Blake hadn’t waited long after Phuong and the others left, or indeed given the goblins nearly the time he promised. He re-entered the dungeon, this time at the front, with Seul-ki, Annie, and all his constructs.

"Don't worry," he told them, as the assassins again circled and Seul-ki clutched his arm in terror. "I know what I'm doing."

It was mostly true. And at least the assassins didn't kill him. He would have looked ridiculous.

“Time’s up,” he told the Greenblood leaders when their servants had finally brought him down. “The others players fully intend to come back and wipe you all out. I’ve bought you some time, but we need to use it. Now.”

The fat wizard and his kin had squawked and squabbled, but eventually given in. Then they packed up their belongings with admirable speed, concerned mostly with riches and baubles over weapons or supplies.

They ushered Blake out before he saw much, promising to meet him at the entrance of the cave. He sat waiting comfortably with Seul-ki, who even now maintained her disguise, Annie standing nearby like a statue.

He eventually got bored and increasingly paranoid the other players would show up at any moment, though he knew it was much too early. So he did his best to distract himself with True Making.

Then the mountain gate finally creaked, and what looked like several hundred goblins emerged in a chaotic mob loaded down with loot.

“You won’t regret this, Chillik,” Blake promised the fat wizard. “You’re going to be very comfortable in the orc tower. One day you’ll forget all about…”

“We goblins call this sort of talk rat shit,” Chillik muttered from his litter. He was being carried by six sweating goblins, and his face seemed even more miserable than theirs.

Blake smiled politely. “Then we’ll walk in silence. This way, friends.”

“We know very well where the orc towers are, human,” hissed another of the wizards. “What will we do if they don’t let us in?”

“They will,” Blake said, without a shred of doubt. “You have my word.”

The goblins made varying sounds of contempt at that, but Blake ignored it. They traveled at approximately the speed of a half-paralyzed snail, crawling through the hills and trees as Blake pictured Mason suddenly appearing with his green eyes and claws.

"Do you think we might pick things up a bit?" Blake said when he couldn't stand it anymore. The goblins made all kinds of noises and complaints and excuses, but it all amounted to 'no'. So on they went.

They traveled all day until the sun dipped and the goblins looked ready to camp. Blake suggested they push on, overcoming his hatred of all things hiking with his terror of being caught by the players.

"You goblins can see perfectly well in the dark," Blake argued. "There's no reason to camp. Better to be exhausted in a couple days and still alive."

"We are not soldiers," Chillik said with considerable disdain. "Nor are we running. We will arrive when we arrive. And if anything tries to stop us, they will learn the power of the High Mages of the Order!"

Blake politely refrained from pointing out the High Mages of the Order had abandoned their home and fortress to run for their lives. Instead he sighed and created himself and the girls a slightly opaque resting square, making it as ridiculous and ostentatious as possible. The goblins were suitably impressed.

Blake decided now was certainly not the time for a full rekindling with Seul-ki, so he made three beds and put them close together, with a thin wall between him and the girls.

Seul-ki seemed pleased, dropping her disguise just before bed and giving Blake a good night kiss that tested the very limits of his willpower. Annie lay down in her bed and closed her eyes, hardly even cleaning herself until Seul-ki insisted.

The dawn took forever. But Blake soon had his temporary quarters dismantled, his constructs moving about the goblins like sheep dogs until they got back on the road.

It took three days to reach the orc towers.

By the end of their journey Blake had been forced to Mentally Influence a few goblins to keep them from killing each other and starting off God knew what. They were all exhausted and short tempered. And filthy. And they smelled terrible.

An orc war party met them at the tower gates. At least twenty had lined up in full armor with long spears like pikemen, physically blocking the narrow entrance into the tower square.

"What's this?" Chillik barked. "I thought you said we would be welcome!"

"Patience, my powerful friend, patience. I'll get us all inside."

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

Blake walked alone to the orc infantry and plastered on his friendliest smile. He was about to explain himself, request a messenger to someone who could make a decision, maybe influence a mind or two. Then he remembered he wasn't just some guest. He was the damn High Wizard of the Amber eye clan!

"I bring guests and allies to the White Tower for Lady Ambereye. Don't interfere."

The orcs at the front exchanged confused glances, but it was clear they recognized Blake, were in a completely new situation, and had no idea how to proceed. In such circumstances, Blake had found it best to act like the most important person in the room.

"Or should we bother the lords, and ask them why some common grunt is interfering with my council appointed task of saving the towers from demons?"

The poor officer obviously in charge went a strange kind of greenish purple before growling at the others.

"Let the High Wizard pass to the White Tower." Then he barked at the orcs to reform their line to block off access to anything else. It was a smart compromise, and Blake was impressed.

"Thank you, Captain," he activated Mental Influence just to learn a few names, then made a gesture of welcome to the goblins outside.

After a few moments of squabbling, the large train of the Green Blood Order started rolling towards the amber-eye-covered gate.

Now Blake just had to explain to Ilya why he had an army of goblins coming to live in her tower. But he expected that to be the 'easy' part. Because sooner or later, he was going to have to also tell Mason...

