Chapter 4

Petor moved ahead of Limos and Valter as they walked through the inn. Doors were opened by staff as they walked through.

Limos’ cane and shoes rang out on the stone, with the sound of Petor and Valter’s boots. No one showed any signs of aggression as they exited the inn, moving for the stables.

The only noise was of their boots, the water feature and the birds kept in various apiaries.

“Quieter than outside,” Petor said.

“Using different runes to quieten the place,” Limos said. “Over there.” He pointed with his cane at a stable.

Petor moved through the paths towards the stable.

The sliding doors were open. The carriage parked inside. It had been polished and cleaned up. The twin mounts lay in open stalls on fresh straw. They ate fruits and meat from their buckets.

“Leo, Rio,” Limos used his cane to push up his hat.

They tilted their heads and went back to munching away.

“Leo, Rio.” Petor muttered, remembering the names.

“Left and right,” Limos stage whispered.

Petor looked back, Leo chewed through a haunch of meat, crunching the bones within—all while making eye contact with Petor.

“Leo,” He bowed his head.

A snort and the beast looked away. He swore there was a glint of amusement in his eye and Rio’s as she ate beside him.

He caught her eye and gave her a wink. A snort came from the large beast as she regally ignored him. Leo looking over to her and back to Petor.

He turned to face outwards. People had left them alone.

“Seen few stables as clean as this.” He said, Valter away from him and watching too, fully armored.

“Different level of things here. A few items of the Epic grade easily add up to thousands of gold. They do not manufacture just a few items here.”

“Millions worth of materials and gold pass through here everyday,” Limos said, his cane rang out on a knocking pattern against his carriage door.

All of those materials we moved. It had just kept coming. The scale of the operation, of Limos’ resources and Peck’s needs. Petor shook his head.

Says the farmer’s son that has a million gold in credit .

A flare of mana ran behind him, then the door of the carriage opened.

“Master Limos,” Jaxus’ familiar voice carried through the stable as he hurried down the steps, his foot scraping as he turned it on the stone.

“Jaxus, I have been hearing good things from Hedgewick. Seems you are coming up in the ranks and I am of need of someone with your skills and availability.”

The door to the carriage shut as Limos patted the man.

“Come now, there is nothing interesting in the dirt. We have work to be done! How much information have you been given?”

Limos shoes tapped on the ground.

Petor moved first back through the stable doors, nothing registered as a threat as he walked across the gardens. Limos and Jaxus following.

“Mister Hedgewick passed me a file of information on the Netherforge Consortium as well as interests in the Abyssal Plane, Water Plane and other associated planes.” Jaxus said.

“How much were you able to get through?”

“Mister Hedgewick told me that you are interested in connecting caravans to this location and beyond. I went through the contacts that we have. Groups that are known to move through here. Different resources that would create profitable base trades. Through here in the Abyssal Plane and in the Water Plane. I touched on the basics of the other planes at this time.” Jaxus sounded disappointed.

“Good, focus on the most important things first and expand from there. What do you think we should do first?”

“Talk to Mya, she is a shrewd trader and has moved through the Water Plane. She will have got a good understanding of the economy as well as threats there being a captain at the same time. Then talk to Desari. She knows of the Planes in a way that the reports cannot.”

“Good, on the ground experience. They are currently seeing to a task of their own making. What are your preliminary thoughts?”

“The Consortium is virtually isolated from everyone else. People come to trade with them, they do not go out to trade with others. We can act as that group. They are broken up into four main areas, mining, transportation within the chasm, crafting and defense. They do not seek to expand their borders, just their abilities. Each forge is run by the strongest forge master for a decade, and an administrator that is voted into power by his fellows. Politics are scorned, ability is seen as the greatest quality.”

“What does this mean?” Limos interrupted.

“It means that Forge masters can focus on their craft and direct the progress of their forge,” Jaxus said as the doors into the inn opened ahead of Petor. “While the administrators can make sure they can meet those needs and create a backbone and balance between desires and what is possible.”

“Does this tell you anything about the Consortium?”

“Through the dual system of governance it allows them to continuously progress forward. They plan for the future.”

“Very good,” Limos said.

Petor moved through the corridors, people shifting out of their way.

“They regularly hire people that have skills in administration, forging and fighting, to bolster their strength. They do not let in people lightly, though they understand that bringing in people makes them stronger. I do not forsee them having an issue working in partnership with others. Their issue is their size. Their needs are great and they are exhausting the markets that will come to them.” Jaxus grew excited as Petor moved up the stairs to the second floor. “The Consortium has grown in power and position. People come to them for the finest armor, weapons and gear. They don’t come to them for kitchen knives.”

