Lost Bloodline 3 - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

There was an argument. Neither Koda nor any of his ladies wanted to leave the village to fend for itself, but Thera made a very poignant point about how they could conceal the sanctified building and use the cave where her totem had been hidden to conceal anything else that might give them away, but they couldn’t hide Koda from other champions if they saw him.

He’d asked about the converted sites of power as well, but Thera had reassured him that they would remain undetected, as Golieas did not draw power from such things. Instead, he drew power from sites of worship like churches and temples that his faithful constructed to him.

With the realization that his presence would cause more danger for the village and the people he was beginning to feel as his family, Koda folded without further argument, though it was obvious to the others in the room that he was upset.

“You have a day or more to rest, but you will need to head out into the eastern plains to avoid detection. Silverstone is one of the most remote settlements on the baron’s land. There are tribes that live out in the wild of the plains and beyond, but none of them owe any allegiance to the baron,” Thera explained to the group quickly. “As long as you move out tomorrow you should be clear of the vale before the baron’s people get close enough. Give it a week or two and then it should be safe to come back.”

“How do you know all of this?” Calandra asked in wonder and Thera gave the dwarven woman a smile.

“My eyes are the myriad eyes of wild animals. I’ve been keeping watch on these people ever since Koda became aware of them. Since I only have a small field of worshipers, my gaze is not spread so far that I miss much around them.”

Calandra blushed furiously at that and coughed into a fist. Koda was sure that her mind had gone somewhere dirty, so spoke to give Calandra a moment to collect herself.

“Well, at least we got word before we started really settling in. I enjoyed having the bed last night, but I’m going to miss having you girls—”

“Nope,” Arthene interrupted him suddenly and the big woman reached over to smack Koda on the back of the head. “Don’t even think about it. You aren’t leaving us behind here. You’d be daft to think that was a better option, and I know you aren’t that dumb, my mate.”

“She’s right,” Thera said gently before Koda could refute the bear woman’s statement. “Arthene would stand out to the champions as much as you would, Koda. And upon closer study, so will Sienna and Calandra because of their blessings.”

“Blessings?” Calandra asked in surprise and Thera shot her a small smile.

“Those who join with my champion receive a blessing from me. Sienna and Arthene can begin to teach you once you are out of town, but your title of ‘daughter of the howling wind’ is going to be even more accurate.”

Calandra just blinked at her in confusion while Sienna’s grin grew wider.

“Oh that will be great! I’ve been experimenting a lot lately and can teach her quite a bit. I’m assuming it’ll be different since she’s not an earth mage like me?” Sienna asked with an excited clap of the hands.

“Yes, but the basics are the same. Now, you should prepare and I need to depart. Please, my champion, do not tarry here. Golieas Goldheart would like nothing more than to get his grubby hands on the remains of my power, and if his champions catch you here they will happily burn the village to the ground to try and take it for him.”

Calandra grimaced at that statement but nodded.

“I could see that. The followers of Goldheart are the core of the Stalwart and they, along with the Wild, abhor anything that they view might be tainted by the corruption of the Devouring.”

Koda blinked in surprise and his confusion must have shown on his face, because Calandra explained a moment later.

“Those are the general umbrellas that the other species fall under. The fae and elves are part of the Wild, while the Crooked or Tyrantborn are part of the Devouring. The dwarves joined the Stalwart to help defend against the encroachment of the others, but some clans still follow the Wild. It’s a matter of ideology.”

Koda nodded in understanding before turning to look up at Thera. She read the question in his eyes and answered him with a gentle smile.

“I was allied with the faction of the Wild, as you might expect. But when my world came under siege by the Crooked and their kind, only Chandra aided me. None of my other ‘allies’ chose to help beyond sending limited troops.”

“And that is why Chandra stepped away from the Wild and joined the Stalwart when they promised to be a bulwark against the Devouring. Though the stagnation of the Stalwart has grated at many. We should be pushing to reclaim those lost worlds, not just holding the enemy at bay,” Calandra grumbled.

