Stepping down the hallway, I walked slowly… quietly.

Reaching the end of the hall, I peered into the half-open door. The large bedroom was dark, even though it was midday.

Although the bedroom of a saint, it looked more like Sharp’s room than any of the other nuns back at the Crypt. It was packed full of items, on shelves and not. She even had stuff littering the floor, like a tiny child unable to properly sort and clean her room.

But it wasn’t her messy room that I found interesting. What I found amusing, instead, was what was on the bed.

Curled up together, under thin blankets, were Renn and Narli. It was both interesting, and a little worrisome, that Renn’s head was so close to Narli’s horn. I couldn’t see it from here, but odds were they were even holding hands.

Sleeping with a saint. If she knew how hard such a feat was to accomplish, I bet she’d never lack confidence again.

I sighed quietly, and blamed myself.

This was what I got for not sharing a room with her.

Stepping away, I returned to the center of the house. It was quiet, but not because no one else was here. Oplar was in her room, I had heard her talking to herself as she wrote in her journal.

Horn was also around here somewhere, but I hadn’t seen him for awhile. And his wife, lovely Berri, was humming away in the nearby kitchen as she’d been doing for hours.

She enjoyed cooking for visitors. Always had.

Realizing this was likely a good moment, I decided to head for the Keep.

Stepping out of the house, I found Horn. He noticed my exit and stepped over to me. His hands and arms were recently washed, and still a little wet, which told me he had been doing something that had required washing his hands. Likely something to do with the farms considering he had been heading for the house from their direction.

“Well Vim, I’ve officially given up on the pumpkins,” Horn said with a sigh.

Ah… “It is a little cold here,” I reasoned.

“I thought by growing them in a mound between two hardier crops would better insulate them. Plus they were in a spot with as much sunshine as possible throughout the day… I’ve tried for several years now, and I think it just can’t be done,” Horn said.

“You could just make a greenhouse, Horn,” I suggested.

He huffed at me and rubbed his right hand against his thigh, as if it was dirty or something. But I knew it was instead because the idea of using such a method was… at least in his eyes, beneath him.

“Think about it. Your wife and daughter would likely enjoy squash snacks and meals,” I said gently.

He shifted and frowned. “Berri does like them roasted…” he mumbled.

I smiled at him and nodded. She did. She also really enjoyed the pies. “I’d offer to help, but we’ll not be here long enough I think. I could though find a spot for it, and help you design and plan it if you’d like,” I offered.

Horn sighed and nodded. “Maybe… maybe… let me eat and sleep on it,” he said.

“Sure,” I nodded as he nodded back and then stepped away, to head into the house.

I watched him go for a moment and couldn’t help but smile at the man who was mumbling complaints.

He’d give in. Especially once Berri or Narli heard that I had offered to help him.

He hated technology or using methods from the Society, or the religious… but he couldn’t deny his family anything.

Horn was a simple man, but he was also a good one.

Such men like him were always stuck between a rock and a hard place.

“Pumpkins,” I mumbled as I glanced to the nearby hill. Just beyond it were the farms.

Honestly during certain seasons this area should have been just barely able to grow such things. But the nights did get chilly. Even during the summer sometimes, let alone the winter. It likely meant they went bad before even sprouting… They needed not just warmer soil, but heavily hydrated stuff too. A hard mix for this mountainous region. Even with the near infinit source of water, it was just a laborsome task.

But… the greenhouse would fix that completely. They would need to hand-water them often, but… well…

It wasn’t like Horn had too much to do usually. They lived simple lives, all things considered.

I wish my only worries were about growing pumpkins.

Though that belittled Horn’s true worries. It wasn’t fair to think such things about him.

Sighing at myself I headed around the house. I entered the back of the house, behind the kitchen, and headed for the entrance of the Keep.

It was accessible from inside the house. I hadn’t needed to leave it. But the door that led to it from the main hallway was rather noisy. It was big and heavy, and squeaked on the hinges.

I hadn’t wanted to wake Renn or Narli by opening it. Both of them were very perceptive, and I was not in the mood for another afternoon of questions and stories. I had barely survived the one the other night.

The entrance to the Keep was its own room in the back of the house. It was a windowless room, and the only thing inside of it was the hole in the floor that was a stairwell.

The first few steps of the stairwell were wooden, but not because the dark brick of the Keep didn’t begin until later. Rather it was because the first few steps into the Keep had been broken and shattered. The stone bricks had been jagged and sharp. Not the kind of stuff you wanted to walk upon, less you accidentally slipped or fell.

