System Break

Chapter 53: The River

Before the sun fully rose, I saw a dark blue shroud on the southern horizon. It was a mountain range and my first impression was, it was smaller than the one in the north. Four days we'd been travelling with Redmond, at about thirty miles per day. My guess was the mountain range was a little over three hundred miles from the forest.

We'd been killing any monsters in our path and collecting their cores. I wanted to take back a haul to the glade to make the most of our time away. Especially since Mother and Elred were growing the forest and its occupants.

I heard a bubbling sound, there was a river up ahead. When I approached, I heard hooves clacking across rocks. Demon bird searched for me and then we saw them break from the trees along the bank. It was a herd of goats.

I laughed; it was almost unusual to see mundane creatures that weren't trying to kill you. Perhaps they escaped from a farm. It was unlikely they were natural, everything in this world was imported. The monsters and the people.

The river was the wide, much larger than any I had seen in this world. Up until now I'd discovered a stream at best. The waters rushed east, and its destination was most likely the ocean or a large lake. 

Demon bird flew west for me to see if we could go around, because its source was the mountains. I waited for the others while the bird searched. I saw a splash and realised the waters were brimming with fish and I hoped that was all.

Through the eyes of my bird I noticed the river wound its way down from the mountains and upstream was where two smaller rivers met. I would lead them west and we'd cross the smaller tributaries rather than the monster before me.

I ran back to Reyas, Gisael and the others.

"River," I said and chuckled. "Big one. We'll skirt it and cross the smaller feeder creeks."

Ailen and Sakaala's packs were full. "This shit is heavy," Ailen said and mumbled something about inventory management.

Gisael was carrying her fair share, she just made it look easy. "Heavy qi cores means they are potent."

We were now carrying the best of my skinning attempts to trade with the Dokkalfar. It was lower priority but worthwhile. If things got tough in the mountains, we could use them for warmth or stash them.

"Come," I said and led them west.

"Can I see the river?" Sakaala asked.

"Sure, you won't be able to miss it."

Demon bird flew in long arcs and scouted. The rivers were a hotbed of activity for animals from antelope to oxen. Pity we weren't meat eaters. We pushed hard and spent the rest of the day reaching the foot of the mountains.

I checked in on Redmond. "How's it going?" It was only a few days, but he'd carried packs and moved as fast as he could. We were all well within our limit, but he pushed himself beyond.

"Sore, tired, but I'm not complaining."

"Eat meat while you can," I said with a laugh.

"Pretty sure Dokkalfar can eat meat," he said and laughed. "And drink ale."

"Sakaala," I called her over with my hand. I met her questioning gaze, "He's been working hard. Give him a massage as a reward."

Her mouth opened but the protest died on her lips when I placed a finger across them. "His legs and I won't take no for an answer." 

She harumphed but nodded. Her eyes flashed at me and then her attention was on Redmond. "Okay let's make this as painful as possible. Roll over." 

I left them and I could hear - a trace of delight - within his screams of pain.

There were trees scattered across the countryside as soon as we entered the river system and I lay with my back against one, facing the mountains.

Reyas sat beside me and cast her eyes towards the horizon. "No snow peaks." She said. "They're not as tall as mine."

"Yours?" I chuckled.

She giggled, "No. It's the way I think of them." She leaned against me and lay her head on my shoulder. Her hand wound its way into mine and gripped it gently. 

"This is the furthest I've been from home," she said softly.

"Mm-hmm. I have no idea where I am, but its much better than home."

"I wonder what's waiting for us in the mountains."

I took off my helmet and lay it on the grass beside me. "Demon bird will watch out for us."

She sniffed and rubbed her nose before she lay a kiss on my cheek. "He cannot see what hides in a cave or under a rock."

I pursed my lips. "That's what we have you for, our mountains expert."

"Is that all?" she said sounding hurt.

I laughed. "No, you also have a great ass."

She hit me playfully in the chest. We sat there for an hour, holding each other, and nodded off when darkness fell.

I woke and it was still dark. When I looked up at the sky there was only one moon, which meant it was in the hours before dawn. There was a sharp sound, a twig snapping. And then another and rocks being scuffed.

I tapped Reyas' face then reached for my mask. She was a pro; she woke without a sound and crouched. She was in full leathers with her axes on her back and for once I was thankful that we didn't have raunchy sex before falling asleep.

We crept towards the sounds and I reached out for demon bird. He was nestled in the tree above where I was sleeping, and he could see as much as me in the darkness. I pulled my trump card and engaged qi sight. Not only was it useful for studying qi patterns and mimicking and refining abilities, I could see qi cores. Land cores and cores within creatures that possessed them. There were tiny round blue lights, depending on the strength of the owner.

I saw a dozen egg shaped lights moving through the night.

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