Grand Saint Alloy

On the evening of the third day, they finally reached the far trench. Tristan marveled at the extreme capabilities of the caldera. They had dug a ten foot deep eight foot wide and four hundred mile long trench in just a week or two.

They most likely had dozens of digging tools like the one Tristan had first seen Chase using. It was still amazing that they had managed. Perhaps the Stone Caldera had better digging artifacts. If the Elders weren’t always antagonistic with each other many great things could be accomplished. Things like exterminating the ghost crabs.

The fort on this side of the plains was dramatically different. Walls of mud and hay encircled the whole fort, the only building that could be seen above the wall was a guard tower that had a clear view of the surroundings. All the bridges lining the canal functioned more like drawbridges. They were much sturdier than the ones that the Stone Caldera built.

As It was nearing evening, most of the hunter teams were trickling back into the fort. Tristan, Eve, and Bruce got odd looks from all the returning hunters. He chuckled to himself. Each of these people gagged as soon as they smelled the team. Tristan absentmindedly reached into his bag and felt the talents it held. He really looked forward to getting new clothes.

A warrior caste inspector stopped them as they crossed into the safe zone on the opposite side of the canal. Tristan eyed the warrior up and down. He was not impressed. The guard was a midle aged man, yet Tristan was unsure if he could overcome Lesly Golden Heart in a fair fight. It was the first time he had seen an overweight tier three, he hadn’t even known that was possible.

"Stop, you are not part of the River Fort’s roster," The guard eyed them. He placed hand on the war pick resting at his waste, "Identify yourself. Or leave immediately.”

Tristan stared at the man in shock, did he say River fort? Were their directions wrong, or did they get turned around in one of their fights and go to the wrong farmer community. This meant they were almost seventy miles off target. Tristan sighed, mentally preparing for another two day hike to get to Hadrids workshop.

Fortunately, they had a VIP with them. Eve stepped forward , "I am Elder River’s granddaughter, you will let me pass.”

The warrior looked at Eve skeptically. What he saw was a young woman with black hair and blue eyes, her hair matted with filth, her clothes had crusted with dried blood. The day after they had returned from the Plains Caldera, she had attempted unsuccessfully to wash her face, but it was hard to tell. In short, she did not resemble. the venerable Elder River in the slightest.

The warrior would have tried to arrest them immediately, but he was stopped by one discrempancy. Three of the four members of the party were carrying a ludicrous amount of weath. The guard was blessed with fire kern, so he could sense energy radiating from the dozens of artifacts all over their bodies.

Fire kerns were horrible at identifying the type and effect of artifact but they were exelent at sensing its tier. Tristan's teir six hammer was what terrified the bridge inspector. He had no way of stopping someone with a tier six weapon.

"Yes, sir," the warrior saluted a very confused Tristan.

"Uh, thanks," Tristan said, unaware of the guards thoughts, "Could I get directions to the commander of this fort?"

The warrior hesitated, "You won't kill him will you?”

"No, why would I do that," Tristan was shocked.

Was this guy on drugs or something. Tristan had heard that the Grass Caldera had a huge cannabis operation, however the guard lacked the sickly sweet smell of someone who was high.

Tristan descided to deflect responsibility, "I think you have made a slight misunderstanding, I am simply escorting the Elders granddaughter."

Where the warrior ignored Eve, he bowed to Tristan, “I apologize, only the best protection for the Lady.”

Eve seemed disgruntled that the guard addressed Tristan with more respect than her. Once she got a bath, more people would be able to recognize the iconic sapphire eyes of the head family. Bruce brushed past the guard and led the team inside. The perimeter wall was made of mud and hay. It was of the same design as the wall around the Plains Caldera. Mud seemed to be a poor choice of material. However, Tristan had no knowledge of fortification building.

Unlike the exterior wall, the buildings inside were made of pine logs. They were sturdy, but had not been left to dry, so they were most likely still filled with sap and insects. Tristan would actually prefer to sleep outside, than in the River Fort’s barracks.

Bruce pushed open the door to the command center. The man who commanded the River Fort was young, very young. He had a slim build and that wispy beard that all young men tried to grow. Tristan thought that he looked familiar, not that he knew anyone in the River Caldera.

"Ah," The young man's navy blue eyes locked onto Eve, "I see, you have had a difficult journey, Eve.”

