ã€ŠThe Waystation - The Garbage Man Chroniclesã€‹


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 Volume 2 Now up on Amazon - New Readers Start Here

    Bert Hudson used to be a simple man with not much of a plan.

    One day, as he mourned the loss of his wife, Gwen, he went for a long overdue hike. It was something to start the long road back to being healthy. After all, he had promised his wife that he would.

    Well, some hikes are more difficult than others. This one proved incredibly difficult due to a touchy immortal named Felicia and Bert''s complete inability to avoid sarcasm.

    This all ended with his head forcibly ripped from his body and then his resurrection by first Felicia, who managed to keep his severed head alive, and then the Mothman himself -who prefers to be called Larry- completing the job. Worse news was to come, as his new body was not compatible with a low-magic world like Earth,

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    So he ended up elsewhere.

    Along the way, Bert meets a psychotic pixie named Bell, creates a magical traveling version of the sentient building known as The Waystation, finds new friends and family, and is finally reunited with his Wife.

    In the process, he triggers the return of the Fae, flattens at least one town, and manages to piss off just about everyone.

    In short, it has been a busy few months.

    Worst of all, his reunion with Gwen did not go as planned. While she leaves to pursue her own interests with the Fae, Bert is left with his new family to try and figure out what is next and where he stands with Gwen in the future.

    Gwen did leave a parting gift; however... the troublesome Felicia is given a permanent warning to avoid Bert in the future.

    Will she listen?

 Chapter 47 - Moving On I

    ¡°What about Percy?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°You were supposed to tell him what was going on!¡±

    ¡°Nice try,¡± Bert smirked. ¡°You just want to run off with the Express for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Percy knew we would only come back to warn them of danger,¡± Bell said from her perch on his shoulder.

    ¡°This is such bollocks!¡± Wendy said. ¡°I am perfectly capable!¡±

    ¡°You''re not even a month old!¡± Bert snapped. ¡°You are not going running off anywhere until you¡¯re at least¡­ sixteen.¡±

    ¡°Sixteen months!¡± Wendy snarled.

    ¡°Years,¡± Bert corrected.

    ¡°Mom!¡± Wendy was really desperate if she was turning to Bell for help.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked innocently.

    ¡°Bell?¡± Bert sighed. ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s technically fully grown,¡± Bell grumbled. ¡°All pixies are born fully¡­ grown.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°Dad! It¡¯s true!¡± Wendy protested.

    ¡°Give us a sec,¡± Bell waved Wendy away.

    Bert continued to grumble, having a horrible feeling he was about to lose another argument.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want her to go,¡± Bell stated flatly. ¡°But she is not going to get any older without experience.¡± She slapped a hand over his mouth as he went to argue. ¡°I know you want her safe, but¡­ if we don¡¯t let her go, she¡¯ll just run off, and we¡¯ll end up chasing her all over the place.¡±

    ¡°You reckon?¡± Bert asked reluctantly.

    ¡°She¡¯s our daughter.¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t like it.¡± Bert grumped.

    ¡°Welcome to being a parent to a Fae,¡± Bell chuckled. ¡°It will get so much worse!¡±

    ¡°We could go with her.¡± Bert pointed out.

    ¡°It won¡¯t work.¡± Bell sighed. ¡°If we go this way, she¡¯ll go the other way.¡± She moved to hover in front of his face. ¡°There is nothing back there that can hurt the Express. If they get in trouble, they just jump in and flatten it.¡±

    Bert drummed his fingers on the table.

    ¡°The tics are back that way,¡± He pointed out.

    ¡°The Express can drive straight through; the things will never have a chance,¡± Bell said, shivering at the memories.

    ¡°She¡¯s not going alone,¡± Bert demanded.

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Bell nodded.

    ¡°If she¡¯s not back soon, we go and find her.¡± Bert gave up. Bell was right. Bert was her father only by accident. He had no control over her except what she agreed to give him.

    He still didn¡¯t like it. Accident or not, he felt like her father.

    Two hours later, he was watching an ecstatic Wendy stuffing supplies into the Express. So far, she had recruited Scruff and Tim to go with her. Bert would have been happier if she had taken Bud with her, but she said she didn¡¯t want someone telling her what to do.

    Kids. It was a bunch of kids.

    He really didn¡¯t like this idea.

    ¡°You don¡¯t want them to go?¡± Tru¡¯nal said as she wandered up.

    ¡°No. I don¡¯t,¡± Bert said simply.

    ¡°It is always the same,¡± Tru¡¯nal said gently. ¡°Orc parents feel the same when their young first leave.¡± She nodded. ¡°We call it the ¡®First Tempering,¡¯ a tradition of our people.¡±

    ¡°How did yours go?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°We ended up captured by goblins,¡± She laughed. ¡°But now we are here and have met the Fae.¡±

    ¡°Not reassuring,¡± Bert raised his eyebrows.

    ¡°We snuck away,¡± She shrugged, ¡°We had no armor, no gear, and no idea where we were going.¡± Tru¡¯nal pointed at the Express. ¡°That alone could conquer a small country,¡± She pointed at Scruff, ¡°And she fought off thousands in the grasslands.¡± Finally, she looked him direct in the eye, ¡°And she knows that if anything happens, her father will save her.¡± She hooked a thumb over her shoulder, ¡°If her mother hasn¡¯t already done it.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°They will be fine,¡± Tru¡¯nal nodded and walked away again.

    Bert found he was actually feeling better for the interaction. Tru was right. If there was anything that she couldn¡¯t handle, the Express could.

    What is more, she was the Express in a way. There are few problems in a medieval world that could not be solved with a few tonnes of rolling steel.

    Even if you take into account the magic elements, there is little that could hurt the Express.

    He still didn¡¯t like it, but at least he felt they would be safe.

    ¡°Wendy, Scruff? A word, please,¡± Bert called. The two young women came over, still vibrating with excitement.

    ¡°Be careful,¡± Bert said sternly, ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be anything out there you can¡¯t handle,¡± He ignored the grins and carried on, ¡°But! If anything looks even slightly suspicious, or you think anyone is trying to fuck with you¡­¡±

    ¡°Get away quick,¡± Wendy said, rolling her eyes. ¡°I know, Dad.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert shook his head. ¡°Kill it, and kill it permanently.¡±

    Scruff¡¯s grin was the stuff nightmares are made of, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Shoot first, ask questions later?¡± Wendy said doubtfully.

    ¡°Shoot first, shoot second, reverse over the corpse, and fuck questions,¡± Bert said sternly. ¡°You are my family, all of you. If something strikes you as off, just kill it and then leave.¡±

    ¡°Wow, Okay,¡± Wendy said, surprised.

    ¡°We can do that,¡± Scruff nodded seriously.

    ¡°Promise?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Promise!¡± Both girls said.

    ¡°Fnargle!¡± Tim added.

    ¡°Then go say goodbye to your mother,¡± Bert said.

    They all ran off.

    Bert rested a hand on the Express, telling himself it would see them through anything.

    ===============

    Bell slumped in her chair in the Control Tower and watched Bert pace as the Express moved further and further away.

    ¡°They will be able to find us again, right?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bell said. ¡°She can sense where we are just like we can sense her.¡±

    ¡°We can?¡± Bert asked, confused.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you tried?¡± Bell giggled. ¡°You¡¯re such a shitty Fae.¡±

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    ¡°Piss off; no one told me I could do that,¡± Bert grumbled. He turned his back on the window and closed his eyes. He mentally reached out to Wendy¡­ and knew where she was.

    That was cool.

    ¡°Okay, so what shall we do then?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bell asked in surprise. ¡°I assumed you¡¯d just keep us here the whole time they were away.¡±

    ¡°Not likely,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°We tend to draw attention. By the time she got back, we would have done something to get heat on us again.¡±

    ¡°So, we go on then?¡± Bell perked up.

    ¡°That¡¯s the plan.¡± Bert nodded. ¡°We head out past the City of the Sun and into the plains.¡± He felt real excitement. It was time to go exploring again.

    ¡°City of the Fae,¡± Bell corrected.

    ¡°I thought the Court all left?¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Not all, and more will come over the next few weeks,¡± Bell said in a bored tone.

    ¡°Whatever,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s their thing; they can do what they like.¡±

    ¡°So are you going to tell me, then?¡± Bell said in a careful tone.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked, wondering what he had forgotten.

    ¡°The Lord and Lady of the Court of the Autumn Wind spoke to you just before they left!¡± She snapped. ¡°They must have wanted something!¡±

    ¡°Oh, that?¡± Bert said at a loss. ¡°They just asked me to head out and explore and to keep an eye out for Fae in trouble.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Bell asked doubtfully.

    ¡°Yeah, there is apparently something out there worth seeing, and we¡¯ll know it when we see it.¡± He shrugged.

    ¡°So a Noble asked you to do something, and you said yes?¡± Bell giggled. ¡°Who are you, and what have you done with Bert?¡±

    ¡°I know, but they¡¯re different,¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°Right?¡± Bell said. ¡°Just don¡¯t forget, they don¡¯t fuck around. Piss them off¡­ and we are all dead.¡±

    ¡°I said yes, didn¡¯t I?¡± Bert chuckled.

    ¡°So, shall we?¡± She said excitedly.

    ¡°Let''s boogie!¡± Bert grinned back at her.

    The huge vehicle began to lumber forward once more, rolling around the outside of the City of the Fae. They began to see the first changes as they went by. The Walls were slowly repairing themselves as Fae hovered in front of them, hands held out and mana flowing like a river from the ocean.

    Clearing the city, the plains spread out before them. Gone were the narrow stretches of open ground between mountains and forests. In their place was a vast, green land that stretched to the horizon. Softly rolling hills and clumps of trees interspersed with rivers and lakes made for a much more pleasant view than the Deadlands.

    And the change was visible in other areas as well. For a start, the plains were not empty. Herds of deer and something resembling a roided-out buffalo with large armored plates moved in the distance. There were even a few flocks of birds wheeling through the skies.

    Bert and Bell enjoyed the view in silence for a while, but¡­

    ¡°Bert?¡± Bell asked carefully.

    ¡°Yes, Bell?¡± Bert answered.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Bell¡¯s voice was unusually soft, ¡°With Gwen leaving and everything?¡±

    ¡°No, not really,¡± Bert huffed. ¡°But it is what it is. I will be okay; it¡¯s just gonna take a minute.¡±

    Another period of silence as they rolled slowly over the plains.

    ¡°How come you didn¡¯t go with her?¡± Bell blurted in the end.

    ¡°I told you why,¡± Bert said quietly.

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Bell¡¯s reserve of subtle had run out. ¡°You don¡¯t give in that easily!¡±

    Bert thought for a moment.

    ¡°Bell, if I said I wanted to turn around and go, I don¡¯t know¡­ anywhere? Like another world or something, and I wanted you and Way Way to come with me¡­ would you?¡± Bert asked quietly.

    ¡°Yeah, but we can¡¯t,¡± Bell said immediately. ¡°Unless you know how? Where are we going?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re not,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°I just meant that if I wanted to go, you would go with me. As would Way Way and just about everyone on the Waystation.¡±

    ¡°So, you feel bad you didn¡¯t do that for Gwen?¡± Bell sighed.

    ¡°She didn¡¯t ask, Bell,¡± Bert said simply.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Gwen had her plans worked out before she got here,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°She¡¯s my everything, but she hadn¡¯t planned on me going with her.¡±

    ¡°Ouch,¡± Bell winced.

    ¡°So I had a choice Bell,¡± Bert went on. ¡°I could go with her or stay with you all.¡± He frowned. ¡°You want me with you; she didn¡¯t. I chose the people who chose me, simple.¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°Bert?¡± She called again.

    ¡°Yes, Bell?¡± He said.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you stayed,¡± She giggled. ¡°But, just so we are very clear, I¡¯m not sleeping with you.¡±

    ¡°Bell!¡± He laughed.

    The Waystation rolled across the plains, leaving the newly renamed City of the Fae behind them. The giant treads churned the earth below them as they wound back and forth at random, searching for anything of interest.

    After the first day, they started to see the first signs of a distant civilization. It was not much at first. A stone bridge over a river or signs of where a road used to be, but the lands around them slowly started to move from the truly wild to the slightly pastoral look that is common on the very edges of a town or city.

    It was a nice break for everyone on board to have a few days of peace and quiet after the chaos of the Grasslands, the Gods, and the Fae.

    They even got time to do a little hunting and refill their stores¡­

    ===========

    Bert rolled aside as the great beast charged by him, a colossal hoof missing him by inches as he leaped aside. These Armored Bison promised a delicious supply of steaks, and he just knew they would make great Tacos.

    It bellowed in rage as one of Bud¡¯s arrows found its neck. Hot blood pumped out of the wound, but not enough.

    Bert ran at the animal as it charged, his shield held out in front of him as his prosthetic hand changed into a sword blade. At the last second, just as the beast lowered its head to gore him with its horns, Bert leaped into the air, twisting and rolling to bring him down on the massive, muscled back of the creature.

    His sword stabbed deep into the neck muscles as he kept his momentum. The creature bucked, sending him flying free before he could kill it.

    Rolling upright, he was sent flying as it charged into him. It was like getting hit by a freight train. His shoulder pads saved his shoulder, but he felt at least three ribs go.

    It turned again, arrows bristling from its neck, and glowered at him. Pawing the ground and snorting, it prepared to charge again.

    An arrow found its mark, piercing the eye and directly into the brain.

    It charged anyway.

    ¡°What the FUCK!¡± Bert yelled as he dove aside again.

    Bud looked at his bow as if he couldn¡¯t quite believe it.

    Bert charged the creature before it could complete its turn, driving the full power of his shield charge into its flank. Bones crunched beneath his shield before he was kicked away.

    Bert¡¯s shield spun away as his arm broke.

    ¡°Fuck this!¡± Bert growled, dropping into the tides and letting his mana flow. His hand changed into an axe, which he pumped mana into. An outline of the blade, three times the size of the original, glowed in the air.

    The creature charged again; Bert cast a Turn rune on the ground beneath its feet, sending it tumbling. It slid to a stop next to him, and he swung the axe, neatly beheading the creature.

    He was walking away when he heard it move again.

    ¡°Boss!¡± Bud warned.

    Bert spun, seeing the massive creature struggling to its feet. Snarling, Bert slammed his axe into it again.

    Still, it moved.

    He had to cut almost halfway through the beast''s chest before it finally stilled.

    ¡°What kind of fucked up creature keeps its brain in the chest?¡± He panted.

    There was a giggle.

    ¡°You lost!¡± Bell cheered.

    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Bert complained, ¡°How was I supposed to know it could take all that?¡± They had made a bet, one he had lost when he had to use mana to kill one.

    Bell just giggled from her spot on top of Slothy. The Giant Sloth Bear had been fascinated by the beasts and begged for a hunt.

    One thing had led to another, and now they were all screwed.

    ¡°I still won!¡± She laughed at the blood-drenched Bert as he cast Reclaim Flesh to repair the broken bones.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to go find my shield,¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°Sore loser!¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah!¡± Bert said. ¡°I still think you knew.¡±

    ¡°Well, of course, I did!¡± Bell laughed. ¡°Who cares? You lost, and I get to drive for the next WEEK!¡±

    =============

    ¡°Do you have to get every last one of them?¡± Bert groaned as the latest victim of Bell¡¯s driving screamed as it died. She had chased a herd of the Armored Bison into a gap between two large hills and was now driving them down, the giant mandibles on the front of the Waystation harvesting dozens at a time.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have to,¡± She chuckled.

    ¡°Bell, stop!¡± Bert called.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be such a crybaby.¡± She huffed. ¡°I¡¯m only doing the one herd!¡±

    ¡°Bell!¡± Bert snapped, his eyes fixed on the horizon. ¡°Smoke.¡±

    ¡°Ooh, where?¡± Bell flew over to look. ¡°Wow, a lot of smoke.¡± She sighed, ¡°Fine, we¡¯ll go see.¡± She cast a regretful look at the couple of hundred Armored Bison that was all that remained of the large herd. ¡°But if we run out of steak, I¡¯m blaming you!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Bert grinned.

    They found the road long before they reached the smoke. It was a poor excuse for a road, just flattened earth that had been tread clear of grass. Bell followed along it, not bothering to avoid it as the Waystation could straddle the entire road comfortably.

    The smoke, when they got a little closer, was coming from the remains of a village. It had not been much to start with, but there was nothing left now. The whole thing must have been constructed from wood.

    A large group of armored knights on horseback wheeled at the approach of the Waystation and rode away.

    ¡°I have a funny feeling we¡¯ll see them again.¡± Bell laughed. ¡°I hope they have a better attitude than the last lot.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t bet on it,¡± Bert grimaced.

    ¡°You sure about that?¡± Bell asked archly. ¡°Double or nothing?¡±

    ¡°No thanks,¡± Bert smiled sweetly at her.

    ¡°Pussy!¡± She laughed.

    ¡°No thanks,¡± He laughed.

    Their laughter died as they began to find the bodies. They lay beside or sometimes on the roadway. Hoof prints marked the passage of the knights. It looked like about the same time the people died, funny that.

    They continued to follow the road, seeing more smoke on the horizon. The road eventually forked, and the bodies of the dead kept going to the left fork while a trail of discarded items marked the right.

    ¡°Well?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Go right,¡± Bert said. ¡°The ones on the left, we are probably too late to help anyway.¡±

    ¡°Also, anything good was already taken,¡± Bell shrugged.

    Bert gave her a look.

    ¡°What?¡± She giggled. ¡°They¡¯re dead; they won¡¯t complain.¡±

    ¡°The ones on this road might not be,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Yet,¡± Bell cackled.

    ¡°Fuck sake, Bell!¡± Bert groaned.

 Chapter 48 - Moving On II

    There are a lot of advantages to having a control tower that is so tall. One of those is the ability to see over things. The hill in front of them, for example.

    A group of armored knights crouched behind the cover of the Hill and prepared a frankly pathetic ambush.

    They had dug a trench in the road. It was deep. It was not wide.

    ¡°They have seen the Waystation, right?¡± Bud asked incredulously as he stared down from the massive three-hundred-and-sixty-degree control tower windows. The windows were made of clear crystal, reinforced by magic.

    The Waystation itself was massive, a moving outpost featuring a huge Lodge and restaurant, the Bear¡¯s Fall, a Barn large enough to have room for everyone, a gatehouse, a drawbridge, and a massively tall control tower. None of that took into account the fact that it also towed the almost as large Trailer One.

    It moved on a series of massive treads and was bonded to and built from a titanic hull of magically reinforced Sky-Ship steel.

    All of that went through Bert¡¯s mind as he looked over the hill at the trench trap that looked to be almost seven feet deep but only 5 feet wide. It also barely stretched beyond the borders of the road, whereas the Waystation itself was comfortably straddling the road with room enough for a couple of other roads to be built before even reaching the treads.

    ¡°Are they really that thick?¡± Bell giggled. ¡°Because if so, we should kill them just to do the world a favor.¡±

    ¡°I mean, there must be something else, right?¡± Bert said suspiciously.

    ¡°A trap?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m thinking so.¡± He frowned.

    ¡°Well?¡± Bell asked, ¡°Am I driving over them yet?¡±

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°I better go have a chat with them, see what they are up to.¡±

    ¡°Boss!¡± Bud argued.

    ¡°You and the orcs get ready, just in case,¡± Bert said, striding for the platform that would carry him to the bottom of the tower. ¡°Can I borrow a Multi-Bell?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Promise not to steal it this time?¡± Bell said suspiciously. ¡°Last time I did you a favor, I ended up with a child!¡±

    ¡°Bell!¡± He laughed as a Multi-Bell, a copy of Bell, appeared on his shoulder.

    Bert walked up the hill, his armor on and shield summoned. His magical prosthetic arm changed into the hybrid crossbow/nail gun, just in case of trouble.

    The Multi-Bell sat on his shoulder, humming to herself as they crested the rise and saw the knights below.

    ¡°Evening, Gents,¡± Bert called amiably. ¡°What the fuck are you lot up to?¡±

    ¡°Halt!¡± Several of them yelled, and he happily complied.

    ¡°Who goes there?¡± One of the knights called, red plumes in the helmet, which none of the others had suggested they were an officer.

    ¡°Bert J. Hudson, Caretaker of the Waystation back there,¡± Bert introduced himself. ¡°And you are?¡±

    ¡°Ser Rikard, House Magnus.¡± He nodded his head once. ¡°To which house do you belong?¡±

    ¡°None,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°We¡¯re just passing through.¡±

    ¡°I suggest you return to where you came from, traveler,¡± Rikard said gently. ¡°War is upon this land.¡±

    One of the other knights, wearing worn and dented armor, whispered urgently in his ear. Bert looked around. The knights were alert, but no one had their hands on a weapon¡­ a good sign.

    ¡°Do you mean that moving fortress?¡± Rikard asked, his voice awed. ¡°You are of the fortress?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not a fortress,¡± Bert corrected. ¡°It¡¯s a Waystation. We provide food, drink, and a place to stay for travelers.¡±

    ¡°Pull the other one; it''s got bells on!¡± The dented armor guy called.

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome to come and have a look yourselves,¡± Bert said calmly.

    ¡°Really?¡± Rikard seemed surprised.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bert nodded seriously. ¡°But I must warn you that there are rules.¡±

    ¡°Such as?¡± Rikard asked.

    ¡°No fighting, no attacking other guests or staff. We have several different species on board.¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Such as?¡± Dented armor asked suspiciously.

    ¡°Fae, Undead, Orcs, and several forms of plant life over on Trailer One.¡± He thought for a second. ¡°Our farmer isn¡¯t here at the moment, so probably best not to go into the fields.¡±

    ¡°Fae?¡± Dented armor sounded almost happy. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to meet one.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you!¡± The Muliti-Bell said, standing and beginning to glow gently.

    ¡°We would need to send one man aboard first to check for a trap,¡± Rikard said hesitantly.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go!¡± Dented armor called quickly.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°It¡¯s just over the hill behind me.¡±

    ¡°How do we know that for sure?¡± Rikard said.

    ¡°Umm, are you blind?¡± Bert asked gently.

    ¡°No!¡± Rikard said quickly, ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Look up?¡± Bert asked in bemusement. Only when they took off their helmets did he realize the visors must have restricted their vision. There were a few curses and whistles as they realized the colossal vehicle had been there the whole time. ¡°Sorry, didn¡¯t you hear us coming?¡± Bert asked in amazement. ¡°Or feel the ground shake?¡±

    ¡°That last lot of Jura bastards cursed us,¡± Dented Armor said bitterly, ¡°we hear and feel lots of things, most of them bullshit.¡±

    ¡°Forgive master at arms Peters; he forgets his manners,¡± Rikard said tiredly.

    ¡°No need,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I¡¯m repeatedly told I haven''t got any anyway.¡±

    Peters rushed off up the hill as soon as he was given the go-ahead.

    Bert wandered down to chat with Rikard while they waited.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s with the trench?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°There is a refugee camp up this road, and riders have been attacking it.¡± Rikard grimaced, ¡°This should stop the next lot through, at least.¡±

    ¡°Refugees?¡± Bert asked. ¡°What is their camp like?¡±

    ¡°Terrible,¡± Another of the knights answered. ¡°Most of them don¡¯t even have tents.¡±

    ¡°Maybe we can help out?¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°There is no pay, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Rikard grimaced. ¡°It is a mixed camp, refugees from all three houses¡¯ lands. So no one will pay.¡±

    ¡°Who asked for pay?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Ser Rikard! Ser Rikard!¡± Peters came running back, waving frantically. ¡°It¡¯s true. Ser! It¡¯s fantastic!¡±

    ¡°Care to come aboard?¡± Bert offered. ¡°We can get your men some food and rest, then head off to the camp.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Rikard nodded formally and waved his men over.

    Rikard and his men proved to be excellent guests. It was the first time Bert had met humans in this world without the almost immediate urge to kill them. They were all courteous and polite.

    They even bought the Orcs a drink and toasted them and their people. The only problem they had, was figuring out how much to charge them. Bert had not even realized that, except once, they had never actually charged the guests anything.

    From the very first guests, a set of bitter and vicious nobles they encountered on the road, to the City of the Dead, which had offered friendship and knowledge. The only time before this they had charged anything was the brief stay outside the town where they picked up Scruff.

    There, people simply placed coins on the table as they ordered. The money they had made from that mostly went towards the bribe to buy Scruff¡¯s freedom. It was kind of weird to have gotten this far without fixed prices, but it had just never come up.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Just pay what you can afford,¡± Bell shrugged and flew off to get more steaks.

    ¡°I see,¡± Rikard frowned but took out a heavy bag of coins, placing it on the counter.

    ¡°That¡¯s got to be too much,¡± Bert said. ¡°It is just food and board.¡±

    ¡°Still, my house would not forgive me for making a poor impression on a potential ally,¡± Rikard said.

    Bert pushed the bag back toward him.

    ¡°Save your money, mate.¡± Bert smiled kindly. ¡°We will take no side in this war of yours. So no need to spend your men¡¯s wages on buttering us up.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm, are you sure?¡± Rikard asked.

    ¡°I am,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°We aren¡¯t interested in getting involved.¡± He thought for a second. ¡°I mean, we may help people who need it. Like those refugees, for example, but we aren¡¯t getting involved in a war.¡±

    ¡°I must say, I¡¯m glad to hear it.¡± Rikard smiled tiredly, ¡°A place like this could make a huge difference. I¡¯d rather it was on the side of the people.¡±

    ¡°Good man,¡± Bert toasted him, ¡°So, how about we get you and your men off to rooms for the night, and in the morning, you can take us to that camp.¡±

    ============

    It really wasn¡¯t much of a camp. A mess of tents in a muddy field, a rickety-looking tower made of whatever they could find served as their only lookout spot.

    A rough group of about a hundred men and women had gathered, holding shovels, sticks, and what appeared to be hoes. They stood before the camp, grim-faced and dirty.

    Bert went out to meet them with Ser Rikard and a Multi-Bell. There was a commotion when the red plumes were seen. A man pushed his way forward and started shouting.

    ¡°Get away from here and leave them alone!¡± He pointed a shaking finger at Rikard. ¡°They are just peasants! Like us!¡±

    Rikard held up a placating hand.

    ¡°Be calm; we don¡¯t come to attack anyone here,¡± he said. ¡°We are just showing these kind people where to find people in need.¡± He gestured to Bert and raised his voice. ¡°This is the Waystation! It is neutral, from beyond our lands and those of your houses! They offer aid to any that need it!¡± He nodded to Bert again and walked back to the drawbridge, meeting his men and mounting up.

    The people watched as they rode away into the distance.

    ¡°You really come to help?¡± The man who had yelled asked.

    ¡°We did,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t give a fuck where you¡¯re from, just want to lend a hand.¡±

    ¡°We sure as hell need one,¡± The man was suspicious, but Rikard leaving had made them more trusting. It was just what the Knight had predicted and why he had left. He had also admitted freely he intended to report everything about the Waystation to his house.

    Bert had known he would, but admitting to it openly had definitely earned him a few brownie points with Bert.

    ¡°Where do you want to start?¡± Bert asked.

    The angry man, Eckhart, turned out to be a healer and the unofficial leader of the Camp. He had been doing his best but was completely overwhelmed. There were simply too many people and not enough of anything to go around.

    Bert sent the Multi-Bell back to the Waystation to tell them to start setting up while he walked the camp with Eckhart shaking hands with people and letting people see him. There were more than a few glances at his prosthetic arm but nothing that a few jokes and a small demonstration couldn¡¯t fix.

    Once people had a chance to get used to him, Bert and Eckhart led them over to the Waystation. Bell had set up long tables that she had filled with food, and she and her Multi-Bells were passing out water and plates to everyone as they took a seat.

    While everyone was busy with the food, Bert set about creating a series of tents using their collected leather. Bert used the idea of bell tents. A single large circle of leather with a strip around the base. Add a tall pole and some ground ropes, and it was done. It was not as structurally sound as a Yurt, but he just didn¡¯t know enough about those to recreate them.

    Once they were all done, Bert and the orcs began to erect them around the outside of the Waystation. A man called Bruno and his wife May quickly came to help, and in no time, they were supervising crews of people to erect the tents.

    Seeing everything was in hand, Bert dropped into the tides, creating long wooden structures to serve as toilets and showers.

    Without the easy access to a forest that he had become used to, there was no chance of creating a wall, so he went for a moat instead. It took Way Way no time at all to complete the deep and wide moat. They didn¡¯t have enough water to fill it, but at least it would stop cavalry from charging. They left a single access point on each side, creating a gateway at each one from wood and stone, complete with parapets.

    By the time everyone was sitting down to an evening meal, Bert was almost done. He raised tall poles above the encampment, each one sporting a light crystal on top.

    For the final touch, he had the Waystation draw the moisture out of the muddy field beneath their feet and flatten the ground.

    By the time night had fallen completely and Bert had returned to the food area to grab a plate, people seemed almost joyous. As he passed along the line of tables, he had people lifting their tankards to him in thanks.

    He joined Bud and the orcs at a table with Eckhart, Bruno, May, and a few others he hadn¡¯t met yet.

    ¡°Everyone seems to be doing okay,¡± Bert said as he sat down. ¡°Or better, at least.¡±

    ¡°Food, shelter, and a sense someone cares,¡± Eckhart said simply. ¡°Small things until you don¡¯t have them anymore.¡±

    ¡°Too right!¡± Bruno said grimly. ¡°Tonight, we can sleep without waking to blood and hoofbeats.¡±

    ¡°We hope,¡± May mumbled around a huge mouthful of steak.

    ¡°How often do they come?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Riders!¡± the call came from the parapet above the North gate.

    ¡°Answer your question?¡± Eckhart grumbled, starting to stand.

    ¡°Stay and eat,¡± Bert waved him down. ¡°Waystationers! With me.¡±

    As Bert walked calmly towards the gate, he tried to hide a smile. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t feel any worry or anger. It was more that he actually got to say ¡®with me¡¯, and people he trusted just stood and followed. It was a kind of camaraderie, of trust, that was absent from his life before.

    He heard the yelling as he approached the gate and broke into a run.

    ¡°Open the gate! I come in the name of House Jura!¡± An angry voice was yelling from outside as Bert climbed the stairs to the parapet. ¡°Who rules this place?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Bert said before shrugging, ¡°Or run it at least.¡±

    ¡°You trespass on Jura land, peasant!¡± The man spat.

    ¡°I camp,¡± Bert said calmly. ¡°Or park, rather.¡± He pointed over his shoulder at the looming shape of the Waystation. ¡°Not trespass.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± The man settled down. ¡°Yet you do not have permission to be here.¡± A vicious grin spread over his face, ¡°Hand over all of those from Houses Magnus and Omis; then we will let you go free.¡±

    ¡°Let me?¡± Bert laughed at the pompous man, ¡°How the fuck you gonna stop me?¡±

    A Multi-Bell popped into existence next to him and whispered in his ear before vanishing again. ¡°Oh, and this is Fae land for the duration of our stay.¡±

    ¡°Fae?¡± The man laughed. ¡°Pull the other one!¡±

    ¡°Want me to pull it clean off?¡± Bert laughed back, allowing his knotwork mana channels to shine through his skin.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± The man shied away. ¡°You¡¯re really Fae?¡±

    ¡°We are.¡± Bert said clearly, ¡°By right of the Fae, this land is ours until we move on!¡±

    ¡°We wish to speak to your Lord!¡± The man called. ¡°By right of parlay.¡±

    ¡°One sec!¡± Bert looked over his shoulder, finding another Multi-Bell and whispering to her, ¡°They want to speak to the Lord?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s you, dumbass,¡± It rolled its eyes. ¡°The Lord of the Autumn Wind called you Lord Hudson, remember?¡±

    ¡°I thought he was just being formal?¡± Bert muttered.

    ¡°You check your titles?¡± The Multi-Bell asked.

    ¡°No?¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Dumbass.¡± She giggled and flew off.

    Bert grumbled and checked his titles¡­ sure enough¡­

    Lord of the Fae (Court of the Travelling Lands)

    Appointed a Lord of the Fae in recognition for aid in finding the Lost Court.

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to have to look at that later,¡± Bert mumbled before turning back to the Knights.

    ¡°Well?¡± The Knight asked tartly.

    ¡°That would be me,¡± Bert said tiredly. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°May we speak inside?¡± The Knight asked, his tone uncertain.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said. ¡°Talk here or fuck off.¡±

    ¡°As you wish,¡± The man grumbled. ¡°But I ask you to prove your Lordship first!¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I can run you all over with the Waystation if that would help?¡±

    ¡°That- that will not be necessary, Lord.¡± the knight bowed.

    ¡°So, what do you want?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°We wish to offer terms for an alliance with yourself and the Fae!¡± The knight said proudly.

    ¡°Riders!¡± The call came from the south gate this time. A few moments later, it came from another¡­

    ¡°Okay, I guess we are having guests,¡± Bert said with a grim smile.

    Bert sat at a table with the representatives of the three houses. They were in the Bear¡¯s Fall to spare the anxiety of all involved. Magnus had sent Rikard, and he had just met Ben-atal from House Jura. The last was Ser Winifred, a woman of striking features with long blond hair. She reminded Bert of the stories of Amazons back on Earth.

    ¡°We can offer more than any other house!¡± Ben-atal said proudly.

    ¡°You offer stolen goods and blood money,¡± Winifred sneered at the man.

    ¡°I am here at the order of my house, but I already have your answer, do I not?¡± Rikard said tiredly.

    ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen!¡± Bert held out his hands, quieting them all. ¡°We are not here to take sides,¡± Bert glared at Ben-atal as he opened his mouth to argue. ¡°We are neutral in this war of yours.¡±

    ¡°Not possible!¡± Winifred slammed a gauntleted hand on the table, earning herself a growl from the shadows. She turned, seeing the massive form of Slothy staring at her. She carefully sat back in her chair, sweating slightly.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You must take a side!¡± Ben-atal agreed carefully, his eyes flicking over to the looming shape of Slothy. ¡°This vehicle alone could decide the war.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± Bert asked. ¡°What do I care about your war?¡±

    Rickard chuckled in his chair.

    ¡°Then why are you even here?¡± Winifred asked.

    ¡°We are passing through on our way somewhere else,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°We saw a destroyed village and followed a trail of the dead¡­ which led us here.¡± He left out their running into Rikard, which the man nodded his thanks for.

    The next few minutes consisted of everyone blaming the other Houses for the attacks. Bert tried to be calm but lost his temper pretty quickly.

    ¡°You idiots do realize that I have spoken to the people here, right?¡± He snapped. ¡°Riders from each house have attacked the camp. None of you are innocent of this!¡± He leaned forward. ¡°A note for your Houses to consider¡­ if one house had NOT attacked the refugees, I would have been tempted to ally my people with them.¡±

    He let them argue for a moment before holding up a hand again.

    ¡°I have a suggestion,¡± He said, his tone suggesting it was no such thing, ¡°We shall continue to act in a neutral manner, and all camps set up by us will be considered neutral ground. The people inside given sanctuary until the end of the war.¡±

    ¡°What do we get from this?¡± Winifred asked as Ben-atal tutted.

    ¡°Each house that respects the agreement gets a guarantee I will not side against them,¡± Bert said simply.

    ¡°House Magnus agrees,¡± Rikard said quickly.

    ¡°House Omis agrees,¡± Winifred said after a moment.

    ¡°We do not agree!¡± Ben-atal said, sneering. ¡°We shall offer no quarter, give no safe ground!¡±

    ¡°Then we are done here,¡± Bert said, standing. ¡°We will endeavor to make sure we stay on the land of the other two houses where possible.¡± He turned his gaze to Ben-atal. ¡°As for House Jura, we make no promises of peace and will attack the instant we are provoked.¡±

    Ben-atal opened his mouth to argue, getting a growl from Slothy. He shut it quickly. ¡°If Jura wishes to amend their decision, we are not hard to find.¡±

    Ben-atal turned at the door, ¡°You will regret this, Fae Scum.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I fucking doubt it,¡± Bert laughed back.

 Chapter 49 - Moving On III

    By the time Bert woke up the following day, the Waystation was surrounded. House Jura had apparently wanted to make a point. The lines of men in armor, armored knights on horseback, leather-clad archers, and robed mages stood at a distance from the Waystation, encircling it but not attacking. At least not yet.

    Eckhart was standing on the parapet over one of the Gates, facing the largest collection of armored knights. He glared across the field at them and fumed.

    ¡°Morning,¡± Bert said as he leaned down next to him. ¡°I see we have onlookers.¡±

    ¡°Bastards are going to kill us all just to make a point!¡± He shook his head, ¡°What can the Fae think of us?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not exactly a surprise,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°If it helps, we generally have found the people here more welcoming than the last lands we passed through.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Eckhart asked.

    ¡°Yeah, we had to flatten a small town just to get away at one point.¡± He laughed as Eckhart paled. ¡°Relax, no one was hurt. They were all outside the town when it happened.¡±

    ¡°All of them?¡± Eckhart asked doubtfully.

    ¡°Yeah, they wanted everyone for the lynch mob, I guess.¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°Who were they lynching?¡± Eckhart stared at him.

    ¡°Us,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Better get these tents and stuff packed up.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± Bruno said, his voice booming in the early morning air.

    ¡°We¡¯re leaving,¡± Bert said. ¡°They want to play games; I want to keep these people safe.¡±

    ¡°Where can we go?¡± Eckhart wondered aloud.

    ¡°The only shelter near here is the Broken Place,¡± May said, her voice quavering.

    ¡°And that is?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°A city of the undead,¡± Bruno rumbled. ¡°Infested, it is.¡±

    ¡°Sounds perfect!¡± Bert grinned.

    The others simply shook their heads and headed off to pack up the camp.

    It took almost three hours to pack up the camp, and everyone was nervous. Bert had his people at each gate as they packed up, waiting for the army to attack.

    They simply watched and jeered as the refugees worked to pack their things away. In the end, there was barely enough space for everyone. They were packed into every room of the Bear¡¯s Fall, the restaurant, and even a good number in the Barn. Over a hundred people in all.

    Bert didn¡¯t want any of them outside, just in case the army attacked as they left.

    They waited until everything was on board and packed away before filling in the bit of trench just in front of them enough to drive over.

    As the enormous treads began to turn, it happened.

    A single arrow flew from the lines of the army.

    Bud fired back from atop the Gatehouse, the arrow slamming into the errant archer¡¯s throat.

    Bert stood in the Control Tower and merged his Mana Tide with that of the Waystation. The vast, ocean-like tides of the Waystation added to his own as he summoned glowing turn runes in a five-pointed star shape above the walls of the Waystation and Trailor One.

    Arrows and Spells began to fly freely as he poured more and more mana into the Runes. Arrows still thunked into the wooden walls and bounced off the stones of the Waystation, but most were shot off in random directions.

    The spells were worse; they pushed against the runes, trying to overcome them. Most of the spells simply failed, small explosions as their mana exploded. Several rebounded completely, flying back into the lines of house Jura, setting whole sections on fire, or worse.

    Other spells aimed ahead of the vehicle, turning the ground into sheets of mud, fire, or ice. None of it slowed the waystation as the Sky Ship Steel treads rolled merrily over or through it all.

    An Earth mage of some form summoned a wall of thick stone ahead of the Waystation and then passed out as they tried to hold it together as the giant mandibles tore it to pieces.

    Bud and the orcs patrolled the walls as they went, protected by the runes from the majority of the harm. A couple of them took arrows in the arm or leg, but nothing major. Eckhart moved back and forth, healing them up as needed.

    The attacks became more and more sporadic as they approached the lines.

    ¡°What do I do if they don¡¯t move?¡± Bell asked eagerly.

    ¡°Run ''em over,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°They attacked us, so they are fair game.¡±

    The army moved, of course. It takes a lot of fear for a man to stand in front of a tank tread larger than he is and not move. It takes even more for the guy on either side of him to do the same.

