Engin poured Roderick a glass of brandy from an ornate decanter, sliding the glass across the table. The two of them had retired to Engin's study, away from the revelry outside.

Roderick took a sip and sighed. "Ah, that's good stuff. You always did have excellent taste in spirits, Engin."

Engin laughed. "Compliments to the source, I suppose? It's not the local fare, though. I purchased it when I set out to sell the gold ore in Dulgaan. This comes all the way from the southern realms, shipped by sea. But that's neither here nor there. How have you been, old friend?"

"Quite well, I'd say," Roderick replied. "It's been a long, exhausting journey, but we made it safely. And with a sizable contingent at that. I can hardly believe we got so many people to come with me. It's a miracle."

Engin arched an eyebrow. "Indeed, it is. But I'm sure you're dying to tell me the story. Spare no detail. I want to know how you managed to bring all these groups together. Did you have to bribe them with gold? Promise them riches beyond measure? You didn't...tell anyone about the Ebonwood, aye?"

Roderick gave his friend a mock wounded look. "Please, Engin. I'm not a fool. I've only told two people about it who I trusted wouldn't spread the word. You can probably guess who they are. Otherwise, I merely talked with each group, convincing them that their prospects here are better than staying where they were or going elsewhere. Granted, it took a lot of sweet-talking, especially with the Hrafnsteinn folk."

"Really now? Tell me more." Engin propped his elbows on the table, leaning forward with interest. "What exactly did you say to convince them all?"

Roderick grinned, pulling out a worn journal from his vest pocket. "Well, let me show you the speech I made, word-for-word. I think you'll appreciate my style of persuasion." He opened the journal and cleared his throat dramatically.

"My friends, we come to you today with a proposition that may seem far-fetched at first. But I implore you to consider what I'm about to say carefully, for it may just change the course of your future forever."

He paused, glancing up to see Engin's reaction.

Engin's eyes widened, and he nodded for him to continue.

Roderick motioned with his hand, as if showcasing his wares to a customer. "Let us imagine for a moment that you're in a valley, surrounded by mountains. And let's say that in this valley, there is a god. Not just any god, mind you. A god who loves you. A god who protects you. A god who understands you and your needs, and cares about your well-being. Imagine, if you will, a deity who gives without asking for anything in return, a deity who provides you with abundance and prosperity in exchange for your devotion."

Roderick paused again, noting how Engin's eyes narrowed slightly.

He forged ahead, "Now, this is where things get interesting. For you see, this god exists! I can prove it to you beyond any shadow of doubt. I have met her. I have seen her. I have witnessed her love and compassion for all her creations. And she is unlike any god you have ever known."

Roderick placed a hand on his chest, his voice growing intense, "I, who was once lost and without purpose, have found a new home—a new life! This god has given me a new lease on my old bones. A god who will extend to you, my dear friends, a second chance at life! A fresh start. A place to call home."

Engin blinked several times, rubbing his temples in frustration. "You really laid on the theatrics, didn't you? Why did you have to paint Ebonheim to be so different from the rest of the gods in the world? They aren't all bad."

Roderick scoffed, placing the journal on the table. "The ones that aren't all bad are still more trouble than they're worth. Look, the point is, I sold them on the dream of a new life, away from the gods who oppress them and force them to bow to their whims and desires. It worked. I was able to convince nearly everyone I spoke to to come with me, so there's that. Are you upset about the exaggeration or not?"

Engin sighed, draining his glass and pouring another drink for the both of them. "No. Well, perhaps a little. However, I believe that the outcome of your efforts speaks for itself. You did a good job, Roderick, and I'm glad to have you here. We have a lot to do in the coming months to accommodate this many people."

"True," Roderick agreed, sipping his brandy. "Evelyne and Orin are both capable leaders in their fields and can help us settle the newcomers. They're the ones who handled most of the logistics of the journey and convinced their fellow Artificers to relocate to Ebonheim."

"That's right. I've already spoken to them at length. They're more than willing to contribute to the village's progress, which is a blessing, considering their expertise." Engin replied, pausing to sip his drink. "What about the mercenaries?"

"Lorne, the leader of the mercenary group, has agreed to safeguard the village indefinitely, if need be. They're also more than capable fighters, and they know how to keep a low profile, which should serve us well, considering the situation," Roderick explained.

"Good, good. It's reassuring to have them here. It wasn't too long ago when the valley had a troubling situation with Kungwans," Engin said.

Roderick raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Kungwans? Here in the Eldergrove? When did that come about?"

"Long story, and it's best you hear it directly from the ones that were involved. You can ask Bjorn later but the long story short is that there was a small war being fought south of here involving the Kungwans and a Beastkin tribe known as the Seraphidae. Ebonheim went to support the Seraphidae and in the end, the Kungwans were eradicated from the area. The troubling part was that there were hundreds of them. If Ebonheim hadn't intervened..."

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Roderick stared at his old friend incredulously, finishing his drink. "Gods, I don't believe what I'm hearing. That many Kungwans this deep within the frontiers? The neighboring kingdoms have banned their summons from the land centuries ago, why are they back, and in such numbers? This is...unbelievable."

Engin shrugged. "Believe it. Ebonheim confirmed their presence, and so did Bjorn and others. Ask them yourself. I can't give you any more details beyond that because, as I said, the story of what happened is theirs to tell."

Roderick frowned. "I see. Very well. At least now, with the Silverguards, the defense of the village should be quite secure, so long as their services can be kept."

