n

n

nDay 14 (in-game)

nBaaturik Town, The Southwestern Lowlands

nStatus: finally, seriously, right now, heading out to Cerkanst

n*

nAfter Krow's assistance with the defense of Baaturik, the merast and council were more than willing to ferry him to Cerkanst the day after.

nLike in Karukorm, he was given a room in the First Tower.

nHe had some suspicion though, that unlike the council of Karukorm, who gave him the room as an honor to the person who brought their merast's clan member back, the council of Baaturik gave him a room in the administrative tower so they could have the guards keep an eye on him.

nKrow didn't blame them.

nA near-calamity happened, and then a stranger popped up promptly to offer the very solution?

nHah.

nLuck like that did not fall out of the sky.

nHe yawned.

nIf he was scheming against the town, he would've arrived later, when they were more desperate. They would've been willing to give him a Galedrifter outright, if he'd done that.

nThat logic, coupled with his willingness to fight, was likely the reason he hadn't found armed sentinels posted outside his door.

nKrow stretched his limbs as he followed his guide through the streets brightening by the rising of the warm summer sun.

nIt had snowed last night, the first snow of Grandcentral City this winter.

nHe was glad to feel sun on his skin after waking at two a.m. realworld time to find that it was even colder this morning than all the other mornings he had to wake up for a game-session.

nThe galedrifter stables were on a large stone pillar at the outer edge of the town.

n

"This is Jarchiar,

" the council clerk Arkhai, who'd accosted Krow when he was not five steps out of his room, introduced the draculkar waiting for them at the base of the pillar.

nKrow checked his clocks again.

nSure enough, it was 8 a.m. in-game time.

nOr did draculkar in the lowlands wake up earlier than those in the highlands?

n

"He is the windrider that will take you to where you need to go.

"

nKrow greeted his assigned pilot politely. Then asked, enthusiastically enough that it amused his two older companions,

"What can you tell me about Galedrifters? How about your mount? How fast can it fly?

"

nThe galedrifters were housed in pavilions that had platforms built over open air.

nA galedrifter with wings retracted looked very much like a massive scaly horned slug.

n

"This is Zizi,

" Jarchiar patted the galedrifter lounging on its stable-pavilion in the morning sun.

"She's a beauty, eh?

"

nKrow agreed.

nJarchiar's galedrifter was one of the smaller ones, five meters from horns to the tailbone, a strong contrast of black and white in the patterns running along its back and the thick front edge of its wings.

nZizi had already been readied for flight.

nKrow dubiously eyed the flimsy-looking seat-harness that ran down the stretch of the galedrifter's back.

nJarchiar laughed.

"The safety enchants on the flight-saddles are numerous, as with all flying mounts. Don't worry; it will be safer and more comfortable than riding a jolting carriage.

"

nAnother good reason to prefer a winged mount, Krow thought – there won't be any bumpy roads.

nA galedrifter, according to Jarchiar, was docile, ate insects and plants, and was easy to care for, with no excessive requirements.

n

"They do need to be exercised,

" Jarchiar added,

"but you can just let them free of the stables and they'll fly around as much as they want. Windriders who connect well with their mounts need never fear that their 'drifters wouldn't return.

"

nOh, did he need a skill for this?

nAnd he forgot to factor in the windriding tack and flight training into the purchase Contract.

nKrow kicked himself mentally.

nThat's what he got for being so excited and missing the obvious.

nHe couldn't change the contract now. The head of the Galedrifters Association was reluctant enough to sell him the one.

nBut it wasn't like it was difficult to negotiate for training – the Association would never allow one of their precious mounts to end up in the hands of someone who didn't know how to care for it.

nHe could deal with the oversight later.

n

"I heard you were buying one of our 'drifters?

" Jarchiar offered him a riding vest, sleeveless, which had also been as enchanted as the saddle.

nThere were straps running around the vest, with metal rings and loops for attachment to the saddle. It looked very gothic in fashion, to Krow's amusement.

nNot only the landscape, even the clothing in Redlands had aesthetic.

n

"I'll return for it in some months,

" Krow admitted, putting on the offered piece of clothing. The bone-white vest actually went very well over the Travelcoat.

nKrow frowned briefly. His fashion wasn't gothic, was it?

nNo way.

nHe put it out of his mind. He didn't have fashion.

nHe patted the side of the galedrifter, impressed. They weren't feathered monsters, so the hide felt rough and leathery, despite the black and white patterned scales.

nThe scales weren't hard and smooth like keratin and bone. They were instead rugged and flexible, thick and tough, much like Krow imagined rhino-hide would feel like.

nJarchiar hummed thoughtfully. He didn't say anymore, but vaulted up to the front-most seat of the saddle. He called down.

