Chapter Thirty-Eight


    Andrea had come to the cemetery to check out Vathwin. It was almost as if she had been transported to a different world—a world straight out of a gothic fantasy novel. Dark stone had been carved into buildings, and a well of dark blue and black had been built in the center. Cold light shone from it.


    Vathwin himself was within a small building tucked between some dark trees. Andrea wasn’t sure how it worked, but what little she did know, she would say the area had been suffused with dark mana. Vathwin himself was tinkering at some kind of alter. On top of it were bones, crystals, and a knife painted with strokes of midnight.


    “What is this? Because it looks creepy as fuck, Vathwin. You know you don’t have to lean into the edge lord vibe, right?”


    Vathwin, looked up. He really did look like an edge lord. Andrea had never been much of a gamer, but she remembered having a boyfriend who loved to play this online game, and he had a character that looked almost identical to Vathwin.


    “Miss Pender. I haven’t seen many Avalon officials lately. What can I do for you?”


    She shuddered as a black spider crawled up Vathwin’s arm. A thin layer of dust hung around the room, mixing with the smell of old bones and dried blood.


    “I’m dealing with an issue. A man named Cassius is trying to force an election. He says that we have no right to be tyrants.”


    Vathwin shrugged,


    “What does this have to do with me, hmm?”


    Andrea crossed her arms,


    “Anyone in power that wasn’t me could oust you from here, you know? Banish you from the island if they wanted.”


    Vathwin snorted, examining a bone before placing it gently next to a crystal.


    “My agreement is with Ambrose Severen. We both know he is the real master of this island, and the System enforces our understanding.”


    Andrea sucked a breath in through her nose, flaring her nostrils.


    “Maybe, but do you think he’d be happy if he found out how unhelpful you’ve been with me?”


    Vathwin shrugged,


    “I do not care. I held up my end.”


    Andrea felt her pulse quicken, a hot flash pulsing in her chest.


    “You live here, Vathwin. Does any part of you have any loyalty to us?”


    Vathwin leaned back in his chair, finally looking at her.


    “Was my loyalty not proven when my draugr fought for this island? I do not mind fighting when an enemy shows up or helping with burying your dead and ensuring their souls pass on safely. I even provide healing, something else you have overlooked. But political machinations?” Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    Vathwin shook his head,


    “How do you humans say it? It is not my scene. Besides-” Vathwin waved a hand, “What do you expect me actually to do to help you? I raise the dead and tinker with souls. I am no spymaster, no politician. How did you expect this to go?”


    Andrea’s foot tapped. He had a point, and she knew it coming here. It was just that she didn’t have many other options, and Vathwin was the only other magical type she knew of on Avalon.


    “I was hoping for some spell, something that would give me information, anything about Cassius that might help put this to rest.”


    Vathwin stared at her. Then he sighed and picked up a bowl. He then picked up a small bottle on his work surface and handed both items to Andrea.


    “The bowl is enchanted. All you need is mana-infused water, and it will let you search for people and locations you know or have been to. This is the best help I can offer. It is the only help I can offer, clear, hmm?”


    Andrea nodded mutely. It was more than she had prior.


    It would have to be enough.


    ****


    Ambrose appeared in an honest-to-God tree house. It was high up, with a wooden bridge connecting it to other tree houses that extended across a large area of forest. A guard lifted a spear and lowered it when he saw Ambrose.


    “You must be Ambrose. Tina has told us to expect you at some point.”


    Ambrose nodded,


    “That’s me. I’d like to see her?”


    He gestures for Ambrose to follow,


    “Follow me, then.”


    He did, over several bridges, before coming to a treehouse at what felt like the center of the forest. Instead of being constructed like a large square, it was like the people had pulled inspiration from a Viking long house and built it in the trees. Glyphs glowed on the wood, multicolored and bright.


    How did they even manage to build this? Ambrose dismissed this as he entered the house.


    In the center was a truly massive table that many people sat around, including Tina at its head.


    Still, in her oversized hoodie, the teen was pointing at a map. She looked up as Ambrose entered and grinned, waving at him, hoodie sleeves waving in the air.


    “Le chevalier! You made it!”


    “As promised.”


    Some of the people exchanged glances but stayed silent. As Ambrose walked over, he looked down at the map. Several “X’s” had been placed in what looked like key positions at the forest edge.


    “This is our wall. It’s massive, but these are the key points along its edge and where the Leshi tends to attack the most.”


    Ambrose crossed his arms,


    “You get attacked a lot?”


    Tina nodded,


    “More and more every day.”


    Tina closed her eyes briefly, then opened them,


    “We’ve lost a lot of good people. But we’re still here-” her voice hardened, “And we will always be here.”


    “Are they planning a bigger attack?”


    A women with hair like moonlight on corn-silk spoke up from beside Tina,


    “Our scouts suggest that they are mobilizing, yes. Each attack has gotten bigger than the last, and it is getting harder and harder to repel them.”


    Ambrose flicked his gaze to hers,


    “Do you have a plan?”


    Tina waggled a hoodie sleeve.


    “Yes, but it isn’t a good one.”


    Ambrose cocked his head,


    “Well, what is it?”


    She told him.


    “You’re insane,” Ambrose said bluntly.


    “It is the only way. Leshi will keep coming back otherwise.”


    It is wise to strike when the scales turn silver, I like this plan, hatchling.


    Of course she would. It wasn’t that Ambrose was against the proposal, it just had a lot of risk.


    “Let me go alone. I have the best chance of survival, anyway.”


    Tina was shaking her head,


    “We are not your people, le chevelier. You owe us nothing.”


    “But we are in an alliance.”


    Tina frowned,


    “Maybe so. But you aren’t the only worthy warrior here. A small team will go.”


    Ambrose sighed,


    “The more that go, the greater the risk. No, let me go alone. At least, if I die, you aren’t risking any of your own people.”


    Tina’s face turned troubled at that. She clearly wanted to say yes, the loss of her people weighed on her, visible bags under her eyes. Yet, the warrior in her didn’t want to back away. Ambrose knew that feeling. So he gave her the push she needed.


    “If it makes you feel better, I am not alone. I have my items, and they turn into powerful beings.”


    Tina took a deep breath, schooling her expression.


    “Fine, but only because I know how capable you are. Let’s hash out the details. We don’t have long before the next attack.”