The train arrived the next evening in eastern Sadeas. Val and Alexa found a hotel to stay the night and inquired about how they might get to the far west boarder. Hesitant to explain their true purposes, Val hedged a small lie.“We hear there is some amazing rock climbing along the Stormwall mountains there.”“Ah, there is. Its getting a bit late in the season for that. We could get snow any time now and the mountains already have snow higher up. There is a town near where you are referring to. It is not huge but it is part of the main trade route from Vintas and the Rift. You should be able to find a guide there that will point you to the local climbing spots.”“What is the best way to get there?”“Best way would be on a carriage but its 250 km, so it might take upwards of a week. Beautiful scenery though. If you are wanting fast, there is a shuttle bus service now from one end of Sadeas to the other. It’s a passage vehicle with room for around twenty. It will take about five hours t

A gunshot range out as the men got within shouting distance, the horse on the right going down hard in a heap. Its rider lept free and started running towards them.“Fuck that was impressive.” Val said as she swung down off her horse and drew her rune blade. “Possessor Scath. I see four.”The approaching man on horse back looked hard at them but nodded as they stepped aside and let him ride on. His companion rushed up to them on foot.“For Suria, will you help me hold them off? Carlson must get through and warn the watch commander!”“We will! We came to warn the commander too!” Alexa declared.Another gunshot sounded and Val spun to see the rider named Carlson slump off his horse and crash to the ground.“FUCK! For Suria!” The other man said as he drew his own rune blade and took position near Valkyrie.The four possessed mercenaries crashed into them with a ferocity Val had only seen in her worst thrasher fights. Thankfully with a skilled hunter and Alexa by her side, the three on fo

Cade turned to follow his centurion and Alexa up the stairs when he suddenly froze. It was just him and Valkyrie in the room. Well, Al-Lune snored his way through a log on the cot but otherwise they were alone.“You said Alexa was now Spark blessed… you called her Shadow slayer, or hunter… How? Who did you kill to take an elite spark from? Val, if you did kill those hunters and stole their spark,” he paused, trying to collect his thoughts, “I will kill you myself if you put her in danger like that. A stolen spark with a death sentence and she will be hunted the rest of her day’s till the council sees justice. Theft of a spark is one crime they will not tolerate at any level.”“How big is the bounty?” Val asked casually.“The bounty is sizable but Val, there is a whole order of hunter sparks that see it as a religious duty to hunt such traitors. The official sanction is all they need to pursue their in

[System analysis complete.][Triskele defense system.][ Down-loading defense matric][ Defensive system available]The schematics began to flood Valkyrie’s mind and she began to grasp what was to happen.A commanding elite spark was to station themselves here on the tower. Warrior Sparks would take up position on the twelve pedestals below. Then average silverblood warriors could position themselves in teams of three around each knight.The Triskele was a hive mind and created a quad squad, one primary warrior with three swords. The central warriors spark would then take command of the entire unit, moving them in such tandem that it was beyond human understanding.They would no longer be individual soldiers and would have no will of their own. In that state, every fiber of being would belong to the quad. No self interest would exist or sense of self preservation. It would simply exist fulfil one directive, defend the fort as a

The next day:Cade stood before the Watch Commander, Captain Argus, and Centurion Horen.“Final count is 158 men still fit for duty, 280 dead and 62 seriously injured. Most of the able bodies were among those that were holding the wall with crossbows. Those on the field rarely survived if they fell. Seven of the twelve knights are dead. I am sorry Captain Argus.”“They were good men, and died serving Suria in the greatest battle of their day.” Argus said, head bowed in grief.“What of our heroine and her friend?” the watch commander asked.“Healer Guerrero is still examining them. They, along with the twenty men that were in quads are still in strange shape. It seems that Captain Argus and I were more correctly disengaged from the quad mind, where Valkyrie and Alexa were not released from that. They remain in sword form.”“And that scath prince and the fire woman? What of them?” Cap