Engin chuckled, looking at Roderick over the rim of his glass. "We keep speaking like we're still in a village, but starting from this point, we're practically a town. We'll be expanding rapidly to accommodate the new arrivals. There will be a lot of work to do in the coming months. A lot. With winter on the way, we can't afford to be lax about construction and fortifications."

Roderick gave Engin a wry grin. "I have no plans of leaving, so count on me for whatever assistance you need."

The two of them toasted to that and continued their conversation deep into the night. Engin glanced out the window at the still ongoing celebration outside.

Roderick followed his gaze, smiling. "Isn't she just breathtaking, Engin?"

Engin groaned inwardly, rolling his eyes. He didn't miss the soft tone of admiration in Roderick's voice. "Which one?"

"Why, Ebonheim, of course. Who else would I be talking about?"

Engin leaned back in his chair and studied Roderick's expression. The other man's eyes were twinkling, his lips curved upwards in a smug smile.

"She worked hard on the speech, you know," Engin commented. "She wanted to impress the newcomers and make them feel welcome. It was quite sweet, actually."

"Hmmm. She put on a wonderful performance," Roderick acknowledged, swirling his brandy before finishing off his glass. "So, are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?"

"And which elephant would that be?"

"Ebonheim. You're worried that she'll become the victim of...ambitious folks who will try to use her for their own gain."

Engin's expression hardened. "Of course, I am. There's no shortage of ambitious people in the world, and even fewer who aren't interested in taking advantage of a goddess who seems so trusting and naive. We are a small village, far removed from the kingdoms that border this valley. Anyone looking to exploit her power will likely find us as an easy target."

Roderick placed a hand on his shoulder reassuringly, "Look, Engin, I've taken every precaution in selecting the refugees. Trust me, none of them will take advantage of our young goddess. They're all good and trustworthy folks who just need a fresh start."

"I hope you're right," Engin replied, not entirely convinced.

"I'm telling you, the worst they'll do is gossip among themselves about how wonderful she is and compare her to their previous gods. And honestly, I don't foresee them trying to scheme behind her back, either. And even if there were a few who had nefarious intentions, I've enlisted the Silverguards to cull out the rotten apples as they filter in. Don't worry too much. Let Ebonheim do what she does best, and that's to bring out the goodness in people's hearts."

"That's not what I'm afraid of, Roderick."

"Oh? Then what is it?"

"It's the gods in the wider world. You said it yourself, she's unlike any god they've ever known. I'm more concerned about whether or not the gods who are familiar with her will decide that Ebonheim should die or disappear in order to maintain the balance in the mortal realms. Even gods aren't immune to fear and jealousy. As for the others, they may not have any qualms killing a deity out of spite, and those gods with a thirst for power...well, I'm certain they wouldn't want to let a being with Ebonheim's potential run amok."

Roderick waved his hand dismissively. "Bah, not to worry, Engin. I highly doubt they'd waste resources to hunt down a weak little goddess out in the middle of nowhere. She's not worth their time."

"I pray that you're right," Engin retorted, unconvinced. He shook his head, rising from his chair. "I'm exhausted. We can talk more in the morning. I trust you can manage your caravan and get them set up accordingly?"

"It's what I do best, old friend," Roderick said, tipping his empty glass at Engin in a mock salute before winking. "Get some rest. I'll keep an eye on things for you here."

Engin thanked him and excused himself, making his way upstairs to his chambers. The night was wearing on him, and he needed some solitude.

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Back downstairs, Roderick lingered by the fire, pondering what he'd said to his longtime friend.

In truth, Roderick had spent many nights fretting over the same worries as Engin. The difference between them, however, was that Roderick believed in Ebonheim's abilities, despite the very short time he had known her.

It was true that she was naive and trusting, but that didn't make her weak. Quite the opposite, actually. Her innate strength and compassion made her the ideal leader. She embodied what the gods should be—loving and benevolent, with the interests of others at heart. She cared more about the well-being of her village than her own advancement.

To be honest, he wished more deities in the world shared her selflessness. The world would be a better place if they did. He'd met enough gods to know how vain and narcissistic many of them could be, which was why he never settled in one place for too long. The constant bowing and scraping became tedious and tiresome after a while.

He glanced out the window at the celebration, admiring the bonfire blazing at its center, the light dancing and flickering against the silhouettes of the milling figures. He could barely make out Ebonheim's distinct profile as she socialized with the newcomers, her white robe practically glowing in the darkness.

Her voice was faint, but he could still hear her melodic laughter echoing through the air. The villagers and newcomers alike flocked around her like moths to a flame, eager for her attention and praise. She greeted each one with a smile, her presence filling the clearing with warmth and joy.

Even from this distance, the goddess's aura exuded an undeniable power and influence. One could not help but be drawn to her. Roderick included. He watched as she wandered through the crowd, making sure to acknowledge each person before moving on to the next.

Roderick knew, without a shred of doubt, that Ebonheim would succeed. Ebonheim was destined to become one of the greatest deities in history. The gods would shake with envy at her growing fame, and the mortal realms would sing her praises. And he would be at her side, ensuring that her name resounded throughout the world.

Perhaps it was his instincts as a merchant that told him he'd discovered a rare treasure in Ebonheim. In that case, he would do all in his power to safeguard and nurture this discovery. But in his heart, he knew that the goddess was a rarity. An anomaly. A breath of fresh air in a stagnant, stifling world.

In her eyes, Roderick found a place he could call home.