Squad Games [Squad Building LitRPG] [Book One Complete]

Stiff had given them a thankless task.

They retreated before the advancing Sargassian army, ceding more and more territory.

Wilson's plan to kill the general of the army had been a sound one. It wasn't his fault the bastard turned out to be unkillable. The enemy had become used to their ambushes, carrying shields to protect them from The Explorer's arrows. And either the general, or his sister, would always join with the attack. They wore smug smiles, knowing they couldn't be harmed. Wilson and his squad certainly could—hence the retreating.

It was getting to the point where things had to change.

Wilson took Jaelin and Lurin with him to the clearing. He didn't want a bigger audience than that for his experiment.

He and the dwarf had been playing with an idea, making a few modifications as they went. It was time to test their prototype.

Sharptooth wasn't very happy about it.

"No, boy," Wilson told him. "Take Jaelin's arm out of your mouth."

He wasn't biting. Not proper biting, anyway. He was nervous, that was all.

Lurin succeeded in securing and tightening the last buckle. "The moment of truth," the dwarf declared.

Jaelin held the reins, while Lurin helped Wilson clamber into the seat. He felt secure enough, and the pommel they had constructed allowed him to grip something if he felt like he was going to take a tumble.

Sharptooth turned to look at him. Wilson wasn't at all sure how the warg would react. Would he throw him off, or even attack? But Sharptooth just stared, mildly curious about what Wilson was doing there.

He took the reins and encouraged Sharptooth to move. They did a circle of the clearing. It felt natural. Wilson's weight didn't seem to be an issue. Full grown wargs could carry goblins, and Sharptooth was getting stronger every day.

"Well?" Jaelin asked.

"I'm going for it. We've little time to waste."

The scout gave a serious nod.

"Things ain't good, that's for sure," said Lurin.

"I'll warn Eisenberg first. Then I'll track Stiff down. Tell him what kind of trouble we're in."

"Watch out for the Sargassians," Jaelin warned him.

"Will do. I think Sharptooth will sniff 'em out for me. Take care yourselves."

Wilson and Sharptooth took the path that led east through the trees. They emerged onto the plains, dotted with new settlements, which would take them to the mining town of Eisenberg.

The gnome directed the warg where to go and let him set the pace. After a while, he encouraged Sharptooth to go a bit faster. Once he understood, the warg bounded along, as if released to travel at full speed. It was exhilarating. He was just as agile as ever. Wilson cracked a smile, as the warg's muscles extended and contracted beneath him, his front legs taking the impact, while his hind legs propelled them on.

The cares of the last few days eased. For these precious moments, there was only Wilson and Sharptooth, and the landscape they pelted through.

He found himself laughing with sheer joy at the freedom.

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***

Stricken was on guard duty. He was always on guard duty now. Apparently, Master Amotken didn't like it when people tried to kill him.

The sorcerer had other bodyguards—the ex-Apples whom Eyota had asked him to enchant came and went. But none of them were dead, and therefore none were as reliable as Stricken. Stricken had learned—after listening to a conversation—that only the sword Amotken had been attacked with could harm Amotken, Eyota, or himself.

There was more talk of swords when Eyota paid the sorcerer a visit. She was flanked by Clamor and the young woman who called herself Greenblade. A stupid name, since it was Eyota who wielded that sword now. Its former owner stood silently at her side, robbed not only of her weapons but also her mind. Her looks had been taken as well. She had been a pretty thing. Now her face and head were swollen and lacerated from the pounding Eyota had given them.

"Thou promised me I would get my weapon and armour back," the princess said to Amotken. "Thou were right. I should have had more faith."

Stricken noted the emotions that flickered across his master's face. "I knew the day would come. I would like to say things are going to plan. But I didn't anticipate such a powerful sorcerer arriving in Gal'azu to challenge me."

"Thou stopped them all," Eyota assured him. "And now we know the threat, we can counter it. We are stronger than them. It is time to march on their city and finish this."

Amotken nodded. Stricken could tell he had doubts. He didn't understand why. If I was as powerful as my master, I wouldn't have a care in the world.

"If I had known we would be tested like this, I would have brought your father, and Tyee, with us."

Eyota pulled a face. "Pah. What help could they have given?"

"More invincible warriors."

Eyota frowned. "Invincible? How?"

"I had thy family sleep all those years, Eyota. Thou must understand how long this was. I couldn't keep their frail bodies alive. I found a way to transition them to a state like thine, without disturbing their rest."

Anger flared in Eyota. She never hid her emotions. "My family are dead? Thou keep this from me, and mention it so casually?"

"I haven't even told them," Amotken admitted. "I didn't think they would be able to come to terms with it so soon. After a while, it will become clear to them. They will be grateful for what I did. But thy father would become angry if he knew."

Stricken could see Eyota's gritted teeth. He could see her struggle to hold her anger in and then watched her explode.

"I thought thou loved me!" she hissed.

"I do!" Amotken declared, his expression pained.

"My father will be emperor forever! I will remain his Right Arm and never rise to the throne!"

"But we will be together," Amotken said, as if that made up for it.

Stricken knew he wasn't the most perceptive of people. But his master's adoration of Eyota was truly blind.

"I am giving the order to march!" Eyota thundered. She turned. "Come!" she ordered her pets, and left.

Amotken gazed forlornly after her. He glanced at Stricken, as if only now remembering he was there.

Ask me, master, Stricken pleaded. Ask me, and I will tell you what she does with Clamor. Then you'll realise she will never be your lover.

But Amotken didn't ask. "Fetch The Harvester and Mental for me, Stricken. I will need protection when we reach the enemy's city."

***

"I'll need Valnor to stay," Seregin said. "He's irreplaceable." He sighed, weighing up Lothar's request. "But you can send Oripione."

"Very well," Lothar said.

He wasn't going to thank the elf lord. Everyone had agreed on the plan to capture the Sargassian emperor. Lothar had thought getting a suitable crew together would be easy. It wasn't.

Next stop was The Hoffmeister, uncharacteristically deep in his drink at The Anchor. At his table was Hubert. The bear had a few empty cups as well.

"No," said the Hargon, as soon as Lothar approached.

"You don't know what I was going to ask yet."

"Some other damned mission like the one that got Pecs and Fortune killed?"

Georg's emotions were raw. Lothar got that. He needed to be careful around him. "Not as dangerous as the last one, I don't think. But if you're not up to it—"

"—Not up to it? When have I ever questioned an order?"

"Never," Lothar agreed. "I just meant—"

"—I'm out of this business, before I get my own six feet of earth. And Hubert's not going, either."

Lothar could have said a lot to that. Could have said that Hubert was a Rotten Apple and had to go. Could have given The Hoffmeister a long list of all the people he'd lost. Told him to pull himself together.

But he held his tongue and just left.

Next stop was Vixen.

"I wouldn't ordinarily ask, given what you've been through. I'm just struggling to make up the numbers. The mayor has told me I can't have Rake. Something about organising his wedding. And I want to make sure we don't lose anyone else."

I can't afford to lose anyone else.

"Is The Guvnah going?"

"Yes. And Wynter."

Alright then. I'll do it."

"Thanks, Chinara. You're one of the good ones."

"Huh. Flattery will get you everywhere. Wait. Did you say Rake is getting married?"