Bloodsworn

Chapter 2.41 Light Lunch

41.

Erak

Bloodsworn lvl. 35

Strength: 70

Vigor: 55

Durability: 55

Perception: 25

Processing: 23

Essence Command

Channeling: 3

Potency: 3

Core: 3

Erak lay in his bed, soaked in sweat as he gasped through the aftershocks of pain that had tried to rip away his sanity. Pushing his essence to progress was always a brutal time, but it seemed to be growing worse with every point he invested in it. Erak groaned as his body pulsed with another powerful ache as he reached over to grab the tankard of water next to his bed.

He drank deeply, the cold pure water quenched the thirst that had built in the back of his throat, soothing the pain there. Erak dropped the empty tankard to the bedside table, ignoring the clang of metal on wood as he staggered to his feet and stripped the sodden bed.

“Erak, look at your available skills,” Pomp urged from his spot on the dresser. The dragon had taken up to building a nest of destroyed clothing and slept on the dresser when he wasn’t curled up inside of Erak.

Skill Points Available:1

Aura of Resolve

Aura of Command

Shield Bash

Hammer Strike

They’d talked on the way home about how the mission had nearly failed when the goblin chief had used whatever skill it was that had allowed him to bridge the gap in strength between himself and Erak. Pomp wasn’t certain what it was, but based on the creature’s description, and its power, the dragon could make an educated guess.

It had used a skill that allowed it to gather the strength of its tribe. Similar to an aura skill like Erak’s own, but in reverse. Instead of powering those around the chieftain, the chieftain had gathered their strength to himself. Pomp had given him plenty of advice on the ride home, his snout firmly wedged in Erak’s ear as the dragon had relayed information.

Which was why Erak had agreed to torture himself more to increase his Essence abilities. For the newest skill that Pomp had suggested he take. It was a skill that was supposed to be similar to the goblin’s chieftain's own power.

Aura Of Command

A commander's strength is his warriors, his warrior’s strength is his own. Cast an aura that can strengthen your troops, with the ability to consume it for a burst of power.

Erak set fresh sheets on the bed. He would find the showers later to clean himself, the sweat already drying on his skin in a salty layer. Pomp hopped from his nest on the dresser and curled around Erak’s shoulders, tail draped down his chest. The refreshing chill of the dragon helped cool his inflamed skin.

“It is unfortunate that your body handles Essence so poorly,” Pomp complained as they left their room. There were few people in the halls, most of the northern soldiers had been pulled to cover the lost soldiers duties. Erak walked through the halls toward the cafeteria, stomach rumbling as he looked about, wishing to avoid any type of interaction.

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The cafeteria was nearly empty, just a few of the cooks standing in the kitchen, and a few off duty northern soldiers eating silently. Erak obtained a heavy tray, laden with thick cuts of meat and roasted potatoes, before retreating to his own table. Pomp jumped to the table and snagged one of the thick slices of steak off of his tray to eat it in a few gulps.

Sammus appeared as if feeling that Erak was seeking moments of peace, sitting down silently as he met Erak’s eyes.

“He’s a plague upon me.”

“You smell, Erak. Have you forgot that there are showers here?” Sammus said, nose wrinkled up as he scooted a few more seats down. Pomp choked on a piece of steak, hacking for a moment before he recovered. Erak stopped, filled fork in midair, and looked over at the prince.

“I am your second, Erak. I can say these things,” Sammus said.

“You fight like a child who fears pain,” Erak signed. Sammus chortled as he reached over and snagged a roasted potato, biting it in half as Erak stared at him incredulously.

“Do you think we can replace him?” Erak thought toward Pomp. The dragon stopped eating his steak and turned to look at the prince.

“Erak wonders if you have any siblings around who will take your place,” Pomp said. Sammus smiled widely and ate the rest of the potato.

“The royal family has had our family tree rather brutally pruned lately. Not a lot of princes floating about,” Sammus said with the same smile on his face as he finished eating the stolen potato.

Erak stared at him in silence for a moment before rapidly finishing off his plate of food, putting his spare arm in front of the plate to protect it from marauders. Sammus kept the same sly smile on his face while Pomp looked at him with wide eyes.

“Have you had thoughts on our excursion to the north?” Sammus asked. Erak shrugged a shoulder.

“Lord Glacies has a…reputation,” Sammus said with a grimace with the last word.

“Lord Glacies is a severe man. Determined, disciplined, and ambitious. He will be either our greatest ally, or a fierce foe. Our Queen has given her order though,” Erak signed.

“Do you know how many men he has? Under arms?” Sammus asked. Erak snorted and shook his head.

“There are at least ten thousand personal guard that control his central compound and city. On the outskirts, near the wilds and the glacier fields, there are more. He has made alliances with the giant blooded tribes that roam the deep ice, all of them are warriors. They may answer his call.”

“Do you have contacts amongst those tribes?” Sammus asked. Erak froze, mind cast back to cold winters in the polar fields.

“Some. If they still live. Life is not easy out there.”

“We need the soldiers. I wish that Lord Glacies will honor his oaths even without the Emperor present,” Sammus said.

“Lord Glacies will do what he needs to ensure he grows in strength. If that is honoring his oaths and staying loyal to the Emperor he will. If it is making his own play toward the throne, he will do that,” Erak signed. Sammus frowned.

“That is unfortunate. It seems our Queen seems intent upon keeping authority centered upon the Imperial throne. Will you be willing to fight if it comes to that?” Sammus asked quietly.

“I honor my oaths to my queen. If Glacies stands against the Queen, then I shall do what needs be done,” Erak said. Sammus squinted at him.

“Do I detect a note of eagerness?” Sammus said. Erak stared at him without saying anything. They sat in silence for a few seconds while Sammus waited. When the silence grew too deep the prince nodded solemnly.

“Noted. Now, I wish to begin preparations for our departure. I will need plenty of signatures from you. Materials to gather and whatnot,” Sammus said, waving his hand in the air. Erak nodded slowly.

Sammus rose and left quickly, long strides taking him out of the cafeteria while Erak looked back at the line for food. He tapped his finger on the table while Pomp stood up and crawled onto his shoulders.

“We will discuss this later, but you’re still hungry,” Pomp said. The dragon’s stomach rumbled on his shoulder, the reverberations easily felt.

“Yes. I am still hungry.” Pomp snorted a laugh, icy mist billowed from his snout while Erak stood and went to get another heaping helping. He would need the fuel to plan for the possible invasion of the northern fields.