    And, of course, as soon as the first one runs¡­

    The area ahead of them had been clear for a few hours when they ran into problems again. The army was still following but at a distance.

    Something had turned the area ahead of them into a bog. Bert looked down on it and huffed in frustration.

    A long, wide area of land had been turned into a bog, and he couldn¡¯t see any clear way around it. What was worse was they had no idea how deep it was. If it was deep enough, it might slow them down.

    ¡°Go slow and careful,¡± Bert muttered to Bell as she eased the tracks onto the bogland. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem too deep.¡±

    And it wasn¡¯t, at first. The further in they got, the deeper it got. The last treads on Trailor One had just started to enter the bog when the front tracks disappeared suddenly. The Waystation lurched forward, sending them all tumbling to the floor.

    ¡°Now!¡± A voice yelled. Bert distantly recognized it as Ben-atal¡¯s voice as Bell warned him the ground had set solid around the tracks.

    He stalked towards the platform before Bell called him back.

    ¡°Oi! You always get to go play while I drive; it¡¯s my turn.¡± She demanded.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°I can go?¡± She seemed surprised.

    ¡°Have fun,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I should stay here and keep the runes running anyway.¡±

    ¡°Yay!¡± She grinned as she flew onto the platform, disappearing from sight as it dropped into the tower.

    Bert lay back into his chair, fully dropping into the tides as he prepared to defend the Waystation.

    =============

    Bell and her Multi-Bells charged out of the Tower as soon as the platform stopped.

    ¡°Bud!¡± She called. ¡°Keep the kids on the walls!¡±

    ¡°Yes, Bell!¡± He called back.

    She started to summon her knives as the sound of hoofbeats approached. Her Multi-Bells pouted about not having knives of their own, but she just laughed and told them to get ready.

    ¡°With me!¡± She commanded and set out, flying over the gate with the others in formation.

    The riders were almost at the drawbridge, large grappling hooks in hand, as she cleared the gateway and attacked.

    Thirteen giggling pixies descended on the riders in a storm of blades and spells. Blood fountained around her as the horses reared in terror.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    One of the riders tried to run, but a knife that hummed as it cut through the air sliced clean through his armor and out the front of his chest. He fell limply from the saddle.

    Spells began to rain down around her squadron of pixies, but the advantage of being a pixie was being tiny, fast, and hard to hit.

    Fireballs flew from the pixies in retaliation as she wove back and forth. A couple of the Multi-Bells fell, disappearing before they hit the ground, and then she was back behind the walls.

    There were a lot of mages out there.

    ¡°Footmen incoming!¡± Bud called. He Jumped from the gatehouse, landing next to her. ¡°A lot of them.

    ¡°Get ready, ¡° She waved up at the tower, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for this.¡± She sent a message to Way Way and planted herself in view of the gateway.

    Bud was a hell of an archer, Bell thought as his arms seemed to blur, arrows cutting down row after row of the footmen as they approached the drawbridge.

    She laughed at them as they cowered behind their shields. On each side of the Gateway, her Multi-Bells waited.

    The order to charge was given, and the lines moved toward them at a run,

    Bell waited, smiling and waving at them.

    The ground gave way as they hit the top of the ramp, a pit trap. She giggled at the screams as the survivors were pushed further onto the spikes as the ranks behind them pushed forward. Stepping on their dead friends, the soldiers charged on.

    The second line of traps triggered long thin needles of steel fired from walls, floor, and ceiling. The men caught in it were torn apart as those behind them were pushed onwards by the oblivious men behind them.

    The third line of traps was worse; large spikes shot out of the ground, impaling the front row and creating a wall as the ranks behind found themselves dowsed in a burning acid that one of Scruff¡¯s plants produced in massive quantities.

    Bell rolled on the floor, pointing and laughing as the men fought to free themselves.

    Bud had been driven back by archers and mages, falling back to take a position by the door of the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    The footmen fell back, letting through a trio of mages that projected a glowing shield before them. The footmen formed up behind the mages and crept forward.

    The shield was strong, blocking two lines of traps and clearing the gatehouse as they marched confidently forward.

    The waiting Multi-Bells launched jets of flame from both hands as soon as the shield passed them.

    The mages barely had time to scream before they were burned alive. The shield lasted just long enough to turn the flames back onto the assembled footmen. Bell noticed they got plenty of time to scream as they flailed and burned in the entryway.

    Bell beamed, the flames reflected in her eyes as they died.

    When the screams died away, she heard more coming from the back of the Waystation and flew over.

    They had climbed Trailor One while the footmen distracted her.

    She could almost be angry.

    Almost.

    The poor bastards had walked directly into the area still claimed by Scruffs plants. Many of them still stood, frozen in place, screaming in pain as the plants wound up through their bodies before bursting out of their eyes, noses, ears, and mouths.

    Even Bell, who would be the first to admit she enjoyed a little killing, looked away from some of the things happening back there.

    Getting a little higher as she heard more hoofbeats, Bell saw a long, thin line of cavalry charging the drawbridge. Growling, she set the Multi-Bells to bombard the line with fireballs.

    More and more came on, even as the leaders began to fall, burned, or on fire.

    ¡°Cheat!¡± Bell swore as she scrambled to come up with a plan.

    She was still thinking as the first horses charged up the drawbridge and straight into a line of long steel poles that angled up from the ground.

    The cavalry slammed into it, too tightly packed to turn aside.

    The spikes drove through horse and rider alike. The screams were deafening. It was horrible hearing the animals scream, and Bell blanched before laughing. The dead bodies of the men were flowing into the horses, healing them.

    Bell grinned.

    She really loved having a Caretaker she could rely on.

    Bell was getting tired. She was so tired she had lost count of how many people she had killed. That had never happened to her before. The damnable House Jura just kept coming. How many people did they have to waste?

    She sighed as Bud called another attack incoming.

    This was in danger of starting to get boring.

    She peered over the parapet of the gatehouse, seeing a charging force of ten mages flying in close formation as they zoomed along the ground.

    This was new.

    Up until now, the majority of the mages had kept back. They had driven off waves of cavalry, footmen, archers, and even a small wave of assassins.

    The assassins had even gotten inside the Waystation. Of course, as soon as they started to move over the Waystation, they were sucked into the ground. She could feel a couple of them still alive as they struggled, buried deep beneath the Barn.

    The mages came into land on the Drawbridge, setting up complex spells as the outer ones formed a shield around them.

    Bell and her copies rained fireballs on them, to no avail.

    The shield held.

    The Drawbridge slammed slut; the mages sent flying into the traps.

    Bell blinked before starting to laugh.

    By nightfall, Bell was tired, bored, and irritable. She rode the platform to the top of the tower and looked around the outskirts of the Waystation.

    There were very few troops left.

    ¡°Your turn,¡± She sighed, slumping into her chair.

    ¡°You sure?¡± Bert grinned at her. ¡°I don¡¯t want to steal your fun.¡±

    ¡°What fun?¡± She grumped. ¡°They just keep coming and getting killed.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll mop up the rest.¡± Bert hopped onto the platform and rode it down to the ground.

    Bell blinked blearily as she stared out the window. She was asleep before Bert even reached the ground floor.

    =============

    Bert leaned on the parapet over the gatehouse with Bud as Slothy drank from the water around the tower.

    There had not been an attack in the last hour or so.

    ¡°I hope we can get out of here soon,¡± Bud said. ¡°I don¡¯t like being stuck in one place.¡±

    ¡°Same here,¡± Bert said. ¡°I kind of got used to moving around.¡±

    ¡°How are you doing?¡± Bud asked. ¡°About your wife, I mean.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert nodded to his friend. ¡°I miss her, but¡­¡± He shrugged. ¡°You can¡¯t force someone to be with you.¡±

    ¡°I know, I¡¯m still sorry.¡± Bud placed a comforting hand on Bert¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Thanks, Bud.¡± Bert smiled at him. ¡°Seeing her helped in a way. I know she¡¯s out there, having a blast.¡±

    ¡°Here they come again!¡± A Multi-Bell called from her spot on top of the Barn.

    Bert and Bud sighed and looked out over the plains. The early morning sun showed a V formation of riders approaching.

    Bud cracked his neck and reached for an arrow before pausing. ¡°White flag?¡± He asked Bert.

    ¡°Means they want to talk,¡± Bert said. ¡°Probably a trap.¡±

    ¡°Kill them anyway?¡± Bud offered, nocking an arrow.

    ¡°Naah, let¡¯s see what they want.¡± Bert chuckled. He closed his eyes and raised the drawbridge again, just to be safe.

    The riders came to a stop before the Waystation¡¯s gate. A man in silver armor and the largest white plumes Bert had ever seen strode forward and bowed.

    ¡°Lord Caretaker. I am Raster, Headman of House Jura. I offer my apologies for this misunderstanding.¡±

    ¡°Misunderstanding?¡± Bert asked mildly. ¡°Oh, you mean the repeated attacks on the Fae?¡±

    ¡°My junior man was overconfident, it seems,¡± Raster said. ¡°He failed to inform me of the pertinent details of who he was attacking¡­ and why.¡±

    Raster gestured, and Ben-atal¡¯s head was held up for Bert to see. Just the head; the rest of him was not included.

    ¡°And now?¡± Bert asked in that same steady voice.

    ¡°House Jura would agree to your terms of Neutrality,¡± Raster said. ¡°We offer this to compensate you for your losses.¡± A large chest was placed on the ground. Raster kicked it open, revealing gold and gems in abundance.

    ¡°What losses?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°The loss of life,¡± Raster said, peering through the rising sun at the skeletal archer.

    ¡°We lost no one,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°All you have done is wasted our time.¡±

    He could swear the headman paled at that. ¡°Give the money to the families of the men whose lives you¡¯ve wasted in this attack.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t want money?¡± Raster asked. ¡°Then how do we have peace?¡±

    ¡°Well, step one¡­ you and yours fuck off and leave us alone. Step two, make sure every one of your men does the same from now on.¡±

    ¡°At least allow our mages to free this vehicle from the ground!¡± Raster offered.

    Bert frowned and concentrated. The Waystation had been working on the ground for most of the night once the attacks started to slow down. A wide stretch of earth between the treads as well as all the ground actually touching them, was now under its control.

    The Waystation rose from the ground in a smooth movement, coming to rest a little below ground level as the earth flowed into the gap and firmed.

    Bert opened his eyes.

    ¡°We could have left at any time; I just stayed to get this sorted out.¡± Bert lied. ¡°Good day, House Jura.¡± He locked eyes with the Headman as the Waystation started to roll forward slowly.

    The Jura forces fell behind them as Bert turned away.

    ¡°We could have left at any time?¡± Bud asked doubtfully.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°But that story is gonna get around.¡± He ran a hand over his face. ¡°They still watching?¡±

    ¡°No, they have ridden off,¡± Bud said, his eyes scanning the horizon.

    ¡°Thank fuck!¡± Bert ran for the tower. He had been driving blind since he couldn¡¯t see anything.

    That night they set a watch and had everyone outside for a meal. It let everyone stretch their legs a little and get some fresh air. The mood was jubilant again. It seemed like it took a lot to get the people of this area down.

    Bert was finding he liked them more and more.

    ¡°So, we head for the Broken Place?¡± Eckhart asked.

    Bruno and May both nodded. They were a curious couple. Bruno was a giant of a man with long blond hair and a ready smile, while his wife May was short with dark hair and a permanently severe expression.

    They turned to another pair that had joined them for dinner. They apparently represented the people of House Omis. Louis and Brenda could have been twins. They both had brown hair and eyes, were the exact same build and height, and even had similar features. Bert had asked Bruno about it, but the man just shook his head and said that with House Omis, you never asked.

    The pair nodded, and it was decided again.

    Bert had wanted to check that people still wanted to go considering all Houses had now agreed. No one trusted their own houses, let alone the others.

    So the Waystation would head for the Broken Place.

    ¡°So are you two brother and sister or what?¡± Bell piped up in the silence.

    ¡°Fuck sake, Bell!¡± Bert groaned as Bruno bellowed a laugh.

 Chapter 49B - Interlude - Road Trip I

    ¡°Will you watch the road?¡± Scruff squeaked as Wendy rummaged in the cabin¡¯s storage.

    ¡°I am,¡± She laughed. ¡°I can see out of the Express at all times. Remember?¡±

    ¡°Still, though,¡± Scruff huffed. ¡°It¡¯s just creepy watching this thing drive itself.¡±

    Wendy laughed and winked at Scruff before closing her eyes and humming as the Express accelerated through the Grasslands.

    ¡°Fuck sake!¡± Scruff grabbed onto the dashboard and braced her legs. ¡°Why?¡±

    Wendy giggled, ¡°You sound just like Dad!¡±

    ¡°Well, he is quite high-pitched when he screams.¡± Scruff chuckled to herself.

    ¡°Right?¡± Wendy put her feet up on the dash and stretched.

    ¡°Open your fucking eyes!¡± Scruff yelped as a thump and a wash of blood announced the death of another Giant Tic.

    The Grasslands had once been full of the things, but the last trip by the Waystation had thinned the numbers out a lot. So far, they had only encountered around a dozen of the things. And they had been here for hours.

    ¡°I think the Tics are avoiding us,¡± She huffed.

    ¡°Good!¡± Scruff shivered.  ¡°If I never see another one of them, it will be too soon.¡±

    ¡°I dunno,¡± Wendy said, ¡°They are kind of fun when they go squish.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just weird,¡± Scruff said.

    ¡°Says the girl who grows killer plants as a profession.¡± Wendy nudged her.

    ¡°It¡¯s not my profession!¡± Scruff objected. ¡°I¡¯m a farmer. I just happen to specialize in slightly aggressive crops.¡±

    Wendy turned the Express, diving off into the deeper grass for a moment before returning to the vast, flattened path made by the Waystation.

    A new splatter of blood covered the windscreen.

    ¡°Got it!¡± Wendy crowed as Scruff tried not to throw up.

    ¡°Oh gods, you drive worse than your Mum,¡± Scruff gasped.

    ¡°Ha Ha, Funny human!¡± Wendy deadpanned.

    ¡°Drive?¡± The question came from the pile of bones shoved into a box on one of the seats.

    ¡°No, Tim,¡± Scruff said. ¡°You¡¯re having a nap, remember?¡±

    ¡°Nap!¡± Tim said excitedly.

    ¡°That¡¯s right, nap,¡± Scruff said.

    ¡°Does he even sleep?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Bud said to make sure he took regular naps.¡± Scruff shrugged.

    They chatted away as the Grasslands flew by. Without the constant attacks, it was actually quite beautiful as the grass fronds waved in the breeze. As the day passed, the light turned it from green to tan and then a fiery red as the light caught the stalks.

    Tim was highly enthusiastic after his nap and ended up crawling onto the roof and sitting in the ballista, spinning it at dizzying speeds while laughing. Wendy was just grateful for the constant awareness of everything in the Express that let her keep an eye on him.

    She drove on through the night, Tim chatting away beside her as Scruff slept on the shelf-like bed at the back of the cabin. Being a Pixie was great. She didn¡¯t even need to sleep¡­

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Scruff yelled in her ear, making her jump.

    ¡°What?¡± She asked, seeing nothing but darkness around the Express.

    ¡°You fell asleep while driving!¡± Scruff said, ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Oh, did I?¡± She blushed. ¡°Oops.¡±

    Well, she guessed she did need to sleep occasionally.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Tim?¡± She asked, suddenly realizing she couldn¡¯t sense him.

    ¡°He just stepped out for a minute?¡± Scruff tried.

    ¡°Scruff!¡± Wendy said warningly.

    ¡°Tim¡¯s just getting me some grass!¡± Scruff said. ¡°I told him not to go far.¡±

    It was a tense few minutes before the little skeleton appeared in the Express¡¯ headlights, arms full of dirt and grass. Wendy opened the cab door, and he hopped in, dropping the whole mass of dirt and plant matter on Scruff¡¯s lap.

    ¡°Thanks, Tim!¡± Scruff patted him on the head. ¡°You¡¯re the best!¡±

    Tim preened.

    Wendy gave Scruff a meaningful look.

    Scruff looked apologetic and fluttered her eyelashes at Wendy.

    Wendy tried to hide her smile as she got the Express moving again.

    ===========

    The Scrublands were a new experience for Wendy. She had knowledge of them from when she was a Multi-Bell but had never actually been there. She oohed and aahed as they drove past familiar landmarks she had never actually seen before.

    The Deja Vu was strong, but at least she knew why. Scruff just laughed at her. Eventually, they came to the hole in the ground where Tim came from. Tim got quiet momentarily, and they asked him what was wrong. He pointed to the ruined cart and shivered.

    Wendy drove over it, and he giggled.

    She drove over it again, and Tim whooped.

    He hung out the window as they drove away and chattered at the remains.

    ¡°So, anywhere you want to go?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°We might as well turn this into a farewell tour just in case the Waystation doesn¡¯t come back this way again.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m good,¡± Scruff said happily. ¡°Bert and Bell flattened the only place I really hated.¡±

    ¡°Family trait, I guess,¡± Wendy said as she smiled.

    ¡°You know that is probably not a good thing, right?¡± Scruff said thoughtfully.

    ¡°Eh, I am what I am.¡±

    ¡°Anywhere you want to go?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Oh, we are already headed there.¡± Wendy grinned.

    ¡°Of course we are,¡± Scruff said. ¡°Care to share?¡±

    ¡°The City of the Dead!¡± Wendy said. ¡°A whole city of undead! It sounds so cool.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s actually pretty cool, yeah.¡± Scruff agreed. ¡°We can go to Nadine¡¯s¡­¡± She trailed off. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s okay!¡± Wendy said woodenly. ¡°I¡¯m bound to this vehicle; it¡¯s okay.¡±

    They sat in awkward silence for a bit. Fortunately, they got distracted before it turned really awkward.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t there before,¡± Scruff pointed at the strange obelisk by the side of the road.

    ¡°Is that a sign?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s something,¡± Scruff said.

    The Express came to a stop next to the strange object. Wood and stone were wound together in a complex pattern of interconnected circles. At the top, they formed an arrow pointing into the woods. Colored stones formed the letters of the sign.

    Sanctuary of the People

    ¡°Isn¡¯t that pointing towards that weird Cult place?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°I reckon so,¡± Wendy looked off into the distance.

    ¡°Is it weird? Remembering things you weren¡¯t actually there for, I mean?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± Wendy shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s the only way I¡¯ve ever been.¡±

    ¡°I guess.¡± Scruff looked at the strange obelisk again. ¡°Want to go have a look?¡±

    ¡°Why not,¡± Wendy said, spinning the Express to follow the arrow. ¡°What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡±

    The path was pretty beaten down but nowhere near wide enough for the Express. Not that it mattered much to the enormous machine. The Express had been designed originally from the idea of a Garbage Truck. But Bert had gotten carried away, with the result being something like the Humvee version of a Garbage Truck on steroids that had swapped its wheels for the treads of several tanks.

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    In short, there was not much that could stop it.

    When the vehicle edged its way into the clearing, Scruff hopped out and looked around.

    Tim took the opportunity to climb onto the roof and get in the seat of the Balista that stood proudly from the roof of the mighty vehicle. It had a spinning mount that let it shoot in any direction, making it very fun for the little skeleton.

    Scruff let her senses as a Farmer expand, feeling the plants in the area well-fed and healthy while the earth beneath her feet felt compact but well-nourished.

    There seemed to be an unusually high level of minerals in the soil, and she wondered why as she approached a broad flat stone next to a small shed.

    ¡°Welcome, Scruff of the Waystation.¡± A voice called.

    Scruff turned, seeing a figure moving through the forest towards her. The shape was wrong, and she seemed to move unnaturally. Unless she was walking on some platform that Scruff couldn¡¯t see¡­ that woman was over eleven feet tall.

    The figure stepped into the light of the clearing, and Scruff swallowed.

    The face was Martha, but the rest¡­

    Long spindly legs reached up over seven feet before they met flesh. They were a mix of wood and stone that moved with a grinding noise like an old mill grinding gravel to dust.

    Long tendrils, like vines, sprouted from under her ribcage and moved in a constant, uncertain, jerky way.

    Despite their stone and wood construction, the arms were worse, with an elongated grace. Large claws decorated one hand while the other seemed almost human, with the skin appearing stretched to just short of breaking point.

    A strange cloth was wrapped over what skin was human. It was grey and almost unpatterned. The whole effect was distinctly inhuman.

    ¡°Have you come to join us, child?¡± Martha asked.

    ¡°No, just saw your sign and came by to see what it was about.¡± Scruff shrugged in what she hoped was a relaxed fashion while she tried to figure out how fast she could get back to the Express.

    ¡°And Bert, is the Bestower with you?¡± She craned her neck, searching the forest around the Express.

    ¡°Oh, you know.¡± Scruff said lightly, ¡°He¡¯s never far away.¡±

    ¡°Liar,¡± Martha said simply.

    Scruff swallowed, her mouth dry.

    ¡°And who is the new girl? Would she care to join the People?¡± Martha asked, stepping further from the woods.

    ¡°Wendy?¡± Scruff asked. ¡°I doubt it.¡± She called over her shoulder while keeping her eyes on Martha. ¡°Want to join a cult, Wendy?¡±

    ¡°No, thanks!¡± Wendy laughed as she waved out the window. ¡°Especially if I end up looking like that!¡±

    Scruff winced but did her best to ignore the comment.

    ¡°Who is she?¡± Martha asked, ¡°Some new lost child in need of help. Yes, I think she would do well here.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s Fae.¡± Scruff said firmly. ¡°She is not capable of joining¡­ whatever you call yourselves.¡±

    ¡°Where is Bert?¡± Martha asked again. ¡°Does he know you are here?¡± She took a step forward, the sharp points on the end of her legs stabbing into the earth.

    ¡°Of course he does,¡± Scruff grinned. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Then he will know where to come and collect you!¡± Martha leaped forward, long legs shooting her into the air as she reached for Scruff.

    A Ballista bolt slammed into her chest, spinning her off target.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Scruff sprinted back to the Express, pulling herself into the cab and slamming the door.

    ¡°Time to go!¡± Wendy said brightly, slamming both levers into reverse.

    Tim shouted from the top of the Express, another bolt firing into the forest, hitting something that screamed with a very human-sounding cry of pain.

    ¡°Shit! Shit! Shit!¡± Scruff kept saying.

    ¡°We¡¯re fine,¡± Wendy said as she spun the Express on the spot before charging ahead through the forest.

    There were a few more ballista bolts from on top and a couple of wet thumps beneath the cab, and then they were speeding away over the open grounds, away from the city of the People, and towards the gorge that would lead them to the City of the Dead.

    ¡°What the fuck was that about?¡± Wendy asked Scruff as they moved away.

    ¡°No idea,¡± Scruff shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m just glad it¡¯s over.¡±

    ==============

    As the Express moved into the gorge, they could tell something was wrong. There was just a feeling in the air, a tension they could not quite place. The only sign of problems they could see was a series of markings on the walls. They almost looked like someone had been trying to force something into the hard rock on either side of the gorge.

    ¡°Get Tim in,¡± Scruff said. ¡°I don¡¯t like how this feels.¡±

    ¡°TIM!¡± Wendy screamed at the top of her lungs. ¡°NAPTIME!¡±

    ¡°I could have done that,¡± Scruff pointed out.

    ¡°Well, you get all touchy if I go up top while I¡¯m driving.¡± Wendy laughed, remembering Scruff freaking out when she went up top to get some sun just after they left the Grasslands.

    ¡°I¡¯m not used to the person driving suddenly climbing out the window!¡± Scruff protested.

    ¡°Adapt, Farmer Girl!¡± Wendy winked at her, and Scruff blushed.

    The netting was stretched across the narrowest point in the gorge, a place where an old rockfall had slightly narrowed the pass while at the same time providing a softer place to drive in spikes.

    It was not the most intimidating trap, even with people standing in front of it.

    A giant of a woman took center stage with rock and metal rippling where her arms used to be. As the Express approached, the woman strode forward on thick wooden legs, leaned down, and formed a shield with her massive arms.

    A lithe man rose up behind her, supported on twisted vines as a set of vines that sprouted from his back flashed a set of spikes. Two larger ones were held in his hands, like short swords.

    The last member of the little trio was a squat man with long wooden poles sprouting from his back like a hedgehog. He grinned at the approaching express and pulled one from his back, revealing a long sharp point.

    ¡°It¡¯s a trap!¡± Scruff yelled as she scrambled to grab some of her plants from their pots along the back of the cabin.

    ¡°That¡¯s not a trap,¡± Wendy grinned.

    The Express shot forward; there was a series of thumps, a dying scream, and the sound of vines snapping under tremendous pressure¡­ and they were through.

    ¡°That¡¯s a speed bump!¡± Wendy whooped out the window and patted the Express.

    ¡°Fucking Hell!¡± Scruff squeaked as she scrambled back into her chair.

    A rock-covered hand reached up from below the windscreen, and both girls screamed in shock.

    Wendy pressed her feet on the pedals; the large mandibles slid out of the Express and slammed closed on the rock and metal-covered human. There was a moment of resistance¡­ then blood fountained as the remains were drawn in to be processed by the Express¡¯ Core.

    Tim clattered excitedly as he applauded from the seat behind Wendy.

    ¡°Again?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Again?¡± Wendy seconded.

    ¡°Fuck sake, Wendy!¡± Scruff huffed as the Express rolled across the giant bridge and into sight of the City of the Dead.

    There were no further problems as they rolled through the gorge and along the winding road that led to the City of the Dead. To their surprise, the Express must have been recognized as the giant gates opened at their approach, and they were able to drive straight inside.

    Their first stop had to be the Lord of the Dead, or as the Waystationers called the Lich King¡­ Percy.

    ¡°I won¡¯t be long, promise.¡± Scruff called as she and Tim leaped down from the vehicle and started up the stairs to the mansion that served as Percy¡¯s workshop.

    Wendy waved them off and sat with her legs hanging out the door as they walked away. She spent a few minutes mentally checking over the Express. There were a few dents in the front that she repaired by funneling some mana into them.

    Once the huge vehicle was shining and blemish-free, Wendy watched the city move around her.

    One of the great differences in a City of the Dead had been the lack of food stalls. The Waystation and Scruff had completely destroyed that. Thanks to the special crops that were stuffed with life and death mana, the food industry in the City was booming once more. Almost every corner had someone selling some form of street food.

    Wendy waved one of them over, recognizing the shape of tacos being sold by the vendor. They tried to warn her against eating one, as it was intended for the undead, after all. She laughed that off and insisted she wanted one.

    They looked incredible, featuring sun-dried blood berries, a fried tuber of some kind, and a meat she had never seen before.

    ¡°What kind of meat is it?¡± She asked.

    ¡°I think you would rather not know.¡± The undead vendor looked shifty. ¡°And again, I suggest you don¡¯t eat one.¡±

    ¡°Is it human?¡± She asked bluntly.

    ¡°Well¡­.¡± The vendor hedged.

    ¡°It is from a flesh farm,¡± A voice called.

    A robed figure came down the stairs, Scruff striding along next to him, while Tim looked on in awe.

    ¡°Flesh farm?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s so cool!¡± Scruff said, ¡°They grow muscles and stuff in these large vats that Percy came up with.¡±

    ¡°Aww, I want to see!¡± Wendy complained.

    The vendor just stared.

    ¡°What kind of flesh is it, though?¡± Wendy asked again.

    ¡°At the moment, we only have samples of human flesh, but we hope to expand if we can get some other samples.¡±

    ¡°Do they need to be alive?¡± Wendy asked curiously.

    ¡°Most definitely not.¡± Percy chuckled.

    ¡°Great!¡± Wendy rubbed her hands together. ¡°What can you give me for three complete Armored Bison, two Six-Legged Deer, and a sample of Fae?¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Scruff goggled at her.

    ¡°I can spare a little muscle. I heal quickly.¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°If the price is right.¡±

    ¡°I am sure we can come to a good deal.¡± Percy nodded.

    ¡°Your Mum is going to kill you.¡± Scruff sighed as they drove away from Percy¡¯s and towards Nadine¡¯s.

    ¡°Not if she never finds out about it,¡± Wendy said, winking again. She loved seeing Scruff blush every time she did.

    ¡°Telling!¡± Tim said happily from behind her.

    ¡°Tim!¡± Both girls said, shocked.

    ¡°Bud said. Tell everything when get back. Telling.¡± Tim clacked his jaw happily.

    ¡°Sneaky bastard!¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°Telling that too,¡± Tim said.

    ¡°Someone seems much better at Common all of a sudden.¡± Scruff eyed Tim suspiciously.

    ¡°Fnargle?¡± Tim said innocently.

    Wendy laughed as they pulled into the closest square to Nadine¡¯s. It was as close as the express could get.

    ¡°Well, shit.¡± Scruff grumbled.

    ¡°Yeah, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Wendy said. ¡°I have business to do with Percy anyway.¡±

    ¡°What is he paying you, by the way?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know?¡± Wendy grinned.

    ¡°Boo!¡± Tim called. ¡°Tell Tim and Scruff!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a surprise!¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°Off you two go.¡±

    ===========

    Scruff pushed the door to Nadine¡¯s open with a hint of trepidation. The Banshee that ran the place saw much more than most people, and it made Scruff nervous. A few years on the streets had made her comfortable with being the one working an angle and seeing through people but extremely uncomfortable with being seen through.

    Not that Nadine was bad. She had actually been trying to be helpful.

    Scruff grinned to herself. Bert was right; she had to adapt to being able to trust people.

    ¡°Boss!¡± A giant undead tackled her to the ground.

    Vines burst from her backpack, wrapping around the figure and throwing them back as more wound around her, lifting her into the air as a series of razor-sharp steel vines wrapped her knuckles.

    She drew back a fist and launched herself at the attacker¡­

    ¡°Bouncer! What have you done now?¡± Nadine called from the back.

    Scruff stopped, her razor-clad fist inches from the cowering form¡¯s face.

    ¡°Bouncer?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Sorry, Boss!¡± He yelped and tried to free himself.

    She pulled her plants back.

    ¡°How?¡± She asked.

    The last time she had seen bouncer had only been weeks ago; he was a child. Not the massive, lumbering, muscle-clad undead before her.

    ¡°He spent all his profits at the Flesh Shapers,¡± Nadine said with a smile in her voice.

    ¡°How much did he make in a few weeks?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Lots!¡± Bouncer grinned. The floor groaned as he bounced from foot to foot.

    ¡°Did you save anything?¡± Scruff asked, looking him up and down.

    ¡°Yeah!¡± He said defensively. ¡°I saved the best seeds.¡±

    ¡°Good lad,¡± Scruff smiled at him, and he beamed at her.

    ¡°The plants matter; everything else is just compost waiting to happen!¡± He quoted.

    ¡°I swear if I hear that one more time, I¡¯m going to lose my mind.¡± Nadine chuckled. ¡°Nice to see you again, Farmer Scruff.¡±

    ¡°You too, Caretaker Nadine,¡± Scruff said awkwardly.

    ¡°What brings you past so soon after your last visit?¡± Nadine asked, pulling out a chair at one of the tables and sitting down.

    ¡°Just delivering a message to Percy,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°Thought I¡¯d come to say ¡®Hi¡¯ and see how Bouncer was getting on.¡±

    ¡°Boss?¡± Bouncer called. ¡°If I get my seeds, can you have a look at them for me?¡±

    ¡°Sure!¡± Scruff said. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d have something interesting to show me.¡±

    ¡°Be right back!¡± Bouncer rushed out the door, leaving the two of them alone.

    ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t awkward at all!¡± Nadine laughed brightly as the door slowly swung shut.

 Chapter 50 - The Broken Place I

    The creation of the Deadlands had a lot of fallout, and in the days immediately following the spell, there were a lot of very rapid changes. While the academics were trying to discover what had happened, the areas around it were in chaos. The twin cities had been not only the axis of trade but also the stabilizing force in the nearby areas.

    Fear was everywhere. Would the calamity repeat itself, or would the strange new dead area spread? Of course, chaos and fear are also opportunities for a certain kind of people, and those people acted in the days that followed.

    While Lords, Ladies, and Warlords set about cutting up areas of land for themselves, these bad actors fed the fear and worry of the people, using it to turn the crowds to their own will.

    While armies moved on the plains, and knives flashed in the dark amongst the Nobles, the Fortress City of the Plains was mostly ignored. To take such an incredible edifice was simply beyond the power of the local nobles.

    What is more, the city was dealing with its own problems.

    The ruling noble family had a black sheep problem. His name was Taylor, and he was every cliche about the perils of nobility rolled into a single individual. Spoiled, entitled, violent, drunk, and lazy. Not intelligent by any means, he did have a cunning and manipulative mind, which he put to work in the days that followed. As the third son of the regent, he was never in line to inherit. But in the confusion that followed the spell, he used his contacts in bars and alehouses all over the Fortress town to make his move. His drunken speeches narrowed their focus on the inability of his family to keep Fortress City safe in these difficult times.

    He proclaimed his vision of a city undermined from within on bar stools and later in public squares. And the threat? Anyone not from the plains.

    His Noble parents had long ago opened the city to trade with other areas, and new people came with that trade. It was natural that some of them had stayed. The city offered many things that they would not easily find in their home territories.

    The most recent had been refugees from the fighting that broke out in the areas around the deadlands. It was not exactly a flood, but it had put pressure on the ability of the city to sustain itself.

    People found themselves suddenly hearing strange accents and seeing different cultures, and as is so often the case, feared these people. Competition for jobs increased, and food became scarce. Desperate, starving people did desperate things to keep their families alive.

    When the Regent moved to institute a system to give basic foodstuffs to the refugees, Taylor riled the crowds against it. Without that system, the starving became more desperate, and violence increased. Taylor again riled the crowds.

    They paraded him as the answer to the problem he had, in fact, made worse.

    Fanning the flames of hate and prejudice naturally led to violence against the refugees.

    Taylor¡¯s followers rioted through the streets, beating and killing anyone who got in their way. His frequent mentions of his family''s failures led the rioters to his own brother¡¯s house. The family was murdered in their own beds.

    By morning the smoke rising over the city revealed the blood-stained streets had a new ruler.

    Taylor.

    Before he could even figure out where his parents and eldest brother had vanished to, the second riot started. Hate and prejudice, once unleashed, do not simply return to the dark. They strut and roar. And so his followers began a purge. They decided not just the Refugees should die but all who had not actively participated in the killings.

    The problem with targeting a group of people you know nothing about, as Taylor did, is that you are attacking someone when you don¡¯t know how they will react or what they are capable of doing.

    One young man from a hill tribe in the neighboring kingdom had never wanted to leave his home, even as it burned. His family had insisted, and as a good son, he obeyed. He and his people had watched, along with the other refugees, as they were blamed for all the City¡¯s problems by a preening pretty boy with no idea who they were.

    When he sat on the steps of their shabby house in the city''s poorest area and looked over his family''s bodies, stripped and killed before being dumped in the gutters, he decided he had been good for long enough.

    His people had been good for long enough.

    Standing, he roared the ancient cry his people had turned away from generations ago. Despite settling into a lifestyle of subsistence farming, the hill people had once been the most feared Raiders in the known world. It was such a crucial part of their people that the class was still gained at birth by each one. It was simply dormant.

    The Raider¡¯s Cry echoed through the city, and his people answered as new power flowed in their veins. The power and skills of the Raider are not earned things; they are inherited. A part of their blood, of their bones.

    In the moments after the first cry, the boy¡¯s people changed. They grew taller, stronger, and faster. All over the city, the rioters who had been having a great time overpowering and killing everyone in their way suddenly found themselves fighting Berzerker raiders, and blood once more flowed.

    This much was told by the last one to flee Fortress City. What happened after is unknown.

    What is known is that the nearest Baron decided to take advantage of the situation and attack the Fortress a few days later.

    He returned with stories of rampaging undead, unholy horrors, and a wall broken that should have remained solid.

    ==================

    Fortress City looked like one, Bert thought as the Waystation rolled towards it. The City itself sat atop the largest hill in the area, forcing anyone attacking it to move up a steep slope to even get to the walls.

    And they looked like good walls. Where the City of the Sun had gone for the tall and imposing look, these looked brutally functional. They were thick grey stones with almost no decoration. Murder holes ran at regular intervals about a meter below the top of the wall, and towers and crenelations covered the top of each wall densely.

    The gates they could see were narrow and tall, with large gatehouses that enclosed each one. Three men stood shoulder to shoulder could hold those gates. It was a design that would be a nightmare for trade but perfect for defense.

    Beyond the walls, he saw the slate roofs of stone buildings before a second wall rose, identical to the first. And then a third ringed the Keep itself. The keep was, again, undecorated and fiercely practical. No large windows or showy towers that could be knocked off. If someone was going to take the words ¡®fuck off¡¯ and make them a city¡­ this would be that city.

    ¡°Well, this isn¡¯t going to be fun.¡± He said grimly.

    ¡°Maybe they''re friendly?¡± Bell offered.

    ¡°Nothing that lives in that could possibly be friendly,¡± Bert said. ¡°Just living there must turn you into a bastard.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad-¡± Bert reached out and placed his hand over Bud¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°No, no! Don¡¯t say it!¡± Bert said.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got a bad feeling about this?¡± Bell offered sweetly.

    Bert¡¯s shoulders slumped.

    ¡°This is going to be bad.¡± He said.

    They set up the Waystation a reasonable distance from the Fortress. It was simpler to set up the camp on the flat ground before the hill started, even if it did give them a bit of a walk.

    He took some time to make sure the trench around the camp was extra deep, with unclimbable walls. He also narrowed the Gates, taking inspiration from the Fortress itself. While everyone got set up with tents and took much-needed showers, Bert concentrated on preparing for their scouting of the city.

    There was a large, obvious break in the walls, and Bert wasn¡¯t going anywhere near it. To him, it looked too inviting and open. If it were him or Bell, it would be full of traps.

    Their scouting from the Control Tower had revealed a much smaller break, barely a wide crack, in the walls near the breach, and he wasn¡¯t going to touch that either.

    His first stop was the gate.

    ¡°We are really going just to walk up and knock on the gate?¡± Bud asked again.

    ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Bert confirmed as they passed, one at a time, through the narrow gate out of the camp. He had Bud, the Bud Patrol, Eckhart, Bruno, May, Brenda, and a Multi-Bell with him.

    ¡°Why?¡± May asked. ¡°You expect them to answer?¡±

    ¡°Could be,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°What if there are people in there? We don¡¯t want to appear to be attacking them.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s undead!¡± Bruno said. ¡°Everyone knows this.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Bud asked archly.

    ¡°Well, forgive me, Waystationer Bud, they eat people.¡± Bruno shrugged.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean they can¡¯t be friendly,¡± The Multi-Bell giggled. ¡°Trust me.¡±

    That got a few worried looks.

    Bert laughed. ¡°Look, if they are mindless undead¡­ then nothing happens.¡± He patted Bruno reassuringly on the lower back; it was as far up as he could reach. ¡°And if not, we can talk without starting a fight first.¡±

    There were a lot of dubious looks as they made their way up the cracked road to the nearest gate. Bert gestured to the others to stand clear, just in case.

    He reached out and slammed his shield into the gate three times.

    Silence reigned for a moment as the echoes died away.

    The tall stone gate slowly toppled inwards, smashing on the road beyond with a loud crash.

    As the dust slowly began to clear, a loud moaning and shuffling noise was heard from within.

    Bert backed away, raising his shield as the others took up positions further from the gate.

    The first figure stepped out of the dust, its clothes tattered and stained where they hung from the withered flesh. Bone showed through in several places as it turned pale, milky eyes on Bert.

    ¡°Sorry about that!¡± Bert said brightly, ¡°Any chance you guys are friendly?¡±

    The Zombie stared at him and lurched forward, mouth opening in a horrific gaping snarl.

