Chapter 139:
Anton passed the next set of camping supplies to the waiting cart; bought through the Seocurian dock portal. There were simply too many Dark Elves for what they had; even with the builders working flat out for the past few days, they had only anticipated a few hundred Beast-kin at for the next surge of population growth, not over two thousand Dark Elves. Thankfully the Green Moon understood and were simply grateful to be alive. For now at least. That feeling of salvation would fade; they needed to be housed, at least modestly before then.
“Some poor Beast-kin made this,” Rasha mumbled. “Not just one too.”
Rasha finally had received a set of armour, of sorts. Large pieces of roughly hewn iron covered most of her body while she wore gambeson underneath, protecting the exposed joints. It was nowhere near as fanciful as Cetina’s but it was probably more effective. Cetina’s left several glaring vulnerabilities, even if they were camouflaged by bright and loose cloth. Rasha’s long red hair had been cut short too, now just below her shoulders and tied up in a rough braid. She actually looked like a body-guard. Albeit a bodyguard in the provincial frontier.
“True.” Anton took a bundle from Rasha. “But we don’t have much choice. I do understand that it’s funding the Seocurian’s but we’ll get them. You’re just going to have to trust us.”
Kal held similar reservations. She ran her claws over the rough fabric. When she reached the seam her frown deepened. “They’re using Arachnid thread to bind the cotton together.”
“I take it no true Seocurian would be seen dead using one of these.” Verona idly mused.
“I’ve seen stuff like this in Bebbezzar and Graterious,” Cetina said. “I suppose that’s how Seocuria makes a lot of its money. By selling this cheaply. Though they do use things made by the Beast-kin…”
Cetina grunted and lifted the last of the supplies from the portal building. It had taken many trips but they finally had enough for the Dark Elves to take shelter for the night. Obviously solid buildings were preferable but this would certainly do. They could use it for any excursions into the ruined land beyond Atros. The Seocurians hardly had any suspicions. Anton had bought them at relatively high prices, they simply thought they had swindled Anton out of gold. Not that it mattered when he had a silver mine and a chest of gold coins and gems.
“Has Ulyaa said anything about her thread?” Anton patted the cart waiting patiently outside. “It’s been a while.”
“She’s been working hard on it.” Rasha chuckled. “I don’t know if that’s the right way to put it…But she says she’s made a decent amount. I don’t know how people are going to feel wearing something they know has come from an Arachnid.”
Verona laughed. “Their butt at that."
“Oh, but Eider’s said that she has some venom. For your arrows or whatever you wanted for that.”
Kal chuckled. “I lost all the Kobold poison in Nonbur’n. Not that Atros has really be threatened while we’ve been gone.”
“Is that everything?” The Ix driver yelled back.
Anton nodded to the toothy man, the same man that once took them to the lake in the south-east and nearly caused Verona, and many besides her, to vomit from the rough ride.
“Drop it off with the rest. We’ll be there soon.”
The man glanced at the four women near Anton, a devious smile crept up his face. “I can handle it, don’t you worry. If five want to scurry off somewhere I can handle this myself.”
Before anyone could answer the man whipped the reins and the cart was off, carving a path through the modest crowds in this part of Atros. Anton glanced back to find everyone looking more than a little awkward. None of the girls present were fools. The guards standing at attention outside the portal buildings made every effort to show no emotion and avoid eye contact.
“Let’s go,” Anton said. “I want to talk to Leran and Cagec before I move onto more tests.”
“That white spear of yours did some damage to the Goblins.” Verona moved to Anton’s right, while Kal took his left.
“I thought you didn’t use weapons,” Rasha spoke softly. “Not, you know…”
“Melee?” Kal answered.
Rasha nodded. “Yes. Isn’t that one of the reasons that you wanted us as your bodyguards?”
“If it’s fighting people off in melee I can do that.” Verona laughed. “Except if someone knows how to disrupt my magic…” Verona grabbed Anton’s hand. “Do you think Principle Mages could do that? Leave me without any ability to fight. Then I’m basically worthless to you…”
Anton only saw big, wet puppy eyes. “Absolutely you’d be worthless.”
Verona feigned a gasped. “Well, I’m shocked and offended to be your wife. I’ll just have to crawl into our bed and cry myself better.”
“We won’t even be able to sleep there tonight.” Anton sighed. “Never get to spend much time here so the place is always dusty and smells funny. But maybe we’ll have some help with that soon.”
“The twins?” Kal raised a brow, a playful smile crept up her brown face. “They seem pleasant. So far at least.”
“If you need a cleaner I could do it,” Rasha said. “I’m normally free, since you’re not here that often.”
Rasha took several paces closer, which for her meant she was almost on top of them. Verona’s eye twitched violently as she looked up to Rasha. Despite her new armour, it was extremely clear she was a woman. No amount of forming or shape of metal could defeat physics or displace such mass, not without hurting her considerably.
Anton waved down Rasha’s concern. “I don’t even know if I’ll agree to that. We really didn’t have much of a chance to speak before the Goblins began to attack in force. Besides, how can I trust some former pirates with our home the day we meet them?”
“And you’re a little too big.” Verona teased. “That horn of yours keeps hitting doorways even when you try and duck underneath.”
Rasha rubbed her large orange horn. “Most of the time in Seocuria I didn’t have to worry about doors. Here everything’s designed for…people. Short people.”
“I think you might want to rephrase that.” Anton chuckled. “And quickly.”
Rasha tilted her head, Cetina stepped away, before looking down at Verona. Verona was fuming, heavily put on but not entirely.
“Oh. I mean…” Rasha stammered, her hooves struck the ground loudly as she tried to think of a way out.
Verona quickly gave up the pretence and laughed. “I’m joking Rasha. I’m not that annoyed…Maybe a little.”
Verona measured herself against Anton and tapped his shoulder. “I’d like to be at least this tall. That would be nice.”
“Same.” Anton patted Verona’s helmet, a hand running over the light scratch running along the centre. “Now that Gerin has the entirety of the Mainland Clans fighting alongside him the time we can spend in Qaiviel has gone up considerably. Sort that mess out.”
“Gerin’s not too happy with you though,” Verona spoke oddly seriously. “We might need to reduce the numbers of DuskReavers we were planning to take in.”
