Wandering Warrior: Jury - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I didn’t have a solid gauge for how powerful a Green Warden might be, and I wanted to meet one in person.  According to how Jess was acting, they were no pushovers.  But, I wasn’t exactly a pushover myself, either.  I had long ago maxed out the system granted to me when I was sucked through a portal and forced to become a world-hopping patsy for a bunch of mystery gods who never deigned it necessary to speak to me directly.

Since then, I had found a way to increase my personal power past the limits of the system.  By absorbing the mana found at places of power, I boosted my stats over what should have been possible for a human.  It had also created some kind of mana generator inside my body, an orb of energy that rested behind my belly button like a ball of barely contained liquid lightning that empowered my body and magic.  While I still wasn’t sure what it was, exactly, I wasn’t afraid to use every tool at my disposal to give me an advantage.  Before jumping into a possible fight with an unknown enemy, I checked my status to see how far my healing had come along.

Name: James Holden (Earth v7.2)

Title: Chief Justice/Arbiter/Justicar/Executioner/etc…

Level: 100/MAX

Rank: 2/10

Age: 27 (Physical) 47 (Actual)

Class: Warrior/Soldier/Knight/Paladin/Mage (5/5)

Profession: Healer/Alchemist/Blacksmith/Runesmith/Judge (5/5)

Status:

[Currently suffering from the effects of Soul Strain]

Strength- 65 [59]

Flexibility- 65 [64]

Vigor- 65 [61]

Mind- 65 [57]

Mission:

Mythical Quest: Deliver Justice - World Count 20/???

Legendary Quest: Return Home - Requirements not met

Epic Quest: Find out why - Requirements not met

Rare Quest: Track down Silver Star - Ongoing

Unique Upgrade Quest: Find ten places of power - 2/10

Soul Strain- Grade 1/5 - An injury to the connection between the body and soul.  Can cause a myriad of issues, including but not limited to the temporary reduction of status points, nausea, headaches, hallucinations, reduced magical control, and bouts of rage.  Recommended cures include extended periods of rest, items or potions intended to cure or assist strengthening of the soul, or absorbing places of power attuned to life or soul energy.

My quests hadn’t changed, but my stats had gotten closer to their max level, meaning I was getting better all the time.  Right after I had woken up from the fight with the lich, everything had been in the mid-forties.  The incremental daily increases back to where I should be was a good sign.

The total sum of knowledge I had about items and potions meant to strengthen the soul couldn’t fill a thimble, and I had even less information about ‘attuned’ places of power.  That meant rest had been my only option over the past few weeks of recovery.  I had already improved from grade three all the way to grade one on my soul strain, so I was feeling pretty good about dealing with these guys.

“James, quit standing there like a lump on a log!  We’ve got to go!”  Jess grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away.  “They’re going to notice you any second!”

“I’m just going to talk to them.  There’s no reason for them to fight a random stranger they find in the woods.”  I shook her off and waved her back.  “Go get the horses and find the others.  Let them know what’s happening, and pack up everything.  No matter what happens, we’re going to have to move sites before we bed down for the night.  These people are already too close to our camp for comfort.”

“You don’t understand, they won’t–”

“Go, Jess.  This isn’t the time to argue.”

She opened her mouth one last time to argue, but finally gave up when she saw the look of determination on my face.  Jess disappeared into the underbrush, her steps as silent as a hunting cat.

I took a moment to prepare my shield bracelet, making sure it was ready to go at a moment’s notice.  It would block a few projectiles, or one big spell.  In a fight, that could make all the difference.

I also pulled out two of the items I had been working on over the past few weeks from my pack and hooked them on my weapons belt, next to my mace and sword.  Each of them were things I had been able to create from the leftovers of the battle with the lich and his undead army, using both my alchemist and blacksmith professions while exploring the rules of chemistry and physics specific to this world.  The results had been…mixed.  Worse that I was capable of, but better than a poke in the eye.  Especially given the lack of proper tools, work stations, and limited ingredients.  I cast my Identify spell on the first item to make sure it still registered as a functioning device, and hadn’t been damaged in my ruck.

