“It’s time to talk.”

// You know, that never sounds good, does it? Even when you know you’re not in trouble. //

Fox stared at him, not like he was in any sort of trouble, thankfully, but in a shared understanding of their plight.

“We already know we cannot allow ourselves to be whittled down slowly like last time, and that is a truth. We have no nearby allies, and until you gain greater control over your abilities, we cannot hide from these constant attacks.”

“Agreed. So, what can we do about that?”

Her eyes looked up at Oskar, and he finally saw the weariness in them. The cave had done wonders, but it was going to take more than one magically induced night of sleep to recover from weeks of running and fighting.

“And how far away are your potential allies?” Oskar added hopefully.

She sighed. “This is what I wished to speak to you about, Oskar.”

Hearing his name was a strange comfort. The group had been so small previously that if she was speaking, it was usually to him, especially since Touwon barely spoke a word to either of them.

Oskar still wasn’t yet used to hearing his name out loud, and despite the seriousness of the conversation, hearing his name relaxed him for reasons he couldn’t quite quantify, but he focused on the Kobold, waiting for her to continue.

Her hesitance was unusual, but Oskar stayed quiet, giving her time to find the words for whatever it was she was struggling with.

“I do not know if my people still survive. It has been years. I do not know if Benedicto lives. He was healthy when I left, but I do not think there is anyone else that can help us. The true problem is, we can not lead Valla to their doorstep.” The last sentence was fierce, her face determined.

Oskar nodded, understanding her fear.

“Do you mind me asking why were you so hesitant to bring this up? I thought you liked that guy. And to see your people again?” Oskar asked gently, but his curiosity wouldn’t allow him to drop the subject, even though it was obviously a touchy one.

“I just mentioned I do not know if they survive. Not knowing is easier in some ways, especially when I have no way of knowing. The only other Kobolds I’ve seen were in the Great Collective, and you saw them. Most were… broken.” Her eyes looked angry, but her words were steady when she continued.

“I could not have dared to even ask if anyone yet lived without risking being turned in and killed.”

She told him about a series of old caves that the Kobolds used before the culling. For some months after the other races had swept through, the resistance had hidden in plain sight in the areas that were already “cleared.” It had been years, though. Their best course of action would still be to attempt contact with the resistance from that area anyhow. Since there was always the chance a Kobold refugee would show up, the location was almost certainly still being watched.

“At least if there is anyone left to watch it,” she finished with a huff.

“What finally made you propose finding them? I mean, besides us having literally no other conceivable options.” Oskar said dryly, and she smiled.

“Two things. One: Just as we run from Valla’s constant attacks, I have run long enough from the truth of the state of my people. And, just as it is time to face Valla, it is time to face that truth.”

This decision had obviously been wearing on her. Fox let out a long breath, and her shoulders relaxed. She stared upward at the darkening sky, and the Goggles over her emerald eyes reflected the dots in the sky that were finally becoming more familiar to Oskar.

I should name some constellations, right?

A few seconds of quiet contemplation passed before she continued.

“Two: it is as you said. We have few options. There are other large Collectives we might approach, but they have not survived by being kind. I know you are aware, but I am not sure you really understand how unique the trust our collective shares is.”

She waved a purple hand around at the group resting near the two tents they’d put up.

“Gramm was so secure in one of us betraying the other- because almost the entire world has been stuck in a survival loop for as long as I’ve been alive- that it never even occurred to him that we might embarrass him. That we might succeed. We have, though. Having said all of this, to answer your earlier question about how far away they are... not knowing exactly where we are at this moment, it is hard to be certain. Educated guessing would put it a week north from where I believe us to be. Maybe less.” She hesistated a second before adding, "Thank you for your trust."

She stopped, staring at him; her eyes unblinking as she finished speaking.

“Of course, Fox. You've more than earned it. Speaking of trust, I wanted to tell you something I learned in the cave now that we have time to talk.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Go on.”

“When Bastet stole the seed of the last great tree, the Drakon blamed the Kobolds.”

Fox nodded, “We figured that much.”

“But it’s a little more than that. It turns out they are the ones who prompted the other races against you. They sowed every rumor that made the other races think you were hiding magic, another great tree, an Oasis, or some secret ability that made your people such effective survivors. They caused it all.”

She sat there for a long while, thinking; her face serious. After a few minutes, she finally said, “I thought it was the final grain of sand in a long, difficult history with the other races. But that. That changes things. Thank you for telling me this, Oskar. You are aware this is a delicate subject, and yet you had the courage to tell me the truth about it.”

“You are my friend; you have earned my trust and my unending adoration.”

Fox gave him a deadpan look.

He smiled and said, “Let’s do this, then. Let’s go find your people.”

The Kobold stared at him for a long moment. “I am here. With you. For as long and far as you’re willing to go, Oskar.”

Again, his name. The sound of it, added to her fierce loyalty, was enough to put a lump in his throat. He sat up straight, suddenly realizing she was waiting for him to answer.

“All the way. Valla dies. If your people live, and I’m thinking Bastet would have warned us if it was all hopeless, than we’ll save them, too.” He felt a familiar shiver go up his spine.

