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Chapter 17

Naomi shows up an hour after dinner. This time in her yellow sundress. A tent for gathering was partially opened for everyone to hear things that will be discussed. She got a seat in the center where the King and Grand Priest were sitting. Around them were sitting the most important people of the clan. Between them were walking kids with bowls full of fresh fruits from the orchard. Sun elves had warrior culture and even teenagers carried short swords or long knives.

-welcome Dungeon Mistress to our gathering - king Aiduine welcomed her officially.

-thank you King of Sun Elves for this opportunity to talk with you and with you the Grand Priest too. I also must say that I'm a little surprised how this meeting is organized. Usually that kind of meeting is more or less privat.

-ach true. It’s my oversight. If you Dungeon Mistress wishes to speak privately we can change the arrangement of the meeting or discuss your topics later.

-it’s not needed - Naomi shakes her head - things I want to share shall be known to everyone. They are just addressed mostly to the Grand Priest as yours gods guide and senior healer. And i must say i’m positively surprised by your arrangements. Is there a way for those gathered to voice their opinion about mattresses discussed in that kind of gathering?

-there is. However, the final decision is mine or Grand Priest's. Sometimes both of us.

-then i’m very pleased by that. I believe that a ruler should hear the voice of his people.

-and that’s why we do that - agree Grand Priest.

-yes - said King - I propose that you will start. My questions could need some negotiations, and if I correctly understood you have some news for us.

-you can said that, sir. I agree with that arrangements - Naomi nod - first thing is task given to me by god of healers and death - in the back was heard some faint whispers. Task from gods was always big things, and this woman was gods envoy - on this scroll - she gives to Grand Priest quiet big one scroll - I write all my knowledge about new healing technique that can save people lives.

-I will read it very carefully. Can you give me a summary?

-yes. Like you know, sometimes despite obvious signs of someone's death when closely examined you can feel that there is still a spark of life in the victim's body. Through this technique in this scroll you can learn how reignite it anew. However I’m not a healer so you will need to refine it - Naomi explained.

The grand priest was shocked. It was huge news. He in his life encounter many times that kind of situation, but never was able to do anything.

-I don’t want to be disrespectful to gods and you Dungeon Mistress, but do you try it?

-yes. That was the reason I was given a task from gods. Two weeks ago there was a tribe who visited me. There was a situation where one woman almost died. She stopped breathing and her heart stopped. We rescued her. When she was leaving my oasis she was in full health again.

-thank you Dungeon Mistress - he bowed - I promise to read and try to refine it immediately.

-I also thank you - said king - I just understand the basics of what was said but it should save many lives. Can I ask what happened with the mentioned tribe?

-they left my oasis a week ago, and they are heading to the Citadel of The Light because they were given the same task. Why are you asking sir?

-I will send a small team to guard them, my lady.

-I approve - nod Grand Priest - before them are long road. They should have capable warriors, but this task is too important. They need to reach the citadel safely.

-Quildor take five people with you. Try to reach them as fast as possible. Your duty is to strengthen their guards.

-we will reach them in ten to twelve days. And any lowlife training to stop them will die a slow and painful death.

Naomi wanted to protest about torturing bandits but then she remembered all those kids from the tribe. She clenched her teeth and then said.

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-sir Quildor, please convey my greetings to chef and shaman, and say that I’m sorry for your unexpected appearance but their task is important and better be safe than sorry. I think this message should ease their fears and help you sir with your task.

-thank you Dungeon Mistress - he bowed - I will convey your message - he immediately exited the tent to make preparations.

-what about the second scroll - asked the Grand Priest when commotion and talks stopped.

-this one is a little simpler - said Naomi - you at least don’t need to send anyone, because it is on its way to the citadel for two months - she gives him a scroll. The Grand Priest unfold it and his eyes went wide. It was a prophecy. He read words carefully to catch the right, direct meaning. When he reaches the end he sighs in relief.

-Grand Priest what happened? - asked King.

