Chapter 183: Underneath the Mask


    Beads of sweat dripped down Kyriils face. The elf couldnt understand how this had happened. One second he was sitting on the wagon regaling stories of his carnal conquests to Crow, the next second they found themselves surrounded by ck-cloaked magi, with that damned drow at the forefront.


    Get off the wagon, Marek, or Ill burn it down with you! Orange mes crackled in Lohs palms.


    Were surrounded, Kyriil muttered under his breath.


    I count ten, Crow nodded furtively.


    That bitch thinks Lord Marek is in here, Kyriils eyes darted at the back of the wagon where the Unildyr hatchling rested.


    Theyre closing in on us, Crow whispered.


    How fast are you?


    I think Im in decent shape, why?


    Kyriil swallowed, ...On my signal I want you to run as fast as you can.


    And get incinerated by a fucking fireball? Are you kidding me!? Crow whispered anxiously.


    Ill distract them, you just run and dont look back. Get to Lord Marek and tell him what happened.


    Youre an impressive mage, no ones doubting that. But didnt Loh Noir defeat Grim <em>and </em>you? This time she has nine others on her side and Grim isnt even here.


    I dont n on defeating her. Once youre far enough Im gonna release the hatchling.


    That hatchling will kill you the moment you do, Crow warned.


    Im dead anyway. At least I can take some of them out with me, Kyriil smiled shakily.


    Times up! Loh summoned a giant me orb above her head.


    Now! Kyriil threw his hands up in the air, white mana flooding into his palms.


    Crow covered his face.


    A brilliant sh of light illuminated the grassy clearing. Loh and the others flinched away at the elfs bright spell. Crow grabbed his book and jumped off the wagon. His legs hit the grass with a soft thud, he kicked off the ground and ran for his life.


    The ten magi blinked hard and clenched their eyes in pain. One of the human magi forced her eyes open and caught sight of Crow escaping.


    Stop! She yelled and pped her hands on the ground.


    The grass gleamed a bright green, it hardened and whipped around Crows legs. He tripped and crashed, his book fell out of his grasp.


    The woman smiled, Youre not going anyw- Agh!


    A beam of white light seared across her face, she rolled over in agony. The grass around Crows legs withered away. He nced back at the wagon.


    Go! Kyriil yelled and shot another light beam at an iing mage.


    Crow picked up his book and ran. He passed by the blinded magi and charged into the darkness. A torrent of red me sshed in front of Crow, he fell back with a shout of surprise. A giant scaled face peered through the mes. Vayus fire drake hissed and blocked off his escape.


    Gettes undead warriors marched in behind the elemental lizard and surrounded Crow. War cries sounded in the distance, ten centaurs ran into the clearing, Maximus in the lead with a giant battle ax in hand.


    Did you really think you could escape, tribal scum? A voice taunted behind Crow.


    He slowly turned around. Tauri stood d in battle armor, a perpetual scowl on her crimson face. She held her il in a tight grip, arge spiked metal ball hung from the chain attached to a short iron stick.


    Get on your knees, she growled.


    Tauri. The book slipped out of Crows hands.


    ~~~


    Shit! Kyriil spotted Crow in the distance, surrounded by enemy reinforcements.


    The elf ran into the wagon and he grabbed the nket covering the Unildyrs cage. Shadow tendrils wrapped around his arms and yanked him back.


    Where do you think youre going!? Loh shifted her hands, the shadow tendrils pulled taut and flung Kyriil into the ground.


    Get these off me! Kyriil summoned an orb of light above him. A beam of light burned through the shadowy bindings.


    A mage ran at the elf and tossed a red potion at his face. It shattered in a puff of sickly green smoke. Kyriil coughed over and over as the potion ravaged his lungs.


    Now, Thonul! Loh ordered.


    On it! The dwarven master mage dug his hands into the soil, sending waves of green mana in the ground.


    The earth shifted under Kyriil as the stone spell took hold. His body sunk into the ground until only his head was visible. He wheezed with a painful grimace.


    I need a yellow mage to get rid of the toxin! Loh ordered.


    One of the magi walked over and casted a wind spell at Kyriil. The air curled around the elf and carried the toxic gas into a faraway breeze.


    Why is the bastard still coughing? Loh furrowed her brow.


    The red mage that had thrown the potion bowed his head to Loh, The toxin''s effect willst for a few hours. It wont kill him, but hell wish he was dead with the pain burning in his lungs.


    Thats fine by me. Now, wheres Marek? Loh nced around the clearing.


    Vayu crouched down next to the captured prisoner, ...This man is an elf. There havent been reports of elves in the Ebon Realm for at least a century. If this elf wasnt simply hiding in thesends, if he came here recently, then that means someone found a chrome gate and opened it.


