Abraham and I return to the groups of wagons, the half-Nahullo taking the lead. Our walk back is silent, and I spend most of my time holding onto the Lily's bullet from Edmund's grave. Finally, after a half hour or so, we return to the wagons, Abraham remembering where they should be by now.
But as we do so, I spot a fast-moving shadow running right up to the front wagon, Virgil's voice loud and clear. Abraham pulls me forward as we try to get closer to get a grip on what's happening.
"Johnny! We got incoming! Group of eight Outlaws!"
I reach the front wagon just as Johnny bursts out of it, his gun already drawn. The Iron Consul looks at me for a split second before focusing on Virgil, the scoutsman, bloodied and wounded. Yet even with his injuries, he keeps his skin covered with other sheets of clothing, the many layers preventing the sun from reaching and burning him.
"Get Heath to check you out. Silas and I will take care of it."
Virgil nods as he walks past, limping past me, and grabs my shoulder.
"C'mon, Wyatt. You don't need to help the fight. Johnny's got it."
Abraham agrees with him as I am pulled by the two of them toward the carriage with Heath and Bonfire. I can't resist due to my current weakness, and instead, I watch Johnny step down from the wagon as he bursts forward, moving with fierce alacrity into the forest ahead. Silas follows after him on foot, and surprisingly, so does Skyswain from above, the Bado flying with sparks coming from her wings.
Unable to decide my own positioning, the bloodied Virgil places me on the front of the medical wagon before stepping inside alongside Abraham, the latter likely checking on Bonfire. As he does so, he waves off his younger sister, who drives the wagon and stares at him with concern.
"I'm fine, just some cuts. Looks worse than it is."
Aron, Virgil's healthy twin sister, grumbles beside me as I stare into the forest with rapt attention, trying to see anything of the battle about to occur. This is the first time we've run into Outlaws while I've been awake, and I want to see how they fight.
"Stupid Virgil. He's gonna get himself killed, Wyatt. Can you do anything? He listens to you but never us."
I nod and agree to what she's asking without really paying attention, my eyes catching a glimpse of a streak of lightning and an echoing shout.
"Uh-uh."
Next to me, Aron shifts, her face staring right into mine as she gets frustrated.
"You're not listening, Wyatt. Look at me."
As she says 'me,' a dozen gunshots resound, making the forest fall silent in response. Seeing that the fight is over and I didn't get to watch any of it, I turn toward her.
"Yeah, right, sorry."
Aron sighs as her dark hair heaves with her frame.
"You Sigiled. All you seem to care about is getting stronger, finding ways to improve, or how to best survive. I get that it's important, but you all never spend time enjoying life. Tell me, Wyatt, when was the last time you did something fun? Went for dinner with friends? Went on a date? Did something not involving Ether or Sigils?"
I try to reply with a response but can't find an answer. I've never gone on a date, and when have I ever gone to dinner with people? The last time I did something not involving Ether… I don't know.
"Uh…"
The Boone twin scoffs as she waves her hand. Then, she reaches out and grabs mine.
"See? How about this, after this whole Vault thing, I show you how to have fun? Of course, it'll have to be in a town or somewhere relatively safe, but still. It'll be thanks for taking care of my brothers."
Is she asking me out? I think so. I take a moment to look her over before I agree. Her dark hair cascades down her back in gentle waves, and her face perfectly balances softness and sharpness. The way her eyes reflect mine confidently, almost as if she's sure I'll agree, tells me she is confident and aware. She might not be doing so and instead just trying to do something nice, as she says, but it doesn't hurt either way.
I nod, not seeing a reason to refuse. She's a pretty lass, and I have nothing against trying something with her. Though, finding the time to do so is something quite unlikely.
"Sure, that sounds like it could be fun."
She smiles at me, her flowing hair bobbing alongside her head.
"Great!"
