378 days until the Arkon Shield falls

Mother,

I still can’t believe it. The Trials has logged two separate incident reports in the span of only a few days. Then there is Aurora’s report, the one I told you about. Astoundingly, they all concern the same player. It’s almost as if the hand of destiny—or dare I say, Ashara?—is reaching out to manipulate events.

If I didn’t know better, I would believe the cycle has begun anew. But I do know better, and I know it’s not that. Still, I’m not sure if what is occurring bodes anything good. Matters are spiraling out of control, and I admit I don’t know the right course to steer.

Is this the opportunity we’ve been waiting for, Mother? The Core has granted me administrator discretion to initiate the Awakening. Do I? And what about that other program? Do I activate it too?

Eagerly awaiting your response. —Administrator Nexus.

I woke in the morning with my face pressed up against something unyielding. I blinked blearily and touched a tentative hand to my head. It was whole and in one piece, but given its throbbing painfully, it felt as if it shouldn’t be.

Where am I?

It took far longer than it should’ve for me to figure out the answer to that. Eventually, my eyes focused enough to recognize the hard-timbered floor on which I was resting.

I’d passed out on the floor of my cabin.

Gingerly, I sat up, the world spinning around me. “God, I’m never doing that again,” I muttered.

Still, I couldn’t find it in myself to regret last night’s excess. Despite my hangover-induced fuzziness, my mind felt clearer than it had for days, less weighed down. Strange as it sounded, drinking myself into a stupor had done me some good. I began chuckling at the thought, but it quickly transformed into a hacking cough, and I had to stifle the impulse.

I grimaced. My tongue felt thick, and my throat was parched. Squinting, I looked about for something to drink and spotted a pair of sealed steel canisters, a pile of equipment, and my backpack—full and bulging, I noted absently—on the nearby table.

Clambering to my feet, I staggered to the table and flipped open the lid of one of the canisters to sniff at its contents. Water. Without a second thought, I gulped down the liquid.

Feeling marginally better, I took in the cabin again. I was alone. Sunlight was streaming in through the door left lying open. The nine enchanted weapons were in the same place I’d left them last night, but the items on the table were new.

Digging into the pile, I inspected each item in turn. They were the promised gifts from the crafters—tanned leather armor pieces and a black cloak. Still struggling to focus, I equipped the new gear before inspecting the backpack’s contents. It had been restocked with travel rations, I saw. I grinned. Melissa’s efficiency knew no bounds.

Picking up the enchanted weapons, I stumbled out of the cabin. It was time to visit the commander.

✽✽✽

The village hall was swarming with military personnel when I reached it. Messengers raced in and out, and shouting officers hurried about on some errand or the other. I frowned. I was sure the flurry of activity was related to the fort somehow. I’d expected it would be days yet before any plans were put into effect, but from the looks of it, the expedition’s preparations were well underway.

I stepped into the building, attracting strange looks for the armful of weapons I carried, but no one stopped or questioned me. Even the two guards outside the commander’s office did no more than appraise me with curious glances before ushering me through.

Surprisingly, the command center was quiet. I’d anticipated finding it crammed with officers given the bustle outside, but only three people were in the room: Jolin, Marcus, and Petrov.

The large conference table drew my gaze. Dirty plates and empty cups were strewn along its edges. The planning for the expedition had gone on late into the night, I deduced.

The old lady certainly doesn’t waste any time.

The abandoned dishes were the least interesting thing about the table, though. The map the commander had begun drawing yesterday had since grown more elaborate. Fine lines and shapes had been added, charting out the surrounding terrain in exquisite detail. Captivated, I drew closer. My eyes followed the river’s meandering line upwards to the jagged notches that I was sure represented the northern mountains.

“I don’t know why we didn’t do this earlier,” Jolin said.

I looked up to stare at her blankly.

She gestured to the table. “The map,” she explained. “We should have carved one out long ago.” Her lips turned down. “Attempting to chart the terrain is painful without paper, but we shouldn’t have let that stop us.”

“It’s not like we had any need before this,” Marcus protested. “The scouts started ranging further out only recently.”

The commander waved a weary hand. “I know, Marcus, and I meant no criticism by it. It’s only, there is so much still to do…”

She’s tired, I thought, studying the deep shadows under her eyes. My gaze darted to Marcus and Petrov, taking in their reddened eyes and unkempt faces. Both men were just as exhausted. “Were you three here all night?” I asked.

The commander nodded. “We’ve completed the preparations for the expedition,” she said with a satisfied smile. “It will set out within the hour.”

I gaped at her.

Both Petrov and Marcus chuckled at my expression while Jolin took in my appearance. “It looks like you’ve had a busy night yourself,” she said. “Found the tavern, did you?”

My face reddened. While I’d been out carousing, the commander and her people had been slaving through the night. Idiot! What had I been thinking? “I’m—”

The old lady raised her hand, palm out. “Stop right there, young man.”

Responding automatically to the tone of command in her voice, I closed my mouth with a snap.

“Don’t think to apologize,” Jolin said. “It was about time you blew off some steam.” She eyed me shrewdly. “I take it you’re feeling better?”

