Chương 60: Chapter 59 - Dangled.

He raised an eyebrow "you?".

"Yup, it's me. I am the fallen witch. That's not important Rowen, stop wasting time, start helping me find those people" Nythera inched the Jet Force just off 0. Oswin let loose a painfully loud yawn, stretching as he climbed out of the central hatch. He stretched, leaning back and letting loose a series of pops along his spine.

"We finally reached our destination? Took you long enough" he snorted, sauntering over to the railings to catch a view. Has he been sleeping the entire damn time? SCREEEECH She and everyone on deck winced. Except Oswin, who was too preoccupied taking a long, deep yawn. The ship jolted to the side as they impacted rock. Shit we need to be focused, not fucking around here.

"NYTHERA" Rowen whispered aggressively, pointing to a spot hidden by the prow "DOWN HERE" he hissed. Rowen gestured to the two sailors and they got busy. One tied off ropes to the mast and the other lowered Rowen down off the side.

"HEAVE" one whispered, the other hissing back "HO, then "HEAVE" again an endless, well-synced loop. Impressive, they haven't really had a chance to do anything so maybe they are looking to show off? Moments later Rowen was pulled over the railings with a young boy in tow.

"There's more down there, keep going" he hissed to the sailors. Many "Heave Ho"s later a group of six lay on the deck in stunned silence. Now what do I do with them? For all I know these people were the very ones in the crowd heckling me as inquisitors tried to murder me. For all I know they also weren't"Nythera, have you considered what to do with these people? Farmers and commonfolk do not make good sailors" Halt said coldly.

"Lance said we need more farmhands, think he'll pay me for these?" she remarked. Rowen looked at her with a horrified expression "You're going to sell them?" he gestured at the people.

"No you moron, I am going to give them to Lance and then Lance is going to do me a favor because I brought him… volunteers" Nythera said, her eyes lighting up as the idea clicked in her mind. They need labor and Greymere is literally throwing people off cliffs. Who knows how many we can rescue a month, but surely enough to start manning farms and clearing land. Besides they are Greymereian, just like the native population on Myrraval. I am a genius.

"All right, men take them into the cabin and get them cleaned up" Nythera said, walking back over to the control console with Rowen. She leaned in to whisper "Make sure they don't get up to any trouble until we get back to Grandport". He nodded.

"I think they'll be in shock for awhile yet, they expected to die when they were shoved off that cliff and half of them are starving to death" Rowen whispered back. Rowen departed to manage their guests and the sailors carefully pushed the rock off the hull. Well if Greymere doesn't want them, Myrraval will take them. Maybe sunny skies and bountiful harvests will rejuvenate these people.

"And so we cast you off The Edge" the preacher cried and another boulder slid off with a group of screaming peasants attached. We are going to need a ship here as often as it can be, but these don't have the capacity for more than a dozen or so. Nythera pulled the ship away from Greypoint and waited in the silent mists until night fell. The moment the sun dipped, The Sea Empress drifted up to The Edge.

"Alright, Oswin get off my ship and go get those materials" Nythera said. Not a village or torch was visible, just empty rolling hills. This should be a good spot. But where did all the villages go? Are they throwing half their farmers off a cliff? I am sure that will help when people come clambering for food to eat, they can just throw them off a cliff too.

"I'll be back before you know it, just remember to have someone look for my fire when the time is right. When I get back I'll show you the map I have of ancient facilities buried in the basement somewhere." Oswin chuckled "Some of them are from different groups of people, now aint that curious?" he jumped off the boat before she could get a word in. Other groups? Like those shrieking things? Or something else? He has a another map that I now really really need. SHIT…

We'll be here in the three months it takes for Oswin to get his shit, that's for sure.

"Nythera, may I have a word now that Oswin is taken care of?" Rowen asked with unusual politeness. He's only polite when his father or political figures are around. Or when he wants to bully me. She squinted suspiciously. What's your game?

"What is it?" she asked.

"The blasted Duke of Orechester has been throwing people off these cliffs for the last six weeks, apparently the Tianshiang inquisitors left a very deep impression" Rowen said, dropping all pretenses.

"Six weeks…" she muttered.

"The entire village of Ecgester has been emptied out, peasants are being ferried across the Dukedom to be thrown off a cliff at the slightest suspicion" Rowen said in a frantic rush.

"Why don't they just flee?" she asked.

"Flee and you also get thrown off the cliff, any signs you are going to flee? The cliff. Your neighbor says you look funny? Also the cliff" Rowen said with a frown.

"This is not what I imagined when father talked about Greymereian nobility". This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. Halt let loose a deep chuckle "This is most nobility, almost everywhere."

"Prepare the ship to return to Grandport, we have gained what we sought on this voyage, and more than that. I have some business with the council that needs to be dealt with immediately" Nythera said. She made way for the deck hatch "we depart at sunrise" she said with a yawn. I've had enough for the day, I'll let Rowen keep us steady at night and let him sleep during the day. She sunk into the hammock, its gentle swaying lulling her to a rapid sleep. I should get one of these back at … … The morning sun …

did NOT wake her from her restful sleep.

"Oi, we don't have all day to lounge around here, get up" Rowen shook her hammock violently.

"The first time I have not been woken by the blast sun and you have to-" Nythera pulled herself out of the hammock "Go get the ship ready, we'll depart shortly" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes. As she scrambled up the steps she came face to face with Halt.

"Good morning princess" he said with a smile.

"Its Queen, not princess" she said "I have a crown… somewhere". The smile turned into a devious smirk. By the blazes NO I AM NOT GOING TO- She bolted down the deck as fast as her legs would carry her. But Halt already had her pulled off the ground by the hood of her cloak.