* * *

Becky woke up to find her friend Aila's smiling face.

"There she is." The Finn's pretty blue eyes gained a little wetness, but she quickly blinked it away and took on her professional nurse's voice. "Can you tell me your name?"

"If it gets me some pain meds. My head hurts something fierce."

Aila grinned and flashed a little light in Becky's eyes.

"You're always a terrible patient. Your full name, please."

"Rebecca Jane Morrow. Now could I get some water, at least?"

Aila soon stopped fussing and brought her water and a couple pills, then stopped and gave her a hug.

"You had us all pretty worried. Try not to get your head smashed in again, OK?"

"I'll do my best." Becky sat up and fought a wave of nausea. "Where's Mason?"

"Like I'd know that," Aila said with a sigh. "He checked on you the first day, then he was off again. But he left orders, and we've been watching you like a hawk."

Becky knew Mason had so much responsibility, so many people depending on him. He'd made sure she had the care she needed and then did what he had to, and it all made perfectly rational sense. But it still hurt.

"I'm here! I'm here!"

Haley came rushing into the infirmary in a twirl of flowers and half-done hair. She looked half asleep, though of course still gorgeous, wearing nothing but a nightgown and some slightly twisted pants. Becky grinned and held out her arms, and Haley came rushing in.

"I sent Darlene to get her when you woke up the first time," Aila explained with a smile.

"The first time?" Becky closed her eyes and breathed Haley in, lost in the warmth of her hug.

"I believe you told me you couldn't go to school today, and then asked for a chocolate milkshake," Aila said, and Becky felt Haley shake with a little laugh.

"Do you need anything?" The incredible woman pulled back with suddenly alert eyes moving up and down Becky's bed and gown. "I can get you clothes. Or something to eat. This place is dreadful. Why don't we move you back to your room, eh? They should at least play music in here!"

This bit was said with something approaching accusation, and it was Becky's turn to chuckle. "Stop fussin'. I've got a nurse. And space-age, er, magic hospital things. I'm fine. I'm fixin’ to go, I just need a minute."

She got up the same moment Alex stepped in, and the older man spun around in the most amusing, gentlemanly way when he saw Becky just in her gown.

"Ah hell, y'all, I spent half my life practically naked on the farm. We're all family, ain't we?"

Alex didn't budge and Becky just rolled her eyes as she wiggled into some system-whites from Aila. She gave her friend a hug, then went out arm in arm with Haley, feeling a lot better every few steps.

"Will Mason be home soon?" she asked, and Haley gave her 'I'm just being nice' smile.

"I'm sure he will. He's been gone a couple days. Phuong and the others are back safe and sound, and everything went perfectly. Everyone's fine."

Becky put her head on the older girl's shoulder as they walked.

"Oh. Um." Haley sighed. "Rosa and her friend Alexis have moved into the hall. They have their own room.”

Becky sighed, but wasn't terribly shocked. "Bound to happen sooner or later," she said, then squinted. "Her friend, too? What's goin' on there?"

"Nothing." Haley gave her 'I have a plan but I won't share it' face instead this time, and Becky punched her in the arm.

"Don't let my busted head fool you, girl. You know I could kick your ass now, right?"

Haley laughed. "I wouldn't recommend it. But I swear Lexi is only coming because she's Rosa's good friend and didn't want to be apart. Mason has more than enough to deal with already."

"Good," Becky said. "Because if he starts chasing another one I'll kick his ass. That hall is gonna be full enough."

"Mmm." Haley made an 'I'm being agreeable but don't necessarily agree' kind of Canadian noise, and Becky just let it go.

The night air was cool and crisp and Becky breathed it in with her eyes closed. Then she glanced at Haley's stomach, knowing it was going to start swelling soon enough with Mason's baby.

It reminded her of a kind of 'switch' she'd found in her profile but hadn't yet mentioned—some kind of thing just for female players, she'd figured, that apparently controlled whether or not they could get pregnant. Not that she had anyone to talk to about it…except Seul-ki, but they didn’t exactly…well, talk.

Anyway. It made sense, she supposed—female players would have a major disadvantage trying to gain power in this early stage of the game otherwise.

But she felt like she needed to tell Mason. Not because he was pushing or anything, but because in the brief moments before the whole world exploded back in the goblin caves, she'd regretted that switch being off. And in the insane world she was now part of, she knew the next time it could be more than an injury.

It still bothered her to have so many women around. But she knew at the end of the day she didn't want anyone but Mason's babies, no matter what that looked like. If it was just Rosa and Haley she could handle it. Haley was like her sexy, older best friend. And Rosa...well, they'd figure it out.

Right now, it was just good to be alive.

Becky smiled as she stepped into the chief's hall and saw the 'welcome home!' sign dangling from the kitchen. It felt good being there, even if Rosa and her friend were probably asleep in the next room.

Now Mason just had to come back and scoop her up and carry her to their bed, and everything would be perfect. She just knew it.