I was unsurprised she read me so well. She seemed to have that knack. What did leave me nonplussed, though, was the lack of condemnation in her tone.

The old lady smiled. “Don’t look so shocked. Soldiers, perhaps more than anyone else, understand the need for downtime. No one, not even you, can give one hundred percent all the time. We, each of us, must take the time to recharge.”

She scrutinized me again. “You’ve been holding too tightly to your burdens, Jamie. Such crushing responsibilities can’t be borne for long. Not without cost. After all, you’re only human. If you don’t take the time to remind yourself of what that means, if you don’t celebrate life, if you deal only in death and nothing else, then sooner or later, despair and grief will break you.” Jolin held my gaze. “Better to bend than break under the weight. Do you understand?”

I nodded wordlessly.

“Good, then that’s settled.” The commander paused. “There are some matters regarding the expedition that I wanted to discuss with you. But before we get to that, can you tell me what are your plans?”

“And if you don’t mind,” Marcus interjected, his tone plaintive, “please, explain just what the hell you’re doing hauling around all that. The suspense is killing me!”

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I glanced down at the weapons in my arms. I’d clean forgotten about them. A smile stole onto my face as I laid the armaments on the table. “Well, I wasn’t wholly unproductive yesterday,” I murmured. “I made these.”

Petrov snorted. “No, you didn’t. That’s Anton’s handiwork. I recognize it.”

I grinned at the bearded giant. “Well, perhaps ‘made’ was the wrong word. Say rather, I improved them.”

Marcus’ eyes widened. “You’ve enchanted the blades!” he exclaimed.

Smiling, I nodded.

The scout captain eyed the weapons spread out on the table hungrily. “How do they work?”

“Pick one up,” I encouraged. “You’ll understand easier that way.”

Marcus wasted no time complying while Jolin and Petrov followed more cautiously. Reaching across the table, the officers hefted a weapon apiece, and their eyes went blank as they read the Trials alerts their actions prompted. Watching through my magesight, I observed the exact instant the three fed spirit into the enchantments. Energy soaked into the weapons’ spiritforms, and the magic in them flared to life a moment later.

“It’s beautiful,” Marcus breathed, studying the crackling energy running along the longsword he held aloft. Petrov appeared equally fascinated by the flaming warhammer he bore.

The commander, though, was frowning. “What did you need to make these?” she asked, setting the weapon she’d handled back down on the table. “Only the elemental fragments?”

I nodded, puzzled by her response. “Essentially, yes. I had to learn a new Discipline too, but—”

“How many fragments did each weapon require?” Jolin asked.

“One,” I replied. “Unfortunately, I broke a crystal during my experiments, which is why there are only nine weapons here.”

The commander, however, wasn’t listening to me anymore. She’d closed her eyes and appeared lost in thought.

I glanced at Marcus. He shrugged, equally mystified by the old lady’s behavior.

“Tell me, Jamie,” the commander said at last, “if we enter the Primal Keep again, what creatures will we encounter?”

I stared at her blankly for a moment, struck by the oddness of her question. Why is she— I made the connection, and my eyes widened. “The same as the first time,” I breathed. “Elementals and worms, which means—”

“We can farm the dungeon for more fragments!” Marcus exclaimed, catching on.

The commander smiled. “Exactly, gentlemen. Exactly.”

✽✽✽

The next few minutes passed in furious debate. Both Marcus and I believed the fort’s positioning should be reconsidered. But despite every argument we put forth to locate the structure at the green dungeon, Jolin was adamant our original plan was still the best course.

As much potential as the elemental weapons had, the commander argued that the Primal Keep was not a location the orcs would prioritize securing. It was, after all, only a rank one dungeon, and having never entered the dungeon, the orcs had no way of knowing of the valuable resource it contained. Then, too, there was the fact that I’d already cleared the dungeon. Once the orcs figured out the first bonus run had already been claimed, they would have no reason to guard the Primal Keep.

I could find no fault with Jolin’s reasoning, but I wasn’t sure I agreed with her strategy anymore. Now that we knew how to craft enchanted weapons, to my mind, not securing our only source of the fragments was risky. Still, it was not for nothing that the old lady was the village’s leader, and I bowed to her judgment in the end.

After the discussion winded down, Jolin turned to Marcus and Petrov. “You two better get going. They’ll be waiting for you.” She gestured to the enchanted weapons. “And take four of these with you.” The old lady glanced at me to see if I had any objection to this.

I shook my head. “Go ahead. They are for the village to use as you see fit.”

“Thank you,” Jolin murmured. She turned back to the two officers. “Remember your orders.”

Petrov and Marcus saluted. “Yes, ma’am,” they said in unison and withdrew from the room.

My eyes tracked them to the door, wondering where they were going in such a hurry.

“Marcus is leading the expedition,” the commander said.

“He is?” I asked in surprise. The scout captain didn’t have any field command experience and seemed an odd choice for such a critical mission.