As she finishes talking, a rumble rocks the ground and shakes the wagon so much that I am flung backward. Aron reacts quickly and darts forward to catch me, keeping me from tumbling off the wagon. I nod at her in thanks as another round of gunfire emerges. Then, seeing that things are not settled yet, I lean inside the wagon, pushing my head through the canvas as I look at Abraham and Virgil.
"Can you toss me your rifle, Virgil? I think we still have company. I'll stay far away as I shoot, though."
Virgil, having Heath wrap bandages across his whole torso littered with deep wounds, groans as he reaches over and tosses a lever action rifle toward me. Then, he pats Abraham as the pale man jumps in shock.
"Sure. Take care of him, Abraham. You owe me."
Abraham heaves his typical sigh and stands up quickly from beside Bonfire's resting body.
"Of course. I'll keep you hidden, Wyatt, and I'll use a phantom of Mislo to fire arrows. Since I advanced, it's much easier to do so while keeping illusions up as my 6th Sigil skill, Multitask, lets me do many things at once with my mind."
Having a plan sorted, we step back outside the wagon, just to meet a scream from the frontmost wagon. Abraham and I glance at each other as he grabs me and pulls me forward, jumping from our current wagon to the one in front. At this moment, his speed impresses me, but I quickly remember what he told me.
He is exceptionally skilled with primary avenues of Ether, including things like Adrenaline Surge, which I'm sure is an already higher form for him. But, unfortunately, all the time I've known him, he's been forced to divert the vast majority of his mental aptitude to the nightmares in his head, each conjuration taking debilitating effort. But no longer, that advancement he got, for right now at least, is far more beneficial than his Absolution. Though, I reckon his Absolution is probably helping with it all. They increase resonance and, therefore, ease of Ether when using one's Sigil.
Now, he can simultaneously do multiple things without as much strained effort, and as he pulls me onto the top of the front wagon, a Councilwoman appears before us. My muscles tighten in instinctual reaction for a split second, but they rapidly loosen as I realize this is just a nightmare of Abraham's, not the true Mislo that killed Skychaser.
Before I use my rifle, however, I take a short moment to admire Virgil's weapon. The man truly has some of the best weapons I've ever seen. Although, I suppose that's courtesy of the Damned he killed. This Colt, named Tenebre, is a Whitlever, a highly accurate lever action made with a scope attached to the top. This 3rd Mark Colt made with Nightowl Sigils to be quiet and have no muzzle flash is probably as expensive as a Colt a whole Sigil higher in strength singly due to the scope.
But as I aim the rifle in my arms toward the fighting in front of us, Johnny is beset by a half dozen Outlaws, and Skyswain and Silas with half as many for each of the two. I say a few words to Abraham as I line up the shot on one of the Outlaws getting behind Silas, as the Iron Consul can handle his own, and I don't know the Bado well enough to save her first.
"You know, Bonfire is gonna want to kill that Councilmember, right?"
Abraham nods just as I fire, the bullet grazing right past the Outlaw as many more ring out from Johnny at his enemies. And just as a burst of wind comes from beside me, an arrow flies straight at and impales the Outlaw I missed with my bullet.
"Yeah. I know. And I'll help him. 'Chaser didn't deserve to die."
I aim again by squinting my eye to see a trace better through the roughly made scope on the rifle and calming my breathing like Johnny has told me to do while shooting. I wait until I find an opportunity before firing, a figure stilling momentarily. Another bullet leaves my body trembling as it slams into the side of an Outlaw that opens himself to my gun.
"I agree. What about the rest of your people? Are you human or Nahullo?"
Several more arrows fly, the Nightmare lasting far longer since Abraham reached 6th Sigil, as the pale man utters just loud enough to tune out the shouts up ahead by the Outlaws.
"I am both and neither, Wyatt. My allegiance is… my allegiance is not to the High Table. Of that, I am sure. But, besides that, I do not know. I just try to do what I feel is right, and from what I've seen over the years, Johnny is one of the few who does the same. I am a vagabond searching for a home in a world that allows none. Others like Bonfire exist for fun and games, Virgil for his family, and you for your revenge."
