379 days until the Arkon Shield falls

Missive to all clan traders,

Guild members are hereby informed that the human player, Jamie Sinclair, has been recognized as a friend of the guild. By order of the guildmaster, you are directed to provide him with all reasonable aid he may require and apply preferential rates to any trades engaged in with him. —Regna Redmayne.

“All right,” Jolin said, a small smile on her face, “now that everyone is reacquainted, let’s conclude the meeting our wandering mage so rudely interrupted.”

Laughter followed in the wake of the old lady’s words as everyone retook their seats. I claimed an empty spot next to Marcus. “Where’s Tara?” I couldn’t help asking while the others settled down.

“On a mission in the eastern forest,” he replied. “With Lance.”

“Ah,” I said. Her absence had been notable, and I was glad there was a simple enough explanation for it.

“Could you repeat your last bit of news, Albert?” the commander asked. “For Jamie’s benefit. I’m sure he will be interested to hear it.”

The head gatherer inclined his head and turned to me from across the table. “We’ve found ore.”

I sat up. “You have?”

He smiled. “We have. The first shipment arrived today from the north.”

I frowned. “The north? You mean from the mountains?”

Albert nodded, and I glanced at Marcus. “There is no metal in the river?”

The scout captain shook his head. “I’ve no idea. We sent divers to explore the riverbed, but the murluks repelled them before they could get close.”

My eyes widened. “The creatures are back?”

“They haven’t resumed their attacks on the village if that is what you mean,” Jolin said. “But they still occupy the river. I suspect it’s their natural habitat. I doubt we’ll ever be rid of them entirely.”

I nodded slowly. “When did we find ore in the mountains?”

The commander smiled. “The same day you left the warren, actually. The scouts tracked the fire maggots—thank you for helping Giselle kill them, by the way—back to a network of tunnels in the mountains. The place was infested with more of the creatures. Giselle and her team finished clearing the last of them out two days ago.”

“The miners wasted no time getting in after that,” Marcus added. “We received their first shipment this morning.”

“That is good news,” I said. “What ore did we find?”

“Iron,” Melissa said. “Even now, the blacksmiths are turning it into steel. It’s proving easier to work with than the aquaine murluk spearheads.”

“Oh,” I said. Iron was well and good, but I was slightly disappointed we hadn’t discovered anything more exotic.

Melissa grinned at my expression. “Any metal is better than nothing,” she pointed out.

“Of course,” I agreed. I withdrew one of the zelium padlocks that I’d kept to show to the commander and slid it across the table to the head crafter. “You might want to show Anton that. I don’t have much of the stuff with me, but perhaps enough to be useful.”

Melissa’s brows crinkled in confusion as she picked up the padlock, then her eyes went blank as she analyzed the object. “Zelium,” she murmured in awe a moment later. She handed the item down the table for the others to inspect before fixing me with her gaze. “Where did you get this?”

“From the dungeon. I have another forty or so of those padlocks back in my sled. There are also a few more crates of the stuff in the dungeon, which we can retrieve once it reopens. But make sure to use the zelium sparingly,” I cautioned her. “What’s in the dungeon is about all we can expect in the foreseeable future.”

“Interesting,” the commander remarked, turning the padlock over in her hands. “Can the blacksmiths make use of this, Melissa?”

The crafter bobbed her head. “I can’t be sure yet, but I suspect if we mix tiny portions of the zelium with iron, we can create a stronger steel alloy than we’ve managed so far.”

“Excellent,” the commander said, handing the item to Melissa back. “I look forward to seeing what your people come up with.” She swept the table with her gaze. “Now, are there any other matters we need to attend to today?”

There were shakes of the heads from all around. “Good, then the meeting is adjourned. Marcus, Jamie, stay back, please.”

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The room cleared out pretty quick after that. Only Melissa delayed. Before leaving, the crafter made sure she obtained my permission to retrieve the other padlocks and secured a promise from me to visit the new craft hall later on. I gladly agreed, curious myself to see what Anton and his fellows could accomplish with the zelium.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Now, Jamie,” the commander said when it was just the three of us left in the room, “what it is you wished to say that you didn’t want the others to hear.”

I sighed. “There is a lot to tell. Let me start at the beginning…”

I spoke at length, informing the pair first about the dungeon, the elementals, and Regna. When I was done, I set down one of the elemental fragments on the table. Both Marcus and Jolin walked over to study the object.

“Fascinating,” Marcus said, picking up the fragment.

“Do you know how to use them?” the commander asked.

“I have a vague idea based on what Regna told me,” I replied. “I was hoping to speak to Lance further on the matter. Given his greater research into the wiki, I was hoping he might have more to add.”

The old lady nodded. “You will have to wait then. He is with Tara’s company in the forest right now. They aren’t due back for a few days yet.”

I shrugged. “I have a few ideas of my own to try so long. If they pan out, I might not need Lance’s help.” I paused. “What is Tara’s company doing in the east anyway?”

“Hoping to put an end to a problem before it manifests fully,” the commander said. At my blank look, she gestured for Marcus to explain.

