HBWnovel Chapter 89: Storm Gathering
Chapter 89: Storm Gathering
Chapter 89: Storm Gathering
I tried to focus during classes all day, but my thoughts kept turning to Bleiz. Was I freeing him from a life of servitude, or was I using him? I wasn’t sure if I was just trying to justify accepting the bond. I did have plans for Bleiz. Based on his skill set and the invisibility necklace I gave him, I wanted to leave him to watch over my family when I wasn’t around. I was making him a guard dog. But he was sapient, so I was just as terrible as the ruling families of Skyholme. My moral compass was on the fritz.
After the post-dinner lecture, I left the barracks alone and walked into the woods. I was listening for the sounds of Bleiz, and he surprised me by appearing right in front of me. “I really like this toy you loaned me,” he fingered the necklace.
“No, it is a gift, but make sure it stays hidden under your clothes,” I said. He was wearing plain wool clothes with the Torrent colors of white and gray. “We are going to visit a reader, Bleiz. I need to assess your skills, and then we can figure out a series of spells you can imprint.” As we walked, I asked, “So tell me about your training, Bleiz.”
He fell in step beside me, “I finished first, second, or third in my Wolfpack in every evaluation. Only Miriam could beat me in combat.” I sensed something in the way he said, Miriam. “I know how to imprint spells but have never been given a spellbook. I was told I would be selected to be the personnel guard of Otieno Bricio, serving as his spell-sword and instrument.”
“Who told you that?” I asked.
“Otieno himself. He visited a year ago to watch us train under the Blackguard captains. Miriam and I were told we would join him,” Bleiz spoke freely. I sensed that perhaps he had been friends with Miriam. I didn’t inquire further at this time.
“Let’s make sure you are seen as little as possible. Can the bond be broken? Can you be freed of your forced devotion to me?” I asked seriously.
Bleiz stopped walking and said, “Storme, there are questions you can not ask. That is one of them. If another Wolfsguard not bonded to you heard you ask that they would report to you to the Inquisitor’s office.” I nodded at his hard stare, and we continued.
We approached Ennet’s house from the woods and knocked on the back door. Callem answered it shortly. The square old man looked at Bleiz, “This is him?”
I introduced him, “This is Bleiz. A Wolfsguard companion of mine.” Callem moved aside and let us in.
Wynna and Ennet were in the living room talking with Aelyn. They all watched as we approached, “Everyone, this is Bleiz. I was hoping to get a reading for him. And also a new aether core reading for myself.”
Wynna rose with a tight smile, “Of course, Storme. Do you wish to go first?”
“No, get Bleiz completed first, and I will wait. He has an awakened core, so if you could also read his aether matrix and core sizes,” I said. I patiently waited while sitting across from Aelyn. Callem went with them, probably not completely trusting Bleiz. I didn’t have time to talk much with Aelyn before Bleiz returned with his sheet of paper. He handed it to me, which Wynna soured at. I could tell she didn’t like the idea of the enslaved Wolfsguard.
I took the sheet and scanned it.
Abilities
Sense Vibration, Tier 1
Peripheral Awareness, Tier 1
Traits
Scent Recognition, Tier 3
Longevity, Tier 1
Keen Sight, Tier 1
Filter Sound, Tier 2
Enhanced Reflexes, Tier 2
Skill Affinities
Stealth, Tier 3
Tracking, Tier 2
Aether Magic, Tier 2
Aether Core Awakening 6
Current Aether Core 32
Maximum Aether Core 78
Aether Core Matrix Current 11
Aether Core Matrix Max 19
Karambit (curved knife) x 2
Throwing knife x 12
Hunter’s Knife x 1
Skinning Knife x 1
Short Sword x 2
I started asking him questions to get specific sizes, weights, and dimensions. I had Bleiz appear and made some quick iron replicas for every weapon he wanted. Bleiz’s shock at my shaping skill was apparent on his face, but he didn’t let it show in his voice as he directed me. I told Bleiz he could return to Ennet’s house, and I was going back to the barracks. He took a long look at me with newfound respect before activating his necklace.
When I got back to my room, I fell onto my bed. Gareth wasn’t here, and I remembered it was 5th day, and I was supposed to be with him at Twin Rocks tonight. I just didn’t have the energy. I quickly did my evening exercises, aether core, focus, and making platinum coins. I then set my alarms, arcane locks, and privacy shield.
The first thing I made was the garrotes for Bleiz. I used a finely braided mithril. One coin was enough to make all eight garrotes with steel rings at the ends. I then proceeded to make his short swords while lying in bed. My alarms told me Gareth was back, and I watched him crash onto his bed. I broke my privacy screen and healed him. A few bruises and two broken bones. Elijah and Elora had gone all out, “Do they need healing as well?” I asked.
“No,” Gareth muttered, face down on his pillow. “They had healing potions—not that they needed them.” I nodded and grinned and was happy I had missed the weapons session.
“Sorry, I missed the fun, Gareth. I will introduce you to Bleiz next week. He is going to keep an eye on Freya,” I said, sitting on my bed and getting ready to reset my privacy shield.
Gareth rolled to his side, “Are you going to let me spar with him, Storme?”
“Sure thing, Gareth, if he wants to. I am working on his weapons now. Maybe we can take Freya to the Shiny Platinum next 7th day, and you two can go use the third-floor training room,” I offered.
I set my privacy screen and completed all of Bleiz’s weapons. I would only enchant the short swords for durability and sharpness when I got more supplies from Instructor Aldon.
The last day of classes for the week had my crew excited to go to the Shiny Platinum. I left the weapons I created for Callem to hand off to Bleiz. I had enchanted the short swords during the artificing class. All the weapons were of the highest quality that I could produce with my metal shaping skill.
