Alpha Zero (Alpha LitRPG Book 1) by Arthur Stone (top 5 books to read TXT) 📕

The landscape differed considerably from the nearly flat plain of the right bank. The last several hours saw the convoy traverse one series of hills after another. It was treacherous terrain, with clefts in the rock hidden amidst heaps of debris, and streams feeding into the river with precipitous falls high enough to spell death for a pure omega of the tenth degree of enlightenment.

You couldn’t guess the river’s proximity until the very end, despite the forest growing sparser, almost nonexistent on wide clearings. Blackriver opened before us suddenly, as if filling a moat, its right bank a sheer cliff one hundred feet high. And the cliff wasn’t even vertical, but worse—slanting forward, overhanging the dark waters.

As wide across as Redriver, it split up in two identical arms that hugged a rocky island. The section of it that was downstream was about the same height as the right bank, the two sides visible from here just as sheer. Up ahead, however, the terrain was relatively flat and spanned roughly two-three acres.

The lower part of the island was three times larger in territory, but almost completely lacking in flat sections of land. Nothing but fissures and ledges, like a broken staircase leading down to the water. The geographical jumble ended with a pebbly blanket that lined the shore, spanning some two hundred yards.

The fort was situated on the elevated section of the island, protected from its uneven part by a crude wall of mostly uncut large stones. Standing roughly fifteen feet tall behind a picket fence, the structure implied that caution on the approach was justified.

The other sides boasted a wall as well, but nearly half the height of this side, the residents ostensibly relying on the natural protection of precipitous cliffs. Only one other spot had something resembling a tower with a gated pass-through pathway.

A suspension bridge stretched between this tower and a similar one on the right bank, no longer than seventy-five yards. Two ropes serving as foundation, though quite thick, could be easily cut in the event of assault, forcing the attackers to storm the far more imposing section of wall in the lower part of the island. Getting there in the first place would be challenging.

The fort itself amounted to a tight cluster of wooden structures. Whatever reserves of stone the builders might have had access to had been spared. Most were low residential dwellings and service buildings, with only a single two-story mansion dominating in the central section.

The caravan had been spotted. A string of greeters stretched out along the undulating bridge, clustering together upon reaching the shore. Perhaps the arrival of guests was such a grand event for the locals that nearly all were expected to come out and welcome them. More likely, these people were lining up to start unloading the wagons, which were too large and too heavy to pass over the flimsy bridge. Even horses ought to be wary of stepping on it. Which meant that all the crates, boxes and barrels would be lugged into the fort manually.

“Look alive back there!” Kashik yelped, turning to the tail of the convoy. “Move those feet, slackers! You’re nearly home!”

Chapter 13 Human Commodity

Degrees of Enlightenment: 0 (60/888)

Attributes: none

Skills: none

States: none

“Foolish kid, I only want what’s best for you.”

Kashik’s voice sounded strange, leaving the impression that he really did wish me nothing but the best instead of trying to dodge unpleasant matters.

Which he had already dodged with flying colors, anyway. Rycer had been spot on with his warning. Before I could even bring up the issue of getting back my money, Kashik countered with an extensive bill for services rendered: rescue from animal fangs (that I hadn’t ordered), comfortable passage with the caravan (most of which I had walked on my own two feet), and, naturally, food costs, which, according to the caravan’s chief executive, included breakfast, lunch, dinner and an afternoon snack. And judging by said costs, he would have me believe the meals had consisted exclusively of delicacies flavored with high-end spices.

The short of it was that my debt was high enough that my money wouldn’t cover even half of it. Yet, the debt needed to be paid. And right away.

I shook my head stubbornly.

“That barley porridge isn’t even worth a single coin. Besides, I saved a sack of your spices from the river. For that alone you should give me back my money and pay me the same amount on top.”

At that, the caravanner scowled. That job doesn’t cost anything. Everyone had to pull their weight, including you. Where were you when my people were fighting off the bandits? If it weren’t for them, you’d be long dead. And now you demand payment for the sack? The stones on you, boy. You must have been spoiled as hell. Now quit being so mulish. Master Ash will take care of you. You’re weak and useless, no way you can survive on your own.”

I shook my head again.

“No. I am a free man. I have no master, and I never will.”

“So you want to die from cold and hunger? Weak as you are, you won’t last one winter.”

“Then I will die free.”

“What do you know of freedom? Foolish whelp! All right, the hell with you. Do what you want. But remember my words when you’re on the verge of a hungry death. Maybe then you’ll realize Kashik only wanted the best for you.”

The caravanner turned around, indicating an end to the conversation.

I was content with this. Sure, I didn’t recover my money, but at least I wasn’t sold into bondage to some Master Ash. Though he might have provided me with food and shelter, I would mean nothing but cheap labor to the unknown master,