<u>Chapter Sixteen</u>


    Tina Florence shook Andrea’s hand.


    “Thank you, mon ami, for your hospitality. I will remember this. Brittania will remember this.”


    Andrea smiled and nodded at the other woman.


    “Of course. Are you sure you wouldn’t rather rest up a little more? There’s no rush.”


    Tina shook her head,


    “I thank you for the offer, but no. I must return to my own town before my people grow restless.”


    “Very well. Should you wish to return, you have access to the array, and you’re always welcome here.”


    With a last smile, Tina activated the array, vanishing in a puff of blackness.


    She appeared a moment later in her own array room. It was a tiny space with nothing but the array and a single guard. Dressed in a green and gold form-fitting platemale, the guard smiled at her. She had long hair like corn silk on a moonlit night. Her elfin face was proud when her warm brown eyes looked at Tina.


    “Welcome home, ma dame.”


    Tina hugged the guard, whose name was Lenaia.


    “I am happy to be home, mon ami. Tell me of the news of the town.”


    She and Lenaia walked out of the room and onto the wooden platform. As always, Tina was proud of the town they had built here in the trees. Rope bridges connected to platforms as far as the eye could see, leading to tree houses built within them.


    There were a few huts on the forest floor below, but they were for lookouts more than anything else. A group of four large trees housed their market, and all of the buildings within them were interconnected.


    The same was true for Tina’s headquarters. A shield array was within another tree, and it was enough to cover the whole of their little town in the forest.


    As they walked, Tina asked for updates. Lenaia closed her eyes briefly, a little color leaving her cheeks.


    “We lost another patrol to the Leshi, ma dame.”


    Tina bowed her head, rubbing her hoodie covered hands against her face. It was always a blow when they lost people. If she had her way, none of her people would go out into the forest beyond their town limits.


    “I wish we didn’t have to send out patrols in the first place, Lena.”


    Lenaia nodded sadly,


    “I know. But if we want to survive…” Lenaia trailed off.


    She didn’t need to explain what Tina already knew. They had to go into the forest, explore and progress. It was the only way to get resources to sell. The only way to gain levels. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    “What of this Avalon you went to. Can they help?”


    Tina smiled at that,


    “Yes, I believe they can.”


    She explained all that had transpired in Avalon.


    Lena blinked, her mouth falling open.


    “Truly, he is so strong?”


    Tina couldn’t keep down the bubbling laugh that escaped her,


    “The strongest I have ever faced,” she sobered, her expression growing serious.


    “But there is something in him, Lena. A dark passion.”


    Lenaia frowned,


    “Why should that matter as long as he can help?”


    Tina  shrugged,


    “It doesn’t, we have to hope that whatever it is doesn’t prevent him from providing aid to us.”


    For all their sakes.


    _____________


    Kellan Akenyemi had chosen to establish New Kweneng in what was once the Sahara Desert for many reasons. The first was that you had to be strong in the desert. The place did not abide the weak.


    Kellan Akenyemi had never felt weak, not since he had been a babe.


    Until he met Ambrose Severen. He held up a fist, curling his fingers slowly, building up strength with each one until they and his knuckles were white. He gritted his teeth.


    Every part of him wanted to find Ambrose Severen and show him just what real power looked like. Except it would he futile. Whatever power that man had gathered to him, it was too much for him to overcome.


    He would die.


    And that fact pissed him off. His desert lion tore into the large cobra with claws glowing with desert fire. Kellan dismissed the experience he had gained and with a wave, unsummoned his lion.


    The desert sun baked the sands beneath it, but he was unconcerned with the heat. Not a bead of sweat formed on his forehead. Some ways away were mountains that loomed over the desert, the sun making them appear warped, like a mirage.


    There was an Incursion in that mountain. An Incursion of dwarves. If you got close enough you could hear the sounds of mining and the rings of hammer blows.


    At the mountains entrance was a particular dwarf that also made him tighten his grip. His power was not unlike Ambrose’s.


    With a sigh, Kellan returned home.


    New Kweneng was a town of tents. Large and ornate, they covered a large area of the desert. His shield array and teleportation array had their own tent. He would have to put the teleportation array in a bigger tent for visitors.


    It grated on him to allow others to teleport into his town. He didn''t want to allow it, but he also had no choice.


    The dwarves were claiming resource after resource and he wanted what was in that mountain. If he had to use Ambrose to accomplish that, he would.


    A group of children ran past, laughing. Pride bloomed within his chest. He had done this. Provided a place of safety for these people.


    His guards, spears sparkling in their hands, slapped fists to bright chest plates. It was a good thing stats staved off the sun or they would have been cooking in that armor.


    His tent wasn''t the largest. What he did have was luxurious, but no massive tent mansion for him. That was the burden of leadership.


    Men respected you more when you didn''t flaunt your wealth. Not that he had much of it.


    He had no doubt there was endless wealth in that mountain, but so long as the dwarves were there, it was not for him.


    Sitting in his comfortable chair, Kellan poured himself a shot of gold liquid. He needed to relax after the day he had.


    “Enjoying yourself, hmm?”


    Kellan swore, spitting out the precious liquid in his mouth.


    “Blood of the prophet! Who are you? Guards!!!”


    The red skinned red suited man smiled, revealing a single fang.


    “Oh, I''m afraid they can''t hear us at the moment. Tell me, Mr. Akenyemi, are you suffering from a case of not enough power?”


    “What?”


    “Are you feeling a little impotent today? Suffering from a case of ‘someone''s more powerful than me aritis?’ well look no further for I have the cure! A steal of a deal with your savior, moi!”


    The red skinned man with devil horns poking out from a fedora gave a flamboyant bow.


    “Who the fuck are you?”


    He beamed,


    “I the fuck am Misaq.”


    Kellan narrowed his eyes, his voice was a growl,


    “I don''t appreciate sarcasm.”


    Misaq put a hand to his chest,


    “Me? I would never! I''m a mere salesman, sir. Sarcasm is wit beyond me, sadly.”


    He sounded perfectly serious. Kellan took a deep breath.


    “What do you want? Why are you here?”


    Misaq’s eyes shone with devil-may-care light.


    “Why? I''m here to make a deal with you, Kellan Akenyemi. A deal that will allow you to handle your small dwarf problem and, perhaps, even your other problem, hmm?”


    Kellan sat forward,


    “Go on, I''m listening.”


    Misaq’s answering smile reminded him of a crocodile’s grin.