Zectas Book II: Heraldic City of Coatl (28 page)

 

 

"As you probably witnessed earlier. In order for us to survive through this race I propose that we sign a 'Non Aggression Pact'. I had this auto-notarized in Coatl. With our two small groups together we have a bigger chance at finishing this race. What do you guys think?"

 

 

Mamelon looked interested with the idea, and she wanted to clarify the details of Smoke's proposal.

 

 

"What exactly are the rules of this proposed Non Aggression Pact of yours?"

 

 

"The basic stuff really. You can't harm in any way or form the members of the pact. We will aid each other until the southern village of Selatan. The support may only stop until Selatan, but the rule that we can't harm each other will last for the whole duration of the race. So, are you in?"

 

 

"I think it sounds like a good idea. Can I have Crisa read through the Non Aggression Pact before we decide whether to sign it or not."

 

 

"Sure, no problem at all. Please feel free to ask if you have any concerns."

 

 

Smoke handed the NAP document to Crisa. She read the document for five minutes and gave it back to Mamelon.

 

            

 

Smoke was confident of his drafted Non Aggression Pact. The 1,000,000 zecs appeared expensive, but it was the 'Chaotic Evil' alignment that sealed the deal of the agreement.

 

 

'Chaotic Evil' was the alignment given to killers. People with this alignment were not welcomed anywhere. Removal of this alignment meant, you had to go to one of temples of the great gods and payed to be cleansed. The fee was 10,000,000 zecs or 90% of your total net-worth, whichever was higher.

 

 

Crisa scrutinized the Non Aggression Pact, and informed her Aqua Knight leader that there were no anomalies in the document. The leader of the Confiance guild members signed the Non Aggression Pact. One by one the rest of her members signed the document as well.

 

 

Smoke smiled as Mamelon handed back the document to him.

 

 

"I'd also like to inform you that there is a synchronized copy of this document in Coatl. Even if we do lose this document, we will still be protected and claim what is agreed upon."

 

 

Mamelon and the rest of her party were about to leave when Smoke stopped her.

 

 

"Before you leave, I'd like to ask that we share this Non Aggression Pact with other parties that are in a similar situation like us. Preferably members with below seven members perhaps?"

 

 

"I guess it does make sense if we have more members. Alright, we'll try to look for other potential recruits. I'll contact you when we get them."

 

 

Both parties bade their farewells. Smoke, Gandiva, and Laernea started to talk to parties with less than five members.

 

 

While Smoke went out and invited the other racers, he also sold the junk items that they looted and replenished their needed supplies.

 

 

On the other hand, Gandiva and Laernea were left to prepare more than a hundred grilled blood pheasants for the incoming guests.

 

 

Within the period of two hours, Smoke and the Confiance members gathered thirteen parties which had three to seven members each. A total of sixty four potential members.

 

 

Smoke fed them with the grilled blood pheasants, and proceeded to give out the same explanation to the other racers.

 

 

They knew about Ilad and some of the mounted racers heard about the Confiance guild. They were a famous guild from the northernmost city of Chayotl Kingdom(Western Kingdom), Centza city.

 

 

All the gathered racers thought that the pact made complete sense. They agreed with the Non Aggression Pact and signed the document. All in all, they had seventy five affiliates.

 

 

Their allies were composed of a variety of jobs. They had Elemental Knights, Cavalry Knights, Paladins, Crusaders, Druids, Shamans, Rangers, Pathfinders, and a Beggar.

 

 

The groups separated when everybody signed the document. Smoke started their private discussion when everyone left their campsite.

 

 

The DarkElf laid out a detailed 3D map of the racecourse.

 

 

"Remember Caid told us that the Brandals have a total manpower of around 1,000. They're currently scattered in groups of 80-200 bandits. But, they've started to converge. I think they might head for Sierra and the others soon. These are the known locations of their smaller encampments."

 

 

Smoke pointed to the eight known locations and the points on the map were highlighted.

 

 

"We'll have to make the members of our Pact pass through these points. We were lucky that we only encountered twenty Brandals on the way here. Also, our current numbers aren't enough if we face a converged group of Brandals. Let's try to increase in the next village."

 

 

Gandiva gave her opinion on how to achieve this.

 

 

"I think we could show them the clear benefits in joining our NAP when we cross Leiden bridge."

 

 

Laernea was about to say something when a group of Cavalry Knights arrived in Utara.

 

 

Twenty nine Cavalry Knights who belonged to the guild called Feras arrived. Along with their guild leader, a Stealth Knight called Sagen.

 

 

The Feras guild members belonged to the stragglers group who had finally arrived in Utara village. All the remaining participants went to the racing official and had their Mounted Race cards updated.

 

 

From 1,359 participants there were only 1,045 left in the competition. The straggler group of the racers had taken the most losses.

 

 

Sagen looked around the village. It was clear that he was desperately searching for something or someone. When he spotted Smoke he ordered his men to join him towards the DarkElf.

 

 

The thirty mounted racers made such a commotion that all the other racers' attention was on them.

 

 

Sagen and his men were still on top of their mounts. All thirty men formed a semicircle in front of Smoke, Gandiva, and Laernea.

 

 

"Hello, Sir Ilad. It's a pleasure to see you managed to reach the first pit stop. Otherwise, it would have been such a shame."