“Oh?” Limos threaded the word with rising amusement.

“It takes a lot of training for someone to reach the point where they can make Epic level gear. Many Smiths or forge masters won’t make it. They’ll be able to make Common and Rare gear easily enough though. They don’t sell it though.”

“Interesting.” Limos drew him on.

Petor hid his smile as they walked the corridor to their rooms.

“Its an unused and unssen market. Sure the big cities need the powerful gear. An Epic leveled fighter with the associated gear is a force to be reckoned with. It is worth the trip here. Though for Common or Rare gear? They can make some of that in their own cities and there is some to trade for it.”

“So, buy up the gear that their forgemasters are making to increase their skills and sell it for them. Thus opening a new market to exploit, while feeding them the materials that they require to make more gear.”

“Yes master Limos.”

“Very good Jaxus, very good. Now have you looked into proposed routes?” Limos asked.

Petor opened the door to their rooms, checking, nothing looked out of place, he pushed it all the way open and moved to the rooms. Valter closed it after everyone.

“There are several groups in the area that grow food of one kind or another. Others that are miners or live upon good veins. I was thinking of stimulating the food sectors, people always like new food and drink. The Chasm doesn’t offer much in the way of natural food. We can buy and sell mining equipment from the Consortium to other miners on payment plans. They start bringing in more materials that we can sell to the Consortium without having to bring it in on planar transport. The Water Plane is plentiful in fish and foods, though they will need traders moving between them and other convergence points and hub locations to trade with the locals.”

Petor checked back on the duo. Limos took a seat on the couch he’d claimed and waved Jaxus into another chair. The man talked eagerly, his eyes shining.

Limos nodded and listened along to his reasoning, an amused expression on his face.

“I’ll be plenty safe now lads. You can go back to planning out your war now.” Limos looked back to Valter and then Petor.

Valter shared a look with him.

“Thank you Limos.” Valter bowed his head and walked to the ‘planning room’.

“Have fun lads, you need anything?” Petor asked.

Limos waved a hand to the side, a cart covered in piping and several cups appeared next to him.

“Coffee,” Jaxus said the holy word.

Coffee?

“We will be fine Petor, thank you,” Limos gave him a soft smile.

“Enjoy,” held up a hand in goodbye and followed Valter into the room. “Hope that the girls work is going well.”

“Desari has done it before,” Valter said, distracted as he took off his helmet, putting it on the table and staring at the map.

Petor stored his armor as he walked, reducing him to his pants, boots and gambeson.

Valter’s eyes flicked over the map, thoughts and ideas sparking off of one another.

Petor turned to his pages, he’d started reading the other packets. It didn’t do to just have the information of one group in his mind.

***

Desari played her part of servant, leading Mya through the inn. The lights were dimmed but staff moved throughout, ready to deal with their guests every need.

They’d been invited to meet with Forge Master Peck, though that was still in a few hours. Petor and Valter were going over war plans and information.

“Here we are,” Desari reach a door covered in runes.

“Very convenient,” Mya said, she shot a look through the corridors and titled her chin to the door.

Desari moved through. The room was made of bare metal and covered in runes. Those that would keep others from knowing what was happening within.

Mya locked the door behind her.

“I didn’t think such a place would exist here,” Desari said. “Most spell casters use rooms like this to hide their abilities.”

“Traders like to keep their secrets. There is always need for a few chats between people that are a little more sensitive. The Netherforge Consortium can’t tell us about their trades because they’re soul bound, these rooms keep others from listening in that might not be so bound.” Mya said.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The room would be plenty large enough for what she needed. Desari released her illusion weave, folding back her mana into her core.

“So what are we doing?”

“Summoning an old friend,” Desari pulled out a wax stick and started drawing out the summoning circle.

“Love me some of the dangerous summoning stuff! Got a plan?”

Desari would have denied before, now she sifted through her books, pulling out something from a false cover and handed it to Mya and the wax stick she held.

Mya gave it a big sniff. “Smells like hot sweat ass.”

“Sometimes I don’t even know how to deal with the things that you say,” Desari said.

“Why you think I say them?” Mya laughed, drawing on the ground.

Desari took out another wax stick and drew out the circle from memory, helping Mya with her section before they moved to the side of the room.

