System Break

From the top of the snow covered peaks the view was magnificent. The sky had cleared, and we could see for miles. The craggy ravines, the rolling hills, a fort near a lake and our forest. A mist crept across the hills and the remnants of a purple storm dropped something on to the plains.

"Did you see that?" I asked.

No one responded.

"I saw something drop from the sky." I pointed. "The purple storm over the plains."

Ailen peered. "You have decent eyesight; I can barely make out the storm."

Flek held a hand above his eyes, his red flat top was striking against the white snow and his pale skin. "I don't know how you see that far, but we've seen creatures drop from the portal storms on a clear day."

Reyas kicked the dirt over the fire. "We move now, stop wasting time."

I hefted a coiled rope over a shoulder and held on to its grappling hook to prevent it from skewering my leg.

"Ready gorgeous," I said and beamed a smile at her.

She rolled her eyes and began to descend behind Flek with Skanvord, the eldest taking up the rear.

My climbing skill was progressing at a steady rate even though it was in the thirties. Most skills rose quickly while in single digits and then progressively slowly as they got higher. But I figured with high difficulty they rose quicker.

My stats on the other hand rose very slowly. It took time to raise my strength and stamina. Through training and hard work, they were above seventeen now.

Stats

.

-Body-

Strength, 18

Speed, 17

Agility, 17

Stamina, 20

Toughness, 19

.

-Qi-

Qi Core, 15

Qi Manipulation, 2

.

It was remarkable that my qi manipulation hit two and my core was fifteen which was no surprise because I could see the change.

Flek looked at my bare feet and shook his head, he was wearing climbing boots.

"Trust me, these toes will stick to the rock."

He grunted. "Don't cry to me when you get frost bite and lose a few."

I nodded and worried he was right. Then I shook the worry away; we were headed down now, and the mines were in the hills.

Ailen and I used the rope to good effect. I taught him how to hold it and to traverse. Skanvord was kind enough to unhitch the grapple before he climbed down under his own power.

"You'll return the favour if we're ever in the trees," he said.

I nodded and laughed when he added. "Where are your women? I hear they're beautiful."

"Yes, yes they are," I said. "But its like how a wild cat is beautiful. You want to hold them until the claws come out."

All the men laughed, Reyas merely grunted.

"Next time," I promised. Then I spoke of Gisael, "She has the most beautiful green eyes and a fierce nature. And I swear she could crack a walnut between her legs."

They laughed and grimaced at the thought.

Reyas climbed quietly but asked after a time, "You make it sound like she is your mate."

I chuckled. "She is, but don't worry we tree-folk are carefree. She wouldn't mind if you and I had sex."

Reyas spat. "You go too far."

I feigned innocence. "I have done nothing except tell you of her feelings."

"You presume too much."

"Honey, I see the way you look at me. You should let yourself go …" I had to duck under one of her axes.

"Hold, hold," Skanvord said and interjected himself. He grabbed hold of her around the waist and lifted while she kicked.

"Lass if you don't calm down, I'll be sending you back to your father. You don't want that do you?" Skanvord spoke calmly and Reyas slowly stopped struggling and kicking.

She glared at me. "Keep your tongue still or I'll throw you off the mountain."

Flek grinned and made a gesture with his hand of someone falling and then splattering.

I glared back. "A warrior doesn't allow themselves to get riled with words." I knew my words cut deeply because her face flushed, and she looked away. Skanvord made commiserating sounds and shot me an unfriendly glance.

We travelled down the range towards the mine and after another two full days we were close. The mountainfolk had hidden caches where we camped each night, they held dried foods, wood and even hay for sleeping.

We ate our own food and Ailen shot down a large rodent like critter that the mountain cooked and ate.

Skanvord pulled me aside on the second day. "It is hard for her. She is the daughter of the tribes but cannot rule. She does not take a mate because none impress her, and it would allow them to stake a claim to leadership when Ulfgrim is gone. I know things are different where you are from, but please tread carefully with her. For me."

I put a hand on his shoulder. "Things are not so different in my old home and my new one is crazy. All those in charge are women." I laughed and he joined me.

"I imagine you cause them headaches too."

I grinned and nodded. Then I heard a sound and put a finger to my lips. I crept up the ridge and poked my head over. Within a moment Skanvord was beside me and wise enough to be silent.

Six men walked in a line. They wore an orange tabard with a black lion. Three had swords on their hips, shields on their arms and the others carried crossbows.

We watched and waited and a few minutes later several scruffy looking people appeared. They were dragging carts full of equipment and they moved sluggishly. Their faces were dirty, and their clothes may have been nice once.

I tapped his arm and indicated we move back to the others. The hills were still with only the sound of the wind and the odd creature.

I beckoned the others and we moved away from the city dwellers.

"Six soldiers," I said. "Three with crossbows and the others with swords and shields. Then there were eight workers dragging carts."

Skanvord nodded. "They are heading to the mine."

"What do you want to do?" Skanvord directed his question to me. Reyas grunted in annoyance and it was a cute sound.

"We need to make sure there are no others before we attack. Ailen and I will watch the mine, and you three do a wide circuit. Meet us back here when the sun is there." I pointed to the position the sun would be, in the early afternoon.

Skanvord peered at me. "You have strange ways." He looked at Reyas and Flek then back to me. "But I like them. We will do as you say."

I nodded and lead Ailen on a wide arc around the mine. We'd approach it from above.

"Your training comes in handy," he whispered.

"Keep it down, even a whisper can travel on the wind. There are no city noises, or machines to hide ours."

He nodded.

We crept up the hillside and skirted the mine. There was not much cover, so we kept low and listened carefully. I put my ear to the ground and listened. There was a feint tink which I guessed was a pickaxe.

My fingers went to my lips and then pointed where we were headed. Ailen nodded and followed silently. The last several yards we crawled across the rocky surface to the edge of a cliff overlooking the mine's entrance.

There were carts and several more workers. On the outside alone I counted fifteen. The six soldiers sat at a table and a couple played cards. There were torches and tents erected.

Another six soldiers came over the ridge. It was the original group I had seen. They were cleaner and sharper than the six at the table. They talked for a time and the six at the table packed up and marched to the south.

The new arrivals made themselves at home, but instead of all sitting at the table a couple were posted at high points either side of the mine.

I tapped Ailen on the shoulder and we crawled backwards.

It didn't take us long to skirt our way around and arrive back at the meeting point. We sat and waiting for the mountainfolk to arrive.