    Hes too short Loh mumbled.


    Vayu looked up at her, Are you listening to me? The enemy might be working with the Ivory Realms elves!


    Loh pointed at Crow in the distance, That man in the feathered cloak is too short, he isnt even six feet. Marek is said to be a dire human. He should be around 7 feet tall. Which means that isnt Marek.


    What? Vayu asked.


    Loh clenched her jaw, Tomorrow is the summer solstice, a sacred day for the valley tribes. Any tribal negotiations done on that day are special, only two people are allowed on each side. Marek should have been here, he is the Cairns <em>chief</em>, the uing dawn is sacred to his people... So where the fuck is he!?


    ~~~


    Crow stared at the screaming drow in the distance, Loh doesnt seem very happy.


    Tauri frowned, How do you know our names?


    I know all of you, Tauri. Including Vayu z over there.


    Who are you? She narrowed her amber eyes.


    You wouldnt believe me if I told you, he sighed.


    Take off the avian-skull.


    Crow straightened his back, No.


    That wasnt a request, she said coldly.


    You dont want to do this, Tauri. Trust me. You should forget what happened tonight and just leave.


    Forget? I will <em>never </em>forget what you people did six years ago. You people killed the man I loved... He was <em>innocent </em>and you burned him to ash! Tauri spun her il, the metal spiked ball tore through the air menacingly.


    Crow nced at the spinning metal orb of destruction, You wont get me to talk through threats.


    I dont need to, thats why we have Vayu, Tauri pointed at the drow with her other hand.


    ~~~


    Find out what you can from the elf, Loh ordered.


    I''m trying, but his mind is in too much pain, I cant read anything, Vayu twisted his lips.


    Purple mind tendrils, the width of string, curled out from his fingers and brushed Kyriils skull.


    Ill need to knock him out, Vayu flexed his fingers.


    The purple tendrils red bright, Kyriils eyes rolled up.


    Vayu smiled, Thats better. Itll take me a few minutes to delve deep into his mind and sift through it.


    Very well, Loh nodded. While you do that Im going to check out the wagon.


    ~~~


    Crow watched Loh make her way to the back of the wagon, I wouldnt go there if I were her.


    Why? Afraid of what well find? Tauri asked.


    Not exactly.


    Wheres Marek?


    How do you know youre not looking at him?


    Marek is a warlord and chieftain of the Cairn Tribe. He may be a scumbag of the lowest regard, but he isnt a coward who hides behind a mask.


    Oh Tauri, our reasons may differ, but we all hide behind masks.


    Does it look like Im wearing a fucking mask? She growled.


    Not a physical one, but you are using anger to mask the pain underneath.


    Tauriughed, her il spun faster, Im going to enjoy crushing that skull mask of yours. I wonder how much pain Ill find underneath that?


    You wont like what you find.


    I doubt that very much.


    Agree to disagree then.


    ...Who are you exactly? You dont look like a mage.


    I am Crow, spymaster of the Cairn Tribe.


    Spymaster? Youre telling me this now? Why? Tauri tilted her head.


    Because I wanted to. That and the fact that Vayu will figure it out soon enough when he reads my mind, Crow shrugged.


    Tauri nced at the ground, Whats with the book?


    Hm?


    ~~~


    Loh pulled the wagon cover off the back and peered inside. A thick nket covered what seemed to be arge crate.


    Gifts for the negotiation? She guessed.


    The crate rattled.


    Loh frowned, What the...?


    She reached out and grabbed the edge of the nket.


    ~~~


    I asked you a question, Tauri raised her il above her head, the spin of the spiked metal ball whirred in the air.


    Crow nced between the il and the book on the ground. He raised his hands in surrender, Its quite old As is most of my collection. Books are quite useful, you see. This particr one details precious information that if I manage to decipher will help the Cairn greatly. So, if youd please not throw my book away Id very much appreciate it.


    Tauri blinked, Wow, thank you for your honesty. I wont throw your precious book away.


    With her open hand, Tauri pointed at the book. A bolt of me ignited at her fingertip and burned the book to ash.


    Ah... Crow stiffened.


    Whoops, did you need that book? Her lips curved into a vicious smile.


    ...Why? Crows shoulders sagged.


    For the same reason Im about to crack that shitty little mask of yours, she pulled back her il.


    He lowered his arms and sighed, Honestly, I never needed the book, but I did find the read enjoyable.


    Tauri flung her il at him. Crows hand shot out in a deft sh and caught the spiked orb in the palm of his hand. Her eyes widened in shock.


    <em>You, on the other hand, I find absolutely uninteresting,</em> Crow clicked his tongue.


    The metal il crumbled to dust in his hand.