    Bud¡¯s arrow slammed into the eye socket, bursting out the back of the head with a spray of bone and rotten, black blood.

    The shuffling sounds sped up, drawing nearer, and Bert dropped into the tides.

    ¡°So much for the welcoming party!¡± He snarled as more shuffling corpses moved out of the darkness and dust.

    He pushed the first surge tide of mana into his shield and out in a burst of mana, sending the closest zombies flying backward in bits. As the tide turned to ebb, Bert pulled the mana into his Prosthetic arm, charging the bolts in his crossbow form with heat and chill runes. He unleashed a volley at head height and watched the fire spread amongst the flailing mass of undead in front of him.

    Bud¡¯s arrows flew around him as he danced back and forth, slamming his shield into one undead as he fired with his other hand,

    Bolts of force flew from the Multi-Bell as she called out warnings from above. Bert quickly found himself surrounded as the creatures continued to pour out of the shattered gateway.

    Deciding that if this went on much longer, they would lose the gateway completely, Bert pushed his mana into his shield as he leaped back and clear of the undead. As he landed the glowing outline of the shield, fully five times the size of his actual shield appeared. Setting his feet, he rode the ebb tide, pushing it all into the shield as he prepared.

    As the Surge tide hit him, he charged forward. His whole power was behind the Shield Charge as he plowed forward, smashing the delicate undead to pieces as they impacted his shield. He kept pushing until the mana tide turned. Setting his feet, he reinforced the shield again with the ebb tide before charging again on the next Surge tide.

    The ground beneath his feet became slick with rotten blood and dismembered body parts as he pushed his way forward. He kept going until the edges of the gate once more became visible. He pushed on, forcing his shield against the gap, penning the ravening creatures inside for as long as it lasted.

    More and more bodies piled against his shield as he crouched, putting his full weight behind it as his muscles strained.

    ¡°I can¡¯t do this forever!¡± He called.

    ¡°Can you get them further back?¡± the Multi-Bell called down as mana bolts flew from her hands.

    ¡°Seriously?¡± He groaned against the pressure, feeling his feet beginning to slip.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m fucking joking!¡± The Multi-Bell snarled.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Bert snarled back.

    Bert cycled the mana tides faster and faster. His mana channels burned as the power flowing through them increased astronomically.

    He took a step.

    The knotwork on his arms glowed brighter, and he took another.

    He took a third and felt like he was on fire.

    His mana shield began to vibrate, his shield twisting and fighting against the pressure.

    He cycled the tides faster, forcing it into stability again, even as his skin began to smoke.

    Bert took another step, roaring in defiance as the pain tried to make him black out.

    ¡°Get ready!¡± the Multi-Bell called.

    ¡°For what?¡± Bert growled, his voice lost beneath the moans of the undead and the roar of the mana tides in his ears.

    Fire blossomed in the gatehouse of the Broken Place. A full dozen Multi-Bells hovered above Bert¡¯s mana shield, their wings beating furiously as they shot flame from both hands.

    Heat scorched Bert as his skin crackled and split, but he held his spot.

    Hell was a real place, and he could see it through slitted eyes. Flames curled around the snarling figures as flesh burned away, eyes burst in the heat, their juices sizzling as they flowed down bones that cracked in the heat.

    The gatehouse quickly became an oven as the heat increased.

    Bert fell forward as the pressure in front of him eased. His skin sizzled and cooked against the boiling flagstone.

    Multi-Bells swarmed him, lifting him from the ground and pulling him back as ice poured from their hands and over his burnt, blackened skin.

    Bert distantly noticed the sound of screams as he cleared the tunnel. His mind was awash in a flood of pain as he felt grass under his feet again.

    With a huge effort, he cleared his mind just enough to pull the carcass of the Armored Bison from his storage and cast Reclaim Flesh.

    Two minutes later, Bert was downing his third glass of ice water. The healing had recovered his flesh, but the sense of burning was yet to fade. The Multi-Bells worked in shifts, keeping him standing in his own cloud of super cool air as he drank. Eckhart was also on hand, sweating as he had cast every spell he had on Bert.

    Bud had been keeping guard over the doorway, but it seemed the flood of undead had stopped. He still fired an arrow here and there, but there was no longer any rush toward the doors to worry about.

    ¡°So, not friendly then.¡± Bert chuckled as the heat finally faded from his core.

    ¡°Are you insane!¡± Bruno roared. ¡°You stood there and burned alive!¡±

    ¡°Touchy, aren¡¯t they?¡± One of the Multi-Bells said with a giggle. ¡°What? You would have preferred the undead to flood out and eat you?¡±

    ¡°Are you really okay?¡± Louis asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bert winced as he flexed his back a little. There were definitely a few spots that were not completely healed yet. ¡°But I¡¯m not exactly in a hurry to do it again if that¡¯s what you mean.¡±

    ¡°This place can not be taken without an army,¡± Eckhart shook his head.

    ¡°Well, not with that attitude,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I think this was actually a good start.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± May asked curiously.

    ¡°Well, we learned a lot,¡± Bert said as he eyed the still-smoking gateway. ¡°And a good way to clear out an area as well.¡± He turned to the Multi-Bells, ¡°Can you keep an eye on this exit while I head back and get started? And thanks for the save, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± One of them shrugged. ¡°Go ahead.¡±

    Bert left the Multi-Bells playing and giggling outside the gateway as he led the others back to the camp. Healing could do a lot of things, but it couldn¡¯t get the smell of your own cooking flesh out of your nose. He needed a strong drink, a meal, and a shower.

    ¡°What did you mean by we learned a lot?¡± Brenda asked as they walked back to the camp.

    ¡°We know they will blindly attack,¡± Bud offered. ¡°And we learned they fall apart pretty easily; also, they are vulnerable to fire.¡±

    ¡°And they don¡¯t seem to climb or fly,¡± Bert added.

    ¡°So, how does that help us?¡± Eckhart asked.

    ¡°We are going to teach this world a new trick,¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Bruno called from halfway through the gate.

    ¡°It¡¯s a little thing that really caught on in my world¡­ Carpet Bombing.¡±

    ¡°How will carpets help?¡± Eckhart muttered, but Bert just laughed.

 Chapter 50B - Interlude - Road Trip II

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± Percy protested.

    ¡°Well, I suppose if you have a better offer in terms of meat?¡± Wendy shrugged.

    ¡°That is blackmail,¡± Percy noted.

    ¡°No, just supply and demand.¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°I have the supply and the demand.¡±

    ¡°Do you know Bert and Bell never asked for a thing?¡± He said lightly.

    ¡°Mum and Dad aren¡¯t great at business.¡± She said equally lightly.

    ¡°Mum and Dad? They adopted another one?¡± Percy chuckled.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not adopted,¡± Wendy said with a grin. ¡°Accidental, that¡¯s me.¡±

    ¡°You''re the child of both of them?¡± Percy asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s me,¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have a chance of changing your mind, do I?¡± Percy sighed.

    ¡°None,¡± Wendy said happily.

    ¡°I won¡¯t force anyone,¡± Percy said sternly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone,¡± Wendy said. ¡°I just want the bits¡­ no anima or anything.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Percy said.

    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t need the spirit, just the blueprints and materials. For the core in the Express.¡±

    ¡°Well, that is a different matter.¡± Percy smiled. ¡°That I can definitely do.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Wendy leaned forward. ¡°Now, here is the design I have in mind¡­.¡±

    The discussion continued for almost an hour, with runners sent back and forth to the Flesh Shaper¡¯s market as they refined the ideas. Once her orders were complete, they finished the deal, with her unloading the carcasses from the Express and the Flesh Shapers taking their samples from her arm muscle.

    She then loaded a set of large trunks into a storage compartment in the Cab and waved her goodbyes.

    This was her first deal ever¡­ but it was going to be a hard one to top.

    She could feel the Trunks being absorbed into the Express as she drove back to the square closest to Nadines.

    All except one.

    That one was special.

    She arrived back in the square, finding Scruff waiting for her with a pair of undead. One was a huge hulking figure with Tim sitting on his shoulders. The other was a short girl¡­ and she was see-through.

    ¡°Hi!¡± Wendy waved as she popped open her door.

    ¡°Wendy, this is Bouncer,¡± Scruff waved at the giant, who waved shyly. ¡°And this is August.¡± She pointed at the ghost. The ghostly girl googled at the Express.

    ¡°Wow! That is some carriage!¡± She exclaimed.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°Go on, show her then!¡± Scruff pushed Bouncer forward.

    ¡°Excuse me, miss!¡± He stammered. ¡°I wonder if I might show you this?¡± He pulled a strange pale orb out of his pocket and held it out to her reverentially.

    ¡°Where did you find this?¡± Wendy said coldly. She looked down at the little orb as if it might explode.

    ¡°I, um, I grew it from my new plant.¡± Bouncer shivered under Wendy¡¯s gaze.

    ¡°If you lie, I¡¯ll find out.¡± Wendy snarled.

    Scruff and the others took a step back.

    ¡°I don¡¯t lie!¡± Bouncer said immediately.

    ¡°Promise?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Yes, Miss!¡± Bouncer said. ¡°Have I done something wrong?¡± He looked at the little orb suspiciously.

    ¡°Would you destroy it if I asked you?¡± Wendy said in that same cold tone.

    ¡°NEVER!¡± Bouncer snatched his hand back, standing to his full height. ¡°You¡¯ll have to destroy me first!¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Wendy smiled at last.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That is a nascent plant Fae,¡± Wendy said. ¡°They are extremely rare and often exploited.¡± She watched his face carefully.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m a Daddy?¡± A huge smile split the Undead¡¯s face.

    ¡°Yeah, I guess so!¡± Wendy said. ¡°Now, just remember¡­ they are Fae and will act like it. Hurt them in any way, and the entire Fae race will hunt you until the end of time.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Scruff said.

    ¡°If you ever need anything, let us know. That little orb there is family to all Fae.¡± Wendy said. ¡°If you ever need advice, just ask the wind.¡± She laughed. ¡°Literally. The wind Fae will hear and answer.¡±

    ¡°Are they really rare?¡± Bouncer asked doubtfully.

    ¡°About one born in a thousand years or more,¡± Wendy shrugged, ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Umm, I don¡¯t know if I should say,¡± Bouncer rubbed the back of his head nervously.

    ¡°Just say it!¡± Scruff said with a sigh.

    ¡°What?¡± Wendy asked, her eyes narrowing.

    ¡°Umm, I¡­ well, I have a few more that grew,¡± Bouncer mumbled the next bit.

    ¡°How many?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Around a thousand or so!¡± Bouncer squeaked.

    ¡°Whelp!¡± Wendy laughed as the skies darkened and a storm formed in the formerly clear skies. ¡°Here come the Fae!¡±

    Lightning struck the Express and the open area across the square from them.

    Fae now stood in both places. A woman was staring down from the top of the Express while a man strode over from across the square.

    ============

    ¡°Hey, Cousin!¡± Crissy waved to Wendy before jumping down from the Express.

    ¡°Niece,¡± Karl nodded to Wendy as he strode over and looked Bouncer up and down. ¡°Over a thousand, you say?¡±

    ¡°Yes- yes, sir!¡± Bouncer said, shaking.

    ¡°Kneel, lad,¡± Karl said, his voice ringing with command.

    Bouncer kneeled before he had time to think.

    ¡°Let it be known that from this time until the end of time, this man and his city are given the title ¡®Beloved of the Fae.¡¯ So say I, as Lord of Court of the Autumn Winds.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Dad, you¡¯ve done the official bit¡­ can I go see the babies now?¡± Crissy asked, bouncing around like a kid in the candy store.

    Karl nodded, and Crissy grabbed the stunned undead; she pulled him away before realizing she didn¡¯t know the way. Bouncer pointed¡­ and they were off again.

    Karl and Wendy laughed.

    ¡°Can anyone tell me what just happened?¡± Scruff asked in irritation.

    ¡°I blessed that young man and this city.¡± Karl nodded to her. ¡°He accomplished what no one else has ever done. And he did it out of love of craft, not greed.¡±

    ¡°What does the blessing do?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Basically, if anyone fucks with the city¡­ or Bouncer, they get a visit from the Fae.¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°A short one.¡±

    ¡°WHAT DID YOU DO NOW!¡± Percy came flying around the corner. He froze, seeing Karl standing next to the Express. ¡°A Lord of the Fae?¡±

    ¡°I hope my nieces have not been causing too much trouble,¡± Karl said, striding over to shake the Lich¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Your nieces?¡± Percy seemed lost.

    ¡°Wendy and Scruff,¡± Karl clarified. ¡°I know young ones can be so much trouble. And I¡¯m sure you will have your hands full with over a thousand about to be born.¡±

    ¡°A THOUSAND!¡± Percy¡¯s voice echoed around the square. His eyes darted back and forth from Scruff to Wendy. ¡°How can they carry so many at once?¡±

    Scruff blushed as Wendy cackled.

    It took over an hour to explain everything to an increasingly worried Percy. By the time they finished, he was beside himself with worry.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    ¡°My Lord, the Disciples of the Sun attack the city regularly. It is only a matter of time until they come in force.¡± Percy said. ¡°I am not certain I can guarantee the young¡¯s safety.¡±

    Karl laughed. ¡°The disciples of the Sun will have other things to worry about if they dare attack this city.¡±

    ¡°Such as?¡± Percy asked.

    Karl looked into the heavens. ¡°I will personally gut their god and use his entrails as bunting. The entire pantheon will be considered at war with the Fae and OUR Gods.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Percy said, swallowing nervously. ¡°If we are attacked, may we call for aid from the Fae?¡±

    ¡°If you are attacked, you will not need to call,¡± Karl said seriously. ¡°We will know about it before you do, and we will be here in force before the first blow lands.¡±

    ¡°Really? How large a force?¡± Percy brightened.

    ¡°Let me put it this way¡­ my daughter is currently playing with the nascent plant Fae not too far from here.¡± He nodded in the direction of Bouncer¡¯s fields. ¡°The strongest being in this world is level fifty-five.¡± He grinned. ¡°My daughter is a bit of a slacker at leveling, but she is over level three hundred.¡±

    You could have heard a pin drop.

    The conversation pretty much ended there as the revelation that a creature that could destroy the entire world was playing in the fields nearby tends to unfocus even the sharpest minds.

    Karl rode with them out of the City of the Dead. Crissy was staying ¡®for a while¡¯ to keep an eye on things.

    ¡°You know, I wonder how far out I will get this time before this world offers yet another reason to return,¡± Karl said as he prepared to depart.

    ¡°We try and keep things interesting,¡± Wendy grinned at him.

    ¡°You girls have fun!¡± Karl waved and then simply vanished.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go home!¡± Wendy cheered.

    ==================

    They had been driving for a while, in silence, when Scruff finally spoke again.

    ¡°He said nieces,¡± Scruff said in a faraway tone.

    ¡°Yeah, and?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°As in more than one,¡± Scruff said.

    ¡°Good job on the counting.¡± Wendy teased.

    ¡°He meant both of us, didn¡¯t he?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Wendy said. ¡°You¡¯re family to Bert and Bell. You know that.¡±

    ¡°Do I feel like family to you?¡± Scruff asked shyly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Wendy said wistfully. ¡°You haven¡¯t let me feel you up yet.¡±

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Scruff blushed crimson.

    ¡°Well, I mean¡­ if that was an invitation?¡± Wendy winked at her.

    ¡°I, uh¡­¡± Scruff stuttered.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay if you don¡¯t want to?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°No, I do; it¡¯s just¡­¡± Scruff blushed again. ¡°I¡¯ve never really done anything.¡±

    ¡°Me neither,¡± Wendy grinned and leaned over, kissing Scruff gently on the lips. ¡°My first kiss,¡± She grinned.

    ¡°Look out!¡± Scruff yelled as the ground beneath the Express gave way. They slammed into the ground, buried up to the cab windows in the earth.

    ¡°Good thing I was taking it easy!¡± Wendy groaned as she pulled herself off the dash. ¡°Mental note, add seatbelts.¡±

    They heard the Ballista on the roof fire as Tim began to yell.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Scruff grabbed her backpack of plants and scrambled out the window.

    They were surrounded. The half-human, half-other People surrounded the Express. A series of nightmare-like figures pulled themselves out of hidden pits as more emerged from the forest.

    ¡°You should have come to us willingly!¡± Martha taunted from the cliffs far above.

    ¡°Fuck off!¡± Wendy yelled out the window.

    ¡°We¡¯ll teach you some manners, girl!¡± A woman with her entire bottom half made of interlocked bones snarled at Wendy.

    ¡°Good luck!¡± Scruff laughed. ¡°Lack of manners is kind of a genetic thing in her family.¡±

    ¡°Kiss a girl once; suddenly, she¡¯s a critic!¡± Wendy yelled. Scruff saw her rummaging in the compartments of the Express.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Martha yelled from above. ¡°You are surrounded, outnumbered, and your monstrosity is trapped. Surrender!¡±

    ¡°Cheeky Bitch!¡± Wendy yelled. ¡°I am NOT a monstrosity!¡±

    ¡°I meant that machine!¡± Martha yelled, losing her certainty a little.

    ¡°I am the machine, Ho-bag!¡± Wendy yelled.

    ¡°What?¡± Martha was completely off-kilter now.

    ¡°Told you she couldn¡¯t join, idiot!¡± Scruff snarled as her vines slowly grew through her clothes, wrapping her in strong, pliant armor.

    ¡°She will join!¡± Another voice in the crowd, a man¡¯s this time. ¡°Her abilities will be of the People!¡±

    ¡°Of the People!¡± The crowd chanted, starting to move in.

    ¡°Back! Off!¡± Scruff growled. She had vines growing through the ground now; she just needed a few more seconds¡­

    ¡°Get them!¡± Martha yelled. She screamed as a Ballista bolt smashed one of her legs away.

    ¡°Fnargle!¡± Tim crowed. He racked the loading mechanism and leaned forward. ¡°Goose!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Scruff just managed to duck in time to avoid the stream of bolts Tim fired randomly into the crowd. ¡°Fuck!¡± They really needed to stop teaching him the wrong words for fun.

    Her vines were now dug deep into the earth, and they dragged her back as the crowd charged in.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got you, don¡¯t worry!¡± Scruff grinned to herself as the People closed in about her. Flowers opened on the vines on her wrists, spraying a violent poison onto everything as she punched out. Vines whipped back and forth from her back, stabbing and tearing at any flesh they encountered.

    She moved around, tearing the ground apart as she moved, supported by the vines as more and more of them attacked. There was just not enough flesh on some of them.

    Scruff growled as her vines stabbed into wood, stone, and metal. The poison was wasted, and the damage was minor from the thorns.

    ¡°Damnit!¡± She growled as the People began to attack her vines rather than her. She had always thought people would go for her. The more they cut away, the less she had to work with.

    In less than ten minutes of fighting, she had killed at least a dozen of the half-human People, but there were more and more of them, and she was almost out of plants. Tim had apparently run out of Ballista bolts as well.

    She rolled away from a man with a colossal war axe, feeling the axe cut through the last of the vines connecting her with the plants below ground. She backhanded him, feeling his face tear open as the poisonous thorns on her vines dug deep.

    He wouldn¡¯t be getting up again.

    She pushed the last of her vines down her arms, forming a shield on one arm and a long whip with the other.

    ¡°Come on, fuckers!¡± She snarled. There were just so many of them.

    Tim came rushing in from behind her, swords in each hand, and slashed and stabbed as best he could. Someone kicked him, and he flew back, blown apart in the impact. It would take him time to reform; she was on her own.

    ¡°Give it up, gutter born!¡± A man reached for her. ¡°You will be happier as one of the People!¡±

    An Air Horn sounded, and everyone stumbled back as the horn blasted again.

    ¡°LAST CHANCE!¡± Wendy¡¯s voice came out hugely amplified. ¡°LEAVE OR DIE!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think they are buying it!¡± Scruff yelled as the People charged forward again.

    ¡°VERY WELL!¡± The Airhorn blasted long and hard.

    Scruff leaped back, fighting on top of the Express as a pair of four-legged people jumped at her; they stabbed at her with bone daggers, forcing her back.

    A shudder passed over the Express as something rose out of the back.

    ¡°Presenting! The New, Improved, Wendy Mark II Battlesuit!¡±

    Scruff didn¡¯t have time to look as she was driven back again.

    A Bone clad fist slammed into the person to Scruff¡¯s left, sending it flying.

    ¡°Get away from her, you BITCH!¡± Wendy roared, kicking out at one of the People who had been coming up behind her.

    Scruff spun, finally getting a look at Wendy.

    Wendy grinned as she fought. Her body was covered in bones. It was more than just armor; the arms had joints, complete with flexing tendons. Scruff had never heard of an Exo-suit, so she had no reference for what she was looking at.

    On the other hand, Wendy had a lot of knowledge inherited from her father. That included a lot of random information and a surprising amount of movie quotes.

    Given the abilities of the Flesh Shapers, it had taken no time at all to make.

    It had taken time for her to bind to it, which is why she felt so late to enter the fight.

    Spinning, she lashed out, planting a clawed, talon-like foot in the chest of the nearest enemy and feeling the rib cage crush beneath her feet. She laughed in joy as he coughed up blood before dying.

    She was her mother¡¯s daughter, and the blood lust had not diminished with the change. She flexed her hands, reveling in the feeling of the claws, three-inch sharpened and hardened bone, sliding into place.

    She crouched, feeling the power in the suit muscles assist her leap and send her flying into the mass of bodies. She landed and started to flay everything around her. Metal hands closed on her arms as the People closed around her.

    ¡°Now, my Pretties!¡± More shudders came from the Express as six oblong projectiles were fired from the Ballista. They uncurled in the air; bone and steel creatures like mantises, each the size of a large dog, fell on the People.

    ¡°Retreat!¡± Martha called as two long-legged People hauled her away.

    They tried to retreat, but Wendy was in her element and was not willing to leave survivors. She chased after them, leaping on their backs and tearing them apart. Her ¡®Pretties¡¯ skittered across the ground, corralling as many remaining People as possible.

    Several still managed to get away, and Wendy howled in frustration.

    Eyes bright, she turned back to the Express, reaching out a hand and beckoning it to her. The giant machine shuddered.

    Wide-eyed and frozen since Wendy emerged, Scruff grabbed onto the roof as the vehicle lurched backward before driving forward and smashing its way free, climbing out of the trap and speeding towards the grinning Wendy.

    Wendy ran at the vehicle, leaping onto the roof at the last second and spinning as she poured on the speed.

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Scruff yelled.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Wendy asked; she looked almost drunk.

    ¡°We have to go back!¡± Scruff yelled. ¡°You left TIM!¡±

    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t, silly!¡± Wendy giggled and pointed down.

    Scruff dragged herself over and peered into the cab. The ¡®Pretties¡¯ were carefully putting Tim back together while one of them gently stroked his skull and let out soothing keening noises.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s something I¡¯ll never unsee.¡± Scruff shuddered.

    ¡°Look at them!¡± Wendy laughed as a thump impacted the front of the Express. ¡°They actually think they are getting away!¡±

    She looked out at the fleeing People, laughing as she ran them down with the Express.

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Scruff called again. ¡°Please! Can we just go?¡±

    ¡°You want to go?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Yes, please!¡± Scruff begged. She felt a little worried about Wendy. She had never seen that look in her eyes before. The way she giggled while ripping the intestines out of one of the attackers was¡­ haunting.

    ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Wendy shrugged, and the Express lurched, turning towards the Scrubland and the way home. ¡°I¡¯m going to come back and kill you all one day!¡± She waved happily to the fleeing People.

    =============

    By the time they got back into the Cab a few minutes later, Tim was back in one piece and laughing as he rode one of the ¡®Pretties¡¯ around the cab. The others were back to being oblong shapes in a storage compartment.

    Wendy shrugged, the suit peeling open at the back as she stepped out of it and shook out her hair. The suit closed up, and went and sat in a chair.

    ¡°Is that alive?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s part of me like the Express is.¡± Wendy grinned. The suit waved cheerfully to Scruff.

    ¡°Fuck, that¡¯s weird.¡± Scruff shivered. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Gods, yes!¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°That was so much fun!¡±

    ¡°And the Pretties?¡± Scruff asked. She suddenly realized how other people must feel seeing her plants.

    ¡°Oh, they are kind of like dungeon mobs. The Flesh Shapers made the shapes for me, and I had the Core make them into actual mobs. They aren¡¯t alive. More like drones? I think?¡± Wendy said as she leaned an arm on the window and smiled.

    ¡°And the suit?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°That is bound to me,¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°It is just like the Express, BUT! It lets me move around outside of bound land because I am technically inside it!¡±

    ¡°Huh!¡± Scruff had to admit that was pretty smart.

    ¡°I got the Idea from what Dad did with the Waystation.¡±

    ¡°Nap?¡± Tim called.

    ¡°Nap!¡± Wendy confirmed, and the little skeleton hopped in his box.

    The Pretty he had been riding came over and trilled at Scruff. She hesitatingly reached out a hand, and it rubbed against her.

    ¡°I guess they are sort of cute?¡± She said as it trilled happily, leaning its body against her as she patted it. ¡°Do you think they could help me out with farming?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think so,¡± Wendy said. ¡°I even had the Flesh Shapers make them little implements to use!¡±

    Suddenly, seeing them as useful for farming, Scruff felt quite fond of the little terrors.

    ¡°You get some shut-eye!¡± Wendy chirped. ¡°We are clear now all the way back to the Waystation!¡±

 Chapter 51 - The Broken Place II

    ¡°So it really has nothing to do with carpets?¡± Bell teased Bert.

    ¡°Well, sort of,¡± He said, ¡°You drop a carpet of bombs¡­ that covers the ground¡­ like a carpet.¡±

    ¡°So why didn¡¯t they call it like-a-carpet-bombing?¡± She grinned.

    ¡°Carpet bombing sounds snappier?¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°If you need to give it a snappy name, it¡¯s a shit weapon!¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Bert took the bait.

    ¡°Decapitation, Beheading, cutting off the head,¡± She grinned, ¡°By any name, it terrifies.¡± She snorted, ¡°Carpet Bombing almost sounds nice.¡±

    ¡°That was kind of the point,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°They wanted to boast about their new tactic without people asking if it was really ethical to do to an enemy.¡± Bert sighed. ¡°Dropping bombs until everything bigger than a blade of grass is destroyed in an area tends to make people wonder if you are even trying to avoid collateral damage.¡±

    ¡°So they called it Carpet Bombing instead?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°And people fell for that?¡± She chuckled.

    ¡°Enough of them did,¡± He shrugged.

    ¡°One pixie ever made it to Earth¡­ you¡¯d all have been extinct in a year,¡± She grinned.

    ¡°Be fair,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°We did our best to wipe ourselves out without help.¡±

    ¡°Boss?¡± Bud called from the Barn door.

    ¡°What¡¯s up, Bud?¡± Bert asked,

    ¡°They are complaining again,¡± Bud said.

    ¡°On my way,¡± Bert headed out and joined Bud over at the production line. It was a complicated process, making so many firebombs.

    ¡°Why can¡¯t we just keep one!¡± Mic¡¯ali was pleading with his sister Sal¡¯ali.

    ¡°No, we need them all,¡± Tru¡¯nal said bluntly.

    ¡°But what difference can it make?¡± Ric joined his brother¡¯s cause.

    ¡°Lots,¡± Bert said as he walked into the tent. ¡°There could be thousands of them in there. Tens of thousands.¡±

    ¡°Then how can a few extra firebombs matter?¡± Mic whined, protecting the last barrel of Death Mead.

    ¡°It¡¯s the difference between killing them and just pissing them off.¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°I promise to find a new brewer as soon as possible, okay?¡±

    ¡°Can I just have one last drink?¡± Ric asked.

    ¡°Sorry, we need it all.¡± Bert shook his head.

    ¡°Jus-¡± Mic cut off as his sister slapped the back of his head. ¡°Fine!¡±

    ¡°Go see to the city; we will handle this,¡± Tru¡¯nal nodded to Bert.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bert called as he headed for the gate out of the camp.

    He made his way up the slope in the gloom of the early evening. In his mind, he was still in that gateway, his shield shivering and crumbling in front of him as fire and snarling faces danced in his vision.

    That had been a bad one. He had not really had time to think while it was actually happening. It was after things were quiet that the images returned to him. There are some things that you just can¡¯t unsee, and an eyeball bursting in a fire is one of them.

    His stomach turned over, and he stopped, panting slowly to avoid throwing up. His chest clenched as he began to shake.

    Bert sat on the grass and concentrated on his breathing as the images of teeth and fire danced before his eyes. He could feel his skin cracking and burning again, and his breath would just not come.

    Bert ran his hand over the grass, feeling it tickle his palm. He concentrated on that until the feeling passed. He took a shuddering breath, then another.

    Bert took a minute before getting to his feet.

    ¡°Job to do,¡± He told himself, ¡°Got a job to do here.¡±

    He started up the slope again. Here he was, preparing to assault a literal city of the dead, with a brief pause for a panic attack. The thought struck him as funny, and he arrived at the preparation site chuckling and jovial.

    Tense faces greeted him. They relaxed, seeing him. He wondered if they would be so reassured if they had seen him a minute ago, covered in a cold sweat and holding onto the grass for dear life.

    The Fortress had an additional layer of defense he had not anticipated. The City Core extended its influence all the way down the slope. As a result, the Waystation could not help with the construction of these pieces.

    The Carpet bombing was bound to get a reaction, and that reaction had to be controlled. These were the control.

    The narrow gateways of the city made the perfect defendable position. It did, however, work both ways. They were currently constructing a set of large, solid blockades to move into position at all three city gates. Once in position, they could be anchored in place while the denizens were distracted by the fire raining down on the city.

    That just left the large and small breaks in the wall. The small one was getting a blockade of its very own, while the large was getting three interlocking blockades that would have to be manned for the entire fight. Behind that position, they were currently digging a set of pit traps. It was slow going as they had to dig very, very quietly.

    Nothing like thousands of slavering undead to really focus the mind on the need for quiet.

    ==============

    They started an hour before sunrise. The firebombs had been brought over to the staging site by the world¡¯s most anxious bucket line. It was quite something to watch as everybody passed them from one to the other, knowing that a single mistake would see fire explode around them while the noise drew every undead in the city.

    With everything ready, the Multi-Bells took position over the bombs, levitating a collection each before moving into place to fly in formation behind Bell. Bell herself was flying protection for her copies, hovering in the center of a swarm of rapidly orbiting knives as she waved at him.

    Bert waved back and moved to take his place amongst the push teams. They were responsible for getting the barricades into position where he and the other crafters would fuse them to the walls.

    With a final look around, he raised a hand to Bell and nodded.

    The pixies took to the air, circling to the far side of the city and starting their run. There was nothing but silence as they waited.

    In the distance, light bloomed. The sound of explosions drew closer, and Bert started to push. His team churned up the grass beneath their feet as they pushed the giant blockade forward. The block touched the stone just as a swarm of giggling pixies flew past overhead. He started to fuse the wood and metal to the stone as the sounds of movement approached.

    Bruno was hammering long steel spikes through the barricade¡¯s braces and into the floor. It was just in time. Bert was lying across the top of the barricade, fusing it to the gateway as the first impact slammed into it. The pushers hurried, hammers flying as they drove the spikes in as deep as possible.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Bert finally finished the fusing as the pixies flew back the other way, a new set of bombs dropping on any target areas missed in the first pass.

    A call for help came from further along, at the large breach in the wall. Bert sprinted over, keeping his mind clear of the memories of the gateway as he went. He felt it trying to force its way out every time he saw flames.

    This could be a problem.

    Bert arrived at the Barricade and could see the problem immediately. The middle barricade had not been secured properly. The pusher team was fighting to keep it in place as the numbers increased on the other side. Their feet were already at the edge of the pit.

    He leaped, landing on the top of the center barricade and unleashing his mana through his shield. The packed masses of undead shattered under the onslaught, and the pressure eased.

    Flames licked at the back of the group as the pusher team moved the barricade back into position. Hammers swung, driving the spikes as deep as they would go.

    For good measure, Bert cast a Chill rune on the floor in between the barricades, causing a sheet of ice to spread over the floor. The slippery surface did the job, the assembled undead falling, scrabbling for purchase.

    ¡°First area of the city is all bombed out!¡± Bell said, swooping down. ¡°Nothing moving anywhere!¡±

    ¡°Great job!¡± Bert said.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna head onto the area behind the next walls!¡± A Multi-Bell called as they headed off, giggling.

    ¡°Any sign of threats?¡± Bert asked Bell before she left.

    ¡°Nothing!¡± Bell waved as she flew off. ¡°Just a bunch of Zombies.¡±

    Bert watched the pixie¡¯s bombing run on the inner city from atop the center barricade. It helped him to look up, away from the fire and the burning bodies. The smell was bad enough.

    So he was the first to see the attackers.

    A wave of mana bolts flew from behind the inner wall. They were a strange off-white color, and they hit the pixie squadron hard.

    Bert tensed, his mind freezing as he watched the blades flying to intercept the bolts.

    But the shots kept coming as the number of pixies fell. At last, it was just Bell, dodging and weaving as she screamed insults at whatever was attacking her.

    Bert saw the shot that hit her, watched her fall into the smoke and flames¡­

    And the world turned silent as rage erupted from him in a way he had not even known possible.

    Bert stepped forward, dropping into a world of snarling, scrambling undead, and burning fire. He had known anger before, even fury. He remembered the feeling, the hot rage¡­ but he was beyond that now.

    Her cry as she fell was all he heard.

    He moved in a world of silence where only the echoes of her cry could be heard.

    He did not drop into the tides; he was the mana tides.

    Nothing stood before him. Dancing and weaving, his axe and shield flashed out, severing heads from bodies and smashing apart the fragile, half-rotted bodies. When his skin caught fire, he activated Reclaim Flesh and just left it on.

    His shield was torn from his arm, and he just wrapped his arm in ice, a gauntlet of shards as sharp as razor blades did just as good a job as his axe.

    Too slow it was too slow.

    Bell needed him.

    The mana tides cycled faster and faster as he sped up. A strobe light flashed in the burning city in moments as his mana channels blinked with the cycling tides. A white fire burned across his skin as he blurred through the streets.

    Still too slow¡­

    It was the axe; it simply wasn¡¯t fast enough!

    His prosthetic arm fought him, trying to keep a shape as he forced mana into it until it gave in, turning into an amorphous shape that shot out tendrils, killing anything that he saw.

    The gates to the inner city were still closed, so he climbed them, kicking away the surviving zombies that tried to bite even as they burned. Cresting the top of the gate, he dropped into the burning street below.

    ¡°Bell!¡± He roared into the early morning sun as it finally lit the city.

    He kept fighting, his rage undiminished as he kept hearing her cry.

    A hulking abomination, burnt and blistered, shouldered its way into the street as he called.

    His eyes narrowed, his prosthetic arm reforming into a hand.

    Bert stalked forward silently as the abomination broke into a run. It charged towards him, and he met it head-on.

    His fist slammed into it, the white fire on it burning away the dead flesh. It hissed in pain and kicked out. Bert danced back, crouching and launching forward as the surge tide roared through his veins.

    The creature stumbled back as he impacted into it, the white fire that now covered his entire body flaring as it consumed the undead flesh.

    He rode the dead body down to the ground and stepped off as it burned away to ash.

    ===============

    Bell huddled in the urn and cursed the Fortress city. She was one pissed pixie. Partly because she had failed to dodge but mostly because she was afraid.

    That bolt had melted her wings. She could feel the melted flesh against her back as she crouched. Worse, they were not regrowing anywhere near as fast as they should be.

    ¡°Should have just driven the Waystation over this place,¡± She grumbled to herself quietly.

    More movement outside her urn.

    She couldn¡¯t stay here forever. It was dumb luck she fell in here in the first place. She swept her hand back and forth through the ash that had absorbed her fall. It was old and extremely dry. Her fingers brushed against a hard, smooth substance, and she pulled it free of the ash. It was crystal.

    A series of growls erupted outside of her pot.

    Something was coming¡­

    ==============

    Bert kicked another door from the rotten hinges, pushing through as the creatures inside surged forward. His fist flew, and any survivors of the blows burned away beneath the white fire. Anything left was reclaimed, flowing into him as he stalked the city.

    A series of growls came from inside a large cathedral over the road.

    He turned, sprinting at the doors, shattering them as he burst through, fists flying at anything that moved.

    The creatures¡­ dodged.

    Unlike their brethren in the wider city, these creatures showed signs of intelligence. They were also leaner, more agile than the regular zombies. More than that, they wore armor.

    Bert ended his charge in the center of a ring of snarling faces.

    A figure loomed in the shadows behind them, but Bert was busy. He exploded forward, catching one of the creatures unprepared, and tearing it apart with his bare hands before launching himself onto the next.

    Bert really missed his shield. He had tried to form one from Ice, but it didn¡¯t work. The elongated, emaciated figures attacked again, pulling at his arms and legs even as the fire burned them away.

    By the time the last of them fell, he was swaying on his feet, and the white fire was starting to flicker out.

    His mana channels were agony.

    He pushed the thoughts away as the looming shadow moved into the light.

    ¡°Impressive, little one.¡± The hooded figure was almost eleven feet tall. Folds of cloth floated around it, and two lights burned in the depths of its hood. ¡°Your body will make an excellent replacement for my guards!¡±

    ¡°Oh, fuck off, you overgrown bathrobe!¡± Bert growled, forcing more mana into his system even as it screamed in agony.

    The Lich roared as it reached for him, dark mana gathering at the emaciated fingertips.

    It screeched, drawing back and spinning for an old urn that sat beneath a hole in the roof.

    ¡°Did ya need this?¡± Bell growled as she held the crystal aloft. She grinned as she smashed it onto the edge of the urn.

    The lich screamed and lunged for her, coming up short as their robe pulled taught.

    It looked back, seeing Bert dragging the cloth towards him as he grinned in the center of a nova of white flame.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this!¡± It hissed as he drew it towards him. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡±

    ¡°Who gives a fuck!¡± Bert growled as his fingers found its throat, popping the head off with a snap.

    He collapsed to his knees, the white fire winking out as thought finally returned.

    ¡°Bell?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Bert?¡± She asked as she scrambled down from the pedestal the urn had sat on.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± He asked gently.

    ¡°I think so.¡± She said, standing in front of him. ¡°You look like shit!¡±

    ¡°Ha Ha,¡± Bert tried before passing out.

    =================

    Bell changed form for the first time in her life, taking a human form to catch the falling Bert. She caught his body, surprised at how heavy he was.

    He didn¡¯t look heavy. He looked like a corpse.

    Burned and blackened skin stretched over muscle and bone. Not an inch of boy fat remained. His mana channels glowed even in his sleep as the remnant mana in them took time to fade away. His cheeks were sunken in, and his eyes sat deep in their sockets.

    ¡°What the fuck have you done now?¡± Bell growled at him. She hated it when he did this. ¡°You can¡¯t just ignore the way things work to power through any situation, you moron!¡± She hugged him to her, hissing at the heat in his body. She watched the remains of the lich pool and then flow into him.

    She yelped and jumped back, Bert thumping onto the floor. She scowled at him before striding forward and slapping him awake.

    ¡°What?¡± He asked muzzily.

    ¡°Turn off Reclaim Flesh! Now!¡± She snapped.

    ¡°Okay,¡± He said.

    The flesh stopped moving towards him.

    ¡°Now what?¡± She asked herself, looking around. A door led to the bell tower at the back of the church. She dragged Bert towards it, huffing at the weight. ¡°You¡¯re gonna have to try and stay conscious more often if you insist on not being a reasonable pixie-sized person!¡± Bell grunted.

    It was a long way up those stairs, and twice she almost lost her grip on him.