// Gambit: The Ties that Bind Us

* Difficulty: Epic

* Reward: Insight and the support of the Kobold Resistance

* Failure Conditions: Lead Valla to the Kobolds or cause their death by failing to protect them from her.

* Objective: Find the remainder of the Kobold Resistance and protect them if they live. If Benedicto survives, use his help to design a plan to defeat Valla once and for all. There can be no freedom under threat of enslavement. //

There can be no freedom under threat of enslavement? Did you add that part in yourself?

// … Maybe. You like? //

Yeah, man. Nice. Nothing wrong with a little creative writing. I say if you enjoy it, do it.

A very unexpected hug from Fox brought Oskar out of the conversation with his PUB.

“Uh… thanks,” he stammered, and then forced himself to relax, putting his arm across her solid, small shoulders.

In the distance, he heard the familiar voice of his brother singing and Erik got as far as, “Ossy and Foxy, sitting in a tree, K- I- S- S…” before Fox turn and threw something at him. Erik’s face paled and he snapped a quick shield around himself.

Was that a knife!? Oh, still in the sheath!

Oskar laughed, but Erik was still wide-eyed for a moment before he joined in.

“You… scared the hell out… of me!” Erik said between peals of laughter, but it came out fragmented as he tried to catch his breath. Fox dropped the stern face and joined them.

Touwon looked over, and Sara-without-an-H pawed playfully at the Kobold’s long ears when his head swung around. He ignored the cat and turned back to messing with what appeared to be Gram’s PUB set.

If he could get that working… that would be incredible, although I don’t see how we can make it work for the Kobolds, and would take considerable alterations for Erik, too.

// I’m not picking anything up from it yet. It wouldn’t surprise me, though, especially with the Gift of Ptah Bastet gave him. Also, he’s relentless. Looks like he’s had a breakthrough or something. //

The Kobold’s hands were moving fast, and he actually looked excited for once. Oskar wanted to watch, but there was no point, and Oskar had the first watch. He made his way up the dune, appreciating the work the Kobold had done on his prosthetic. The fit was the same, but the foot felt both flexible and durable.

He sat down beside Penny with a grunt, peeking over the dune and then settling back into a little pocket of sand Penny had been sweet enough to dig out for him. The sky had deepened into purple, and visibility was waning, but it was clear to both his eyes and senses.

Shifting his prosthetic into a more comfortable position, he looked down at Penny, giving her a scratch under the chin. Her scales didn’t quite feel the same, but she offered him a familiar, contented purr.

“See anything?” Oskar said playfully, and she nipped his hand in response. He smiled and poked his head up and looked out again, tuning out the sound of the wind as he surrounded himself and her with his Resonant Ward.

I learn more in a single battle than I do practicing for a full day. Didn’t get an Insight Gem from that last one.

// You might have destroyed it. That was incredible, dude. Also, of course you learn more from battles. Smooth skies make poor Dragoons, and consequences matter. More pointedly, when people practice, they don’t push themselves recklessly. In battle, you make quick, confident… if not always rational, decisions. //

That’s true. I am a bit reckless.

// Magic in our world responds very much to willpower. I didn’t realize how much until you came along. I don’t guide you much in that because of two things; you do things I’d never in a million years tell you to do- and they work- and second, because almost none of the information I have will work for you.

You don’t have the foundation or education to “Druid” traditionally. I don’t want to influence your path by telling you how, because you’re obviously onto something. Your intuitive use is raw and powerful, and the way you do it doesn’t require the control of a pure caster. You use it more to augment your body, and although you’re missing out on some of what made Druids so powerful, it fits you, and makes you powerful in a brand new way. Druids and Dragoons had different philosophies, and it drove a wedge between them. But here you are, sloppily mashing them together like two Crocs kissing. //

Gross.

// You ought to hear it. If only I had access to sound file- WAIT. Stop Touwon! //

Gambit Created: Touwon, STOP!

* Difficulty: Don’t even try it.

* Reward: My help!

* Consequences of Failure: Destroy Gram’s PUB set.

* STOP. NO. BAD KOBOLD. DROP THE TOOLS. //

Oskar slid down the dune, yelling at the Kobold to stop whatever had made the PUB spaz out, but he needn’t have rushed. As soon as the Gambit hit, the Kobold froze and was staring with clear irritation at Oskar as he drew closer.

The PUB started overloading Oskar with instructions, and Oskar quickly gave up on translating.

Is there any way you can talk to him yourself?

// Matching sets can communicate directly, but I can only speak to a basic unit the same way I used to talk to you: adding on to messages or gambits. Gambits generated by me don’t really have clout the way world generated ones do. Mine are more like… favors. Don’t tell the Kobolds that, though. Although since my rewards usually suck, they probably already know. //

They definitely know that.

// Hurtful. Anywaaay… You could let him wear me. If you trust him enough, that is. I know you’re all part of the same Collective, but don’t take this lightly. What if he didn’t give me back? Would you miss m- //

Oskar pulled off the Goggles, handing them to Touwon, and worked on taking off the Bracer.