“I am not sure where to start?” Dave said once Alice had left.
‘You’re telling me,’ SJ thought. Fhyliss was up, busy, getting ready for work.
“I hadn’t considered that somewhere like Asterfal would take an issue with one of its towns growing. Most cities would have jumped at the chance of recognition through town growth. Never mind the increased income from taxes. These circumstances are strange.”
‘I am not sure what I should do. I want to level, but as Alice said, if I reach level 20 and they aren’t ready for it, I could cause significant harm to the town. We already have a level 31 wyvern in the mountains to the northeast. If I reach level 20, what is going to come next?’
“It’s not so much what will come next after levelling. It is more about what is going to happen next, anyway. These system changes are still an unknown,” Dave sighed.
‘You still have done nothing with your code yet?’
“No. I have a further 217.3 sextillion combinations to run through on the algorithm lock. So, it could be now or in a while,” Dave laughed.
The thought of a sextillion alone freaked SJ out. She did not know how fast Dave could perform computations or how long each check took.
‘That’s a lot.’
“I said before, it’s a doozy.”
‘Do you have any ideas on what I can do? Alice mentioned remaining as ambassador, but all I see is that makes me a larger target.’
“Politically, from what Alice said, it makes sense to remain as the Ambassador. She was right in her interpretation that if everyone knew, then it is very unlikely a direct attack or attempt on your life would happen. It is not unheard of, just unlikely.”
‘That doesn’t make me feel any better. I am not even sure who I can trust. I classed Greb as a friend. Not close like others, but still a friend, and he was under orders to assassinate me.’
“It raises concern. Hopefully, creating a specific oath that beings swear to can remove any concerns.”
‘Can it, though? Racial oaths can outstrip another oath. The town oath is only as strong as someone staying in the territory. I am unsure if anything can be done to guarantee my safety. It fills me with dread.’
Dave cleared his throat before he answered. “Trying to look at it from a neutral perspective, there are never guarantees. The world is an unsafe place. All worlds are. Look back at what happened to you on Earth, being squished by a tree. You never know what is around the next corner, but it can’t stop you from living the life you wish to lead. You have to make the most of what is available to you, and you have so much. Your relationships with many in Killic are beyond any I have ever witnessed in my millennia as an administrator. You are special, SJ, and you can’t let this incident stop you. You must have resilience and fortitude to overcome adversity.”
SJ sat silently, contemplating Dave’s words. He was right, after all. A tear formed in the corner of her eye. The single drop rolled down her cheek, hanging from her chin with determination, before it dripped onto the knee of her dress. SJ watched as the damp spot disappeared, as the dress repaired it.
‘Thank you, Dave. Whatever happens in the future, I know I have the best friend anyone could ask for.’
Dave sniffed. “I will always be here for you. Always. Remember that.”
SJ’s display triggered.
Synchronisation 25%
‘That’s gone up a lot,’ SJ thought.
“It has grown since we first noticed it,” Dave replied. “I do not know what it signifies. I asked the Adjudicators, they didn’t know, so I asked the System, and they didn’t respond.”
‘Why would the System not answer?’
“The only conclusion I can come up with is that they don’t know themselves.”
“SJ. You look terrible,” Fhyliss said, walking from her room, dressed for the morning shift in the bar.
“Thanks,” SJ replied, laughing.
“You didn’t sleep, did you?”
“No. And knowing what I do now, I am not sure I even could.”
“We need to remedy that then,” Fhyliss said as she returned to her bedroom. A minute later, she returned carrying a small bottle. “Here. Drink this.”
“What is it?” SJ asked.
“Poison,” Dave said, laughing sarcastically.
‘Not funny!’ SJ thought.
“It’s a sleeping remedy. I use it for nights when the inn stays open, and I have an early shift, so I need sleep.”
SJ uncorked the bottle. It smelt sickly sweet and of marzipan. SJ couldn’t help but feel nervous, especially after Dave and his sarcasm.
“I promise it won’t harm you,” Fhyliss said, smiling.
SJ couldn’t sense any danger, so she drank from the bottle.
“It takes a few minutes to work, but soon you will sleep like a gnomling. I will come and check on you later.” Fhyliss said. “I better go.” Fhyliss left to go downstairs.
The liquid tasted sweet, and SJ felt like her head was much lighter. Her whole body relaxed. The nervous tension she had been holding onto dissipated, and as it did, she lay back on the sofa. Her eyes felt heavy, allowing them to close.
‘Wake me in a few hours, please, Dave,’ she thought moments before sleep took her.
When Dave awoke SJ several hours later, SJ panicked, equipping her claws as she did and sitting bolt upright.
“There is no one here. Don’t worry,” Dave said, sounding concerned.
“Sorry. I had horrible dreams,” SJ replied. She had been dreaming about being attacked again, and whenever she thought she was safe, another of her friends had attacked her. Her dress stuck to her, and she could feel it drenched in her sweat.
