Paul POV

As things settle down at my former cohort's camp it's hard not to start laughing again. To think, earlier this morning I was no different than the sheep around me. Standing by for their own judgements. Some to be no more than chaff, other's to be chosen, much like myself.

"Don't you all worry, some will live. After all some crimes Curator can forgive. Did that rhyme? Heeheehee it did! HAHAHAHAHAHA" (Paul)

Shaking with laughter after the accidental rhyme I barely notice the shocked looks from my former allies. My reverie though, is quickly disturbed as some kind of elfkin shrieks some and points behind me.

"Oh, shut up, nothing is scary enough to cause that kind of response. Seriously. As long as you can be redeemed, you've nothing to really fear at the moment." (Paul)

Seeing the horrified looks on other's faces though, I can't help but feel curious. Turning to look as a soft 'shuff-shuff' sound starts to trail through the air it's not hard to tell what caused the fear. Something, honestly, massive is headed this way if the lack of detail and how it's distorted from heat haze due to the distance still between it and us.

"Uh...mister speaker of Curator...what is that? Is it another of Curator's exalted?" (Paul)

"Hmmm? Oh, yeah, I can definitely feel Curator's influence from that, and well, Poppit is quite excited now too." (Vahlu)

Following his pointing, seeing some of that sandtrap ferret swarm in a writhing mass of chittering, clacking mandibles, and almost puppy like exuberance is...endearing? Horrifying? It's hard to really quantify. In normal circumstances it would be a pants shittingly terrifying thing, but now it's...I'm not sure. Either way, if they are excited and Vahlu is so nonchalant, it's fine.

"Ah, yeah, so, it's definitely one of their creations, but beyond that, and I'm sayin' exactly what was said to me here but...'If things are gonna happen this way, I want to do it right, and for that one must live up to expectations properly' whatever THAT means." (Vahlu)

"Wait, you spoke to them? I didn't hear anything." (Paul)

"I mean, those of us bound to Curator's mana can speak to them by thinking 'at' them I guess? They can also put words right in my head too, like, a conversation with myself but it's not me but Curator. It's honestly kind of weird, and I'd almost say off-putting, if Curator wasn't so good to my people without demanding anything at all of us." (Vahlu)

Staring off as I ponder this, it dawns on me that, while chosen and spared, my connection with the great lord that is Curator is thin, tenuous at best. Maybe I should ask for some more concrete connection...but I don't want to seem ungrateful either. After all, how many people can say they've been given a second chance at life, spared the most horrid death imaginable multiple times, and given some guidelines to live by, by what is clearly a demi-god at the least?

As I'm thinking that shuffing quickly gets louder and louder to the point that it could compete with a properly shod horse galloping on cobblestone. The terrifying thing, however, is the sheer size of that entity that approaches, as it becomes more and more clear, that elfkin distracting me a moment as they start crying and properly panicking only to fall to their knees. That momentary distraction aside, it's clear now that, whatever this thing is, it easily dwarfs our tents, likely even most common houses and cottages.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Renenutet POV

Father has been guiding us to a place of his interest, as we draw closer it's easy to tell why. One of the exalted of the tribe in his care is there, as well as most of Poppit's body. Hearing the echo of some maddened laughing cut off by a scream of fear and then, as we draw closer, the sobbing of one despairing, one can't help but pleased. After all, these things seem to understand the greatness, power, and majesty of Father, and by a lesser extent, myself.

"We are almossst there, Father." (Renenutet)

"Good, if they wish to worship me, then I want to do this right. Make sure they understand just how weak they are compared to me, how powerless they are were I to chose just to slaughter them. Show them that, yes, I am capable of mercy just as much as I am capable of wrath." (Curator)

Hearing Father's words, I can't help but feel a sense of pride and smug satisfaction. Good, let's put these things in their place, show them just how beneath us they are in the grand scheme of things.

Curator POV

Man, Renenutet can really get us zoomin'. The trip that took my Forager out, to meeting Paul and coming to this camp took till almost midday. It took us, what, an hour at most? Actually having to take time to slow down for that final stretch of approach, it doesn't take long to give me a good scale of things. Vahlu comes up to a bit past the knees on a human meaning we're seriously MASSIVE from this almost, top down view to look over the camp, and it's remaining occupants.

"Vahlu, please go with your Mudscale friend to start bringing the slaves and captured folks here. Do any of you lot know how to undo any bonds, shackles, or collars they may have?" (Curator)

Speaking out, and letting my voice properly carry power, I gently shift my shared body, coiling most of it and raising my head proudly. All so I can leer down on the vermin, Paul excluded obviously, that dared threaten my people from a height that feels almost like it'd be a third, or fourth, story balcony.

"Yesss and do tell usss promptly, clearly, and without ressserve. Father'sss time should not be wasssted." (Renenutet)

As Renenutet speaks from our shared body, the shock, confusion, fear, and desperate hope from the scum is clear. The first one to act though is the pointy eared one. I'd think they were an elf if they had elfy clothes on, but, who ever heard of an elf wearing a brigandine coat that's obviously seen some use, and having a belt of hatchets and hammers, with a maul on their back? If this weren't a kind of gang thing, I'd be surprised by her being ready for battle, but odds are, she's one of the people who would be 'the muscle' or enforcer types.

"With the b-b-boss d-dead, any of the magical b-b-binds would have stopped b-being magical. They would only need to be taken off which is just a complex latch." (Elfkin)

Hmm, she started off stuttering but grew more confident as she spoke. Good, she's smart enough to understand how out classed she is, and composed enough to steady her emotions. Let's try and spare her if possible then shall we, she seems...useful...at least, I think it's a she, I've never seen an elf like thing before in the flesh and well...Legolas was a pretty boy and much fantasy has a trop of elves looking girly even if not a lady.

"Good, you've taken initiative to respond, did so promptly, and steadied yourself quite well. Poppit is going to give you a good sniff now, if they don't start drooling instantly you'll be asked a few more questions. Depending on how that goes, you may yet live. While I may be understandably outraged to learn about attempts to enslave my people, and their friends, I'm not without reason or mercy for those that deserve, and earn it. That's also why I weeded out all the people who were to stupid to understand what game theory is with that bait for a single runner." (Curator)