Desari called up the weave within her channels, looping through nodes, old and familiar paths. It flowed through her, connecting to the circle, adding in runes acting as nodes she didn’t have.

An invisible flame ignited infront of her over the wax and spread through the entire circle.

Desari yawned, it had been a long day.

“Has it been two days since we left Misty Cove?”

“Well, we left that night, through the night, ran the day, slept a bit, then through the tear,” Mya waved her hand back and forth.

Something poked at her senses, a familiar something. It was inquisitive but held itself back, curious and thoughtful. Seems he learned some control .

“And then that day before we were fighting off pirates.” Desari pointed.

“Yeah that was the last night of sleep,” Mya looped her thumbs through her belt. Desari knew she could sense the presence running through the circle, checking it.

Mya was more perceptive than many expected, and smarter.

“So that’s what the pirates, trading, then running and so we’re on our fourth day?”

“Gotta love leveling up your core huh?” Mya grinned.

“Who dares summon me!”

The invisible flames whipped together into visible ones that spread out to reveal a young man wearing form-fitting armor without a helmet. His frame lithe as the sword at his hip except his face. The openings in his armor flickered with flames, as did his eyes. His hair was orange and brown, his skin a deep tan. A red tattered cloak ran down his back, flapping with unseen wind, in his chest an armored band covered his elemental core.

Desari turned to face him, her face softening. “Hello Freddie.”

The candles fluttered, his face spreading open in shock and surprise. He shot across the room. Desari cast fire protection on her clothes with resignation as he hugged her, burying his face into her neck.

“Mom!” His grip tightened around her.

She wrapped her arms around his warm armor. His flames moved away from her, gentle.

“Been a while since I caught you in that firestarter tube,” Desari said. He smelled like a hot desert. He held her tighter.

“I thought you were gone,” He said into her shirt.

“Irshon told me what you did. It pulled me back together.” She felt it, his power beating in his core. “Looks like you’ve been able to get stronger than before.”

“Uncle Aerus helped,” Freddie lifted his head, looking into her eyes.

“You already bonded?”

“Irshon, I needed information and I didn’t know where you would be. Aerus and Eira either.”

His face screwed up, upset, happy back to upset.

She tapped his nose. “You are the wildest of us all, how would I know what you were up to, or in?” She raised and eyebrow.

That was enough to make him step backwards and rub his head awkwardly.

“I didn’t get into that much trouble.”

A sense went off in the back of her head. She crossed her arms and narrowed her arms.

“What did you do Freddie?”

“Well I played a prank on some of the convergence lords and I also stole the armor. Though I was meaning to repay them and I needed it!” He raised a finger as if he found his life raft.

“For?” Desari’s expression didn’t change.

“Well a death defying lava bowl tournament! It was fierce! You should have seen it! We were taking on the lost city of Midras!”

“Lava bowl, a tournament held by the various fire sects to show off their talent. You have not been one for sects though your appearance allows you to look like one of the humanoids. So you went in as a darkhorse for the fun of it. Was there a girl?”

“Ah, no, no girl!” Freddie who’d been curling up smiled as if he got the right answer.

“So some other goal.” Her eyes dropped to the blade on his hip, somewhat similar to the one on hers.

He pushed the hilt as if to hide it behind himself and gave a dry laugh.

“Midras, a city of smiths from across the planes that were said to have made a blade that cut through reality and allowed beasts from another reality in. Though they chained them to the city.”

“So you heard of it,” Freddie smiled awkwardly.

She let out a sigh. “Well, how did it go?”

“Well I was able to get this,” He pushed out the blade he’d been hiding. “There was this group that had information from like the last ten generations. I followed them and then when they were about to take the weapon I claimed it. They were really annoyed about the whole thing and I ran. Though I ran into another group with a cool pendant. There were others that knew about ingredients gardens!” He took out a box and opened it.

Desari pressed her lips together. Those were Epic grade alchmical ingredients and he just stole them from some people because he could .

“And I’m guessing none of their sects is really pleased. They’re all rather strong and they’re not best pleased with you.”

“Heh, yeah probably not. Though this is nice and warm here.” He looked around the room.

Desari caught Mya looking between them as she held her chin. “What?”

‎ “Just wondering,” Mya said. “And I’m not judging, but. Was the dad a fireplace? Y’know hot poker and all.”

“Mya!” Desari yelled, flushing as she waved her off.

“Why would Desari need a poker?” Freddie asked, confused.

