Lily

“…believe how much hatred was in those people.” Lily said, having finished recounting her evening to Owl two and Benjamin. She rubbed her stomach while she spoke, all the stress was giving her an ulcer. The three of them were down in Owl two’s workshop, several times expanded from the last time Lily had seen it. There were several tables set up now, many holding artifacts Lily had no understanding of but that looked delicate.

“I heard the conversation myself,” Owl two said, fingers at work inside a globe made from metal, glass, and string of varying colors. She didn’t know exactly what he was doing but he was tightening screws and attaching the string in different spots. “I’ve heard hundreds of conversations in the past weeks. That hatred is exactly why we are doing this.” Lily looked over to Benjamin, who was busy looking at a figure covered map that was the clone of the one in the command tent. At her glance he only shrugged.

“I’m a fighting man,” he said unhelpfully. “I was talked into deserting by my, never to be sufficiently damned brother, mainly because I thought I knew better than my commanders how the war would turn out. Then, I let those same tendencies get the better of me again here in camp. Thankfully, Lord Ronin was here to put me back onto the right path. I can strategize, train troops, and lead them into battle, but I’m not touching politics again. You guys figure out what needs killing, and I’ll tell you the best way to do it, with the resources we have on hand.”

“Huh,” Lily said when the military man was done with his explanation. “And here I was thinking you really didn’t like the goblins. I thought it was you plotting treason when you approached me, not attempting to draw out the camps bad eggs.”

“Oh, I do hate those green monsters.” Benjamin said, flicking one of the scout figures over. “They’re a menace to civilized society. Breeding and eating and spreading until they’re culled from the land. Count yourselves lucky the middle continent didn’t have them… What, don’t believe me?” He asked with a scoff at Lily’s expression.

“Well, I don’t mean to contradict you Benjamin, but they’ve been nothing but helpful since I arrived at camp. Perfect helpers and excellent scouts and cooks.”

“Yea figured you’d think that way since the only goblins you’ve ever seen have been your husband’s pets,” Benjamin said. “These aren’t real goblins. They look like goblins, but they aren’t. Without the ‘nanotech’ or whatever Owl two put in their heads to make them obey, the entire valley would be hip deep in goblins by now, and the rest of us would be long eaten.” Lily thought that was going overboard a little, but before she had a chance to speak, Owl two butted in.

“They are goblins Benjamin.” He said still working. “I only shut off the portion of their brains that drove them beyond all reason to reproduce and spread. Their behavior: being willing cleaners and their helpful tendencies was inherent in their natures… but that isn’t why we are here.”

“No,” Lily said happy for the subject change. “You are going to show us how you always know what’s going on around camp all the time.” The helmeted man had finished working on the globe and closed up all the string inside, before turning it towards a white board that had been attached to the wall.

“Exactly,” he said. “This is a crude reproduction of a projector. Up until now, I’d been reading the drones feed internally, but since I’ve finally had time to fabricate some more delicate tools and components, I thought it was only appropriate to share with you both.” Having finished speaking, he pushed a button on the globe’s top. Cutting off the questions Lily was already preparing to ask about what he meant, when the white panel lit up with a moving picture of light.

“I’ll ask you again,” Andona’s voice drifted out of the globe as the figure of the woman herself stood over a bound and battered Samantha. “What are the codes to unlock the ships?” Lily took in the moving picture with an awed grunt. She took in the entirety of the picture, and its location, a side tunnel inside the mine, with a small nook carved in the wall. Before what was actually happening in the projection sank in.

“Go ta hell,” Samantha answered. Arching her head back to spit at the bugbear woman before her. Before she could, however, Andona nodded at the human, Thomas, who punched Samantha right in the teeth. She cried out in pain and shock as at least one of her teeth was knocked out.

“Now, Samantha.” Eric said softly, drifting over from off screen. “Why are you being like this?” He asked, brushing the back of his palm over her swollen face. “I know you’re crushing over the White flame, but he’s gone. Best I can tell, he isn’t coming back either. Even if he does, the camps mine now. Why don’t you just tell me how to unlock the ships?”

