The Last Lands

CHAPTER 17 WOLF OF THE SEA

The jungle heat intensified as Artifae stared at the Eve with silver hands. Thin streams of smoke still drifted from one of the barrels of his two hefty handguns. They were large for revolvers, high caliber weapons from the Old Age, made by men, not Dvergr.

They're in such good condition too. They must be worth more than a fortune...

“Hey, Sylo, Ol' buddy...” Artie said, raising his hands and flashing his most charming smile.

The Mountain-Eve stepped closer, under thin rays of sunlight in the quiet clearing. His eyes were quick, checking the surrounding area thoroughly.

“Well, thanks for not killing me.” Artifae said with false cheerfulness.

“Don't.” Sylo said coldly, staring him in the eyes. “I was aiming for you. I was gonna take him as my hostage, negotiate my way through that rabble. You seem much less valuable.”

“Okay, well that hurts more than what a bullet would.”

“You wanna bet?” Sylo hissed, placing the hot metal against Artifae's chin.

He tried not to whimper, feeling a lump in his throat brush against the barrel of the gun as it fell.

“Move.” Sylo said, keeping his gaze locked on Artie.

With his hands still up, Artifae began to walk, the barrel of one gun pressed against the back of his head. The silence of the jungle pressed down on them as they navigated the overgrown mass of vegetation. There was movement in the brushes. Sylo was jittery raising the other gun every-time a sound was made nearby.

I'll just have to wait this out, bide my time...

He heard the Mountain-Eve's teeth grind against each-other as they moved through the darkening overgrowth. He tensed the muscles in his arms, waiting for the right time to strike.

“What the-” Sylo grunted as something moved to the side of them.

A projectile was thrown, a small blade spinning through the air. It pinged against the metal bicep held aloft, and spun into the brush. Before the assassin could move, dark figures moved towards them, as quiet as shadows. Another projectile whirled past Artifae's head, and he yelled as he ducked. A figure, all in black, dashed towards them, hilt-less sword in both hands. Silently, they pushed with their shoulder into Sylo's stomach. He wheezed, as more figures appeared, knocking him down. Artifae felt their hands upon him, forcing them both to the ground. He grunted as he hit the soil, bugs scattering beneath his chin. His breath dissapeared, and more swords were held aloft.

“Don't move.” A woman's voice said.

Artifae squinted upwards in the reigning sunlight. There were six figures, all in identical black robes, their faces covered by cowls. They each had thin swords, no hilt or guards, three on Artie, three pointed towards Sylo. The woman who spoke lowered her sword slightly, a hood on top of her cowl. The black leather robes were tight-fitting, made to be armour for free-movement. Her eyes were big and black, staring at Artifae with some cruel intent. Sylo struggled against the weight on top of him, and the three holding him pushed him further into the dirt.

“Gettyer hands offa me!” He shouted.

“Be quiet.” The woman said.

She looked curiously at Sylo, then back to Artifae, and crouched down to meet his eyes.

“You are with the group on the beach?” She asked.

Her voice was deep, struggling against the material of the cowl. The small hints of the flesh by her eyes was a dirty pink, thicker than that of a humans.

“One of them, yeah.” Artifae gulped.

The woman gripped her sword tightly, examining him further.

“Where is the Senator?” She asked.

They're looking for the senator? Were they sent by the government?

“I don't know.” He struggled to say. “We were looking for her too. Hoping to rescue her, is that what you guys are here for too?”

Her eyes lit up with amusement, and she looked to her comrades, who chuckled beneath their masks. Artifae looked back to Sylo. His guns had been discarded a few feet away from him, and he continued to struggle, but to no avail.

“Who are you guys? Are you with the government?”

The group laughed harder, and Sylo spat.

“Are you an idiot?” He growled. “Lookit their robes. They're with the Thieves Guild!”

Artifae gaped his mouth open, tasting the soil so close by. Their robes were distinctive, with careful stitches on the trim, but no insignia or decals to denote them.

The Thieves Guild? I thought that was just a joke, I didn't realise they were real.

“You know us then.” The woman said, amusmenet building.

“The Thieves Guild? Really? You guys exist?” Artifae said, tryign to form a smile.

She turned to him, her eyes becoming very serious.

“No, we don't.”

“What are you after?” Sylo asked.

“The Senator. The golden head. Have you seen either?”

“You guys are looking for the golden skull too? Just like those bandits down there?” Artifae said.

“The ones on the beach? Who do they work for?”