    Eventually, they made it, and she laid him on the floor and peeked out the window.

    The morning light showed just how effective the bombing had been. From here, she could see the barricades down below still stood. A slow trickle of the undead was flowing toward the defenders, but it was clear the refugees had already won.

    Another of Bert¡¯s crazy ideas had worked.

    And he had come through all that to save her.

    Slumping to the floor, Bell pulled his head onto her lap.

    ¡°They¡¯ll come to get us in a bit.¡± She stroked the bald head that the fires had left behind.

    Her eyes drifted closed; it had been a hell of a long day.

 Chapter 52 - The Broken Place III

    A coolness passed over Bert, drawing him up from unconsciousness. It felt like his body was on fire, but the chill was fighting it. The feeling passed over him again as he fought his way toward consciousness.

    He had to get out of the fire; he was burning. HE WAS BURNING!

    His mind filled with images of teeth snapping at his flesh, and he thrashed about, trying to free himself.

    ¡°Shhhh!¡± Bell¡¯s voice. ¡°It¡¯s okay; it¡¯s okay.¡± He felt a hand on his chest, too big to be hers. ¡°It¡¯s me. You¡¯re okay.¡±

    Bert¡¯s eyes flew open as fire erupted on his skin. The woman scooted backward, scrambling away.

    ¡°Bert!¡± She snapped, ¡°Stop it!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not her!¡± He snarled. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you! Where is she!?¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± She laughed then. It was her laugh. ¡°I changed form, you asshole! I had to drag your dumb ass up here!¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Bert swayed and passed out again.

    He was drawn awake again, sometime later, by that cooling feeling. His mind was a bit clearer now, and he heard Bell talking to someone. Eckhart was here. That was good.

    ¡°He needs to heal himself,¡± Eckhart whispered. ¡°This is beyond me.¡±

    ¡°He can¡¯t use mana right now,¡± Bell hissed. ¡°He burnt himself out!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t heal him any more than this,¡± Eckhart sounded frustrated. ¡°I have no mana left!¡±

    ¡°I will give you mana!¡± Bell had that irritated tone Bert had learned to fear.

    ¡°You will burn my mana pool!¡± Eckhart complained. ¡°I¡¯ll be unable to heal anyone for weeks!¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t do it,¡± Bud¡¯s voice came from a little distance away. ¡°You¡¯ll die in this tower.¡±

    ¡°Slowly,¡± Bell added in the sweet innocent voice she used at her worst.

    A feeling of warmth and comfort began to pass over him, and he slipped back into the peaceful darkness of unconsciousness.

    When he swam up once more from the darkness, he felt a familiar bed underneath him. He was in his room in the Waystation; that was good. His head was pounding, and he couldn¡¯t seem to open his eyes yet.

    Someone was shouting outside the door, and his head swam with the pain of it.

    ¡°What do you mean he left!¡± Bell¡¯s voice trembled with fury.

    ¡°The old bastard snuck away overnight,¡± He thought it was May¡¯s voice.

    ¡°Bud!¡± Bell yelled.

    ¡°He¡¯s already gone after him,¡± May said. ¡°He won¡¯t get far.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Bell said. Her voice held a flat tenseness Bert had never heard before.

    ¡°He will die if you make him do it again,¡± Bruno¡¯s voice boomed even when he was hesitant.

    ¡°So fucking what?¡± Bert assumed it had been Bell talking, but it was May, he realized.

    ¡°Wife!¡± Bruno snapped.

    ¡°Husband?¡± She snapped back.

    ¡°He has done his best,¡± Bruno said calmly.

    ¡°No,¡± May said with finality. ¡°Bert did his best; he walked through fire and undead alike. THAT is doing your best.¡±

    The next time Bert woke, he was almost able to open his eyes. He managed one eye, feeling relief at even that much.

    ¡°Bert?¡± A figure in the corner shuffled forward.

    There was not much left of Eckhart. He looked like one of the undead himself. Pale, shaking, and as frail as Bert had ever seen anyone look.

    ¡°Thank the Gods,¡± The old man blubbered and shuffled out of the room.

    ¡°He¡¯s awake!¡± Bell¡¯s voice rang loudly through the Barn before a glowing figure flew into the room. ¡°Bert?¡±

    He tried to speak, but his voice wouldn¡¯t work.

    ¡°Shh! Don¡¯t try to talk.¡± Bell landed gently on his chest. ¡°You¡¯re going to be okay.¡±

    ¡°He will live,¡± Eckhart said from the doorway. ¡°Now, let me rest!¡±

    ¡°Of course, go rest. Anything you need, we will provide.¡± Bell said, her face pale.

    ¡°Getting as far from here as possible is all I require,¡± Eckhart spat and shuffled away.

    ¡°Sorry about him,¡± Bell said, blushing. ¡°We kind of had to force him to help.¡±

    Bert tried to lift a hand to comfort her, finding his body uncooperative.

    ¡°Don¡¯t try to move, not yet,¡± Bell said brightly. ¡°It will take a while to get over this, Bert.¡±

    The door burst open, and Bud ran in and took Bert¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Hey, Boss.¡± He said. ¡°Had us worried for a bit there.¡±

    It took all his will and energy, but he managed to squeeze Bud¡¯s hand before he passed out again.

    The next few days passed slowly, in a series of half-remembered, half-dreamed moments as his mana channels slowly fixed themselves. It was going to take a long time to be able to use them properly again.

    That was one of the things Bell came in to tell him. He still had a pretty hazy memory, but he was sure it had been her who told him. He got a visitor on the first night he could sit up in bed.

    ¡°Hello again,¡± The woman said. ¡°I thought I might drop by and offer some help.¡±

    Bert stared at the naked figure of the defiant woman. It was the same as in the former City of the Sun.

    ¡°Goddess of the Moons.¡± He said, his voice croaky and hoarse.

    ¡°I can heal you,¡± She nodded graciously.

    ¡°In exchange for?¡± He said, each word a trial.

    ¡°Worship me, and be healed.¡± She sat on the bed, looking at him with her strange eyes.

    ¡°No.¡± Bert shook his head.

    ¡°Your gods can¡¯t help you here,¡± She said.

    ¡°No.¡± He agreed.

    ¡°So worship me.¡± She tried again.

    ¡°No.¡± He said, smiling as much as he could.

    She simply huffed and faded away.

    He slept well that night without nightmares.

    He awoke the following day, finding the unexpected waiting for him.

    You consumed the flesh, bone, and even mana of the undead in the use of your Reclaim Flesh class skill.

    Class Has Undergone Forced Evolution!

    Class: Garbage Man has changed to Garbage Man - Recycling Specialist.

    New skill obtained!

    Upcycle -

    Allows transmutation in the use of your Class skills.

    WARNING: Mana channels have been damaged.

    Seek healing immediately.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert said to himself. ¡°Calm down.¡± The idea of being cut off from the Mana Tides, even a little, was not an attractive idea. It left him feeling weak in a way he had not in a long time.

    Closing his eyes, he focused his attention inward. He could still feel the mana in the channels, but it moved sluggishly, catching and blocking up here and there. He tried to, very gently, cycle the tides¡­ but the pain made him stop.

    Next, he tried to activate an ability, finding nothing happened as the mana just would not flow to support it.

    He was beginning to panic.

    Forcing himself to lay back and breathe slowly, he tried again.

    Nothing.

    Instead of trying to force it, Bert instead started to focus on the channels one at a time. He started with his hand, the real one. Focusing on it, he tried to massage the channels and get the mana to flow easier.

    Very slowly, it started to move. It was barely noticeable at first, but it was there. After ten minutes, he was exhausted but elated.

    He could do this.

    By the time Bell came in to check on him a few hours later, he was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath.

    ¡°Bert!¡± She stopped hovering, dropping like a stone as she increased in size. In moments her human form had pulled him from the bed and was drenching his body in ice-cold air.

    ¡°Keep doing that,¡± He smiled grimly as he closed his eyes.

    For a day and a half, he worked while Bell held him.

    He was just over halfway through the repairs when the speed suddenly increased. He could feel his mana channels changing ahead of him, repairing and strengthening.

    The changes kept going, rebounding onto the areas he had already repaired.

    Bert screamed as the channels grew with new pathways growing through him as his skin seemed to itch and move.

    Bell held him tighter. ¡°What are you doing!¡± She yelled.

    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

    Mana Channels Repaired!

    Mana Channels Tempered!

    Mana Channels Complete!

    Well Done!

    Bert felt the tides roar into him again and let out a wild laugh. The tides were stronger than ever, and they moved faster. He experimented, finding he could control the tides so much better now. He pulled an Ebb tide into one hand as he channeled a Surge tide in the other.

    Winds whipped around the room as the imbalance in the mana caused a mini hurricane in the small room.

    Reaching out to Way Way, he requested a carcass to use.

    A whole Armored Bison appeared, and he eagerly cast Reclaim Flesh.

    A pain so all-consuming he hadn¡¯t even been able to fully comprehend it finally faded away.

    Strength returned to his muscles, and he watched his skin regrow as burnt, blackened flesh turned pink and healthy once more.

    He was finally able to open the other eye!

    Bert chuckled, realizing it was more that the eye had regrown. He hadn¡¯t even realized how bad off he was with all the pain fogging his mind.

    For the first time in over a week, he took a long, deep breath as he stretched.

    ¡°Oooh, that feels good.¡± Bert grinned and turned to offer Bell a hand up from where she was still sitting on the floor. ¡°Sorry about that. Did I miss much?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re really better?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert grinned at her.

    ¡°Good!¡±

    =================

    People scrambled away as Bert exploded out through the side wall of the Barn.

    He groaned as he sat up.

    Even Bud ran when Bell, in human form, stepped through the hole in the wall with Bell¡¯s Ringer in hand.

    ¡°How dare you!¡± She screamed as she strode across the ground towards Bert.

    ¡°How fucking dare you!¡± Bell¡¯s Ringer caught him on the upswing as he got to his feet. Bert flew back, slamming through the door of the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    Bell stalked after him, kicking the door closed behind her.

    Bud moved to stand in front of the door.

    ¡°Private time!¡± He snarled at the onlookers, who immediately remembered somewhere else they had to be.

    Bert picked himself out of the remains of a table and held his hands up in defense as Bell crossed the floor toward him.

    ¡°Bell! Wait!¡± He called.

    ¡°What?¡± She snapped.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, okay.¡± He said, and he meant it.

    ¡°What the fuck did you think you were doing?¡± She snapped. ¡°Coming into that city was suicide!¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking, okay?¡± He said.

    ¡°No shit!¡± She moved toward him again.

    ¡°I just saw you fall and¡­¡± He trailed off. ¡°All I heard was you crying out and¡­.¡±

    ¡°And what?¡± She demanded.

    ¡°And nothing,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I saw you fall, heard you cry out, and¡­ thought stopped. I don¡¯t think I had a single thought the entire time I was in the city.¡± He collapsed into a chair. ¡°I was still pretty fucked up from the thing earlier in the day, and then you fell, and I,¡± He looked up at Bell, ¡°I don¡¯t think I was even human in that city. I¡¯ve never felt so empty. I saw you fall, and then I was this thing.¡± He looked away from her. ¡°I would have done the same to anyone who got in my way.¡± He looked back at her. ¡°I didn¡¯t? Did I?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not fair!¡± She snapped at him. ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡±

    ¡°Do what?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°That!¡± She snarled and smashed a table. ¡°Be all¡­ that! Not when I want to be mad at you!¡±

    ¡°Still a little lost here,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Fury of the True Fae,¡± Bell slammed another table into matchsticks. ¡°It is a racial gift!¡± She kicked a chair through a window. ¡°We can only summon it in moments of pure rage!¡±

    ¡°Was that the white fire thing?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No!¡± She snapped. ¡°That was something else!¡± She kicked a chair to bits.

    ¡°Bell?¡± He asked.

    ¡°What?¡± She smashed a shelf full of glasses.

    ¡°Bell!¡± He yelled.

    ¡°What?¡± She spun to face him.

    ¡°Thank you for saving me.¡± He said.

    ¡°You too!¡± She snarled and slapped him.

    She stood there, glaring at him.

    Bert stood and reached out his hand. She slapped it away but didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°You scared me!¡± She hissed.

    ¡°You scared me, too.¡± He admitted.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t allowed to do that again.¡± She said.

    ¡°Neither are you.¡± He smiled.

    She slapped him again, ¡°No smiling.¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± He tried not to smile.

    ¡°Thanks for coming to get me,¡± She said flatly.

    ¡°Thanks for pulling me out of there,¡± He replied.

    A tear rolled down her cheek.

    He reached for her again, and she slapped his hand.

    Bert ignored it and pulled her into a hug.

    He knew how this scene went. He would hug her, she would cry, he would cry¡­ and they would both feel better.

    Instead, she kneed him in the balls. Hard.

    As he gasped in pain, she popped back into Pixie size and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m not there yet, asshole!¡±

    But she laughed as she flew away, which he took as a good sign.

    ==============

    When Bert made his way out of the Waystation for the first time after a huge meal, a long hot shower, and a drink, he noticed straight away how much had changed.

    Most of the tents were gone, and he could see people filing in and out of the city as they repaired the gates and walls. Even from here, he could see the barricades had been repurposed to fill the large break in the wall.

    The most significant change was in the people themselves. None of them could seem to look him in the eye and would turn away only to stare after he had moved by. Bert had no idea if it was his trip into the city or what, but something had changed.

    ¡°Boss!¡± Bud called as he jogged over, ¡°How did the chat with Bell go?¡±

    ¡°She was just worried about me,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Smashed some things, kneed me in the balls, the usual,¡± He laughed.

    ¡°So she didn¡¯t mention¡­ anything else?¡± Bud checked.

    ¡°No, why?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°She should really be the one to tell you, Bert,¡± Bud said hesitantly.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°So, how is the city going?¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Bud seemed relieved at the change of subject. ¡°The undead never got into the keep, apparently. It was completely undamaged.¡±

    ¡°Wow, they sure built his place strong,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°They did,¡± Bud nodded. ¡°And someone had collapsed the only entrance. It was pretty bleak in there.¡±

    When Bud and the others had finally managed to move enough of the stone to get into the keep itself, it looked pretty normal. It was when they got into the kitchens and hallways that things turned nasty.

    Time had done a number on the remains, but the human body is easily recognizable, even if it has been there a while.

    Even if it has been butchered.

    They hadn¡¯t needed to read the various diaries, notes, and on one occasion, bloody words on the walls to figure out what happened.

    But it certainly helped to fill in the missing parts of the story of the Fortress City.

    The riots had moved back and forth across the city for three more days. The number of dead mounted each day. On the night of the third day, a scuffle on the city''s outskirts had been interrupted when the bodies lying in the streets began to twitch.

    All through the city, the dead stood up and attacked anyone they found.

    Taylor, the ruler at the time, had responded by collapsing access to the Keep. He told those inside that it was a judgment of the gods, that they had been spared, and that the dead would leave the city to attack their enemies in the larger plains.

    Of course, that never happened.

    When the army of a local noble attacked later that same day, they were able to make it as far as the entrance to the Keep but were driven back before anyone could get out.

    One of the servants had screamed that Taylor had damned them all and been imprisoned in the dungeons. Over the next week or so, tensions continued to mount, and Taylor did his thing. The other nobles were his audience now as he railed against the treacherous servants, who were obviously agents for the refugees.

    Soon all of the servants were locked in cells, and the nobles promptly held a celebration. A grand feast where most of the food was wasted. Which was a problem as it turned out to be the last of the food in the keep.

    It took less than a week before they ate the first of the servants.

    Eventually, they ran out of servants and ate the least popular nobles. The last few weeks were a cat-and-mouse game as the starving survivors had hunted each other through the keep.

    There was just no way to tell who was the last one left.

    Whoever it was, their body was found hanging from a beam in the dining hall. It was naked, covered in dried blood, and mummified.

    ¡°They ate each other,¡± Bert said, ¡°Grim way to go.¡±

    Bud just nodded.

    ¡°Bert!¡± Bruno ran up and grabbed him into a hug, ¡°Thank the gods you wake!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Bruno.¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°We can finally end this horrid affair!¡± Bruno said with a booming laugh.

    ¡°He doesn¡¯t know,¡± Bud said sternly.

    ¡°But how?¡± Bruno asked in confusion.

    ¡°I think I need to speak to Bell,¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°Very much, yes!¡± Bruno boomed. ¡°And then we can move on!¡±

    Bert sighed and headed back into the Waystation. He wondered if he had time to craft a protective cup before they had another ¡®conversation.¡¯

    Bell was in the Barn, muttering to herself as she flew in circles.

    Bert hesitated; he had not seen her do this since the first time the Waystation moved.

    ¡°Bell?¡± He called.

    ¡°Who told you?¡± She asked quietly.

    ¡°No one told me anything,¡± Bert said gently, sitting at the scuffed wooden counter. ¡°They just said I needed to talk to you.¡±

    ¡°Okay.¡± She said sadly.

    ¡°Whatever it is, I¡¯m listening,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°You were really badly hurt!¡± Bell started. ¡°I mean really badly. And you couldn¡¯t heal!¡±

    ¡°Right, my mana channels were trashed.¡± Bert agreed.

    ¡°Exactly!¡± She said. ¡°We only had access to one healer and a pretty shitty one at that.¡±

    ¡°Eckhart, right,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°He ran out of mana too quickly,¡± She whispered. ¡°I had to give him some mana to keep going.¡±

    ¡°I remember something about that.¡± He thought. ¡°He said it would damage his mana pool for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Bell said. ¡°We had to force him to do it.¡± She looked away. ¡°But it wasn¡¯t enough.¡±

    ¡°Okay, well, I¡¯m still here, so you must have come up with something.¡±

    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t,¡± Eckhart said as he stood in the doorway. ¡°And I won¡¯t let her hide what she did!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± She said, not looking him in the eye.

    ¡°Yeah, right!¡± He scoffed. ¡°You made me heal him over and over again for days.¡± He spread his emaciated arms, ¡°Look at me!¡±

    Bell just looked away.

    ¡°Would I have made it if you didn¡¯t heal me?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I just don¡¯t know.¡± Eckhart glared at him. ¡°You should have been dead a hundred times over.¡± He coughed and leaned against the wall. ¡°Over and over, she burned my mana pool. I won¡¯t be better for a year at least.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice!¡± Bell snarled at him, and he flinched.

    ¡°You did; you could have let him die!¡± Eckhart spat. ¡°No one should have been able to survive what he did.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re Fae,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Things work differently for us.¡±

    ¡°I tried to leave, to run!¡± Eckhart waved his comment away. ¡°That bloody skeleton of yours dragged me back here.¡±

    ¡°Some of the refugees tried to stop us,¡± Bell said distantly. ¡°I-I threw them out.¡±

    ¡°In one piece?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Bell wailed.

    ¡°Must have caught you on a good day,¡± Bert laughed.

    She gaped at him as Eckhart spluttered.

    ¡°She forced me to heal you until there was nothing left of me.¡± He snarled. ¡°And she would not let me use any mana to heal myself.¡±

    ¡°I can heal you now,¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°No!¡± He stepped back. ¡°Not until you punish her!¡± He crossed his arms. ¡°Only then will the stain on your honor be removed.¡±

    ¡°Bert, I¡¯m so so-¡± Bell stopped as Bert laughed. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Listen, Eckhart,¡± Bert stood. ¡°I¡¯m sorry keeping me alive was such a chore. And after all, all we did was save the lives of you and your people!¡± He chuckled. ¡°Oh, and risk our lives trying to take that fucking hellscape of a city for your people!¡±

    Bert saw they had attracted an audience but was beyond caring.

    ¡°None of that changes that I should not have been forced!¡± Eckhart once more showed off his frail form. ¡°Look at what it did to me!¡±

    ¡°Who gives a flying fuck?¡± Bert yelled at him. ¡°I almost lost Bell!¡± He roared in the man¡¯s face. ¡°If she had been injured and you had so much as fucking hesitated to heal her, I would have skinned you alive!¡±

    ¡°Bert?¡± Bell asked hesitatingly. ¡°You aren¡¯t angry?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fucking furious!¡± Bert snarled, ¡°But not at you.¡± He stormed out of the Barn, dragging the feebly struggling Eckhart by the neck.

    The crowd gasped and backed away.

    ¡°Bell almost died! I almost died!¡± He glared around. ¡°We risked everything for you and yours.¡± He held up Eckhart in one hand. ¡°This fucker refuses healing, which I CAN do until I punish Bell.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± May pushed forward.

    ¡°Who agrees?¡± He held up a hand, ¡°Just so you know, I¡¯ll kill any fucking one of you that raises their hand.¡±

    More gasps.

    ¡°Bert?¡± Bell called.

    ¡°Yes, Bell?¡± Bert said brightly.

    ¡°He¡¯s going blue?¡± She pointed out.

    Bert dropped Eckhart, pinning him to the ground with one foot. He summoned a deer carcass they had gathered recently and used it to heal the man. In seconds he was back to full vigor. Next, he focused, checking the man¡¯s mana pool. It was burnt all right. He used the same method he used on his mana channels, repairing it.

    ¡°What?¡± Eckhart squirmed, feeling his mana return. ¡°My mana, how?¡±

    ¡°You wanted to go?¡± Bert snarled. ¡°You better move fast.¡±

    ¡°But?¡±

    ¡°FUCK! OFF!¡± Bert snarled in his face.

    He watched the man scramble to his feet and push through the crowd.

    ¡°Anyone else got something they want to say?¡± He stared down the muttering crowd.

    May stepped forward.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you are feeling better.¡± She almost smiled.

    ¡°And thank you for helping out while I was ill,¡± Bert said sincerely.

    ¡°My pleasure,¡± She turned and shooed the crowd away.

    ¡°Bert?¡± Bell said behind him.

    ¡°Yes, Bell?¡± Bert asked, turning to find her in human form.

    She hugged him tightly as she wept silent tears.

    He hugged her back with one hand.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to knee you again,¡± She laughed, and he hugged her properly.

    She, of course, kneed him again.

    ¡°Still a pixie, jackass!¡± She giggled as she flew away in her true form once more.

 Chapter 53 - Just Passing Through I

    ¡°She¡¯s just not a hugger,¡± Bert gasped as Bud laughed.

    ¡°I thought you had lost it there for a minute,¡± Bud said. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you that angry before.¡±

    ¡°I admit I may have lost it, just a bit, there.¡± Bert huffed. ¡°But that guy really pissed me off.¡±

    ¡°We did kind of torture him,¡± Bud admitted. ¡°He was in real pain when he was healing you.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry he had to go through that,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°But not sorry enough that I wish you hadn¡¯t made him do it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s going to take some time to get over it,¡± Bud nodded, ¡°For all of us.¡±

    ¡°Well, let¡¯s make a start now, shall we?¡± Bert asked. ¡°These people still need us here?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Bud said. ¡°They have the city but not many supplies. They are better off here than anywhere else.¡± He shrugged.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s pack up, shall we?¡± Bert sighed. ¡°I¡¯m uncomfortable around this lot after they seemed to back Eckhart.¡±

    ¡°Most didn¡¯t,¡± Bud said.

    ¡°But the ones that did will cause trouble, and I don¡¯t think any of us will react well to that.¡± Bert smiled sadly. ¡°Better to leave now than to deal with all of that.¡±

    Packing up didn¡¯t take too long. The Waystationers were used to the process by now. The Bud Patrol went and pulled the spikes out of the ground while the Multi-Bells passed the word they were leaving to the defacto leaders of the Refugees.

    There was some grumbling and some shocked reactions, but the fact was there were as many people happy to see them go as there were sad they were leaving.

    Between Bert losing it and charging into the city and Bell forcing Eckhart to heal Bert over and over, the refugees were now keenly aware of the fact that the Waystationers were ¡®Fae Folk.¡¯

    The Waystation left them a good few tents and supplies to get them going, but it was clear that neither side really trusted the other any further than that.

    By the time the last of the groups were leaving the little camp and heading into the city proper, Bert was itching to get back on the road. This little diversion had almost cost the Waystation its Pixie AND Caretaker. That could not happen again.

    ¡°We would like to come with you,¡± Bruno said nervously, May standing beside him with a determined expression.

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked. ¡°We plan to leave these lands as soon as possible, and we may not be back for a long time.¡±

    ¡°We understand,¡± May said. ¡°But while you are in these lands, we can help.¡±

    Bert stared at her.

    ¡°We can,¡± Bruno rumbled. ¡°We know the lands, the people, and the places to avoid.¡±

    ¡°We can also deal with local people,¡± She gave a half smile, ¡°You don¡¯t have to deal with the foolish that way.¡±

    Bert grumbled a little but could not really think of a reason why not. He knew May had helped while he was injured, and so¡­

    ¡°Sure, why not?¡± Bert shrugged.

    May actually smiled.

    ¡°Great!¡± Bruno beamed. ¡°What shall we do first?¡±

    ¡°Which way is the shortest route out of the lands of the Three Houses?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°The shortest?¡± May thought. ¡°That would be to continue past Fortress City. The safest would be to head to the setting sun.¡±

    ¡°Safest?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°To avoid the fighting,¡± May nodded.

    Bert thought about it. The shortest route was attractive, but only because he wanted some distance from the City and what happened. Avoiding the fighting would be both safer and offer less temptation to get dragged into it.

    ¡°Setting sun it is,¡± Bert said after a moment.

    ¡°All done!¡± A Multi-Bell called to him and pointed to the Control Tower.

    ¡°On my way,¡± Bert waved to the pixie, and it popped. ¡°You two grab a room in the Bear¡¯s Fall and settle in.¡±

    They nodded and headed off.

    Bert took a deep breath as the platform in the tower rose. Leaving felt good. It would take some time for the memories to fade and the nightmares about fire and teeth to stop.

    But distance, and new experiences, would help.

    =================

    They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. That very much proved to be the case for the Waystation. The direction they had gone to avoid the Civil War instead seemed to have taken them almost directly into the middle of it.

    They had only been traveling for a few hours before they saw the first signs of battle.

    The churned ground was marred with splashes of blood and burn marks. A little further on, they came across the first patrol. It turned out to be a familiar face.

    Bert walked down the drawbridge with a heavy sense of hopelessness.

    ¡°Good to see you again, Caretaker!¡± Winifred of House Omis bowed to him. The giant of a woman was astride the most enormous horse Bert had ever seen. He half expected fire to snort from its nostrils as it breathed.

    ¡°Winifred,¡± He nodded to her.

    ¡°Your fame spreads, Caretaker!¡± She said as she dismounted and came over to shake his hand. ¡°Tales of your victory over the Fortress City are spreading far and wide!¡±

    ¡°Already?¡± Bert said, confused. ¡°And it was more of an extermination than a victory.¡±

    ¡°That is even better!¡± Winifred grinned down at him, her hand engulfing his own. ¡°That cowardly healer runs ahead of you, telling all of your power.¡± She laughed. ¡°I would have killed the cur, but many will admire your forbearance.¡±

    ¡°Eckhart? How¡¯d he get out this far already?¡± Bert shook his head, half wishing he had killed the man.

    ¡°Who knows how fast a man is when he is afraid?¡± Winifred slapped him on the back hard enough to make his ribs creak. ¡°I hear that Ben-atal¡¯s brother fled from the field as soon as he heard the stories! You have my thanks for that. He is an oily man but a powerful commander.¡±

    ¡°It seems the battle went ahead without him,¡± Bert nodded to the blood-stained and potted ground around them.

    ¡°It did, but many fewer died today because he was not here,¡± Winifred nodded to him. ¡°And less death is always a good day.¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Bert smiled. It was nice to see the Amazonian-looking woman had a taste for more than just killing.

    ¡°Your timing could not be better,¡± Winifred said in a slightly lower tone. ¡°We have need of neutral ground, that we may negotiate with the enemy and return their injured to them.¡±

    Bert sighed. Off course, he could say no. He just wouldn¡¯t be able to look at himself in the mirror. On the bright side, he didn¡¯t have a mirror. But¡­

    ¡°Happy to help,¡± Bert forced a smile. ¡°Where shall we set up?¡±

    ¡°There is a group of independent healers over on the far side of the hill. Why not set up with them?¡± Winifred said lightly.

    ¡°Will do,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°See you later, Winifred?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Winifred laughed.

    The healer¡¯s camp was indeed just over the hill. It was a single tent, large and open. People lay on low beds, blood pooling below them. Eight figures moved amongst them, glowing hands and whispered words doing what they could while a long queue waited outside, some on litters, some merely sat cradling their injuries.

    The scent of blood and death in the air was strong, and Mic and Ric both got sick almost immediately. A pair of the healers wandered over as they came to a stop and dropped the drawbridge.

    Bert and Bud went down to meet them while Bell kept a weary eye on the three armies surrounding the area.

    ¡°Don¡¯t care who you are; you¡¯ll wait in line like the rest!¡± The first of the pair, a man with dark hair and a half smile, said dismissively.

    ¡°Seb¡¯s right. We have more than we can handle. If you can afford that, whatever it is, you can afford better healers.¡± The other man said. He was a short man with blond hair and blue eyes. He also looked healthy, compared to the unhealthy pale sheen of his companion.

    If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°No need to worry,¡± Bert said, smiling. ¡°We are just here as a bit of neutral ground for the Houses to meet on and exchange injured.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± The dark-haired man, Seb, said. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have any supplies to spare for healing the commoners, then?¡±

    ¡°Seb,¡± The other man laughed. ¡°Give them a chance before you decide they are stuck-up pricks.¡±

    ¡°Saves time to assume, plus you¡¯re mostly going to be right.¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°It really does,¡± Seb nodded. ¡°So, about those supplies?¡±

    ¡°We just gave most of our stuff to the Refugees over at Fortress City.¡± Bert frowned. ¡°But I¡¯m sure we can find something. Plus, if you like, we can expand the Waystation and help around this camp a bit.¡±

    ¡°That would be great!¡± Seb smiled, his face lighting up. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have any form of healer on board?¡±

    ¡°I can heal a bit,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°But I need dead carcasses to do it.¡±

    ¡°We have a lot of those around if we can get someone to go collect them.¡± The other man nodded. ¡°Lots of animals killed in all of this fighting.¡±

    ¡°I might be able to use leftover bits as well from butchering. I¡¯m not sure, but I¡¯m willing to give it a try.¡± Bert waved up to the tower, seeing Bell flash a signal that she saw him.

    The spikes pushed slowly out of the walls, not launching but waiting for placement.

    A woman ran over as they watched.

    ¡°Whoa! Wait!¡± She gasped as she tried to catch her breath. She was an older woman with a warm smile on her wide face when she wasn¡¯t sporting her current panicked look. ¡°I don¡¯t know what they said, but don¡¯t shoot!¡±

    ¡°Umm, I wasn¡¯t?¡± Bert pointed out.

    ¡°Oh, good.¡± She straightened and held out a hand. ¡°Libby, I run this little group.¡±

    ¡°Bert, nice to meet you.¡± He shook her blood-covered hand.

    ¡°They are going to help us out,¡± Seb said. ¡°Not sure what the spears are for, though.¡±

    ¡°They let the Waystation claim the land, so we can sort out the camp a bit.¡± Bert clarified.

    ¡°Great!¡± Seb¡¯s friend said, ¡°Well, we¡¯ll head back to work. Bert, we¡¯ll buy you a beer later if we ever find a working alehouse!¡±

    ¡°I brought one with me,¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°I think I may love you,¡± Seb said as his friend dragged him away.

    ¡°Sorry about them,¡± Libby sighed. ¡°Fantastic healers, just not very good with people.¡±

    ¡°Neither is he!¡± Bell said as she flew up from behind Bert. ¡°Small world!¡±

    ¡°Fuck me!¡± Libby yelped. ¡°Are you a pixie?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Bell nodded. ¡°So, are we setting up or what?¡± She asked Bert.

    ¡°We are,¡± Bert nodded, and he and Bud went and grabbed a spear each, walking them out a reasonable distance past the camp before driving them into the ground. When they got back, the Bud Patrol had seen to the others, and the land was rapidly coming under Waystation control.

    A pair of the healers were arguing with Libby as he walked by. A young woman with dark hair ran up to him as he passed.

    ¡°I¡¯m Dee,¡± she said simply. ¡°Thanks for the help. I have a list if that would assist you?¡±

    ¡°A list of what?¡± Bert asked as she handed it to him.

    ¡°Improvements to the camp,¡± She said simply. ¡°Things we should have but have never got.¡±

    Bert looked over the list. It included a couple of extra tents, beds, bedding, a recovery area, a building for the Healers to sleep and eat, and so on.

    ¡°Have you had this long?¡± He asked, noticing the different inks and dogeared page.

    ¡°Since I met them about four years ago.¡± She nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not expecting anything, but if you can help¡­ great.¡± She gently took the list back and ran back to Libby and the others.

    Bert laughed and headed up the drawbridge and into the tower.

    ¡°You know, we could just drive on.¡± Bell sighed. ¡°Just occasionally.¡±

    Bert laughed. ¡°I know, and we definitely should, but¡­.¡±

    She rolled her eyes, but he saw her hiding a smile as well.

    Bert closed his eyes for a second as he connected to the Waystation¡¯s Mana Tides. It wasn¡¯t as overwhelming as it was before; whatever he had done to his mana channels had made this a bit easier.

    Or maybe he was just getting used to it.

    Or both.

    Bert shook himself and got to work.

    They had enough leather left from the tents they had used for the refugees. As for their actual design, he used what the healers already had, adding drop-down panels for them to tie down in bad weather. He left three of the bell tents as is; they could use them to bunk in.

    Thinking of the list Dee had given him, he added a set of showers, a large open wooden cafeteria with a basic kitchen, long tables, and benches. He also added outhouses because why wouldn¡¯t you?

    There was not much he could do about the bedding situation. They just didn¡¯t have a way to make cloth. He made a note to try and find a way to change that.

    Instead, he made a series of stretchers with their basic canvas material. The stretchers could be placed on top of frames he also made.

    That way, they had stretchers and beds. Hopefully, that would be enough, at least for now.

    With all the pieces designed, made up, and in dimensional storage, Bert looked to placement. Looking down, he could see the crowded, bloodied ground around the Healer¡¯s tent.

    Okay, not there.

    If the ground started changing beneath people¡¯s feet, they might panic. He looked off to the side; the area behind the tent was pretty clear. He got to work, firming and flattening the ground. He put in the three large treatment tents at the front, nearest the current tent. He added a stone floor and put the stretcher beds in place. He then added the large Bell tents, with the Cafeteria opposite it. He added stone pathways to all of them and then placed the showers and toilets.

    The usual light stones on poles completed the camp. He gave it a look over, then saved the design as a complete layout. There was just no way it would not come in useful again.

    By the time Bert got down the tower again, and down the drawbridge, the old healer¡¯s tent was abandoned. Everyone had moved over to the new camp. He wandered through the old tent, wincing at the stench. With a quick message to Way Way, the stench lessened as the blood and other puddles were absorbed into the floor.

    It was still there; the blood and sweat-stained beds reeked. He was wondering what to do about it when Dee ran over.

    ¡°The new camp is amazing!¡± She beamed up at him, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth. Bert was not a tall guy, but Dee really was tiny. He estimated she could not be over five feet tall, even if she wore heels. ¡°We have two healers working in each of the big tents, but what are the other tents for?¡±

    ¡°A place to sleep, for the healers to take a minute to rest and store their things¡­ that kind of thing,¡± Bert said. ¡°I mean, I assume they need to sleep.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, they forget to do that sometimes.¡± Dee laughed. ¡°One thing¡­ where is the blood going?¡±

    ¡°The Waystation is keeping everything clean. Why? Do you need the blood?¡± Bert replied.

    ¡°No!¡± Dee said hurriedly. ¡°It¡¯s great; I just wondered.¡± She blushed and quickly went to hurry away.

    ¡°Dee?¡± Bert called out.

    ¡°Yes?¡± She asked nervously.

    ¡°Do you need the blood? For you, I mean.¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Dee swore. ¡°What gave it away?¡±

    ¡°Well, the teeth are a bit of a clue.¡± Bert laughed. He waved his hand over his bracer, pulling out some blood berries. ¡°Are these any good to you?¡±

    Dee sniffed them a bit before gently placing one on her tongue. She looked incredibly anxious. She hesitantly bit down gently.

    Dee let out a noise of carnal pleasure that was enough to make several of the injured turn to look. It was not a ¡®food¡¯ type of noise.

    Bert took a surreptitious step back just to make sure everyone could see he was not, in fact, near the small woman.

    Dee placed each Berry in her mouth slowly. The noises got worse as Bert kept taking small steps away. By the time she finished her snack, he found himself three meters away and acutely embarrassed.

    She was flushed and panting, her eyes glazed over.

    ¡°What were they?¡± She panted.

    ¡°Blood Berries,¡± Bert said, trying to sound casual. ¡°Our Farmer grows them.¡±

    ¡°Are there more?¡± She asked with desperate hunger in her voice.

    ¡°Sure, we have plenty,¡± Bert said. ¡° I can get you some more-¡± Bert cut off as the girl blurred, appearing in front of him in less than the time it took to blink.

    ¡°Give!¡± She snarled.

    ¡°Okay, calm down!¡± Bert said as he resisted the urge to back away. He pulled an entire bowl of the fruits from his storage and found it snatched from his hands in milliseconds.

    Bert had run from many things in this new world, but none hurried him along as fast as the urge not to be near the strange little woman and the noise she made as she dug into the bowl of glistening red berries.

    ¡°What the fuck is going on out here?¡± Libby stormed over while Bert tried to think of any possible way to explain as the sounds coming from the old tent got louder and more animalistic.

    ¡°What have you done to my assistant?¡± Libby demanded. ¡°And why is it still happening?¡±

    ¡°I gave her some food!¡± Bert held his hands up defensively. ¡°That is all!¡±

    ¡°Idiot!¡± Libby snarled. ¡°She doesn¡¯t eat human food!¡± She hurried into the tent only to return less than a second later. ¡°What is she eating, for the Gods¡¯ sake?¡±

    ¡°They are Blood Berries,¡± Bert started. ¡°They are a type of fruit my Farmer developed.¡± He shrugged. ¡°If it helps, they are not strictly human food.¡±

    ¡°Explain, please.¡± Libby ignored the noises still coming from the tent.

    ¡°Okay, long story, but¡­ they are a type of berry grown to contain life and death mana while mimicking the nature of blood.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Or it may actually be blood; I¡¯m not sure.¡± He winced at a particularly loud moan.

    ¡°Does it act like blood? Can non-humans eat it?¡± Libby demanded.

    ¡°No idea about the first bit, but Undead, Fae, Orcs, and Humans have eaten it with only positive effects.¡± He thought for a second, ¡°Except for the wine, that has led to a few hangovers.¡± He continued, ¡°We have used it as a mild healing potion before, and they certainly help speed recovery.¡±

    ¡°And you just gave this to her?¡± Libby asked suspiciously.

    ¡°She asked about the blood; I had noticed her teeth when she smiled, so I thought I might see if she liked them.¡± Bert looked slightly guilty. ¡°I¡¯m sorry if they are having a detrimental effect¡­ but surely nice fresh blood from a berry is better than the runoff from wounds?¡±

    ¡°YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!¡± Dee shouted drunkenly from the tent.

    Libby winced.

    ¡°Fine, can you deal with this?¡± She gave him a look. ¡°I am busy healing people.¡±

    ¡°Deal with it?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Look after her!¡± Libby pushed him towards the tent. ¡°She is going to be feeling a little out of it.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert said hesitatingly.

    Libby marched off back to the new tents.

    Bert halted at the edge of the healer¡¯s tent, took a deep breath, and then walked in.

