Chapter 6: XCVII — Land of the Unbreaking

  [Feat Skill ? Cold Resolve — I — Passive: You have faced an opponent with a vast disparity in power and did not flee. You gain resistance to Fear Effects and Skills.]

  Kayode stared at the Skill for the tenth time today.

  And then he glared at Femi.

  Femi glared right back. “Do you have a problem with me, Blight Lord?” the boy demanded, looking seconds away from unleashing his magics.

  “No talking during voting,” the Grand Duke cautioned—looking barely surprised that the pair were at each other’s throats. They had always hated each other, only this time all that hate was redoubled for Kayode. Femi reluctantly fell silent, glaring hot daggers at Kayode.

  Kayode was returning the look. In fact, he had initiated it. He couldn’t help it—he wanted the bastard dead. The problem was that he wasn’t strong enough to ensure that yet.

  [Loopforged: You have 97 Loops remaining.]

  A miserable place to be, knowing nothing would please him more than opening the boy’s throat and watching a river of red pour free of it.

  That wasn’t something he could do. But ensuring that this life ended up different than the last, that was under his control. And he was going to ensure it well.

  “L—lord Kayode. Your Vote?” The Adjudicator said, somewhat awkwardly this time—as the man he was referring to was staring at a bastard like he wanted to kill him. Because he wanted to kill him.

  Kayode placed a finger on the envelope and slid it over.

  The man opened it and read. “House Balógun votes in favour of Lord Oluwafemi Edward Adegoke the Younger.”

  The Grand Duke was unsurprised.

  His son was grinning. “For a second there I thought you might do something stupid,” and then he added, eyes brimming with violence. “I almost wish you had.”

  ###

  “What are you doing in my quarters?” Okechukwu asked, eyes hard, blade on the handle of his sheathed sword.

  “Depending on how this talk goes…” Kayode began, just like before. “...Helping you bring down the Duke.”

  “If you want my alliance, change your vote—otherwise I have no use for a landless, subjectless, Classless Lord.”

  Now that he was exactly where he wanted him, Kayode began, eyes hard, staring into his soul. “You know nothing about me, Marquess.” And he got to his feet, a height that set Kayode taller than the man. Then he spoke, voice low and conspiratorial. “I know a lot about you, however—I know of your spy of shadows and bows within Asoburgh. I know of your plans to learn the Grand Duke’s secrets hidden within the wolf.”

  The man’s eyes widened; for a second, Okechukwu looked like he might take a step back—so unbalanced was he—but he gathered himself quickly. “H—how did you—”

  “You’re going to take me to Ezeria, the capital city of Igansi—your Marquisate. It has adventuring parties, and you’re going to sign me up for them.”

  Okechukwu’s eyes narrowed, unsettled, yes, viewing Kayode with far more caution than before, yet did not seem any more eager to give into his demands. Yet. Instead his mind began moving. “So you have a Class.” he noted, stifling his surprise. “But you can’t be of any Awakening worth considering if you’re looking to Level around a major city,” the man began, trying to steer the conversation back in the direction he had during Kayode’s last loop.

  Kayode wouldn’t have it. He wasn’t going to spend most of his life locked up in a Palace, and surveilled by the Duke’s hawks while out of it.

  “You’d be more use to us here than on the battlefield. So why would I take you away from the Duke’s side when you’re clearly so good at gathering information about both him and I.”

  “Because I know where the Grand Duke is going to strike first,” Kayode told him.

  At that he saw Okechukwu’s mouth practically water for information. Kayode knew then—he had him.

  “Where?”

  “A safe trip to Ezeria. A place to Level,” Kayode demanded.

  Kayode savoured the look—not of defeat, but of acquiescence—that Okechukwu wore. Among the nobles of the Great Houses, the man didn’t even crack Kayode’s top hundred hatreds, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still a self important cock, or that Kayode couldn’t take small pleasures from his discomfort. That he’d ordered Kayode killed was another good reason to enjoy this.

  “Your demands will be assured,” he said softly—like a man who couldn’t stand not getting everything he wanted. You’ll get used to it.

  “Lovely.”

  [—Level 4—]

  [—Skill(s) Acquired—]

  [Class Skill ? Loopforged — II — Active: Once per Loop, you may designate your current physical location as your spawn point.]

  Kayode tried to hide his shock—and the rush of power his sudden leveling sent rushing through his veins—but he was certain Okechukwu had noticed. The man said nothing, but his frown and narrowing eyes told Kayode enough.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  He had leveled from…Outmaneuvering Okechukwu. That was new, but he figured it made sense. He was the Kingdom Maker, and part being a King was getting people to do what you wanted them to. Usually against their own will.

  And that new Skill…The possibilities. He just wished it could have come at a less sensitive time.

  Pulling his mind away from it, Kayode looked up at an observing Okechukwu, cleared his throat, and told him what he needed to know—of the troop movements, of the Duke’s plans for conscriptions, of the month-long travels and the specific routes they planned to take. And finally, of the full frontal assault on fort Nalefan. The first true blow of the civil war.

  By the time he was done, the Blade Master was pacing across the room, arms folded, and frown etched into his features. “Why Nalefan?” he asked. “It’s well fortified…up in the hills, it's a hard city to crack.”

  Kayode had to admit, that stumped him as well.

  But the Marquis had an explanation. “It’s desperation. He wasn’t expecting the King’s death, and now he needs to consolidate power—fast. If he can force Duke Adegbite to yield and change his vote this early, it signals strength to all of Velúndé. But if he bleeds too many men…” Okechukwu’s eyes glinted, something hungry settling behind them. “If he loses, the world will see just how frail the Arch Arcanist truly is.”

