Grand Saint Alloy

After they took a bath, the River Fort supplied them with horses. Only one issue, Tristan had never ridden a horse.

The last time Tristan interacted with horses, he had been with his mother and they had taken Elder Forest’s carriage. After that, the only times he had even seen horses were with the merchants wagons. The fact that Kerri was able to find nine horses was exceptional. Most of them had been used to hatch tier three ghost crabs, because the best ranch land was in the plains caldera. It was a sign that Kerri had a lot of influence in the River Caldera. Tristan had a strange suspiscion that Kerri was being groomed as a future Elder River.

Kerri was also one of the five who would be escorting them. Well, really he was escorting Eve, if she had stayed behind, so would the escort. Tristan wondered if Eve would be down a fiancé after today. The Caldera's laws did not hold sway in Alchehall, it might as well have been a different country. Kerri’s entitlement would not be well received and nothing would be stopping Hadrid from getting rid of him.

The other four warriors were all tier three, however they reminded Tristan more of Kale than standard warriors he had seen around the forts. In other words, they were the worst of the elite, but better than most everyone else. It placed them solidly out of Tristan's ability to handle. It was overkill for anything they would find on the road, and way too little to even intimidate the alchemist.

Tristan considered warning Kerri, but when he started maneuvering his horse over to him, he saw the prodigy leering at Eve. Not worth the effort. He was not confident at horse riding, and had been getting by on letting his steed follow the others. Maybe, Kerri would learn a much needed lesson. When had he started viewing Eve as anything other than a relative to an enemy.

She had started pulling he weight recently, and she had been one of only a handful of people to actually see him as a person. He thought back to the time Lesly mentioned that Eve checked in on him every day. Maybe it was the fact that she genuinely cared about everyone, maybe there was another reason. Tristan was not good with feelings, but he was good at spotting problems.

Tristan sped up to where Bruce was, “Have you warned him about how to act around the alchemist?”

Bruce let out a short laugh, “Of course, I got told I should not trust the devil.”

“I can understand the Elders who need to protect their images saying something like that,” Tristan shrugged, “But why would he.”

Bruce frowned, “He’s arrogant. I heard about him, but he was really a child born with too much power.”

Tristan chuckled, "Well no surprise there," then in a more serious tone," do you want me to Keep an eye on Eve?”

Bruce raised an eyebrows,"You really are dense aren't you?"

“About what?” Tristan asked. Bruce’s words were chosen poorly, if his goal was anything other than antagonizing him.

"You’re the one who needs to watch out " Bruce said, "Eve used you as a shield and gives you the attention that he wants.”

Tristan nodded, Bruce was correct, but right now he was safe. Clearing out the plains was currently more valuable than a single tier four’s feelings and currently Tristan was considered necessary so no one could touch him. Unfortunately, Kerri was following them, which meant that he would only be safe one way, on the way back, Kerri would have no qualms getting rid of Tristan.

Thanks," Tristan said to Bruce before falling to the back of the convoy.

The usual two days travel time was cut in half due to the horses. They forded the river at a low, but wide point to avoid using a ferry to cross the lake. The river moved relatively slowly, and lacked the power to drown a strong swimmer.

When they crested the final hill in their way Kerri inspected the gathering of eclectic buildings that filled Alchehall. His eyes widened at what some of merchants were bringing in. Though mercenary might have been a better term.

Kerris face turned red in anger, "Those fools are trading ghost crabs," he pointed at one heading to the cube shaped castle, "That one is still even alive!”

Tristan shrugged, "So, isn't that a good thing?”

Tristan really did not see the issue. Sure, the only way that Hadrid could get the crabs was to have some border guards on his payroll. However, it only meant that he was already researching the beasts. That could significantly reduce the price they would need to pay.

"He is a silver blooded devil!" Kerri almast yelled, "He could be planning to spread the parasite.”

Everyone stared at Kerri. They needed Hadrid to be cooperative, Kerri would create the exact opposite if they met. Also what were they supposed to do, attack a town of militant criminals with a band of nine people?