Item: Grenade

Type: Choking Smoke/Bone Shrapnel

Grade: 3/5

Description: An alchemical mixture of ash, herbs, and gunpowder in a skeletal bone and metal frame that explodes upon significant impact.  Purity level is moderate.  Smoke causes temporary blindness and irritates lung tissue.  Effects are variable based on environment and resistances of target.  Area of effect is two paces for shrapnel, five paces for smoke under ideal conditions.

There were only four of those, considering my limited supply of gunpowder.  I still needed to save enough for my three-barreled wrist cannon, and the grenades weren’t as important to me as my ‘trump card’ that had saved my life time and time again.  I looked at the other creation and cast Identify once again.

Item: Potion (Blend)

Type: Healing/Stone Skin

Grade: 7/10

Description: An alchemical mixture of herbs and minerals that greatly speeds healing over a short period of time.  Purity level is high.  If the entire potion is taken at once, the effect ‘Stone Skin’ will activate.  Vigor will increase by 35%.  Strength will increase by 15%.  Flexibility will reduce by 20%.  Status changes will revert to normal levels based on activity levels.  More than one potion used in a thirty minute period will result in adverse side effects.

While the time limit on ‘Stone Skin’ was a bit vague, I figured it was metabolism-based.  It would wear off faster if I was running around a bunch.  I was also going to make sure I didn’t ignore the warning about taking more than one potion every thirty minutes.  After all, none of my healing abilities could cure an erection lasting longer than four hours, and who knows what kind of things might happen.  It definitely wasn’t worth the risk.

“And what do we have here?”  A woman dressed in the uniform of a Blue Warden stepped out from behind a large tree to my right, near where Jess had been training.  “A lost villager in need of help, or a bandit in need of a lesson?”

I didn’t react to her popping out of nowhere beyond turning to face her.  Since I didn’t sense her before she appeared, it meant she either used magic to hop there, or she was an incredible scout.  My bet was on some kind of magic tied into her armor, similar to the speed enhancements Leedy had on his Blue Warden armor.

“Hello.”  I raised a hand in greeting, making sure to keep my other hand relaxed and resting on the hilt of my sword.  My spear-staff was currently on loan to Cross until he could find a quality weapon for himself, leaving me with only my magic-eating ninjatō sword, star-metal mace, wrist gun, and the grenade.  Oh, and my folding pocket knife, shield bracelet, and the potion.  I guess I was still okay if they wanted to throw down.

“That’s all you have to say for yourself?  Hello?  After all that magic you were tossing around–without displaying a guild sign–you didn't even try to hide or run away.  My, you are an interesting one.”  The woman took a step back into the shadow of the tree and disappeared, using whatever magic had allowed her to sneak up on me.

I paid closer attention this time, and there was a definite glow around the armor covering her calves before she disappeared.  This was looking like a more diverse and well-prepared group compared to what I had seen from the Wardens in the past, marking their group as some kind of elites.

Just to be safe, I activated my shield bracelet.  The low hum and faint bubble of clear energy quickly faded away as it settled into place, conforming to my shape like a second skin.  If that skin floated about an inch from my body, anyway.

There was a commotion back at the larger group as the scout reappeared near them, and I heard some shouting.  A few barked orders had them spread out, some going off the trail in an obvious flanking maneuver to either side.  I thought I could see two members of their party stay toward the back, both wearing green cloaks that would hide their features even if they were close enough for me to get a good look at them.

“Well, you’ve stepped in it now, stranger.”  The woman scout came out from the shadow of a much smaller tree to my left this time, two long daggers drawn and ready in her hands.  “You match the description of a certain someone we’ve been ordered to find.  It would go much easier if you would drop your weapons and surrender yourself for questioning.  No need for you to feel any extra pain, beyond what the White Wardens are going to do to you.”

“You have got to be kidding me.”  I took a moment to rub at my temples, feeling a headache coming on.  “All I said was one word to you, and now I’m to be tortured and possibly executed because I might be someone you’re looking for?”  I waved my arms around.  “Look at where we are right now.  In the middle of nowhere, and you just assume I’m your target based on a general description and the fact that magic was cast nearby?  Well, lady, I wasn’t even the one who was casting the magic.  Your assumptions are wrong, which could lead to the death of innocent people.”