Gareth convinced everyone to skip dinner and headed to Solaris City to take a skyship to Aegis City. As we boarded the transport, I noticed a few people who appeared to be watching us. Gareth confirmed he had seen them too. I was glad Bleiz was staying behind to watch my family.
On the trip to the city, Aelyn was extremely animated with the twins. I could tell she was happier, her brand gone. When she got to the Shiny Platinum, she was going to see Gimble immediately and make sure she was registered. I planned to get dinner and get some rest before the dive tomorrow. That didn’t happen. As soon as we entered the Shiny Platinum, Remy dragged me away to Rippon’s room.
Rippon’s room was covered in large schematics, materials lists, notes, and references. Remy excitedly said, “We are ready to start! With Rippon’s help, we have identified some improvements for the skyship to make it lighter and stronger. The materials will cost more, but they are easier to obtain since they are too expensive to use in Navy ships.”
Seeing where this conversation was going, I asked, “How much coin do you need?”
Rippon pulled a materials list off the wall and handed it to me. The lumber and laminates were 29,500 gold at current prices. I asked, “Isla Bricio is our foreman for the project. Give her the list and see if she can get better prices.” The two left in a hurry to knock on Isla’s door down the hall. I was surprised to see the old man run like a little kid.
I pulled out ten large platinum coins from my storge. That was 10,000 gold. I scanned my space again, and I only had about 2,500 gold in a mix of platinum, gold, and silver left. If I used all my remaining aether, I could make a single large platinum coin. I was gaining more aether, and my conversion of aether to metal was getting more efficient. I could make just over a single mithril coin with all my aether.
I didn’t have any more time to ponder as Rippon and Remy were dragging Isla in tow. “I put all the coin that could be spared on the table. Come see me again in six weeks.” I left them to deal with Isla as I tried to escape to my room. I groaned when I climbed the stairs from the second to the third floor.
Loriel, Bylura, and Gammon were standing outside my apartment door. They had clearly been waiting for me. I smiled, opened the door to my apartment, and invited them in. Loriel sat on the sofa while Bylura sat next to her, and Gammon remained by the door, on guard. Loriel asked, “I thought you would have your Wolfsguard with you?” I was shocked that she knew I had bonded a Wolfsguard.
“He is occupied,” I replied, not willing to give away what Bleiz was up to.
Loriel smiled, “Did you hear about the uproar your selection caused in the Citadel?” I nodded, and Loriel chuckled merrily. “You seem to be the largest thorn in the Bricio’s side in a hundred years. What you have not heard is the Bricios have lost their dungeon. The Miaden family called in loans, and Halifax Bricio, that is Baladon’s and Abaddon’s father, couldn’t pay. At first, he got a massive loan from Otieno Bricio to cover debts. But it turned into a chain reaction, and more nobles called in too many loans for Halifax to cover. The private dungeon was the only asset he had that could cover the debts. He foolishly over-leveraged himself in the massive rebuild after the Sadian attack.”
Loriel was grinning madly now in pure joy. I asked, “And I am assuming this is a good thing?”
“Oh, Storme! That dungeon was the source of most of the Bricio’s wealth. Without it, they are in freefall. All their other businesses can not generate enough revenue to sustain their interests as the luxury economy has been stagnating since the Sadian attack. The dungeon provided the Bricios liquid funds. Otieno was heard cursing Halifax Bricio in the Citadel after he transferred the deed to control the dungeon to Tamber Miaden! Pomare has taken to publicly display the mithril shirt as a symbol of the weakness of the Bricios, rubbing it in their face. Otieno has been selling dozens of indentured contracts at a discount to try and make up the difference, but most likely, the Bricios are going to lose over half of their assets to stabilize when all is said and done,” she giggled joyously.
Then her face got serious, “You need to keep your Wolfsguard close, Storme. The Bricios may be distracted now, but once things settle, they will be lashing out against everyone who caused this, they may even try to recapture what they have lost by force. Pomare has claimed credit for the brilliant trap of having Baladon wear the mithril shirt in the honor duel with you. Abaddon has been given the command of one of the new Harbinger skyships and has assembled a loyal crew around himself. My sources say he will use them to avenge his family. If he uses his Skyholme Navy battleship to that end, all hell will break loose.”
“How many Wolfsguard does Abaddon have?” I asked to prepare myself in the event I encountered him.
“Three,” Loriel answered immediately. “Two are always with him, and the third protects his estate. “Baladon’s only Wolfsguard was killed in an accident with three others and has not been replaced. Halifax lost his three Wolfsguard in the same accident.” Loriel couldn’t help but smile.
I now understood that Otieno had killed the four Wolfsguard to not only try to nab Bleiz but also punish Baladon for losing the duel and Halifax for losing the dungeon. I needed to get my family to Aegis City sooner than later. I would have Mia double the guards at the Shiny Platinum. The chain reaction from such a simple act of defending a pretty girl. What was that saying from my past world...I searched my memory and finally got it, ‘the face that launched a thousand ships.’
My distracted thoughts were interrupted, and Loriel got my attention, “There may be a civil war between the Torrents, Miadens and Bricios. It is not certain, but others have asked me in the succession which side I would take.”
“How long before something sparks?” I asked extremely concerned.
“Months until the Bricios are in a position to move. The power struggle will likely happen on the capital island if it does occur. So when you see a stream of private sky ships arriving all at once, fleeing the capital, that will be your signal,” Loriel added. Something about her face told me she was happy all this was occurring. It was indirectly by her hand. She tricked Gareth into escorting her, which caused me to go. Then, I created this coming storm that might rock Skyholme to its core.