“Regardless, these are political machinations that are not worth our time right now,” Thera said and finally lifted her hand from Koda’s shoulder to clap them together sharply. “That is a problem that can be put off until another day. For now, we gather power and grow so that those who would seek to rob you of your birthright will fall at your feet instead.”

The goddess departed a moment later, fading into Koda’s shadow from where she had appeared. Kris hurried off to handle some business for the village and get the bones that Arthene and the others had brought back moved into the hidden cave above the village.

That left Koda and his lovers to spend some time relaxing in their new home. Several of the warriors who came with them before stopped by to say hello, advising that Kris had already passed word that they would be leaving on a trip again soon. A few confirmed they’d be coming along as well, surprising Koda since it was just the four of them that were at risk currently. Hans’ answer turned out to sum it up the best though.

“We covered for you before and will again now. I’m not going to ask what kind of trouble you might find out in the plains, because that’s just borrowing bad luck. Instead, some of us will tag along to help deal with the trouble that finds you.”

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The following morning, with the group forgoing any bedroom play to Arthene’s disappointment, they met up with the selection of their warriors to head out. The Crooked pay-chest had already been divided up to the others in their group, but Koda had them hold onto the chest itself and store it along with the bones. Given that they were heading out into the wilderness of the plains, they didn’t bring much in the way of coinage with them. Any tribes they ran into would be more likely to operate on barter than money anyway.

Hannah, Netta, Todd, and Hans met them at the edge of the village as the sun peeked over the horizon. The four of them looked refreshed for a few days resting at home in beds rather than camping and they fell in silently, hurrying off down the road that led to the only pass that exited the vale.

“How did your lady take the decision to leave again?” Koda asked Hans after some time had passed and the sun finished rising to bathe the land in warm light.

“Brit understands what I have to do. I’m not just a miner anymore,” Hans said with a bit of a sigh, his cow tail switching behind him. “She wishes I could stay home, but doesn’t blame me or you for this. It’s the fault of the baron’s people.”

While the others from their group had cycled through to visit the previous day, Koda had made sure to fill all twelve of them in on what had happened and what they had to do. All twelve had actually volunteered to go with him, but Koda refused most, saying that he needed people he could trust to stay and protect the village. He’d tried to refuse them all, but the four with him now wouldn’t take his denial.

“True. We just need to make sure you bring her back something nice to make up for being gone,” Koda said, slapping the big man on the back and making Hans grunt in surprise, then laugh.

“I shouldn’t be surprised you have enough strength to knock me on my ass, Aegisclaw. Still startles me given how much smaller than me you are.”

“You think it’s bad for you. Imagine how Arthene feels at times,” Koda snickered and got a glare from the big woman who had been listening in. He’d surprised her the night before by picking her up to pin her to the wall, and it had apparently lit a fire in the bear spirit as she’d come both hard, and loud.

“I can imagine. So, what is the plan then?” Hans laughed before turning serious once more. “We spend a few weeks out in the plains hunting, and then what? Just circle back, bringing with us all the meat we can?”

“Meat is secondary,” Koda said firmly. “I’m on the hunt for more sites of power.”

Hans grunted in understanding, shifting his mattock to the other shoulder. Despite the fact the big man claimed to not be a miner any longer, the fact he still carried the tool as his primary weapon amused Koda. He’d never complain though, as Hans wielded it with brutal precision in a fight.

“That’s good to hear. The more we can do for the Pack Lady, the stronger she will grow. It is the least we can do for all she sacrificed to shield our families in ages past,” Hans said quietly.

“She wouldn’t want you to sacrifice the family you have right now though, Hans,” Koda replied just as quietly and patted the big man on the bicep. “Just don’t lose sight of what you have already, okay? Your instincts will guide you.” He wasn’t sure why he phrased it that way, or even mentioned it, but Koda felt like it was the right thing to say at that moment.

