What is Honor Worth? Pt. 2/3

The man-bull was never one to fear anything. And yet, fear was exactly what he felt standing across from the old Lich. A strange sort of fear. He didn't find it crippling, nor did it put him on edge. Instead, it seemed to heighten all his senses. Made his thoughts clear and unencumbered. Perhaps… it wasn't fear at all. Maybe it was something more primal.

Stranger still, however, was the fact that the Lich had no intention of attacking him. It had listened with rapt attention as he told his story. Of brotherhood forged in the fires of war. Of his battle-brother's death at the hand bandits. Of the kidnap of his battle-brother's wife and child for ransom. Of how it came to be that the very forces he and his battle-brother once fought for now refused to help. And… how it was the man-bull set out alone to rescue them.

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As the old king listened to the horned giant in front of him, he discovered a few pieces of information he regarded as important. Firstly, the Lich discovered that the minotaur fought in a war against his people, the Ayleids. And more importantly, his people had lost said war.

'That should put me sometime in the early First Era.'

The old Lich wasn't certain how many years had passed since the war, as the man-bull hadn't said. Given his people's loss, however, he was certain that the force his new associate had fought for was the Allessians.

Or rather, an army formed from slaves who his people had treated no better than animals… well, worse than animals. That's what the Gamers knowledge told him at any rate. Furthermore, it meant the year was somewhere around 1E 243.

'It's fascinating how well I seem to remember such things.'

That was second. The old Lich's memory was flawless. Granted, it would take him time to sort through all the Gamer's memories… but his recall was nothing short of extraordinary. In the past, he had to use magic for such things. Now, he found himself growing impatient to test whether that recall applied to new information as well. At the very least, it would save him a bit of effort.

'Fascinating or not, the man before me is quite impressive.'

From the man-bulls fighting prowess, too his loyalty to his friend, the old king found himself impressed. Few would fight an enemy with greater numbers. Alone, at that. The man-bull was either very brave… or very stupid. The old king couldn't quite decide which applied in this instance.

Despite his thoughts though, he listened on. When the horned giant finished speaking, the old Lich remained silent for a few minutes before commenting upon such a valorous tale. Or rather… asking a blatantly obvious question.

"What if your efforts are in vain, hmm? The woman and child could already be dead. What will you do then?"

Without so much as an ounce of hesitation, the horned giant responded.

"Then their spirits may rest easy, as their killers shall soon follow."

The Lich couldn't help but chuckle at that. The man-bulls confidence in his skills was commendable.

"Well spoken."

Striking his staff against the ground in a show of respect, the old king spoke in a formal tone of voice.

"I am Magrann, former ruler of the City of Miscarcand. And… I would hear your name, Child of Kyne!"

Perhaps it was his current state of undeath, or maybe it was the fact that the man-bull had never been addressed in such a manner, the horned giant couldn't help but give the old lich, Magrann a strange look before replying.

"I am Gallus, former General to the Slave Queen, Alessia."

Nodding his head, Magrann spoke in a wistful tone.

"Fate is a funny thing, isn't it Gallus? In another life… you and I would likely have been enemies. Now, however… I find myself in need of people like you. Loyal. Brave. Skilled.

The Lich shook his head before continuing.

"Your former comrades are fools for not helping you."

His body beginning to float in the air, Magrann then spoke the words Gallus had been secretly hoping for.

"I will not share in their mistake."

As Magrann's words fell, the dead he raised fell in line behind him.

"Lead the way Gallus. I will follow."

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