344 Traitor Revealed, Fate Strikes

Plotline: Main

Type: Society

In fact, security was more secure than I would have liked it. I was scratching a point that itched even after a double bath (hard enough to scrape off skin flakes), and “protecting” Kismet at some kind of poetry contest.

The guards had surrounded the pavilion, and came in all four sides at once. Clearly, they had Systems that allowed them to be in multiple groups at once, or perhaps one of them had Officer levels to group multiple squads. They surrounded me, threw a wrists only pillory at my feet.

“Put it on, traitor.” one of them said.

“I am not under your command, honored sir. Also, I am not a traitor, to my knowledge.”

“It’s him.” a thin girl said. “I see it in my reticule. He is a shapeshifter.”

I shrugged. “I am a shapeshifter; I also swore my oaths as every other attendee did.”

“Gong?” one of the sergeants asked a male soldier.

.....

“He’s telling the truth, sir. He might not be the shifter we’re looking for.”

The sergeant shook his head. “Might not be isn’t good enough. Make the arrest.”

Yeah, I wasn’t thrilled with that. What happened the last time I fell into Liberation Army custody?

“Ping.” Kismet said. “Go with them. Remember the ward. Promise me there will be no trouble.”

“I’ve already promised not to antagonize the ward.” I grumbled.

I stood, without putting on the pillory. “Let us be away, gentlemen. I will travel willingly.”

“Too much danger.” the sergeant said. “Restrain him.”

As I said, it’s difficult to blame him. He was only doing his job. Stupidly, of course; pillory type handcuffs are easy enough to escape, if one has ten minutes to relocate the bones. Actually, I had enough biomass to transform and go back.

But... each form evolved independently. I’d lose the venomous bite and the xylophagy (wood eating) evolutions. Ugh. Maintaining multiple forms was looking to be an increasing pain.

Once I had my wrists secured in front of me, we moved rapidly. Not so rapidly that people didn’t take notice and whisper to each other.

Straight to the glowing tent that housed the Bear Witch and Matron Su-Ya, the leaders of our ward keeping circles.

The Bear witch was grey of hair, but unbent of build. Her skin was tanned and leathery, the tattoos upon it wrinkled and folded. Had she not been clad in bearskin, I might have easily mistaken her for a warrior; it was rare, in my experience, for a woman to have such corded muscles, such broad shoulders. But... yeah, she looked like as close to the build of a bear as a human could come and still remain human.

“Oh for the love of...” the Bear Witch said, in a dialect I probably wasn’t supposed to understand. She turned her head and spat.

“Ping?” Matron Su-Ya said, “YOU are the assassin?”

“He’s not the assassin.” the Bear Witch said. “He’s a Protean, slow to change forms. We’re looking for something with a deeper magical root.”

Deeper magical root? That COULD be a different way of ... no, focus. Life at risk, here.

Again, damnit. I was coming to hate this culture.

historical

I sighed. “I have taken the same vows as the rest of the citadel personnel.” I said.

“He is a monster with black eyes.” the sergeant said. “We should force him to reveal his true form.”

“Or her true form.” Matron Su-Ya said.

“Psha.” the Bear Witch said. “One prophecy of doom, and the wisest of leaders become cowardly fools. You took the oaths?”

“I did, honored hostess.” I said.

“Let us be done with this farce.” she said. “Show us, boy.”

“If the guards would kindly remove the restraints?” I asked.

They did. I removed the clothing and folded it neatly, at a distance where it should be safe.

“What are you doing?” Kong asked. “Or rather, why?”

“The process is ... messy, honored sir.”

“The middle of the road between tents.” Matron Su-Ya decided. “We need no bloody scraps in here.”

It was a painful transformation, as it always was when I had spent a long time without changing forms. Bones broke, tendons snapped rather than releasing from their bones, and the blood just got EVERYWHERE inside. (And outside, for that matter.)

But long before I had finished, it was obvious who and what I was becoming.

“The monster. The very one!” someone shouted.

“No, Ling, the oath!”

[You have taken an ORANGE critical for x4 damage. 24 points of Lacerating damage taken. After armor, 22 points of damage have been received. 29/80 health remain.]