-it is prophecy my king - he said and give scroll to king - thankfully it’s nothing major - he rise his voice that everyone will hear him. It’s warning about not following gods teaching and about greed.

-in essence it is - Naomi confirms - what was said to me by a priestess who was traveling with caravan, exact meaning will be confirmed by the archpriest in the Citadel of the Light.

-yes they will do that - nod elf - tomorrow I will show this scroll to everyone to read - he said aloud for everyone.

-Ayda - king speaks to one of girls serving fruits - find Quildor, and tell him about prophecy. When he will reach the citadel he needs to confirm that it reached there.

-at once - girl answered and swiftly ran away.

-I assume that it’s all what you Dungeon Mistress needed to share with us? - asked King.

-it is, sir. I'm sorry for disrupting the order of this meeting, and for eventual change of your plans for the future.

-it happens sometimes, and that is the purpose of meetings - said king - your news answered most of our questions, however there are still two things I need to mention. The first thing I want to say is that it was decided that your final floor is off limits. The second thing is the question if you Dungeon Mistress have some special wishes for our venturing through your first floor. We want to stay for a few days and use your traps for training our young warriors.

-I thank you for your decision about my final floor sir - Naomi answered - and about exploring and training in my first floor I don’t have any special condition about that. I only want to say that my wish is to be a place where people train and learn not to die. Especially young and promising ones.

-we will arrange our terms according to that - king nod.

-your highness I have a question - asked Naomi suddenly - however I think it would be a sensitive topic for you and sun elves in general.

-please ask - king answered after a moment of thinking - I can’t guarantee to answer your question if it will be indeed something we keep for ourselves.

-understood and once again I’m sorry in advance. Sir, before our meeting I managed to find a scroll about spirit summoning. There was only basic information and I didn't have time or knowledge to understand it properly however there was written that demon summoners somehow managed to twist and taint this ritual. Is it true?

-it is the greatest shame and falling of sun elves - king answered no longer proud and regal, after some time battling with his thoughts. Around them the mood becomes gloomy, no one wants to eat fruits anymore - it happened a few centuries ago when I was child. I will not tell you details about what happened but since that day we have never regained our former glory.

-I’m sorry for asking - Naomi bowed respectfully - however before we end this meeting because of me I want to tell you that I have a proposition for you my King and sun elves in general.

-yes my lady? - Aiduin was surprised.

-If my assumption is correct, your earlier question to venture to my final floor was to see if there is a chance to find suitable animals for warriors without companions.

-yes my lady. However, those animals are unsuitable to live in the desert.

-yes. Well maybe some spiders will be suitable but they are out of reach. What if I dedicate one of my floors entirely for desert creatures. Adventurers are on their way. One month at best and they will start exploring my halls daily, and then I will have resources to build more floors. Sun elves are warriors so I think the third or fourth floor should be appropriate to prove candidate skill before he or she will try to find their spirit companion.

The king was speechless, why the Dungeon Mistress proposed something like that. Then he found the answer. Sun elves were rulers of the desert and it was them who defended it against any threat, and if she can make it an alliance even if not official, she will be much more safe.

-according the law no one can tell you, my lady, how your floors should be arranged. However if you do that I will be obliged to repay you. What will be your price if something like that happens? - everyone gathered held their breath.

-nothing, my king - she answered without hesitation - and I want to cut any speculation. I don't do it because I pity you. I have a blessing from The Lady that allows me to feel emotions and thoughts of animals. And what I felt from the king's spirit was happiness, pride and content. And animals, real ones or spirit ones don’t lie. If you are a good person they will say you are a good person, if you are bad they will say you are bad. Because of that to show my gratitude I want to help.

-I, Aiduin king of the sun elves, accepted your proposal - king said after a few minutes of thinking. Immediately the mood stops being gloomy. Now the elves were full of hope. It will take some time before the dungeon mistress will be able to fulfill her promise. But for elves one or two years is nothing. Even decade can fade in the blink of an eye.

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