That shook him from his shocked haze, and he fired off another Inspect.
Human - Level 2:
Higher Race, Spellsword
What the fuck was a spellsword? And how could someone have dared to ride a meles?
Before he could gather his thoughts further, the panicked deer caught a glimpse of the mounted duo behind it and juked to the left. Towards the Sea. Cham grit his teeth, feeling the haft of his spear grow slick with sweat. Hopefully it would pull the Forest King and its rider away from their village.
The meles dug its green claws into the earth, trying to alter its trajectory. Despite its impressive speed, its bulk worked against it. The deer started to gain ground once more. Cham watched in frozen shock as the meles’ rider showed a feral scowl and lept from its back.
Rising like some imperious avenger, with the sun shining off his scales, the delver thrust his hand out and seized the might of the gods. A dense, violent, orange glow erupted from his hand, before a bolt straight from the Stormlord’s own armoury cracked into existence. Bound in the delver's grip like it was a common rider’s lash.
Arcane lightning cracked forwards, the deer wheezing as crackling plasma wrapped itself around its throat. Its whole body seized, hide sizzling as it hit the ground like a sack of rocks. At the speed it was running, it wasn't a pretty thing, and it tumbled over itself as one spindly leg snapped and bone erupted from its flesh.
Seconds later, and the lash of lightning disappeared, leaving a faint shimmer in Cham’s vision. The delver was already running for the beast, his rune-scribed blade pumped victoriously in the air. His beastly companion beat him to the chase, sprinting past him to sink its massive jaws around the limp stag's neck.
There was a savage yank, followed by a crack that echoed out across the plains. The deer flopped.
The delver let out a whoop, thrusting his fist in the air as he sheathed his sword. Cham felt a little bit of his tension slacken its grip on his heart when he did that. Maybe it was just some adventurous scion who didn’t realise they were close to a village. Though that still did nothing to explain the greater meles.
“Fuck yeah, Porkchop! Venison!” The delver hooted, sprinting over to his companion. It was a young voice, but gravelly and hard. Well suited to the imposing air that draped over them like a cloak. “Though, we both know it was dead before you got there.”
Did…did he just call the meles Porkchop? The fucking gall!
“That voice..” Rekkar croaked out. Cham whipped his head over, finding his boss frozen with doubt clear on his face. Like he’d seen a ghost.
“You recognise them?” he asked. Rekkar had the sharpest ears of them all, so it had to be something, he’d seen the man pick up a rabbit in its burrow from nearly half a league away.
Rekkar simply shook his head, his words stolen from him. Cham looked back to the duo that were still a few hundred strides from the walls.
“We’re gonna eat good tonight.” The delver said, audible despite the distance. The meles looked up from the stag. Past its rider.
Green-flecked-gold eyes locked onto his own, thrumming with primal might.
Cham gulped.
A moment later the delver turned without saying a word, following its companions eyes to his own. They froze for a moment, then raised their hands slowly, undoing the clasp of their helm before they lifted it off. Bronze slid upwards, a dense mop of dark brown locks spilling forth. The delver’s features were hard, angular. Like they had been cut from granite, and tempered in strife. Piercing gold-flecked-green eyes burned into his own.
The helmet came off.
Cham froze, shock and disbelief warring deep within him.
Was that fucking Kaius?
“Spirits protect us, it is him.” Jekkar whispered from his side, his precious bow slipping from his hand to clatter to the floor of the palisade. He moved a moment later, blurring in Cham’s sight as he vaulted over the palisade, hitting the ground at a dead sprint.
It was Kaius.
Oh fuck.
He had to tell Hurin and Illendra, they had to be ready. He turned tail and sprinted for the stairs, spear left forgotten against the wall.