The fact that they might actually be after me in the first place didn’t matter.  It was the principle of how she came to her conclusion that I was upset with.  They were more heavy-handed than a sumo wrestler filling his plate at an all-you-can-eat buffet line.  I mean, seriously.  These Wardens were absolutely out of control.

“That doesn’t matter.  You don’t get to decide–”

“No, you don’t get to decide who to torture and who to kill based on half-assed information.  You are no better than a group of bandits.  A bunch of murderers wearing fancy armor.”  I felt the mantle of Judge settle over me, straining to be released.  My voice deepened, changed by forces older and more powerful than those controlled by mankind.  “You are guilty, and I judge you as unworthy of your position and station.”

“Uhm, what’s happening?”  The scout took a step back, stumbling over an exposed tree root.  “What in all the hells below are you?”

While we had been talking, most of their group had managed to encircle me.  I counted at least twenty that I could see, which was far too many for me to take on all at once safely.  What was supposed to be a simple conversation to gauge the power of a Green Warden had quickly turned into a mess.

So be it.  If these people wanted to throw down, then that’s what I’d do.  A quick shot from my wrist gun would surprise them, taking the scout out of the fight and giving me a chance to throw my grenade at the largest concentration of Wardens standing on the road.  Then, I’d break free of their circle and use my mace to crush the legs or skulls of anyone in my way.  If they tried to follow me, I could–

“Wait.”  The voice cut through the mounting tension like a knife, causing the Wardens to take a step back and the knotted tension in my shoulders to relax a fraction.  “There’s no need to jump straight to violence.  Not when the forest is filled with enough undead to make me wonder if the end times are near.”

The speaker stepped out from behind the scout, using her shadow to travel from wherever they had been hiding.  It was a Green Warden.  As they dropped their hood, I saw it was a woman, younger than I expected, with a slight build, and blonde hair that fell in crumpled waves that framed her face.  She reminded me of someone important I had left behind, and for a single aching heartbeat, I was somewhere else.

“You’re always so ready to do violence.”  Sinthia shook her head, the breeze coming in off the ocean providing fresh air from the coppery stink of blood and burnt smell of ash as it blew strands of her hair across her stormy green eyes.  “Will you ever take a moment to just try and talk your way out of things?  This was supposed to be a peaceful negotiation.”

“These people were never going to stand with us.  And in a fight like this one, you’re either with us, or you’re against us.”  I wiped the tip of my spear clean on a nearby curtain, ripping it down in frustration.  The heavy material felt expensive, which only made me even more angry.  The open window showed hints of an oncoming storm, one that would help cover our tracks as we made our escape from the city center.  “It isn’t like this so-called council cared about the people anyway.  Just look around us!  There’s enough wealth in this one room to feed everyone in the slums for a week!  Maybe two weeks!  Instead, they were happy to sit up here, getting rich and fat, while their own people suffer, and the lich runs free to do as it wants unopposed.  Stealing children off the streets while they watch!  No, Sinthia.  This time, violence was the answer.”

“One day, James, I hope you grow to see there are more than just two options.  More than right and wrong, black and white.  And I hope even more to be by your side when it happens.”  Sinthia bent to grab the key to the treasury from the neck of the dead councilman seated to the right of the council leader, the man I had roasted to death with a lance of flame hot enough that it melted the golden armrests of his chair.  “Come, we have to hurry.  The enchanted equipment should be in the vault, and we need to get it out before the guards find what you have done.”

I blinked, coming back to myself.  We had been trying to gather support for an assault against a disgustingly powerful lich on my last world, making deals with every local and regional power in existence.  Most of them had gone poorly.

At least the armor we had found had helped lead us to the true hiding place of the phylactery that made the lich immortal, ultimately allowing me to kill it and free the children held captive by the insane undead.

