for information before, but that had come because Maude’s brother, Jormungandr, had asked her spirit beast partner to look in on Casey and make sure he was ‘worthy.’ He didn’t need to talk to her about the odd way elementals had been treating him and add even more suspicion.

No, after everything that happened back on Earth and the shit with the Orange-Suited Man, I’d much rather try and keep a low profile. Well, as low of a profile as I’m allowed to, Casey thought while waiting for Runa to react to his words.

A few minutes passed as the stern woman thought before she began moving and took a mechanical bite of her food. She chewed and swallowed before speaking.

“I’ll order increased patrols in the Gale Cat’s territory as well as the two adjoining it. The six spirit beast monarchs in the Valley have divided the lands between them to look after, so if they are also seeing an increase in such activity then there might be something even more going on.”

Casey’s chest tightened with worry at that. Unbidden, his vision of a Fomori horde just beyond the mountains returned to him, but he swallowed it down.

There is nothing beyond a vision to prove it, Casey reminded himself. And if there are that many Fomori, there will be signs. Runa and the Roaring Mountain clash with them regularly.

“In other business, though,” Runa said, her voice suddenly more businesslike. “I have good news for you, and for the Roaring Mountain as well.”

“Oh? What is it that you need me to do?” Casey asked, surprised at the older woman’s sudden change in tone.

“You remember that I asked to borrow your prize from the fight along the border?” Runa asked, her head tilting to one side and one eye closing while a smug smile spread across her face.

“I do, have you heard back from the Bronze Fist?” Casey asked, having to fight down a smile of his own. The other clan had been a problem for a while and he really was hoping that Runa would rake them over the coals for their actions that had cost so many lives in the raid on the longship carrying the aspirants that Vibeke had come in with.

“Well, it seems that they are ready to deal with you regarding the holmgang with that fool, Damien. If you are willing, we will be going to meet with them along the southern border of Windsong Valley in ten days. I refuse to let those dogs cross my borders, so they will meet us there to make amends.”

“Well then,” Casey said with a smirk. “I’m curious what the Bronze Fist thinks will ‘make amends’ for their actions, and for my rights as the winner of the holmgang duel.”

“As am I,” Runa said, her smirk turning downright bloodthirsty now. “And what they think will make amends for attacking my people.”