“Over the last week, the forest’s wildlife—hounds, serpents, fire lizards, and even some mud bears—have been attacking our loggers with increasing frequency and in greater numbers,” the scout captain said. “Something—we don’t know what yet—seems to be stirring up the forest’s denizens. Tara and Lance have been sent to find the source and put a stop to it if they can.”

I pursed my lips, trying to mask my worry. “That sounds… dangerous.”

“Undoubtedly,” Jolin agreed, her look turning grim.

A smile flickered across Marcus’ face. “It is why I sent the scouts looking for you, actually. It sounded like your kind of job.”

I winced, stung to the quick.

“I’m sorry, Jamie,” the captain said in the short silence that followed. “That was a joke made in poor taste. I meant nothing by it.”

I waved a hand, brushing aside his comment. “I’m not offended,” I assured him. “It’s just…”

It was just that his words—all unintentionally—left me suddenly conflicted. Seeing what the village had accomplished, witnessing the dead hamlet, and coming to the realization that Sierra was home, all of it was causing me to reevaluate my priorities.

Was my personal quest for power and revenge the right path? What if I was gone when the settlement really needed me? Could I live with its destruction on my conscience?

“You can’t be everywhere at the same time,” Jolin said quietly, sensing the direction of my thoughts. “You must do what you must. Trust us to take care of the village.”

I smiled weakly and bobbed my head in mute agreement, but in my heart, I wasn’t so sure anymore. I hadn’t told Jolin about the orcs yet, and I wondered if she would feel the same way once she knew about them.

“Do you trust this Regna?” Jolin asked finally, drawing me out of my thoughts.

“I do,” I said.

“You think his advice is sound?” she continued. “You believe we should seek refuge in another Dominion?”

“I don’t,” I said, shaking my head. “But I do see his point,” I added reluctantly.

“What does that mean?” Marcus exclaimed. “We can’t possibly flee! What would happen to—”

The commander raised her hand, cutting the captain off. “Explain,” she said, her eyes never leaving me.

“More than anything else, Regna gave me a better appreciation of Overworld and the forces arrayed against us,” I said. “I can’t deny anymore that the odds of us surviving the Arkon Shield’s collapse are minimal.”

I paused, troubled by my own admission. I could see that it bothered Marcus too. The commander’s feelings on the matter, I couldn’t tell. Her face was an expressionless mask.

“I’m not suggesting we flee,” I went on, “but I do think we need to prepare for failure. If we can establish a colony in another domain, then even if the worst happens and we are eradicated, at least a portion of humanity will escape the same fate.” I sighed heavily. “Too much is at stake for us to do otherwise.”

Marcus frowned. “A colony? Will any of the other races allow that?”

“That I’m not sure of,” I admitted. “Regna was sure some of the Dominions will accept refugees, but even they might balk at an entire colony of humans inside their realms.”

“Regardless of its viability, Jamie’s suggestion is still valid,” Jolin said, finally speaking up. “At the very least, we need to explore the option of a colony.” She paused. “But what I find even more interesting about the dwarf’s information is his mention of the Ain. They seem an ideal candidate for our diplomatic overtures.”

Marcus cast the old lady a surprised look. “You’re thinking of making contact with this assembly? How?”

The commander shrugged. “I’m not sure yet, but we must. And not only with them, but also with the dwarves, gnomes, and yes, even the elves too. We’ve remained isolated long enough, and it’s past time we established contact with the other races, if not to beg for shelter, then at least to trade and maybe even forge alliances.”

Seeing the startled looks on Marcus and my face, Jolin smiled. “I know the original terms the overworlders offered us were not especially generous, but that was when we were back on Earth and quite frankly ignorant of Overworld and its dynamics, but now… now we have a burgeoning settlement, a lair, a mine, and two nearby dungeons. We have much more to bargain with.”

I nodded, if somewhat reluctantly, not sure if I was willing to go as far as allying with the elves just yet. Still, I saw the sense of the commander’s words. Humanity’s straits were dire, and we weren’t in a position to snub any potential allies.

Jolin turned to Marcus. “Start putting together a delegation.”

Marcus blinked. “A delegation?” he asked cautiously. “Isn’t it early for that? We haven’t even made contact with any of the other races yet.” He threw me a sideways glance. “Ignoring Jamie’s dwarf, of course.”

“I’m well aware,” Jolin said with a wry smile. “But as Jamie pointed out, we are on a clock. A year may seem like a long time now, but it can slip by all too easily. We can’t afford to delay establishing relationships with the overworlders. The moment we discover the location of one of the sponsored cities, I want our people to set out.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Marcus replied, acknowledging the order.

The old lady turned back to me, her eyes twinkling. “Once again, your adventures have proved both beneficial and enlightening to the settlement, Jamie. Thank you. You should never forget that what you do is equally important as what the rest of us are building here. Now, as to your own plans for the future. Where do you—”

I held up my hand, interrupting her. “My tale is not done yet, I’m afraid. I wish it were, but there is more I must tell you, and none of it good.”

Jolin’s smile faded. “Go on,” she said, gesturing to me to proceed.

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