Chapter Fifteen: Road North
Sitting in the back of a carriage with Echo Saker sighed looking to Logan who sat at the helm with the reigns to the horse carriage they were given, "Why the bloody hell did the King not add onto the map this section of Albion?"
"He must have run out of time, I am working on it as we speak, the trip to Honeyholm Farm will only be a few hours, give you time to enjoy the view, Jasper and I will have the map updated after you defeat the agent there," Gabriel explained.
"Will you add Samarkand and the South Islands as well?" Echo asked leaning back and looking out to the view of the open fields.
"Indeed, once we are done, the map will have a nice expansion, I am even adding Clockwork Island and the Godwin Estate, no need for ship rides," Gabriel explained.
"Clockwork Island? Do we need to go there?" Logan asked recalling how he hurt Professor Faraday back when he was desperate to save Albion from the Crawler's upcoming attack.
"Sadly, it seems an agent is on its way to Clockwork Island so you will have to face your demons and face Faraday when the time arrives," Gabriel explained.
"What the bloody hell did you do to Professor Faraday? That man has invented so many wonderful gadgets for Albion," Echo spoke her eyes and the eyes of their companions all on Logan.
Letting a sigh Logan looked to the road ahead, "In my haste to prepare Albion for the Crawler attack I looked to any means to protect my kingdom, at the time if I had to sacrifice a few to save thousands I was willing to make that sacrifice as my father did before me...at the time a robotic army sounded like an ideal solution, I wouldn't have to sacrifice any more of my people, and maybe I could save Albion, perhaps get them to understand why I had to do so many horrible things."
"I didn't understand before but I get it now, at the time I thought you were a power-hungry tyrant like everyone else, but after the Crawler attack, I understood, you were given such a difficult task, who would believe you if you told them, you raised taxes to fund an army to protect us from a bloody attack of shadow monsters?" Saker spoke looking at Logan.
"I falsely judged you too Logan," Tali spoke having eyes on her now.
"When you cut off trades, I never thought it was because there were shadows that would attack your kingdom, when my kingdom was taken over I was so angry and so sad that I put that blame on you like everyone else, I'm so sorry Logan," Tali spoke seeing him turn to her and smile softly.
"Past is the past, I can't keep living in the shadows of my mistakes, or try and live up to the status my father held, all I can do is fight for the country I love, protect its people, and save yours as well," Logan spoke looking to the clear sky.
"If we survive all this and free your country Tali will that mean you will take the throne as the true queen?" Echo asked.
"Empress," Logan corrected, "their monarchy is slightly different than Albion's."
"How so? Seems the same to me," Saker spoke lighting another cigar.
"Well for one their culture is much richer than Albion's, they pride themselves in knowledge, arts, respect, and honor, Tali comes from a long line of Emperors and Empresses, she is the product of noble breeding if I recall your father and mother was an arranged marriage?" Logan spoke turning to Tali who nodded.
"It's a common thing in my country, while arranged marriages aren't as big as it was six hundred years ago it still happens in the inner and outer city, in fact before my baba passed away, he was determined to arrange my hand to Logan," Tali explained.
"Wait! You two were engaged?!" Echo spoke leaning on the edge of her seat in shock.
"Well, no, her brother took the throne and I was already king in Albion at the time, had the Emperor still been alive during my reign there could have been a possibility where he would have offered me Tali's hand, I would have declined of course, if Tali were to be my bride I would want it to be by her choice not by her fathers," Logan spoke seeing Tali look to the sky and laughed a bit.
"My father would have declared war had you rejected his offer to have me as a bride, baba was a proud man, he would have taken that rejection the wrong way, I miss that stubborn man," Tali smiled.
Leaning closer Echo raised a brow, "So when you become Empress what will you do first? Choose a husband?"
Thinking about it Tali shook her head, "while the royal court would be on my back about bearing an heir for the royal family my first and only priority would be to restore the damage my brother and the Empress had done to our kingdom."
"Why did your brother turn into a tyrant? Would it be for the same reasons Logan had and was preparing for the darkness attack?" Echo asked seeing Tali shake her head.