“Oh I think she needs someway to get rid of all that tension.” Mya grinned.

Desari worked her lips and jaw, going with a heavy exhale instead and looking back to Freddie, regaining her composure.

Freddie looked entirely too dedicated to figuring out what Mya was talking about.

“Freddie, would you agree to a bond of equals?” Desari asked, giving the bond its proper gravitas.

“Sure,” He opened up his soul to her there and then, extending from his core.

“Will you not open up your soul so readily!” Desari chided as she accepted the tether with her mana and drew out a tether of her core through her channels. It was wrong as if stretching herself in a direction that didn’t exist.

The tethers connected and merged.

Desari closed her eyes as part of the color of the world returned to her vision. She resonated with the fire around her, with the energy shifting through the world. It was no longer separated from her, greeting her like an old friend.

She caught the purple flare through Freddie’s eyes, his flames took on a blue hue returning back to the mellow orange.

The steady drain from the summoning was cut down as her own tether to the fire element strengthened.

“What, you’re you.” Freddie shrugged. “No one could be as annoying proper, know my name and be so,” He waved at her, searching for the words. “You?” he ended in a shrug.

“Eloquent,” Mya said.

“What’s that?” Freddie asked.

“A kind of flower,” Mya didn’t miss a beat.

Freddie nodded along.

“Don’t listen to her and Mya don’t put those thoughts in his head. They’ll take root and you never know what will happen. Knowing him he’ll find Eloquent flowers and they’ll be part of some dragon’s hoard.

“That could be fun,” Freddie got that look in his eye.

“No you don’t,” Desari put her hands on her hips.

“Aww,” he pouted.

Desari breathed in.

“Why haven’t you bonded with Aunty and Uncle?” Freddie asked.

“I only made it back to this world. I was too far and the power required would have been too much to create a true connection. I can sense them as I sense you but they are further away. I will need to make it to the material plane or a place that resonates with the Earth and Air planes.”

“So we’re going to get them?” Freddie asked.

“Hopefully soon, first we have to save Ilus.”

“Ilus?” Freddie tilted his head.

“The day I died the city was teleported away.”

“I searched I couldn’t find it,” Freddie said, his voice turning somber. “We all agreed to do the same, and to stay in our Planes. The Material Plane was too risky, unless we were strong enough to deal with Vessali.”

“Well we found it, hidden here,” Desari said.

“Are you going to take it back to the Material Plane and kill your brother?” Freddie grabbed his sword.

“I do not know what will happen,” Desari said. “First we need to save them from the fight they find themselves in. Then we can plan from there.”

Freddie slumped. “Ugghh, plans, plotting, practice, so boring .” He looked like the spirit had gone out of him as glared up at the ceiling with dead eyes.

“Your kid and he doesn’t like a good plan or experiments or a half dozen tests before he starts?”

Desari glared at Mya.

“What, just different from what I was expecting.”

Freddie seemed to be rapidly looking for escape routes.

“We have some work to do here,” Desari said. Her mana was draining out through the summoning. “Can I call on you?”

“I am already on my way to you. I can track you now.” He smiled. “I’ll find a way through. Plus the Fire Lord has been saying that he owes you. Maybe I could use that?”

“Do not piss off the Fire Lord. He’s amused by your antics, but he is not someone to toy with,” Desari’s voice held a steel to it.

“Right, okay,” Freddie diverted his gaze.

She stepped forward and hugged him again. “Be safe Freddie. Reach out if you need me.”

He wrapped her up, hugging her, his flames parting around her.

“Flamboyant as ever with your appearance.”

“Got to keep the ladies on their toes,” He said as they released.

Desari shook her head even as a soft smile spread across her face. “Stay safe.”

“I like this new adventuring side! Reminds me of the old days.”

Desari rolled her eyes as Freddie disappeared. The wax on the ground burned up and turned to ashes without a mark on the ground.

“Well, full of surprises Desari,” Mya said.

Desari drew back her mana threads and wove it into a new pattern of illusion.

“This way back to your quarters ma’am.”

“Lead on peasant!” Mya said imperiously, while opening the door and checking beyond.

“There’s no one there,” Desari said.

“How did you know?” Mya stepped out.

“Got back some of my old powers. Come now, a lady doesn’t reveal all of her secrets,” Desari led the way through the inn, sinking into the role of servant, guiding Mya.

Now I just need to summon Aerus and Eira. She schooled her features, to not let the casual aloofness turn into a true smile.