“You didn’t sleep well. You tossed and turned the whole time.”
“Could you see my dreams?”
“No. I can only read your thoughts while you are awake.”
Standing, SJ could feel her dress beginning to dry as it was cleaned of her sweat. That was at least one positive about everything that had been happening.
“Darren came to see you while you slept, but Kerys sent him away again before she went to work.”
“Did he say where he would be?”
“No. Sorry.”
Leaving the room, SJ headed down to the bar. Looking at the bar below her as she walked down the broad stairs, it was the same as always: laughter, drinking, singing, and eating. Nothing appeared different, but SJ knew that for her, nothing might ever feel the same again. As her eyes moved around the patrons there, she knew many of them by name and recognised all of them. The problem was whether one of them would be her next ‘visitor’. She shuddered at the thought.
“You need to try and not let it affect you,” Dave said.
‘Easier said than done,’ SJ thought.
Kerys saw SJ coming down the stairs, grinned at her, and poured her a mug of coffee. Sitting on a bar stool, SJ took the glass and, inhaling the bitterness, drank.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“How are you today?” Kerys asked. “When I got up, you didn’t look very settled.”
“I am not sure,” SJ replied honestly.
“Understandable, under the circumstances,” Kerys replied, nodding. “Darren stopped by and asked you to go and see the mayor once you were awake.”
“Thanks. I will go over once I have drunk this.”
“Do you not want any food?”
“I am not sure I could stomach any at the moment.”
Kerys smiled. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
SJ finished her drink and left the inn. Walking outside into the afternoon sun was like any other typical day in Killic. The town square was busy with the usual traders. Customers moving around, talking and bartering. Nothing looked or felt different from what SJ had got used to since she had arrived. Beings she knew called greetings to her as she passed. Responding with a fake smile and nod of appreciation.
The problem was that everywhere she looked, she questioned. ‘What if?’ ‘Could they?’
“You need to stop,” Dave said, concern in his voice. “Until last night, you loved walking around town. Continually wittering away in your head about some of the inanest things. Today, you are so paranoid it is frightening.”
‘Sorry. I just can’t help it,’ SJ thought.
“You need to remember that apart from one person, everyone here is the same as before. You can’t allow yourself to be overrun like this. Get control of your own thoughts.”
‘Says the AI reading mine!’
“Okay. Get control of our thoughts because you are concerning me,” Dave said sternly. “If you carry on with this paranoia, you will send yourself crazy.”
When she arrived at the barracks, SJ went straight to Zigferd’s office. Seeing her walking through the main reception room, Zigferd stood from behind his desk and came to meet her.
“I am so sorry,” Zigferd said, concern etched on his face.
“For what?” SJ frowned.
“For what has happened?”
“You can’t control the actions of others.”
“Please. Come and sit,” Zigferd offered SJ to sit as they entered his office. “How are you?”
“Honestly. I don’t know. Everywhere I look, I am now questioning the truth behind them,” SJ replied.
Zigferd’s brow furrowed at her comment, a clear sign of his worry. “Alice informed me of those who you believe know about Farleck Cottage. All have been asked to come to the barracks shortly. We have a written oath which will be requested that all agree to and sign.”
“Do you think an oath will be enough to keep the cottage secret? I said to Alice that I may have told others.”
“It is a starting point. You are the most important being in the town. We must keep you safe at all costs. You will allow Killic to flourish and become a better town.”
A rush of emotions hit SJ, the dread that settled in her stomach that the town relied on her growth above all else.
“Am I not just painting a target on Killic?” SJ said, clasping her hands nervously.
“If you mean will your existence and the progression of Killic be down to you? The simple answer is yes and no in equal measure. You may have triggered the territory and border amendments but didn’t trigger the mithril mine. The mithril mine, above all else, will draw unwanted attention. Now that others outside of Killic could know about it, we need to begin our plans to expand and control our borders.”
SJ sat in silence, contemplating Zigferd’s comments. She had made so many friends since arriving, and even now, sitting with Zigferd in his office, she held onto a nervous tension. He had been like a father figure since her arrival. His strength and resolve always provided a sense of security for the town.
It was sometime later that those SJ had named arrived at the barracks; they were shown upstairs to the council chambers, which, for many, was the first time they had ever been there. Zigferd sat at the top of the table, and as they arrived, they were asked to sit, and drinks were served. The last to arrive was Alice, who Nexis accompanied. SJ had never mentioned Nexis to Alice as someone who knew about the cottage, which surprised her. Knowing he was a god, she hadn’t considered him a threat.
With Nexis joining them, sixteen beings were seated at the council table. Several around the table sat nervously, wondering why they had been called here. Most, upon seeing SJ, smiled fondly at SJ.