After about a dozen or so steps, the wooden steps returned to the normal black stone ones. The undamaged stones were smooth, but rough enough to not be slippery. Even when wet.

They were not wet at the moment… but I remembered them being so in my memories.

It had been when they were wet that I had broken those first few steps. I had been very upset as I swam up and out of the Keep, both annoyed over having to drain the submerged tomb and the idiots who had gotten it sunk.

Reaching the end of the first stairwell, I had to open the heavy wooden door that led to a hallway. The hallway was dark, and although started out small, with low ceilings and close walls, it eventually opened up and widened. By the time I reached the end of the hallway, to another door, the hallway had opened enough to be considered a great hall more than not.

Another door led to a new stairwell. One much larger than the first. It was big enough, with a high enough ceiling, that my steps echoed as I descended it.

There were three more hallways and stairwells. All relatively similar. Dark. Made of stone. With huge doors to separate them.

A fortress. A genuine fortress built hundreds and hundreds of years ago. Thousands, possibly, even. Made originally to entomb the divine figure of a great nation.

That nation had its last stand here too. They had held out rather well, all things considered.

Reaching the end of the last stairwell, which led to a rounded hallway, I walked slowly amongst the darkness towards the center of the structure.

I knew others needed lamps down here. Particularly in these sections, where the hallways were strangely darker than elsewhere. There were small rooms, without doors, on both ends of the hallway. Each had shelves with lamps, chairs, and simple supplies. Elsewhere in the Keep were similar storerooms and whatnot, just in case a day came where Berri and her family needed to hide down here.

The purpose of it was simple.

Stay down here, safe, until I arrived.

Although the doors were wooden, they were the kind of heavy timber that would be near impossible for humans or even non-humans to easily get through. Fire wouldn’t work, since there was not enough airflow to sustain the flames. Axes, or any brute force methods, would be their only real viable method and it would be very difficult and take a long time. Particularly since only one or two people could attack the doors at a single time.

Then…

Pausing in the middle of the hall, I glanced to the walls. There were smooth little gaps in the darkness. They blended in well, and likely wouldn’t have been something noticed even if the hallway was lit. I simply knew where they were, out of having used them.

There were stone doors. Huge blocks, that could be slid outward. They could, and did, seal off the hallways completely. With a groove set in the ground that made it near impossible for anyone to open them from the outside. You would have to pull them somehow from the other end, which wouldn’t be feasible. There was nothing and nowhere to grab them. There wasn’t even enough space between the blocks and the ground and walls to slip something in to use as a joist or lever.

I had used this Keep’s structure as an example for the refuge beneath Telmik. Although I had added a few… additional safety measures to that one.

Brushing the stone wall with a hand, and the gap of the hidden block, I returned to walking.

Hopefully Berri and her family would never need to use this place.

Hopefully no one would.

Our kind could last a long time under… pressure and stress. But it was never done so without consequence.

They could easily survive down here for years, thanks to the fresh water and the stores of food. But would they enjoy it? Would their hearts and minds be calm and undamaged after…?

Likely not. Particularly Narli…

Exiting the hallway, I stepped into the first larger room of the Keep. It had murals and paintings, but I paid them no heed as I left the room and went down another hall.

The next room had statues. Mostly marble ones. I glanced at a few as I passed them, and headed for the center of the Keep.

To the Heart of the Keep.

Entering the room which housed the heart, I glanced at the nearest water stream.

Flowing steady. Like always.

This room was brighter than the rest, thanks to the soft azure glow of the heart in the center of the room.

There were ten pedestals in the center of the room, but only the center pedestal was being used. It was also the only one that was made to allow water flow. It was hollow inside, unlike the others, and had little crevices and small sluices as to direct the flow of all the water that seeped from the heart.

Although I had made multiple pedestals… I’d never needed all of them at once. The most hearts that had ever been here at once was eight. And it had only been for a very short time.

It would have seemed shortsighted and foolish, but when I had made them… I had been running into monarchs rather often. There had been times when I had carried around not just a single heart but several. It was why I had turned this place into a vault. Those who had been able to absorb and deal with the hearts had been more numerous back then, but none of them could devour more than a single heart at a time. It took years to properly absorb and adjust them, even for the greater monarchs like Miss Beak. In fact it was about time she should be able to…

Pausing, I coughed as I realized I had just forgotten she was dead.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Which was very weird since the entire reason I had come down here was to put her heart here.

