System Break

A freezing wind hit me like a brick, and I shivered from head to toe. Ailen's teeth were rattling so loud they could be heard a mile away.

Reyas chuckled to herself. "We'll ask the leatherworkers for something warm for you to wear."

I clenched my teeth against the wind. "Thanks."

"None needed. It'll come off your next trade."

We'd been running through the hills for an hour and the closer we got to the mountains the colder my ass got. The cold itself was manageable, but the wind was a killer.

Ailen ran behind me and followed my foot placement. Tree-run didn't work on dirt or rock and we climbed under our own power. I watched Reyas, not because she was curvy and delicious, but her ability to climb was not an ability like tree-run. She pulled herself up with strength, agility, and stamina.

And when I used the sight on her I could see thin streams of qi coursing through her like it was her blood circulating.

I pulled Ailen up with one hand, he frowned at me and I grinned at him. He didn't have qi body, only qi arrow and tree-run like all the Svartalfar.

Reyas watched me and Ailen. Assessing us. She pursed her lip. "You are strong, but he is weak."

I shook my head. "You won't think he's weak when he saves your pretty ass with that bow of his."

She placed her hands on her buttocks and I laughed at her blush.

Her offsider growled at me. His name was Glum and so was his attitude towards life. "Do not speak to the daughter that way."

"Daughter?" Interesting. I knew she was Ulfgrim's daughter, but they used the same title as the Svartalfar.

"How far?" Ailen asked.

"Not far." She grinned. "Just another hour of climbing mountains."

Glum chuckled. It was the first time he displayed a sense of humour.

Reyas observed me from the next ridge. I didn't follow her handholds, instead I forged a new path - one that Ailen could follow.

Her eyebrows raised slightly. "You are an experienced climber?"

I lay on top of the ridge and let my hand dangle for Ailen to grab onto. As soon as he did, I pulled him up. My special forces training had several significant courses on climbing, but it wasn't something I could tell her.

"I climb trees, don't I? It's not that different." Their looks made it clear that no one agreed with me.

Ailen lay on his back and breathed deeply. "Why am I in pain. What sort of game is this."

I patted him gently on the cheek. "No pain no gain."

His eyes glazed over. "True, you should see my mountain skill. Almost ten already."

"Shh," I said and smiled at the confused looks from Reyas and Glum. His statement made me think. There was only one climbing skill and both ours were relatively high, in the thirties. But in the mountains, he was a noob and I would have been too if it weren't from my prior experience and qi body.

Reyas and Glum began to move.

"What's your climbing skill?"

He pursed his lips. "Thirty-three and change."

"Why aren't you better at climbing?"

He got up on an elbow and looked thoughtful. "It's probably a combined skill. Mountains and climbing."

"Oh, they do that?"

He shrugged. "Sure. Makes sense."

It dawned on me. "So, I can be a good runner in the plains and forest but terrible in the mountains. Or even cities. I wonder if they have city skill."

"You coming?" Reyas called.

He got up and we ran to follow her. "Just a quick rest is all."

We climbed and shivered for the next hour until the mountainfolk fort came into sight. I was surprised at how well it was built. It was mainly stone with very little timber and large enough to hold a hundred people.

But what made it impressive was how defensible it was. It was on top of an outcropping with a sheer drop and there was only one path in. If you could fly or climb like a goat you could find other ways. But there was little chance of an assault succeeding without some sort of major firepower.

A siege looked to be more difficult because on the fair side was a rope and pulley elevator. There was one way in and two ways out.

We walked up the stone pathway and tried not to look down. The pillars which held it up were at least a couple of hundred yards tall in the centre. It was wide enough for a cart or three people walking shoulder to shoulder.

The gate was open, and we walked through the archway with more than a few eyes glued to us. We must have looked a sight. Two brown and green men who were basically naked other than their weapons and pouches. The vines and leaf which covered my private parts did little to hide what was underneath to prying eyes.

Ailen was smaller and not a convert like me. He was much more decent in his predominately green skin.

Reyas flicked her head and said, "This way."

We followed her through the windy streets and the eyes on us multiplied. She led us into a tannery. Hides were stretched between wooden poles and the smell was nothing compared to burning a troll.