  It was a testament to their different upbringings that Okechukwu could see faults in the Grand Duke where Kayode had simply seen contradictions. Of course the man who had, up until a day ago, essentially been King only to have that suddenly stripped away from him would not be in the most balanced state of mind. The Grand Duke had flaws—he had weaknesses. And this was one that would fuck him in the ass.

  “I have to get back home,” Okechukwu said, heading for the door.

  “You have to take me to Ezeria,” Kayode reminded.

  The Marquis halted, spun around to face Kayode. He looked as if he’d only just remembered the deal he had made and was annoyed at it. “Fine. But the Grand Duke won’t let you go without a fight.”

  Kayode grinned. “I have an idea for that.”

  ###

  To tell you the truth…I…I don’t know either. After travelling across Velúndé in search of a cure, I just closed my eyes one day, and opened them knowing I was healed,” Kayode explained.

  “The Ancestors truly do have their ways,” the Grand Duke whispered. “Sir Hale. Dame Brenner,” the Duke called.

  “Yes, your Grace?” They both said in sync, falling to a knee and waiting to be addressed.

  “The Lord Kayode is out hunting—you must accompany him, and ensure that in these trying times, no harm comes to the Leader of the Great House of Balógun.”

  “Yes, your Grace!” they nodded, and headed out to secure their steeds.

  Hello again…

  ###

  Edgekindle!

  Kayode sprinted at the Goblin, and this time the creature couldn’t dodge—it barely had time to let out a sound of shock before Mercy’s glowing edge tore straight through its neck, bone, and bit halfway into the bark behind it.

  [You have slain a Goblin of the 1st Awakening.]

  “That should be enough Levelling, Lord Kayode,” came Sir Hale’s voice, appearing right in front of him.

  “Of course,” Kayode nodded.

  The lack of protest made the man frown. “I—” The words never came. Blood did instead—spraying from his mouth as he coughed, and a heartbeat later the Oathguard’s torso slid sideways, shearing clean from his hips and flopping to the ground in a gory display of guts and entrails.

  “Hale!” Brenner’s voice rang out. Her spear snapped up, crackling with furious red energy. Her eyes flicked across the forest, wild with panic and concern, before locking onto Kayode. “Lord Balógun, we’re under attack—you need to get behind me—” The words caught in her throat. A glowing blue blade jutted from it. Behind her stood a Blade Master: Lord Okechukwu Marcus Okafor.

  He pulled the sword out and Brenner flopped to the dirt. She gurgled, kicked her leg out in one last spasm. And was perfectly still.

  Terror hit him first. Terror at seeing the kind of power that allowed one to dispatch two Oathguards as easily, if not easier than they had those four Orcs.

  It almost made Kayode want to shut his mouth and not risk having that power turned on him.

  Almost.

  “You didn’t have to kill them,” he said. Clearly, power that could so completely trivialize them could just as well immobilize them.

  The Marquess’ eyes held no remorse. “A chance to gain Experience while ridding the Grand Duke of two Oatguards is not one I will pass over.”

  It was exactly what Kayode would have said if he was in Okechukwu’s position. And that pissed him even more off. Why can’t you be wrong and stupid like all the other high born?

  He took one last look at Hale—who had died not even knowing he was in danger, and Brenner—who was slain trying to protect him. Then finally settled his gaze back on the noble. “What now?”

  The Blade Master vanished, something hit Kayode hard on the head, and the world went dark.

  ###

  Kayode awoke to the wind roaring in his face.

  And when he opened his eyes, he found himself laying on the deck of a skyship.

  Around him was a busy world of men and women carrying supplies, crates, issuing orders, and pulling at contraptions. Not one of them set their eyes on him.

  Ahead, standing at the prow with a blue cape and clad in silver lamellar, was a silhouette he recognised.

  Kayode got grogily to his feet, walked past the sea of bodies and stepped up beside Okechukwu.

  The Marquess’ eyes were settled below. On the city of Ezeria.

  A year’s worth of travel round the Kingdom had not left Kayode numb to the brutally utilitarian nature by which the Southern cities were built. And Ezeria was just like any other.

  There were no sprawling parks, no gentle outskirts. Only harsh, dry land. And then a city, placed deliberately beside the river that ran along its edge. And what a city it was.

  Vast, unforgiving walls enclosed a settlement of red and dusty boxes, built more like a military barracks than a civilization. The roads had been worn by such relentless use that, from above, Kayode saw them as white lines—scars on a canvas. Even from the skyship, he could feel the city radiating heat.

  “The southern lands were chosen by House Okafor not for their welcome, but for what lay beneath the soil: resources the ancient blacksmiths who once led my House sought,” Okechukwu said, his gaze still lowered. “Now, long reborn as a bloodline of order and law, my House cultivates these harsh lands for a different kind of yield. Not minerals anymore, but men who do not break—nor falter—under pressure. And when the crown rests upon my head, all Velúndéan lands will yield such men.”

  “Because I am one of those men,” the noble continued. “Every man and woman you see on this ship is one of them. They show dedication. They show loyalty. They show resourcefulness. I reward them to the fullest extent of my ability, and I hold them to no standard I do not first hold myself.” He drew in a breath. “When I disappoint them, I ensure I pay the price. When they disappoint me, they are eager to atone. I do not lead those who fail me and flee the consequences.”

  For the first time in the conversation, he turned to Kayode and met him with a gaze hard and sharp like the blade of the Great Lord’s weapon. “Do you understand?”

  Kayode did not flinch from his gaze, and nodded. “I understand.”

  Of course he did. He heard ‘From now on, I own you,’ loud and clear.