 

 

"I'm sorry. Have we met before? Your face looks familiar but I can't quite place it. Oh, right you were the twerp that groveled in the finals of the Swordsman to Knight Tournament."

 

 

Sagen and the Cavalry Knights all drew their weapons.

 

 

"You're pretty brave. I'd like to see just how brave you are."

 

 

Smoke looked up and stared into Sagen's eyes.

 

 

"Do it. I'm ready for you anytime anywhere."

 

 

Before Sagen could answer Smoke, the members of their Non Aggression Pact gathered behind the DarkElf and the Lioumereans.

 

 

They also had their weapons drawn out, ready to face all thirty members of Feras.

 

 

"Well, what it'll be, Sagen?"

 

 

Sagen sheathed his sword and ordered his men to follow him.

 

 

"Looks like you've made some friends in the past few hours. Good luck on Leiden bridge. I hear it's a tricky bridge to cross."

 

 

All thirty members of the Feras guild left, and went to the opposite part of the village. Smoke's hand trembled with anger. Gandiva and Laernea patted his back to try to calm him down.

 

 

 

 

 

The front runners had more time to rest because they arrived first. They left while the main pack and the stragglers were still recuperating.

 

 

Leiden bridge crossed one of the widest portions of the great Murray river. The bridge crossed over a length of 8 kilometers.

 

 

There were 162 kilometers of flat lands from Utara village to the obstacle that blocked Leiden bridge. Before the bridge there was a volcano called Mt. Entrave.

 

 

There were three routes to bypass the obstacle. First was a 30 kilometer hike up Mt. Entrave, second was a 70 kilometer bushwalking trip through the forest below, and third was a straightforward 120 kilometer run around the forest, and the volcano.

 

 

There were fifteen parties including Smoke's in the Non Aggression Pact. Before they left Utara village, the party leaders held a meeting to choose which route to take. Five voted to stick to the plains, seven voted to pass through the woods, and three voted to climb through the mountain.

 

 

All of the party leaders voiced out their opinions. However, Smoke needed to convince them to choose Mt. Entrave because there was a Brandal base up on that Volcano.

 

 

"I can understand all of your reasons why you've chosen the safer paths, but didn't we join this coalition in order to compete with the larger parties? Mt. Entrave is just a dormant volcano. Sure, it maybe the most dangerous of all the three routes, but the shortcut is worth the risk."

 

 

Smoke made a dramatic pause, and looked at all the party leaders.

 

 

"Do you guys remember the Infime guild? They arrived in Utara first and left the village first. True, two of their men were eliminated from the race when they chose to cross the swamp, but we have to utilize this Non Aggression Pact to its fullest potential."

 

 

There were more follow up questions after Smoke's winded speech, but in the end he was able to convince the other party leaders to choose Mt. Entrave.

 

 

All 75 members were gathered on the foot of the volcano. They managed to see the Infime guild enter the forest.

 

 

Mamelon rode close with Smoke and commended his decision.

 

 

"Good work, Ilad. Looks like your choice to pass through the volcano will put us in front of the guys from Infime. I just hope that none of our members will be lost on top of Mt. Entrave."

 

 

"Thanks! If we stick to the plan and watch each other's backs, I think we'll be just fine."

 

 

All of the members took a quick twenty minute break. They rested their mounts while Smoke fed them some medicinal deer stew. When they were in their peak conditions, all of them rode their mounts to climb the volcano.

 

 

Smoke led the way as he had become the unofficial leader of the NAP members. Thirty minutes into their climb they spotted a Brandal encampment.

 

 

The DarkElf acted surprised and told everyone to find cover. He consulted with the other party leaders and asked them what to do next.

 

 

Smoke didn't want to give away that he wanted to attack the Brandals and gave his fake proposal first.

 

 

"I'm really sorry about this. I think we should head back and use the forest route instead."

 

 

One of the party leaders who originally chose to use the forest path quickly agreed with the DarkElf.

 

 

Mamelon on the other hand objected Smoke's proposal.

 

 

"You're not scared are you, Ilad? What happened to your speech about utilizing this coalition. I think we should take them head on. Besides I've always wanted to get rid of all those Brandal bastards."

 

 

Smoke quickly supported the Aqua Knight's interjection.

 

 

"You're absolutely right. What was I thinking. If we turned back, there's a high chance that they would spot us and come after us anyway. We were able to deal with the Brandals from before, I'm sure we'll be able to deal with these guys as well."

 

 

The party leaders had a quick meeting on how to attack the Brandal base. Among the members of the coalition there was the lone Druid with the wind scorpion mount. He did not belong to any party as he joined the Mounted Race by himself.

 

 

"Hello, I am called Soutien. I've heard that all of you have decided to attack the Brandals. I'd like to offer my services. With one of my Druid abilities I can sense how many bandits there are inside that base."

 

 

Smoke's 'Cunning of the Dire Fox' had increased to the point that he could accurately sense the 128 bandits inside the base, but he thought that it would be wiser to conceal this to the members of the coalition.

 

 

"That's great news. We were troubled about that question as well. Please tell us how many Brandals we have to face."

 

 

The Druid knelt down. He made rapid hand seals and pressed both his palms on the ground. His eyes turned white, ten seconds later he stood up.