Herald of Shalia 2, page 24
“Handsome!” Brynn yelled as an Arachne pressed a spear against her neck. The group hissed orders at each other as they drew their weapons. “They don’t speak our language!”
There were four high-level Rilian soldiers bound in webbing along with the two princesses. The fact they were taken rather than killed suggested the Arachne had plans. He had no idea what those plans were, but they certainly had plans.
“Do you understand intent?” Frost pointed at the two women while drawing his sword. The Arachne dragoon in charge seemed to get the idea of what he was asking for and took a position between him and the women indicating she had no intention of giving them up. “That’s not smart.”
“Hssisth fftth,” the Arachne shook her head while pulling out her large barbed spear. She gestured at the women and then at her own feet indicating she intended to keep them.
“Herald Frost,” Desdemona sniffled. “I’m so sorry!”
“No need to apologize,” Frost said while calmly scanning the women. The spellweavers already moved into formation behind the dragoons and at the center of their group was a saint. The formation was concerning as was the fact they had both Brynn and Desdemona as hostages. “Everything will be okay.”
“Handsome,” Brynn said nervously as one of the Arachne spellweavers began chanting. Brynn and Desdemona were both quickly covered in small fiery spiders. “Ew, ew, ew, ew.”
“This is unpleasant,” Frost grumbled while carefully considering his next move. The priority was the women but he didn’t have any spells or abilities that’d allow him to protect them. He could use paralysis but it was single target, fireballs wouldn’t work for obvious reasons, and that many high-level opponents could easily break a barrier.
“Hssrrag Graath!” the Arachne leader yelled while gesturing at his sword and the ground. “Hssrrag Graath!”
“Hssrag Graath yourself you fucking idiot!” Frost snapped furiously while realizing she wanted him to put down his weapon. “I don’t speak your fucking language!”
Frost felt a sudden swell of knowledge pop into his head. Nothing particularly useful but the knowledge that Hssrag Gratth meant put down your weapon. He activated his personal scan while keeping an eye on the Arachne and sorted through his abilities until he found it. While it was level zero, the Arachne language ability was available. He used ten of his free ability points to level the ability to four.
“Put down your weapons!” the Arachne yelled again. “We’ll kill them!”
“If you harm them, I’ll hunt down every one of your kind and burn you alive,” Frost threatened using his newly discovered vernacular. The Arachne closed their ranks more tightly and prepared for battle. “They are my wives.”
“You know our language?” the Arachne asked as she scanned him. “Then put down your weapons! You may be level sixty but you’re only a fighter. You have no support and we have hostages. If you surrender you may yet live.”
“I am Herald Frost,” Frost said while pointing at Brynn and Desdemona. “Those are my wives. Do what you want to your other prisoners but those two are mine.”
“These two are the ones we want,” the Arachne said while stepping back. She shifted her language slightly so Frost couldn’t quite follow. It seemed like an old dialect and several of the Arachne started to shift their positions like they were preparing to flee. “We can’t hand them over.”
“Then you’re going to die,” Frost said coldly. “And not just you. I’ll burn this entire forest to the ground and I’ll cut down any Arachne that scurries out.”
“H-handsome,” Brynn cried like a child as the magic imbued spiders crawled on her face. “P-please help. I have no idea what you’re all s-saying but p-please make it stop.”
“Herald Frost,” Desdemona whined. “I don’t want to die! I just met you! I want to go back to your village!”
“Quiet demon,” one of the Arachne jabbed Desdemona with the butt of her spear.
“Strike Des again and you die first,” Frost warned the Arachne while summoning a fireball into his hand. “I already told you that she’s my wife.”
“Wife,” the Arachne in charge looked at the two women. “Which one?”
“Both of them,” Frost answered angrily. “You’ve all kidnapped the wives of a herald. Do you understand that?”
“F-frost,” Brynn cried loudly as the spiders continued to scurry around. “Make it stop!”
“She wants those spiders off her,” Frost gestured at Brynn. “She’s going to keep crying as long as they’re there.”