“We still have the Dwarves to come as well,” Kal added. “I hate to say it.” She glanced back at Rasha. “But they’re probably more important than the Dark Elves, humans or Beast-kin.”
“Because we’re not great miners and smiths?” Rasha tilted her head. “We can still work in the fields. It’s what we’ve been doing our whole lives.”
“I thought you would have wanted to escape that.” Cetina frowned lightly.
Rasha tapped the shaft of her halberd into the crook of her shoulder. “I did.”
They walked silently through the streets of Atros. The crowds parted a way for them, not that Anton was so egotistical to believe that everyone should part for him. To be fair he was flanked by two of the most well-known women of Atros, another wearing bright yellow, blue and red clothes and an armoured blue giant with bright red hair.
The Dwarves work improving Atros continued unabated but Anton didn’t pay it much attention. He was too focused on the north of Atros, where the Green Moon Clan had been housed. If housed was the correct way to put it.
Anton did not pass through the last gate of Atros but took to the wall instead. Visions of Earth came flooding back, of refugee tent cities stretching as far as the eye could see. Thankfully this wasn’t as bad but certainly wasn’t good. The Dark Elves had taken all the land to the west of the main northern thoroughfare, they didn’t need to be told not to make camp on the large flattened clearing where the monstrosity called the Sovereign Palace was going to sit. Anton had yet to see the designs, he hoped they were not too gaudy.
“They seem alright,” Anton observed the tents. “Neatly organised and arranged, with some larger tents for distribution.”
“What about…” Cetina glanced at Anton. “Sanitation? They need somewhere to go for that.”
“I’m worried about that too.” Anton turned to Kal. “I think the smell alone will be bad enough for almost half of our current residents.”
Kal nodded towards Mount Aspire, the snow-capped mountain looming in the distance. “The wind tends to come from the north.”
“Spreading diseases certainly isn’t a good idea, even if we can heal them. Perhaps another artefact will work.”
Verona threw up her hands in annoyance but held her tongue. They left the wall and passed through the open gates into the camp. The Green Moon Dark Elves looked somewhere between elation, overwhelming relief and downright confusion. Many Atros villagers, human and Beast-kin, moved through the camp but only in groups and with some level of security. These were still pirates, though their leader had promised to change he clearly could not speak for everyone. A very close eye would need to be kept on these potential trouble makers. The Dark Elves accepted their hospitality with many thanks and words of appreciation. Their hungry eyes devoured the food but a second before scoffing it down their mouths. Anton realised they were very skinny, not yet malnourished, and very hungry. Their situation was probably far worse than Leran let on. The soundproof padding had more than one purpose.
Did he think I’d want nothing to do with weakened and emaciated people? If it were a normal war, and resources were stretched to breaking there might not be enough for them. Doesn’t matter either way, we have food to spare. So long as we can bring in some more from Seocuria from time to time.
Anton glanced back at the two Beast-kin girls.
Better not let them know where it’s all coming from.
They arrived at the centre of activity for the Dark Elves, the largest tent they had. This was actually brought from The Shadow Isles, not from the Green Moon, and held many Dark Elf motifs. It wasn’t much but it was something to cling to in this strange and alien land.
“So much better than being stuck in that fortress.” Leran laughed as he saw Anton approach. “Ah. There’s another one with you this time. Very interesting. Thank you again for rescuing us.”
“I trust that everything is going well.” Anton stepped underneath the shade of the tent. Rasha had to duck and caught many eyes from the Dark Elves. “There isn’t any trouble, I hope.”
“Everything is going well. As well as can be expected.” Leran smiled. “I’ve been speaking with your Dwarves…Didn’t expect that, and a giant of a human about building some shelters.”
“I’m afraid that we are pushed to our limit here.” Anton bowed his head lightly. “There is only so much that we can do right now.”
Leran waved him down. “Everyone is just grateful to be alive. And well fed.”
“Thank you.” Cagec bowed. “The Green Moon Clan owes you a tremendous debt.”
“Indeed…Have you given much thought to my Granddaughters?”
An odd way to put it.
“I have. But, as of right now, I do not know if it’s a good idea.” Leran remained un-phased by Anton’s words. “Perhaps given time something could be arranged but I have only known you all for a very, very short time.”
“That’s fine.” Leran stood to the side. The twins sat at the far side of the ten, helping distribute supplies. “I just thought it would be better for them to see what this Atros of yours is all about. Actually learn a thing or two…And get out of here.”
Leran shook his head. “Living in these tents isn’t bad, we’ve all been through a lot worse, you haven’t had to live off seaweed and snails, but they should see more than just the inside of these tents. Even I know it’ll take some time to get houses built, if you intend to keep us.”
Anton smiled. “Only if you think the other clans won’t take you in.”
“Then it looks like we’re staying.” Leran whistled loudly. Calo and Sheso snapped to the noise. “Can’t stand any of those gits anyway.”
“Even the Island clans?” Verona asked.
“They’re better than the mainland ones, I’ll give them that.” Leran patted the twin’s shoulders. “Calo, Sheso. I want you two to travel with Anton for a bit. Learn about the place we will call home, for the foreseeable future at least.”
“What about our work here?” Sheso asked, a slight tremble in her voice. “There are still a lot of supplies still to distribute.”
“And…” Calo looked around but couldn’t find the words to convey her nervousness.
Leran patted their shoulders. “It’ll be fine. You do need to get some fresh air and stretch those legs.”
After the incident with the Goblins all the energy has been sapped from you, both of you actually.
Cagec knelt in front of his nieces. “I know you two are very strong.”
The twins still looked very nervous. Cagec slapped his thighs, stood up and gently pushed the two out. “I know that Anton will be glad to have you two helping him, with whatever he needs.”
Cagec smiled. “Besides, you don’t want to spend all day stuck in here with the old men.”
“You’re not that old,” Calo said, a tiny sense of levity returned to her voice. “Yet.”
“I heard that.” Leran laughed.
“We’ll be fine,” Anton said. “Just visiting a few people and then we’ll bring them back safe and sound.”
They gave a small wave before returning to their previous duties. Barely after leaving the large tent the twins stopped, brushing their legs as they desperately tried to stop their shaking limbs.
