System Break

The bluecloak bowed his head. To his right was the Svartalfar protector who was strangely on his side - they were against two of his fellow bluecloaks. He had thought of them as older brothers. They'd been bluecloaks for ten years before he earned his. They were veterans and by himself he wouldn't stand a chance against them.

When the enemy adventurer guild appeared behind them, the bluecloaks attacked; the elder towards the forest protector and Griezmann towards him.

He was familiar with their tactics and hoped Benzhi would survive. The adventurer Svartalfar had one advantage, he would be resurrected by the gatekeepers. He traded blows with Griezmann, and each strike was parried with their qi enabled swords. Even if he got past his opponent's guard, then there would be a barrier and then stoneskin. 

They were built for long battles with high defence and that's were efficiency, tactics and the size of their qi core played a role.

He cast a sidelong glance at Benzhi and the elders first exchange. He could not believe what he saw. The forest monster was an apt name for him as he stepped into the elder and head butted him with the antler mask. Alejo had no idea what Benzhi did but the antler mask broke through the elder's stoneskin and cracked his skull open.

His opponent lost focus on their battle as well. Griezmann shook as his companion was ripped to shreds in their first exchange and there was nothing he could do. The elder lay dead with his throat torn out.

Griezmann looked at Benzhi and shifted to chase, but Alejo stepped in his path. "I am your opponent."

"That bastard killed Edmond," Griezmann said and he spat.

Alejo growled and launched a vicious attack. "You come to fight, to murder Kysandre and you whine about dying? Pathetic."

The tide had turned now Benzhi was amongst the treacherous guild and Alejo pressed. His barrier followed Griezmann's sword while he launched his own attacks. Alejo focused his senses on his opponent, if he drew a knife or wire, he would hear it even if he couldn't see it. 

They were evenly matched and the wore down each other's cores. Alejo heard it before he saw it. A jet of water from beneath the dock streamed up between the beams. The water flew into Griezmann's face and up his nose. His mouth opened to breath and more water flowed up like a waterfall in reverse.

Alejo knew who was behind it and hit Griezmann with everything he had. She was trying to create an opening by causing his opponent to drown while standing upright. Alejo pressed with a slice, jab and finally a powerful overhead. He brought it down onto his drowning enemy. The third barrier was weak, and he broke through. The heavy sword cleaved Griezmann's skull and he fell next to his friend. There were two dead bluecloaks on the docks and Alejo dreaded the repercussions of what just occurred.

He turned to look at Kysandre. She was safe, standing between Gisael and Ailen while they fired arrows into the routed enemy guild; The Reds, it was obvious from their colours.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"Are you? Don't push yourself."

She shook her head wearily. "That was nothing."

"Don't lie to me. I know you too well." He smiled proudly. "It was quite inventive, remind me to never fight you near a body of water."

"Will there be anymore?" she asked as she scanned the familiar docks.

Alejo shook his head. "Sigwurd would not show himself, not now." He tilted his head and thought. "I need to speak to your father and an elder." He took her hand and led her to the boat where she'd spent half her life while the Svartalfar mopped up.

.

"What will we do with the bodies?" Ailen asked.

Gisael shrugged and continued to collect her arrows.

"We should keep moving," I said and nodded towards the friendly bluecloaks. I cast a glance at Reyas. "Feeling good?"

She nodded. "I am almost back to normal." She finished cleaning her axes and joined me.

Demon bird soared high above us and noticed no movements by the city guards. Not yet. I wasn't worried about fighting guards - it was the trouble that killing them could cause. Wiping out a guild in self defence was nothing, but if we wiped out guards trying to do their duty that would be a major problem for the locals.

We saw Alejo and Kysandre board a large boat, so we followed.

A dark skinned man cast a glance at us and asked Kysandre, "Who are these?"

"My friends," she said. He pursed his lips and studied us for a moment. He was a similar height to all the fisherfolk, and his skin was weathered from the sun and sea. Where his skin was darker than Kysandre's his long hair was lighter. He tied it back in a ponytail behind his head and it swayed as he moved.

"We need to talk about what just happened," Alejo said.

"Is it safe? Should we cast off?"

"Perhaps, we're all in danger. We need to spread word through all the docks about what happened it's the best way to protect everyone."

"But you won your fight. And … why do you fight here on the docks?"

"That's a long story, gather any elders who are close by," Alejo said. "And we'll go through it quickly."

The captain looked at Kysandre. "Daughter is it serious?"

She nodded.

He moved across the decks and whistled. He spoke quickly with his crew and they removed the sail and attached a red flag to the mast then raised it to the top. The captain then opened a chest and pulled out a curled horn. He blew and a low noise permeated through the docks.

He returned to Kysandre. "It is done, they will be here soon."

Fisherfolk across the docks moved quickly and as soon as three elders boarded the captain pushed off into the bay. The crew went below decks and gently rowed as he steered the boat.

We gathered near the mast and the elders went to rudder to stand with the captain. He only motioned for Alejo and Kysandre to join them, but they spoke normally, and we could hear them easily.

"Speak," the captain said. "We are listening."

"Thanks for coming so quickly," Alejo began. "I pray that nothing bad will happen to your people, but we must prepare."

"What is happening," an elder asked. "Why do bluecloaks fight bluecloaks?"

Alejo glanced back at us and then put a hand on Kysandre. "An evil man from Loctris hates the Svartalfar and he schemed to kill Kysandre and blame them for it. He wanted to turn you and all of us against them."

"He wanted to kill her! Who is he?" the captain raged.

An elder put a hand on the captain. "Calm," they said. "Why her?"

"Because she healed the mountain girl. Because he knew it would cause outrage. Because she was with them and it was convenient."

"Who is it?"

"The Chancellor," Alejo said.

The captain spat. "Scheming bastards. What can we do?"

"The bluecloaks we fought today didn't want anyone to know they were here. Spread word amongst all the people, not just the fisherfolk about what happened today. They attacked us, they wanted to kill Kysandre because of their malice. We acted in self-defence."

"Stories will already be spreading," an elder said. "We will summon the boats and meet before returning."

Another elder asked. "What will you do?"

"I will return, but Kysandre must not. Not yet. Not until I know it's safe," Alejo said.

"Where will she go? The isle?" her father asked.

Alejo shook his head. "Take her north." He summoned me with a gesture. "This is Benzhi the protector of the Forest in the north."

They looked me up and down, but mostly up because I was much taller than them. "We have seen him," an elder said. 

"Why north?" the captain asked.

"Because it's safe there," I said.

"How can you be sure?"

"It's out of their reach and the trees provide a better defence than your city's walls."

"Are there many trees?" an elder asked.

"Hundreds of thousands," I said, and their eyes widened.

"Do not tempt fisherfolk with timber," Kysandre said. She turned to her kin. "Their trees are their home. It would be like someone coming to the docks and taking all the wood to build their own fleet."

The elder nodded. "We are not children, we understand. But it is much wood, surely they don't use all the trees."

"Regrowth is the way of the forest," I said. "The tree whisperer can find timber to spare, but I'm not sure how much."

The elders nodded. "We have much to discuss." 

The captain motioned to Kysandre. "Daughter, take the rudder and keep us in the calm waters. He then led the elders to his cabin.

Alejo looked at her and then at me. "Now we wait."