Chapter 34: The Son and the Sun

  Tobias couldn’t stop his knee from bouncing, “By the dead Gods, Riley, could you be any more hyper?”

  Small hexagonal plates of etheril, set tightly jointed into basilisk hide, now covered her muzzle, the tiny plates studded hide strips that chased just under her eyes, sweeping back sharply over her cheeks before joining under her neck.

  The pattern continued down her back as hundreds of tiny, tightly arranged plates of etheril covered down to the root of her tail, covering her ribs and joining on her underside.

  Glove-like “shoes” covered her paws, with just enough room for her toes, each now sheathed within etheril claws.

  “Let me have this. I feel like a cyberpunk masterpiece, and we’re about to go home,” Riley whined, finding no off switch for her exuberance.

  "How’s it feel?” Ranger Edith asked, walking around the table that Riley was perched on, examining her like she was an art project.

  “The hide breathes, and it’s flexy, like really flexy, better than spandex! I can move, and my paws don't feel strained, but it feels kind of weird between the toes,” in demonstration, she worked her back and front paws up and down through the limits of their dexterity.

  "Spandex?” She cocked her head,

  “Don’t worry about it,” Tobias said quickly.

  Edith nodded, shaking her head as if shaking off the question.

  “It’s why we use basilisk. We farm them out of a few dungeons here. It’s stronger than steel and more flexible than fabric. It’s fairly magically resistant, too,” The artificer explained, moving in, checking the fit of the bands before nodding in approval.

  “I didn’t have time to work anything out for your ears,” She mused, looking at Riley like a logic puzzle.

  "I think that’s fine. I tend to flatten them against my back in combat,” Riley explained.

  “I added the weightless enchantment, along with the standard defensive suite. It all feels good?” Edith checked again.

  Riley hopped off the table, landing with a clank, “No damage, no burden!”

  "Then you’re done. Thank you for the challenge. Good luck,” turning to leave, she offered her hand to Tobias.

  As they grasped arms, her large hand encapsulated his forearm. Each nodded stoically to the other before she left the room.

  Humbert entered and bowed at the waist. “Young Sir and Lady, are you ready to depart? General Ecbert awaits.“

  “He sent you?” Tobias looked up with surprise.

  “He did. He feared for your punctuality, m’lord,” Humbert replied.

  “I’m ready for war!” Riley bounced on her hindpaws excitedly as a light jingling sound echoed around her like soft music when her toes hit the ground.

  “Uh, yes, Ma’am,” Humbert looked to Tobias like he held a lifeline.

  “Lead on, and thank you for coming,” Tobias smiled and gently bowed his head.

  “One is happy to serve, m’lord,” Humbert led them through the labyrinthine halls of Castle Cinder. Each corridor appeared almost identical to any other. No decorations or embellishments existed upon its walls, just endless grey stone without joint or mortar.

  The old servant navigated the halls like he could have done so blindfolded, leading them back towards Ecbert’s office.

  “I’m completely lost,” Riley admitted as Humbert broke right, and they reentered the large, sparse waiting room.

  He stood in the center with Ranger Haley like a monument to badly restrained impatience.

  Derowine, Dudda, and Leofric stood off to one side, still looking pale after the earlier encounter.

  They were standing next to a man who looked to be in his late forties. Salt and pepper, close-cropped hair stood like well-trimmed grass. A grey blade cloak and armor adorned his lithe yet sinewy body, standing rail-thin at five-foot-ten.

  “Oh shit,” Riley exclaimed within, as Tobias stiffened.

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  “Sir Tobias, this is Sir Wilhelm, Knightly Lord of Ysle. I understand you’ve met his son, Leofstan, and his entourage?” Ecbert grinned with gleeful menace.

  ‘Oh, double shit,’ Riley whispered within.

  “We have,” Tobias confirmed, stepping in front of Riley as if trying to shield her from the wave of consequences barreling towards them.

  Tobias drew to attention, setting his right fist over his chest before bowing his head. “Commander, sir! I am Sir Tobias of Astor. May I present to you my companion, Dame Riley of Astor,” Riley rose on her hindpaws, stepping beside her sorcerer.

  Sir Wilhelm nodded, his face stoic, then held out his hand, “I understand you gave my son a good spar. Did you beat some of the weakness out of him?”

  Tobias’s eyes flicked to Riley before he cautiously gripped Wilhelm’s arm in a Calarian handshake, “He and his friends provided a useful opportunity to train, sir. It was my honor.”

  Wilhelm’s eyebrows narrowed, his gaze turning icy, “quite. I’m certain you’ll acquit yourselves well in the capitol.”

  “We did? " Riley began.