“Forgive me, Anton.” Calo bowed her head. “I haven’t been feeling very well after…After the Goblins tried to attack me.”
Anton knelt down, waiting until she looked in the eye. “I think that’s the appropriate response. It was only…Just a few minutes ago. But I think that’s normal. I felt that way too when I first met them. We all did, during our first battle. But moving, and in this case, taking a short walk will do wonders. Get some fresh air into your lungs. At least it’ll take your mind off of it.”
“It was just so quick.” Sheso sighed.
“I don’t think we’re good warriors.” Calo shared a glance with her sister. “All Dark Elves can use a bow but we still can’t.”
“You just need practice.” Cetina smiled, thumping her chest. “With enough practice and training, you can become a great warrior. Better at it than anyone.”
Verona shot Cetina a sly wink. Cetina froze for a second before a faint redness began creeping over the tips of her ears. Anton chuckled while Rasha looked on confused.
“Regardless of Verona stirring up Cetina.” Kal gently shook her head. “Where should we head first?”
“Probably best to see how the Chirok’s are going. Hopefully they haven’t done anything too silly.”
“Chiroks?” Sheso asked, a somewhat worried tone to her voice. “You have them here? How?”
“You wouldn’t believe the story,” Kal said. “How much faith do you have in the Old Gods?”
“If they saved us I’ll give them lots.” Sheso laughed. “But…I don’t know much about them.”
Anton began walking towards the west, everyone quickly gave chase. “Think of them as a gift. I know that their feathers are very beautiful. For someone I know.”
“Not yet.” Verona chuckled nervously. “Not yet. I’ve almost finished one. But now you’ve shown me those I need to start thinking more about designs. Seamstresses have such a hard life.”
“What is she talking about?” Rasha asked Cetina softly.
Cetina gave no answer.
“The Chirok’s are to the west…Oh, we should see how Luna’s doing.” Anton smiled. “See if Shawn and Jocelyn are taking good care of her.”
“And Seamus and Lili,” Kal added.
“I wonder if Lerato and Johnathan have hooked up yet.” Verona sniggered. “He was certainly interested in her.”
Anton looked back to Rasha.
Kristof was caught looking at Lerato’s chest…I’ll never forget seeing you three together at once. Maybe Marion doesn’t want him anywhere near there too?
---[]---
“Watch out!” A Smith cried out, dangerously swaying a bundle of recently forged blades. “Little white blob’s running through again.”
“We’re trying to stop her,” Seamus yelled.
He and her sister, Lili, darted through the smiths and apprentices chasing Luna towards the entrance. The workers, though trying their best, had some difficulty seeing the dark-skinned Seocurians in the dim smithy. Luna squeaked and sneezed excitedly as she ran towards Anton. The small Peryton leapt into Anton’s arms and began licking his face.
“Aw. Did you miss us?”
“Hello, Anton!” Lili and Seamus said simultaneously. “We’ve been taking good care of her while you’ve been gone.”
“I didn’t think keeping her in a smithy, with so much noise, is a good idea.” Anton scratched her nose, allowed a few licks of his face before passing her to Verona and Kal.
“Most days Shawn and Jocelyn take care of her,” Seamus said. His eyes wandered over the women for a moment, focusing on the Dark Elf twins longer, before snapping back to him. “But the last few days they’ve been working really hard. Something about arrows…And Luna makes a lot of noise when she’s left alone.”
“Must be because she knows we aren’t coming back any time soon.” Kal scratched behind Luna’s ear. Her claws could reach deeper than fingernails, much to Luna’s enjoyment. “I know I would be pretty upset.”
“How’s your mother?” Anton asked. “Is she getting along with Jonathan?”
“Yes.” Lili frowned lightly. “She spends a lot of time with him now. We just don’t see her as much, outside of work.”
“But we talk with Shawn and Jocelyn a lot.” Seamus smiled. “They’re really nice.”
“We just wanted to stop by and collect Luna. Have the Chirok’s behaved themselves?”
“The big dogs to the west?” Seamus nodded. “Sybil sent people to look after them. I think they’re alright.”
“Anton!”
Jonathan emerged from the small back room, the stash holding their Glyph infused weapons, with Lerato close behind. She now wore something more befitting an assistant to a smith; thick clothes able to shrug off sparks and cinders while providing a modicum of cooling.
“How long are you back this time?”
“Probably until tonight. Maybe. Belinda’s about to reach the Black Rider Fortress and then that’s going to take up most of our time. Oh, and thanks for getting Rasha some armour.”
“I had to do the measuring.” Lerato laughed. “There’s no way that Jonathan could do that. At least without offending her.”
“It’s very good.” Rasha rotated her shoulder, the metal armour ground lightly against itself. “Haven’t actually fought with it yet…”
“Lerato’s children were saying something about Glyph infused arrows?”
“Yes.” Jonathan nodded to his children working over an open furnace, sweat pouring down their faces. They spared a momentary glance and a nod before returning to their work. “It is all back here.”
“I’ll wait out here,” Cetina said, tapping on Rasha’s side.
Rasha smiled awkwardly. “I’m probably too tall.”
Probably not a good idea for the Dark Elves to know what these weapons are. They’ll definitely be worth a small fortune, just for a single dagger.
“Calo, Sheso. Please wait here for a moment. Cetina? Could you take Luna?”
Luna happily squirmed into Cetina’s arms and accepted her scratches. Jonathan led them into the back room. Once it contained just a few weapons and armour that practically shone with the magic of the Old Gods, now it almost overflowed.
“How many?” Verona asked.
“Of each? Twenty swords, forty small shields and ten war hammers. Oh, and fifteen maces. Just the bludgeon types, no spikes yet.”
“No new effects?” Anton rubbed his hand over the rippling pieces of armour. Thankfully he tail didn’t react.
“Nothing so far,” Jonathan said. “But we do have these arrows.”
He produced an arrow but it was very, very different to what Anton was used to. Kal stepped forward and held it close to her face. The arrow’s head, the metal rippling with lightning, was flat and quite wide, like a bullet after striking a hard target. A single fire arrow lay next to a large bundle of blunt lightning arrows.