    ¡°I¡¯m so full I could pop!¡± Dee chuckled to herself. She was lying on her back on the floor of the open tent. Blood-red juice was smeared all over her face. ¡°Those things are amazing!¡±

    ¡°Glad I could help,¡± Bert said. ¡°Any chance you could clue me into what all that was?¡±

    Dee laughed for a full minute or so before she answered.

    ¡°I¡¯m a vampire offshoot,¡± She hiccuped. ¡°Need blood to live, but it¡¯s not like I am super strong or anything. So I joined up with the healers. Always lots of blood around healers.¡±

    ¡°But you can¡¯t get much just from the blood left behind?¡± Bert guessed.

    ¡°I have the ability to scavenge blood in an area into a Blood Orb,¡± She sighed. ¡°But it is mostly dead by then. I don¡¯t get much, but enough to survive.¡± She hiccuped again. ¡°I just barely get by. I honestly have never eaten this well in my entire life.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever feed on the hopeless cases?¡± Bert asked, interested despite himself. ¡°The ones that can¡¯t be saved?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± She looked away. ¡°I would never do that!¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°What?¡± She looked back at him.

    ¡°I mean, if they are done for anyway?¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Especially if they are going to die slow.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be hunted everywhere if I did that.¡± She said flatly.

    ¡°Sorry, that sucks.¡± He said.

    She chuckled.

    Bert looked up as an airhorn sounded in the distance.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She suddenly stood next to him.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Bert grinned, feeling relief wash over him, ¡°Just my daughter and her friends coming home!¡± He felt giddy. ¡°Are you okay on your own now?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± She said. ¡°I just need to sleep it off.¡±

    ¡°Head into the Bear¡¯s Fall and grab a room.¡± He nodded to her.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± She called, but he was already sprinting out of sight.

 Chapter 54 - Just Passing Through II

    To say the sudden arrival of the enormous Express created a stir would be an understatement. The various forces appeared unsure of what to do at first, and ultimately it did not matter. They couldn¡¯t stop it, and Wendy was not in a slowing down kind of mood.

    It pulled up to the Waystation just as Bert came around the back of the giant vehicle. He practically flew over the ground as Wendy threw open the door and waved.

    There were a lot of hugs and a few growls as Tim happily reported everything that had happened to Bud, paying particular attention to everything they didn¡¯t want him to tell. Those bits he took extra care to point out.

    Wendy parked the Express in its dock between the Waystation and Trailer One before they all crowded into the Barn for a longer explanation of everything that had happened.

    ¡°Dad!¡± Wendy yelped as Bell tried to downplay how badly they had both been hurt. It was clear Wendy was not buying it. Scruff kept trying to sneak away and check on her plants, and they finally relented.

    Next, Wendy brought out her new toys, the ¡®Pretties¡¯ gave Bert the creeps, but Bell loved them. Bell seemed to be getting along with Wendy a lot better than before, which both Bert and Wendy noticed, exchanging a relieved look.

    Bert was amazed at the bone and muscle exo suit, almost wishing he had thought of getting one. In the end, it was also a little creepy, however.

    He would stick with his regular armor; it was a medieval world, after all. No need to upgrade what already worked.

    Bert left them all talking and went to go check on Scruff. She had been a little quieter than usual.

    ¡°How¡¯s the farm?¡± Bert called as he came down the stairs into Trailer One. The place still looked a lot like a war zone. One where the plants had eaten all sides involved.

    ¡°Overgrown, unruly, and I think they missed me!¡± Scruff said happily as she moved between the rows of deadly plants and strange fruits.

    ¡°We all missed you,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°So, want to tell me yet?¡±

    ¡°Tell you what?¡± Scruff looked away.

    ¡°Whatever it was that you didn¡¯t want to say in front of Wendy.¡± Bert clarified despite them both knowing what he meant.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Scruff said, her face looking troubled.

    ¡°Spill it,¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°You don¡¯t complain about the owner¡¯s daughter!¡± Scruff grinned back.

    ¡°You do,¡± Bert said. ¡°Unless you think the owners are assholes.¡±

    ¡°It was just one thing,¡± Scruff still looked hesitant.

    ¡°Go on,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯ll keep it between us if you want.¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Scruff said, still reluctant. ¡°You¡¯ll probably think I¡¯m just overreacting.¡±

    ¡°You never have yet,¡± Bert was starting to get worried. What had happened?

    ¡°She just¡­ she got really into killing those cultists.¡± Scruff winced at the memory. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her like that before.¡±

    ¡°How bad was it?¡± Bert asked seriously.

    Scruff told him about the glee and joy on Wendy¡¯s face as she tore the People apart. About how they had tried to run, but she wouldn¡¯t let them. How Wendy laughed as they screamed, and how she swore to come back and kill them all.

    Bert winced a few times.

    ¡°Well?¡± Scruff asked when she finished.

    ¡°Look, I know there is something between you two¡­¡± Bert started.

    ¡°So you think I¡¯m making it up? Out of what? A lovers¡¯ spat?¡± Scruff huffed.

    ¡°Do you ever let people finish?¡± Bert laughed.

    Scruff looked a little flushed but sat down to listen to him again.

    ¡°I was trying to tell you that I know there is something between you¡­ and that you need to really think about if that is something you want.¡± He said.

    ¡°Why?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°That killing frenzy you saw? That is one of the things she got from Bell, and it probably isn¡¯t going anywhere.¡±

    ¡°You think?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°She is young; she may change as she gets older, but¡­¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Bell has the same thing; she loves killing stuff. I made my peace with that a long time ago. You might have to think if you can do the same.¡± He paused. ¡°Did you talk to her about it?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Scruff admitted. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to say. It just scared me a bit.¡±

    ¡°My advice is to just talk to her about it. Tell her how you felt, and get her to tell you how she felt. Maybe you can understand each other that way.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Scruff said, sagging like a weight had been removed from her shoulders. ¡°Thanks. I think I¡¯ll do that.¡±

    ¡°Glad to help,¡± Bert said. ¡°By the way, there is a vampire type of woman here who loves your blood berries.¡±

    ¡°Oh, nice,¡± Scruff said. ¡°I got some new seeds to try as well.¡± She hesitated. ¡°Umm, also¡­ Wendy ran down a whole herd of deer on the way here.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Bell did almost a whole herd of the Armored Bison as we went past them.¡±

    ¡°Gods above, they really are alike,¡± Scruff laughed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell them that,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°They are just starting to get along.¡±

    ================

    The exchange of wounded was much less of a formal affair than Bert had thought it would be. Each side turned up with a group of injured, and then they just shuffled between the groups.

    Winifred, Rikard and a few of their men even went and had a few drinks together afterward. The wounded themselves were either taken back to the army healers if they were nobles or left to the independent healers if they were common folk.

    The healers were suddenly swamped again, with the now energized Dee dashing to and fro between the groups and keeping them apart.

    Now that they had three tents, they were better able to prevent the injured from fighting each other.

    The orcs kept an eye on the lines while Bud stood on the Gatehouse, a rapid-fire arrow landing at the feet of anyone who got out of line.

    Bert loaded his storage bracer full of dead deer and headed down to help. They soon had a pretty good system going. While the other healers dealt with life-threatening injuries, Bert handled regrowing limbs, closing wounds, and simple issues.

    In no time, they were churning through the injured before sending them to rest, eat, or in a lot of cases, back to their armies fully healed.

    The healers had to tap out one by one, their mana pools empty. While they rested and ate a meal at the cafeteria, Bert churned through his stack of deer corpses.

    It was almost morning by the time the last of the injured was seen too. Bert stumbled into the cafeteria, grabbed a large bowl of bison stew, and began to eat mechanically.

    ¡°All done?¡± Dee asked, sliding silently into the place opposite him.

    ¡°Yeah, at last.¡± Bert yawned. ¡°I¡¯ll probably go grab a bit of sleep once I¡¯ve eaten.¡±

    ¡°Your people are impressive,¡± She said. ¡°I¡¯ve not seen a single fight or anything all night.¡±

    ¡°That are, aren¡¯t they?¡± Bert smiled.

    ¡°You better eat quick,¡± She sighed. ¡°They¡¯ll be back at it in a few hours.¡±

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Back at what?¡± Bert asked. ¡°The injured are all healed.¡±

    ¡°That was yesterday¡¯s lot.¡± She sighed. ¡°They are going to fight again in a few hours.¡±

    ¡°Seriously?¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°Stupid, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dee laughed. ¡°We heal them up, and they go straight back to trying to kill each other.¡± She looked into the distance, ¡°I think this will be the last day of fighting here, at least.¡±

    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Experience,¡± She laughed bitterly. ¡°Two hundred years of miserable experience.¡± She leaned aside as Bert spat his food across the table.

    ¡°Two hundred years?¡± Bert gaped at her. He would have guessed twenties at best. ¡°You¡¯re two hundred years old?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m closer to three hundred,¡± She chuckled. ¡°But I''ve been with healers for two hundred.¡±

    ¡°What level are you after almost three hundred years?¡± He asked.

    ¡°No levels for vampires,¡± She shrugged. ¡°We just get stronger as we consume more blood.¡± Dee looked at him, ¡°That must seem strange to you.¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I know pixies don¡¯t level, and a few others. Hell, there are probably more species that don¡¯t level than do.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± She smiled, ¡°I¡¯m just surprised to see a human who knows that.¡±

    Bert let a trickle of the mana tides light up his knotwork.

    ¡°Oh!¡± She chuckled again. ¡°I¡¯m getting old. You¡¯re Fae.¡± She grinned. ¡°I wondered why you didn¡¯t run screaming when you figured out what I am.¡±

    ¡°Well, I do plenty of running and screaming as it is,¡± Bert said with a smile. ¡°I can¡¯t just do it full time.¡±

    She laughed and then wished him good night.

    Bert sank into his bed, grateful for the rest.

    That night he dreamed of fire and teeth and his wife watching as he struggled. She smiled and waved but did not come to help him. Just as the fire and the teeth closed around him, she turned away.

    Bert wept in his sleep as the fire burned at him again.

    ============

    On the top floor of the Barn, in her own private art gallery, Bell tossed and turned in her sleep. She flew through the skies, dodging as fast as she could. No matter how fast she moved or where she went, the bolts closed in on her.

    She felt a searing pain in her back as she was sent tumbling from the air.

    This time no urn caught her as she fell. Her legs broke, and she whimpered in her sleep. The Lich loomed over her, laughing at her as she pulled herself away from it across the floor.

    The door burst open, and a fat, swollen man with bright red skin and no hair tumbled through the door. He was wrapped in stained canvas and carrying a wooden staff. Bert, as he had been.

    She cried out a warning, but the Lich moved too fast.

    It turned and blasted the stumbling figure with flames.

    Bert screamed in pain, and she screamed as she watched him burn.

    But¡­

    As he burned away, the fire revealed a new figure. He stood taller, with muscles covering his tanned form. Iron, Steel, Bronze, and Copper armor emerged from the flames as lights emerged from his skin. His eyes burned with wicked mirth as his mouth stretched into a crooked smile.

    He posed against the fire as the lich seemed to shrink. A single smash from the burning fist of the more up-to-date Bert sent the lich screaming into nothingness.

    Bell felt her heart rate increase as Bert looked down on her.

    ¡°Hey there.¡± He smiled, a fleck of light glinting in his eye with an audible ¡®Ting.¡¯

    Bell awoke, breathing hard and irritated.

    ¡°No. Fucking. Way!¡±

    Bert was just emerging from his room as she buzzed down to the ground floor. He looked pale and a bit shaky, but she was too pissed off to care.

    ¡°Stay out of my head!¡± She snarled, changing into human form just long enough to kick him in the crotch before huffing and flying off.

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert gasped as he fell to the floor.

    =====================

    Dee had been right, and the first casualties arrived before Bert had even finished breakfast. Bell wasn¡¯t talking to him for some reason, so he headed off to help out as soon as he was done.

    The flow of injured wasn¡¯t too bad. With his help, only two of the healers needed to be on shift at any one time. That meant lots of time for them to rest and recover mana. By lunch, the injured were turning up with the occasional dead deer or other unfortunate animal.

    Word had gotten around about a healer that used animal flesh. On one memorable occasion, someone missing an arm turned up with a human leg and a hopeful look. Bert carefully put the leg aside and healed the man, stressing that cutting bits off other people was not a good idea.

    ¡°So, how¡¯s your day going?¡± Seb joked as Bert ushered out another man with a severed limb over his shoulder.

    ¡°That¡¯s not going to work, soldier!¡± The other man Bert had met that first day had turned out to be Seb¡¯s best friend and now bunkmate, Felix. He tore the soldier a new one and sent him to the back of the line. ¡°It has to be animals!¡± He yelled out the door. ¡°The spell does NOT work with anything else!¡±

    ¡°Trust me, this will save a lot of time and amateur amputations,¡± Seb told Bert. ¡°I¡¯d rather not doesn¡¯t really get through on the battlefield.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± Bert nodded.

    The three of them worked together well, Seb and Felix¡¯s dark sense of humor working well with his own. The two healers often worked faster than Bert could even process what was going on. The only hiccup came with the change over to the next pair. A female healer with long red hair wound with flowers called Maggy came in together with her frequent partner, Anton, a bald monk-like man. The two pairs got on like oil and water.

    It didn¡¯t take long to see why. Anton seemed to be a faith-based healer. He often turned away those of other religions. To make it worse, his healing was slightly underpowered. Twice Bert caught someone leaving with only half their wounds healed. Anton had declared them ¡®cursed¡¯ and sent the men on. Bert found the wounds easy enough to heal and was betting Anton was trying to hide a smaller mana pool.

    Maggy herself was a wonder at healing. If anything, she was almost better than Seb and Felix. Or she would be if she didn¡¯t have to covertly assist Anton on the more difficult cases.

    Bert didn¡¯t say anything. He was no healer, just a guy with a handy ability. He cast the spell, directed it, and the magic did the rest. That fact made him reluctant to second guess what were apparently experienced healers.

    None of that changed the fact that he breathed a sigh of relief as Maggy and Anton were replaced by Libby.

    She took a shift all on her own because she was frankly amazing. She made the whole thing seem effortless as she weaved a series of spells that spun across the space, knitting the injured back together as the color returned to their skin and their tense bodies relaxed as the pain faded away.

    ¡°You doing okay?¡± Libby asked him as she let another set of spells fly across the tent.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°You are fucking amazing, by the way.¡±

    She laughed. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    The last pair of healers were twin brothers Leon and Marcus. They walked the front lines all day, picking the most injured people that could still be saved and speeding them to the front of the healing line.

    Both of them were incredibly strong at self-healing, allowing them to shrug off blows and accidental spell impacts like it was nothing.

    And they never stopped.

    All day.

    Bell even sent a pair of Multi-Bells out with food for them as the day wore on.

    The battle was over by sunrise the next morning, and those still alive had been healed.

    Thanks to the power of the Waystation, they walked away from healing tents as clean and fresh looking as when they first woke up that morning.

    When sleep claimed him that morning, he once more found himself back in the flames and teeth of the Fortress City. This time he chased his wife as she danced through the streets. The flames and undead opened ahead of her and closed just as fast behind her as they went.

    Bert fought until his energy was sapped, and his arms refused to move before he awoke, sweating and gasping at midday.

    Bert sat at the lunch table and picked at his food, uncertain what to do. He couldn¡¯t keep going with the nightmares like this. And why the hell was his wife always there?

    ¡°Talk to Libby,¡± Dee said as she slid in beside him.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked. He had been miles away.

    ¡°Talk. To. Libby.¡± Dee said again. ¡°I know the look, so go talk to the boss.¡±

    ¡°What look?¡± Bert knew what she meant, but hey, he was stubborn.

    ¡°I heard a lot about you and this place over the last couple of days. Go see Libby. She can help.¡± Dee leaned forward conspiratorially, ¡°And thanks for keeping the vampire thing quiet.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± He smiled. ¡°And no problem. Did you talk to Scruff yet?¡±

    ¡°Yeah!¡± Dee grinned. ¡°She and I have been trying different methods of drying the berries and found one that keeps the effect intact!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s great, really.¡± Bert smiled. ¡°I hope they help.¡±

    ¡°Oh, they do!¡± Dee grinned. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m coming with you when you go.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Bert spun back to the table.

    ¡°Bell said I could come with you. You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡± Dee asked.

    ¡°Uhh, no,¡± Bert said. ¡°But isn¡¯t Libby going to be pissed with me?¡±

    ¡°Oh, definitely.¡± Dee chuckled. ¡°But that would be your problem.¡± The little vampire chucked a couple of Blood Berries into her mouth and turned away.

    He was on his way to see Libby when Rikard and Winifred came over, with a third person trailing behind them.

    ¡°Caretaker Hudson!¡± Winifred bellowed. ¡°How does the day find you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Bert nodded. ¡°And you?¡±

    ¡°Delighted!¡± She laughed. ¡°I won!¡±

    ¡°No one won,¡± The third person was a tall, angular man with a balding pate and deep-set eyes.

    ¡°She won, Jura,¡± Rikard said. ¡°We capitulated. Accept it and move on.¡±

    ¡°Jura?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°It is of no matter!¡± Winifred laughed. ¡°He will not speak again.¡±

    ¡°Ookay,¡± Bert said awkwardly.

    ¡°The point of our visit,¡± Rikard said in a deliberate way, ¡°Is to thank you for the help you gave the healers.¡±

    ¡°My pleasure,¡± Bert said. ¡°Always happy to help.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Winifred said. ¡°Libby said you would agree, but I had my doubts.¡± She clapped him on the back and walked away, the reluctant Jura following.

    ¡°Agree to what?¡± Bert asked Rikard.

    ¡°Your camp, and those healers, saved a lot of lives the last couple of days.¡± Rikard nodded to the tents. ¡°Much more than usual.¡±

    ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± Bert said with a sinking feeling.

    ¡°So the Waystation and the healers are now formally Neutral ground and a place of healing.¡±

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t it already?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°In an informal way, yes.¡± Rikard nodded. ¡°A temporary way.¡± He said meaningfully. ¡°Now, it is law agreed amongst the Houses.¡± He grinned. ¡°As long as the Healers are with you, so are they.¡±

    ¡°Ah, fuck.¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°I thought you would understand.¡± Rikard laughed.

    ¡°In short, if I leave them here and move on¡­¡±

    ¡°Then one side, probably Jura, will kill them.¡± Rikard shrugged. ¡°They healed many enemies here. And House Jura may blame the loss on that.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯ll just take the healers with me then,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°To the next battlefield, of course,¡± Rikard said.

    ¡°Straight out of the area,¡± Bert corrected him.

    ¡°Good luck with that!¡± Rikard laughed as he walked away. ¡°Healers are a stubborn breed.¡±

    Bert went to find Libby.

 Chapter 55 - Just Passing Through III

    ¡°Oh, stop bitching,¡± Libby said once Bert finally managed to track her down. ¡°You would have helped us anyway.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert snapped.

    ¡°You were never going to just wave and drive away,¡± Libby smiled. ¡°I know people, Caretaker Hudson. You don¡¯t want to help, but you will.¡±

    ¡°I never said I didn¡¯t want to help,¡± Bert pointed out, uncomfortably aware he was making her point for her.

    ¡°You just like to make the choice yourself,¡± Libby said as she cast another cleansing spell. The old beds, bedding, and mattresses the healers used before the Waystation arrived were finally getting cleaned.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Bert agreed.

    ¡°Of course, since you would never just abandon anyone, it wasn¡¯t a real choice at all,¡± She said matter of factly. ¡°But you prefer to be given the opportunity to pretend it is a choice.¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Bert frowned. ¡°Run that past me again.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t ask first as I knew you would want to say no, for your people, but couldn¡¯t actually say no, because of who you are.¡± Libby clarified. ¡°You¡¯re now pissed because I didn¡¯t waste time while both of us pretended there was a choice there.¡±

    ¡°Basically, yes,¡± Bert grunted. ¡°I would have put it differently, though.¡±

    ¡°Yes, but you would mean the same.¡± Libby smiled. ¡°This way, you can say it was all arranged without asking you, which gives you an excuse if you want one.¡±

    ¡°Manners would have been to ask first, at least.¡± Bert pointed out.

    ¡°You claimed to have no manners, remember?¡± Libby said flatly.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°I get it. I don¡¯t like it, but I get it.¡±

    ¡°Good man,¡± Libby said, ¡°Now, why were you actually looking for me?¡±

    ¡°Well, I was coming to ask for your help with some things I¡¯ve been struggling with,¡± Bert grimaced. ¡°However, given that you just manipulated the situation around me, I suddenly feel a lack of trust. Can¡¯t imagine why.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Libby frowned. ¡°I was sure you wouldn¡¯t come to see me about anything like that.¡± She cocked an eyebrow at him. ¡°What exactly was it about?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, no.¡± Bert sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with my issues some other way, thanks.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Libby called as he turned to walk away.

    Bert gave her a look.

    ¡°Okay, I apologize!¡± Libby said. ¡°I just wanted to look out for my people.¡±

    ¡°Did you even consider just coming to me about it?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Honestly?¡± Libby shrugged. ¡°Not even for a second. I don¡¯t know you; frankly, you look like you are hanging on by your fingernails.¡± She wiped her hands on her shirt, ¡°I would have offered to help, but Nobles don¡¯t generally deal with their issues in healthy ways.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a noble.¡± Bert clarified.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t a Lord of the Fae?¡± Libby asked. ¡°Bell said you were.¡±

    ¡°Ahh, that.¡± Bert scowled. ¡°I only just got the title, not the attitude.¡±

    ¡°Okay, look,¡± Libby said in a soothing voice. ¡°Why don¡¯t we have a little chat once we finish packing up and are on our way to the next battlefield?¡±

    Bert wanted to tell her to go fuck herself. He did not like being manipulated or having assumptions made about him.

    But he was really feeling ragged, and he needed help.

    ¡°Okay,¡± He nodded and walked away.

    Packing up was a straightforward process. The healers moved their things into the Bear¡¯s Fall, and the Waystation simply absorbed and stored the entire camp. They pulled the spikes from the ground and were on the road in a matter of hours.

    Bert resisted a petty urge to absorb everything from the old camp out of spite. Instead, they were stacked in a back room of the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    Bell already knew where to go, apparently.

    She still wasn¡¯t talking to him.

    He knew he would have to figure out what was going on there soon, but Bert wanted to get his head straight first. He was currently feeling like a mass of exposed nerves.

    If the two of them argued now, it would be bad.

    To his surprise, most of the healers were already drinking rather heavily; Bud was manning the bar as they drank in a ¡®we¡¯re here for the day¡¯ kind of way. The two exceptions were Dee, who was experimenting with frozen Blood Berries, and Libby¡­ who made a beeline for him.

    Time to get it over with.

    She told him they needed somewhere he felt comfortable and relaxed. Bert sorted through the most calming places in the Waystation and settled on one that had become his favorite lately.

    The two sat on the steps leading down to Trailer One. It overlooked Scruff¡¯s fields, which looked peaceful if you didn¡¯t look too closely, while the Express was just beneath them, its reassuring presence just below the stairway. The presence of Way Way surrounded him, as it did anywhere on the Waystation, and the shadow of the control tower fell across the fields. It was one place he could see and feel the whole place while still being alone.

    At least, usually.

    Libby explained that he needed to tell her everything, so he did. It took a while to tell the whole story. Losing his wife. His arrival in this world, everything that had happened since. The return of the Fae and his wife¡¯s brief visit. The Fortress City and the battles there. How he needed healing, everything.

    Surprisingly, he felt better just for having told someone everything. He hadn¡¯t really considered it all as a single tale before. It had been more of a staccato series of events.

    ¡°First question,¡± Libby asked a few minutes after he was done, ¡°How are you even still functioning?¡±

    ¡°Fucked if I know,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°But I don¡¯t think I am, at least not well.¡±

    ¡°There are honestly too many traumas there to unpack,¡± Libby cocked an eyebrow. ¡°So let¡¯s start smaller. When did you first start to feel wrong.¡±

    Bert thought about what she said. It was vague, but he knew exactly what she meant. Something had felt wrong for a while now.

    ¡°I think it started when the Fae came,¡± Bert said distantly. ¡°When they left, everything felt off balance. Like I lost something.¡± He felt like he was onto something, so he kept talking, ¡°Ever since they left, I felt like I lost my direction. I feel lost and off balance all the time. I¡¯m snapping at people and getting angry, and I don¡¯t even know why.¡±

    ¡°When the Fae left, so did someone else,¡± Libby said gently. ¡°Your wife did too.¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Well, yeah.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°She had stuff to do. It was great to see her, but it hurt that she left.¡± He felt tears in his eyes and blinked them away. ¡°I¡¯m sad, sure, but the only thing that changed was I got to see her for a bit. Now, I¡¯m back to missing her, just like before.¡± He smiled sadly. ¡°I¡¯ve done that before. I know how to do that.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not the same now, is it?¡± Libby prompted him.

    ¡°No. No, it¡¯s not.¡± Bert said. ¡°I don¡¯t really know why, but it isn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Okay, long way or short way?¡± Libby asked.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Long way, we keep talking while I guide you,¡± She smiled. ¡°Short way, I just tell you what I know.¡±

    ¡°Short way,¡± Bert said. ¡°We both have things to do, right?¡±

    ¡°Right.¡± She smiled kindly before her face became serious. ¡°Bert, it¡¯s different now because the situation is different. Your wife died; not her fault. She fought as hard as anyone could.¡± She said.

    Bert nodded.

    ¡°You went on, frankly suicidal, and just kept pushing through.¡± She put a hand on his arm, ¡°It was hard, but you had a goal in mind. Getting to see your wife and having lots of things to tell her when you did.¡±

    Bert nodded again.

    ¡°Then she came back,¡± Libby smiled. ¡°And it was wonderful. All you could want was yours and more. Because you could share this great adventure with her now.¡± She swallowed and went on, ¡°But she had her own adventures in the meantime. She grew powerful and confident and, I¡¯m sorry to say, made plans that didn¡¯t include you.¡±

    Bert frowned but let her go on.

    ¡°She is looking long term, very long term. She doesn¡¯t see a need to rush back together because you both have eternity.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Bert agreed. ¡°Who cares if we are apart for a few decades?¡±

    ¡°You do,¡± Libby laughed. ¡°You are trying to pretend you don¡¯t, but you do. If the situation had been reversed, you would have looked at the long term too.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right. She said I would understand in time.¡± Bert said.

    ¡°And she¡¯s completely wrong,¡± Libby said gently. ¡°You see eternity as well, but you want to spend every second of it with her.¡±

    Bert said nothing as he stared at the Farmland.

    ¡°You¡¯re angry, Mister Hudson because she chose something other than you. And you never would choose something over her.¡± Libby went on. ¡°And more than that, every other time you have been in trouble, she was there in some way.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°When you found the Waystation, when you fought those jelly creatures, and so on, she turned up.¡± Libby said, ¡°But when Bell, your best friend, fell, she didn¡¯t come. And when you were burnt and suffering, she didn¡¯t come.¡± Libby was almost whispering now, her hand on his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s why she turned away in the dream and why you were looking for her in the city. Because she wasn¡¯t there for the first time.¡± She let him think for a moment, watching the silent tears fall.

    ¡°She wasn¡¯t there,¡± Bert said at last, ¡°Even as I lay dying, she didn¡¯t even come to check on me.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Libby said. ¡°She wasn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Death changes people,¡± Libby said coldly. ¡°Her death changed you, and it changed her. She is not the woman she was, and maybe¡­ you might not like this, but¡­ maybe she isn¡¯t the woman you fell in love with anymore.¡±

    ¡°I still love her,¡± Bert said with absolute finality.

    ¡°And you always will, at least the woman she used to be.¡± Libby sighed. ¡°The question is, do you love the woman she is now in the same way you loved the woman she was then? And more to the point, does that woman love the man you are now in the same way she used to?¡±

    ¡°Fuck,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Libby said. ¡°Wish you took the long way?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°What about all this anger? Where is that coming from?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re pissed at her for leaving, for changing, and for not coming.¡± Libby shrugged. ¡°And pissed at yourself for not seeing it coming, not being with her all this time, and for being angry with her at all. You can¡¯t express the anger, so it comes out sideways.¡±

    ¡°So, what do I do?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You know what the cause is now,¡± Libby said. ¡°That is a good start. Let yourself be angry at Gwen; you¡¯re allowed to be angry. Anger is healthy; it¡¯s how it is expressed that can make it toxic. Let the anger out in healthy ways, and let yourself off the hook.¡±

    ¡°That easy, huh?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s not easy.¡± Libby laughed. ¡°It will be a long, tough road.¡±

    =============

    Wendy sat in the dark cab of the Express and chewed her dried blood berries. The vamp chick was really on to something with these. They tasted amazing. When Bert and Libby had walked over the walkway, she had noticed, in an offhand way, but not really paid attention.

    She started to pay attention once they started talking. What? She was a teenager and a pixie. Being nosy was practically legally required of her.

    She had known about what happened to her Dad in the way she knew a lot of things she had never personally been there for. Hearing his voice break a few times as he talked about it was another thing. Hearing him tell it, it wasn¡¯t some great adventure but an almost nonstop nightmare.

    As the story got closer to where she came into it, she almost wanted to stop listening. This was her Dad, bearing all of his feelings to Libby. What if she heard something she didn¡¯t want to know?

    Almost stopping is not stopping, and she listened as he told her about his becoming a father.

    ¡°I never wanted kids, you know?¡± Bert said sadly, and Wendy felt her heart clench. ¡°And then bam, instant daughter. She is so much like me and Bell it¡¯s scary. And you know the worst part?¡± Wendy heard him pause as she began to cry; he didn¡¯t eve-

    ¡°She makes me wish I could have been there for her all of her life, like from a baby. Wendy is enough to make me wish I actually had kids. Weird, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    Wendy¡¯s eyes opened wide as she began to cry for an altogether different reason.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really understand what happened, but she is my kid. I know that.¡± Bert said. ¡°Letting her go off on that adventure nearly killed me, I swear.¡±

    In the dark cab of the Express, Wendy smiled as she wiped at her tears.

    She slipped out of the Express just as they finished talking, sneaking over to the control tower and heading up.

    She needed to talk to her Mum.

    ¡°You have to stop being mean to Dad!¡± Wendy growled as she got to the top.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked, looking guilty for some reason.

    ¡°I know you¡¯re not talking to him for some reason,¡± Wendy huffed. ¡°But he needs you!¡±

    ¡°What are you on about?¡± Bell asked.

    So Wendy told her everything, from start to finish. She was crying again by the time she finished.

    ¡°Come here,¡± Bell said and gestured. Wendy took her pixie form, which she almost never used, and flew into her mother¡¯s arms. Bell hugged her tightly while they cried. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay,¡± Bell soothed her. ¡°If I start being nice to Daddy, I¡¯ll only scare him,¡± She sighed. ¡°But, I¡¯ll be normal with him, I promise.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Mum,¡± Wendy said, flashing back into her human form as she drifted back from the hug.

    ¡°Wendy?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Yes, Mum?¡± Wendy asked, still wiping her eyes.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you use your pixie form much?¡± Bell asked quietly, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I love it,¡± Wendy laughed, ¡°I just use the human one as I don¡¯t have telekinesis.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked in shock. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°I lost the spell,¡± Wendy shrugged, ¡°When I bound to the Express, I got something useless in exchange.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Something called Reclaim Flesh, like I would ever want to,¡± She shivered. ¡°I never read what it does, but it sounds gross.¡± She watched her Mum laugh, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s your Dad¡¯s super powerful healing spell.¡± Bell gasped between laughs. ¡°It¡¯s like the most broken thing about him.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Wendy gasped. ¡°I thought it was a way to put on extra weight?¡±

    ¡°And what is wrong with that, young lady?¡± Bell snapped, suddenly serious. ¡°You don¡¯t have body image issues do you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°I¡¯m gorgeous, but how do you even know about them?¡±

    ¡°Bert told me,¡± Bell said. ¡°You promise you don¡¯t have body image issues?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mum,¡± Wendy rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Good, and what do you do if anyone makes you feel bad about your body?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°I kill them, obviously.¡± She laughed. ¡°What else would I do?¡±

    ¡°Good girl.¡± Bell grinned. ¡°Now, go read up on that spell; that way, you can help the healers with your Dad.¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Wendy said. She liked the idea of working with Dad and left the tower feeling warm and cuddly. Dad said she was awesome, and Mum actually caring what she thought of herself had left her glowing.

    ===============

    Bud and Scruff waited until Bert and Libby had gone before they climbed out of the bush they had been hiding in.

    ¡°How did you know he would come here?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°I see him there all the time,¡± Scruff said. ¡°I think the fields make him feel better.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bud said doubtfully.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Scruff snapped. ¡°They are beautiful and soothing!¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Bud said defensively as several of the ¡®soothing¡¯ plants began to rustle ominously.

    ¡°So, what did you think?¡± Scruff asked. ¡°Is he going to be okay?¡±

    ¡°Libby seemed to think so,¡± Bud nodded, ¡°Are you?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Scruff said, red-eyed. ¡°I¡¯m going to fall apart because someone who basically saved my life said they would die to protect us all?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bud said, ¡°It was the bit where he said you were the best human he had met in this world, and he couldn¡¯t stand the thought of you leaving.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that!¡± Scruff¡¯s voice broke, ¡°I just¡­ go away!¡± She snapped.

    Bud chuckled as he walked off.

    He didn¡¯t blame Scruff for being emotional. He had felt entirely moved when Bert described him as the brother he never had. But, of course, he didn¡¯t shed a tear. He had no tear ducts.

    Bud waved to a grinning Wendy as she flew overhead, in pixie form for a change, and laughed as he heard a startled shriek from Scruff a second later.

    They may have been rolling toward another battlefield, but Bud was pretty confident that things would be okay.

 Chapter 56 - Beer, Blood, and Body Parts I

    The Waystation rolled to a stop to a general cheering from the nearby warriors. It seemed that word of the healing on offer had spread. An area had apparently been cleared for them.

    Bell parked somewhere else.

    Partly because she didn¡¯t trust them, and partly because fuck their plans.

    Bell was an independent Pixie and went where the hell she wanted.

    Not the kind of pixie to have been having dreams about her best friend and long-time partner, Bert.

    Definitely not the kind of Pixie to dream about his eyes glinting against flames as he laughed with muscles rippling on his tanned¡­.

    ¡°No!¡± Bell snarled. ¡°None of that happened.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked as he set up the Healer¡¯s camp.

    ¡°Nothing, asshole!¡± Bell snapped. ¡°I¡¯ve been having nightmares, that¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Try talking to Libby,¡± Bert offered, ¡°I did, and I have to admit I slept better last night.¡±

    Bell looked away quickly. She had heard all about his talk from Wendy and didn¡¯t want to give anything away. ¡°Take Wendy with you to the Healer¡¯s Tents, will you?¡± Bell sighed. ¡°She got your healing spell, apparently.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert sounded pleased. ¡°She never said anything.¡±

    ¡°She never read the spell description,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°She thought it was a spell to help her gain weight.¡±

    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have Bo-¡± Bert started.

    ¡°No, we talked about it already,¡± Bell stopped him.

    ¡°Oh, great,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Did you know she hasn¡¯t got telekinesis?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°No, but I hoped it was something like that,¡± Bert said absent-mindedly.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Why she spent so much time in human form.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Who would be human all the time if they could fly around as a pixie.¡±

    ¡°Right?¡± Bell fought the flush of a blush down when he said that. He thought being a pixie was that great! ¡°I thought maybe she just hated me.¡±

    ¡°Bell!¡± Bert looked shocked.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell said. ¡°I was a massive bitch to her when she got here.¡±

    ¡°I think she is just a little in awe of you,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Really?¡± Bell asked, surprised.

    ¡°She used to be a copy of you, remember? I think she thought you saw her as lesser now.¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Why?¡± Bell asked. ¡°She got half of you; that¡¯s not lesser.¡±

    ¡°See, I knew you liked me,¡± Bert laughed as he stood on the platform.

    Bell narrowed her eyes, and the platform disappeared.

    Bert plummeted down the tower.

    ¡°Fuck sake, Bell!¡± Bert¡¯s voice echoed up the tower as she giggled.

    She wasn¡¯t flirting.

    She wasn¡¯t.

    =====================

    Bert found Wendy ready and waiting with nervous energy and a set of light blue scrubs on. She also, for some reason, was carrying an old-fashioned lamp. She explained his memories of healers, which she had inherited, had featured a rather iconic woman with a lamp.

    He told her the story of Florence Nightingale as they made their way down to the Healer¡¯s Tents. Libby was having a morning meeting.

    It was decided that Wendy would work with Bert until she felt comfortable with the skill, at which point she could join the rotation independently if she wanted to.

    Scruff and Dee came down the drawbridge a few minutes later, pushing a large wooden cart with rattling glass bottles. Each one was filled with a dark, reddish-brown liquid.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Libby demanded.

    ¡°These are the first batch of healing potions!¡± Dee said excitedly. ¡°I used to be an apothecary a long time ago.¡±

    ¡°They are made from the Blood Berries,¡± Scruff said before adding ¡®mostly¡¯ under her breath.

    ¡°Have they been tested?¡± Libby scowled at the pair.

    ¡°That is what we are here to do,¡± Dee grinned. ¡°Someone is going to be impatient, and if anything goes wrong¡­ the healers are right there.¡±

    ¡°Dee!¡± Libby warned.

    ¡°Oh, relax,¡± Dee waved her away, ¡°I¡¯m reasonably sure they won¡¯t kill anyone.¡±

    ¡°Not exactly a ringing endorsement.¡± Libby sighed.

    ¡°But-¡± Scruff said.

    ¡°No untested potions!¡± Libby snapped.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Bert called. ¡°Why don¡¯t we just test them now?¡± He walked up to the cart and grabbed a potion. He stabbed one of the metal bolts from his crossbow supplies into his leg with his other hand. ¡°Do I drink it or pour it on?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Either?¡± Scruff said excitedly.

    Bert split the difference, pouring some on the wound and then downing the rest.

    ¡°Wow, that tastes amazing!¡± He said as they all watched the wound knit cleanly closed.

    ¡°Mister Hudson!¡± Libby snapped. ¡°That is no way to test a potion!¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I can heal myself from just about anything.¡±

    Marcus and Leon had already stabbed each other and tried the potions before he had even finished speaking.

    ¡°That¡¯s really nice,¡± Leon said. ¡°Can we take some with us for the day?¡±

    ¡°Break the bottles, and you have to replace them!¡± Dee called as Libby put her head in her hands.

    ¡°If anyone wants to take one away, they have to pay for the bottle!¡± Scruff said quickly.

    The sounds of horns broke up the meeting. The battle was beginning.

    Wendy adapted well to using the spell, although Bert did have to stop her from accepting the severed limbs people brought after a while. There was something disquieting about her happy squeals as she was handed another body part.

    She still managed to build up quite a collection by lunch.

    They were a present for Scruff, who blushed when Wendy presented her with a bouquet of severed hands and fingers.

    Bert insisted the rest were sent direct to the Farm by the Waystation; the two girls were starting to scare the soldiers.

    There was a tense moment when Tim came rattling down the drawbridge with a new stack of potions in a box. One of the Warriors nearby apparently took offense.

    When the shouting warrior strode towards little Tim, shouting about abominations, Bud put an arrow through each foot, nailing the man to the floor.

    A couple of his friends had objected, and the orcs had closed ranks about little Tim, who was shouting foul-mouthed insults at the warrior.

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    That was when the assembled warriors discovered that the smiling girl in blue scrubs had a temper control problem.

    Bert had just sighed and started to push his way out of the tent when Wendy stormed past him.

    ¡°Oi! Fuck face!¡± She screamed, the man¡¯s smile vanishing as Wendy¡¯s snarling face sent shivers down his spine. ¡°Want to be fertilizer?¡±

    ¡°I shall not allow an abomination to live!¡± The man snarled and swung a fist at Wendy.

