Life was good at the Radiant Dragon Guild House. But I would leave tomorrow. The monks would help me progress on the Swordslinger’s Path.
But why had they returned now? Did I have something to do with their re-emergence?
Chapter Seven
The next morning, I dressed quickly, buckled on my Immense Blades, and headed out toward the guild house’s entrance courtyard. The eternal pillar of flame greeted me with a wave of heat as I went through a few martial forms while I waited for my friends to appear.
Smooth movements and focused breathing chased away the tension in my muscles from yesterday’s grueling fights. The forms had been a fundamental part of my first training in Augmentation, and they were a staple of morning exercise in Radiant Dragon to help the flow of Vigor and keep its students in good shape. I warmed down with a series of complicated stretches, and once I had finished, Xilarion and Faryn appeared.
Faryn beamed at me as I met them at the main gate. I was surprised to see traveling equipment strapped to her back, but after not having her with me on our last mission, I was glad she would be journeying with us to the monastery.
I offered her a quick smile and inclined my head to Xilarion. He returned the gesture and betrayed no sign of the concern I had seen in his office last night.
“I miss the energy of youth sometimes,” Xilarion mused. “How does this morning find you, Center Disciple?”
“I’m ready to head out the moment the others arrive,” I answered. “What should we expect when we arrive at the Dying Sun Monastery?”
“The travel will be the taxing part of the journey,” Xilarion warned. “Few venture over the ranges, and for good reason. It’s a difficult path to tread.” He handed me a scroll.
“Another spell?” I took it, thinking of the fire golem I had summoned all those months ago.
He shook his head. “A map that marks the way through the mountains.”
I unrolled the map and studied the landmarks. “Can we expect bandits on the way? Or do monsters guard these mountains?”
“Vigorous Zones are scattered throughout the peaks,” Faryn said. “It’s nothing we haven’t seen before, of course, but with the reappearance of the monastery, there’s no telling what effect it may have had on the local wildlife.”
I nodded. “Do you have any messages to pass on to the monks?” I asked Xilarion.
“Extend my wish of good fortune, my greetings, and my gratitude to the Hierophant,” he said. “I owe him a great deal for his training, hard though it may have been. You would do well not to antagonize the monks or disobey their instructions. They are hard taskmasters.”
“I’ll keep it in mind, Guildmaster.” I rolled up the map and tucked it into my belt.
Vesma, Mahrai, Kumi, and Kegohr wandered out from the guild house proper, bleary-eyed and carrying their traveling kits. Mahrai’s face shone a sickly green in the light of the courtyard’s inferno, and I wondered exactly how much wine she had drank the night before. She could outdrink almost anyone, a fact she enjoyed proving. I could see fresh bruises snaking out from behind Kegohr’s garments. Veltai, it seemed, was as brutal in the bedroom as she was on the battlefield.
“Morning, Ethan.” Kumi skipped up beside me and kissed my cheek. “You’re up rather early. I expected you to enjoy the opportunity to sleep after yesterday.”
“Nothing a bit of mountain air won’t fix,” I said.
The guildmaster examined us with a cool expression and nodded his approval. “Make sure to watch out for each other.”
“We will, Guildmaster,” Kegohr said enthusiastically.
The gates swung open at a nod from Xilarion, and we left the guild house behind us. Two roads branched out from the front gate. One snaked down into Wysaro City while the other forked to the left and gave us a path across the side of the mountain toward our destination. We kept up a good pace and chatted as we walked.
I glanced at Mahrai as she clutched her stomach. Sweat dotted her forehead, and dark rings circled her eyes. She was still remarkably beautiful, even while struggling with the world’s biggest hangover.
“If you ask me how I am,” she growled as I approached, “I’m going to punch you in the throat and then see if my golem can throw you over the mountains.”
“I doubt you’ll be capable of even swinging your fist,” I teased. “Not to mention summoning a golem.”
Mahrai winced and glared at me through her hair. “Don’t talk so loud.”
I beckoned to Faryn, who strolled over to us with a bright smile. Mahrai muttered a curse as I turned to Faryn and nodded at her bag.
“Do you have anything that can shake off a headache and calm a stomach?” I asked.
“But of course,” Faryn replied merrily. “I take it you enjoyed your night, then, Mahrai?”
“Probably less than you did,” Mahrai said, but she eyed Faryn’s bag hopefully.
“Take care of her for me,” I said in a stage whisper. “She’s a little sensitive.”
“Fuck you, Ethan!” Mahrai protested.
I tipped her a saucy wink. “Later, maybe. We need to get to the monks first.”
Our path was well-worn and smooth from centuries of use, but as we passed a shrine and started out toward the range that walled off Flametongue Valley, the road shifted. Gravel and jagged rocks crunched under our sandals. An hour later, I gave Vesma the map and beckoned her to the head of our little party to lead the way. The path steepened as it took us past fast-flowing streams of clear water.
Most of my time in Flametongue Valley had been spent on the outskirts of Wysaro City, in the Unwashed Temple, or around the guild house. My dedication to Augmentation hadn’t really let me appreciate just how breathtaking