“So what does the fire do?” Anton asked. “The lightning would destroy the metal armour…”
“Exactly. We have our archers, or crossbowmen, shoot these and destroy the enemy metal armour.” Jonathan looked to Lerato. “Though most of our actual enemies do not use metal. But when we heard about the whole thing in Qaiviel it got us thinking. But the flame….They do not do much. The armour is not broken or weakened, and the archer does not feel anything.”
“Those books that I found, some of the magic don’t look like they’ll be all that useful.”
Kal lowered the arrow. “Aren’t you worried about the enemy getting these? If my army started to lose their armour, where it just crumbled away I’d want to know why.”
“Maybe. But I don’t think it’ll be easy for them to reproduce. Has there been anyone else that’s developed a Glyph?”
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“So far, no.” Johnathan smiled. “I don’t want anyone else to go through what my children did without one of you two here to heal them.”
“And that?”
Verona pointed to a small clay pot secured tightly with a metal band. Whatever it was Jonathan didn’t want anyone touching it. A green cross gave Anton some indication of what lay inside.
“What’s that snake girl’s name?” Lerato asked.
“Eider?”
“Yes. That’s her name. She gave Jonathan this and said it was her venom.” Lerato turned to Jonathan, crossing an arm and resting her head in her hand. “I…I don’t know how she did that.”
“We tried and she couldn’t just do it on her own.” Verona shrugged. “Guess she practised.”
Jonathan carefully removed the metal clasp to reveal a thin, faintly yellow liquid. He kept his hands far away from the rim though the jar was only a third full.
“Poison arrow tips?” Kal asked. “Like the Kobold poison.”
“Yes.”
“She said that it doesn’t work if it’s just rubbed onto the skin, it has to go into the blood and flesh. No idea how she did that either.”
“So, I had this idea.”
Jonathan produced a normal iron arrow, except this had a small groove running along the middle.
“Place some dried venom in here. One hit and they will go down.” Jonathan smiled. “I like making these little things with my hands. They are great fun.”
Lerato gave them a wink, one Jonathan didn’t see.
“Jeff will be pleased. I take it you two are getting along well?”
“Absolutely.” Lerato brought Jonathan’s extremely well-muscled arm in between her breasts. “I think we’re getting along great.”
“Shawn and Jocelyn are grateful just to have someone they can speak with.” Johnathan smiled, keeping his arm nestled against Lerato. “After receiving the Glyphs not many wanted to speak with them.”
“We’re getting along just fine.” Lerato smiled at Anton. “Thanks for introducing as, by the way.”
Lerato really took to Johnathan, even after an abusive marriage. Is...Is there a chance she could be under the influence of Strega Magic? I don’t think she’s a Strega Witch but we were fooled before.
“Can I check something?” Anton asked. “On both of you?”
“Sure.” Jonathan and Lerato shared a confused look.
Anton laid his hand upon them and searched for the tell-tale green smoke of Strega Magic. Both made strange noises but he found nothing.
“Mind telling us what that was about?” Lerato chuckled. “It was pretty fun, water tickling underneath my skin, but…”
“Strega Witches. Remember those?”
“Oh…” Jonathan grunted.
“But you’re fine.”
“Cetina will be happy if you can make something that warns us that one of them is in Atros,” Kal said.
“Only once we work out how to make Nodes for Earth Mana.” Anton sighed. “Speaking of, what about the…special items?”
“That is not really my area of expertise.” Jonathan rubbed his hair, throwing lose tiny black flecks of iron and coal. “I can forge things for you but making this recipe, in my smithy without it exploding, I thought was a bad idea. We have most of the raw materials here.”
Jonathan waved to several large crates onto which several glyph infused shields had been placed. “Sybil was a little confused when we got that list. There are a few things we cannot get though.”
“The portals to Seocuria will solve that,” Kal said, a light frown creased her face. “Though I don’t want to give the Seocurian’s any more money. I don’t mean you, Lerato.”
Lerato smiled and waved her down. “Don’t worry about it. A lot of the new Beast-kin give me odd looks but I’m fine with it.”
“Let someone know if it’s getting bad,” Verona said calmly. “There’s no excuse for that kind of behaviour.”
“I will.” Lerato nodded.
“Now, we’ve got some big dogs to see.”
---[]---
The Chirok family lay just outside the latest Atros perimeter wall. Their home was akin to a large stable, overflowing with straw and a massive rock pool to drink from. Judging by the baby Chirok’s diving in and out of the scattered piles of straw, throwing them over their head and at each other, they were certainly enjoying their new surroundings. Both adults lay in the shade created by a large awning, their bat wings pulled close to their feathered body, and dozed lightly while keeping an eye on their children. There were only a few people near the rough enclosure and those were more than willing to have nothing to do with something whose teeth were almost as large as their forearm.
“There should be someone watching over them.” Rasha raised an armoured hand to her brow, just below the base of her horn. "I remember Sybil saying something. Should be two people.”
“Can’t imagine she was too pleased to see these guys.” Anton looked at Luna. “Not after our last creature was something as cute as you.”
“The Chirok’s are cute too.” Verona scratched Luna’s nose. “I’m sure you’ll be just as cute when you get older.”
The adults saw them approach and rose up, the children continued their play.
“Where are those two?” Rasha asked again.
“Which two?” Anton asked.
The adult Chirok’s came to the edge of the wooden fence and rested their heads on the posts. The fences were nothing more than a slight inconvenience for them but they didn’t just jump over or push the fence over. The male sniffed and focused its eyes on Luna, the eyes narrowing as it looked at a potential morsel of food.
“That’s not for you.” Anton scratched their giant noses. “That’s a friend of ours. Okay? Not food.”
Fliodher’s influence continued to have an effect and the Chirok’s backed down slightly. Luna wasn’t going to be left with them anyway.
“Now…” Anton looked back. “Where are the Dark Elves?”
Calo and Sheso hid behind Cetina and Rasha, hiding from the curious gaze of the Chirok’s.
“Is something wrong?” Anton asked, motioning for Cetina and Rasha to step aside. They did so but the twins wanted to follow. “They’re not violent.”
“Look at the size of their teeth!” Sheso reached for her sister. “I’ve never seen them that big before. That fence isn’t going to keep them in there. What’s to stop them from just running at us?”