    She swayed aside, blurring as she slammed a fist into the side of his head. The man scrumpled, blood coming out of his ear. Wendy kicked him in the chest, the sound of ribs cracking echoing around the suddenly silent area.

    She spat on the unconscious man and promptly went over to check on Tim.

    Tim handed the box to an orc and jumped into her arms.

    Wendy walked back to her place in the healing tent, holding Tim in one arm like an overgrown baby.

    ¡°Next!¡± She called brightly.

    There were no further problems that day.

    Only Bert saw as Wendy pulled the arm of her scrubs down a little, hiding the hardened bone knuckledusters beneath her scrubs.

    ¡°Who taught Tim to swear?¡± Bud yelled down from the Gatehouse as Scruff and Wendy both tried to look innocent.

    ===============

    Later that night, long after they had finished healing the injured, three men crept towards the back of Trailer One.

    ¡°You¡¯re sure they are back here?¡± The large man, Bjorn, asked his friend.

    ¡°Yes, the monk and the red-haired healer complained loudly about the two of them spending time back here.¡± His friend, Kristoff, answered.

    ¡°Good,¡± Bjorn smirked. ¡°I will teach the girl to embarrass me!¡±

    The third man rolled his eyes but remained silent.

    Their grappling hooks were still in their backpacks when the vines curled around them, yanking them up and over the wall.

    They found themselves suspended upside down, vines wrapping their arms and mouths.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let them touch the floor, or Mum and Dad will know,¡± They heard the healer¡¯s voice in the darkness as a torch approached.

    ¡°I know that, silly,¡± The other one, the farmer.

    ¡°Hello, boys,¡± Wendy said, casting a soft glow above her head. She smiled at the three men. ¡°I won¡¯t bother to ask your names because who gives a fuck!¡± She laughed.

    Scruff chuckled behind her.

    Kristoff struggled to speak while Bjorn flexed, trying to break the vines that trapped his arms.

    ¡°No blood,¡± Wendy reminded Scruff. ¡°Dee would probably be able to smell that.¡±

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Scruff said, ¡°I said I¡¯d handle it.¡±

    ¡°Sorry!¡± Wendy said honestly. ¡°I better get back and be seen at dinner. Will you be long?¡±

    ¡°No, it will only take a minute,¡± Scruff shrugged.

    The two young women kissed and parted ways.

    ¡°You really shouldn''t have tried to come in here,¡± Scruff sighed. ¡°I¡¯d be sorry about this, but you did come here to kill my girlfriend.¡±

    The men found themselves passed from vine to vine as they neared a large Barn.

    ¡°Now, I¡¯d say not to worry, but to be honest, this will be unbelievably painful.¡± Scruff said as the men found themselves lowered through the hay loft and into the tall barn. Lights pulsed around them as floating creatures detached from the walls and roof, glowing as they neared the men.

    ¡°But there won¡¯t be a drop of blood!¡± Scruff said cheerfully as she closed the doors.

    The men tried to scream as the glowing, shifting things pressed in around them, but the vines refused to let go. Their eyes opened wide as the delicate fibers dangling below the luminous forms wrapped around them. Their screams were silent as they were drained of every flicker of life they had.

    The bodies were passed out of the barn and dropped into the back of the Express, the vines caressing the vehicle as it processed the bodies.

    Bloodless body parts were collected by the vines and carried over to a pit, where they joined those collected that day.

    Scruff was a few minutes late for dinner, but then¡­ she so often was.

    ================

    Bert joined the other healers for a few beers, enjoying the satisfaction of a hard day¡¯s work. Wendy even joined them for a while before going to find Scruff.

    ¡°Got to love a day when the healing is done before the sun sets,¡± Seb was saying as he downed his drink.

    ¡°Might actually get some sleep tonight,¡± Felix agreed.

    ¡°To good food, good drink, and a good night¡¯s sleep!¡± Libby toasted them all and drained another glass of the Blood Berry wine.

    The other healers all raised their glasses. Bert was beginning to realize they would toast to just about anything that gave them an excuse to get another drink in them.

    Well, most of them would.

    ¡°No more for me,¡± Anton said virtuously and loud enough that he could be sure everyone heard him. ¡°I am a man of moderation.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what the noises from your tent say!¡± Seb laughed.

    ¡°Sabastian!¡± Maggy snapped. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean, but I insist you apologize.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on, Maggy,¡± Felix chuckled. ¡°There is nothing wrong with it.¡±

    ¡°I am a chaste man!¡± Anton protested loudly.

    ¡°And caught,¡± Seb hiccuped, ¡°every night!¡±

    Everyone laughed but Anton, who stormed out while Maggy glowered at the room.

    ¡°Mister Hudson!¡± She snapped, ¡°Might I have a word?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert shrugged and went over to her table.

    ¡°I have some delicate plant matter,¡± Maggy said stiffly. ¡°I was hoping I might store them in the cold room of the Bear¡¯s Fall.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Bert said. ¡°But if you like, I can put one in the tent for you.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Maggy asked suspiciously.

    ¡°No problem,¡± Bert said. ¡°How much space do you need?¡±

    ¡°Not much, just enough for some leaves, petals, and flowers,¡± Maggy said.

    Bert grabbed one of the small wooden boxes they used to store food and handed it to her. She looked at it, confused.

    ¡°How is it cold?¡± She turned it around a few times before noticing the tiny rune on the base. ¡°Is that what I think it is?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°Just make sure it is placed within the Waystation grounds, and it will stay cool.¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡± She said, hurrying off.

    Bert spent another few hours with the healers and then called it a night.

    =============

    The fighting started again before the sun rose, with the injured starting to trickle in almost immediately.

    Bert headed out, having had only a single nightmare all night. It was a doozy, but it was better than his previous nonstop nightmares. He threw himself into the work, keeping busy.

    Wendy and Scruff emerged just after sunrise, looking happy as they munched on sandwiches as they dragged the cart behind them.

    Dee pulled him aside to meet with a representative of the locals, who seemed to be furious about something. Bert could only catch about one word in three; their accents were strong.

    Luckily Bruno was nearby and called May over. She was apparently originally from the area and acted as the translator. Three local men had apparently gone missing. One of them had been involved in the altercation with Wendy the day before.

    The local Headman of the nearby Village had been dragged here by the wife of one of the men. They wanted to know if there had been another incident.

    ¡°Why would there be?¡± Bert asked.

    May listened to their reply and winced.

    ¡°Apparently, the men left the local ale house, having sworn revenge on Wendy,¡± May said as calmly as possible.

    ¡°They fucking WHAT?¡± Bert exploded.

    The argument dragged on for a while, but it was clear the men had either changed their minds or passed out drunk.

    Just in case, Bert told Bud to keep an eye out.

    The last thing he needed was some random assholes hunting his daughter.

    Dee promised to keep an eye out as well.

    The difficult part was telling Bell, who immediately threatened to flatten the village in reprisal.

    Bert had to admit he was not entirely opposed to the idea.

    ¡°If they turn up, we kill them,¡± Bert told her. ¡°Messy and loud.¡±

    ¡°How loud?¡± Bell asked, eyes bright with excitement.

    ¡°As loud as possible.¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°I¡¯ll have Multi-Bells out all night,¡± Bell grinned. ¡°If they come anywhere near here, I¡¯ll make sure no one ever will again.¡±

    They smiled at each other, and Bert went back to work.

    ¡°Everything okay, Dad?¡± Wendy asked when he got back.

    ¡°That asshole from yesterday is missing,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°He and his friends swore vengeance or something.¡± He put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°I promise you¡¯re safe; if they come anywhere near here, they are dead.¡±

    ¡°I know that, Dad.¡± Wendy smiled at him. ¡°I¡¯m not scared, I promise.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Bert went back to work, completely missing her smiling to herself and the little wink she gave to Scruff.

    The fighting continued for a few more days, and the injured came in at all times of the day and night. Dee worked out a schedule that kept everyone topped up. She also insisted that Bert and Wendy take regular rests. She said that just because they could keep going didn¡¯t mean they should.

    There was no sign of the three missing men, and rumors they had deserted the area in shame began to circulate.

    As long as they never turned up, Bert didn¡¯t care.

    May and Bruno proved their usefulness over those days, acting as mediators and messengers, keeping him informed of what was going on.

    It was not exactly pleasant work, but it certainly kept him from dwelling too much on his problems.

    He used the time to adjust, letting the things he had talked about with Libby sink in, and he was starting to feel better by the time they were done there.

    After a long shift with Anton, Maggie came by, looking tired, and asked if she could get a larger cold box with a stronger Rune.

    Bert was happy to oblige but was a little mystified by Maggie. She and Anton were obviously an item.

    Why was beyond Bert.

    On her own, Maggie was a confident, skilled, and kind healer. The problem was that around Anton, she changed. She mirrored his arrogance and disdain for his patients while covering his weak healing with her own.

    And that wasn¡¯t the worst of it.

    The two of them were at it every night. Sometimes the noise was loud enough that if the wind blew the right way, anyone on shift, while they were off, was left in no doubt what they were up to.

    Yet, if anyone mentioned what was obviously going on, they both acted horrified and scandalized.

    ¡°She loves him,¡± Seb had said when Bert asked him about it.

    ¡°No one understands love,¡± Felix nodded in agreement.

    When the battle was finally over, a man came by, telling them there was another battle already going on a few miles away and would they please come.

    Bert grimaced, but the man said his wife was fighting in the battle.

    They struck camp in just under two hours and headed off.

    May caught his look and reassured him they were indeed heading towards the limits of the Houses¡¯ combined lands.

    Bert had his doubts but just smiled and nodded.

    He never wanted to get involved in a bloody war, and yet here he was.

 Chapter 57 - Beer, Blood, and Body Parts II

    Arriving at a battle already underway was a completely different experience from anything they had done before.

    Libby had warned him it would be bad, but she had failed to capture the true horror of it. The elevated viewing position left nothing to the imagination.

    They had seen the smoke in the distance almost immediately. Within a mile, they could hear and finally¡­ see it.

    A three-way battle was not something Bert had ever even considered from a simple logistics point of view. He was used to the images from movies, and T.V. shows where two armies lined up and charged each other.

    But, here, as the three houses fought, they formed a triangle, with lines of archers and mages on the back lines while the warriors battled in a wedge shape. House Omis used something like the shield wall or testudo. Large interlocked shields provided cover while the tired and injured were pulled deeper into the wedge and lifted shields to cover from arrows and spells.

    House Magnus seemed to favor the more traditional knights, the sword and board warriors with the occasional greatsword or great axe in the mix.

    The strangest of the lot was house Jura, who seemed to be using a mix of pikemen and spears with round shields. They were definitely getting the worst of it as they simply were never going to get anywhere with pikemen in a melee. To make matters worse, their round shields were small and light, so the arrows and spells found plenty of breaks to push through. Jura seemed to make up for this with pure numbers. They had almost three times the numbers of House Magnus and Omis combined. Only the sheer superiority of gear and tactics kept the two houses from being overwhelmed by pure numbers.

    Flashes of magic on the front lines confirmed there were at least a few close combat mages in the mix for all three houses.

    Fires burned around the battlefield as the Juras threw more and more bodies into the teeth of the other two houses. Omis¡¯ shield wall was holding well, while Magnus seemed to be losing ground somewhat.

    Bert caught movement out of the corner of his eye and turned, seeing a full cavalry charge coming up from behind the Jura lines. They had circled far wide of the battle and used trees for cover.

    The Jura forces never saw them coming.

    Pikemen were the perfect answer to cavalry. Hell on earth, that was the whole reason they were developed.

    But only if they were facing the right way.

    The rumbling of the hooves alerted the Jura mages and archers at the last moment, sending them scrambling. Bert saw flashes as several of the mages used some form of short-range teleport.

    The back line of pikemen tried to swing their ungainly weapons into position, but most of their pikes were still pointing to the sky when the cavalry hit them at full charge.

    Bert winced; the screams of the trampled rising above the sounds of battle for a moment. Few things are more visceral than seeing a line of human bodies hit by an armored horse at full speed.

    Even if it was impossible at this distance, Bert swore he could hear the bones snapping as the back line was ridden down, several of them sent flying backward by the force of the impact before they were ridden down.

    The bowing line of house Magnus opened for the cavalry riding through. It had been a feint. They allowed themselves to be pressured by House Jura to keep their attention while their cavalry completed their flanking move.

    Bert had to guess that Jura had just lost a third of their numbers in under a minute.

    Bert forced himself to look away from the battle; they still needed to find somewhere to set up and start helping people.

    ¡°Where we headed?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°No idea,¡± Bert growled. ¡°Anywhere I can see, at least one group will be cut off from getting to us.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Bell asked. ¡°Some healing is better than none, right?¡±

    Bert suddenly grinned.

    ¡°Oooh, I like that smile,¡± Bell giggled. ¡°It means you want to do something insane.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not insane,¡± Bert beamed, ¡°But it is going to piss everybody off.¡±

    ¡°Tell me!¡± Bell demanded.

    Bert pointed, and Bell cheered.

    Bert loved to make an entrance and felt like this was one of his best¡­

    Bell flashed the signal as they crested the final rise between them and the battlefield.

    Wendy let out a long, loud blast of the air horn on the Express. Several of the backline soldiers turned and cheered.

    The horn blasted again as the Waystation gained speed on the downgrade of the rise. More cheers, ones that turned to dismay as the horn kept blowing, and the Waystation was not slowing.

    ¡°They will move!¡± Bert told himself.

    ¡°Who cares?¡± Bell gasped. ¡°Either way!¡±

    They did move, curses and even a few spells flying at them as they barrelled full speed into the area between Houses Magnus and Omis. The houses¡¯ lines scrambled apart, and the Waystation kept on rolling until they pushed back the lines of house Jura.

    Silence fell over the Battlefield, just for a second, as the Waystation came to a stop.

    Horns blew frantically as the three armies disengaged. Chaos reigned as everyone tried to figure out what was going on. Cheers, curses, spells, everything came flying as the officers fought to get their men back in line.

    Bert beamed.

    ¡°Now that¡¯s an entrance!¡± He chuckled. ¡°Want to go meet the locals?¡±

    ¡°You do it,¡± Bell said. ¡°I want to get started organizing things with Dee.¡±

    ¡°You got it,¡± Bert winked as he hopped on the elevating platform.

    ¡°I bet someone shoots you!¡± Bell called after him.

    ============

    Bert, Bud, and the orcs strode confidently down the drawbridge.

    ¡°Back! Up!¡± Bert yelled at the milling soldiers. ¡°We need space to set up!¡±

    He shooed the mystified soldiers back as they set up stakes on that side before circling the Waystation doing the same thing.

    ¡°They¡¯re going to kill us!¡± May snapped at him as he strode past with the last of the spikes on his shoulder.

    ¡°I doubt it!¡± Bert called back. ¡°They would have tried that already.¡±

    And he was right; no one interfered with them as they set up camp. In under an hour, the entire camp was set up and working. Four of the healers were out in the Jura area as soon as it was safe. They worked in the fallout of the cavalry charge, stabilizing whoever could be saved.

    The full healing would come later.

    Bert and Wendy were the on-shift healers, with Bruno and May as translators if necessary, when the three leaders turned up to demand answers.

    ¡°Healer!¡± A woman in Jura colors called to Wendy, ¡°Where is the person in charge?¡±

    Wendy just pointed at Bert while she concentrated on fixing her patient.

    The woman nodded and led the others over to Bert.

    ¡°You are in charge here?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Of the Waystation, yes.¡± Bert nodded. ¡°If you want the leader of the Healers, she¡¯s scraping up the cavalry charge¡¯s leftovers.¡±

    ¡°Which one rammed the fucking thing into our battle?¡± The man in Magnus armor growled.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°Oh, that was me.¡± Bert nodded to him.

    ¡°Care to explain?¡± House Jura asked.

    ¡°Anywhere we set up, one House would have to cross enemy lines to get to us.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Except here.¡±

    The representative of House Omis began to laugh.

    ¡°I won¡¯t stand for this!¡± House Magnus bristled.

    ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡± Bert said coldly, looking at the man for the first time.

    ¡°I challenge you to personal combat!¡± The man declared proudly and began to remove his gauntlet.

    ¡°I accept,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°But slap me with that gauntlet, and I¡¯m gonna shove it so far up your ass you will taste the fingers.¡±

    Wendy snickered as the man blustered.

    ¡°What are the rules?¡± Bert asked the woman from House Jura.

    ¡°No interference, no seconds, and the fight continues until one dies or submits.¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°I warn you, if someone submits and you kill them, that is a grave crime.¡±

    ¡°Good to know, ta!¡± Bert smirked.

    ¡°We will fight tonight, healer!¡± House Magnus snarled.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said. ¡°Now. Here.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± The man chuckled. ¡°I am a Warrior! A Captain! You surely wish for time to prepare.¡±

    ¡°No thanks,¡± Bert said. ¡°Now.¡±

    ¡°You challenged him,¡± House Omis said. ¡°It is his choice.¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± House Magnus growled.

    Bert led the little group and the following crowd to a clear space in front of the Healer¡¯s tent. He chuckled as he saw money changing hands.

    ¡°I¡¯m Mary, House Jura.¡± The woman said as they walked. ¡°That is Reginald the third or something of House Omis.¡±

    ¡°He knows he can use Analyse on people, right?¡± Bert asked casually.

    ¡°Who, Magnus?¡± Mary laughed. ¡°It would never occur to him.¡±

    ¡°I did wonder,¡± Bert shrugged as the level 19 Captain got into his full armor.

    ¡°I have to ask, why provoke him?¡± Reginald asked.

    ¡°Because he came here looking for a fight. This way, it is all over with, and we can get on with our job.¡± Bert said. ¡°Also, he had no idea I saved his ass.¡± he looked at Reg, who suddenly seemed distracted.

    Bert had seen the mages and archers in house Omis colors retreating from their flanking position as he barrelled towards the lines. Another few minutes and House Magnus would have been in deep shit.

    ¡°Try not to kill him,¡± Reg sighed. ¡°He is an heir of House Magnus.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s Magnus Magnus, isn¡¯t he?¡± Bert grinned. ¡°A name so nice, they used it twice.¡±

    Mary turned away, coughing as Reginald laughed openly.

    Magnus preened as he limbered up. Bert strolled into the circle of watchers and shrugged his armor on, pulling it directly out of his storage. He slid his shield on his arm and waited.

    ¡°We will begin once you finish dressing!¡± Magnus called.

    ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Bert nodded.

    ¡°Nonsense!¡± Magnus bellowed. ¡°Where is your helm?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have one,¡± Bert shrugged. He had always planned to make one but had never gotten around to it.

    ¡°We can not fight if you are unarmored!¡± He laughed.

    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Mary called. ¡°Law requires you to have a complete set of armor.¡±

    ¡°You''re kidding?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°It stops people from challenging commoners who have no armor, just to kill them,¡± Reginald said.

    ¡°Huh, good law.¡± Bert nodded. ¡°Can I borrow a helm?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Mary said. ¡°And if you can not fight after already accepting the challenge, you will be killed.¡±

    ¡°Not such a good Law,¡± Bert frowned.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Bell came flying over. ¡°Use this!¡± She giggled and slapped a bronze pot on his head. Bert laughed, turning the handle to a jaunty angle.

    He regretted it immediately as a white flash flowed over the item.

    Helm of the Garbage Man

    In a time of great need¡­ a pot can save your life!

    Soul-Bound.

    Unbreakable.

    Self Repairing.

    Will never fall off.

    ¡°Fuck sake, Bell!¡± he growled as she flew off giggling.

    Mary seemed to be having trouble staying upright as she bent over, laughing silently while a tear rolled down Reg¡¯s cheek.

    ¡°You mock me!¡± Magnus growled.

    ¡°Nah, mate,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°This is just the way it goes for me.¡± He shrugged. ¡°The life and times of a garbage man, I guess.¡±

    ¡°For this insult, I will give you no time to surrender!¡± Magnus launched himself across the ground.

    Bert had no time to change his hand, simply raising his shield to meet the overhand swing of Magnus¡¯ sword. The metal clanged, and Bert stepped back, avoiding the swipe from Magnus¡¯ own shield.

    He kicked Magnus in the leg and spun away, reaching back with his shield to block the backhand slash of the sword.

    He kept spinning, crossing the small space, and then launched into a shield charge, catching Magnus off guard and sending him sprawling to the ground.

    Magnus rolled upright, stabbing forward with his sword and sending three copies of the blade flying across the ground. Bert blocked one and dodged another, but the third scraped across his back, scoring a long line. He felt the blood begin to flow.

    There was a scream behind Bert, and he turned to see two men holding wounds in their stomachs from the swords. The idiot had sent the spell into the crowd.

    ¡°Watch where you are throwing abilities, idiot!¡± Bert yelled.

    ¡°Oh, shall I?¡± Magnus laughed. He spun and launched the attack twice more. Six magical blades sliced through the air toward the crowd.

    Bert decided he had been patient enough, his knotwork flaring as he dropped into the mana tides. He pushed a Surge tide into his shield and held it with the Ebb tide, causing the Shield to enlarge to five times its size.

    He used the massive shield to block all but one of the blades, which he reached out and grabbed with his Prosthetic arm. It shuddered in his grip and then disappeared, the Ebb tide sucking the mana out of the construct. Bert had no idea it could do that and had just grabbed on instinct, but he tried to pretend it was his plan all along.

    He gathered energy on the Ebb tide, then launched into a sprint on the Surge tide, a full-powered Shield Charge sending Magnus to his knees even as he tried to block it.

    Bert smashed his fist into Magnus¡¯ face, not bothering to empower the blow. Magnus crumpled.

    The fight over, Bert turned and started to heal the injured parties. He used a single deer carcass to do it; none of the wounds were too bad.

    Bert turned back, seeing Magnus trying to rise. He released the tides and stored his shield as he walked over, offering the man a hand up.

    Magnus slapped the hand away.

    ¡°I win,¡± He growled. ¡°You turned from the fight, and I never surrendered.¡±

    ¡°You were unconscious, idiot; the fight was over.¡±

    ¡°Call it a draw,¡± Mary called. ¡°No loss on either side.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Works for me.¡± He offered Magnus his hand again.

    Magnus spat on it.

    Bert leaned down, and Magnus paled; the man standing over him was not the easygoing idiot of a moment ago. Something cold and burning in his eyes told Magnus he had gone too far.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fuck around, mate,¡± Bert said, smiling cruelly. ¡°I¡¯ll gladly rip off each one of your arms and legs while your men watch.¡±

    Bert stood again, chuckling, and held out his hand.

    Magnus took it, too afraid not to.

    Bert pulled him to his feet and hugged him in a friendly way.

    ¡°Pull any shit again while I am here, and I will kill you.¡± Bert released him, and once again, Magnus looked into the eyes of a man who could and would kill him at the slightest provocation. ¡°Analyze me,¡± Bert commanded, and Magnus did.

    He paled even more.

    Bert was ten levels more powerful, a Lord of the Fae, and held not one but two classes Magnus had never even heard of before. Magnus finally got it as Bert smiled, a smile that never reached his eyes. Bert could have killed him instantly. There was no fight. He did it to let Magnus save face.

    ¡°I apologize for my actions, Lord!¡± Magnus bowed deeply, turned on his heel, and left as quickly as he could.

    An hour later, Bert was resting as Seb and Felix took over healing duties.

    ¡°What the hell was with that guy,¡± Bert muttered as he and Bell sat in the Barn, sharing a snack plate.

    ¡°He was a dick,¡± Bell shrugged.

    ¡°Yeah, but I really scared the shit out of him,¡± Bert shivered. ¡°He looked at me like I was some sort of monster.¡±

    ¡°You are,¡± Bell said happily. ¡°To them, at least.¡± She saw the look on his face. ¡°Look, Bert, I know it bothers you, but you are Fae. More and more every day, you think like a Fae. Not a human. They can see that in your eyes, and it scares them.¡±

    ¡°Do you think I¡¯m a monster?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No, I think you¡¯re like the nicest guy I ever met.¡± She looked away. ¡°I would have killed his entire army just for spitting on me.¡±

    Bert laughed.

    ¡°I¡¯m not joking.¡± She said quietly.

    ¡°I know, that¡¯s why it¡¯s so funny,¡± Bert grinned.

    Bell giggled, blushed, snarled ¡®stop it,¡¯ and slapped Bert before flying away.

    Bert sat with his mouth open for a second and then shrugged.

    Pixie¡¯s gonna Pixie.

    ==============

    Anton tried again while Maggie scowled over his shoulder.

    ¡°You¡¯re missing something!¡± She snapped.

    ¡°I have copied the form exactly!¡± Anton hissed through gritted teeth.

    ¡°Then why isn¡¯t it working?¡± She demanded.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Anton threw the bit of wood across the tent.

    Piles of wood were all over the place.

    On a small camping table, a complex spell form was projecting the Chill Rune into the air.

    The pair had been trying to activate the projected rune for the last day. No matter how they conformed their magic to the shape, nothing happened. They had tried to put mana into the projection, but that didn¡¯t work either.

    Their next step had been to try and copy the rune precisely onto a new piece of wood. Even that would be enough.

    Piles of discarded attempts showed their lack of success.

    ¡°Cast another magnification spell!¡± Anton demanded.

    ¡°It¡¯s pointless!¡± Maggie said but did it. The Rune enlarged, filling the room.

    Anton got a magnifier and traced each line as best he could, finding no imperfections or hidden subrules.

    ¡°We have copied it perfectly!¡± Anton swore and slammed his hand onto the desk, wincing at the pain.

    Maggie sighed and waved her hand, healing him.

    ¡°Intention!¡± Anton yelled, surging to his feet again. ¡°We need to add intention!¡±

    He got another piece of wood, copying the rune with exaggerated care before placing his hand on it. He poured not only mana but his will into the rune.

    ¡°Well?¡± Maggie asked.

    Anton growled.

    He strained until the sweat stood out on his bald head, and his eyes began to waver.

    ¡°If anything, it¡¯s warmer,¡± Maggie laughed at him.

    Anton passed out, dropping to the floor.

 Chapter 58 - Beer, Blood, and Body Parts III

    ¡°Mary, what can I do for you?¡± Bert asked as he washed his hands. It had been nonstop since they first arrived on the battlefield. The cavalry charge had come after hours of fighting, and the armies had barely a half dozen healers between them.

    ¡°Thank you for seeing me, Lord Caretaker,¡± Mary bowed deeply. She had come alone rather than with the escort that the leaders of the various armies had when they came alone.

    ¡°No need for the Lord stuff,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°I¡¯m not a very formal type of person.¡±

    ¡°It is necessary at this time,¡± Mary remained in a deep bow.

    ¡°Go on,¡± Bert sighed and waited for her to tell him what was going on.

    ¡°I would like to speak in private,¡± She glanced quickly up the drawbridge and into the Waystation.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert nodded and led the woman into the Waystation and to a table in the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± She said, sitting stiffly in her chair.

    ¡°So, what can we do for you?¡± Bert asked as Bell fluttered over curiously.

    ¡°I am to be executed once the battle concludes,¡± Mary said flatly. ¡°I have failed to obtain a victory.¡±

    ¡°Battle isn¡¯t over yet?¡± Bell asked. ¡°Is it?¡±

    ¡°No one is willing to fight around the Waystation,¡± Mary said. ¡°And frankly, there is little point. That cavalry charge took out too many men. House Jura is done here.¡±

    ¡°And so you will be executed?¡± Bert clarified. ¡°Forgive me for saying this, but it seems ridiculous to kill your commanders if they fail to win a battle. You¡¯ll run out of commanders, for one thing.¡±

    ¡°House Jura is large,¡± Mary grimaced, ¡°There are always more waiting for their chance.¡±

    ¡°I assume you want a lift away from the Houses?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Did you have anywhere in mind?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Mary said, sitting forward. ¡°I have a friend in house Omis, who recently won my cousin in a duel.¡± She laughed. ¡°She could exchange the cousin for me, with me becoming her prisoner, but to do that, a senior commander must agree.¡±

    ¡°Okay, so?¡± Bert asked, and Bell slapped him on the back of the head.

    ¡°She means you!¡± Bell said.

    ¡°I¡¯m a commander?¡± Bert asked.

    Bell rolled her eyes as Mary fidgeted.

    ¡°You are, in the eyes of the Houses.¡± She nodded. ¡°I have prepared a message spell for my friend, but if you do not agree, there is no point sending it.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I agree,¡± Bert said. ¡°Do you want to stay here until they arrive?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Mary nodded. ¡°But I must warn you that my House may attempt to interfere.¡±

    Bell flitted over to Mary and whispered in her ear for a moment. Mary shook her head vigorously and then again.

    ¡°Bert, stand up and ask her to leave!¡± Bell said excitedly.

    ¡°But-¡± Bert started.

    ¡°Just do it!¡± Bell snapped.

    Bert stood and asked Mary to leave; she stood and, with apparent reluctance, slapped his face.

    ¡°Oh no!¡± Bell pantomimed shock. ¡°You have struck my lord!¡± She choked back a giggle. ¡°I place you under arrest!¡±

    Mary looked anxious but relaxed when Bert laughed.

    ¡°So we take her prisoner,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Yup!¡± Bell stopped for a second. ¡°Just one thing, though¡± She looked thoughtful. ¡°I¡¯m not sure the slap was hard enough.¡±

    ¡°Bell!¡± Bert warned.

    ¡°Okay,¡± She sighed. ¡°Big baby.¡±

    Bert turned around and walked for the door.

    ¡°Bert?¡± Bell called.

    He looked over his shoulder in time to see Bell in human form, hand flying at him.

    He ducked.

    ¡°Cheat!¡± Bell yelled and kicked him in the back of the leg.

    Bert chuckled as he walked out of the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    Pixie¡¯s gonna Pixie, but he was a fast learner.

    ============

    It wasn¡¯t long until the other Houses¡¯ commanders turned up to demand answers. Magnus seemed to have recovered from this shock the day before. He was stiffly polite but no less demanding of answers.

    Bert didn¡¯t have to say much, as the two commanders were headed off by Dee, who directed them to Bell. The pixie told them that Mary had struck Bert in an argument and was being held as a prisoner. Reginald simply rolled his eyes and walked off, while Magnus was more insistent.

    Of course, being insistent with a pixie was like trying to breathe water. You just weren¡¯t equipped for the situation. He left after an hour, looking equally perplexed at what had just happened and frustrated enough to bite his sword in half.

    A mage of house Jura was the next to arrive. It was apparent that he was the next in the chain of command and enjoying the experience. He made polite inquiries, passed on the request for Mary¡¯s release, and then left.

    Libby asked Bert and Wendy to take an extra healing shift as apparently Anton and Maggie were mana tapped for some reason no one could figure out.

    Not many serious injuries were left to deal with as there had been no further fighting. Wendy and Bert spent most of the time just relaxing and chatting. It was the first time they had been able to spend this long just chatting since they towed Trailer One out of the grasslands.

    The trouble started a few hours later when the bombastic Winifred arrived on the field.

    ¡°Bert!¡± Winifred boomed. ¡°It seems we are destined to meet almost every day!¡± She laughed heartily. He noticed she had the Jura man following her around again. Probably the same one she had ¡®won.¡¯

    ¡°Winifred,¡± Bert couldn¡¯t help but smile at the energetic amazon of a woman. She seemed to radiate energy. ¡°Good to see you again.¡±

    ¡°I brought my pet!¡± She laughed and clapped the Jura man on the back. He almost went sprawling, glowering at her in silent hatred.

    ¡°Shall we get a drink and talk?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I like about you, Bert.¡± Winifred laughed. ¡°Never too serious to share a mug of ale with a friend!¡±

    Bert just laughed and waved for her to follow him, but it was that one sentence that caused all the problems.

    When they got into the Bear¡¯s Fall, Bell was already there with Dee politely holding Mary by a length of chain that bound her hands.

    Winifred looked at the Jura woman momentarily and then seemed to dismiss her.

    ¡°So, I see you spoiled everyone¡¯s fun!¡± She laughed. ¡°Even got yourself a pet of your own,¡± Winifred pointed to a chair, and the Jura man sat silently, fuming. ¡°Jura make the best pets, so well-behaved.¡±

    ¡°Never been much of a one for pets myself,¡± Bell said airily. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t even want this one, but I have no choice.

    ¡°And why is that?¡± Winifred asked in a bored tone.

    ¡°I can¡¯t allow a person to strike my Lord Hudson, now can I?¡± Bell said.

    Bert almost choked on his beer when she called him Lord Hudson.

    Bell gave him a look and went on, ¡°But it seems such a small issue to hold such a high-level Jura over.¡±

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    ¡°Well, you have done well for all the people of these lands,¡± Winifred said seriously. ¡°Let me take the burden of her, and you may have this one as a substitute.¡± She jerked a thumb at the man.

    The Jura prisoner looked up, hope sparking in his eyes.

    ¡°Well¡­¡± Bell looked hesitant, ¡°I guess that would be okay.¡± She waved to Dee, who passed the chain to Winifred. ¡°Your prisoner, Winifred.¡±

    ¡°And he is yours,¡± Winifred sighed.

    ¡°I have done nothing to you and demand you let me go!¡± The Jura man exploded, his voice breaking.

    ¡°Yes, fuck it.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Off you go, mate.¡±

    The Jura man bowed and walked stiffly from the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    The room fell silent as he left.

    ¡°Got to say I don¡¯t hate the sight of you in chains, Mary,¡± Winifred laughed.

    ¡°Well, I am at your mercy, fair night!¡± Mary said, smiling.

    The two looked at each other for a second before both cracked up.

    ¡°Bert, Bell, may I introduce you to my sister Mary,¡± Winifred said with a huge smile. ¡°Lost to my family through a failed attempt to bind the houses in marriage.¡±

    ¡°Sisters?¡± Bert asked. The two women may have been similar in height, but everything else about them was opposites. Mary was tall, willowy, and dark compared to the blond Amazon warrior look of Winifred.

    ¡°Our Lord Father has a habit of picking up new wives as often as others change their shirts,¡± Mary said sourly.

    ¡°Not anymore,¡± Winifred said brightly, ¡°My mother decided it was time to end that little habit.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Mary laughed.

    ¡°She said she would geld him the morning after his next marriage.¡± Winifred grinned.

    ¡°The morning after?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Well, she is not heartless,¡± Winifred beamed.

    The group chatted and drank while outside; rumor did its insidious work.

    ==============

    ¡°You should not have done this!¡± Anton snapped at Maggie, who ignored him. She fawned over the new Jura commander as they examined the rune together.

    ¡°And what have you tried so far?¡± The man¡¯s short dark hair complimented his grey eyes well. He preened under Maggie¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Everything we could think of,¡± Maggie sighed. ¡°We have examined it, copied it, and tried combinations of magic and intent.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± The man said, once more casting the spell form to copy the rune. It fizzled again. ¡°It would seem this may be a true rune.¡±

    ¡°There are no true runes!¡± Anton said haughtily.

    ¡°You are not a scholar,¡± The Jura man said dismissively. ¡°The true runes were real.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve lost me,¡± Maggie admitted.

    ¡°There are three kinds of runes,¡± Anton said. ¡°According to the books, anyway.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± The Jura said, cutting Anton off as he spoke to Maggie. ¡°The natural runes are ones that occur naturally, an accidental creation. They can not be copied because the very environment would have to be recreated exactly to allow it to work again.¡±

    ¡°Like the Valley of the Mists?¡± Maggie asked, referring to a legendary area closer to the coast where the mists never let up.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± The Jura mage nodded, ¡°The second is the craft rune. They are created by master craftsmen and can be copied and reused. They are closely guarded secrets of the most ancient nations, and no new runes have been made in over a hundred years.¡±

    ¡°Wow, are they true runes?¡± Maggie asked.

    ¡°No, of course not!¡± Anton snapped.

    Maggie shot him a look, and he huffed.

    ¡°The last type of rune,¡± The Jura mage went on, ¡°Is the True Rune. They are runes that are part of a class or profession.¡± The mage shook his head. ¡°None of those classes were thought to exist anymore.¡±

    ¡°Well, if this is one, then at least one does,¡± Maggie said, frowning. ¡°So, how do we copy it?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t,¡± The mage said simply. ¡°It is a class ability. The rune you see is merely the tip of the spell. The part that locates the ability in the world, but the actual spell? That is done by the caster themselves.¡±

    ¡°There is no evidence they ever existed!¡± Anton said, pushing into the conversation again.

    ¡°Yes, there is.¡± The Jura mage said. ¡°You just will never see it.¡± He stood up, brushing off his robes. ¡°I¡¯m leaving. There is nothing here for me.¡±

    ¡°But!¡± Maggie flushed and stood in his way, ¡°What about the money you promised?¡±

    ¡°What money?¡± Anton frowned.

    ¡°Oh, that!¡± The Jura mage laughed. ¡°It is yours.¡± He tossed a money pouch to Maggie. ¡°And a piece of advice?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Anton snapped.

    ¡°Ditch the monk,¡± The Jura mage smiled, ¡°He is never going to catch up to you.¡±

    With that, he left.

    ¡°What money?¡± Anton asked Maggie.

    ¡°My money,¡± Maggie sighed. ¡°That is all you need to know.¡± She went around the tent and collected her things while Anton hovered.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Anton yelled. ¡°Are we leaving?¡±

    ¡°I am leaving you, Anton,¡± Maggie said simply.

    ¡°Because of that mage?¡± Anton blustered.

    ¡°Because I¡¯m tired of you and your idiot rules!¡± She snapped. Anton yelped and jumped back.

    ¡°I am a monk!¡± Anton protested. ¡°Rules are important!¡±

    ¡°Well, good luck to you!¡± Maggie snarled. ¡°I¡¯m going to find someone who actually wants to admit we fuck!¡±

    ¡°Maggie!¡± Anton drew himself up. ¡°I demand you stop this foolishness immediately!¡±

    ¡°Shut! Up!¡± Maggie shouted and grabbed her bags.

    ¡°If you leave, I¡¯ll kill myself!¡± Anton wailed.

    ¡°If you¡¯re as incompetent in that as you are in everything else, you¡¯ll be fine!¡± Maggie called over her shoulder as the tent flaps fell closed behind her.

    She strode purposely across the camp and towards Libby¡¯s tent. The woman would let her bunk there, she was sure.

    She stopped halfway there, feeling an angry energy in the air. Was that coming from her?

    She looked around, seeing the angry eyes watching the Waystation and the gathering of Jura and Magnus soldiers. The Houses never mixed.

    She dropped her bags and began to run, sprinting across the ground toward the Healer¡¯s Tents.

    Only one was staffed at the moment, Seb and Felix playing cards as they had nothing better to do.

    ¡°Get in the Waystation! Now!¡± She yelled a second before the first burning arrow fell on the tent.

    ===========

    Bert and Bell both felt the first tent start to burn, Way Way pinging both of their minds simultaneously.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Bert snarled, getting to his feet as the Express let out two sharp warning blasts of the air horn.

    ¡°I¡¯ll sort the camp!¡± Bell shouted, ¡°Go see what¡¯s going on.¡±

    Bert summoned his armor and trotted down the drawbridge. He had expected chaos and instead was met with a wall of pikes.

    The soldiers held their pikes out and pointed at the Waystation but not attacking or even approaching the grounds. According to Way Way, the soldiers were lined up on three sides of the Waystation. Only the Omis side was clear.

    The Omis found their forces facing the pikes on either side as well.

    And in front of each pikeman was a house Magnus shield. The Magnus knights were in full armor, their backs to House Jura.

    ¡°What the fuck is all this?¡± Bert barked.

    Magnus and the new Jura commander stepped from the lines and approached.

    ¡°You have declared your allegiance to House Omis; what did you expect us to do?¡± Magnus hissed.

    ¡°I¡¯ve done what?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Don¡¯t pretend innocence,¡± Magnus said, purple-faced. ¡°You declared Winifred your friend!¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Bert asked.