“Screw you, Eric.” Samantha screeched, spraying blood everywhere. “He took us in, saved us from slavery. Gave us a home, gave us a famil… mmhh.” Her words were cut off with a rag, cruelly stuffed into her mouth, and another wrapped around her head to keep it in place.

“I’m not unreasonable, Sam.” Eric said with a shake of his head. “I’ll give you a few days to think about it. Then we’ll come back… and ask again. I hope you’ve reconsidered by then. Because no one knows where you are. And even if they did, the only ones who would want to help you are that damn robot and the Gilded Lily sellout.” With those parting words, the three interrogators left the small outcropping, taking the light with them.

“What was that?” Benjamin and Lily said at the exact same time.

“Just a recording of a conversation that took place several hours ago.” Owl Two said, now working on one of the ‘tablets’ her husband had picked up from Andy’s Reef. “I’ve managed to activate these two tablets and tie them into the drone network I’ve set up around the valley. Just don’t take them outside the caves.”

“No, Owl two.” Lily snapped, interested in the tablet, but pushing it away in her anger. “I was asking why, if you knew, that Samantha was being tortured, you left her there?”

“Ah,” Owl Two said. “Because it isn’t time to act yet, she’s fine for the time being and Eric clearly said he’d leave her be for a few days. She has time, and she isn’t the only one now who can fly the kaldarr ships. So, even if she…”

“Do you really think your lord would be ok with you sacrificing her like this?” Lily interrupted to ask. “She’s a member of his team, and his personal pilot. One of the first people that he saved, when he got here from… wherever it is he came from. Don’t take that away from him.”

“Actually, Owl five saved Samantha. And she’s regretted it ever since. Still, I understand your concerns. I haven’t written her off yet. It’s just not the time to act.”

“Grr,” Lily growled out between clenched teeth. She knew he was right. Taking a deep breath, she took a step back and thought rationally. She’d discarded her entire clan because she knew it gave her the best odds of surviving with her clan’s legacy intact. So, why was she getting so worked up over this human woman she barely knew.”

“You’re right.” She said at last. “I’m not sure why I got so worked up there, but you’re right. It’s not the right time, we need to buy at least another week. Two would be better, before we can act. I just didn’t realize how angry these people were. Eric in particular, he had me completely fooled.”

“Don’t feel bad,” Benjamin said. “It’s the White flame. He has that effect on those around him. I’ve noticed, people want to do what he wants them to do. It’s not across the board, just the people who would have agreed with him anyway. Still, it’s an amazing ability he has. As for Eric, well, he’s a lot like my brother was. Licked the boots of those in power, until he got the power himself. Then it went straight to his head… We do need to hurry though. At the rate this is going, I don’t think he will be able to hold them together for another two weeks.”

“I believe we…” Owl two was interrupted with a loud crash. The helmeted head snapped around, and he was up the stairs before Lily even realized the door was open. Now that it was, however, she could hear the deep booming voice, which echoed through the cave like the peels of thunder during the heart of a storm.

“…ily, Owl two, Unyielding oak, Harken, Benjamin… someone get out here already.” Lily shared a look with Benjamin, who’d already shouldered his kaldarr variant rifle. Lily drew her saber and dagger and the pair nodded at each other, before rushing up the stairs after the absurdly fast Owl two.

Lily went up first, Benjamin’s weapon was ranged so she left him behind to cover her as she darted forward. Looking around, she zeroed in on the voice and took off as fast as she could move on her soft leather boots. The noise cut off shortly after she started moving, but she didn’t slow. Not until she was standing beside the now statuesque Owl two, who was looking up at the biggest man Lily had ever seen in her life.

“You must be Owl two, and Lily I’m guessing.” He said in that deep booming voice. “I’m Staz. Lord Ronin sent me and them” he said pointing over his shoulder at the humanoid… tree, and the green woman sitting in its branches. “With a message and some junk for you guys.” As he finished speaking, Lily caught Benjamin approaching from the side, rifle trained on the blue monster.

“Don’t bother.” Staz said, turning his head towards the old soldier. “No black powder weapon in that caliber has a chance at even penetrating my skin, let alone killing me.”

