Marcus's earlier attempts to get a rise out of the frosty Icefall had fallen flat, but backing down wasn't in his nature. As he jogged, he made a show of muttering to himself, hoping to finally crack that icy composure and see a flicker of genuine emotion.
No such luck. Icefall was every bit as unshakeable as Crystal Nance. Where Firebrand and FreshwindElara had erupted, Icefall remained utterly frigid, her demeanor suggesting Marcus was little more than a gnat buzzing at the periphery of her awareness.
His attention shifted to the hulking Ironwood King. 'Fine,' he thought. 'I'll just take this big guy down and then go grind levels with Elara.'
A single, well-placed Taunt skill snapped the monster's focus squarely onto him.
'This is the knight's lot in life', he mused. 'Designated meat shield. Even with a pathetic attack stat, a high-level Taunt is like waving a red flag. The thing will stay glued to you, even if you're hitting it with a stick.'
'You idiot!'