    The Jura commander tutted.

    ¡°How is Winifred your friend if you are not their ally?¡± Magnus crowed. ¡°Next, I suppose you will claim to have friends in the other Houses?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯d call Rikard a friend as well.¡±

    ¡°And that is?¡± Magnus scoffed.

    ¡°Captain Rikard, House Magnus.¡± A strident voice called. The lines of warriors rustled as a line of mounted knights rode through.

    ¡°Hey, Rikard.¡± Bert said, ¡°Good timing.¡±

    ¡°I knew Winifred would start something,¡± Rikard laughed. ¡°She always does.¡±

    ¡°They have united against House Magnus!¡± Magnus insisted.

    The Jura commander looked at the situation and made a choice.

    ¡°I am Albrecht Jura,¡± He said smartly, ¡°And I would like to call you a friend.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± He reached out a hand and shook with Alrecht. ¡°Do we need to keep this going, or shall we get a beer and relax?¡±

    Albrecht let out a series of whistles, and the Jura forces turned and marched away as one.

    And so began a very long night that became known as the Brewer¡¯s Treaty. More officials came and went as the night wore on. It was not the rulers of the Houses but their commanders, captains, and squad leaders that talked.

    The people that died to win the war had a drink and a chat instead.

    There were several fistfights, two stabbings, lots of swearing, and lots and lots of beer.

    When the sun rose, the final details were hammered out over eggs and bison steaks. And also, more beer.

    Rikard, Albrecht, and Winifred shook hands after breakfast, and the word went out. The Civil War was over.

    In the weeks that followed, word would spread slowly across the land. There were, of course, those who refused to give in. The status quo does not give in that easily. But the leaders of the Houses all had the same problem. Their commanders had signed, agreed, and declared the three houses dissolved.

    The Houses may have disagreed but had no forces to fight with.

    Their men had left them, forming a new united force. The Tripartite Alliance was in control now. They had the army, the people, and all the resources.

    And to be fair, many of the Houses found they had little support even in their own houses. Jura had been sacrificing family for failure for so long that most of them simply jumped ship immediately.

    Omis had a tradition of fighting for honor and saw the opportunities on offer. They embraced the Alliance without a backward glance.

    House Magnus, well, they pulled back to lands they could hold from within and tried to go back to normal.

    And they could, as long as they didn¡¯t cause trouble.

    The Alliance was watching.

    The Healers parted ways with the Waystation later that day. Libby seemed strangely put out, and Bert was wondering what he had done until Maggie came over and pronounced she would be staying on with the Waystation.

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked immediately. She had barely spoken to anyone on the Waystation the entire time they had been traveling with them.

    Dee made sense to him; she could live better on the Blood Berries and had since bonded with Bell and Scruff.

    Maggie had not.

    ¡°I think I can be useful here,¡± She said airily. ¡°I can offer healing to your guests.¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Bell said as she flew past, ¡°I don¡¯t like you.¡±

    Maggie stared in shock as Bert simply shrugged and turned away.

    Libby was grinning the next time he saw her, and Seb and Felix came by to say goodbye before the Waystationers watched them all trail away, following the army.

    Their final favor for the people of the Three Houses was a promise to take some supplies to a border village.

    ¡°If we have to flatten the village, I want to do it!¡± Wendy chased after Bell.

    ¡°We are not flattening the village!¡± Bert called.

    ¡°But if we do, I get to drive over it in the Express?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Promise!¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Fuck sake, Bell!¡± Bert growled.

 Chapter 59 - Trials and Tribulations I

    The journey to the borders of the former Three Houses lands was quiet and untroubled. The plains stretched away in all directions, with the occasional sign of a farm or small village in the distance.

    Without the civil war raging, the area seemed almost idyllic, at least whenever neither of the pixies decided to make it rain blood.

    The Express¡¯ airhorn blasted as the stampeding animals swerved to avoid the giant machine. They ran back toward the Waystation, straight into the waiting mandibles of the enormous vehicle.

    Blood literally fountained into the air, and the collected screams cut off as the animals died instantly, gathered into the stores for later use.

    Scruff let out a shiver as the air horn blasted again. It had sighed more animals.

    Mother and daughter had really bonded over the last few days, much to the detriment of the surrounding wildlife.

    Supplies became an issue as the Waystation used up its reserves during the Civil War. Bell spent her time harrying the local animal life, especially the Armored Bison, which she loved the taste of; the Express was winding its way around the plains trying to find crops, cloth, passing trade, or any other method of rebuilding their stock.

    The biggest problem was the dwindling reserves of Beer, Mead, and other alcoholic beverages. Dee was doing her best to figure out the brewing methods and machines left behind by the treacherous Trav, but to little effect so far.

    The fact that they had rarely, if ever, charged anyone for food or drink was also a problem. The look on Dee¡¯s face when Bert and Bell had told her this¡­ well, it was a special moment.

    In short, they were broke and had almost nothing but meat and hides to trade, which was why Bert was unable to come up with a good reason to stop the rampaging pixies.

    It was a bit of a relief when they spotted the small village in the distance that was their destination. The place certainly looked in need to help. The walls were slumped over, barely standing while the gates hung open.

    Smoke curled lazily from chimneys, and the farmland around the walls looked overgrown and ill-kept. Bell immediately bet everyone was dead, only to backtrack immediately as they saw people passing into and out of the gate as they got closer.

    ¡°They could still be dead!¡± Bell said, ¡°Moving doesn¡¯t mean alive!¡±

    ¡°That one is pissing on the wall, I think,¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°How do you know the undead don¡¯t need a piss?¡± Bell said. ¡°Maybe they don¡¯t know they are dead.¡±

    ¡°Bell,¡± Bert chuckled.

    ¡°Fine, they are not dead,¡± Bell admitted grumpily. ¡°But I bet there is something wrong with them.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go find out, shall we?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Bell called. ¡°Can we take the Express?¡± She patted the arm of her chair, ¡°Leave Way Way here, where no one can see we are out of supplies?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Dee said that turning up with nothing but meat and hide would reflect badly on the Waystation,¡± Bell grumped. ¡°Better to go in as traders dropping off supplies.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s probably right,¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°I know,¡± Bell giggled. ¡°I hate it.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± Bert chuckled, ¡°Me too.¡±

    ==============

    While Bud and the Orcs went on a foraging expedition in the area, Bert and Bell loaded up the Express with the supplies for the village and whatever meat and hide they could carry.

    They left Dee, Wendy, and Scruff on the Waystation and headed off to the village.

    ¡°Any chance we can try and leave this place still standing?¡± Bert asked Bell as she fluttered around the inside of the Cab, tutting and tidying it up.

    ¡°Not up to me,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s up to them.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°I think people just freak out once the big scary Fae people roll up.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easily sorted,¡± Bell shrugged and changed form. She flopped into the chair next to Bert and tucked her hair into one of the many baseball caps that Wendy had left lying around. ¡°One innocent human woman, right here.¡± She grinned.

    ¡°With that grin, no one is going to think you innocent.¡± Bert chuckled.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my grin?¡± She scowled at her reflection in the windscreen.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Bert said. ¡°You have the most amazing smile ever, but it isn¡¯t an innocent smile.¡±

    Bell gave him a strange look, then changed the subject.

    ¡°What¡¯s the story with the girls?¡± She asked. ¡°They together yet?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, they are trying really hard to keep it quiet, though.¡± Bert smiled. ¡°It¡¯s kind of sweet.¡±

    ¡°Why bother?¡± Bell asked. ¡°Never mind, a welcoming party coming our way!¡± She pointed.

    A group of guards had appeared at the village gate with a mage in the center of the line, casting a spell.

    ¡°If that spell hits the Express,¡± Bert growled, ¡°I¡¯m just going to drive over them.¡±

    ¡°Hah! See, I knew we were a good influence on you!¡± Bell laughed; she leaned out the window, ¡°Hey, assholes! We brought your supplies!¡±

    The Express rolled to a stop near the row of stern-looking guards.

    ¡°Identify yourself!¡± The mage was a dark-haired man with sunken eyes and a hooked nose. He would have been reasonably good-looking if it wasn¡¯t for the twisted scowl on his face.

    ¡°Bert and Bell Hudson,¡± Bert called out the window. ¡°Traders doing the Houses a favor by dropping off supplies.¡± He looked the mage in the eye. ¡°Happy to just leave the stuff here and go if you like.¡±

    The guards were exchanging desperate looks behind the mage¡¯s back.

    ¡°That will not be necessary,¡± The mage sighed. ¡°In that thing, I suspect that if you wished us further ill, we could have done nothing about it.¡± He sagged visibly.

    ¡°Further ill?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°A long story,¡± The mage smiled. ¡°Nothing to worry traders, I¡¯m sure.¡± He waved a hand, and the guard relaxed. ¡°I¡¯ll ask the guard to arrange for wagons to collect the supplies.¡±

    ¡°That would be great,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯ll get everything ready.¡±

    The mage nodded and turned away, Bert turning back into the cab and seeing a frozen Bell.

    ¡°Bell Hudson?¡± She asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s easier, and also, you never told me your last name.¡± Bert hesitated. ¡°Do Pixies have a last name?¡±

    ¡°We have to be given one!¡± Bell said. ¡°By a family member.¡± She flicked her eyes back and forth. ¡°Gods! Above!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°The system thing seems to think it counts; I¡¯ve been offered the last name Hudson!¡± Bell seemed excited before deflating, ¡°Damn, my first ever offer of a name, and I can¡¯t take it.¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I think the name Hudson would suit you.¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t mind?¡± Bell asked, looking uncharacteristically nervous.

    ¡°No, I love the idea!¡± Bert said, ¡°I¡¯d be honored if you took my name, seriously.¡±

    Bell grinned, and her eyes flickered again. ¡°Done!¡±

    ¡°Watch out, world; there are three Hudsons now!¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°Three?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Yeah, Wendy, you, and me.¡± Bert clarified, and Bell beamed again.

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    ¡°Let¡¯s get the stuff unloaded!¡± Bell said excitedly, ¡°I want to start my first day as Bell Hudson, trader!¡±

    Bert cheered and directed the Express to start preparing the goods to be offloaded. A voice called from the speakers a minute after Bell had gotten out of the cab.

    ¡°Did Mom really just take your name?¡± Wendy said, awed.

    ¡°Yup!¡± Bert said happily.

    ¡°By the way, I don¡¯t have your name officially yet,¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°What? Why?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You have to offer it¡­ and got it! Thanks, Dad.¡± Wendy called.

    ¡°Wendy?¡± Bert called.

    ¡°Yes, Dad?¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°Stop eavesdropping on me and your mother, okay?¡± Bert said. ¡°It¡¯s rude.¡±

    ¡°Dad, you¡¯re kind of inside me right now,¡± Wendy laughed.

    ¡°Eww, rephrase that, please!¡± Bert said.

    ¡°I can¡¯t not listen,¡± Wendy laughed.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°I better go help Bell.¡±

    ¡°Okay, bye!¡± Wendy said, the speakers falling silent.

    Bert made a mental note to remember that Wendy could hear everything in and around the Express in the future.

    The mage, who introduced himself as Ian VanPeters, oversaw the unloading. Carts flowed into and out of the village while Bert and Bell kept the goods flowing.

    Once they were done, they filled Bert¡¯s bracer with meat and hides and prepared to head into the village. VanPeters had gone with the supplies earlier to start distributing the spoils.

    ¡°It¡¯s kind of nice going in like this,¡± Bell said as they strolled towards the gates. ¡°No big deal, no flash and show. Just us, walking in.¡±

    ¡°It is nice, isn¡¯t it.¡± Bert agreed.

    The village could have offered better views.

    Muddy, rutted streets with simple wooden buildings. There was a definite smell in the air. The smell of no plumbing and too little washing.

    Bell gagged a couple of times while Bert laughed. She grinned as they moved toward the village square. The market was almost always in the village square. Equal distance from everywhere, make sure everyone comes.

    And there was a market, a few mud-encrusted stalls spattered with dirt from passing horses and carts. There was precious little enough for sale at any of them.

    Everyone spoke in hushed tones, no one loudly shouting out for trade. The reason for this was apparent. A large, gnarled tree occupied the center of the square. There were no leaves on its dried branches.

    Bodies swung from short ropes. And not just one or two. A dozen corpses decorated the tree. The smell of the city suddenly made much more sense.

    ¡°How can they have the market here with that fucking stench!¡± Bell cursed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s try somewhere else,¡± Bert grimaced.

    They turned away from the market, heading for the largest building. It was most likely the Town Hall and should be a good place to find pointers on who to trade with.

    ¡°What do you think happened?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°What, the corpses?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert said, looking back one last time, ¡°That is a lot of corpses for a small village.¡±

    They were almost to the town hall when the bells sounded. People flowed out of the houses, cursing and swearing, others half-dressed, as they flooded toward the back of the village.

    Bert and Bell followed along, more out of curiosity than anything else. The crowd stank almost as much as the corpses, a point Bell made loudly. She got a few angry looks but nothing more. Even in human form, the look in her eyes promised violent retribution to anyone who crossed her.

    Following Bell as she pushed her way to the front, Bert noticed the tension in everybody¡¯s shoulders.

    Whatever was going on here, it was bad.

    Bell pointed it out to him. A dead bird.

    That seemed to be it.

    ¡°Another of us has fallen!¡± VanPeters came through the crowd, his voice grave. ¡°We must keep the faith!¡±

    ¡°How?¡± A woman asked. ¡°How are we to keep the faith even as more and more of our neighbors fall to this horror?¡±

    Bell gave Bert a confused look.

    Several of the gathered people were looking green, avoiding the sight of the dead bird.

    The bird didn¡¯t even seem like it had died of anything.

    A wagon rolled up, carrying a large coffin. The Mage waved his hands, and the dead bird levitated into the coffin. Once the lid was safely on, people began to disperse.

    Bert watched as two strong men struggled to lift the coffin containing a dead bird about the size of a sparrow.

    Bell gave him another look of complete confusion, but he gestured to her to keep quiet.

    ¡°Meeting in the Town Hall at sundown!¡± VanPeters called to the rapidly dispersing crowd. He saw Bert and Bell and shook his head sadly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to see this grisly sight,¡± He sighed. ¡°What can you think of this town?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell us what is going on?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Your wife may be a little delicate for such a grisly tale,¡± VanPeters warned.

    Bell kicked Bert as he guffawed.

    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine!¡± Bert yelped.

    ¡°Walk with me,¡± VanPeters offered, and they followed the man through the narrow, muddy streets.

    ¡°It all began a few weeks ago.¡± VanPeters grimaced, ¡°We had been without supplies since the War broke out, but we had worked together and hung on. We even took in refugees from the surrounding farms.¡±

    Bert nodded.

    ¡°The first body was one of the refugees, a woman that no one seemed to know. We thought it was a freak occurrence, a wild animal.¡± The mage led them back toward the town square. ¡°By the time all but two of the refugees were dead, we knew we had a killer among us! The Refugees were obviously the targets, so we tried to protect them, only for others to start dying.¡±

    Bert and Bell looked, seeing a wide circle of graves, with a new one being dug as they watched.

    ¡°Our guards did what they could, but there was never any real evidence to use!¡± VanPeters said defensively. ¡°The refugees begged us to do something, and so we held a meeting. Things got heated, with insults thrown and accusations made. So we held a trial. A man was convicted, and we hung him in the town square.¡± The mage pointed to one of the bodies.

    ¡°And the rest?¡± Bell asked pointedly.

    ¡°There have been more trials and more hangings,¡± VanPeters said.

    ¡°And the thing today?¡± Bert asked carefully.

    ¡°That poor woman?¡± The mage blanched. ¡°To have been torn apart that way¡­.¡± He trailed off.

    Bert and Bell exchanged a look.

    ¡°Can we attend the meeting tonight?¡± Bell asked. ¡°Without being randomly hung, I mean?¡±

    ¡°We do not randomly hang people!¡± VanPeters hissed.

    ¡°Got twelve bodies that say differently there, buddy.¡± Bert pointed out.

    ¡°You are welcome to attend,¡± VanPeters said. ¡°We all know you only arrived today.¡±

    ¡°So we won¡¯t get hung then?¡± Bell checked.

    ¡°No!¡± The mage snarled and stomped away.

    ¡°Bert?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Yes, Bell?¡± He replied.

    ¡°They just buried a bird, right?¡± Bell checked.

    ¡°Yes, Bell,¡± Bert confirmed.

    ¡°What the fuck is going on?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°No, idea,¡± Bert said. ¡°Want to find out?¡±

    ¡°Bert and Bell Hudson, traders and investigators!¡± Bell cheered.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes,¡± Bert said.

    =============

    Back on the Waystation, Slothy opened her eyes and yawned. There were definitely fewer humans around today. She scratched her ear lazily as Way Way summoned some food for her.

    Slothy wondered if the humans knew how much Way Way was different now than when she was a cub. She remembered trying to talk to it then and only seeing and feeling weird simple things.

    Now she could ask it questions! And get answers she understood. Like now, when she asked where her people were¡­ she saw them all and what they were doing. Some she saw now, and some she saw as they were before they left. It was amazing.

    They were in the plains, and they were stopped for a while¡­

    Slothy decided to go for a walk and see if she could find a nice place to have a nap.

    She ambled towards the drawbridge, which lowered itself for her. She nuzzled the gatepost as she went out, just like she always did.

    It had been a while since she got time to go for a nap outside.

    ==============

    Bell kicked her legs up against the wall as she lay on the desk.

    ¡°Are you done yet?¡± She whined.

    ¡°We¡¯ve literally been here for less than a minute,¡± Bert chuckled.

    ¡°When you said investigate, I thought you meant something fun, not looking at a bunch of shitty books with terrible handwriting.¡± She huffed.

    ¡°It¡¯s one shitty book with terrible handwriting,¡± Bert corrected her.

    ¡°And you are looking at it; why?¡± She asked again.

    ¡°Because of the dead bird,¡± Bert said, running his finger down the page as he counted.

    ¡°And I am helping how?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°You¡¯re not,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°Were you trying to?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± She admitted. ¡°Just checking.¡±

    ¡°According to this, there are supposed to be fifty-seven people living in this town.¡± Bert double-checked his math and then nodded.

    He got another book and started to go through it.

    ¡°Books,¡± Bell sighed, ¡°Told you.¡±

    Bert counted again, double-checking.

    ¡°According to this, there have been forty murders.¡± Bert grimaced. ¡°And they have taken in a total of seven refugees.¡±

    ¡°That can¡¯t be right!¡± Bell said. ¡°That would only leave twenty-four people in this whole town; there were more of that in the crowd around the bird!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I thought so, too,¡± Bert confirmed.

    ¡°A clue!¡± Bell giggled. ¡°Either something weird is going on, or the hicks can¡¯t count!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll find out at the meeting, which should be soon!¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°Yay!¡± Bell cheered sarcastically. ¡°An enclosed space with the world''s smelliest people!¡±

    Bell wasn¡¯t wrong about the pong of the people in the enclosed hall. It made his eyes water, although the locals didn¡¯t seem to notice.

    The mage, VanPeters, was on the raised stage at the far end of the hall. He was flanked by a severe-looking man wearing a gaudy chain of office and a jovial-looking woman who seemed to be the only person in the hall smiling.

    ¡°Hear ye! Hear ye!¡± The severe man called. ¡°The meeting is in session!¡±

    Bert and Bell lingered at the back of the hall, next to one of the few open windows. The meeting was a shitshow from the outset. The severe man, the Mayor, was an idiot, and the woman on the other side, apparently the town healer, was even worse. The crowd raged at the fact the murders continued with accusations flying to and fro.

    Two voices stood out from the others. One was the Mayor¡¯s new wife, a quiet woman with hooded eyes hidden behind auburn hair most of the time. She was apparently one of the two remaining refugees. She continually called for calm and was mostly ignored.

    The other voice was a giant bald man with a large belly. He was the voice of the anger in the crowd. He wallowed in their anger, throwing suspicion on any who disagreed with him.

    After an hour of baseless accusations flying back and forth, the tide of suspicion rebounded on him. He paled as everyone turned on him. He bawled and shouted, threatened and cajoled.

    None of it helped.

    Before a moment more had passed, the ¡®trial¡¯ was deemed unnecessary, and the rabid, baying crowd dragged the man out and hung him from the tree.

    ¡°Bert?¡± Bell called quietly.

    ¡°Yes, Bell.¡± He whispered.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go; I think I know what¡¯s going on,¡± Bell said.

    They worked their way out of the village as a celebration rang out.

 Chapter 60 - Trials and Tribulations II

    ¡°You''re not going to like this,¡± Bell warned as they sat outside the Express. The fold-out camp setup had been deployed, and Bert was frying up some Bison Steaks for their dinner over the small campfire.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t,¡± Bert agreed. ¡°That meeting was fucking insane.¡±

    ¡°I might be wrong, but I think it¡¯s Fae,¡± Bell sighed, ¡°There are signs.¡±

    ¡°The Fae?¡± Bert asked,

    ¡°Yeah, the bird was the key.¡± She laughed bitterly. ¡°I doubt there have been many actual murders. They did something to piss off a passing Fae or something. So the Fae hung around and started to mess with the town.¡±

    ¡°By doing something to make them see dead birds as dead bodies?¡± Bert clarified.

    ¡°If it was just that, then it could be anyone,¡± Bell clarified, ¡°But people acted like they knew the woman. So false memories are being implanted, and that¡¯s mind magic¡­ which is a Fae thing.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Bert admitted, ¡°but how can we be sure?¡±

    ¡°It gets worse,¡± Bell admitted. ¡°If this is a Fae thing, they won¡¯t stop doing it until they are bored or dead.¡±

    ¡°So they have to still be here?¡± Bert asked. ¡°They can¡¯t just drop a curse or something and move on?¡±

    ¡°No, they have to make those memory spells on the spot. They are here, in the village. And have been all along.¡± Bell said as he handed her a plate of sizzling steak.

    ¡°No one other than a Fae could do this?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Sure, they could¡­ but they would have to be powerful and more to the point¡­ think like a Fae.¡± Bell swallowed nervously, ¡°The person doing this hasn¡¯t killed anyone; at least, I don¡¯t think they have.¡±

    Bert thought for a moment and then gave her a look. Bell nodded.

    ¡°They are faking the murders and then sitting back and watching the villagers kill each other,¡± Bert said quietly.

    ¡°And that is Fae thinking if I ever saw any,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Thirteen deaths so far¡­¡± Bert muttered to himself, ¡°How did no one notice the murders don¡¯t seem to reduce the number of people in the village?¡±

    ¡°Fuck knows,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°They are all really stupid?¡±

    ¡°So, what do we do?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked, surprised.

    ¡°I mean, stay and sort it out, or move on?¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Could we move on?¡± Bell asked. ¡°I mean, really?¡±

    ¡°If you want,¡± Bert said sadly. ¡°I have to stop getting involved in every little thing; it¡¯s not fair to the rest of you.¡± He looked at Bell, ¡°What do you want to do?¡±

    ¡°I, uh,¡± Bell flushed, once again finding herself shocked at how much he cared about what she wanted. ¡°Let¡¯s stay!¡± She said at last. ¡°Capture or kill the nefarious Fae and then¡­¡± She shrugged. ¡°I dunno, not stick around and fix the village?¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a plan,¡± Bert said. ¡°So, first off, we have to find the Fae, and second we have to figure out if we can even do anything to them.¡± Bert looked thoughtful. ¡°If they are really strong, we might not be able to.¡±

    ¡°You can,¡± Bell noted. ¡°Lord of the Fae is more than a title.¡± She grinned. ¡°It grants you authority over all lower Fae; they have to listen to you.¡±

    ¡°What if they decide not to?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Oh, their own Lord or Lady would kill them or, worse, make them powerless.¡± She shivered. ¡°They would have to live as a normal¡­ whatever shape they have.¡±

    ¡°So we have a plan of sorts.¡± Bert yawned. ¡°Want to call it a night?¡±

    ¡°We should take turns on watch,¡± Bell yawned.

    ¡°My pretties will do it!¡± Wendy¡¯s voice came out tiny from the small speaker on the side of the Express. ¡°Night, guys!¡±

    ¡°Night!¡± Bert and Bell called back and headed into the tent as the dark shapes of the Pretties moved out of the cab.

    Bert was dozing off in his bunk, trying to ignore Bell''s frustrated tossing and turning when she called to him.

    ¡°How the hell do you sleep at this size? I¡¯m freezing!¡± She growled.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Bert asked muzzily.

    ¡°It¡¯s so cold, and the blanket is barely bigger than me!¡± She huffed.

    Bert groaned, tired, and wished they had more blankets.

    ¡°Come sleep with me then,¡± Bert grumped. ¡°Two blankets that way, and we¡¯ll both be warmer.

    There were a few minutes of silence, and he was almost back asleep when Bell came over and climbed into his bunk.

    ¡°Stop breathing in my face!¡± She said a few minutes later.

    ¡°Roll the other way then,¡± Bert groaned.

    ¡°Fine!¡± She grumped.

    Their combined warmth and the two blankets finally warmed Bell enough to fall asleep.

    As the night wore on, their sleeping forms moved closer on the small bunk, and by morning, when Bell woke, she was curled up in his arms.

    Meanwhile, a distance away, Wendy smiled as she lay against Scruff¡¯s chest. She knew Bell would never notice that chill rune.

    ==========

    Bert and Bell shared a decent breakfast before they headed back into the village; Bell refused to eat anything in the village. Bert asked if the Fae might have done something to it, but she was just worried the stinking villagers would touch it.

    They headed straight to the village hall and back into what passed for its records room. Bert slipped the town register into his bracer, and they headed off to try and find the local lawman and their records.

    The morning was filled with hung-over, groaning locals. Several times they saw people stop and throw things at the slowly swinging corpse of the man they hanged last night.

    The local guard had a building on the village''s far side, next to what seemed to be a town dump.

    ¡°Which one is the guard house?¡± Bell laughed at the tumbledown building, half hidden in the shadow of the reeking dump.

    ¡°Guess they didn¡¯t need much of a guard until recently,¡± Bert said as they headed inside.

    The guardsman on duty was asleep, his feet on the desk and helmet over his eyes. He snored loudly.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Bert called, and the man snuffled and went on snoring.

    Bell kicked the chair out from underneath him and laughed as he crashed to the floor.

    ¡°What the?¡± The guard scrambled to his feet, clutched his mouth, and rushed outside to throw up.

    ¡°A good start,¡± Bert sighed and moved to start examining the records, such as they were. Given what he had seen so far, he wasn¡¯t expecting much.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± The guardsman came back in, straightening his clothes. ¡°And what are you doing here?¡± He tried to scowl, but the effort was wasted on his young face.

    ¡°Bert and Bell Hudson,¡± Bell said. ¡°Travelling investigators!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re officers of the law?¡± The guard asked hopefully.

    ¡°We are able to act in that capacity,¡± Bert said. He was not exactly lying. If it was Fae causing this, as a Fae Lord, he was allowed to investigate, and he had also been treated as a commander by the Houses.

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°Thank the Gods!¡± The young man said. ¡°I¡¯ve been swamped.¡±

    ¡°And drunk!¡± Bell accused.

    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Sorry, Ma¡¯am.¡±

    ¡°Tell me everything,¡± Bell snapped and sat in the chair, sweeping it off pointedly before she sat down.

    ¡°Yes, Ma¡¯am!¡± The guard gulped nervously, ¡°I¡¯m Corporal Ten¡¯son, the official Town Guard. About a month ago, there was a murder, ma¡¯am. The town Mayor ignored it, despite my urging. Ever since everything has gone wrong.¡± He looked stricken, ¡°They are hanging people almost every night now! No proper investigation, no trial, nothing!¡±

    ¡°Where are your records?¡± Bert demanded, copying Bell¡¯s officious tone.

    ¡°Second draw down, Sir!¡± Ten¡¯son answered. He went to speak again, but Bell held up a hand to stop him and joined Bert in examining the records.

    Ten¡¯son coughed nervously when they pulled out the town records, but they ignored him.

    They compared notes, names, and dates in the records.

    Bell grinned and sat back down.

    ¡°Who made these notes?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I did, Sir!¡± Ten¡¯son said. ¡°I endeavor to be thorough in my duties!¡±

    ¡°They are excellent,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°The most detailed I have seen so far; well done.¡±

    Ten¡¯son beamed.

    ¡°Tell us about that first murder in your own words,¡± Bell instructed.

    The first murder had been a sordid affair, as Ten¡¯son called it. A refugee was found to be stealing from a local shop. Thefts happened, but typically food or expensive items.

    This was the first time anyone had stolen a stall from the market. As Ten¡¯son explained it, a refugee had attempted to set up in the stall the day before, selling charms, only for the owner to kick them out. The owner was the man hung the night before. He was famously miserly and nasty of nature. He didn¡¯t use the stall himself but refused to allow others to do so without paying an exorbitant rent.

    As such, it sat empty almost every day.

    He had raged at the refugee, saying that spot in the market was his.

    The following day the stall was gone, the empty land clearly marked out with small white stones.

    The stall itself had been relocated¡­ to the owner¡¯s roof.

    A prank, in short.

    The owner did not see it that way and attacked the refugee. Ten¡¯son had been called. He had explained to the owner that it was, at best, moving his property... Onto his property. Ten¡¯son gave the refugee a warning and told the owner that any further affray would be cause for sanctions.

    The next morning, the refugee was found murdered in the exact spot the stall used to stand. The white stones had been forced into their mouth until they choked.

    As far as Ten¡¯son saw it, the culprit was obvious. He had investigated anyway, with enough people having seen the owner in the area at the time to clinch the matter for him. Being as the owner was the Mayor¡¯s cousin and held much power in the town, Ten¡¯son went to the Mayor to report.

    The Mayor said it wasn¡¯t worth the hassle for a single refugee.

    The town healer declared it an animal attack, and the village moved on.

    Or tried too.

    More attacks occurred, and as the deaths mounted, Ten¡¯son tried repeatedly to arrest the stall owner. It all came to a head as he openly confronted the stall owner and attempted to arrest him. The owner fought him, eventually beating him unconscious¡­ and nothing was done about it.

    ¡°So all these deaths are my fault.¡± Ten¡¯son hung his head. ¡°I failed in my duty.¡±

    ¡°Seems like you did the best you could,¡± Bert said comfortingly.

    ¡°How many people have been murdered, Corporal?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Forty or so, Ma¡¯am,¡± Ten¡¯son said.

    ¡°Show me their names,¡± Bert said, holding out the town register.

    Ten¡¯son frowned and tried to, finding none of them there. He checked his notes, going back and forth.

    ¡°This is impossible!¡± He wailed eventually. ¡°I saw the bodies; I knew these people!¡±

    ¡°Did you?¡± Bell asked archly.

    ¡°Yes, I remember thinking how awful the death was¡­¡± The young man frowned, ¡°Wait, that¡¯s all I remember.¡± He leaned heavily on the desk. ¡°What is going on?¡±

    ¡°Spell¡¯s broken,¡± Bell giggled. ¡°Look at his face!¡±

    ¡°Bell,¡± Bert chuckled, ¡°Give him a minute, yeah?¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m okay.¡± Ten¡¯son visibly pulled himself together. ¡°Please, tell me what is going on?¡±

    ¡°A spell,¡± Bell said. ¡°There have been no murders.¡±

    ¡°Except maybe the first one,¡± Bert clarified. ¡°Everything since then has been an illusion.¡±

    ¡°Thank the Gods!¡± Ten¡¯son laughed and wiped his brows. ¡°All those hangings! I was worried this town was doomed.¡± He saw their faces, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°The hangings were real,¡± Bert said stiffly.

    ¡°No!¡± Ten¡¯son said. ¡°If there were no murders, then¡­ ¡° He winced.

    ¡°Say it,¡± Bell said gently, ¡°It will help.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve been killing each other.¡± He paled and dashed out the door to throw up again.

    ¡°Nice kid,¡± Bell said happily.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert agreed.

    ¡°What do we do?¡± Ten¡¯son asked.

    ¡°Well, to start with¡­ tell the Mayor and a few others,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Of course, Sir.¡± Ten¡¯son straightened. ¡°When do you plan to tell them?¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t,¡± Bell said. ¡°You are.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t listen,¡± Ten¡¯son said. ¡°The Mayor¡¯s guards took over with that mage once I failed to arrest the stall owner.¡± He flushed.

    ¡°Tell me about the mage,¡± Bell said, sitting forward. ¡°How well do you remember him?¡±

    ¡°Ma¡¯am, with respect, VanPeters did not do this,¡± Ten¡¯son said. ¡°I have known him since I was a kid.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°Then let¡¯s tell him first.¡±

    ¡°You show him the ledgers, tell him what we told you, but you figured it out¡­ on your own. Got it?¡± Bell said, smiling.

    ¡°Why?¡± Ten¡¯son asked.

    ¡°That way, the person doing this is avoiding you, not us,¡± Bert said.

    Ten¡¯son swallowed heavily and, eventually, nodded.

    ¡°As you say.¡±

    ¡°Good lad!¡± Bell said. ¡°Now would be good; we are coming along to keep things moving if we need to.¡±

    ¡°But we would rather not be anything other than Traders, for now,¡± Bert added.

    ¡°Understood.¡± Ten¡¯son took a few deep breaths and then took the two books from Bert, and they headed out.

    It was pretty fun to watch from the sidelines for a change, Bert thought as Ten¡¯son went through the details with VanPeters. Bell stifled a giggle in his shoulder when the mage nearly collapsed as the spell broke.

    It took the mage significantly longer to recover than the guardsman.

    ¡°What are they doing here?¡± VanPeters asked once he had pulled himself together.

    ¡°Independent witnesses,¡± Ten¡¯son said quickly. ¡°We can¡¯t trust our own senses.¡±

    ¡°Good thinking,¡± VanPeters nodded to them. ¡°What is your plan?¡±

    ¡°My plan?¡± Ten¡¯son asked.

    ¡°You discovered this, son,¡± VanPeters said. ¡°You should take the lead.¡±

    Ten¡¯son thought.

    ¡°We can¡¯t tell everybody all at once,¡± He thought out loud, ¡°But we need to tell everyone in charge.¡± He straightened, his face darkening. ¡°We need to tell the Mayor, of course.¡±

    ¡°Yes, we do,¡± VanPeters said. ¡°And we make him listen.¡±

    ¡°We do, yes,¡± Ten¡¯son growled.

    ¡°And didn¡¯t you say you needed to dig up the graves, and confirm if they are actually corpses rather than dead animals?¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°I did,¡± Ten¡¯son got the hint. ¡°But people will ask questions.¡±

    ¡°Let them,¡± VanPeters growled. ¡°First, we tell my guards.¡±

    That went about as well as expected. Three of them puked, and one tried to kill himself on the spot. Bert healed the man as he wept like a child. All of these guards had allowed the hangings to go on.

    One by one, they turned to Corporal Ten¡¯son.

    ¡°We¡¯ve all fucked up on this one,¡± Ten¡¯son said. ¡°We let people down. That ends now!¡± His eyes raked the line of pale guards. ¡°This is our town, and we will enforce the law.¡±

    ¡°Here, here!¡± Bell cheered.

    Bert gave her a look as the other guards cheered.

    ¡°What?¡± She asked. ¡°I love a good speech!¡±

    The guards, led by Ten¡¯son and VanPeters, strode through the streets to the Mayor¡¯s house in strict formation. It was practically a parade. The guards waited while the Mayor was ¡®informed.¡¯

    ¡°He collapsed,¡± Ten¡¯son said as he came out. ¡°His wife has been sent for; she is at market apparently. We are moving on.¡±

    The troops made their way to the Market and cleared the entire area.

    ¡°Go home!¡± Ten¡¯son called to the gawkers. ¡°This area is closed for guard training!¡±

    ¡°Good idea,¡± Bert nodded as the stalls were moved to cut off sight into the square.

    ¡°He¡¯s smarter than he looks,¡± Bell grinned.

    ¡°He just needed a kick in the pants to get moving,¡± Bert agreed.

    ¡°And I like kicking things,¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°I noticed,¡± Bert chuckled.

    The damp earth muted the sound of the shovels. Sodden clumps not yet packed down from the burial yesterday moved easily.

    They opened that first coffin, finding nothing inside by a dead bird. A couple of the guards swore, and more than one averted their eyes from the corpses swinging from the tree above them.

    They moved on, the shovels more urgent now.

    Another bird corpse.

    They were almost feverish as they dug their way back through the list of murders. Two of the guards broke down entirely in tears, decrying the Gods for abandoning them. That wasn¡¯t the worst of it. One of the guards dug into the twentieth or so coffin, finding another dead animal, and simply shut down. He walked calmly to the side, sat down, and stopped moving.

    ¡°Catatonic,¡± Bert confirmed to Bell. ¡°There¡¯s no one home in there.¡±

    Watching the guardsmen and women work their way through the graves was like watching someone aging in a timelapse video. By the time they reached that final coffin, no one was left to dig.

    Bert did the honors with Bell while the guards watched with dead eyes. He was beginning to worry about if this was a good idea. He had seen more animation in the eyes of the zombies in Fortress City than was left in these guards.

    They cracked open the coffin, and gasps came from the guards. There was an actual body this time. It was small, child-sized, and sprouted wings, but it was a body.

    ¡°It was a half-pixie,¡± Bell sniffled. ¡°They are not full Fae, but they are powerful.¡±

    Bert swept the body into his bracer.

    ¡°That is evidence!¡± Ten¡¯son said hesitantly.

    ¡°You lost the right to that comment,¡± Bell said flatly.

    ¡°She is coming with us for a proper burial,¡± Bert said. His eyes were burning with a fierce light; even Bell was shocked at the fury there.

    ¡°Bert?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Half Pixie,¡± Bert said flatly, ¡°Wendy.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Bert.¡± Bell wiped her eyes¡­ ¡°No, not like Wendy.¡±

    ¡°Close enough,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± VanPeters said. ¡°She deserved better than we could give.¡± The mage walked a short distance away and began to weep silently as he stared at the tree of corpses.

    Bell put her arm around Bert¡¯s shoulders as he walked stiffly out of the village.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take her with us,¡± Bert said when they got back to the Express. ¡°Until we find somewhere suitable.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Bert,¡± Bell said.

 Chapter 60B - Slothys Challenging Nap

    Slothy ambled across the plains, sniffing the air for exciting scents. She had seen a small copse of trees nearby and could smell water. She was planning on having a quick swim before she took her nap.

    Way Way always ensured she was clean, and her humans gave her regular brushings. But nothing beats a swim.

    The sun had warmed her coat nicely by the time she entered the shady area beneath the trees.

    A funny-shaped stone was lying across her path. It looked a bit like a human, but really wide and short. She patted it a couple of times with her foot and gave it a sniff.

    Nothing interesting, just old stone.

    She could clearly smell the little lake now, and the freshwater made her nose twitch. She stepped over the strange stone, seeing others in the woods around the area. They seemed to lead to a shadowy place, but she ignored it in favor of the lake.

    The muddy shore squelched beneath her feet as she walked into the water. She soaked in the shallows for a few minutes, ducking her head beneath the water and drinking deeply.

    A dark shape moved in the depths, and Slothy dove off the shallows, diving down as she swam after it with strong strokes. The Shape swirled ahead of her and shot towards her.

    Something long and strong wrapped itself around her, trying to pull her deeper into the lake.

    Slothy obliged, swimming down and snapping her jaws closed on the head as she felt her paws touch the bottom of the lake.

    Water fountained up as Slothy broke the surface, rolling on her back and luxuriating in the sun as she munched on the Greater Lake Eel that had tried to attack her.

    She munched her way slowly through the huge creature, her powerful jaws snapping the delicate bones effortlessly. She decided she liked the creature and made a promise to herself to visit more lakes.