Reaching around, I undid the little pouch that hid the heart. The monarch leather was… strange to feel. It was a little rubbery, even though it could cut and slice if you touched the edges of the seams without care.

I had three such pouches. Or well, now I suppose I had two. I had given one to Renn. Both so she could carry the letters entrusted to her, but also so she too could have a pouch to hide anything she needed to from prying eyes.

I wasn’t sure yet if Renn knew how special that pouch was, or what it was capable of… but I knew that was my fault. It’s not like I had explained it to her. I had simply given it to her and told her to keep the letters in it, and to not lose it.

Sighing as I pulled out Miss Beak’s heart, I lifted it a little as to stare into the swirling pink colors.

“You probably would be upset with me. Leaving you here… next to that one,” I said as I glanced to the blue orb.

Stepping over to one of the pedestals, I placed Beak’s heart onto the metal stand. The thing was a small half-circle. Made specifically to hold a heart. The pink orb slid into the grooves of the stand, and as it settled it spun a little.

As it settled… I reached over to gently tap it, and make it spin. Thanks to the smooth metal, and how the stand was a slight bigger than the heart itself, the orb spun. It soundlessly spun inside the stand, though the swirling colors within it didn’t move or shift alongside the movement.

“Rest here a bit, my friend. You’re not in good company here, at least amongst your own, but the others will make up for it. They’re good people,” I said softly.

Of course the heart didn’t respond. And I wasn’t foolish enough to expect one.

After all, although Miss Beak’s heart… it was more the heart of her creator than she herself. It was the conduit. Not her.

Still… it reminded me of her.

At least I hadn’t needed to end her life with my own hands.

Such a thought made me frown, since it almost made my eyes water. It was a sad thing to be so relieved over, yet it was the truth.

I hadn’t needed to end another friend’s life with my own hands. There was a strange… solace to it.

Hearing footsteps, I pulled my hand away from the orb. It took several minutes for the source of the sounds to appear.

Berri smiled at me as she lowered her lantern at the sight of me.

“So you really did have another. It’s been a long time since you’ve left one here,” she said as she entered the room.

She was alone, and as she approached I smelled the bread she had been making all afternoon. It was a sweet smell.

“It has been a while, hasn’t it?” I agreed as Berri walked up next to me.

Berri stepped up to the pedestal and studied Miss Beak’s heart. Her horn shimmered with the pink color as she smiled at it. “That’s a very pretty color,” she said.

“They had been a flamingo,” I told her.

Berri perked up as she stood up straighter. “Really…? That makes a lot of sense. Fascinating…” she said.

I suppose it did. There weren’t many pink animals, were there?

Though I guess in a sense flamingos weren’t always pink. It was their diet that dictated their colors, usually.

Thinking of all the animals I knew of that were, or could be considered, pink… I realized most of them were found in the water. Sea life, typically… like seahorses.

Though I suppose there were plenty of birds too.

“Your daughter could tell you more of its trait. If she’s able to call forth its ability though… Although useful, I’d suggest against it. Its ability is not something that can be controlled, and its only real use would be for destruction. It produces immense heat,” I warned her.

“Hm… I’ll let her know. Intense heat though…? How interesting. Water and fire?” Berri asked as she glanced to the azure orb nearby.

“Not really fire, to be accurate…”

Berri hummed as I glanced at her. She was focused on Miss Beak’s heart again. She stood to my right, so her scarred side was facing me.

She really was beautiful. It wasn’t the same beauty that Renn had, but it was close.

I really was a simple man. I liked confidence. I liked those who were comfortable in their own skin. Although both Berri and Renn had… sides to them that were fragile, their main personality trait was solid. Their backbones were firm. Their minds clear and strong.

Even the parts of them that hated themselves, did so not out of depression or shame… but rather out of anger. They wanted to be better. They wanted to overcome their failures. They didn’t wish to be someone, or something, else.

Crossing my arms, I sighed a little at my own simpleness.

“What is it, Vim?” Berri asked as she turned, as to see me. Her left eye didn’t work anymore.

“I’m just being sentimental,” I told her honestly.

Berri giggled, and I couldn’t help but bask in the sounds. “Sentimental, sure,” she said, not believing me.

Renn would have.

“Horn said you convinced him to build a greenhouse. Thanks for that,” Berri said, changing topics. She hadn’t believed me at all.

“He actually admitted it? I’m glad,” I said.