“They’re there so you don’t interfere,” the Arachne said callously. “Leave and we’ll remove them. You will get your wives back once the King of Rilia pays the ransom.”
“That’s what this is about?” Frost said angrily. “Ransom? What’s the ransom? I’ll fucking pay it!”
“You are unable to pay it and it’s none of your concern,” the Arachne answered while gesturing at the women. Two of the Arachne lifted the princesses up and prepared to run off with them.
“Stop,” a voice said authoritatively as four Arachne dropped from above. Three black and one red. The red Arachne looked remarkably similar to Lishri except her crimson hair was braided. “You’re late for the rendezvous Slitha.”
“My lady,” Slitha and the other Arachne all bowed as the crimson one towered over them. Frost’s scan revealed that she was a level sixty-five dragoon. “We were waylaid by this man. He claims to be a herald.”
“The Herald of Shalia I believe,” the crimson Arachne said. She was about two feet taller than the rest of them and her skin was white as snow. Her carapace, hair, and eyes were redder than a pile of rubies. “But tell me Slitha, what do you see when you look at him?”
“He’s a level sixty fighter,” Slitha answered while staring at him. He could feel her six onyx eyes examining every inch of him as the red Arachne waited for answers. “He’s wearing wyvern leather, an enchanted cloak, and wielding a dark iron sword in his right hand. He’s right-handed but his knives and the pouch on his belt are on his left suggesting that he uses his offhand for items and ranged weapons.”
“Very good,” the red Arachne pattered her head like a proud mother. “Now, I want you to look more closely at the enchanted cloak.”
“My lady?” Slitha glanced at the red Arachne then back at Frost. “What? Where did you get that?”
“Where indeed?” the red Arachne smiled showing her sharp fangs. “Herald Frost, where did you get a cloak like that?”
“It was a wedding present,” Frost said while examining the gorgeous cloak Lishri crafted for him. “An Arachne named Lishri made it for me.”
“Lishri?” Slitha asked. “The traitor?”
Several of the Arachne whispered to each other while staring at the cloak. He wondered what she meant by traitor but they didn’t seem to be angry so much as confused.
“Traitor is a rather strong word,” the red Arachne sighed. “How is Lishri?”
“Happy,” Frost answered while debating on whether them calling Lishri a traitor was a bad sign. “Why is she a traitor?”
“She betrayed Sthilinna,” an Arachne chimed in. “Nobody betrays Sthilinna.”
“She worships Ziralia,” another answered.
“As I said,” the red Arachne laughed. “Traitor is a strong word. Nonbeliever would be better. Lishri is a pacifist and most of our quarrels are solved by combat. It’s understandable that she found Ziralia’s sense of justice appealing.”
“By combat you say?” Frost grinned wickedly as he realized that if he didn’t need to worry about interference he could probably win against the large red Arachne. Even higher-level inhabitants of the world rarely used their abilities optimally. “Is that one on one combat?”
“Herald Frost,” the red Arachne walked toward him fearlessly. Her lips curled and eyes filled with excitement. “Are you thinking of challenging me?”
“I want my wives back,” Frost said. “If that’s how I…”
“I would love to fight you,” the red Arachne’s fanged smile was unnerving. “To defeat a herald in combat would surely please the goddess. But at this time, I must decline. While I am confident that I’d walk away victorious, I would not walk away without injury. And as the acting guardian of our tribe I must put their interests before my desires. Would you be open to discussing a peaceful resolution instead, or should we prepare for battle?”
“F-Frost,” Brynn was practically a puddle of tears. “Any day now.”
“If you want to discuss terms then start by releasing Brynn and Desdemona,” Frost answered. “Consider it an act of goodwill.”
“Slitha,” the red Arachne gestured at the women. “Release them.”
“But Lady Chasa,” Slitha objected. “If we release them then…”
“Slitha,” Chasa stared at the black Arachne threateningly. “Would you like to challenge me?”
“No, my lady,” Slitha gestured at the spellweavers to remove the magical spiders from the weeping bard and anxious demoness. One of the dragoons sliced through the webbing, releasing the women. “I apologize.”