"Come on, then!

"

nZizi waved its horns at him – they were fleshy and flexible like the cephalic lobes of the manta ray. Unlike the ray, the horizontal slit-pupil eyes of the galedrifter were on the side of the head, not on the lobes.

nKrow more cautiously climbed up the leather strapping that circled the retracted wings.

nThe seats behind Jarchiar's were wider, cushioned leather. From the rigging of the seats, there was enough room for four people behind the front-most harness of the pilot.

n

"Take these straps and attach them here, and here…

" Jarchiar led him through the semi-complicated straps. It was easy enough to memorize in one sitting.

nDespite the complicated straps, they didn't get in the way.

nAnd after, Krow realized he could stand on the back of the galedrifter and walk around the saddle-platform freely. If he slipped, the straps would return him to the saddle.

nJarchiar answered his questions patiently, as he returned to the front seat.

n

"Ready?

"

nKrow slid into the seat behind Jarchiar, anticipation rising.

"Definitely!

"

nJarchiar took out a whistle and blew a long low note. The galedrifter slowly rose, moving so its claws gripped the edge of the pavilion, then launched itself off the platform.

nThey dropped.

nKrow's eyes widened as they rose off their seats for a moment, suspended in air.

nThen long pale narrow wings unfurled from the galedrifter body, eleven meters of tough cartilage covered in flesh and hide from tip to tip, caught the wind and lofted them upward.

nHe'd only seen galedrifters from afar before, but he knew that despite the delicate looks of the creature, they were capable of carrying up to seven tonnes of weight.

nKrow waved as they lifted past the platform.

"Thank you!

"

nThe council clerk who undoubtedly had been sent to observe him lifted a hand in response, watched them rise with some of the other windriders.

nThe grand vistas of the draculkar nation spread out before them, horizon to horizon, as they ascended on a raft of air.

nThe galedrifter tilted as they topped a peak and oriented northward.

nWind ruffled Krow's hair as he leaned over to see the spires of Baaturik and the more military-inclined embattled towers of Tegrikan Fort grow small as twigs under them.

nThe safety enchants on the windrider rig lessened the slash of the high airstreams on the windriders. This pleased Krow, who had learned the hard way to keep to the leeward side of the ridges he traversed through the highlands if he didn't want serious windburn.

nBaaturik was not yet out of sight, when the galedrifter jerked, nearly throwing Krow out of his seat.

nHe grabbed a leather strap, turning to Jarchiar. The windrider was leaning the other, way frown evident. Then his eyes widened and he cursed virulently.

nKrow followed his glare, to see a flock of large birds flapping to intercept. Above them, one of the smaller ones was swinging around, obviously aggressive.

nThe sudden jolt was now apparent to be the galedrifter avoiding the large hawk's first attack.

nIt nosedived, like a red and brown comet.

nA whistle from Jarchiar and Zizi tilted until her wings were nearly vertical. They curved an arc in the air.

nThe hawk blasted past them, and Krow saw the figure on the hawk's back for the first time.

nAn ambush.

nKrow drew his revolver, aimed and snapped off a shot at the hawk.

nIt went wide, the speed of the hawk and the wind in alliance to thwart Krow's intentions.

nTsk.

nKrow aimed again, tracking slowly, the frowning while trying to mentally approximate the wind speed. Darkspears actually consumed the solid material of the bullet as it flies.

nThe bullets had a range of effectiveness, that was barely enough for this encounter.

nThis was where he'd need a rifle.

nThe darkspear was close enough to ruffle the hawk's feathers this time, but still a massive miss.

nShould he have taken Jori's uncle's cousin-in-law's offer of sniper lessons?

nProbably not.

nThe gleam in the cousin-in-law's eyes and the massive face-splitting grin he had when he offered said plainly, there were wagers in place.

nBut shkav, he regretted not taking the lessons now.

nHis third darkspear clipped a flight feather and the hawk flapped frantically, slanting out of its circling path.

nZizi pitched again.

nThe other birds, eight in all, had caught up to them.

nOne of them had a banner on its chest, emblazoned with a circular design.

nHow many flying mounts were in the draculkar nation, precisely?

n

"Jarchiar? That symbol?

"

n

"House of Kuzhukai,

" the windrider called back.

"Of Urvasid Keep!

"

nA dispute between lords then.

n

"It's us or them, right?