“That so,” Benjamin said. “Bet it can at least slow you down until Owl Two gets the Mark V.” Lily had to respect his courage. The blue being who’d named himself as Staz, was an absolute mountain of a man. She couldn’t help comparing him to the second largest man she’d ever seen. K3 was eight feet of solid muscle and whipcord reflexes. This brute was as big to K3 as K3 was to her husband. To say nothing of the tree, who at least had branches and large golden leaves taking up much of his bulk.

“Stand down, Benjamin.” Owl Two said with a wave of his hand. “He’s telling the truth, on all counts. He’s my lord’s retainer, just like I am, and Owl five. He couldn’t disobey an order from lord Ronin anymore than either of us could, even if he wanted to, and he doesn’t.” Benjamin clearly didn’t understand any better than Lily did, but he still followed along and put the rifle away.

“Whatever you say.” He muttered, looking up at Staz with awe. “So, you said you have a message for us and some… junk?” He asked quizzically.

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“Yea, junk.” The monster said with a wave of his hand. Lily noticed the ruby flash of light as a cascade of odd artifacts flowed from nowhere onto the floor. The pile grew and grew until it reached a size that would have allowed Staz to hide inside it and kept growing. “Owl five bought this stuff at the same auction she got me and those two from.” He said, hooking a thumb at the other pair again. “She said Owl two would be able to make use of it.”

Lily looked at Owl Two, who was quivering slightly where he stood. It was the closest thing to emotion she’d ever seen from the man.

“Yes, yes I can indeed make use of these treasures.” He said, wading into the pile and coming up with what looked like a humanoid skeleton made completely of metal and string and hugging it to himself. “What were lord Ronin’s instructions regarding the ring?” The Ring? Lily looked at the giant’s hand and noticed the ring with its three stones.

“I am to keep it for his return,” Staz said with a shrug. “It has a weight reduction function but when filled it can still get very heavy. He thought I’d be the best suited to hold onto it for him because of my physical might.” He accompanied the words with a bicep flex, which swelled up larger than Lily measured at the waist.

“Understood, could you, however, gather these priceless artifacts up and take them, gently, over to the fabricator please?” He was already leading the way, the metal skeleton in hand.

“What about our messages?” Lily asked, as the giant obligingly scooped the junk back into empty air with his ring bearing hand.

“Right, yea, here you go.” He said, tossing her a small black stick. She caught it on reflex but didn’t know what she was supposed to do with it now that she had it in her hand.

“It will plug into the tablet I just gave you.” Owl Two called back to her as he moved. “I’ll show you, but then I’ve got work to do. So, hurry up and let’s get this over with.

* * *

Lily

Several hours later, Lily sat in her tent holding the tablet close to her chest. She’d watched the video numerous times already but couldn’t help but watch it again. Part of her fascination with the message was entirely due to the technological level that had to have gone into it. Capturing a moment in time and being able to play it, at will, somewhere else was an absolute marvel to her. Sure, they’d heard about the wonders of Andy’s Reef before, but that city was on the other side of the vast forests that spanned the island’s middle continent, and they had strict rules about showing their tech to other races.

There was a section of video that was addressed to his entire command team, but there were also separate sticks that held unique messages for each of them. She smiled down at the tablet in her hands as she moved the dot back to the left side of the screen, so the recording would start to play again.

“Hello Lily,” her husband began, with a smile and a wave. “It has to have been at least a month for you already, for me it’s only been a few hours since I was taken away. They were terribly busy hours, though I suppose you already know about everything that went on already, since I’m sure the council watched the other video together.” Lily winced at these words, just like she had the last time he’d said them. She couldn’t help but feel guilty over what she’d done to his syndicate in his absence, even if it was for the best in the long run.

“So, I won’t rehash old ground much. I’ll just say that I’m not looking forward to missing an entire year with all of you. Well, at least a year, it’s likely to be a year and a half when all is said and done… I’m already rambling,” he chuckled. “I guess I just wanted to say that I miss you by my side. Your council was helpful to me, and in the weeks to come, I will need all the council I can get… Be safe and try to keep Owl two focused on the ship. I know you haven’t conquered the undercity yet; it would have made things easier, but it’s not required anymore. I just need to know everything about the ship. Everything, as fast as possible. Anyway, I… well, I look forward to seeing you again.”