I nod to his reasoning but go quiet as he mentions I live for revenge. Is that what he sees me as? I guess that's what I've been focused on for so long. Is that all I am? I shake my head in indecision as Silas moves to help Skyswain with her enemies, the female Bado having one Outlaw impaled with an outstretched wing of lightning and another held into the air by her claw. But, before Silas even gets close, Skyswain roars angrily and throws the two at the third Outlaw, slamming him against a tree and knocking him unconscious.
I thought she was weaker than Skychaser? Where did that force come from?
Whatever. It doesn't matter all that much right now. I'll ask about it later. My attention stays on the final Outlaw she threw as I see him somehow awake and stand, his hands shaky and almost feral. But, then, he screams with rage just before my bullet enters his head. What is wrong with these people?
With that Outlaw dead, I shift my scope to Johnny just to see the half dozen that were sieging him lain across the dirt of the Andreis Forest, blood pooling around him. I smile as I make my way down the wagon to see what happened. The fight should have ended long before the Outlaws got anywhere close to the wagons.
Abraham follows me down, his Nightmare dispersing as he jumps off the wagon with an effortless landing. I'd do the same if everything didn't hurt so much right now. Fucking Ether saturation. I can't wait for it to be over.
Leaves crunch underfoot as Abraham and I come to Johnny, the sharpshooter inspecting the dead bodies with a grim expression. I hear shouts from behind as well; the voice of Heath is unmistakable even if I can't listen to what he's saying. It doesn't sound urgent, though, so I first talk to Johnny.
"What happened? Didn't you guys fight them far away? How did they get so close?"
Pants come from my right as Silas and Skyswain saunter over, the latter with claws and metallic wings covered in blood. I give her a curious glance as Silas pipes up in Johnny's place, the sharpshooter still focused on the bodies.
"We did. There were close to twenty, which Virgil alluded to. None were above 5th Sigil, though, so it wasn't too bad of a fight. But just as we got close to the wagons, a dozen came from nowhere, almost as if hidden in an illusion. The second had a 6th Sigil and a few 5ths, which Johnny took care of. Don't know why they didn't just wait a bit longer to attack the wagons. They weren't that far away."
My mind starts spinning the moment Silas mentions illusions, and I meet Johnny's gaze as he stands tall from the bodes. I swarm the forest with my gaze as I momentarily crank Daydream to break illusions, blood coming from my nose and my legs wobbling as I do so from the pain. Abraham catches me before I fall, however.
But I don't see him even with the bit of Ether used. I don't see Alexos. So I answer Silas' curiosity, an answer of my own, the figure in question almost inevitable.
"I know why. The person who made them invisible must be Alexos. We are back in Tornridge, after all. He has probably been waiting for us, sitting in that Raystown or whatever."
Johnny nods at me as air leaves his lungs filled with terrible words.
"Yeah… We're in for some shit on our way to the Vault. Those Outlaws? They were corrupted by Darklight. They are recent enough not to show it in their movements, though. Look at that one's neck, and you'll see. Another, say, twelve hours, and we'd have some Dreadmarked and Taintwrought to take care of instead of simple Outlaws without training."
His hand points to a nearby corpse, a bullet placed square into his neck, revealing a small fragment of light tainted with the dark that leaks out. The discovery makes us gasp with shock, my brain working overtime to rationalize what's happening.
"How!? Alexos brought them, right? So how could they be Motherbound? And one so recent they haven't even wholly transformed? Is he…"
A shadow coalesces beside us, a familiar face stepping out from the shaded movement. Virgil finishes my words as the man holds his arm to his chest in a wounded manner.