“F-finally,” Brynn trembled and spasmed while scratching herself. Every step she took toward Frost was nearly a stumble as Desdemona moved to assist her. “Y-you b-bastard.”
“Is it okay?” Desdemona asked while glancing around. Neither of the women were privy to the conversation so their confusion was only natural. “What’s going on?”
“It’s fine,” Frost said as Desdemona slowly walked toward him. He pulled out some of his spare cloaks and tossed them over the disheveled women. He pulled out a pair of belts allowing Brynn and Desdemona to secure the oversized cloaks around their waists like robes. He patted Desdemona as she guiltily stared at the ground. “Are you okay?”
“W-why are you a-asking her first,” Brynn said as another shiver shot through her.
“Because you’re obviously not,” Frost laughed while leaning down and pecking Brynn’s forehead.
“I’m okay,” Desdemona said quietly. “I’m sorry for causing trouble. I know I said I wouldn’t.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Frost patted her head. “I’m happy you’re safe.”
“Now,” Lady Chasa approached the trio. “Might we discuss the terms of the exchange Herald Frost?”
“What’s she saying?” Desdemona asked. “How did you get us out of this?”
“I’ll explain later,” Frost said. “But everything’s fine. Probably.”
“You have an odd taste in wives Herald Frost,” Chasa said while glancing at the two women. “A human, an Arachne, and a demoness.”
“Yeah,” Frost said reflexively. “An Arachne?”
“Yes,” Chasa nodded. “I am admittedly curious about the relationship given the physical differences. But Lishri has always been slightly odd and that is the most beautiful marriage cover I’ve ever seen.”
“Is it really?” Frost said while gritting his teeth. “Marriage cover?”
“Why yes,” Chasa said happily. “A cloak woven from her fiber, bathed in her scent, decorated with words of love. Such an intimate gift is only offered by a wife to her husband.”
“Bathed in her scent?” Frost chuckled as he realized why Lishri crafted it on his wedding night. “Really?”
“Yes,” Chasa blushed. “I suppose she was embarrassed to explain the entire process of crafting such an intimate item. The quality is determined by her state of arousal. Given the quality, you must have found a way to please her immensely. Even my consorts will be jealous of such a fine garment. But it does beg the question, what’s she to do about children? It’s the responsibility of the red queens to bear children for their tribe.”
“I suppose we’ll adopt,” Frost answered while wondering exactly how official marriage was. He’d just accepted a cloak from her, it wasn’t like they agreed to become man and wife. Although it did explain her asking for the kiss and the adversely long hug. “Queen?”
“Lishri is one of the queens of our tribe,” Chasa answered. “Myself, Slakka, and Lishri. Any red queen is required to lay eggs and birth as many Arachne as possible. Those around us are my children and Slakka is currently nursing. Which brings us back to the problem at hand and the terms of the exchange.”
“Which are?” Frost asked.
“This forest borders on Rilia and Nir,” Chasa said while gesturing to the north and south. “Both countries view us as dangerous pests to be exterminated. Whenever they find one of our nests, they kill the consorts protecting it and burn the eggs. And ten last night Slakka overheard the Rilian’s discussing their plot to use the princess to get what they wanted and…”
“You decided to you could do the same,” Frost laughed.
“Yes,” Chasa said. “But now that we know she’s your wife I have a better idea.”
“A better idea?” Frost repeated.
“Yes,” Chasa said while flashing a fanged smile. She eyed him like a starving animal eyed food. “If we had the protection of a herald, we’d be safe. And since you’re Lishri’s husband you’re obligated to help us. We’re family.”
“You want me to protect you?” Frost asked while staring at the Amazonian Arachne women. He wasn’t sure how he felt about inviting a bunch of Arachne back to his forest but he wasn’t opposed to it. They were high-level and he could use the manpower. “How many Arachne and how much do you eat?”
“Only two hundred,” Chasa answered. “We mostly eat meat but not that much. Maybe a boar a month per Arachne?”