That was it. Well, all she got personally from him anyway. She didn’t count the message for the council. She sighed, leaning back in her chair. He hadn’t said much to her, but she’d seen the people in the background of the shot. She knew he was awkward when it came to personal matters, and even him saying he missed her council was touching.

Realizing she’d daydreamed enough, Lily backed out of the file with difficulty and located the drone feeds that showed what was going on around camp. She didn’t know when Owl Two found the time to monitor all of these, and do all of his experiments, but she planned on getting better acquainted with what was going on in the camp herself. Since there wasn’t anything else she could do until they were contacted again anyway. Thinking of Owl two, she thought why not see what the odd man was up to now. It took a few minutes, but eventually she figured out how to pull up his location.

Owl two was in his workshop, the hulking figure of Staz seated cross legged on the floor next to the stairs. He’d pulled the trailer load of junk back out of nowhere, and Owl two was going through it like a man digging through pure gold looking for platinum.

“…so as soon as I’ve cataloged these resources, we’ll get your DNA samples for the goblin experiment. I might be wrong, but Owl five has solved our manpower problem with your acquisition alone… as for the dryad and oakkin… well, we’ll see what unique offspring they will provide.” Lily sighed as she tuned into Owl two talking about his experiments. Though, what had she expected, he was single minded in the extreme.

“Owl five filled me in on your obsession with goblin breeding.” Staz said with distaste, “I know it’s expected of me and will comply. Lord Ronin seems like a reasonable master, better than the fellow who wanted to skin me alive. As a sustainable source of blue leather to bind his books with, anyway. But I warn you android, I’ll not procreate with goblins. Physical incompatibility aside, I do have standards.” Lily shuddered at the thought of the ten-foot giant together with a four-foot goblin.

“That shouldn’t be a problem at all,” Owl Two said as he pulled out another skeletal arm made entirely of metal. “This is such a wonderful haul. Owl five has such a good head on her shoulders… anyway, I will just need to collect samples from you, I will do all the work artificially after that.” He moved over to a workbench that held a slew of metal body parts and added the latest find to it.

“Good,” Staz said without emphasis, as if settling the matter permanently. “What are you doing anyway. My understanding was that you would be deconstructing this junk to make more nanomachines. Why bother cataloging it like this?” Lily was amazed at how clear and intelligent the giant’s speech was. She couldn’t say why that surprised her, just the stereotype that someone that big and muscled should be stupid, she supposed.

“True, I will deconstruct ninety percent of these devices to make raw materials for improving lord Ronin’s people. But broken as they are, some of these things would take centuries of infrastructure on this planet to build from scratch. It would be a waste to destroy something, when just a little work in the fabricator could get it functional again. Now, to double back, is your regeneration good enough to allow for a sustainable source of leather like that?” Lily watched the ogre, or Oni as he referred to himself, shift uncomfortably before answering.

“My race is nigh immortal through our regeneration and other gifts, but lord Ronin…”

“Oh, don’t worry,” Owl two interrupted. “Our lord is very fair with his followers. He would never subject you to something like that. I was simply curious. We will need to do thorough testing in the days ahead to find out your capabilities. I will need a baseline for comparison on my future goblin experiments. The message from lord Ronin also said you were a mage. I’m unfamiliar with the concept. What exactly does that mean?” Lily smiled as she listened to the excitement that couldn’t be suppressed, even through the inflectionless monotone Owl two always spoke in.

“I’m an Oni.” Staz said, pride clear in his voice. “Or an ogre mage, as some like to call my kind. We aren’t mages in the strictest sense of the word, but we are all born with gifts available to us on a limited basis. They aren’t something we can choose; we’re just born with what we get. This is one of mine,” he lifted his kanabo. The eight-foot club made from solid, studded steel burst into sickly green flames that covered the weapon to the handle. “This is called pale fire. It only lasts a minute, but I can summon it as many times as I like. When I strike a foe the flames leach into their bodies, dealing minor soul damage… or that’s what my elders said anyway. In actuality it just makes the target lethargic for a brief time. It can still be a life saver on the battlefield though, whatever it’s called.”