Eve disguised a shudder as a shrug, "Karri, good evening.” she took a deep breath, Kerri’s eyes dropped to her chest. Eve gritted her teeth and continued, "It was indeed a long trip, we need a place to bathe and some mounts so we can be on our way.”

Kerri smiled softly, "They can use the common baths in the Fort, you can use my personal one."

Eve took a step back and to the left, Tristan shook his head at Elder’s granddaughter, she was a tier two using a tier one as a shield. Who was Kerri, not many people here would be able to worry Eve. Normally, Tristan would not be concerned with a tier three commander. Fort warriors were the green house flowers of the Caldera, which meant that Tristan was a match for those on the weaker side. At least if they were unarmed and he had his daggers.

Kerri was definitely grown in safety, but he was definitely not lazy. His hands were calloused and the grip of the halberd, leaning against the wall, had a worn shaft. However, Tristan had more scars visible on one arm than Kerri had on his whole body. Still, Tristan's instincts were telling him, this man was both entitled and dangerous.

Kerri’s eyes followed Eve. When she stepped behind Tristan, his gaze turned hostile. He inspected Tristan for a few moments and his glare gradually turned to confusion.

"Where have we met before?" Karri asked.

Tristan sifted through his memories, Where had he met him. Kerri definitely had a familiar face, however he had never interacted with anyone from the River Caldera. Well exept for Eve and Elder River, but they didn’t count. There weren't even any criminals from the River Caldera sent to the mine.

"No, I don’t think we have met," Tristan said thoughtfully, "I have never been to the River Caldera before."

"I never forget a face," Kari said, steepling his fingers.

Both of them turned at the sound of a timid voice. Clive took a step back under the gold and blue gazes. Both people unnerved him.

Clive swallowed "You both entered the same sifting.”

Tristan looked back at Kerri. The face was older, but it definitely resembled that once in a generation talent who was in line before

him. If Tristan remembered correctly Kerri had a tier three kern back then. That meant that Tristan was currently looking at a natural tier

four.

Tristan mentally compared Kerri with the other tier fours that he knew. He realized that just as Kale massively outperformed most warriors in tier three, the difference was even larger in tier four. With no true safe opponents Kerri could not hone his skills, he had develop in a direction to combat multiple lesser enemies. If Kerri and Siren met, Siren would definitely win by a landslide. However, Kerri had a solid grip on fourth most dangerous person Tristan had ever met. Hadrid, Siren, and Luke were the only people that he would rate higher. The power of tier four and the potential for a tier five kern, seemed to have given Kerri sense of entitlement.

“So, you're the silver blooded devil," Kerri said.

"Sure, what of it? " Tristan shrugged.

Kerri leaned back in his chair, “Why is a tier zero, of all things, crossing the plains? It’s almost like you want to be used as a crab breeder.”

Bruce stepped forward, after giving Tristan an odd look. He explained that Tristan had already had successfull dealings with the alchemist which they wanted to hire to create a pathogen. He explained the death of their chaperone, William, and the existence of the city sized hive.

Kerri nodded, “I do agree, the alchemist is our best chance for completely destroying these beasts. However, Eve will not be going with you, as you know the alchemist has an odd fascination with the head family. I will not send my fiancé into that situation.”

Bruce raised an eyebrow, “You’re not sending her there. The leadership of the Stone Caldera’s fort is sending her. Eve is not even under your authority.”

This seemed to give Eve a smidgen of courage, “He’s right, that was even part of the deal to send me to the Stone Caldera to prevent a conflict of interests.”

Kerri frowned, his eyes narrowed at Bruce, “Do you have that in writing.”

Bruce sighed, “No, The highest ranked member of the Stone Fort should have the document. It would be strange for me to have them.”

Kerri thought for a few moments, “Fine, I may not have authority over her, but I do have authority over this fort. Five of the River Caldera’s strongest warriors will accompany you.”

Tristan internally added childish to the list of Kerri’s character traits. He was so used to throwing his weight around that when it did not get him what he wanted, Kerri would be willing to sabotage other leaders agendas just for a feeling of control. If he really wanted to keep Eve away, and they really were engaged, he would send a runner to Elder River. The Elder really did have the authority to detain Eve.

Unfortunately, he chose to send five more people with egos to go and make a deal with Hadrid. Tristan suspected that the River Caldera was about to lose five good warriors.