The Power of Ten

Chapter 8-229: Please, No Offense Meant

“,” I introduced us formally in Necrus, switching to the language of the undead comfortably. “<Which honored sage of the ghouls of Leng am I speaking to?>”

The bent and crouching ghoul, form radiating a craven nature and subservience, underwent a change as it slowly straightened up, rising to a height of nearly seven feet tall to look at us with something approaching decorum.

“<It is rare to find a civilized person in this place, Lady Traveler>,” the ghoul returned, and even etched a bow that would have gone over much better if it had been in formal garb. “”

“<Learned Woodrow>,” I inclined my head. Its sibilant voice was still skin-crawling, as was that foot-long tongue it didn’t seem able to control, but I looked past it aloofly. “<Your people seem like they want to get in my way. Given that they’ve been eliminating the undead that have been coming through, I’m inclined to ignore them and let them continue with their harvesting of the walking meals, but they seem to be intent on committing suicide instead?>”

It was regarding us carefully, particularly leery of the Heavenly auras about us that fairly radiated anathema to its kind. “<My apologies. Though your conveyance is... remarkable for this place and time, it did not possess sufficient threat to warn them away. After all, the great weakness of such machines is always those who use them, is it not?>”

“<Ah.>” He retreated a half-step at that syllable of mine, and the way it made the air quiver. “<So, you need a show of power, Learned Woodrow?>” I asked, and magic hummed in the air, every thread and mote tapping and playing in time to the cadence of my words and their syllables.

To a spellcaster, it would feel like all of magic was starting to Sing, and when that Song is in Necrus, it’s not very encouraging.

Especially to the undead, when the magic is glowing.

I extended my hand, and flicked up one Shard. It hung there like a crystal teardrop, jet and silver, humming softly on the threads of magic.

The ghoul sage pursed its lips. It was just a Shard...