“Fascinating,” Owl two said. A thought that Lily mirrored exactly. That was magic, real magic. There were tales of such things of course, everyone had them, but this was the first time anything like this had been seen before in reality… to the best of her knowledge anyway. “We will have to test this as well. Now, tell me what else you are capable of, while I finish this pile, then we can get the samples…”

Lily left the men to their talk and backed out of the feed. She was interested in what Staz was capable of, the dryad and oakkin too, for that matter. The pair weren’t happy, being contained to the cave like this, but they couldn’t risk letting them out. Still, Lily knew she’d find everything out soon enough. Right now, she wanted to know what Eric and Andona were up to. Deciding to check in on the bugbear woman, Lily scanned through the cameras Owl two had set up, until she found her. Her spirits dropped as soon as the screen came into focus and the audio started playing.

“…I think Amber is a possibility, but Vara and Syl would never betray Lily.” Jewel said from where she sat across from Andona at a table set with cups of wine.

“I wouldn’t call it a betrayal,” Andona said as she filled Jewel’s cup from the wine jug. “It’s Lily who’s lost her way. She abandoned her people to the locusts to save herself, and when Eric offered her power, she abandoned the people her husband charged her with protecting. She can’t be trusted; besides, she keeps locking herself up inside the cave with that madman. Who knows what they are doing in there, since they locked the gates… It seems highly indecent.”

“You have a point.” Jewel said, taking a sip of her wine. “We had to leave our entire families behind to come live with goblins, humans, and elves. That White flame, it was all his doing. Matriarch Lily was taken in by that man somehow. Now, she’s no better than that shaggy beast Vasylia.” Lily just stared at her tablet while the pair talked. Completely at a loss for what to think.

“It’s terrible, isn’t it? Has she even let you into the cave since they locked it up?” Andona asked again, once more refilling Jewel’s cup. “I only wonder because she seems to be hiding something with that, Owl two, whatever kind of name that is.” Andona said with distaste evident on her face.

“Hhmm?... Oh, yes.” Jewel said, clearly getting tipsy now. “We all have thumb print access to the gates. Since we have to guard her round the clock… because she’s scared of her own people now.” Jewel had started to nod in her seat. Lily could only guess they’d been at this for some time now. Although, her people hadn’t had access to spirits since they’d come to the camp. Perhaps Jewel’s tolerance had been affected.

“That is terribly sad, isn’t it?” Andona asked with sympathy, “but, what do you mean by thumb print access? That seems like a strange way to enter a gate…” Lily ground her teeth together with rage as her friend from childhood spilled her confidence to that traitorous harlot.

“I thought the same thing when Owl two told us about it… your right, ha-ha, it is a stupid name… but that’s what it is. There’s this small black glass box where the keyhole on a normal door would be. I just press my thumb against it and ‘click.’ Door pops right open… Oops… gosh, I’m so sorry Andona…” Jewel had spilled her wine glass as she’d reached for it again, clearly drunk. “I don’t understand, for watered wine that stuff is pretty strong.”

“Don’t even worry about it, Jewel.” Andona said with a smile, “it can’t be helped, Lily hasn’t let you ladies have even a sip of wine, despite getting it for us. It’s like she thinks even less of her own friends than she does of the rest of us…” she was laying it on thick, but in her drunken state it looked like Jewel was swallowing it. “Now, let my cousin help you home.”

Andona motioned for the chocolate brown Andessa to pick Jewel up and take her out. Lily hadn’t seen the burly woman before she was called over, but now that she did, she noted how unhappy she looked. It wasn’t just that she was unhappy about having to carry the drunk Jewel either, Lily had noticed it at the game hall too. Andessa didn’t agree with what her cousin was doing, at least that’s what Lily read from that expression as the pair exited the tent.

“Well?” Eric asked, entering through the flap shortly after the others had left. “What did you find out?” His patience was clearly fraying.

“Relax, love.” Andona said, rubbing her hands over his arm in an affectionate caress. “I found out how to get through the gates.”