"No, my brother while he could be a pain in my side, loved his country enough that he stole my letter to Logan, I suspect he thought at the time he was protecting the royal bloodline from being tainted by an outsider, he was a good Emperor the first few years he ruled, it was when he returned with that bitch that everything went horribly wrong," Tali spoke recalling the moment her brother returned with the Empress.
"A spell perhaps?" Saker asked blowing smoke.
"I suspected so, he wouldn't allow any of us to see her, he was obsessed with 'shielding her beauty' from unworthy eyes, a guard accidentally saw her once and it was like a trans he declared love for her, my brother had him promptly executed and made an example to curious eyes," Tali spoke recalling the blood covered steps at the palace doors where the poor guard was strung up.
"What about your mother? What became of her and the other royal family members?" Echo asked seeing Tali look sad for a moment, "if you wanna talk about it."
"It started with my brother, suddenly with no reason or explanation died in his sleep, the palace doctor could not find a cause, but I knew better, it was that witch, then when the Empress stole the throne and began her tyrant rule, other members of my family began to die mysteriously, few people outside the palace knew this, but my mother was quite the alchemist before she was given to my father as a bride, while in bed dying, she told me the life force, of the royal family was being drained, she told me to flee, seek aid across the sea," Tali spoke recalling her escape from the palace where she had to jump from a window and into the great river that flows into the palace.
"Who is this 'Empress' broad, what is her real name?" Saker asked.
"I don't know, my brother never told her name and she demanded to be addressed as 'the Empress' No one knew who she really was, whatever happening in my home is because of that witch, she is either a puppet or the true mastermind for the darkness that overtook our kingdom when your brother came to Logan, I had thought salivation had come but when the darkness overtook my kingdom, I was left behind when Albion Armies retreated," Tali explained recalling hiding when the darkness fell onto her home and how odd she found it that the darkness didn't Corrupt her like it did her people.
"Could she be a lieutenant like the Dejestress was? In a human disguise?" Echo asked.
"That could be very possible, that could also explain how she was able to unleash the Corruption onto Samarkand, her tyrannical rule made it easier to control Samarkand people, your brother finding her on his journey to Albion was no accident," Logan spoke turning to Tali, "I promise you Tali, we will win, save your people, and you will sit on the throne."
"I promise we will also rescue your brother," Tali spoke smiling seeing the clouds ahead turning grey, "gonna rain."
"I got this," Saker spoke setting up an awning in the back to put up with Echo's help tying the pole to the corners of their cart, "so when we do win and all that good shit, what reward shall her generous highness offer?"
Narrowing her eyes Echo smacked the back of Saker's head, "Behave! Not everything about riches."
"I can give you a title but other than that anything in the royal treasury is going to rebuild my kingdom, Saker," Tali spoke rolling her eyes, "I think my court is overdue for a fool."
"Oh," Echo spoke snickering a bit.
"Ha-ha that was so damn funny," Saker spoke sarcastically rolling his eyes while setting up the awning.
Later that night with the awning up rain came down where Saker and Echo slept on rolled-out mats in the cart while Tali tried to fight off sleep ending up leaning and resting her head on Logan's shoulder where she slept softly.
Looking at Tali Logan smile looking out to the road and seeing lights in the distance, they would reach their destination soon, and he would let his allies sleep.
Seeing a blue light Logan looked over to his left where the open seat was now occupied by his father who smiled, "Hello, my child."
"Hello Father," Logan spoke softly not to wake the others.
Leaning over Sparrow smirked at the sight of the girl on his shoulder, "seems Baahir was right, you two do make quite a couple."
"Father please," Logan spoke trying not to let his father see he was embarrassed.
"Jokes aside Logan, you've grown quite strong since we last spoke, younger too! What the bloody hell?! How did you do that?!" Sparrow spoke getting a laugh out of Logan.
"It's a long story Father," Logan chuckled smiling to Sparrow, "did you accompany Adam when he went on his journey?"
"Oh no, I sat on the sidelines during his adventures, watching and waiting," Sparrow explained looking ahead.
"Why do you appear to me then?" Logan asked seeing his father smile.
