Xain did nothing but watch as the group in the lead walked forward, the six seemingly unaware that the larger contingent behind them had slowed their pace and, almost imperceptibly, split into two groups.

  It didn't take a deep understanding of the interrealm politics to understand the gesture. Asgard was not a well liked House, but it had sat atop the tree since the time of the old gods. Their Sap was often crafted into relics with enough power they gave those at the rank of Ash a real chance against even a mid level Elder. Xain’s general understanding of Asgard was limited, as this one of the subjects he had found the least interesting, but just as he had guessed, it was going to come up more and more often outside of Yid’s Realm.

  Xain guessed that the group on the left, judging by the eight Jotun among them, were the ones who, if something happened, may not help Vector and himself, but it was unlikely they would aid the Asgardians either.

  The group on the right on the other hand, may not want to instigate anything directly, but following house politics would likely be drawn into the matter.

  If we do anything, it needs to be quick, brutal, and big enough the others won't want to step in. At least until we get back through the door.

  They had chosen a bar close to where they had entered after Vector suggested it may be a good idea to have a quick way out, explaining that once they were in the hallway, the ship would bar the others from entering the area reserved for those walking the Path.

  Xain pondered just bolting for it right then, but he had no idea what arrays were in play, and thought it may be a better idea to wait and see how this went. He had confidence that none of the crew would interfere no matter what happened, as they were essentially free game. But that went both ways.

  When the group of six, three women and three men Xain could now see, who all wore variants of the same too white shirt, golden pants, and golden cloaks, stopped about ten feet away, Xain couldn't help but let out a little laugh.

  For one, their ridiculous look was only bolstered by their clear righteous indignation. Second, with matching blond curly hair and nearly identical faces that had clearly never seen a day of discomfort in their life, it was hard to see anything but the exact privilege Bow had so often lamented about.

  Fen had not even lifted his head as the newcomers strode over, and just continued to observe them through bored half lidded eyes. If Vector had not been so adamant about this exact situation holding danger for him and Xain both, he would have thought the whole thing a bad joke.

  If there was a group Xain would keep his eye on, it was the several users in the back on the left, who looked as bored as Fen was.

  A lifetime of hunting combined with Bow’s training had taught him to quickly assess a situation and identify all areas which posed a risk. This had been aided by Xain’s sense of smell that provided him with the ability to scent aggression through pheromones released in heightened stages of emotion.

  Right now, the six standing before them were clearly aggravated and likely to test their limits, but those ones in the back gave off nothing but a complete calm. It would be natural for anyone to be uncomfortable in this situation, and the fact that they barely seemed to care told Xain all he needed to know.

  Luckily, they were on the Jotun's side, so he was able to lower them on the list of things that could go wrong.

  What surprised Xain the most though, and he now could only guess that his arrival was so unexpected Xain just didn't see him, was the fact that Martin stood a few feet behind the Asgardians, and wore a self satisfied grin that Xain instinctively wanted to punch.

  The fuck is he doing here?

  That could complicate things. Martin was sure to have an array at least that of upper Ash, and unlike the rest of the crew who had taken a step back as mere spectators of the situation, Martin looked as if he was ready to take an active role.

  Xain wondered for a second if the captain was aware of the situation, but remembering the man's earlier warning, made the assessment that it was more than likely.

  Okay, then.

  “Something funny?” The man in front said.

  It was impossible to tell his age, but Xain guessed him at no older than 18, though this was more from his obvious need to prove his strength through this dumbass display than anything else.

  “Tor,” Vector said, slowly standing and facing the group, “your grievance is with me, not him.”

  The sneer that both Tor and Martin wore made Xain tap his rune, his Ice Armor covering him a second, and look toward Fen.

  Clearly the wolf had sensed Xain’s mood, as even though he had not yet moved his head from where it lay on his paws, his eyes were open now, and watching every movement closely.

  Good.

  “You know, Vector, I always told father you were a mistake. Treating a Husk like it was almost our equal, it's ridiculous. I knew you were shit from the moment I saw you, but father was so sure you would be a new Asgardian prize.”

  Xain understood theoretically that, though he only had one rune, until one was into middle to upper Ash, had stacked runes, or was extremely familiar with them, the difference in strength between that of a single rune and that of six or even seven came more from the variety of powers provided by the longer array, and not from the actual strength of the array.

  This was of course not universally true. Some runic users with seven runes and just moving into Ash could have made their entire array directed toward strength, and design their array around amplifying the abilities of their core rune, but from what Bow had said, that was relatively rare.

  Which meant, if this group all held arrays between six and seven runes in length, one on one, the real difference would come in the strength of the user themselves. And while these kids, a designation he couldn't help but place on them as they acted far more like children than even young adults, may have received general combat training, it was likely only two or three of them held combat focused arrays.

  On top of that, no matter how much training they had, unless they were a prodigy like Vector clearly was, Xain was confident that even with his one rune, his life with Bow would have prepared him enough to have a chance if it was one on one.

