System Break

Soft cheeks brushed my crotch as Reyas rose pulling a warm fur blanket with her. I moaned and lifted myself onto an elbow.

"Sorry," she said but that didn't stop her stepping out of reach. She held the fur to her chest and her naked ass stared at me. "The sun will rise soon."

The fire still smouldered but its warmth was long gone. I reached for another fur to cover myself and Gisael. I turned to face the lithe beauty and when she kissed my chest I realised she was awake too. Her hand ran under my arm and pressed against my back as she pulled herself closer. She threw a leg over mine and snuggled for the warmth my body provided.

The first rays streaked across the sky and Demon Bird entered my thoughts. "Fly," I told him, and without a complaint he left his perch. He was happy to sleep, fly, eat and share thoughts with me. It was a simple yet interesting life for Demon Bird because we moved around so much.

The bird circled as he rose up into the sky before he swept over the Bravrak fort. It wasn't as impressive as the clifftop Staggan fort. Smoke rose and he saw three of the wooden buildings were on fire and others were blackened shells. There were bodies strewn throughout the streets and a dozen cots were arranged in the central marketplace.

Gisael rested her cheek on my chest and when I sighed she asked, "What happened."

"You're getting to know me too well," I said and stroked her hair. "The Bravrak clan was attacked during the night."

She wiggled her way up so her lips could reach mine. She placed a hand on my cheek and kissed me. Then she rolled away and got to her feet.

Reyas turned.

"Too late for the warning," I said and stood. We dressed quickly and tidied the cache. 

The Shaman's cave was well hidden in the high mountains. The entrance was a crack between the cliff and a fallen boulder shaped like a giant pineapple with shear edges. Reyas knew where it was, and I could find it easily because I could see the land core for miles.

It should take the beastmen years of searching before they could find it even with directions. Demon Bird searched for them now and we would soon see if they had captured a guide.

"Shaman," Reyas called. She held out her palm towards us, signalling for us to wait.

Grumbling emanated from within.

"We're coming in," Reyas called.

A gravelly voice replied, "No you are not. This is my home and I say who enters."

"May we enter?"

"No. Go away."

"It's important. You're in danger," Reyas said.

"I'm in danger of cold breakfast. Let me eat in peace."

"Beastmen are hunting for the land core," Reyas said.

"Ayeee," the Shaman howled. "Why are you telling our secrets to outsiders Reyas? I thought you were loyal. Has that man corrupted you?"

"He is from the forestfolk, a Svartalfar and he has not corrupted me. He helps the mountainfolk more than they help themselves."

"He is not a true Svartalfar, has he been truthful with you?"

"Yes," she said.

"He did? He told you?"

"Yes. He tells me everything."

The Shaman spat. "Come in. But know this, I do not trust him, and if he enters he tasks the risk that I will reveal his false words."

"I'm not worried old man," I said. The inside of the cave was an organised mess. There were a few dozen small clay jars, sacks, shelves, and a mat in the centre which passed for his bed. There was a cauldron hanging from a tripod stand and it swung gently over a fire. The smoke rose to the ceiling and up through a crack.

The Shaman presented himself as blind and felt around with his hands. He crawled towards Reyas who knelt patiently.

He touched her face, hair, and neck. "So beautiful," he said and felt her arms. "Strong, good. Seems they feed you properly."

"I am happy," she said. 

"Bless your heart dear you are too easy on him. Make him work for your adoration."

"I'm right here," I said.

He spat rather accurately in my direction.

"Are you really blind or is this an act?" I asked.

"Bah. Boy don't you disrespect me you have no idea what I've done in my life."

I sat next to Reyas and leaned back with my hands behind me. "Tell us. We have time." Demon Bird searched the mountains and slowly worked his way towards us. The Beastmen still evaded him and I wondered if they hid from him somehow. Although the mountains were vast, with crags, ravines, and overhangs; it was much easier finding humongous trolls or creatures on the plains.

The shaman cackled. "You think I am ailing in the head. I can assure you I am sharp as a skinning knife."

"Reyas told you old man. We're here because the beastmen hunt for the land core. All that stands between you and them is us."

He sniffed. "Ah hmm. Reyas is a good lass but there is one other with you."

Gisael leaned against the wall at the entrance. "I am here. I am Gisael a guardian of the forest."

"You are not an intruder." He sniffed again. "You are with him too." He cackled. "You are having fun in this world."

I smiled. "Yes. I am."

"Ah the truth at last. See Reyas he is here to play with you."

"He tells me and Gisael that he loves it here every day dear Shaman. You are not routing out his falseness because he wears his heart on his sleeve."

The Shaman cackled. "Very well. Very well. He is an honest degenerate then. Come here boy and let me feel your face."

Reyas held the shaman's hand and guided it to my face.

"Do you want me to take off my mask?" I asked.

He cackled again. It was an eccentric sound and not at all forced. "No. I like this. Did the forestfolk make it for you?"

"It's from the sacred tree."

"Ayeee." His voice was a high pitched sound of surprise. "What type of man are you? Do you follow the way?"

"Wu Wei? I only recently discovered it."

"If I am to trust you, first show trust in me. Tell me your secret."

I was flabbergasted. I turned to Gisael and she shook her head. I looked at Reyas and she gave a slight nod. "I have been warned not to tell anyone. You must swear to keep it secret."

He cackled again. "See. It is not so easy to trust. Who would I tell? I will keep your secret but don't make something up. I will know if you lie."

"This first time I visited I could see the land core. I can see the qi-streams run through your body and the collection of qi on your eyes. You say you're blind, but you are using a technique to watch us."

The shaman grabbed Reyas' hand. "Daughter is this true?"

"Yes."

"I thought you could tell if I was lying."

He snorted. "It is unbelievable, and you are from the Qi Worlds Programme. Do they know?"

"Wait," I said. "How do you know that name?"

The shaman cackled. "You have the greatest power and yet you are naïve like a child."

I felt like an idiot. This shaman was something else. Someone connected with the chancellor and the Qi World Programme. "It is time for you to share your past now I told you my secret."

He shuffled and spoke in low tones. "I was once from your world. I was with the Qi World Programme, so you should work with me not the scum who took it over."

I laughed. "They are barely hanging on. And what do you mean you were once from my world?"

"You must swear to keep it a secret as I will for you." He cackled. "Mutually assured destruction."

I nodded. "I swear."

He leaned forward and said softly. "I am researcher 001 the founder of the Qi Worlds Programme. Everything you see and enjoy on this island is because of me." He sniffed.

"I was naïve like you and the greedy men slowly but surely fucked me over. So I severed myself from my host back in the old world." 

"The pool? Did you do it in the pool?"

He shifted. "Ah, I would expect someone like you to have seen it. If you have this power it is not surprising. The pool is part of your domain and it is how you travel between the planes. It was not easy, but I pulled my entire self into my pool and severed the link back to our old world."

He swept his hand up and down indicating his body. "Now all I have is this lump."

His experiment wasn't exactly successful. He was blind and disfigured. He crawled around the cave and I suspected he couldn't survive in the mountains if the folk didn't feed and look after him.

I shook my head in disbelief. "You're shitting me."

He cackled.