  Tobias gave her a gentle tap with his boot.

  “We did,” She confirmed, stiffening up.

  Ecbert nodded, “I’m glad you were able to all meet up before we had to travel today.”

  “It was a productive exchange, I think.“ Tobias schooled his expression, but Riley could feel the worry and confusion mixing with her own.

  “Do you think he sent them to kick our ass? Was this another test?” She whispered over their soul connection.

  “Maybe; all we can do is ride this out,” Tobias projected, scanning around the room, sizing things up as Riley did the same.

  A box appeared around the other rangers in the room, within their shared vision, as Ranger Haley entered with Humbert in tow.

  General Ecbert, Tier 1-10, Elite, Lawful Neutral

  Sir Wilhelm of Ysle, Tier 1-8, Elite, Lawful Neutral

  Haley, Tier 1-7, Elite, Chaotic Good

  Deorwine, Tier 1-4, Lawful Neutral

  Dudda, Tier 1-3 Lawful Neutral

  Leofstan of Ysle, Tier 1-4, Lawful Neutral

  Humbert, Tier 1-0, Lawful Good

  “Excellent. We will part ways here. Do you have any questions, Rangers?” Ecbert’s voice turned icy.

  “None, sir,” Tobias replied stiffly.

  “Very well. You have your orders from the throne. You will now report to Sir Wilhelm. Ranger Haley, move them,” Ecbert ordered as reality warped and distorted. Riley’s stomach lurched as it lost all definition of any direction. Darkness surrounded her like a smothering blanket while every sense screamed that she was in a terminal spin.

  With a sickening twist in her gut, reality warped back into place; a twisting spiral of colors filled her vision, moving opposite to the motion she felt as a prompt blared to life.

  Welcome to Calaria, a high-magic world!

  Tobias wavered on his feet before reaching out to Riley, “That never gets easier.”

  "Stomach unhappy...” Riley moaned, splaying out her paws, finding that her newly metal-tipped claws were digging into fresh earth.

  “Goodbye,” Haley vanished with a smile and a pop while Riley and Tobias took stock of where they were.

  “Oh heavens,” Humbert raced behind a tree and began wrenching pitifully.

  A bright blue sky stretched out before them, with the sun shining down. Puffy white clouds drifted lazily by. The trees that dotted the parade grounds were resplendent in the reds and yellows of their fall colors.

  “We’re home,” Tobias’ shoulders relaxed as Riley stretched.

  “Where are the others?” Riley scanned around, but it was just the three of them.

  “Politics. More games.” Tobias grumbled.

  “Calaria…” Humbert’s jaw fell open, and tears streamed down his cheeks as he looked with awe toward the Castle of Ashes.

  “Welcome! It’s a total trip your first time, isn’t it?” Riley commiserated.

  “It’s amazing, and that I take it, is the sun? Wonders!” He pointed up at the glowing yellow orb high in the sky.

  “Just don’t look directly at it,” Riley added.

  Humbert nodded dumbly, blinking his eyes and staring down at the hare.

  “I propose we find a carriage to Astor Hall, but first, let’s lunch at that fruit cart you like so much. Humbert, would you like something more? Just name it; there’s many an option along the way,” Tobias produced a silver from their inventory and pressed it into the old man’s palm. “An advance on your first month if you’re amenable.”

  “Ma… Ma… M’lord, I serve at your pleasure. No payment is required. I could not presume…” Humbert stammered, looking down at the silver.

  “Then you will take my coin,” Tobias replied, adding some steel to his tone.

  “Yes sir, and may I say, fruit or whatever my Lord and Lady desire would be pleasing to me,” he smiled serenely.

  Riley sighed, “Lots of work to do.”

  “Shall we be underway?” Tobias broke the awkward moment, already in motion.

  Riley’s ears stiffened, perking up with interest, as she projected toward him, ‘ What about what just happened? Tobias, I’m nervous, even more nervous than before. I don’t know what to think here.’

  Humbert followed dutifully behind, three steps back, as he marveled, quietly weeping at the wonders of the world.

  “Nor I, it remains to be seen if we’ve made an enemy of Sir Wilhelm. This whole situation is feeling more precarious than I’d like,” Tobias scanned around as if expecting an assassin to pop out from the bush.

  “Once we see Humbert to Astor Hall, we should visit the Prancing Cockatrice. I think we would benefit from talking to Sabine soon,” Tobias strategized.

  Riley nodded, “She knows the workings of the castle better than anyone. If we’re going to get in front of this thing, I think it’s for the best. We need to understand just what kind of mess we’re in.”

  “Come on, we’ll get settled in and visit the first chance we get," Tobias replied, quickening his pace.