  Six on one was a different thing though. So again, if this was going to happen, it needed to be quick and brutal.

  “Tor, you are the 17th son of the House Lord. I am aware of exactly how often the two of you spoke, and we both know it was far less than he spoke with me.”

  Vector said this lightly, but Xain was sure he could sense the strength of the man increasing by the moment.

  “Oh, big words now that you have your first friend, huh? You think some fucking southern rube and his mistake of a mutt are really going to help you? Martin,” Tor tossed over his shoulder, “You were right. They really do look like Weeds. To think they hold the same position as the true Scripted is worse an insult than the dog's stench.”

  Honestly, Xain could not care less what the kid said. He was a child, no matter his age, trying to puff up his chest so others wouldn't see how insecure he really was. He could hurl insults all he wanted, as anyone worth Xain’s respect would see it for what it was.

  Even his comments about Fen could go unnoticed, as Fen knew a pup when he saw one.

  What had Xain thinking about the distance between them was not anger. It was the fact that everyone so far had told him not to do exactly what he was preparing to do.

  Xain understood that in situations like this he could cower away and back down. It was what they expected, clearly. Aside from the three people in the back who Xain kept in the corner of his eye, it was obvious what the others thought of him. They had no idea what his array was, though it seemed quite possible that Martin would have told them, as for some reason Xain could not comprehend, the man appeared to be part of their retinue.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  But the unfounded belief of their own superiority marked them not only as ignorant, but as easy targets for Xain to make his own point.

  If he chose to cower, to keep his head down as had been suggested, there was not a doubt in his mind that this was only the beginning.

  Xain wanted to survive. He wanted to see Bow again. He wanted to understand why Dagaz had chosen him, and what the Norns were really after. But more than anything, he wanted to one day go home.

  All of that though, was dependent on him growing his array. And since he was forced to do it in a way outside normal conventions, eventually he was going to need allies. Vector seemed like a solid first choice in this matter, but more than that, the others on the ferry now represented potential aid in the future.

  However that aid would not come freely, and in the world of runic users, strength and skill was often the best form of communication. At least among the lower ranks. If he reached the rank of Elder, things could change, as they were on a completely different level than the majority of rune holders. But that was a long way off.

  Keeping his head down may keep him safe for a time, but it could do just as much harm later down the line.

  “Tor,” Vector started, his array giving off enough power now that Xain could feel it on his skin, “if you wish to discuss your own issues with the choices I have made, we should do so privately.”

  Tor’s eyes widened just a fraction at this, but Xain was able to quickly infer how afraid of Vector he actually was. It was only with the others watching, and banking on them to back him up, that he had enough confidence to run his mouth.

  Okay then. Fen, I hope Bow was right about you, cause this is happening.

  “You think,” Tor started, taking a step forward.

  As he did, Xain further drew upon his rune, pulling his armor down around his fist, and pushing off the bar with his right foot, which he had enhanced with Auroch Strength, throwing himself directly toward Tor.

  There was still ten feet between them, so Tor had a chance to see Xain’s attack as he took two more enhanced steps, and was able to tap his own array in response.

  Xain had no idea what array the guy had, but as an Asgardian, especially one who took his house so seriously, Xain was not surprised to see the sparks of lightning dancing across Tor’s arm as he raised it to block Xain’s punch.

  He saw Vector on his left as he darted past, noticing the layers of stone that had begun to run down his arms, but he could only trust that Vector could handle himself, and blocked out everything but Tor’s surprised, yet smug expression.

  Xain didn't change his attack in the slightest, letting his right hand connect firmly with Tor’s arm, and prepared himself for a shock, drawing even further on Uruz to strengthen his form. When his fist made contact though, the lighting seemed to sputter out, flickering for just a second long enough that Tor took his eyes off Xain, glancing at his arm, and giving Xain the chance to raise his left hand and grab the upraised arm as he used Summon Ice just as Uruz had done to him.

  As he did, ice instantly ran from Xain’s hand, wrapping around Tor’s arm, and binding them together.

  Without waiting, Xain pulled on his arm, twisted his right arm back, and used his enhanced strength to both ground himself and push off the floor, as he threw a punch directly into Tor’s stomach.

  It connected with more force than Xain had expected, and nearly pulled Xain over as Tor’s body was thrown back.

  Quickly adjusting, Xain righted both himself and the stunned Tor, and pulled his fist back to land another punch.

  Only then did the other Asgardians seem to snap into motion as they all flared their arrays at once. Xain didn't pay it any mind though, as Tor’s eyes had snapped to focus, and before Xain’s fist could connect, the man had reached out, grabbing his wrist in his free hand with speed that made it clear, the lighting enhanced his reactions as well as providing the electrical armor.

  Xain heard grinding stone behind him, and assumed Vector had begun to move, but kept his focus on Tor, his opponents eyes dancing with lighting as he twisted Xain’s arm painfully to the side.

  Behind Tor, two of the Asgardians stepped forward, but before they could do anything, Xain saw what, if had not noticed Vector’s pants peaking out from under the armor, he would have only been able to describe as a stone dragon, complete with huge stone wings and talons, leap over him and Tor, and land directly between them and the approaching Asgardians.