“To be fair they can fly.” Anton chuckled, patting their snouts again. “One of the reasons why Fliodher sent us to them. But they’re more than pleasant enough. Come on, give them a pat.”
The twins shared a look and gingerly approached the Chirok’s. They looked curiously at the Dark Elves, resting their large head over the wooden railing. Sheso patted them first, her sister was still more than a little rattled after the incident with the Goblins, but the Chirok began to moan happily. Calo braved the distance and patted the other.
“Leran said he’s seen these all over the world.” Calo winced. “When he was…you know.”
“They aren’t native to The Shadow Isles?”
“I don’t think so. They live near the coasts all over the world.” Calo looked to the baby Chirok’s. “But some go there to have babies.”
The babies were no longer playing amongst themselves and stared at them, their tongues hanging out of their mouths while they panted wildly. Slowly they approached, sniffing at the ground and keeping their heads low.
“Where are they?” Rasha asked again. She patted a baby Chirok that clambered up the wooden fence. “Sybil will be furious if they aren’t here.”
“Who even are you talking about?” Anton asked.
Rasha’s eyes widened, she pointed beyond the Chirok’s rudimentary home. From behind a small building, unrelated to the Chirok’s, two people emerged. One was a human woman, a modest build and height with light brown hair and the other a Canine Beast-kin, his fur a dull grey with a short bushy tail. What interested the most was their expressions; it was more hidden by the short fur covering the Canine but the human’s flush was exposed for all the world to see. Not to mention their clothes were fastened incorrectly.
“Sorry.” The Canine yelled. “We were busy with…Something else.”
Anton scanned them up and down as the stopped next to the Chirok’s, who were impartial to their presence. “I bet you two were.”
“I…” The woman looked at the Canine and winced slightly.
“We don’t have a problem with you two having some fun.” Verona laughed. “But it’s probably not a good idea to leave these guys alone. They’re still wild animals.”
“They trust you?” Kal asked.
“No one knows about us.” The Canine chuckled nervously. “Our families wouldn’t approve of us.”
“Can you please keep it a secret?”
“No…” Kal furiously shook her head. “I mean, we will, but how are the Chirok’s trusting you?”
“Oh…Oh!” The canine coughed.
His nose it wetter than normal…Whatever goes, I suppose.
“They were nervous at first but after we began feeding them they really warmed up to us.” The Canine looked to his arms. “For a while, I thought they would try and eat me, since I’m not human.”
Anton nodded. “I think they might just see anyone as food. What are your names?”
“Berus.” The Canine replied. “And this is Aligi.”
“Did you happen to come from Qaiviel?”
“Yes.” Aligi bowed her head. “I believe it was the third group from Duchess Belinda’s land.”
“And you’re okay with the Beast-kin?” Kal asked.
Verona sniggered, folding her arms. “She more than okay with them. Otherwise, she’s got a few interesting kinks.”
Aligi blinked before Verona’s words took hold. She sighed, shook her head, but didn’t look all that unhappy with the implications.
“We just wanted to see how they’re going.” Anton began. “Have they been flying or have they just been resting? I don’t think it really matters either way.”
“The left just a little while ago.” Berus pointed to the west, towards the Accursed Forest. “The adults did. For a while we thought they wouldn’t come back, some people got a bit angry at us, but they came back with a dead wolf. I think they just wanted to hunt.”
“They have to teach the babies somehow,” Cetina said.
“This may sound like an odd request but have they been shedding any of their feathers?” Anton ran his hand through the Chirok’s’ feathers to its skin. “I don’t really want to pluck them like they’re a dead chicken.”
“We do.” Aligi pointed to the side of the Chirok’s home to a large wicker basket, overflowing with black and dark blue feathers. “They dropped a lot the last few days, especially the babies. I don’t think they’re sick, they have new ones coming through.”
“We’d like those,” Anton said. “Do you happen to have a sack or something?”
“I’ll go get them.”
Aligi bowed and hurriedly departed. Some of the baby Chirok’s caught her movement and gave chase, panting and pawing at her, some using the claws form their wings, to get attention. When it was clear they weren’t playing or receiving food they returned to the fence, where actual pats and attention lay.
“From what you’ve seen.” Anton began, Berus snapped his head towards him, even his nose and a few faint whiskers twitched. “How strong are they? Do you think they’ll be able to carry a person?”
Berus looked to the adult Chirok’s. “They were able to carry back a wolf without any problem. At least it didn’t look like it had trouble. Where you would ride, I don’t know.”
“On its back, obviously.” Verona received an odd look. “Not like we’re going to ride in its mouth or on its feet, right?”
“Well…Yes. Obviously.” Berus nodded. “They have a large space on their backs. I suppose you could ride there.” Berus’s face turned to panic. “But please don’t do that. I don’t think any mage that could survive a fall from the clouds.”
“I probably could,” Verona said. “Use my blood to slow me down…Still don’t want to try it.”
“A harness then.” Anton looked at the sky. “I wonder what Atros looks like from above. It’ll definitely save time scouting the old Kingdom. Though it’ll just be a few of us.”
“Definitely not you.” Cetina looked at Rasha. Rasha glumly nodded as Cetina tapped her own side. “Probably me too.”
“Well…We need something lightweight to make the harness. Something like spider or Arachnid silk. Thankfully I have just the person in mind.”
“Right now she should be working on the South Eastern plantations.” Rasha winced lightly. “Hate calling it that, but it’s the truth. I remember her saying she was climbing fruit trees.”
“Better than spending all her time forcing out more silk. Her body can only make so much each day.” Kal frowned lightly. “Speaking of, don’t Minotaurs…”
Rasha shot a very angry glare at Kal, one which took both by surprise. Kal blinked once to recover but didn’t push for an explanation. Rasha realised what she had done and lowered her head. Anton wasn’t offended on Kal’s behalf, more curious as to what had irked Rasha. Cetina didn’t know and frowned deeply at her subordinate.
Well, Minotaurs are essentially bulls, bovines, and cows produce lots of milk…
Anton glanced at Rasha’s chest.
If the Seocurians use Arachnids for silk, who’s to say they don’t use Minotaurs for milk for the other Beast-kin. That alone might account for some of Rasha’s bullying; it would mess me up. Who knows what else happened in that horrible?
