Ultimate Level 1

Chapter 476 - Bitter Reunions

“I am fine. You four go. If Max needs me, I will come.”

Tanila gave a pair of scales a good scratching on Rakonath’s neck, smiling as the dragon trilled slightly.

“You know, when he told me that he had a dragon, at first I didn’t believe him,” she stated. “Then I, of course, knew it had to be true because sometimes it feels like Max craps gold coins.”

A low thrum came from Rakonath who gazed at Max with his silver eyes.

“And then I met you for the first time and could sense how you settled him. It was at that moment I knew you two were perfect for each other.”

“Thank you,” Rakonath said, holding his snout out just a few feet from her. “I am glad he has a mate who is much smarter and wiser than he is.”

Laughter came from everyone as Max let out a groan.

“Alright, we need to get moving. I don’t need my dragon or my wife talking about how I’m basically a second-class person.”

“It’s about five miles through the woods till we reach our first obstacle. There shouldn’t be anyone out here but that doesn’t mean it can’t happen. We’re in Atheila’s section of the kingdom, and people give it a wide berth.”

“Because?”

“Because she is just as likely to take your life as anything else,” Tanila informed Fowl. “Trust me when I say this: her mood changes without rhyme or reason. One moment she can be… loving, and the next she will try to tear your heart out.”

With a nod, she led them deeper into the trees, only occasionally glancing back at them.

“I got Batrire, you stay with her,” Fowl said as they ran behind her. “She looks to be in a hurry.”

Giving his friend a quick thump on the shoulder, Max joined Tanila as she weaved her way through the trees.

Each was at least three hundred feet tall, and its trunks were well over a dozen feet wide. Some were easily thirty feet in diameter, and their branches were larger than the trunks of other trees.

“It’s a beautiful place.”

“And a deadly one,” Tanila said as she pointed to the left. “Those vines on that tree can ensnare animals or people who don’t know about them. The flower that grows on them emits a pleasant scent, and if you don’t have friends and aren’t strong enough, they will quickly choke you and eat you.”

Every so often she would point out something else that was dangerous, from berries to thorns, many things with poison that could lead to hallucinations or simply kill you if consumed or coated on a weapon.

Finally, as she slowed down, Max and the rest mimicked her movement and hunched down, hearing the sound of people further ahead.

“There is a compound coming up in a small clearing. It’s been a long time since I’ve been here, but a small wall was surrounding it at one point.”

“I still can’t believe the trees covered it,” Fowl muttered. “Elven magic…”

Max nodded, having been a little frustrated when they tried to get a view of it from Rakonath’s back. He had considered stealthing and going through the tops of the trees on his own, but Tanila had warned him that there were birds that lived in them that could detect magic. If they all suddenly took off in flight, it would draw attention they didn’t want.

The trees began to thin out, and when they got their first real look, Tanila cursed under her breath.

“She’s been busy.”

The small wall was gone, replaced with a twenty-foot one that encircled most of the clearing. They knew it was over a quarter mile wide, but without any way of seeing the entire clearing or what was inside, the next part was even harder.

“So… we’re still just going to go up to the main gate and walk in?” Fowl muttered. “I mean… while I admire the pair you got swinging, that seems like we’re showing all the cards we hold.”

“It will throw her off slightly,” Tanila replied. “Don’t forget, we’re using Max’s trick against Dagon. It’s the only reason we’re doing this.”

“We should go then,” Batrire whispered. “If I can hear the sound of fighting inside, I know you all can too.”

Max motioned to Tanila, and they started moving along the edge of the trees.

His trap skill warned him, and he held up a hand, finding a small tripwire that ran between two trees on the path they were going down.

Each of them made sure not to set it off, and over the next ten minutes, he spotted over a dozen more, navigating his team safely past them.

Finally, they reached the treeline with a road going west from the entrance. A pair of elves stood at the open gate, each of them appearing not to be paying much attention.

“I could sneak past them,” Max said. “There is still that option.”

“No, doing so means we can’t play with all your bags of tricks,” Tanila whispered. “Trust me. This is the way.”

Sighing, Max motioned to the road and Tanila stepped out first, each of them following after.

Immediately, as their presence became known, both elves had bows out and were shouting.

Soon, loud noises came from inside, and almost twenty elves poured out of the entrance.

They froze upon seeing the gold-haired elf walking down the path with a trio behind her.

Max couldn’t help but wonder what was going through their minds when they saw someone they all knew was royalty approaching.

“Stay close and behind me. I’ll handle the walls unless you think we need more,” Tanila whispered.

Grunting, he said nothing else, watching as she walked in a way different from her normal gait. Even her stance seemed to make her look taller.

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“I, Tanila Gilmenor, have come to see my sister, Atheila Gilmenor. Tell her the time to face me is now!”

With less than thirty yards now between them, none had raised a weapon, and it took less than a second before a pair of elves took off back into the base.

“Now we wait.”

It didn’t take long before even more shouting came, and every elf standing in the entrance quickly moved to the side as an elf stomped past them.