"Because you needed me more than your brother, I think I did well to get you on the right track, this may be the last time we may speak," Sparrow spoke looking in the distance, "I have been to see Adam, he knows you're coming and hasn't given up hope, I will be there to remind him that if he wavers but doesn't keep him waiting, I hate seeing my sons drift so far apart."
"I know Father, I am to blame for that rift, but I will fix the damage and will save him," Logan spoke seeing Sparrow start to fade away.
"As you grow stronger so does, he, protect each other, and never drift apart again," Sparrow smiled vanishing.
"I will Father," Logan spoke with a smile putting his focus back on the road.
Later that night a bump in the road would stir Tali from her sleep, with a yawn she sat up rubbing her eyes, "How long was I out?"
"Not long, we should be there very soon," Logan spoke with rain still drizzling.
Looking out to the trees as they road to their next destination, Tali turned to Logan and decided to make small talk, "Logan, what will you do when this is over? Albion people won't hold a grudge anymore once they see you return with the King, will you return to Albion and live in the palace again?"
Thinking about it Logan shook his head, "Even if I am forgiven that castle is no longer my home, I am not sure what I shall do next, maybe travel? I am still searching for that place where I belong."
Listening Tali scooted closer, "Well, if we win and things calm down I could use a advisor, who better than a former King who can help me with rebuilding my kingdom."
Taken by surprise Logan turned to Tali, "You would trust me? Even after the thing I did when I was king?"
"You were given difficult choices, perhaps together we could make Samarkand grand once more?" Tali smiled getting a smile back.
"How can I refuse her majesty's request, perhaps I shall take you up on that offer," Logan smiled seeing lights approaching in the distance, and pointed, "I see the farm."
"Where exactly are we going anyway?" Tali asked looking back to the sleeping Saker and Echo.
"The famous Honeyholm Farms, its honey is very famous for its healing properties, it is most commonly used in healing potions, though the production has been brought to a halt very recently, I wonder why," Logan spoke aloud hearing thunder and seeing Corruption spreading around them and a red mist surround the area.
"Huh? What? What happen?" Saker spoke sitting right up and looking around.
Bringing the cart to a halt, Logan hopped off with the others drawing their weapons and cautiously approached the farm where they noticed massive hives covering the barn and building on the farm.
"These aren't bee hives," Echo spoke watching a black corruption drip from one of the hives, "these resemble wasp hives but...also some bee-like formation too what were the bee farmers doing here?"
Looking under a wagon Saker raised a brow picking up a stick and dragging out a dead large wasp-like creature with a massive stinger, "what the bloody hell is that?"
Approaching Echo studied the bug lifting one of its wings, "This looks like a wasp but...the stinger bigger, and that head crest, I have never seen an insect like this before."
Grabbing the stinger Tali pulled watching the stinger pull out some of the bug's venom sack, "wasps stingers aren't attached to a sack like that, that a bee trait, is this a crossbreed?"
"That seems very likely, but what bloody moron would crossbreed bees and wasps?" Saker asked hearing the growing sound of collective humming.
"Is that?" Tali asked turning to her companions who all drew their weapons.
"Looks like the hive here," Saker growled seeing Corrupted Stingers forming a massive red cluster.
Among the Stingers Elite soldier drone with distinctive head shapes joined the swarms that then flew towards the heroes.
"Don't let them sting you! Inferno!" Logan yelled launching a burst of flames into the swarm making it split in two.
Running through the village with a swarm on their tail Tali and Saker could see the whole entire farm was covered by the Stinger's hives, every building had been taken over by the hives.
Launching a firework spell Saker noticed a bee smoker on the ground quickly grabbing it and launching smoke at the swarm that made some fall to the ground twitch on the ground.
Quickly crushing the fallen stinger under their boots Tali looked around for where the main hive must be seeing Logan and Echo hopping over a fence with a swarm after them.
The swarms then stop their attack, all the insects lifting their tails and shaking them like rattles while all making a screeching noise that made the ground shake where in the middle of the farm the ground cracked leaking corruption.
Slowly rising from the ground a massive Rhino beetle-like monster with a mask forming around its massive horn, the armor that hid its wings then slowly opened allowing Stringers to fly out then crawling out and onto the Messenger's head the Stinger Queen who lacked wings stung its stinger into the Messenger's neck.