“Two hundred boars a month,” Frost started doing mental math. About fifty boars spawned a day on his side of the border so there’d be plenty leftover and there were other animals they could hunt as well. Then he was also gaining the Rilian side of the border and the southern strip that lead to the port town which meant there’d be more hunting grounds available. He couldn’t really see a reason why gaining a small army of high-level Arachne and access to their knowledge on classes could harm him. He turned to Brynn. “Brynn, if I accept a bunch of Arachne into my village, am I going to have any issues?”
“Excuse me?” Brynn shuddered while scratching her arm. “They just…after what they just…you can’t be serious!”
“My brother doesn’t like Arachne,” Desdemona said nervously. “He views them as dangerous.”
“Zira tolerates them mostly,” Brynn said begrudgingly. “And Lishri is sweet.”
“This is Lishri’s sister Chasa,” Frost gestured at Chasa. He figured it was better to mention that than explain to her that by Arachne customs he’d married Lishri. “Her plan was to get Desdemona and use her to bargain with King Asmund. Now she wants to come live with us instead. Thoughts?”
“They breed really quickly,” Brynn answered. “There’s a reason everybody burns their nests. If left to grow, they’d overrun entire territories and devour everything. The southern continent is pretty much overrun with them. We’d have to regulate their breeding.”
“That seems awfully barbaric,” Frost said pensively. “I mean, as long as they don’t expect me to care for their babies what do I care?”
“You’re joking,” Brynn glared at him. “You won’t put a baby in me but you’re okay with her laying a hundred eggs a year!”
“You lay a hundred eggs a year?” Frost asked Chasa. The Arachne nodded politely. “That means that you’re basically going to double in size in a year if your sister also lays eggs. That’s not counting if you have new queens.”
“Birthing a queen is very difficult,” Chasa said politely. “At most I can birth three queens in my lifetime so that shouldn’t be an issue as I’ve already birthed one and she’s since passed.”
“Sorry to hear that,” Frost said reflectively. “Alright, I mean, I guess I can make this work. But the whole trial by combat thing isn’t going to work in my territory. If you don’t like my rules, you can leave my territory. You’d serve me.”
“Would you expect us to be servants?” Chasa’s six unblinking eyes stared at him.
“Not servants,” Frost answered. “You’d be treated the same as anybody else in my territory. You’re going to have jobs, responsibilities, and if you hurt any of my elves you’re going to be in trouble.”
“What if they hurt us first,” Slitha said crossly. “Are we just expected to sit back and take it?”
“My elves won’t hurt you,” Frost said defensively. “But if they do just let Lishri know and she’ll let me know.”
“Why can’t we let you know,” Slitha said angrily. “Are we beneath you?”
“Fucking hell it’s an Arachne Ena,” Frost groaned in his normal language so they couldn’t understand him. “Fine, you can tell me. But I’m not around all of the time and since none of you seem to speak the language and Lishri does, she can help take care of it.”
“Slakka and I both speak your language so we can also help,” Chasa said. “We have a deal Herald Frost. If you’d come along to our village, we can let everybody know we’re moving.”
“Shit,” Frost grumbled while glancing at Desdemona. “That’s not an option. I need to get Des back to King Asmund before he starts executing innocents to get information.”
“Herald Frost,” Chasa glared at him. “We need an escort if we’re going to travel through Rilia to your land. Without an escort we’re likely to be harmed.”
“Dammit,” Frost sighed. She was probably right. They needed an escort who could explain the situation. If Slade were around, he’d probably have him do it. But at the moment there was only one person available. “Brynn, I need you to go with the Arachne and help them get packed up. After that you should have them meet us outside of the east gate of the capital.”
“You’re j-joking,” Brynn said nervously. “No, no, no. I’ll escort Desdemona b-back to the capital. You escort the Arachne. They c-covered me in tiny spiders handsome. I’m still itchy.”
“Brynn,” Frost looked at her judgmentally. “We both know that you won’t be able to protect Desdemona if she’s targeted again. And these assholes are going to come looking for her. You support. Just support the Arachne.”