Berri nodded. “Narli will be very happy to hear it. She’s been wanting to grow certain plants and flowers that just don’t do well here. I look forward to it,” she said.

Hm… “Well… I’d offer to stick around and help, but Oplar’s informed me that the Summit has requested my help,” I said gently.

“Hm… they may not be the smartest people, always cutting off their noses to spite their faces… but they are still members of the Society. It’d not do well for you to linger. Should you leave tomorrow then?” Berri asked.

“Either tomorrow or the next day,” I said.

“Why the hesitation?” she asked.

“I’ve asked Narli a favor. I’m not sure how long to give her for it, or if it’s even possible, but I’d like to give her a chance all the same,” I said.

“A… favor…? What kind?” Berri asked as she turned again, to glance at the pink heart.

Did she know already? Is that why she looked at Miss Beak’s heart? Or did she just assume it was related to the heart, for good reason?

“I don’t like keeping secrets from you Berri, so please don’t ask again,” I said carefully.

“Hm… I figured. Should I worry over it?” Berri asked, not bothered or offended.

“No. It’s a more personal matter,” I said.

“Ah. Concerning Renn then. That makes sense,” Berri nodded, understanding completely.

I kept a sigh from escaping as Berri stepped closer to the pedestal. She put the lantern down on the ground, as to get a better look at the glowing colors of Miss Beaks’ heart.

“It really is a pretty pink. Look at those swirls. Must have been a strong one,” she said.

“Very strong,” I said.

Berri hummed again, and I glanced down to the lantern at her feet. The thing was one of many that had been built years ago. Hands and I had made hundreds to be distributed throughout the Society… though I wasn’t sure how many were even left.

Berri studied the heart for a moment, and then tilted her head. It was the kind of movement that was obvious. Something she did often. It told me she had just remembered something.

“On that topic, though Vim…” Berri spoke gently, still staring at the heart.

Looking back up, I was rather proud of myself for not glancing at her rear. “Hm?”

“My daughter has told me that Renn is destined for something momentous,” she said as she turned to look at me.

Great. “That’s not what I wanted to hear right now, Berri,” I said.

Berri smiled at me with one of her sad grins. Made sadder by her inability to fully smile thanks to her scars. “I figured… but just in case I figured I should tell you, in case Narli didn’t.”

I wasn’t able to stop the sigh from escaping this time.

She noticed of course, and tilted her head at me. “What are you going to do, Vim?” she asked.

“About your daughter trying to steal my woman? I’m not sure yet.”

Berri froze for a tiny moment… and then guffawed a laugh. “Really, now!” she shouted as she went straight to giggling. She also covered her face with a hand, as if she needed to hide such a beautiful laugh from the world.

Maybe she did. It was too precious for this world to even comprehend, after all.

“Funny… I’ll enjoy telling Horn that later. But really Vim… I mean about this vote. What are you going to do about it?” she asked.

“I’ve decided to handle it later. There’s no point stressing over it when I’m not even sure the full extent of it. For all I know Oplar is exaggerating what’s happening,” I said.

“Or she’s doing the opposite, out of fear or innocence,” Berri countered.

“Hm…” I was only able to grunt at that.

“Really Vim… what if it can’t be easily solved? What if they go through with it? What if they banish you?” Berri asked.

“Well…”

“Well nothing. I know what kind of man you are, Vim. Or at least, I think I do. If they’re actually foolish enough to vote against you… you’ll actually oblige them. You’ll honor their wishes, even if it means their deaths. If you do that, you’ll doom them all,” Berri said.

“If their will is that firm, and the majority of the Society shares that will… then what would you have me do, Berri? Force my protection on those who don’t desire it?” I asked.

She nodded.

They really were similar…

I scoffed as I shook my head. “Funny. That’s what that one said too,” I said as I pointed to the blue heart.

“That’s not the same…” Berri argued.

“Says you.”

“Says the world, Vim,” she furthered.

Holding Berri’s gaze, I watched as her sad glare slowly turned into one of defeat.

“Just… be careful, Vim. Please,” she asked me softly.

“I try to be, Berri. I always try to be,” I answered honestly.

“I had honestly thought you might have changed a little. With Renn. But maybe I’m misunderstanding something, or maybe it is still happening…” Berri said, more to herself than me.

“Can’t argue she’s changed me… but I’d not be the man I am if I could be changed so completely as that, Berri,” I said.

She nodded. “I know… but I still have hope, Vim. I always have hope.”