“Come on Tristan,” Bruce sighed, shaking his head, “let’s go find your alchemist.”

Eve stepped forward, “my sister is with him, I have not seen her in ten years. I am coming too.”

Tristan inspected Eve’s expression, it was evident that she would not change her mind, “just remember, whatever happens, stay calm.”

Eve’s face shifted to concerned, “What do you mean? Is he he volatile?”

Tristan was not sure how to describe the agent of chaos named Hadrid, “Well, he will not care about you or your position and he has no filter. If it comes to his brain he will say it.”

Kerri stalked up, “If my fiancé is going, I am going. There is no way to trust silver blooded devils.”

“You should really stay behind,” Tristan said.

The picture of Kerri getting punted like a kick ball was appealing. Unfortunately, Tristan had a job, more importantly he had sixty talents to blow here. Kerri getting rolled by the alchemist would work against both the Caldera’s and Tristan’s goals.

“Yeah no,” Tristan said, “You would say something you believe is right, the alchemist would take it poorly, and at best he would siphon your essence and remove you from the city.”

“You’re a silver blooded devil too,” Kerri said glaring at Tristan, “you’re colluding with him.”

Tristan was starting to get angry, “If you go in there all high and mighty you will die. Hadrid is not someone you can force into submission.”

Kerri’s hand dropped his hand to his sword, “You dare threaten me.”

“No, I am telling you to stay away from the alchemist, he does not fear your talent. You think he became independent because a little tier four threatens him,” Tristan said.

Eve tried to step between the two, “Stop, this is ridiculous.”

Kerri grabbed her wrist and dragged Eve behind him, “He threatened my life, and wants to take the heiress of the River Caldera into the lair of a man who already attacked the head family without protection.”

“No, she can have protection, just not you,” Tristan said. He was much slower than the commander of the River Fort, so he prepared to draw his knives.

“So, only the strongest guard has to stay outside?” Kerri sneered. He slowly drew his double edged sword.

Tristan looked into Kerri’s eyes and saw, not anger. He saw smugness and victory. Tristan took a step back, had Kerri set this situation up from the beginning? If Eve was asked the right question, she would have to say Tristan was trying to isolate her. Unfortunately, Tristan was not sure if Kerri had the emotional maturity to leave him alive.

Only one option left. Tristan waved, “Best of luck!” And bolted for the town.

Kerri stood there slack jawed for a moment. Evidently, the tier four warrior had expected Tristan, whom he believed was a tier zero mine surveyor, to fight him. He shook his head and started chasing after Tristan while waving his sword.

Eve looked at Bruce with a complicated look, “he really is going to get himself killed, isn’t he.”

Bruce shrugged, “Running a gambling ring does show you that the house does not always win.”

“What does that mean,” Eve asked.

“Kerri, bet against the house, he might win,” Bruce said, “But there is a reason why the saying ‘the house always wins’ exists.”

The warrior escort seemed torn between following their master and protecting Eve. They had heard what Bruce had said, and unlike Kerri, they were emotionally stable. They watched as Tristan barged through the streets of Alchehall. The mercenary merchants let him pass, ignoring him, however their eyes hardened at the sight of Kerri.

The warriors sensed dozens of tier two artifacts be activated. As more and more mercenaries noticed, the number rose into the triple digits. The raw fire power of the city of Alchehall was staggering. Hadrid ruled with an iron fist, and the rule he enforced was silence, and visitors were only allowed by referral. The rest were to be eliminated, and Hadrid had armed them to fight against the entire caldera.

Tension filled the warriors as Tristan cleared the town and entered the front yard of the castle. Normally that would have been fine, but Kerri had been faster than the mercenaries expected. Kerri cleared the fifty artifact bows loaded with artifact arrows before a shot could be fired. They followed him with their arrows until he cleared the low wall around the castle.

Then all the artifacts instantly shut down. Kerri caught up with Tristan. Blades clashed, and Tristan came out on the losing end. After a short scuffle. Something woke up. The escort was chilled to the bone as something angry focused on the duo in its front yard.