"Oh bloody hell! The damn thing is working with the queen!" Saker growled watching the venom the Queen injected to make the Messenger twitch and grunt, the body expanding in muscle mass and armor.
"It would appear the Queen formed a parasitic relationship with the agent, I see no weak points we can exploit!" Echo growled joining the other heroes as the Messenger towered over them with the swarm humming behind it.
"I see the weakness, the Queen!" Tali spoke seeing that the queen was not protected by the Messenger armor but was protected by the massive horn, "We will have to have precise aim to hit the bitch!"
"I think I have a solution," Saker grinned pulling out some bombs and tying them to the bee smoker he grabbed.
Looking at the bombs in Saker's hands Logan looked around then looked to where the queen was and how small the space was, then looked to Echo's staff, "Echo how's your aim?"
Getting what he meant Echo nodded, "Pretty decent, but visibility will be hard I don't know if I'll hit her on the first try," she spoke truthfully gripping her staff as the Messenger began to charge at them.
"Looks like we will have to trust your aim! Move!" Tali yelled the heroes quickly moving from the Messenger's path, with the swarm closing in on Saker through the bombs in the air where Logan threw an Inferno fireball creating an explosion that covered the farm in a thick cloud of smoke.
Growling the Messenger tried to see through the thick cloud seeing the faint figures running around turning its attention to a female figure it didn't see Saker who came from the side and punched the creature across the mask.
A firework and light spell then hit the beast's horn allowing Saker to punch again and snap off the horn, grabbing the horn from the mud Saker vanished into the smoke before the Messenger could slam one of its legs down on him.
Making a clicking noise the Messenger saw a figure directly in front of it, buzzing the agent charged at the figure slamming into it, and smashed it into the mud.
Attacking the figure the Messenger didn't realize it was attacking a scarecrow till it was too late and Echo came from the side tackling the Queen from its head and ripping out its venom sack and creating an opening for the heroes.
Slamming her pole down the Queen's skull, Logan and Tali launched a combined spell into the Queen Stinger venom sack making the Messenger squeal out stumbling backward as the Corruption around its head burned off.
Hearing a yell the Messenger looked up to see Saker in the air with its horn in his hands and with all his strength Saker stabbed the horn deep into the beetle head and out of under its body.
Clicking and twitching the bug began to stumble around before crashing into the mud where sunlight began to shine down from the raincloud burning away the corruption it had spread.
Once the smoke cleared Echo shook bug blood off her hands in disgusting looking around to see the Stinger hives have all dropped to the ground seeming to have died along with the Queen.
"When I save my brother, we will have to make a full report of what happened to this place," Logan spoke picking up a dead Elite Stinger before tossing it.
"Do these things even make any honey?" Tali spoke approaching a hive and slicing into it removing a chunk of its hive and exposing the honeycomb with a sticky bronze honey dripping out.
"Maybe they hoped the healing factor would be two times as powerful?" Saker spoke dipping a finger into the honey before trying it, the moment the flavor touched his tongue the man gagged spitting the honey, "fucking hell! That is the most repulsive honey I ever tried!"
Curious Logan took a tiny taste his face also retracting in disgust, "Yeah it's very bitter, nothing like the raw honey the bees made in the past."
"Should we burn the hives? To be safe?" Echo asked looking around and seeing no sign of the farmers, concluding the farmers were either killed or fled when the crossbreed took over.
"Too risky, it could spread to the forest, once we get Adam home we can send an extermination team to do an investigation here, perhaps the honey may have some new healing or alchemical properties we are not aware of," Logan spoke stepping on dead Stingers to get back to the road.
"Hurry, make haste to Thorndeep Forest, the people of Scratchvein Village are in dire need of your help," Gabriel spoke as the heroes saw their horse-drawn carriage approach the end of the farm.
"Thorndeep, I've heard some interesting things about that place," Saker spoke hopping into the back of the carriage with Echo.
"Don't think the Stingers left the farm do you?" Tali asked taking her seat at the front next to Logan.
"Knowing bugs it is very likely, we must be cautious, we don't know what the venom these little bastards could do to a human," Logan spoke whipping the reigns to get the horse on the move towards their next stop.