"Gleig," she called. Workers scurried and a worn old man appeared. His skin was taut and bore lines like his handiwork.

He looked at her and then at us. "What can I do your for?"

"Our guests are feeling the cold. Is there something you can do?"

"Short notice?"

She nodded.

He sighed and approached us. He looked us up and down. "Maybe a poncho. It only needs a hole for the head, and they can sleep with it wrapped around them."

"Perfect," I said, and it startled him.

"They talk?"

She giggled. "Too much Gleig, too much."

"What they got to trade?"

"I'll take care of it for you," she said, and he nodded. "If they kill a few thieves, Father will probably forgive the debt."

Gleig nodded slowly. "Good, good, suits me. Come here lads." He was bent over, and he picked up a large brown fur coat and threw it over Ailen's head.

He looked ridiculous so I said, "Perfect." And smiled at him reassuringly.

I donned my poncho and looked at the leathers hanging at the rear of his workshop. They looked like a thick bodysuit with padding. Perfect for mobility and protection. They wouldn't stop a spear or a troll biting you in two, but they would protect you if you slid down a hill or from the claws of a hellhound.

Reyas noticed me ogling the leathers. "Like them, do you? My new set from a yeti we killed a few weeks back. When will they be ready Gleig?"

"Soon, soon," he grumbled as he worked.

She shrugged and flicked her head. "Follow." She led us to a large building at the rear of the fort. It's size, large double doors and chimney shouted its purpose as the main hall.

She pushed her way in. When we followed her no one questioned us, but they couldn't help staring.

Ulfgrim was surrounded by old men and when he saw us, he waved. "You are here. Come, come rest a while before you journey east. Have you eaten?" He held a large drumstick in his hand.

I chuckled. "We have our own food, I'm afraid a roast would make us sick."

"Eat your tree-folk food then. But sit with us for a moment and warm yourselves by our fire."

"Gwaflathri, Vaunruld, we have here our ally to the south. Benzhi is his name. Benzhi these are the chieftains of the other clans. They're here today just to see you."

"We didn't believe him," Vaunruld roared.

"You are right Ulfgrim he does look strange even for a tree-folk." Gwaflathri stared at me. "If you are true to your word you will find great allies with the mountainfolk. How many of you are there down in your forest."

Ulfgrim cleared his throat. "Now. Do not put him at odds with us."

"But he can see your entire clan Ulfgrim and know your defences."

I smiled. "And I know attacking this place would be stupid and would only lead to our deaths."

Ulfgrim laughed. "See. Good defences are the best deterrents."

"Speaking of deterrents. What will we do with the city men when we find them?" I asked.

All their eyes rested on me as I took a seat next to Ulfgrim. Ailen hung around near the fire and leaned against a wooden pillar.

Reyas did not enter the circle of men and sat on a nearby stool. With a cup in her hand she drank and listened.

"We should kill them," Vaunruld shouted.

Ulfgrim shook his head. "No, we need information. And we should let one escape to tell of our ruthlessness."

"And a wandering tree-folk?" Gwaflathri said.

I rubbed my hands over the firepit below the pot. "I can get information and release one after scaring him to near death."

The three chieftains exchanged looks and then stared at me.

Gwaflathri's eyes narrowed. "He is very strange Ulfgrim. We should send him to the shaman, he makes me nervous."

Ulfgrim patted the other chieftain on the back. "He is strange, but don't be nervous. If his word holds, it holds, that is all that matters."

"But I must insist. I want the shaman to read him," Gwaflathri relaxed. "It can be after your mission. I only think of our people."

My smile did nothing to make them feel at ease. "I'll see your shaman. It's no problem."

"After," Ulfgrim said and we clasped hands.

"After."

Ulfgrim looked out the large rear window. "If you leave now you can make the campsite before dark. Reyas?"

"Yes Father, it shall be done." She looked me up and down and flicked her head towards the door.

"Take Flek," Vaunruld said.

"And Skanvord, take him," Gwaflathri said.

Vaunruld nodded, "Two of our best is enough."

I wasn't sure if he meant Skanvord, Flek or Reyas, but there were three of them and one wasn't deemed worthy by him.

The five of us left the mountainfolk's fort to seek out the thieves from the city.