"

nJarchiar glanced back at him.

"I don't think they'll stop! Urvasid Keep is our major rival for sky-transport contracts.

"

n

"Aren't those battle-mounts?

"

nJarchiar shook his head.

"Redbreasted Hawks! They're bred from the Redmaned Eagle, the battle-mount.

"

nKrow aimed at the nearest hawk.

nHe shot two darkspears.

nThey missed, but one of them clipped a hawk behind the leader, and it spiraled downward.

nSeven more.

nZizi banked to evade a charge.

nKrow could see that compared to the hawks, Zizi was slow, her movements graceful but less maneuverable.

nA galedrifter was more dependent on the wind currents than any bird monster, unable to bank as fast or as tightly.

nBut Jarchiar had positioned them against the wind.

nThey rose.

nThey had more advantages in the higher altitudes, where the hawks shorter wings would struggle to hold them aloft in the less dense air, where the cold would freeze feathers.

nBut right now, they were vulnerable.

nKrow moved to the tail end of the seat-harness, where the galedrifter wings, narrow as they were, didn't obstruct his sightlines as much.

nHe aimed.

nIf he couldn't be precise, then he'd just give them more bullets. All the bullets!

nSwap cylinders, then start again.

nConserving ammunition? Hah! What even was that concept?!

nReload again!

nMore bullets!

nHe stopped to refill his cylinders.

n

"Jarchiar!

"

n

"We're on the high skyroads now!

" Jarchiar yelled back.

"They won't be following long!

"

nKrow smiled when he saw that the hawks were keeping their distance. Embarrassingly, of the eight, five were still flying.

nUgh.

nHe really needed to work on his accuracy.

nMost of his battles had been closer range than this, and didn't need precision so much.

nEven the wind problem was fine when he was fighting lichenyaks, because they were so close he barely needed to aim.

nThe hawks made a charge, rising high to swoop downward in tight formation.

nKrow sent a hail of darkspears at them, and one hawk broke rank to slam into a second.

nThe rest evaded, and the formation fell back, lower.

nHe could almost feel their riders' frustration.

nThere was no chance now of attack. The galedrifter soared too high.

nKrow dropped onto his seat, started refilling the emptied cylinders.

nJarchiar turned to watch him. After a long moment, he asked,

"How long have you had that gun?

"

nKrow sighed. He knew already, alright?!

n

"How long before we get there?

"

nJarchiar chuckled, but allowed Krow to change the subject.

"Couple hours, but you won't mind if we circle back to Baaturik first?

"

n

"It's fine.

"

nOf course Jarchiar needed to report the attack. And if the attackers were so close, it was imperative to be done sooner.

nAt least now the suspicions of Krow orchestrating the Greatgnat attack would be put to rest.

nIt was mid-afternoon before they lofted again, joined by three other galedrifters with full complements of archers.

nThere were even two taking up the seats on Zizi's harness.

nThe journey this time was smooth and calm, though two of the galedrifters broke off and started circling the area of the attack.

nA signal went up, a long ribbon of red, and the last of the three joined in.

nZizi went on alone.

nThe archers and Jarchiar were good-natured enough to engage with Krow's incessant questions, mostly about the landscape they passed by, flying and flying mounts, and asking for stories they knew.

nBefore he knew it, Jarchiar was circling in a long slow path across the sky, calling back.

"Where's that map of yours again?

"

nKrow handed him the piece of paper, with Cerkanst marked on it.

n

"Thought so.

"

n

"What?

"

nJarchiar took out a piece of coal and marked the map. He handed it back to Krow.

n

"We're heading down now. Right there.

" He tapped the mark on the map.

"Nearest place we can land.

"

n

"Are you staying the night?

"

nJarchiar shook his head.

"Clear night. As long as Enilhadrad shines, it's no hardship flying at nightfall. We have to get back, in any case. They'll be needing Zizi there, no doubt.

"

nKrow nodded.

nZizi landed with a graceful swoop, slowly retracting her wings. Oh, they could actually flap.

nThe tall pillar she landed on swayed a little, before settling.

nKrow leaned over to look at the unstable rock formation.

nThere was really no other place nearby?

nHe jumped off quickly, before the pillar decided that a galedrifter was more than it could bear.

nWith shouts goodbye ringing in the air, Zizi launched off again.

nKrow adjusted his weight on the rock pillar.

nOn a swaying lonely spire of crumbling stone, Krow watched galedrifter wings catch the evening moonlight, looking like a pale crescent slashed against the darkening sky.

n