“Some idiot called Dhurz” Sylo said, his head being pressed into the dirt by a firm, black-gloved hand. “He's on the beach, go ask him.”

“We're looking for it too.” Artifae said, sweat and mud mixing on his face. “We can help you.”

“We don't need your help.” She said standing up, and nodding to the cowled figures.

One of Sylo's restrainers stood up, the point of the blade aimed directly towards the back of Sylo's head, but the release in weight was what he was waitign for. Withdrawing his head, he rose up sharply with his back, unleashing his metal arms on the two by his side. All three were thrown off in an instant, and the woman twirled with her blade. Sylo tackled her, taking her down. One of the retainers on top of Artie moved to help her, leaving only on still on top of him. Artifae turned and sunk his teeth into the gloved hand, hearing him yell with pain. Using his elbow, he slammed into the chest of the guild member, knocking him down. He reached for a fallen blade, and turned. The black-clad figure had reached Sylo, grappling him as he took him off of their leader. His blade was pointed downwards, ready to pierce the vulnerable neck of Sylo Teht. Artifae bounded forwards, the blade feeling light in his hand, and arched a clean strike at his back.

The blade did not penetrate the leather armour, but the force caused him to stumble, releasing Sylo, who tre a fearsome elbow strike into his face. The woman on the ground reached a leg up and kicked Sylo in the chest. He fell, scrambling towards his fallen revolvers. Artifae held the blade tightly in both hands stepping towards her, as Sylo reached his pistol, throwing himself onto the ground, aiming it at her. As if a shadow, she receded back towards the undergrowth, dissapearing quickly. All around them, the members of the Thieves Guild vanished as quickly as they appeared, leavign only the faint smell of blood and sweat. Artifae and Sylo scanned the area carefully, awaiting another attack, but it never came.

“You good?” Artifae asked.

Sylo spat on the ground in response. Finally, Artifae let his body relax, the stolen sword hanging limply between his fingers. He looked at it, feeling like it was just a thin, elongated knife, missing the grip and weight of the sword he lost when Sylo saved him.

“I guess we're even now, huh?” He asked Sylo.

Sylo stood up, both revolvers in both hands.

“If you say so.” He said venomously.

“What now?”

“What now?” Sylo asked, genuinely confused at the question. “You're my hostage, boy.”

Artifae scoffed.

“You think that's gonna work? One; there's twice as many of my guys as there are bandits, which means they've probably won, which means they'll be waiting for us. Two; even if those guys did beat my crew and the Demeterios, they won't care at all if I'm your captive, and three, and probably most importantly, I just saved your life, and you're not gonna make it out of this without me.”

A silence fell between them again, and Artifae felt his pulse racing after his tirade. Sylo looked at him irritably, his left eye twitching. After thinking carefully, he stepped closer to Artifae.

“You listen to me.” He said intensely.

Artifae stood up straight at the towering Eve, fighting against the sweat that irritated his eyes. He had to look strong now. It wasn't enough to create a facade, it was time to be it.

“We'll get through the jungle. Soon as I see an out, I'm gone, and I am not taking you with me.”

Thank X for that.

“Another thing, you ever squeal on me again, I'll put two holes where your eyes are.”

Sylo trudged away, as Artifae continued to stare forwards, not letting the urine escape him or the goosebumps consume him.

“Come on.” He called, dissapearing into the bush.

It's just one thing after another out here, ain't it?

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They walked through the dense foliage, against the constant harassment of insects once more.

Ever since I left Peridios, there hasn't been a single moment where I haven't had at least one insect in contact with my body.

A cool breeze carved its way through the trees, and Sylo stopped, long ears twitching.

“This way.” He said, cutting to a right.

A thin blue light began to reveal itself, and Artifae heard the sound of running water.

Thank X, this is nearly over.

They walked past tangled roots and towards the sound of the river, and the opening sky. They reached the edge of trees before a small descent that led to the river bank. Sylo pushed past the trees and looked out towards it, grunting as he did.

“Are we here?” Artifae asked.

“What do you mean, here?”

“The beach, or the camp, or whatever.”

“'Fraid not. There's something over there though.”

Artifae leaned closer to him, and looked towards the river. It meandered further upwards, past lines and lines of trees. Sylo was right though, there was a large, brown object up ahead.

“What is it? Can you see it?”

“Just about. It's a boat.”

“What? The one the pirates had?”

“Nah.” Sylo said. “Not the one at the beach. A different one. Looks like my ticket out've here.”

“There's another boat? Does that mean there's more fot hose pirates?”