The pain of seeing Sinthia again–even under those bloody circumstances–was as strong as a physical stab to the chest.  I could still feel the part of me that I had left behind when I was forced to abandon her, throbbing as if it was an open wound.  The mantle of Judge seemed to stutter, shifting uncomfortably on my shoulders before dropping away.  I looked back up at the woman that had reminded me of her, noticing her eyes were blue, not green.  No need to get lost in the past.  She was not Sinthia, and this was not the same world.

“Are you okay?”  The Green Warden took a tentative step forward, holding up her hand questioningly.  “You looked to have suffered an extreme injury just now.”

“I’m fine, thank you.  You reminded me of…someone I knew once.”  I straightened my back, rolled my shoulders, and shoved down my emotions into the pit of my stomach where they belonged.  “Now, where were we?”

“My subordinates were sent to apprehend you, before you revealed the fact that it was not you who was casting the large works of magic here earlier.”  The Green Warden held out her hand, motioning to the torn earth where Jess had practiced.  “Do you know who was doing magic?  Before you say anything, I encourage you to answer truthfully.  We will know if you are lying.”

“Wardens.  Right.”  I looked around, noticing that they were an almost even split of White and Blue Wardens, both of which might have the ability to see if I was telling the truth.  “Yes, I know who was casting here.  She’s long gone by now, and I won’t give you any more information about her beyond the fact she’s out of your reach.  And once again, in case you wanted to make sure I wasn’t lying, it wasn’t me casting spells in that clearing.”

Her eyes flickered to someone standing behind me, getting confirmation from someone else that I was being honest.  It meant she either didn’t have the ability, or wasn’t using it herself right now.

“Hmm.  You’re telling the truth.  Tell me this, stranger.  Why didn’t you run when you saw us coming?”  The Green Warden took a step closer, putting her just out of range of my sword if I were to draw and swing it.  She obviously didn’t understand what the cannon on my wrist could do to her if I lifted my arm about four inches.  “Most people unaffiliated with the guilds would run at the sight of a group of Wardens approaching them.”

“I was doing nothing wrong.  Currently, my only intentions for being in the woods are to kill monsters and undead, as well as rearm, rest, and recuperate before going to Greendown.  Why should I run from you?”  I hooked my thumbs in my belt, relaxing my posture.  I was also aiming my wrist gun at the Green Warden’s stomach.  “You can ask your people, that’s nothing but the truth.”

Her eyes looked over my shoulder again, and she flicked her hands to either side.  “Enough of this.  We’re taking too much time accosting this man for no reason.  Gather up the gear and carts.  This task force is back on the move in five minutes.”

The Wardens started to disperse, moving quickly back the way they had come.  The other Green Warden hadn’t moved from their place, holding position with the few carts they had apparently been pulling by hand.

“Since you seem to be a local, do you have any news of the area?  Is there some reason why so many undead infest this region, stranger?”  The Green Warden pulled her hood back up to hide her features once again, as if the few stray beams of sunlight that made their way through the thick canopy hurt her fair skin.

“You haven’t heard?  Greendown is nearly surrounded.”  I was genuinely surprised by her question.  “They’ll be under siege by the undead and the armies of the witches within a few weeks if things keep going like they have been.  Orcs, goblins, trolls, all kinds of monsters have banded together to crush the city.  As it stands, they’ll be lucky to last more than a month without reinforcements from the south.  Isn’t that why you’re here?  To help save the city?”  I was hoping that was why they were here, and not because of little-ol’-me, like that scout had hinted at.

“No, we had no idea.  We were sent after a single man, one who might even be behind this uprising.  In fact, given who our orders are from, I now have no doubt.  It’s imperative we reach the city before the siege falls in place.”

The Green Warden’s hand flashed out, grabbing me by the forearm hard enough I felt my bones shift under my muscles.  At least that answered one question.  Green Wardens were strong.

“I hate to impose on you after the way we met, but time is of the essence.  You must take our task force through this forest to the city as quickly as possible.  We must speak with Commandant Beck at the Hunter’s Guild, and then use whatever information he can give us to track down our target.  Finding and killing James Holden is all that matters now.”

Sometimes, I think the gods thought my life was all one big joke.