“Anyway,” Rasha looked a little relieved the attention was away from her. “We’ll find Ulyaa and get someone to try and make a harness for these guys.”
“Before or after Qaiviel?” Verona asked.
“Definitely after. If something went wrong before…Well, Atros would go on afterwards.”
“Not really,” Verona mumbled.
Anton gently held her shoulder. “How are you two doing?”
The Dark Elf Twins were happily playing with the baby Chirok’s. Their previous fear of the large beasts, not entirely unwarranted, had completely evaporated underneath their loveably noises, encouraging the two to scratch and pat for longer. Every so often a bat wing would reach towards them from a Chirok not receiving attention but Berus gently swatted them away. He kept a very keen eye towards the parents but they seemed unmoved. Luna, who would normally be vying for any and all attention, remained in Verona’s arms keeping a vigilant watch.
“They’re not so scary now.” Calo laughed, giving a baby Chirok’s cheeks a vigorous rub much to its delight. “Just like big dogs.”
“I never saw any in The Shadow Isles.” Anton received only light shrugs from Verona and Kal.
“We had some that we…got…from other places.”
“I hope their original owners are alright.” Verona raised a brow.
Sheso shrugged. “It was our way of life, the way we always did things. We knew it was wrong but it worked for us. We were richer than a lot of the Island Clans.”
“Are any of the Green Moon Clan good with weaving?” Anton asked, waving to the Chirok’s. “Sewing? Considering we have to make something this big.”
Calo and Sheso shared a look. “I don’t know about Arachnid thread, it’s a lot stronger than cotton, but there might be someone that can. But all our stuff is still in The Shadow Isles. And outside the fortress.”
“And covered in Goblins,” Sheso added softly.
Calo tensed at their mention but it faded quickly.
“We can buy all the equipment we need,” Anton said. “Except Arachnid silk. Not the good kind anyway. There’s only one that can give us that.”
---[]---
Humans and Beast-kin worked almost harmoniously with one another as they worked the plantations. Instead of just one harvest a year, like many crops of Earth, they grew much faster. Earth Mana permeating the soil allowed them to grow at an unbelievable rate, but also allowed the monsters to grow extremely quickly. Even with their current magical artefacts drawing a considerable portion of what they were allowed there wasn’t any difference to the growth or quality of the crops.
Earth Mana must be like a switch, either it works or it doesn’t. If we use too much will the plants just die or grow like they would on Earth…Could someone sabotage us by utilising that? Or the other way around? Put dozens of artefacts in Danafra and let the hordes burn it to the ground, after rescuing the Beast-kin of course.
It wasn’t difficult to find Ulyaa. She scampered up the trees, her spider legs finding purchase in the rough bark and propelling her upwards into the small canopy. She could easily reach the top branches, not always with her human limbs but often with an outstretched spider leg to knock the last of the fruit off. Those below waited with baskets held high to catch the falling fruit. One missed and exploded in a shower of sticky and sweet juices. The closest person looked incredibly worried but another allayed their concern. It was just one fruit after all.
“There she is,” Rasha said proudly.
“Yes…” Anton didn’t want to ruin her moment, neither did Cetina though she shot her a strange look.
“Ulyaa?!” Verona yelled.
A head popped above the leaves, scanning wildly for the source of her name. She smiled wildly upon locating them and quickly disappeared into the tree. A large shadow moved through the branches until Ulyaa scuttled along the branched and released her hold, landing heavily on the ground, her long legs acting as dampeners.
“Hello, Verona.” Ulyaa pushed past the crowds after whispering something. “How are you all?”
“Good.” Verona hugged her with one hand, careful not to crush Luna.
“How’s the armour?” Ulyaa chuckled at Rasha. “Eider’s pretty annoyed, you know?”
“That’s the plan.” Rasha smiled.
Ulyaa clapped her hands. “How can I help?”
Anton explained the issue with the harness required to use the Chirok’s as flying mounts. Ulyaa remained perfectly silent, soaking up his words without question and was smiling slightly awkwardly at the end.
“It might take a bit.” Ulyaa leant back and patted the rear of her spider body. “I can only make so much each day.”
“Where’s it currently going?” Kal asked.
“I’m wearing it,” Ulyaa said triumphantly, planting her hands on her hips, at least just above where her human body joined the spider half. “It’s underneath this cloth.”
Ulyaa wore a rough shirt, better than the slave garb but still held many holes, and a skirt. However, some of the holes allowed something light to peek through.
“Jeff and Sybil said that, since I made them I should be the first to try it.” Ulyaa crossed her arms, holding the base of her cloth shirt. “It’s really good. Strong, tough and doesn’t stain easily. Great for working in the field.”
Anton tried to say something but Ulyaa was adamant about partially stripping. With one quick action it was gone, Ulyaa ruffled her hair and held the shirt in one hand. The creamy coloured shirt clung to Ulyaa’s body. Anton tried his best not to stare; Ulyaa probably had one of the best bodies in Atros, even as an Arachnid.
“My thread’s really fine.” Ulyaa stretched out the bottom of the shirt. “So it’s very smooth. And it’s a bit stretchy too. Is that what you want for a harness though?”
Anton leant closer, feeling more than two sets of eyes staring into the back of his head.
“It shouldn’t be a problem.” Anton ran a finger over the weave, an incredibly fine weave made from a very thin thread. “The fact that someone can make a shirt out of it is impressive enough.”
“Jeff said he wanted everyone that worked outside the wall to wear this.” Ulyaa looked to the south. “We’ve been seeing more Goblins lurking to the south.”
“The Lightning Crows are still there, aren’t they?”
“Oh, we see them from time to time.” Ulyaa’s face dropped. “But it’s still worrying to see those Goblins at all. Jeff said he wants us to wear these since they’re really strong.”
Ulyaa reached into a small bag hanging off her waist and produced a small iron dagger. She stabbed the silk shirt repeatedly but it didn’t punch through. Only on the tenth attempt did any of the threads begin to fray.
“So he thought it would good if the workers…” Ulyaa groaned, alongside the other Beast-kin present. “Had good protection if the Goblins or something else managed to get close. We could fend off a few attacks with this. He’s also got Johnathan working on making this silk as some sort of underlay for an armour. Irso says it’s taking a while though.”