“Probably.”

X above, maybe I was wrong about us outnumbering them.

“Can you see anyone there?”

“Not at the moment. Too far away. Might be another camp, or they might be someone else entirely. Probably not though.”

“Could be those Thieves Guild guys.”

“Not their style. They wouldn't come this far in such an obvious ship. There's a reason no-one knows they exist, y'know.”

“You do.” Artifae said, stung. “Besides, you called me an idiot for not knowing they were part of the guild.”

Sylo laughed bitterly.

“I forget people don't travel in the same circles as me.”

“Oh? What circle's that?”

Sylo leant back away from the edge of trees, and fitted Artifae with a dangerous look.

“I'm an assassin, boy.”

“Is there an assassin's guild?”

Sylo smirked at that, but did not respond. He stepped away, and followed the jungle perpendicular to the river, towards the ship. Artifgae didn't move, words whirling in his head.

“Why don't you think they're with anyone else?”

“What?” Sylo called back without stopping.

Artifae stepped forwards.

“You said they're probably not someone else, that means you think they're with the pirate guys. Why?”

Sylo stopped and turned.

“'Cos we were supposed to be.”

What?

“That ship I was on, the oen that got burned by those golden bastards. We were supposed to come here, got a message from a rock dove. Employer was waiting for us, security or some thing, the reward was to be a hundred dynasties a head.”

“You were hired to be a pirate too? By who?”

“Dunno.” The Mountain-Eve shrugged. “Just heard it was good money and I needed a job. Not so interested now, I wanna get off this rock, get as far away from them, you, and that golden posse you got on the beach.”

There were going to be three boats of pirates?

“If you wanna come, you can, but I'm getting' out of here. You can follow the river back down to the beach. You remember what I said about snitchin' on me again.”

Artifae watched as he turned, heading further into the jungle.

“What? You're just going to storm into a camp of pirates and commandeer a boat? What if there's fifty guys there?”

“Not been a problem for me before.”

Artifae grunted in frustration, raising his hands as he watched the Mountain-Eve leave him alone in the jungle.

“You know that's my coat you're wearing?” He called out.

“Consider it a trade for not killing you.” Sylo called back.

Alone, he trudged back along with the river. The insects were somehow worse so close ot the water, clouds of gnats and buzzing creatures constantly attacking him.

X help me, I actually think I'd prefer having that miserable old muss than this constant cloud of insects in my face.

from the distance, there was a roar. Not far away enough for comfort, but not quite close enough for concern yet. It was a primordial snarl, from something much larger than him. Artifae gulped, eyes becoming wild, suddenly feeling very alone.

That didn't sound like one of those terror-tusks.

The trail began to incline, with stones becoming more common underfoot. He grunted at the exertion of climbing the ascending cliff, the river remaining below him, and slowly descending it when it declined again. Careful not to trip, one hand still on his hat, the other on the strange blade weapon. He jogged down with a cloud of dry dust, when he saw the golden light of sand before him. He ran slowly, and heard the sounds of crushing waves, and rowdy voices.

Better go slow, see what's happened since I've been gone.

He kept low, but moved quickly. It soon became apparent there were a lot of people still on the beach. As he got closer, the shouting grew louder, but the figures were remaining still. As he crept closer, he heard that the shouting was actually cheering, and many figures, some of which he did not recognise, were pumping their fists into the air. He leaned next to a thin tree, and peered out towards the coast-line. There were members of The Hunnigan's Glory standing side-by-side with the Demeterios, and even a few of the pirates, all were fixated on one figure in the middle, standing on a large mass.

Wait a minute, that's Sofia!

She had both fists in the air, yelling victoriously. The mass she was standing on was heaving.

That's that Dhurz guy! Did she actually beat him?

Dhurz was face down, panting exhaustedly. Sofia's hair had become tangled, sand caught in it, and her golden cheek had been marred. Still she stood with victorious laughter, and the group assembled watched her with adoration. Artifae relaxed himself away from the tree, wandering slowly out of the dark jungle, and towards the beach, lingering at the back of the crowd. She hopped off of the Ogrin, clasping hands with one of her guard, and turned back to the Ogrin.

“Do you see now? Little Dhurz!” She laughed.

“My lady, you fight with the strength of a lion!” Captain Albahr said, genuinely impressed.

“I thank you, Captain. High praise for a warrior who fights with the strength of a wolf.”

The Captain smiled, embarrassed.

“You flatter me, I am no wolf, merely a man.”