Her gold hair was tied back in braids, and both eyes looked ready to send magical attacks at Tanila.

A sneer was plastered on her lips as she came to the gate's entrance.

Silver chain armor covered her entire body, and swords were strapped across her back.

“She’s taller than you,” Fowl muttered. “I mean–”

“Quiet,” Batrire said.

Atheila crossed both arms and shook her head.

“So, sister. You’ve come to challenge me? I heard rumors you were with this Max… this Seth Pendal and part of his party, but I never truly believed such a thing. Oh how Thujya will be disappointed to know that…”

Her words stopped and both of her eyes widened.

Max could see her mouth drop and knew precisely what she had realized.

“You’re pregnant!”

“I am.”

Golden eyes darted from Tanila to Max, and then his sonar picked up her teeth grinding even from this distance.

“Is it his?! The one who has slaughtered our kind!”

“Yes, and you’re a fool for taking Cordellia.”

A large glob of spit hit the ground and both swords appeared in Atheila’s hands.

“I should cut that abomination from your belly and take it to our Father! Then I would give you to him and enjoy watching the torture you would endure.”

“Don’t,” Tanila said as Max started to move forward. “You’re welcome to try, but as I have stated, I have come to challenge you as is my right. Perhaps you will finally be able to win. Or as I expect, most likely you’ll be on your back again, crying as you realize I’m still the stronger Gilmenor.”

The sound of thunder came as both swords slammed into each other.

“You are going to die! But not before you watch me give each of your friends the kiss they deserve. Then you will experience it, knowing as you bid this life goodbye that I was always the chosen one.”

“Strong words for a girl who lives alone. Now then go fetch my friend and then prepare the place. I am ready to end this charade and let her and my friends see what a real Gilmenor looks like.”

Max could sense a change in the air. The hairs on his neck rose as he sensed an arrow streaking at them from the woods.

A wall of air stopped it as he summoned it, just three yards before it would have struck Tanila.

“Fire nova, now,” Max whispered.

She didn’t hesitate, casting one and watching as a pair of elves in stealth appeared, each covered in flames, crying out from the fire that burned them.

Two frost spears flew, each striking the heads of the would-be attackers and ending their lives in a moment.

“Do not break the challenge again!” Tanila shouted. “You and I both know that no matter what claim you have, if I leave now and report it, Father will summon you, waiting to deal with me until after we have fought.”

Fury flashed across Atheila’s face and once again the teeth grinding reached Max’s ears.

“Those fools were acting on their own,” she called out, “I would never break the rule of a challenge.”

A scoff came from Tanila.

“Then bring my friend and lead the way. Just know if another one here attacks me or my party, I will snuff their lives without a second thought.”

***

Every head was bowed as they walked past the ones standing at the gate.

Max’s sonar could tell none risked a glance, somehow held in check by Tanila’s promise or some magical effect.

Atheila was further ahead, shouting out orders to the rest of the elves in the base, causing everyone to move without delay.

“We’re going deeper into the belly of a dragon,” Fowl whispered. “We’re completely surrounded.”

“Stop talking,” Tanila said, her tone short and hard.

Max felt his friend flinch as the power of her voice hit them all.

Soon, the few wood and stone buildings closest to the entrance gave way to a good-sized clearing about a hundred yards by fifty yards. Dozens of weapons were on racks, and elves were picking up all of them, moving them off to the side, grabbing archery targets, and more.

“This is where we shall decide who the true victor is,” Atheila called out as she continued her pace to the middle of the field. Raising both hands, she spun, a wicked smile displaying all her teeth as she glared at them. “Here is where you and your friends will die.”

Shaking her head, Tanila pointed at the end of the field.

“We will go there. I am still waiting for my friend. For your sake, she best be alright.”

“Bruised, beaten… perhaps more,” Atheila said with a chuckle. “Any elf willing to party with you and that man deserves what they got. Remember, sister, they are merely tools to help us reach the power Thuyja wishes us to possess. They are not friends. Or did you forget what your last friend cost you?”

Max could feel Tanila stiffen at that comment.

“I did not… sister. If I remember right, it almost cost me the life of my sister. But even worse it costs you our Father’s respect and what some might call love. Now, do not make me ask again, or I will burn everything here to ash. Where is Cordellia?”

A sharp whistle came about ten seconds later from a building on Atheila’s side. From it emerged their friend, shackled in chains.

Even with the distance between them, Max could see her state.

Unbraided hair, with clumps of dirt or other material in it, made her look like someone who lived on a street. Each article of clothing, if it could be called that, was torn and barely stayed on her body.

The fire in his belly roared to life and his knuckles popped as he made a fist.

“Here is the whore you call a friend,” Atheila said as she gestured with a hand to where Cordellia was. “You should know that–”

“ENOUGH!”

Tanila’s shout somehow sent a wave of pressure around her, and Max realized what would happen.

“Move back some, you three, now.”

They quickly got away from their mage without waiting another second, sensing the change in the air around her.

“You , sister, will allow me to withdraw my benevolence and end the life that has been mine all along, ridding this world of your presence,” Tanila growled.

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