“Didn’t see her in the smithy,” Kal said.
“Must be taking a walk then.” Ulyaa’s voice was slightly more robotic and monotone than normal. “But she isn’t running away from her work.”
Anton rubbed the slightly damaged section. He could feel the frayed strands but there were very few. “You’re going to save a lot of lives with this alone.”
Ulyaa smiled. “Thank you, Anton. I can’t do any of the sewing myself but I’ll make as much as I can.”
“We might want some of those as an underlay for our armour.” Anton mused.
“How cool is it?” Verona asked. She revealed the fur covered inside of her armour. “This is enchanted to be cool…Wait. How come that didn’t show up on your dial thing?”
“I…It wasn’t made with Glyph Magic, I know that. Maybe Principle Magic is far more efficient for the mana it takes up. Maybe a tiny fraction for something like that.”
Kal nodded. “Glyph magic is easy to use and powerful but Principle magic is more…”
“Efficient?” Anton said.
“If it can do that, then yes.”
“Is…Is that all you wanted to ask?” Ulyaa tilted her head. “You didn’t need to come all this way just to ask me. Not that I don’t mind talking to you all but there are some places in the plantation that only I can reach easily.”
“Since we have you, I wanted to know how the new Beast-kin are settling in. And the older ones.” Anton looked at Kal. “I know I saw some look particularly nastily at Kal. Though you aren’t a half-breed you could be mistaken for one.”
“Only by humans.” Ulyaa patted her front two spider legs. “There’s no way a human and a giant spider made a baby.”
“Would that even be possible?” Verona asked.
“Absolutely not,” Anton said. “Though, with magic, it might be possible. Who knows what happened all those years ago.”
“I think everything’s going alright. The new Beast-kin are scared and confused, kind of like we were, but nothing too bad.” Ulyaa frowned. “They’re really not happy with the Seocurian’s though. I haven’t seen anything happening but…Well, I hear things. And they aren’t good.”
“The Seocurian’s are all housed in the one area.” Anton began. “So it should keep them separate, at least at night. Not much we can do to fix that. If ever.”
“Each new batch is going to feel the same way,” Kal said softly. “They might be better off back in Jaka. If we can secure it.”
“No new Strohierite stones,” Verona said. “Any more from Ferula?”
“Not yet. I’ll ask Wilford, see what he has to say.”
“If that’s everything I really need to get back to work.” Ulyaa pointed to the group she left. “They’re probably getting a bit impatient.”
“We’ll talk to you soon, Ulyaa.”
Ulyaa waved and scurried back to the other workers. It was very odd to see an Arachnid run from behind. Very odd indeed.
“It might actually be a good idea to send the Seocurians back to Jaka.” Anton mused. “Things will only get worse as more Beast-kin arrive.”
“A few bound Lightning Crows and they’ll be fine,” Verona said. “And a portal back here, of course.”
“Is this what you normally do?” Calo asked.
“When you aren’t fighting in The Shadow Isles?” Sheso added.
“It’s what I’d like to do.” Anton shook his head. “This hasn’t exactly been a normal day. But are you two feeling a bit better?”
“We are.” Calo nodded. “I think the fresh air and getting away from the others, even for a bit, really helped.”
“For this next part, we can’t take you with us. We’ll drop you off and head off ourselves.”
“I didn’t think a human could be friends with so many Beast-kin.” Calo pointed to Ulyaa scrambling up another tree. “They all seem to like you.”
Anton felt gazes trailing over his skull. “From someone like Ulyaa that might actually be a little problematic for me.”
---[]---
Anton stepped through the portal into the musty confines of the cellar of Balefire Mine. The light from the portal, casting bizarre shadows on the walls, greeted him. No Ghlotsm, a relief and a surprise. After spending so long in their home he expected them to tear through everything they touched. Evidently the Ghlotsm weren’t that intelligent.
The four girls stepped through soon after. Rasha had to crouch to avoid scraping her horn on the stone roof, though it was only a slight stoop.
“Why are there so many skeletons here?” Rasha asked softly.
“The poor souls of Balefire Mine,” Anton replied. “Trapped down here when the Ghlotsm overran the land above. They died waiting for help that was simply too late.”
Rasha tilted her head. “You showed me the map before, this place is miles from Atros. Who was coming to help them?”
Cetina grumbled, grinding her foot onto the hard stone. Rasha didn’t understand and looked to Anton for answers.
“Another time. Now, we need to head upstairs and see if the Ghlotsm still are in control.”
“Those columns of Goblins still worry me.” Kal knocked her bow. “Why now?”
“Another Red.” Verona offered.
Cetina and Rasha shared a glance as Anton slowly climbed the stairs. The trapdoor remained completely untouched, just as they had left it. Anton stopped and slowly created the White Marble Spear. With the thin spear held firmly in his hands, Verona stepped forward and opened the trapdoor with her blood shards. With a gentle groan the door opened. Again, the interior of the sorting room was identical, except for a single Ghlotsm in the corner. It lay silent and still, barely breathing as its small sunken white eyes were closed, gently rocking back and forth with every breath.
Here goes.
Anton gingerly approached the sleeping Ghlotsm, completely aware that the slightest groan would alert the creature. A line of wooden floorboards, angled and warped under time and exposure lay but a few meters from the Ghlotsm’s body. It was close enough. Anton threw the spear, catching the Ghlotsm in the chest. It let out a tiny cough as the spear punctured its chest and disintegrated into thousands of tiny cubes. The tip remained embedded in the Ghlotsm, just like with the Goblins, as its skin began to turn white followed by lines of black lightning. Just like the White Goblin its stature and physique improved, modelling itself after the Ghlotsm doll of the White Realm.
“Is it yours?” Verona asked. The blood shards floated above her head, her wrist ready to flick the shards into the Ghlotsm, not that she needed her hands.
“I can feel the link, the tether to my thoughts. Just like the White Goblins before.”
The White Ghlotsm remained completely unmoving, staring at Anton waiting for an order.
“You’ve done this before?” Rasha asked.
“I don’t know what’s happening either.” Cetina shrugged. Rasha took that as her answer.