"He might be a Motherbound, but there is still no guarantee. A Manipulator could have escaped alongside us, using Blightraven's fog to leave Starkbluffs. They are also known for twisting others to work for them, so there is a chance Alexos is still sane or as rational as he can be. Someone like him would probably even become a Manipulator or a Two-Face."
Virgil takes a short pause as he looks at us four before leaning in and cupping his mouth so that no one else can hear, Ether connecting his hands to our ears. When he does, the world goes silent except for his words.
"But those Outlaws weren't what hurt me. Those were only what chased me. I made it all the way to Raystown without being spotted, and that place is a fucking nightmare. It's safe, cheery, and calm on the surface, but once I got inside and looked deeper, it was horrific. There are churches with people crucified for not listening to the Mother Below and houses decorated with the bones of 'heretics' that they found. Shit is so wrong. That Manipulator either beat us here or was here from before what went down up north."
The Nightshade, the name of his newest Sigil revealed to me yesterday, finishes as he pulls his Ether back to his hands. Silence reigns for several moments as we look at each other in shock. So the town was reduced to that? What about Ray Olive, the Hindrance that was said to be the guardian of it and kept the other forces away, like demons and Pygmies?
Abraham is the one to bring that up, but he does it mentally, his voice entering our minds all at once without prior indication.
"What about the Fortuned Son? Is he dead? How did the Manipulator get past him?"
All that Virgil does is shake his head before motioning toward the wagons.
"I don't know. I didn't see him. But we best get moving. Raystown isn't far from where Wyatt said the Vault should be."
Johnny nods to Virgil and motions us all to return to the wagons and get a move on.
"I agree. Get some rest, everyone, especially you, Skyswain. Don't run yourself dead to keep up. I know Skychaser's death hit you hard, but the deal stands. Your people will be safe as long as I stand, okay?"
But before everyone heads out, Virgil says one last thing.
"Also… I heard someone talking in Raystown a day ago about a Blackreach quartet fighting against Myriad. The description of a bloody Angel, a noxious vixen, and solidified fate sounded a whole lot like Edward Dudley, Primrose, and Earl. I didn't hear anything about Elizabeth, though, but I assume she's the fourth."
Johnny and I smile at the news before the sharpshooter waves us to disperse. It's a relief to at least know they are fine. I don't know what they are doing with Edmund's son fighting against an Angel, but it must be important.
Skyswain's eyes go up and down, the cultural nod of a Bado, before she walks away, an apparent limp in her gait. And as she walks away, I see deep cuts into the steel wings that make up her back. Damn, I didn't know she was going so hard into it all. I turn to talk to Johnny, but Virgil pulls me away with a tight smile and a deadly harsh voice.
"So, I heard you asked my sister out."
Huh? How did he– oh, I'm dumb, all that blocked us was canvas. Aron! She knew! I try to sputter out an answer, words stumbling out in a way I didn't think I could even do so.
"I– uh– I– we–..."
I stare at Virgil as I see his mouth twist upward, a vertical pull on his lips that he can't quite keep down. Then, as if unable to keep the rouse going, Virgil laughs and pats me on the back, severing the tension in one fell swoop.
"I'm just messing with you, Wyatt. I don't care who Aron dates, plus I doubt it's serious. I'm pretty sure she feels bad for you, kiddo, and wants to show you a good time."
His words both calm me down and simultaneously sadden me for some reason. Did I want the date to be serious? Maybe. I've never had one before. But I guess it's probably better that it's not. I have too much to worry about to do that sort of stuff. A single night of fun would be fine, though.
But as I turn to reply to Virgil, a gunshot rings out that brings me back to reality.
Johnny goes over each of the dead Outlaws, putting a bullet in their skulls to ensure they're dead. How grim. Hard to want to date anyone when that's the reality. I don't know how Johnny ever managed to have a kid. Let alone my father; I mean, he lived on the frontier his whole life, right? When did he ever have the time to have a relationship, let alone a child?
Oh, right. He didn't. That's why he left me with a clone of a demon.