"No Halt, look we do not have to do this right now. We can do it some other time-""It is time to get a new title" he said with a beaming smile. She winced. Moments later a rope was tied around her waist and Halt held her above The Edge, off the side of the ship.

"Halt, are you trying to murder me? There are much easier ways to go about it" Nythera asked, trying not to stare down at the abyss beneath her.

"This is your heritage, have pride as you claim what others only wish they could have" Halt said. Then she fell. She screamed. The stone wall of the Edge on one side, lethal mists on another, and an endless shrouded abyss beneath. The rope snapped taut and she bounced up, the air forced from her lungs. I am going to murder him, you think this is funny Halt? We shall see if its funny when I pilot you straight into the BLASTED fucking MISTS.

She lay, hanging by her waist, slowly spinning as she stared down at the misty abyss beneath. Is this it? Where's the title? Hang down here for ten hours? The rope jolted. They slowly lowered her deeper into the abyss. This is kinda boring honestly, is this all there is or do I have to fight sky krakens at some point? Not twenty minutes later Nythera finally got the ding. Title Achieved: Cliff-Clinger Descend more than a mile off the edge of The Edge. +1 intelligence, +1 Endurance This? This is it? Two stats?

She was dropped another twenty feet and then unceremoniously yanked up at rapid speeds, her body folding like cards at the waist under the force. …

"How was your trip" Halt asked, holding her up by the rope at eye level as she dangled.

"You could have told me, just two stats! Why did we even bother?" Nythera grumbled "and why does it give intelligence?" Halt brought her over the deck and dropped her.

"It gives intelligence because the only ones stupid enough to get this title are in desperate need of it".

"I suppose I shouldn't complain, an hour for two free stats, well two stats is still two stats" Nythera wiped the dirt off her cloak with exaggerated ferocity. Using her [Flux-sight] Nythera had The Sea Queen crawling up the river, which she had taken to calling Wakepaths after the translation on the map, with ease. Both sailors watched mist roll by and occasionally pointed to fish in the water.

"This is too easy, there ain't even honest rigging work to do 'round here".

"Aye but if we brought rods next time?" he poked the other in the ribs. Most of the crew for these ships will be for security, given operations can be carried out solo. I am going to need to give Rowen a quick lesson in Aurendorian, or maybe just translate the buttons onto a piece of parchment? Just hours later their ship broke through the river and found itself back on familiar seas. Cartographer (lvl 8 > 10) Cartography (lvl 13 > 18) Finally!

I don't know why I didn't get it the first time but that is a serious level jump. And to think there are 3 more wakepaths, each a bucket of levels waiting for me to claim.

"Ambient Flux Intake" spiked as they entered the sea and Nythera amped "Jet Force" to 50%, sending them rocketing across the sea. Don't have time to waste, every day we wait we lose more labor. A voyage that would take a sailing ship the better part of a week was completed in under a day, their vessel swooping from above to the sea-docks of Grandport.

"Don't unload the ship, in fact, refill our rations, we won't be here long" Nythera said, swinging over the gunwale and hitting the docks.

"Back already, Milord?" A dockhand called out. She waved "I'm a bit busy, have this ship ready to depart by the time I return" she said, rushing off with Rowen in tow.

"Keep the docks clear and ready for us, there are passengers from Greymere aboard that need acclimation" Rowen barked an order to Lawrence, who was managing dockyard affairs.

"Understood" and immediately dispatched several men to handle it. Rowen took the lead and shut down conversation with such grace that all she could do was follow. He proves his use here, he really could be an effective liaison. No more council meetings? Count me in.

"Hey Misslord, you're back! What is going on with those ships-" Leo burst in with a surprise attack from the flank.

"Not now Leo, I will be back to talk to you tonight about this, go grab all the mayors and Lance as fast as you can and have them at the townhall. Do so and I will give you a really really special job" Rowen said with the efficiency of a shepherd herding his sheep.

"Really? Really really really?" And with a single nod from Rowen, Leo bolted off like a stray comet.

"Rowen, I have a special job for you as well, but we will talk about that later" Nythera smirked. Delegating jobs is my responsibility after all. Oh well, no more council meetings for me. The town hall's familiar paper-terrain lobby greeted them with coldness, the secretary far too busy stamping papers to give them more than a fleeting glance. Guess that might be my fault, if I enact another policy the secretary will have my head.

"Howdie, had a good time?" Felix asked, slipping into the office.

"You could say that, we found some interesting news that cannot wait" she answered.

"Well, if we start the meeting now, Aldric, who is on his mighty way here by boat, will be late, he should be two hours out still" Felix smirked.

"It would be a real shame if he missed this secret council meeting, dontcha think?"

"Yes it would be such a shame. Unfortunately we need to start the meeting NOW!" Nythera said, pushing the doors to the chamber open with reinvigorated energy. YES! Keep that jerk out of here. Maybe I should appoint the mayor of Rustreach myself? Lance had his feet kicked up on the table "Was this really so urgent? I need to be watching the field de-salting or it'll never get done" he whined.

"Yes, its urgent""Am I late? Getting that barge out for Waketown took half a blazed day" Noah muttered, shutting the door. Rowen was just behind him.

"Alright lets get started, I have big news for the council, good news" Nythera said with a smile that screamed get-in-your-fucking-chairs-now. Time to sell my idea, but I need to position it as a benefit to them. If they think they are getting something out of it for their townships, they'll fight for it.

"The route back to Vathrial is fully navigable and open, we went straight there in under a day's time" Nythera said. Eyes opened in shock, Ollie gasped.