Page 137 of I Ran Away to Evil
Rufus’s response was unexpected. “That’s the thing. We don’tknow.”
“What do you mean, you don’t know?” Keith demanded. “Is everyone dead?”
Rufus shook his head. “No, the front line against Drendil is sitting tight. They’ve just not actuallyseenDrendil’s army. We’re all just … waiting.”
“Give me a second. I should have just done this in the first place.” Keith opened up his [Mind Map], showing where his constructs were. He selected a mouse that was supposed to be following the army. It was rubbing its face in a field by Lake Loria, far south of the first line of defense. “Foolish of me to expect any competency from Drendil.”
From what he could see, they were in the Dark Enchanted Forest. Just, stopped. All along the road, soldiers dressed in Drendil attire sat or stood. Somewere arguing. Some were yelling. Some had already been dragged off and deposited back at the border.
Keith popped out of the mouse golem and back to himself.
“Let’s go see what’s happening.”
Henrietta and Keith drank a few potions, grabbed a snack, and took a bathroom break before they left. Ria came back with a clean outfit. She’d changed into a loose white tunic and dark-green vest, with pants and shin-high black boots. Her hair was pulled back into a poofy bun at the nape of her neck.
“Ready?” Keith asked, reaching out a hand to the princess.
Ria nodded and let Keith pick her up by scooping one arm under her thighs. Her arms wrapped around his neck and plucked at his tunic. “You know, I could get used to flying like this.”
Keith swallowed nervously, thankful that his tunic had survived the fight that morning with all his buttons still intact. “I’ll see if I can’t take us flying sometimes. By the Great Wyrm Who Breathes Air into the Sky, [Flight].”
They rose into the air, traveling south. The high-level spell had taken a good chunk of his mana an hour later when they reached Chloe and Julia at the line of defense closest to the castle.
Henrietta hopped down and went forward to greet the couple while Keith used the opportunity to replenish his mana with a potion.
“I would have expected you to be at the front line?” Ria told Chloe. “To deal with the recovery right away.”
The necromancer flicked her long blonde hair behind her. “That’s what my new team was trained for. The healers need the experience. If they can’t do it themselves, then I’ll have to step in, but in the meantime, we’ll stay back. I was honestly expecting a message by now …”
“Lieutenant Patina is in charge of the first line.” Julia chuckled. “That woman can strip the skin from your bones with her voice. She’ll have Knight Commander Havork begging for mercy.”
“I don’t know,” Henrietta countered. “I’ve fought with Sir Havork since I was a child; he’s stronger than he looks. He’s not as strong as I am, but it’s very close. I haven’t been able to beat him in a fair fight, even after I passed his level.”
“Really?” Chloe raised an eyebrow, but still looked unconcerned. Keith wondered what manner of class could defeat a Void-damage user. Maybe he’d ask Sir Havork. For reasons.
Even if he said no, there wasn’t anything stopping one of Keith’s constructs from following the human around and learning a thing or two.
“He’s much more experienced,” Ria explained. “It’s like he knows all my moves before I make them. I’m technically faster than he is, but I can barely land a hit. And when Ido, he usually blocks it with his [Absolute Shield] perk.”
Ah, that might have answered his question already. Still, he’d have the general followed back to the border.
“You haven’t received a message,” Keith interjected, addressing something Chloe had said earlier, “because last we heard, the Drendil army hasn’t evenreachedLieutenant Patina.”
“They haven’t reached the lake?” Julia frowned. “I know they’re a big army, but even that’s slow.”
“I bet Godmother woke up and ate them,” Chloe said. Keith knew she wasn’t being serious. If Feliwynhadwoken up, they’d have seen the smoke from here.
That dragon wasnota morning person. Even if “morning” was midafternoon on a warm spring day.
“How big?” Ria asked.
“Only about five hundred strong,” Keith answered. He’d had someone fill him in on their break. “There are more, but anyone under level fifteen is trailing behind as baggage or already dropped off at the border.”
“Or dead,” Chloe added. “I bet the forest ate anyone who wandered off. It’s not kind to those it sees as an enemy.”
Henrietta turned to Keith. “This has come up a lot, and my elf friend Amy mentioned it, but is thewhole forestjust one entity?”
“Yes.”