Neither unable to argue with that, or wanting to, I simply nodded in agreement.

Berri finally sighed and nodded. “Fine. Maybe by the time the vote happens you’ll be more open to suggestions,” she complained.

“Maybe,” I said. Maybe Renn would indeed change me that much by then. Two years never seemed like a long time anymore, but…

She obviously wanted to say more, but she quite visibly gave up on the idea as she sighed and glanced away from me. She looked next to her, at the glowing pink heart.

“No matter what happens, I’ll always protect you and your family Berri,” I said gently.

Berri shifted, and I heard her fists clench. Or rather, I heard her left hand squeeze. The skin on that hand was rougher and harder, thanks to the burn scars. “I know you will, Vim. I just wish our people were better… and that you were too,” she said.

I nodded, agreeing with her.

I wish I was better too.

“You really do love her then? Renn?” she asked, likely to stop talking about what was disturbing her.

“Oddly, I do. No. I can’t explain it either,” I said.

“Huh… you know to be honest I’ve never considered why you didn’t have a lover. I guess I’ve always figured you were either beyond such simple desires, or maybe that you had one long ago and now they were gone… so you were just respecting them. Or do you take lovers occasionally throughout the years?” she asked.

I smiled at her. “I’ve had a few I suppose. But to be honest… I expect Renn to be something special. Or rather, she is special. I’ve had partners before, but I’ve never had any I’ve so happily shared my secrets with, like I do with her,” I said.

“Hm… I wonder what it is. She is adorable, I’ll admit… and Narli becoming so close with her means she’s got a good soul… but it must be more than that, surely?” Berri wondered and asked.

Shaking my head, I wasn’t sure what answer to give. “If I figure it out one day I’ll let you know,” I said.

“Please do.”

Berri seemed happy again, and I was glad to see it. Even if I really hadn’t been the one to give her that happiness. I knew she was still upset with me, at least inside.

“I suppose, if anything, I should be happy that Narli has a friend, finally,” Berri said as she tilted her head in thought.

“Renn’s a good friend to have,” I said.

“Hm… You know… I’ve not thought of it in a long time… but I should probably start to worry over what she’ll do once we’re gone. Horn has begun to have gray hairs, not just in his beard either. And I’m… well…” Berri went quiet as she glanced down at her left hand.

“Here’s where I promise to care for her when that day comes,” I said.

Berri smiled at me. “Indeed… is Renn older? Is her blood thick enough to keep her alive long enough to be there for Narli even as the years go by?” she asked.

“She is a little younger than Narli… and likely will live just as long, if not longer,” I said.

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. That’s one thing I wish I had done before leaving society, is find a few more friends,” Berri said.

I blinked and felt my heart grow heavy. What a sad thing to hear, especially when spoken so bluntly.

Especially when said by her.

“She’d happily be your friend too, Berri,” I said softly.

Berri’s horn glimmered as she tilted her head. “Oh… Hm…” she thought for a moment, and then smiled at me. “Maybe. I’ve been kind of… letting them be, Vim. I want Narli to enjoy her while she can,” she said.

Right. Very motherly. Very beautiful.

Should I make a joke that I’d be her friend if she’d like?

Berri then sighed softly as she turned and looked one last time at the hearts nearby. “I’ll go check on them. Maybe I should spend a little time with her too, before she goes,” she decided.

I kept my joke to myself as I nodded. “Don’t fall for her now. Both I and Horn would be very jealous,” I warned.

Berri gave me a huge grin as she giggled. “That you would! I wonder who’d be more depressed!” she wondered as she laughed.

That was hard to answer. Horn would be the saddest I think, but at the same time I’d probably give him a run for his money.

“All-righty. Don’t linger down here too long, Vim. Who knows what ideas you get up to when surrounded by your trophies,” she said as bent down to pick up the lantern.

“Hmph.”

Watching her pick the lantern up, she gave me one last smirk and nod as she stepped away.

Berri left the room with a comfortably slow walk. The kind that told me she was in no hurry.

Renn rarely walked like that. She was always in a hurry it seemed. She moved quickly. She wanted to get to the things, places, and people, which made her happy. She wasted no time getting there.

Once Berri stepped out of the room and into the hallway, and disappeared from sight… her lantern’s glow slowly diminished until it was swallowed by the darkness.

Glancing away, I took a small breath to sigh. Berri’s scent lingered and I noted that the smell of bread was mostly gone now.

Staring at the hearts… I glared at both of them.

“Trophies,” I scoffed.