“I believe that is the last of our planned arrivals,” Zigferd said as Alice closed the council chamber doors and sat at the far end of the table opposite Zigferd and SJ. Some of you will already know why you are here, while others will not. Therefore, I must explain why I have requested you to attend."
Zigferd spent the next few minutes explaining the occurrences of the previous evening. Several around the table stared in shock at what had happened to SJ. Those who already knew sat with hard expressions of anger on their faces as Zigferd relayed the events. Even though SJ hadn’t spoken to Zigferd directly about the attack, he was aware of everything SJ had explained to Alice and was also present at Greb's interrogation. He expanded on the findings from Greb and the reasons behind the attack.
The details caused several to react angrily to the news, but the deepest set look was that of fear. Even Hubert sat with a concerned expression, and Gladys looked downright terrified.
Only Nexis sat calmly through the proceedings, at no point changing his neutral yet pleasant expression. “In conclusion, we have to maintain SJ’s safety, and to do so means that those who are aware of where she lives are being asked to take an oath that will ensure that her home remains a secret.”
“Wouldn’t she be safer staying in the town?” Kerys asked.
“The two times she was attacked were in town, and without providing her with a permanent escort or guard, we couldn’t guarantee her protection. At least with her cottage, she has a place away from town, but with her followers who do not sleep, she has a guard always on watch at Farleck,” Zigferd said.
SJ hadn’t even considered Charlotte, Brian, and Terence and now feared they may become future targets. It was true that they never slept and would always be on guard while she was there, but she didn’t enjoy relying on others for her safety. SJ could feel the mounting pressure that rested on her shoulders. All those who now sat in the chamber were either very close or very good friends.
“To alleviate any future threat and to maintain the secrecy of where SJ lives, we have written a new oath that I would ask that you all agree to today,” Zigferd said as he unrolled a parchment that lay on the table.
“Does anyone object to agreeing to a new oath of secrecy?” Alice asked.
SJ glanced around the table nervously. No one spoke in objection.
“I have one question?” Nexis suddenly spoke. He had maintained silence since the commencement of the proceedings, and everyone was now turning to look at him.
“Please,” Alice inferred.
“May I?” Nexis asked as he reached for the parchment that Zigferd had unrolled.
“Please,” Zigferd said as Nexis picked it up, smiling.
Holding the parchment in his hand, he read the oath and raised an eyebrow.
“Why do you believe this oath will prevent people from speaking of SJ or divulging her secrets? Have you not proven that a being may be forced to comply.”
Zigferd’s cheeks reddened slightly at the comment, the colouration not going unnoticed by SJ, meaning that he may have been directly involved in whatever had happened to Greb to make him break his oath. “What else can we do?” Zigferd replied.
“There is one way that we could confirm secrecy. It is not something that can be taken lightly though, and may by some be seen as interference.”
“Interference?” Zigferd asked, confused.
“Yes. Interference. It is unlikely, but some may consider it stretching the rules,” Nexis said.
Most around the table now looked at Nexis with confusion, his cryptic comments not making sense of what he was alluding to. Standing, he pushed his chair back and began to pace slowly around the table. He began muttering as he did, holding his chin with one hand and appearing deep in thought. This continued for a few minutes, the confusion replaced by a nervous tension.
“Nexis. Is something wrong?” Alice asked.
Stopping, Nexis turned to face her, giving her a brilliant smile. “No, nothing is wrong. I am just conferring.”
Frowning deeply, Alice looked at Nexis as if he had lost his mind. “Conferring?”
“Yes. With my brethren,” Nexis replied.
That statement brought even more confusion to the table.
“Sorry?” Zigferd asked. “What brethren, and how are you possibly communicating with anyone?”
SJ could feel panic building in her chest.
“I think I know what he is going to do,” Dave said, sounding in awe and amazement.
‘What?’ SJ thought. As she did, Nexis stopped walking and moved to the top of the table where Alice sat.
“There is one way that I can guarantee absolute secrecy from those who know,” Nexis said.
“How?” Zigferd asked, SJ noting a tone of anger in his voice. The scene that had been unfolding had caused everyone to feel uneasy.
“There is one oath that can outweigh any other, even racial. Do any of you know which oath that is?” Nexis asked, looking around the table.
Lythonian nodded his head slowly at the comment. “I am aware of one,” he said.
“Please, Lythonian, do tell,” Nexis smiled.
“When I worked in Asterfal with the High Cleric, I was informed about the oaths and their binding levels. It is a very complex structure, but there is one oath that would indeed replace any others.”
“What?” Zigferd asked with apprehension.
“The binding oath of a god,” Lythonian replied.
Several around the table scoffed at the comment. “And where will we find a god to perform a binding oath?” Zigferd asked incredulously.
As Nexis replied, SJ could feel the hairs on the back of her neck rise.
“Here, of course,” he replied, smiling.