Clearly, Hans agreed with him because the horned man bowed his head.

“Yes, Champion Aegisclaw. If it wasn’t for my Brit’s acceptance, I wouldn’t have come along. So don’t fear for our relationship.”

“Good.” Koda chuckled before continuing, “besides, you can look forward to another energetic welcome home when we get back, right?”

The laugh that came from Hans then drew everyone’s gazes to him, but the burly former miner ignored the questioning looks from the others.

“That is also true! Pack Lady bless me with strength to withstand my Brit’s affections when I get home! She’s been threatening to bring her friend into the relationship to ensure I have ‘more reasons to return home’ ever since we got back the other day!”

“Hardly something to complain about,” Hannah interjected with a sardonic grin. “I’ve seen how Layla looks at you. I am surprised she hasn’t asked herself yet.”

“Keyword being ‘yet’ there,” Hans sighed with a shake of his head that made his horns whip through the air with a sharp whine.

The conversation continued along similar lines as they hurried back down the road. Everything from touching bases with family, rehashing gossip, and general teasing flowed back and forth amongst the group. The only one who held back was Todd, as the slightly older fox beastfolk was quiet by nature but he would interject with an amusing quip or anecdote like the trained hunter he was.

Calandra walked between Sienna and Arthene as the two of them worked the dwarven woman through her new status as a mage and how to begin practicing with the burgeoning power.

They reached the Last Fang Cave by early afternoon and stopped for lunch there. They’d renewed their supplies in town and repacked for the longer trip out into the wilderness by bringing more stable foods since they’d be hunting once they made it far enough into the grassland to be safe from the baron’s inquisitive men.

Their lunch consisted of bread stuffed with a stew so thick it was more of a paste. They were quite flavorful despite being cold, and Koda was quick to bolt his down before hurrying to the ridge to look out over the grassland.

The rolling hills spread out to the south in all directions. Distantly, he could see another range of mountains rising up several days travel away along with a few smears of green that were just collections of trees along one of the many rivers that fed the grasslands. To the far east, he could see a much darker and larger blot of greenery that he guessed was a larger forest. Spread out amongst the grasslands were the occasional patch of stone or glimmer of sunlight on water where it collected into a lake or pond. There were more than a few moving patches that he guessed were also herds of the plains animals moving across their grazing lands.

“Any idea of where you want to head first, Aegisclaw?” Todd asked, the older fox stepping up beside him while enjoying his lunch at a slower rate.

“Just east, away from Amberpost and the village. Maybe circle south or north from there. All depends where Thera guides me,” Koda answered.

Thera had explained before she left that she would be able to gift Koda another sort of power, one that would allow him to sense better the open sites he could claim. It wasn’t going to reach terribly far, but would vastly increase the distance that he could detect the sites. It would be tied into his new armor as well, utilizing the potential of a bear’s sense of smell to enhance his.

“Fair enough. Once we hit the base of the mountain we can go off-road and head straight east away from Amberpost. Sienna can cover our tracks down the mountain and a mile or so off the road. After that point, they’d have to be of a ridiculous skill level to track us.”

“I don’t like this,” Koda said quietly and Todd grunted in understanding.

“I know, lad. I’ve only known you for a handful of days as it is, and I can already say I know you well enough to understand how much you hate hiding rather than fighting. Just focus on the idea that this will both protect the village, as well as help you and the Pack Lady grow strong enough that you never need to hide again.”

Todd thumped him on the shoulder and Koda sighed but nodded in understanding.

They stood in silence for some time, studying the land spread out before them, only to be interrupted when Todd grunted in annoyance. Turning towards the older man, Koda saw him holding out a hand to point towards Amberpost. Koda squinted and could barely make out a brief sparkle of light off of metal and movement along the distant road in that direction.

“Looks like the baron’s men are moving. We should as well.”