Jolin smiled, reading the direction of my thoughts once more. “There is no one better. Marcus understands more of the Trials’ workings than any of my other officers, except perhaps you and Lance. I trust him to get the fort’s founding correct.”

I nodded in understanding.

“Petrov will serve as his second in command,” Jolin added. “And Marcus will also have a strong contingent of spearmen under his command. The convoy will be well protected.” She paused, studying me. “It’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Ma’am?” I asked, looking at her questioningly.

“You haven’t told me your plans yet, Jamie. Where will you go next?”

“The red dungeon,” I replied instantly, not needing to dwell much upon my answer.

“I thought so,” Jolin said, smiling. “In that case, will you accompany the expedition? I will rest easier knowing you are with them.”

“Of course,” I said without hesitation. I had planned on spending another day in the village crafting spells before setting out myself. Still, I’d already completed all my critical tasks and foresaw no problems with hastening my departure. “I better get going then,” I said, turning around.

Halfway to the door, I paused and swung back around. “Why don’t you want us to establish the fort near the Primal Keep? I can’t help feeling that there is something you’re not telling us.”

“There is another consideration,” Jolin allowed. “One I haven’t voiced in case it led to fear spreading.” She eyed me for a moment before going on. “We can’t risk losing the settlement core before using it.”

I frowned. “Why would we—” I broke off. “The orcs,” I said. “You’re worried about the orcs.”

Jolin nodded. “Your sighting places them in the north, somewhere near the Primal Dungeon itself and in numbers that at best makes the outcome of any conflict questionable.” She sighed. “I fear if I send the expedition north, it will be ambushed before it reaches its destination.”

I bit my lip, thinking the matter through. “The forest is a safer location,” I agreed. “But how can you be certain the orcs aren’t there too?”

“I can’t,” Jolin said, “which is why Petrov and two hundred soldiers are accompanying the expedition.” She paused. “And you too.”

I inclined my head. “We’ll get it done, ma’am,” I said. “You can count on us.”

✽✽✽

After leaving the commander, I made my way to the craft hall to say my goodbyes to Anton. I found him passed out in his room. If anything, Anton appeared worse off than me from our exploits last night. Taking pity on the smith, I decided not to wake him and left a message with Jeremy instead.

Worried that I might miss the expedition’s departure, I hurried through the village, detouring only to retrieve my backpack from my cabin before heading to Sierra’s east gate. I needn’t have worried, though. When I reached the gate, the convoy’s long column of men, women, and supplies was still passing through the palisade.

Slowing my steps, I made my way to the front of the line, passing sleds packed high with cut timbers and tools, laughing and joking squads of spearmen, and chatting carpenters and masons. Morale is high, I thought. All told, the expedition numbered just over four hundred, half of them fighters.

“Marcus!” I called as I reached the head of the column. The blonde captain turned around. Petrov and a squad of soldiers were at his side.

“Jamie, what are you doing here?” Marcus asked, surprise flickering across his face. His gaze drifted from my staff and cloak to the pack on my shoulders. “You’ve decided to accompany us?”

“Yeah, I was heading in this direction anyway,” I said, not mentioning that it was at the commander’s behest that I was here. “You don’t mind?”

“Of course not,” he replied. “We’re glad to have you.” He gestured towards the distant tree line. “The scouts were just about to head out to survey our route.”

I glanced at the ten patiently waiting figures, all lightly armored and carrying longbows. Amongst them were two familiar redheads—Laura and Cassandra. I waved at the pair but didn’t interrupt as Marcus gave the scouts their orders.

While Marcus spoke, Petrov stepped closer to me. “The old lady sent you?” he asked.

I peered up at the big captain, surprised by the question. Petrov didn’t usually say much. “She did,” I replied.

The bearded giant’s jaw worked. “Then she must be worried,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. He didn’t say anything further. Dropping his hand to the warhammer slung on his hip, the battle captain scanned the nearby forest suspiciously.

Petrov was carrying one of the enchanted weapons, I noted. I glanced at Marcus. He wore another, a longsword. Idly, I wondered which of the expedition’s fighters had been given the other two magical blades.

Marcus finished with the scouts, and they raced away, sprinting towards the trees while the column followed more slowly on their heels.

“How long will it take us to reach the dungeon?” I asked as Marcus rejoined us.

The scout captain eyed the expedition’s heavily laden sleds. “At the rate we’re moving, we’ll probably only reach there sometime tomorrow.”

I frowned. “So we will have to camp overnight in the forest?”

Marcus grimaced. “Yeah. It can’t be helped, but don’t worry, we’ve planned for it.” He pointed to the spearmen and archers dispersed amongst the convoy. “That’s why they’re here. Two hundred soldiers will be more than enough to keep us safe at night.”

With an effort, I refrained from frowning again as I glanced back at the snaking column. I wasn’t convinced Marcus was right. Four hundred men, women, and goods on the move made a helluva din, and in the forest at night, we were sure to attract attention. Recalling the phase hounds, I repressed a shudder. If a pack of the beasts beset us, we were sure to take casualties.

“All the same, Marcus,” I murmured, “we best be our guard, or the forest will make us rue it.”