Chương 57: Chapter Fifty-Seven: Night

FIFTY-SEVEN Taoya was just finishing his steak, the two of them resting in companionable silence when the sun began to sink. Roan looked up and frowned as the sun began to sink rapidly. A horn blew, brassy and proud across the suddenly still air. Mobs began to march down the streets, each of them armed with crossbow and shortsword, quivers of bolts on their hips.

"What the hell is going on?

"Roan asked as Taoya folded the last of his steak in half and ate it in two large bites.

"Think we found the second part of the level, just like the anomalies," Taoya said as he reached into a pocket and pulled out a round piece of mirror. He tapped it twice and said in a clear voice, "Darren," then waited. A second later the other man's visage appeared, a streak of blood down his face, sweat slicked hair pushed back. Sounds came from the small piece of mirror, men and women screaming as battle raged around the edges of the mirror.

"There you are," Darren said, sounding calm even as his situation looked dire.

"What's going on?" Taoya asked as he leaned forward.

"The moment the sun started to sink the goblins appeared. Massive numbers, way more than what we encountered this morning. We're mostly fine now that we've stabilized, but getting back to the village is going to be trouble," Darren said.

"You won't make it back before dark?" Taoya asked.

"With how fast the sun is sinking? No. We may need a relief force, do you have the numbers?" Darren asked. Taoya looked up to Roan and smiled and nodded his head.

"Got Moira and a few others who are reliable. You have your flares? Send them up and we'll start toward," Taoya was cut off as an alert filled all of their vision. LEVEL QUEST GENERATED SURVIVE THE NIGHT ALL CREDITS EARNED BY KILLING HORDE MEMBERS ARE DOUBLED VILLAGE THREE KILL COUNT: 0"Shit, that can't be good. We're hauling ass, just be ready T," Darren said and the mirror cut off.

"Knew this level was too easy. A walled village with guards and easy bounties to earn that many credits? Way too easy," Taoya said as he cracked his neck side to side and leapt over the small fence that cut off the restaurant. Roan found himself following the big man, his gear in hand, and they started heading directly towards the gate.

"Who else is going with us?" Roan asked, assuming that Taoya would want him with him.

"Moira for sure. She's good and one of the only people who've begun tempering. Big boost to your physical stats I'm sure. You. After that? I don't know who's here."

"What was that glass you had?" Roan asked.

"Enchanted mirror. The officers all have one. Tyler is in Village Five and is establishing herself there. We were going to break up and send an officer to each village so we could have someone there to talk, but that plan just went up in smoke. Five nights, five villages, think I know at least one village is going up in smoke," Taoya said. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

"The dragon?" Roan asked.

"Yeah. We're going to need to make sure our village holds firm, because I bet you the Village that does the least is going to get a visit."

"Damnit. Alright, then one of us should stay and hold the walls. I don't think any of us are going to beat Tyler, not if she can launch a mass attack like she did earlier," Roan said.

"Agreed, which leaves us with three other villages we have to come out on top of. Darren has most of our top guys, it's just us and Moira still here."

"Think Darren's kills will go to the village?" Roan asked. He didn't think they would, but he had to ask.

"Kill counter is still at zero and we know they're fighting, so no. Fuck, we'll leave Moira here then," Taoya said.

"You can kill more than she can." Taoya came to a slow stop as they reached the wall, looking back at Roan and raising one eyebrow. Roan shrugged, not looking away from the questioning look.

"I told you I was in. I'm a man of my word. I'll bring Darren and his team back. You just have to hold the wall," Roan said.

"It's just not finding them, you'll need the firepower to get out too. You sure you can do that?" Taoya asked. Roan stopped and thought about it. There was a lightness to his steps that hadn't been there before, the warhammer in his hand felt light as a flyswatter. Energy coursed through him, kept at bay only by his practiced breathing, but if he let it out he'd run wild with renewed strength.

"That steak put some pep in my step," Roan said honestly.

"I know what you mean. I know you don't like him and he doesn't like you. Darren's a prick, but he's our prick, you get it? Can you bring him home?" Taoya asked, serious for once as his trademark smile disappeared.

"I'll get it done. Anyways, I'll have Moira watching over my shoulder." Taoya nodded slowly and looked up and sighed in relief.

"She has a mirror as well. Darren's team will send a flare up in a minute, get ready to go," Taoya said as he jogged over to Moira and quickly began to explain what was going on." Just jumping right into the deep end, Roan." He chided himself but this was the best way forward. The group discount that the Pact offered was too lucrative even if he'd have to be more diligent about paying his association fees. And not crushing Darren's skull in with his hammer.

"Taoya says I'm with you?" Moira asked as she jogged over. The light was continuing to fade at an alarming rate, dusk fast approached and darkness would not be long behind it. Mobs rushed up to the walls and stood ready, but climbers were following them as Taoya began to organize everyone. Even the most stubborn independent bowed when the giant bellowed an order, energy sparking from his skin as he laughed and yelled in equal measure.

"I think it's more like I'm with you. Are you ready to go?" Roan asked as he unlimbered the warhammer from his shoulder. Moira only held a rod of metal but as he watched the metal rippled and became a thumb thick quarterstaff.

"You've tempered?" Moira asked, looking him up and down.

"I have. As have you, I've heard," Roan said.

"Good, you should be able to keep up then," Moira said as she turned to the gate that was firmly shut. A trio of mobs stood guard at the wheelhouse that would open the gate.

"Open the gate so we can leave," Moira barked as they got to it. A mob turned and looked at them with its doll-like eyes before quietly saying, "No."

"These things freak me out," Roan muttered as Moira grunted in agreement. She didn't bother fighting the creatures, instead turning to start up the staircase toward the top of the wall.

"What are we doing?" Roan asked as he followed after her.

"Jumping. You said you tempered, yeah? We should be fine and if not, I have healing potions," Moira said as they reached the top of the walls. They were packed tight with mobs and climbers, all of them leaning between the crenelations to look out across the forest.

"Not that far at all," Moira said as she stepped between the stone blocks and jumped without hesitation. Roan watched as she hit the ground in a roll, coming up to look at Roan.

"Any day!" She shouted at him and Roan cursed under his breath as he followed after her, throwing himself from a perfectly good defensive position.