  Xain had his own fight though. And knew the longer it went on, the less chance he would have to finish it without the others getting involved.

  Forgetting his punch, and ignoring the pain, Xain pulled back his head, quickly covered it in ice, and slammed it into Tor’s face.

  The moment he made contact, Xain felt his rune, not Uruz, but Dagaz, draw the lighting from Tor’s body, and with it begin to expand the tree on his back, drinking in the Tor’s runic power just as it had done with Uruz before.

  Fuck, not good.

  The pain of the tree was only in the back of his mind, his adrenaline keeping him focused on the fight, but if anyone saw what was happening, it could bring more questions than Xain was ready to answer.

  Fen, now would be a good time…

  Just as the thought came, Fen appeared behind Tor.

  Xain had no idea how the wolf had done it. He had felt him the whole time, and knew the wolf had finally deigned to stand, but other than that had not moved from his place by the bar. Now, as if he had just stepped from one place to another, the wolf was there, its jaws opened wide, and before Tor could even register Fen’s presence, his wolf had closed his jaws around the arm Xain had bound by ice.

  Xain saw the moment Tor registered the wolfs presence, his eyes going wide in shock, lighting blinking out in an instant, and knew the man was helpless to do anything but watch as Fen bit down, his teeth sinking through the flesh of his upper bicep near his shoulder, moving through muscle like a hot knife through butter, and snapping the bone with a sickening crunch.

  It wasn't until Xain felt the weight of the arm tugging on him as it fell limply down, stuck to Xain by the ice, that he fully registered what his wolf had done.

  Good boy.

  Xain released the ice, letting the arm fall to the floor as a fountain of blood sprayed from the wound, and pulled back his head once more, before slamming it directly into Tor’s face with all the strength he could muster.

  Without the protection of his array, Xain's head smashed Tor’s nose, breaking it instantly, and snapped his head back with an audible crack, making his body go limp and crumple to the floor.

  It’s not over.

  Xain quickly shifted his focus, but was only able to look up and scan the scene for a moment, confirming that Vector was indeed in the form of a giant stone dragon, and currently engaged with the remaining three Asgardians as the two he had initially intercepted lay limply on the floor, before an overwhelming power washed over him, and forced him to ignore everything but the urge to kneel.

  After a moment, and with an effort fueled by pure defiance, Xain was just able to raise his head to see Martin slowly approaching, his face warped in rage, as his unseen power continued to press down on Xain with such force that he knew if it was not for his enhanced body, he would already have been knocked out.

  “You,” Martin spat, ignoring the others as he moved toward Xain.

  Fen, who was somehow still standing, spun to meet the new threat with teeth bared, but before he could do more than turn, everything went black.

  Not dark.

  Black. As if the entire room ceased to exist.

  All of Xain’s senses lost purchase at once, just as when Bow had taken him through that weird space to his realm bud, and for a moment Xain had no idea if he was standing, laying, floating, or even alive as he searched for any sign of Fen in the void.

  Before he could try to move in the sudo non world though, the room snapped back into focus, and Xain fell to the carpeted floor next to Tor’s limp body, the blood soaked carpet went under his hands as he struggled to find his balance on hands and knees.

  The fuck was that?

  Xain had just enough time to think about the question before he heard the captain's voice from somewhere in front of him. Unlike before though, it held none of the friendliness with which he had greeted Xain, sounding more like the void they had just occupied than anything else.

  “Martin, Martin, Martin,” Tryst said, like a disappointed parent addressing their wayward child, but in that blank tone which, if not due to the need to see for himself that Fen was okay, Xain would have never thought to glance up for fear it would cause it to be directed at him.

  But there was nothing short of death that would keep him from ensuring his wolf was okay, so Xain quickly risked a glance up, finding Fen laying down a few feet from him, his tail curled up so tight it was barely visible, but otherwise fine.

  He’s okay. He’s okay.

  After confirming this, Xain couldn't help but sweep his gaze over the rest of the scene.

  It was a sea of bodies in which only the captain remained standing, and aside from Vector and himself who both managed a, all be it weak, semi upright position, the others lay scattered and sprawled around the room.

  Whatever power Vector had been using was gone, and Xain could see the man taking deep breaths as he scanned the room in a similar state of confusion, but the moment his gaze found the captain standing a few feet before him, Vector went still as the rest.

  Tryst’s own gaze was focused on a point on the ground which Xain couldn't see clearly from where he knelt, but he didn't need to see to know the focus of the captain's ire.

  It's not on me. That's all that matters. It's not on me.

  “I knew you were planning to take root,” the captain continued, taking another step forward.

  “But how fucking stupid can you be? No, no, don't try to deny it. I saw exactly what you were planning to do. We have one rule, Martin. One rule. Can you remember it? No? I'll help you out,” Tryst spat as he bent down toward Martin and continued, “Don't fucking touch the Seeds!”