530 Cyclops Spawn
Dinner ended with a huge pot of leftovers that were transferred to a container provided by the farmer’s wife for them to enjoy later, and Karl settled in for the night.
The beasts could watch from inside their spaces, other than Thor, who had positioned himself in the driveway to the farmyard, between the entrance and the people.
There was a sturdy fence all around the yard, so that was the only likely area for entrance by an unknown threat, and therefore the best spot for him.
Ophelia was with the first watch group, which was more than a little upsetting to Lotus, who wanted to cuddle, while Karl and Dana would take the dawn watch, just before the sun came up. The guards had wanted five watches, each with two guards, which was a bit excessive in Karl’s mind, but they also didn’t have the beasts watching out for danger. If it was a single guard, an assassin could sneak in and eliminate them, then go for the General. It was odd that they hadn’t insisted on someone from their team taking the morning watch, but they were likely planning to be up by then and starting on breakfast, so they didn’t see the need to have one of theirs as the guard.
Tessa would likely be awake for that watch as well, or at least halfway through it. She rarely slept past the dawn wake-up call after so many years on the church’s schedule.
So, Karl settled in to sleep peacefully with Dana after their watch, only to be awakened by the sound of screaming far too soon after he closed his eyes.
[Report. What is going on?] Karl asked.
[Another spawn. Hawk is already in the air.] Remi replied.
[It seems to be centred on us, and it extends all the way back to the fortress, a whole day’s travel. I can see the torches as the fortress army units gather to fight in the dark.] Hawk added.
That was massive. If it was centred on them, and they had covered close to eighty kilometres during the day, this newest spawn was absolutely massive.
[What is attacking?] Karl asked as he equipped his armour and took out his maul.
[That’s the best part! Food! We’re under attack by food.] Hawk cheered.
[Translator.]
Remi giggled before explaining. [The attackers are some sort of boar monster the size of Ophelia’s Dire Bear form, and they’re accompanied by some sort of cyclops. A giant with one eye. That’s what has the Satyrs on guard duty screaming.]
There was a group of the boars at the edge of the camp, just reaching the firelight but momentarily stopped by the mounts of the guards, who also saw them as food.
Unfortunately for the agile lizards, these boar monsters were not only massive, they were also Commander Rank beasts, and wearing armour.
They even had metal sheathes on their tusks, so they could more effectively attack.
Karl was just about to send everyone out to play when he realized that they were standing right next to a General and his entourage. A general who was very likely to call for an entire army unit from the fortress that they just left.
[Can we just kill him already? I want to come out and play.] Rae complained.
[Not yet. Or at least not where he can see you. I give it like two minutes before he panics and calls the army. I don’t know if they’re going to show up while everything is under attack, but they might.]
Hawk was racing through the sky, trying to determine the extent and density of the situation, when he realized that they were about to have a not so minor problem.
[The next city is full of monsters from the spawn. It’s within the radius by at least ten kilometres, and it’s not just surrounded, it’s overrun.] He informed them.
[Well, that will put a damper on our chances of making a mass sale. However, I bet we can do some charity work with the farmers, if they’re short on weapons.]
Karl jumped onto the roof of the house to take in more of the situation and realized that these ones weren’t the only one who would need some assistance.
He could see four other farms in the distance, and they were all fighting with makeshift weapons, like the ones he was selling, but not adapted to be used as weapons.
They were so close to two major cities, and along a heavily populated route that was travelled by hundreds every day, that they didn’t really need weapons other than for defence against unscrupulous travellers.
The farm family was coming out in hastily donned coats over their pyjamas, carrying whatever farm tools came to hand.
“Hey, over here. We have weapons.” Karl called. The Minotaurs rushed over to where Karl was, while the guards from the General’s caravan harassed the Giant Boar who had made it closest to the farm.
The ladies had taken the net from over the cargo, and the Minotaurs smiled as they realized that the weapons were all modelled after things that they already know how to use.
They each grabbed a tool and pulled the working heads off the convertible ones. “We will stay near your charges, would you guard the back side of the house? We should be alright, even if you take both the Naga with you.” “I will have them watch the side of the house. The guards for the General have the other side, but we can send someone to help them if you need.”
The oldest of the Minotaur Farmers smiled and patted Karl on the shoulder. “As long as they don’t make it to the house, it’s fine. We have no animals, and they’ve already trampled the fields. We will see in the morning what can be salvaged.”
Karl nodded. “I will do what I can to keep them out of the vegetable garden out back.”
“I would appreciate that.”
[Remi, have the bodyguards watch the two sides of the house and keep everyone mostly on this side, so I can let everyone out to play.]