“You are a wolf of the sea, Captain.” She said, patting him on the shoulder firmly.

Slowly, the Ogrin pulled himself onto his hands, and looked at her, first with fear, but then his toothy mouth curved into a smile.

“Little lady has the strength of a giant Haw!” He said gleefully.

Sofia dusted her hands with a tired smile.

“It's not about strength. In Demeterios, wrestling is life, and those who can topple larger opponents are rulers.”

She offered a hand, and he enclosed it with his giant mitt. She groaned and pulled him up with both hands, and he reached a crouching position, watching her with awe and joy.

“You speak true things, little lady, and you fight with the strength of ten lions. Very well! Dhurz will fight for you!”

The remaining group of pirates groaned and shook their heads.

“C'mon Dhurz, don't say that.” A Porcine fighter said, with a large hoop pierced through his snout.

“It is fair reward for victory. Dhurz will follow the golden warrior to battle! Haw!”

Artifae watched, bemused, as the band began backing away, when Captain Albahr strode forwards.

“Those of you who would follow him, I bid you, follow us instead. We promise the same reward, if not for more riches. Amend your villainous ways, and fight for us instead!”

The group murmured, with the Porcine fighter spitting on the ground, and pushing his way back with a handful of other brigands, while some of them shrugged and remained still.

“We cannot let them go.” Sofia said, narrowing her eyes at them. “They will tell their employer we are here.”

Dhurz scoffed.

“The Senator does not care. All she cares about is finding the golden skull. She will not even let Dhurz fight! All I do is cook, and walk through the hot jungle, looking for her stupid skull. She did not even beat Dhurz!Why should I follow her?”

“Wait, wait a minute.” Ban said, rubbing their forehead. “The Senator is here? Looking for the skull?”

This time, it was Dhib's crew who murmured amongst themselves.

“So, she was not kidnapped?” Sofia asked.

The Ogrin scoffed.

“The Senator? Haw! She the one who brought us here.”

Why? Why would some rich politician want a golden skull so badly?

Artifae stepped closer towards the crowd, suddenly aware fo a trembling upon the beach. Pebbles and stones began to shake, and he studied them closely. He looked up and saw Misha smiling at him, and Taisha ran to him with a look of despondence. She hugged him so tightly, the blade he had been cradling fell from his hands.

“Are you okay? What happened?” She asked frantically.

“I'm fine.” He chuckled. “Just had a run in with our ol' pal, Sylo Teht.”

She released him, and looked into his eyes. He felt his cheeks redden, and she looked away shyly.

“What happened?” Captain Artifae asked, wandering towards them. “To the Mountain-Eve.”

Artifae cleared his throat, trying to appear as normal.

“He got away. I think he's trying to get away from the pirates, too. There was another ship, by another campsite.”

“So there are more of them...” The Captain said quietly.

“What do we do, Captain?” Ban asked.

“Gather the wounded, keep them here for now. We'll assemble a search-party. Mister Sajaestan, can you lead us to where you saw the campsite?”

“Should be able to.” Artifae nodded.

“Good.”

The Captain turned to Sofia, who was confusedly staring at the Ogrin warrior, who was on his knees, rear in the air, and face towards the sand. She looked to the Captain for assistance, as Dhurz raised his head.

“I will follow you, warrior-lady.”

“Very well. I must see to my men first, then we shall leave, yes?”

“Very well.” He said, pressing his head to the ground. “The sand is shaking. Why is sand shaking?”

There was a vicious snarl in the air.

Oh no, I've heard that before.

A grim silence fell on the party at the beach, as a shadow was cast upon them. Slowly, each person there turned their head. There was a monstrous creature, watching them with teeth bared.

Oh my X, that's a lot bigger than what I was hoping for...

It stood over thirteen foot tall on two thick legs. It was reptilian, with a face similar to that of a Theropodii, with thick jaws, hot breath steaming past knife-like teeth. It's thick body was adorned in indigo and purple feathers, with speckles of crimson, with two small arms by its side. Its eyes were a cold red.

“Everybody, remain calm...” Captain Albahr said, slowly reaching for his sabre.

Someone screamed as loud as he could, sending the party into a panic. The monster roared, almost smiling, heading straight into the gaggle of people, as pirates and golden warriors scattered. Missiles were thrown, and spears sent towards it. The creature barrelled towards a Corythos sailor, crushing them between its jaws.

Artifae grabbed onto Taisha's hand and led her into the jungle, sprinting away from the sounds of carnage.