Chapter 289 - Ground Pounder (1/2)
A half-hour later, Nix was sitting in the Blue Quail Tavern with Jaro and Gillian. He was staring at the Turtle Titan, who insisted that he call him Gil. ”Let me get this straight. Great Grand Pa Sinai disappeared 50 years ago. Since then, Titania has been cursed. How am I doing?”
Gil nodded. ”The curse is recent; of course, none of the Titan's can currently change forms.”
Jaro looked impossibly sad; he gripped his large hands together. ”I found a lead in Chespri. Unfortunately, the quest of the Steward remains unfinished.”
Nix had been listening to them for a while; he was starting to understand the gist of their situation. ”There are seven Stewards? One from each settlement in Titania?”
”We were appointed by the Clan Matriarch herself, although she has been mourning for months.” Jaro downed his drink with a tip of his mug and immediately poured himself another.
The tavern was warm and crowded. The smell of cooked meat made Nix's mouth water. ”What's the cause of the curse?”
Jaro's low voice rumbled, it was evident that it was a sensitive subject. ”An Ice Mage named Menial is at the heart of it. Some say that he is the son of Khione herself. Anyways... he has an artifact that he has used to curse us.”
New Quests are available.
Sinai the Conqueror
Description: The great Patriarch
of the Turtle Clan disappeared more
than fifty years ago. Someone must
know what happened.
Reward: Turtle Housing.
Chaos Artifact
Description: The Titan's of the North
have been cursed with the inability to
change forms. Solve the mystery and destroy
the artifact.
Reward: Stewardship of Ionova
Nix read the quests while his mind picked through the details. ”How big would Sinai be in Titan form?”
”Bigger than this room, as Titans go, he was fairly large.” Gil leaned closer, his aquamarine eyes showing amusement. ”I'm nearly as big.”
”Right... Want to take a trip then?” Nix stood up and placed a handful of credits on the table.
He turned toward the front door, walking fast while considering his next move.
Gil and Jaro had to run to catch up with the Inferno Guild Leader. Jaro's face was excited. ”Where we going? A special mission?”
Nix nodded. ”Need a mount. Where can we get one?”
Jaro deliberately slowed down. ”A mount?”
Gil laughed at his obvious discomfort. ”Go ahead, Jaro, ask for another mount.”
Nix watched as Jaro walked into the stable, he looked like a man heading to the gallows. ”What's going on here, Gil?”
Gil didn't bother to hide his amusement. ”Dire Wolves ate his last horse; he doesn't want to ask her for another one.”
The stable was located directly next to the Town's Main Gate. No sooner had Jaro entered when the door slammed open, and a dark-haired woman walked out. She was tall and lean, instantly reminding Nix of Jun Li. Her dark hair was worn in a single ponytail.
She stopped in front of Nix and Gil. ”The two of you would be wanting mounts?”
Nix nodded. ”Just for a day or so.”
”I'm Dresa, the Stablemaster here. You won't let my horses get eaten, right?”
Nix shrugged. ”Only if it comes down to them or me.”
Dresa leaned closer; for someone who ran a stable, she smelled remarkably good. ”That doesn't instill much faith.”
”Come with us then.” Nix glanced back at the stable door that was still wide open, Jaro was desperately trying to wave him off.
”She doesn't have time to follo...”
”Okay.” Dresa interrupted Jaro before stomping back into the stable.
”Now you've done it.” Gil chuckled at the look on Jaro's face. ”She's sweet on him.”
Nix laughed loudly. ”Well, that explains the hostility.”
**************
Nix jumped sideways, narrowly evading the snapping jaws, one quick slice, and the wolf hobbled away on three legs.
[Balefire: Fury]
A white blast of flame incinerated the remaining wolf, leaving an exhausted Nix gasping for air.
[You have leveled up to 126]
The four riders were near Nix's respawn point when the chase started. They came up out of the ground and were everywhere. The allies scattered in different directions, with Nix heading back toward Nescari.
[Stealth]