[You have suffered severe injury: Bleeding, level 4.]

I felt only a slice of pain, as though someone had struck the side of my neck with a sword. Suddenly provided with an exit, the blood sprayed forth.

And I would have been just fine. Eight points, then six, then four, then three and then done. I’d have been suffering, sure. But it wasn’t as though I hadn’t survived worse.

This happened, however, in the middle of a road. The ward, above, had a clear view.

If it even needed such; I’ve never been clear on exactly what senses it had.

There wasn’t even a warning; a stream of red lightning, lasting twice as long as a natural lightning bolt.

[You have taken 32 Electrical damage...]

I didn’t even read the entire message before being blasted unconscious.

#

I wasn’t expecting to wake up; the guards had no reason to do anything other than disown me. The inmates wanted me dead. Even if they feared the ward, nothing kept either side from transporting me far enough away and finishing me away from its wrath.

Instead, I woke in pain, transformation to my natural form rapidly drowning out the taste of something other than blood in my mouth, the warmth of miko light being applied to my neck.

For whatever reason, someone was pulling out all manner of stops to prevent me from dying.

[You are at -11/80 health, and will experience a prolonged period of unconsciousness.]

What all had happened to me ... while I was ...

Unconscious.

I was at -5/80 health when I woke, on a cot. Of course, on my back.

Because human medicine said so.

Not, in retrospect, that I should be complaining.

“We have just received word. Lord Zaodong has died of his injuries. The monster...”

There was a boom from above, and suddenly there was sunlight and a light breeze.

Damn sunlight...

[Your health is -5/80; you will experience a brief period of...]

[Ability activation successful. For the next hour, you may ignore being at negative health.]

Wait, had that just worked?

AHHH! AHHH! MY EYES!

My eyes were wide open, and I seemed unable to close them. I flailed around for a bit before they began to adjust, before things became visible to me again.

I was on the wooden floor at that time, in what was clearly a hospital.

If I thought the one sixth and one tenth level of pain were severe, it was nothing compared to being awake and active at negative health. “Muhugwmp.” I complained.

“I understand your pain,” the Bear Witch said, “but the ward is what killed Lord Zaodong. Monster though he is, we are all of us still sworn to protect him.”

“I renounce my oath!” one of the soldiers screamed. And then he screamed again, blood blisters forming on his skin and bursting, leaving him whimpering on the ground. Someone pushed his half-drawn sword back into its sheathe. His companions gingerly moved him to an open cot.

The Bear Witch shook her head, turned back toward me. “What are you doing awake?”

“My healing love even works on wild beasts!” someone’s young daughter exclaimed.

“Yes, Hana.” the Bear Witch said. “I’m very impressed. Can you do that again today?”

“Nope. I’m done for today. Can I go play hoops?” She cheered as the Bear Witch waved a hand in dismissal. The speed at which she moved... I needed to upgrade Fleet of Foot.

“You should also go.” she told me. “Zaodong Hwang was much beloved by many on our side, and nobody can stop an assassin who cares not whether they live or die.”

“I’m considered a war criminal by my side, an outcast without caste.”

“Better than here.” she insisted. “Come, get to your feet. You can leave on the cart carrying your wounded back to the citadel.”

Is it any wonder I was unsteady on my feet? I thought it more unlikely that I was able to walk, but a few wobbling steps confirmed that I could.

“Oh, by the Celestial Emperor’s spittle! Someone get the patient a walking stick.”

.....

[Walking Stick.] my reticule informed me. [Pine. Coniferous Wood. Six servings, three nutrition per serving. 8/8 Condition. Improvised club weapon.]

The Reticule tried to drown me in other information. What I cared about was that I could hobble along at a fair clip, almost normal walking speed.

Nobody escorted me, but also nobody stood in my way.

Overhead, the ward watched and wavered.

“You,” one of the soldiers guarding the carts of wounded said, “are walking.”

I nodded, and purchased an additional use of Stalwart Health.

Once inside the gates, I shuffled off to the nearest condemned building and collapsed into a bare cupboard.

I had time to worry about whether I’d even be allowed to wake up before Stalwart Health and consciousness left me.