Kal crept low, steering well clear of the White Ghlotsm, and peered out of the open door to the deep open cut mine. “I don’t see any Goblins. Just Ghlotsm. A lot of Ghlotsm.” Kal chuckled as she returned to Anton’s side. “Those eggs survived.”
“And the plan?” Verona asked. “There wasn’t much of one beyond get here and see if it works.”
Anton moved to the doorway overlooking the open cut mine, the girls close behind with their attention focused squarely on the White Ghlotsm.
“The Goblins, and to a lesser extent the Ghlotsm, are like a cancer eating away at civilisation. They infest the Kar Kingdom and it’ll take ages before we can clean them out. They’ll have thousands of tiny little holes and crevices they can scurry away to. And it’ll cost a massive amount of time, money and manpower to scour them from the land.”
“So…” Verona tilted her head.
“I intend to use this cancer to fight another.” Anton turned to the Ghlotsm. “Infect every Ghlotsm in Balefire Mine. Start with the extremities then work your way into the centre.”
The White Ghlotsm grunted, more a wet gurgle, something Anton didn’t expect and ran out the small entrance. Outside it descended upon four young Ghlotsm, Anton presumed they were young since their skin was still soft and lacked scars. They were unprepared and received strikes from the White Ghlotsm’s claws to their arms and throats. Three began to transform while one, despite receiving the same treatment, remained the same. The first White Ghlotsm ripped the uninfected’s head off and let it fall limp to the ground. Anton felt only one tiny surge up his tail, slightly less than a Yellow Goblin. The White Ghlotsm’s waited until the transformation was complete before moving again. Anton couldn’t feel anything from the newer Ghlotsm directly, instead he could feel there were other threads connected to the White Ghlotsm from those infected.
It found another small group of Ghlotsm and repeated the same attack. Again about a quarter were unaffected by the corruption and were killed.
Anton wanted to climb back up the stairs, to get a higher view of the mine, but worried about Rasha’s weight breaking the weak wooden beams. Though only he could feel it the White Ghlotsm was effectively tearing its way through the town of Balefire Mine. It sent a message of sorts to Anton, that every Ghlotsm in the town had been killed or transformed. Anton directed the White Ghlotsm to attack those within the mine.
Kal grabbed Anton’s arm hard as the sound of hundreds of feet striking the dry grass entered the room. The White Ghlotsm’s ran past, not taking a glance back, and dove into the mine. There were many more Ghlotsm inside the mine than out.
“Cetina? You’re the combat expert out of us. How are the White Ghlotsm’s performing?”
Cetina raised a hand to her brow. “They’re doing slightly better than the normal Ghlotsm. Their claws are longer and sharper, so they can inflict more damage. So I think they’re slightly stronger but there are fewer of them.”
“That’s not a problem.” Anton smiled. “I’m just glad this worked.”
A minute passed in silence before the lead White Ghlotsm told Anton it was over; not an actual message but just a feeling, a soldier confirming its assigned orders had been completed.
“Come on.” Anton waved them forward. “Let’s take a closer look.”
Cetina and Rasha took their flanks, constantly scanning the buildings above, after Cetina directed Rasha while they stood at the centre. The old iron rail tracks, heavily rusted and broken in several places, led them down an extremely gentle slope to a large wooden platform sitting on the edge of the mine. They were not willing to stand on it, much of the wood looked old and rotten, but the empty cart gave him some reassurance, just not enough.
The mine travelled even deeper than Anton first thought. A downward spiral had been cut into the silver laden stone, circling down and down into the depths. At the bottom something blue reflected the sun’s rays; Chelium ore, an extremely strong and valuable metal.
“Definitely wasn’t what they were expecting when they found this silver,” Anton said.
“There’s so much here.” Rasha blinked her eyes in amazement. “Tonnes upon tonnes of silver…You’re probably one of the richest people in the world just from this.”
“Get in line.” Verona laughed.
“I wonder if they can dig the silver free.” Anton rubbed his chin. “Probably not. Claws aren’t much use against metal, as we well know, but this is a good start.”
“I don’t like the idea of you keeping slaves,” Kal spoke softly. “Even if they are monsters.”
“It would set a bad precedent. But I don’t intend to keep them forever. They’ll work wonders against the normal ones running free. What are they doing to the eggs?”
The Ghlotsm eggs, safely nestled in a mixture of some shiny material that looked very reminiscent of spit, had several White Ghlotsm’s moving towards them. They scratched the egg and the colour changed. They were already lightly coloured but they turned stark white, just like everything from the White Realm.
“I can sort of feel those eggs too,” Anton said. He received four worried stares. “Not directly. But through that first Ghlotsm. It’s like he, whatever they are now, is controlling them for me. That makes things a lot easier.”
The first White Ghlotsm approached him, with every infected Ghlotsm watching with a blank stare. It stopped some meters away and looked blankly into Anton’s eyes.
“Can you dig up the silver?”
The Ghlotsm shook its head.
“I take that’s a no,” Verona said softly.
“Very well. Build up your numbers…”
“What’s wrong?” Verona leant forward, craning her head towards him.
There’s a chance that they’ll take ‘Build up your numbers’ at face value. And since they’ll have Goblins there are only one way for those to breed up quickly. And only one place to get them from…I need to be careful here.
“Build up the numbers of Ghlotsm and infect or eradicate every Goblin and Ghlotsm in the Kar Kingdom from the northern mountain range to the capital of Surdon. Once that is done…You are to throw yourselves into the ocean.”
“Wow…”
The White Ghlotsm returned to the mine along with its fellows and returned to doing whatever these creatures did in their spare time. Several began to move among the clutches of eggs and preparing new sites. It turned out they really did use their own spit to create it. Thankfully Anton wasn’t aware of it through the thought tether.
“Is this a good idea?” Rasha asked, leaning on her halberd. “Can you actually control them?”
“Yes. But if something happens I’ll destroy them. I sincerely doubt they’ll actually manage to wipe out the Goblins and Ghlotsm but they’ll take them down a few notches. That’s all I’m really hoping for from this. Just buying us some time and weaken the enemy.”
“What a strange new ally.” Verona laughed.
“Let’s leave them to it,” Anton said. “Let them deal with the old Kar Kingdom. And when they’re done it’ll be ours to take.”