    Once the meal was over, it was definitely nap time. Slothy pulled herself out of the lake and onto the shore, deciding to find somewhere shady to nap away the afternoon. Her overfull belly swung side to side as she sleepily wandered into the woods, heading for the shadowy area she had seen earlier.

    Passing more of the strange stones, Slothy made herself chuckle as she nudged them over. The little stones on top kept falling off. The trees closed in, providing a lovely cool, shady region for her to nap in.

    She sniffed at the stone archway, but it smelled of nothing, so she ignored it and curled up for her nap.

    Her mind drifted as she slipped in and out of sleep. She dreamed of food and cuddles from her humans, especially the bony one. She liked him, they went hunting together and found more humans, green ones! They brought her secret treats all the time whenever no one was looking.

    It was amazing how much food they managed to sneak her, especially when they had to avoid all the other people sneaking her treats and cuddles.

    She was just drifting off to sleep when she felt something jabbing at her foot and opened her eyes.

    A humanoid was stabbing her foot with a small spear. It was a pale green, but not like the good ones. Slothy searched her mind before finding the word¡­ Goblins.

    She snorted, telling it to go away. It gibbered and ran off into the archway.

    Slothy huffed and tried to get back to sleep.

    A few minutes later, she jerked awake as something jabbed at her eyelid. She whipped her head, feeling something fall off her neck. Suddenly things were jabbing her all over.

    Slothy surged up, looking around at all the little humanoids. She roared and reared up, telling them she was napping and to come back later. Several of them wet themselves and ran.

    More of the things came out of the archway, shoving sticks and bits of metal at her.

    Slothy roared again, irritated, and swiped a single paw through their ranks.

    Blood flowed, and several of the goblins fell to the floor dead. Slothy huffed. She would need to find a new nap spot now.

    The largest goblin she had seen in her life came charging forward, waving a giant metal hammer in both hands, slamming it down on her toes.

    Slothy howled in anger, feeling like she had stubbed her toe, and the goblins laughed at her.

    Slothy felt the anger and affront rush through her, and she slammed a foot down on the giant goblin, smushing him beneath her paw. The goblins screamed and ran into the archway, throwing things at her.

    Slothy was a princess, she knew. Everybody told her so. And these disgusting creatures interrupted her nap, hurt her paw, and laughed at her! Then, they threw things from in their little archway.

    Slothy charged, swiping the archway aside as she forced her way inside. The goblins screamed and died, while some retreated into a large tunnel beneath the archway.

    She tried to force her way in, and they stopped and jeered at her.

    Slothy roared and began to dig.

    Her huge claws ripped apart the stones as she dug, forcing the earth away and kicking it behind her as she dug her way along the tunnel. The terrified Goblins backed up further and further, But Slothy didn¡¯t intend to let even one of them get away.

    The goblins hesitated, then ran through another archway, vanishing into a swirling darkness. With one last swipe, Slothy stuck her head into the arch.

    Bastion of the Iron Hand.

    You are too large to enter.

    Shrink to fit¡­

    Y/N?

    Slothy hesitated before remembering the sneering, jeering Goblins. She accepted, feeling a necklace appear around her neck.

    ==============

    Slothy stepped through into a stone-lined room. Shapes were carved into the walls, but she ignored them. Her humans may care about such things, but Slothy didn¡¯t. What she cared about was those Goblins, and she followed their scent.

    The path wound through several rooms and tunnels. Some of them had dead goblins in them. A couple had fallen into pits; others were cut into pieces. They were weak creatures, unlike her.

    Occasionally a blade would swing across a hallway, or the floor would go out from beneath her, but she ignored them. The blades bounced off her thick armored fur, and the floor never managed to drop out from under more than one foot.

    Only a couple of Goblins were left by the time she found the stairs down. The scent of Goblin was stronger, so she followed it down below. They were there; she could see them.

    The Goblins crouched behind a pillar while a strange metal beast walked up and down the room. It had worn a deep groove in the floor over the years.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    Stupid beast, Slothy huffed; why not move to a new bit?

    She roared a challenge at the goblins as she emerged from the stairs, only to have the strange metal beast rush her.

    Slothy squeaked in surprise, ducking a metallic orb that the thing swung at her. She bellowed a warning, telling it to go away¡­ and it kicked her.

    Slothy felt the blow, but it barely registered. She slammed her shoulder into the creature, knocking it back. She charged, and it fell on its back. It kicked at her, striking her full stomach with its metal ball.

    She slammed her paws down, feeling the metal buckle. She hit it over and over until, at last, it stilled.

    She roared her victory as she stood on the corpse, slamming it into the floor a couple more times.

    The damn Goblins had run away again. Such rude creatures.

    She followed the scent deeper into the complex. The next room had a series of smaller creatures, fast and armed with sharp stabbing feet. They looked a little bit like metal spiders but with fewer legs. Slothy spent a few minutes playing with them, rolling over their little bodies while she huffed a laugh as they tickled.

    She ran out of her new toys and moved on after the Goblins. The next hallway was full of the dumb traps.

    She grumbled to herself as she made her way along, getting irritated and grabbing one of the blades in her teeth and tearing it free. A clonk noise came from the wall, so she hit it a few times until it stopped.

    The Giant Sloth Bear was quite happy to see the little fountain in the next room. The water smelled fresh and clean, so she drank deeply until the little fountain was empty. A slow trickle of water began to refill it as she turned away.

    There were still goblins to hunt.

    Slothy noticed a pattern as she carried on in search of the last remaining goblins. Each hall ended with a room. Each room had a metal thing in it. She would kill it, then move on. And the pattern continued.

    It was quite fun, but she still wished she could just have her nap instead. Two giant metal monsters in the latest room had been a bit challenging; she had to hold one down with her paws while she kicked the other to death.

    She had liked the funny noise it made as it fell to bits.

    The other one made it now as she slammed her paws on its head again.

    Slothy huffed and moved on.

    She found another staircase, half overgrown with plants, and cheered up. She liked plants.

    Well, better than stone, anyway.

    You could eat plants, and some of them were tasty.

    ============

    The third floor was a garden full of plants and flowers. Slothy huffed appreciatively as she caught one of the two remaining goblins hiding in a small shrub in the corner of one room.

    She slapped it to death and turned to finish her hunt.

    There was a hole in the wall here, showing a small, rough tunnel dug into the wall.

    She sniffed it, smelling some kind of humanoid, but not a goblin. She ignored it and carried on.

    After another drink from a fountain that was hidden behind a tree, Slothy found another of the metal monsters. Some kind of plant had grown through it, tearing it apart where it had stood.

    She moved on, stopping to sniff at the occasional plant that looked tasty. Another room, with a metal guardian, made even tougher by the vines wrapped around it. She tore the vines off and slapped it until it fell over.

    The other humanoid smell was there faintly, older than the Goblin smell. But it was getting fresher, and it smelled afraid.

    She caught sight of her quarry at the end of the next hall. The goblin gibbered and dove out of sight.

    Slothy charged after it.

    She had found where the plants were coming from, Slothy realized as she looked at the pulsing light coming from a large bundle of vines in the center of the room. An enormous flower sat atop the vines, long white petals almost reaching the roof.

    Slothy slid to a stop as she entered the room, watching the struggling goblin being dragged toward the flower. As the goblin neared it, the flower leaned over, revealing the thornlike teeth ringing its maw.

    The Goblin was chucked in, screaming as it was torn apart.

    Slothy felt vines wrapping around her front feet and pulled. The vines tore as the flower spun to face her. More vines came for her, wrapping around her legs and neck.

    Slothy roared in defiance, digging her long claws into the stone floor to keep herself still.

    More and more vines reached for her, and she was lifted from the floor. Slothy thrashed as she was dragged through the air. Her claws and teeth thrashed at the vines, tearing them apart in bunches.

    It wasn¡¯t enough.

    She was dropped into the maw of the flower¡­ and tore it apart in her rage. Her claws glowed as she dug through the thick vines, pushing deeper and deeper into the plant until she saw the glowing heart of it. Pulsing with green energy.

    Her head flashed out, biting the core out of the thing and swallowing reflexively.

    Heart of the Plains Ingested¡­

    New abilities gained¡­

    Slothy huffed as the plant fell apart around her. The rude plant had tried to eat her! She ate things; that was how it worked. They didn¡¯t eat her.

    Stupid flower.

    She made sure to remember to ask Way Way what the new abilities were when she got home.

    Slothy remembered the Goblin dying and was satisfied they had all paid for their insult. She was about to make her way back out to her napping spot when she felt it¡­

    A vine was still alive. She snuffled through the dead plants until she found it. She was about to smush it when it cowered.

    She hesitated, feeling her command over it. Slothy chuffed happily.

    Slothy had a pet!

    She immediately told it to climb onto her. And it did, winding itself around one of her front legs and forming a little necklace. She searched the room for more pets but found nothing at first.

    She was just about to call off the search when she smelled the humanoid smell again. It was coming from behind a door set in the room''s wall.

    She swiped it aside and looked inside.

    A humanoid, smaller than usual but quite wide, was cowering in the room''s far corner.

    ¡°Ahh!¡± It screamed, ¡°What the fuck are ya?¡± It tried to back even further away, ¡°Is there no end to the horrors of this cursed place?¡±

    Slothy chuffed happily. She had two pets now.

    She reached into the room, scooping out the humanoid and popping him on her back.

    ¡°Get away, ya big bastard!¡± It squeaked again, scrambling off her back and trying to run away.

    Slothy shook her head sadly. It was obviously a bit stupid, but she couldn¡¯t let it run around in here. It was dangerous.

    She lunged forward and gently picked it up in her mouth.

    It punched and kicked at her, and she growled at her new pet, telling it off for being a bad pet.

    It stopped struggling.

    Slothy chuffed happily and started to make her way out of the place.

    ¡°Let me down, ya daft thing!¡± Her pet kept saying.

    It screamed as the traps triggered until, eventually, it stopped.

    ¡°Gods Below, what kind of creature are ya?¡± It asked.

    Slothy couldn¡¯t answer; her mouth was full.

    ¡°I hope you aren¡¯t carrying me back to your cubs or sommat?¡± The thing asked eventually as they made their way up to the first floor.

    She growled.

    ¡°Okay, okay.¡± It sighed. ¡°Just askin¡¯.¡±

    It squeaked a few times when they went out through that archway, and Slothy asked the vine to remove the fancy necklace thing. She grew back to her full size, and her new pet screamed and went limp.

    She could feel it breathing, so she just shrugged and continued out of the tunnel she had dug and into the shady forest again.

    It took her a few minutes to find a new place to nap, and she had to stop by the lake for a drink. She held her new pet on the floor with one paw while she drank.

    ¡°So what are ye gonna do with me then?¡± The thing squeaked.

    She thought it might be thirsty, so she dunked it under the water for a moment. It came up sputtering and cursing.

    She tilted her head, trying to figure it out. Eventually, it stopped screaming at her, and she huffed again. Its humans could teach her how to take care of it. But that was for later. For now, it was nap time.

    She lay down on the bank, pulling her new pet into a hug and getting her vine pet to wrap around it and hold it still.

    Now it couldn¡¯t wander off and get in trouble while she slept.

    It yelled for a bit until she growled again, telling it to take a nap.

    ===============

    ¡°Awake are ye?¡± Her pet asked as she yawned after her nap.

    She grunted she was.

    ¡°So, uh, can I go yet?¡± It asked.

    Slothy growled and picked it up in her mouth.

    ¡°Jus¡¯ me luck,¡± It sounded grumpy. ¡°Get stuck in some forgotten bloody weapons lab only to become packed lunch for this big bastard.¡±

    Slothy chuffed a laugh. It was a funny pet.

    She ambled back across the plains, her new pet hanging from her mouth as she walked.

    It stopped grumbling eventually.

    ¡°What¡¯s that thing?¡± It asked, pointing at the Waystation.

    Slothy rumbled happily.

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re from here, aye?¡± It asked. ¡°Thank the Gods! Someone can rescue me after all!¡±

    As they got closer, her humans were milling around. The green ones. They pointed and laughed at her pet as she strolled up.

    ¡°Gods! Orcs!¡± Her pet struggled. ¡°I¡¯m done for!¡±

    ¡°Relax, little dwarf,¡± A female voice called. ¡°Slothy won¡¯t hurt you.¡±

    ¡°And neither will we,¡± A male voice laughed.

    ¡°Oh, aye?¡± Her pet called as they ambled up the drawbridge.

    She spat her pet at the feet of her favorite human, placing a protective paw on it.

    ¡°What have you got there, Slothy?¡± They asked.

    ¡°Ahh, fuck me, it¡¯s an Undead!¡± Her pet wailed as Bud laughed.

    ¡°Welcome to the Waystation, Master Dwarf.¡±

 Chapter 61 - Trials and Tribulations III

    ¡°We better get back for that town meeting,¡± Bert said grimly. ¡°We need to finish this.¡±

    ¡°One sec,¡± Bell said and tapped on one of the speakers on the dash, ¡°Wendy?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Mum?¡± Wendy called.

    ¡°We need Bud and the Patrol to come over and cover the other exits from the village,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Okay, but can it be Scruff and the Patrol? Bud is¡­ dealing with something.¡±

    Bert and Bell exchanged looks.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bell said. ¡°But remind everyone we want anyone who runs alive!¡±

    ¡°You got it, Mum!¡± Wendy signed off.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with, then.¡± Bert sighed.

    They got out of the cab, and Bert shut up their camp, putting it all back into the fold-out on the Express.

    ¡°Bert, why did we come out here?¡± Bell asked finally.

    ¡°Honestly?¡± Bert smiled guiltily. ¡°I was seriously thinking about flattening the town.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bell beamed. She put her arm through his as they walked back toward the village gate. ¡°Stick with me, and I¡¯ll have you flattening towns in no time!¡± She giggled, leaning into him.

    Bert chuckled, feeling a little better. There was still a cold pit of fury in him, but Bell¡¯s antics pushed it a little deeper. He hadn¡¯t been willing to admit to himself how much control it took for him not to climb into the cab and just flatten the place. Feeling the anger pull back, he had to face it.

    He really wished Libby was still around. He could use a little therapy.

    As they entered the gates, he heard the Express move off. They turned back, seeing the Exo suit waving as it drove off towards the Waystation.

    ¡°That is Wendy, right?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert said. ¡°She really did well with that thing.¡±

    That last hour before the town meeting was tense. Bert and Bell walked the village, keeping an eye out for anyone trying to sneak away. They felt better once they saw a green head pop out from behind a tree and wave as they checked the other gate.

    Their people were in position.

    That tension only climbed when the guards called everyone to a town meeting. There had been no ¡®murder¡¯ that day, so everyone was confused. As the sun set that evening, most people were already in the hall.

    Bert and Bell posted up next to the door. It was, unfortunately, far from the nearest window. A point that Bell made repeatedly.

    Finally, VanPeters and Ten¡¯son arrived and took the stage with the village healer, who was in floods of tears.

    ¡°Good people!¡± VanPeters started, ¡°We come to you today to tell you we have been the victims of a vile treachery!¡±

    Bert scanned the people, looking for their reactions.

    ¡°Where is the Mayor?¡± Someone called.

    ¡°He collapsed earlier today after being told what we are about to tell you,¡± Ten¡¯son said levelly.

    There were mutterings around the hall, all eyes turning to the new bride of the Mayor. She stood and nodded to them all. ¡°My husband is yet to wake; it is true.¡±

    VanPeters led the explanation. He was a great public speaker and held their attention as he guided them through the whole story.

    ¡°Why?¡± Someone called. ¡°Why would someone do this?¡±

    ¡°Because we turned a blind eye,¡± Ten¡¯son took over. ¡°That first murder, that was the only real one.¡± His eyes raked the crowd. ¡°Failing to get justice, whoever it is¡­ they took their own.¡±

    ¡°Murderer!¡± A man stood. ¡°They murdered us!¡± The crowd took up the chant, and the accusations started.

    ¡°SHUT! UP!¡± Ten¡¯son roared. ¡°Have you not had enough of killing each other?¡± He stood in the center of the stage as the noise fell away. ¡°Didn¡¯t you listen?¡± He snarled. ¡°Any of us could have discovered this! Yet we turned on each other instead!¡±

    ¡°Except for you,¡± The Mayor¡¯s wife said. ¡°You never stopped trying to get justice.¡±

    ¡°I failed,¡± Ten¡¯son said bluntly. ¡°That is all that matters.¡±

    ¡°The Mayor caused this!¡± A call came. ¡°He refused to let you arrest that fat bastard!¡±

    Things went downhill a little from there. The crowd began to get riled up, demanding the death of the Mayor.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Ten¡¯son said. ¡°But only if everyone who accused, lynched, or otherwise encouraged any of the killings is punished as well.¡±

    Gasps came from the crowd.

    ¡°Then what do you want?¡± Another villager asked.

    ¡°First, no more killings!¡± Ten¡¯son said levelly. ¡°That ends now. Then, we have a real investigation. Each of us will be questioned, including me. Then, those that pass may remain. Any others, they leave the village. Never to return.¡±

    VanPeters seconded the motion, and the mood changed in the Hall. Things went quickly after that. VanPeters was nominated to replace the Mayor, who no one was quite willing to forgive, even if they were just as guilty. He took the job with a wave of applause. Next, Ten¡¯son got himself a promotion from guard to official Lawman.

    ¡°If you will excuse me,¡± The former Mayor¡¯s wife said, standing stiffly. ¡°I will return to my husband,¡±

    Ten¡¯son waved a hand in acknowledgment. She brushed past Bell on her way out, tears in her eyes. Bell hesitated and then waved for Bert. They followed her, watching her walk a winding route to the village gate.

    She slipped out into the night, and they followed.

    She was less than a dozen meters from the gate when vines wrapped around her feet, trapping her in place.

    ¡°Let me go, whoever you are.¡± She called calmly into the night. ¡°I have no wish to harm you.¡±

    Scruff lowered down from a tree, suspended by her vines from the branches.

    ¡°Sorry, I can¡¯t do that. Some people want a word with you.¡±

    The girl shimmered and changed. Gone was the mousy Mayor¡¯s wife. In her place was a woman about three and a half feet tall with large dragonfly-like wings.

    She sighed in frustration, finding her change of form had not freed her. ¡°Last warning, human.¡± She said in irritation. ¡°The matters of the Fae are not yours to interfere with.¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s theirs.¡± She pointed as Bert and Bell arrived.

    ¡°Fae Hunters?¡± The half-pixie paled.

    ¡°Wait, are they a thing?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Bell sighed. ¡°But I doubt they will exist for long; now the Fae have returned.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± The half-pixie¡¯s eyes went wide.

    ¡°The Fae are back,¡± Bell grinned. ¡°And we are here to stay.¡±

    ¡°We?¡± The woman started to shake.

    ¡°Bert, show her will you?¡± Bell asked as she changed back into a pixie.

    Bert let the mana tides flow, his knotwork shining with a dull glow.

    He took a moment to Analyze the half-pixie, finding she was only level fifteen with a single class as of yet. She was something called a Mesmer. The Analyze also told him she was too low-level to affect him.

    ¡°Oh, thank the Old Gods!¡± The half-pixie laughed. ¡°I thought I was in trouble there.¡±

    ¡°There is the matter of thirteen deaths,¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°Ha!¡± She laughed. ¡°They deserved even more!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to see what they deserved,¡± Bell said. ¡°For now, you¡¯re coming with us.¡±

    ¡°How about I don¡¯t?¡± She snarled and launched herself at Scruff, who had released her once Bert and Bell arrived.

    Vines caught her in mid-air, bundling her up and hanging her upside down.

    ¡°Rude,¡± Scruff said.

    ¡°Ugh, wild Fae are the worst!¡± Bell said. ¡°We better get her back to the Waystation.¡±

    ==============

    ¡°So, who wants to explain this?¡± Bert asked as he looked down at the fuming dwarf, all but his head covered in a snoring Slothy¡¯s claw. It appeared they would have a lot to sort out tonight.

    Bell was not helping matters as she was still busy rolling on the floor of the Barn, laughing her ass off. Every time she recovered enough to look up, she saw the glowering dwarf and lost it all over again.

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a long story,¡± Bud sighed. ¡°Can I deal with it, please?¡±

    ¡°Short version?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Slothy went off somewhere and came back with a vine and a dwarf that she seems to think are her pets,¡± Bud said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what happened exactly.¡±

    ¡°Is Slothy okay?¡± Bert asked. He sensed their connection, feeling her happy, contented, and proud. There was also a sense of ownership.

    ¡°The big bastard¡¯s fine!¡± The dwarf growled. ¡°What about me?¡±

    ¡°Slothy is a she,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry about all this¡­ but call her names again, and I will become much less interested.¡±

    ¡°Oh, aye?¡± The dwarf mumbled. ¡°I¡¯ll jus¡¯ mind me fecking manners then, eh?¡±

    ¡°All yours, Bud.¡± Bert sighed. ¡°Best of luck!¡±

    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    Bert shook his head as he scooped up Bell and carried her with him.

    ¡°The look on his little face!¡± Bell giggled as she rolled on his palm. ¡°He¡¯s so pissed!¡±

    Bert tried not to smile but failed.

    ¡°Any suggestions about what to do with the half-pixie?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I do, but I¡¯m not sure it¡¯s fair to you,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Never bothered you before,¡± Bert grinned.

    Bell bit his hand and laughed.

    ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t tell you!¡± She fluttered away.

    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± Bell said. ¡°Okay, so it¡¯s about your title. Have you looked at it yet?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m getting to it,¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°Just do it now!¡± Bell gave him a look.

    Bert blanched. Since when was she able to do that?

    Shrugging, Bert opened his title and asked for more information.

    Lord of the Fae (Court of the Travelling Lands)

    You have been appointed a Lord of the Fae.

    Your Court of the Travelling Lands encompasses all areas under the control of you, your bonded entities, or subjects.

    May appoint Lady of the Fae(Court of the Travelling Lands)

    May appoint a Champion(Court of the Travelling Lands)

    May have subjects.

    Subjects: 0

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± Bert whistled. ¡°I have my own court?¡±

    ¡°Finally!¡± Bell shivered with released tension, ¡°I¡¯ve been itching to point it out. Seriously. It was killing me!¡±

    ¡°I was getting around to it,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I just thought it was a regular title.¡±

    ¡°It.Is.Not.¡± Bell said, poking his forehead with each word.

    ¡°Got it!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°So, how does this help?¡±

    Bell gave him an amused expression. ¡°You¡¯ll see, come on.¡±

    Scruff and Wendy waved as they came into the Bear¡¯s Fall. To his surprise, Bell flashed back into her human form. Wendy gaped at her mum in shock.

    Scruff reached over and closed Wendy¡¯s mouth with an amused smirk.

    The Half-Pixie was sat at a table, fidgeting.

    ¡°How did you know?¡± She asked.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t stink,¡± Bell grinned at her. ¡°Everyone stank except you.¡±

    ¡°I got caught by good hygiene?¡± The Half-pixie groaned.

    ¡°Yep,¡± Bell said smugly. ¡°Pixies are kind of uptight about cleanliness.¡±

    ¡°Really? I thought it was just me and Rose?¡± Her lips thinned, and she looked away. ¡°So, what are you going to do to me? If it¡¯s kill me, then make it quick. I miss my sister.¡±

    ¡°Tell us what happened,¡± Bert said. ¡°In your own words.¡±

    ¡°As opposed to someone else¡¯s?¡± She sneered before remembering how much shit she was in. ¡°Sorry, old habit.¡±

    The half-pixie, Lily, told them how she and her sister, Rose, had been alone for as long as either remembered. Their parents had dumped them at some kind of freak show the moment they were born. Or parent, she guessed.

    Neither of them knew.

    They both had a talent for magic, with Lily becoming a Mesmer while her sister Rose became a Thief. They traveled around, scamming and stealing to survive. When the Civil War broke out, they hid in the nearest village, but there was nothing to steal, and they began to starve. Being Half-Pixies meant they couldn¡¯t make money through manual labor, so they started crafting simple charms.

    That led to the argument and her sister pulling the prank that got her killed.

    ¡°They ignored that corporal,¡± She seethed, ¡°Just let him go.¡± She flushed with anger. ¡°The only way I could get revenge was this.¡±

    ¡°Well, you could have just made the fucker kill himself,¡± Wendy offered.

    ¡°The point was to make all the others who stood by pay,¡± Scruff said.

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Lily said. ¡°And now look. I¡¯ve lost everything and can¡¯t even bury my sister properly.¡±

    ¡°We have her body, don¡¯t worry,¡± Bell said kindly.

    ¡°After you kill me, will you burn us both?¡± Lily asked. ¡°They say that gives the best chance of finding each other in the Summerlands.¡±

    ¡°They?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°There are a few Half-Fae in any world,¡± Bell explained. ¡°It¡¯s a quirk of nature. Trying to fix itself, I guess.¡±

    ¡°Fix itself?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Long story,¡± Bert said. ¡°In short, Fae keep the mana of a world healthy.¡±

    ¡°Look!¡± Lilly slammed her hand on the table, ¡°If you are going to kill me, just do it!¡±

    ¡°You said we were going to kill you; we didn¡¯t.¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°But you are, right?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Bell shrugged and grinned.

    ¡°Bell!¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Spoilsport!¡± Bell stuck her tongue out at him. ¡°Fine! We were never going to kill you.¡±

    ¡°I killed thirteen people!¡± Lily said. ¡°They may have been humans, but it was still murder. Even if they did deserve it.¡±

    ¡°Well, we didn¡¯t say we were letting you go, either,¡± Bell smirked. ¡°Tell Bert why you didn¡¯t follow your sister into the Summerlands.¡±

    ¡°Because half-Fae don¡¯t come back,¡± Lily said. ¡°We only get one go at life.¡±

    ¡°Unless?¡± Bell prompted.

    ¡°What?¡± Lily looked confused. ¡°Unless we join a Court.¡± She laughed bitterly. ¡°As if that would ever happen.¡±

    ¡°Are Courts that bad?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No!¡± Lily squeaked. ¡°But they don¡¯t take Half-Fae.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bell grinned. ¡°The old Courts used to have this thing about the half-Fae. They saw it as something to be hidden. And the tradition just kind of stuck. No Court is willing to be the first to accept half-Fae.¡±

    ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°What?¡± Lily asked. ¡°Why are you two fucking smiling? It¡¯s not funny to be stuck out of the Courts.¡±

    ¡°Because Dad¡¯s a Lord of the Fae,¡± Wendy called. ¡°And he actively doesn¡¯t give a shit about traditions.¡±

    Lily turned to Wendy. ¡°Your Dad is a Lord?¡± Her face was a picture. ¡°You¡¯re Fae?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Wendy nodded. ¡°I¡¯m half pixie and half fae-touched human.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a half-pixie!¡± Lily looked faint. ¡°And you were allowed into a Court?¡±

    ¡°Actually, I have my Dad¡¯s name,¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°So I am technically part of the Lord¡¯s Family.¡±

    ¡°Not technically,¡± Bert clarified. ¡°You¡¯re my daughter, end of story.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Dad.¡± Wendy grinned.

    Lily turned, stared goggle-eyed at Bert¡­ and promptly passed out.

    Bell laughed and clapped.

    ===============

    Bert sat at the table, waiting for Lily to wake up. The others had gone to try and convince Slothy to release her new pet dwarf. Bert just needed time. He was a Lord of the Fae and had his own Court.

    It was all complete bollocks, of course. He was as far from a Lord as could be. But they gave him the title anyway¡­ and his own Court.

    Then sent him out this way, telling him to look out for Fae.

    If Bert was a suspicious man, and you¡¯d be hard-pressed to find a more bitterly cynical person in this or any other world, he¡¯d think Karl had this in mind all along.

    Of course, he probably did.

    Someone had to be the first Court to take in half-Fae. Why not make a new one and then put someone like Bert in charge? He was also willing to bet Karl knew he would figure it out.

    So Bert had a choice. He could chuck this half-Fae out on her arse and refuse to dance to someone else¡¯s tune¡­ or do exactly what they wanted him to.

    What made it all worse was that Bert actually wanted to do what they wanted him to do¡­ it was just his obstinate nature getting in the way.

    Bert sighed and let go of it all.

    Karl did or did not set him up to do this.

    ¡°Who cares if it is what I want to do anyway?¡± Bert said out loud.

    Lily woke up a few minutes later, finding Bert waiting with a couple of plates of Bison steaks.

    ¡°Oh, shit!¡± Lily said. ¡°That all really happened, didn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It did,¡± Bert said. ¡°Eat.¡± He put the plate in front of her. ¡°Now listen, and don¡¯t interrupt.¡±

    Lily nodded around a mouthful of steak.

    ¡°So here is what I¡¯m thinking. I¡¯ll accept you and Rose into the Court of the Travelling Lands, but I have conditions.¡± He waited for Lily to nod. ¡°First, we don¡¯t just randomly kill people¡­ everyone gets a fair deal with us. If they push us too far, then fine, they get done. Okay?¡±

    Lily nodded again.

    ¡°Second, we don¡¯t attack each other, cheat each other, take advantage of each other. Got it?¡±

    Lily nodded again.

    ¡°Okay, any questions?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Umm, just one,¡± Lily said. ¡°When someone first accepts someone into their court, they can summon them back from the Summerlands. Can you do that for Rose?¡±

    ¡°If I can, sure.¡± Bert nodded. ¡°I have a couple of things to do; we¡¯ll do it in a bit, okay?¡±

    Lily nodded dumbly as he got up and walked out of the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    Bell found Bert standing in the Control Tower. He was looking out the giant windows, looking thoughtful.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°I asked Gwen to meet me,¡± Bert said simply. ¡°I got a vision, or whatever it was, of this room. So I¡¯m waiting.¡±

    ¡°How¡¯d you ask her?¡± Bell asked, too curious to stop herself.

    ¡°Out loud,¡± Gwen¡¯s image said as it appeared behind Bert. ¡°No, you stay.¡± She said to Bell as she went to fly away.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s up?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I offered you the Lady of Fae title for the Court, but you rejected it?¡±

    ¡°I already have a title,¡± Gwen shrugged. ¡°I joined the Court of the Autumn Wind.¡±

    Bert saw Bell¡¯s jaw drop.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you know I had a Court?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yeah, of course,¡± Gwen said.

    ¡°But you joined another anyway?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± She said again. ¡°But let¡¯s be honest; it¡¯s not a real court. The Autumn Wind is powerful, huge, and connected.¡± She gave him a look, and he noticed it didn¡¯t work anymore. ¡°Yours is more of a startup kind of thing.¡±

    Bert was too stunned to speak for a moment.

    ¡°It could have been OUR Court; we could have built it together.¡± He said eventually.

    ¡°Spare me,¡± Gwen said. ¡°Last time I checked, you were still bitching because I didn¡¯t choose to stay on this shit heap world with you and your pet pixie!¡± She snorted a laugh.

    ¡°Pet pixie?¡± Bert said. ¡°She¡¯s my best friend, Gwen!¡±

    ¡°Oh, spare me!¡± Gwen said. ¡°I saw you the other night, cuddled up in bed together!¡±

    ¡°It was cold!¡± Bell said in outrage.

    ¡°I bet!¡± Gwen said dismissively.

    ¡°Where were you when I was almost burned to death?¡± Bert asked coldly. ¡°Because she was there, doing everything she could to save me.¡±

    ¡°You did that to yourself because she fell!¡± Gwen got in his face. ¡°You saw her fall and lost your rag!¡±

    ¡°Of course I did!¡± Bert raged. ¡°So what? You see a friend fall, and you just shrug and move on?¡±

    ¡°And you expect me to come and sit by your bedside while you recover?¡± She laughed. ¡°I was hoping you would kick the bucket and get to the Summerlands like a real Fae!¡±

    The room was silent for a long moment as Gwen panted.

    ¡°You wanted me to die?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Grow up!¡± Gwen said bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. You were in a hurry to die for me before; now it¡¯s a big deal?¡±

    ¡°I was in so much pain I could hardly think!¡± Bert said. ¡°I waited for you to come every day and every night. I waited!¡±

    ¡°Oh, for the sake of the Gods!¡± Gwen said. ¡°I don¡¯t have time for this shit!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you shout at my Dad like that, bitch!¡± Wendy came out of nowhere, and none of them had seen her arrive.

    ¡°Spare me your little halfbreed,¡± Gwen said. ¡°I¡¯m not interested in teenage histrionics.¡±

    ¡°Fuck off!¡± Bert snarled. ¡°She¡¯s my daughter; get used to it!¡±

    ¡°She called me a bitch!¡± Gwen said.

    ¡°Can¡¯t imagine why!¡± Bert said sarcastically.

    ¡°You are the one who went off and had a kid with some random pixie whore, not me!¡± Gwen growled. ¡°You¡¯re the one spending all your time pissing about on a half-dead world instead of butching up, jabbing a knife in your neck, and starting to learn to be a real Fae!¡±

    ¡°Wow,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Right?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Gwen, when did you become this¡­ twisted?¡±

    ¡°I spent my whole life weak!¡± She snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not weak now! And I won¡¯t be with someone that is!¡± Gwen held up a hand. ¡°If you ever manage to grow a pair of balls, give me a call. Otherwise, I don¡¯t want to hear from you again!¡±

    ¡°Bye, Gwen!¡± Wendy waved. ¡°Hope you die in a fire!¡±

    Bert just stood there, staring at the spot where she had been.

    Wendy and Bell just waited.

    ¡°She¡¯ll calm down?¡± Bell tried eventually.

    ¡°How could I have been so wrong about someone I knew so well?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Death changes things,¡± Bell said gently. ¡°She¡¯s in the first flush of her power. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll regret that one day and come back to you.¡±

    ¡°No, she won¡¯t!¡± Wendy said. ¡°She hates me and Mum!¡±

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Bell snapped.

    ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°Even if she does change her mind about me later, is that what I want? Someone to settle for me?¡±

    ¡°Wendy, go down,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°But!¡± Wendy started, only to hurriedly vanish down the tower as she caught sight of Bell¡¯s face. Mum was not suggesting it.

    ¡°Bert,¡± Bell called. ¡°What can I do?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°It¡¯s sad, but¡­ that isn¡¯t Gwen. Not my Gwen. Not anymore.¡± He sniffed a bit and wiped his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s time I stopped mourning the Wife I lost and ignoring what she is now.¡±

    ¡°You still have us,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°That means more than you know,¡± Bert smiled sadly at Bell.

    On instinct, and before she could think about it, she changed form and hugged him. He cried a bit while she held him.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± He said eventually, ¡°Let¡¯s go start a proper Court.¡±

    Bell was almost at the elevating platform when the prompt flashed in front of her.

    She turned.

    ¡°Really?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°No one could be better.¡±

    Bell smiled and accepted.

    The Lord and Lady of the Court of the Travelling Lands rode down the tower together.

 Chapter 62 - Setting Up and Setting Out I

    Bert looked down at the small, broken body of the half-pixie. Her name was Rose, and she was a thief class, according to her sister.

    He was about to invite a corpse to join his Court.

    He shrugged.

    Technically, he already had two corpses in his court if you counted Tim and Bud. So, one more shouldn¡¯t make a difference in the long run. Something told him a couple of half-pixies would be a little challenging in a way that Bud and Tim were not.

    ¡°So, how do I do this then?¡± Bert whispered to Bell as Lily knelt down next to her sister¡¯s body.

    ¡°Take their hands and invite them to join the court.¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°It helps to make it sound all important and formal, but it doesn¡¯t actually matter. The magic is in the intent, not the words.¡±

    ¡°So, make it look all mystical and shit?¡± Bert asked doubtfully.

    Bell stared at him for a moment.

    ¡°You¡¯re thinking about hitting me again, aren¡¯t you?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Bell giggled. ¡°Want me to do it?¡±

    ¡°Hit me? No!¡± Bert whispered urgently.

    ¡°The invitation and summoning, idiot!¡± Bell chuckled.

    ¡°Can you?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I am the Lady of the Court of the Travelling Lands,¡± Bell flushed with pride. ¡°Of course I can.¡±

    ¡°All yours,¡± Bert felt relieved. He was more a beer and a chat guy, not a pomp and ceremony sort.

    Bell grinned before composing herself.

    With a flash of light, she transformed into her human form. A small tiara was now visible on her head as she drew herself up.

    ¡°Lily, take your sister''s hand,¡± She said kindly. ¡°Then place both your hands in mine.¡±

    It was a strange sight, the little half-pixie girl taking the cold dead hand of her sister in her own and then shuffling forward to take Bell¡¯s.

    ¡°This fair evening, in the heart of the Court of the Travelling Lands, I, Bell of the Waystation, Lady of this Court, extend an invitation to you both.¡± Her eyes drilled into Lily¡¯s. ¡°Take not this invitation lightly, for to enter this court is to enter our service and be under both our rule and our protection. What say you?¡±

    Lily gaped at Bell, her mouth hanging open blankly.

    Two notifications appeared before Bert¡¯s eyes a moment later¡­

    Lily, Lvl 15 Half-pixie Mesmer has joined your court.

    Rose, Lvl 14 Half-pixie Thief has joined your court.

    ¡°Welcome, daughters of the Travelling Lands!¡± Bell smiled as Lily and her sister''s body began to glow. ¡°Rose of the Travelling Lands, return to us now from the Summerlands! Your Lord and Lady have need of your service!¡±

    The body began to twitch, then shake. Lily scrambled backward as a light flowed into it. Pale dead flesh began to flush with life, injuries healing, and broken bones mending.

    A gasp sounded as Rose¡¯s back arched, and her eyes flew open.

    ¡°Rose!¡± Lily flew over to her sister, dragging her into a hug. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Sis. I missed you so much!¡±

    The two girls hugged each other tightly. Crying and laughing at the same time, they whispered to each other urgently. Finally, they pulled apart and turned to Bert and Bell.

    ¡°Thank you for returning me to this world and my sister, Mi¡¯Lord,¡± Rose said, her head bowed deeply. ¡°Mi¡¯Lady.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do that!¡± Lily pulled at her sister¡¯s arm. ¡°They aren¡¯t all high and mighty!¡±

    ¡°You were not in the Summerlands, sister!¡± Rose pulled herself free of Lily. ¡°I have seen the world after this and know the truth.¡± She turned teary eyes up to Bert and Bell. ¡°You have elevated me and my sister; I intend to repay that debt. I am yours to do with as you wish. Body and blood, in life and death. I am yours.¡±

    Bell gasped.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I feel like I missed something?¡±

    Rose of the Travelling Lands has sworn a Timeless Bond to you.

    From now until the end of all things, she is your sworn servant.

    ¡°Wait a minute!¡± Bert protested.

    ¡°Body and blood, in life and death. I am yours!¡± Lily dropped to her knees next to her sister, her head bowed.

    Lily of the Travelling Lands has sworn a Timeless Bond to you.

    From now until the end of all things, she is your sworn servant.

    ¡°Could people please stop doing that!¡± Bert yelled.

    Bell was still frozen in shock.

    ================

    ¡°Ewww!¡± Wendy gagged. ¡°Dad, you can¡¯t start a harem!¡± She gagged again.

    ¡°I am not starting a fucking harem!¡± Bert protested hotly.

    ¡°You just have two young female Fae as your sworn servants?¡± Wendy gagged again. ¡°It¡¯s so gross!¡±

    ¡°I did not ask them to do that!¡± Bert snapped. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what it means!¡±

    ¡°What does Mum think?¡± Wendy demanded. ¡°She happy with your little sex slaves!¡±

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Bell snapped. ¡°Your father is not starting a bloody harem.¡± She looked at Bert¡­ ¡°Are you?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bert growled.

    ¡°Good!¡± Bell clapped her hands together. ¡°Wendy, you know he isn¡¯t like that.¡±

    ¡°Bet he would be if we let him!¡± Wendy huffed.

    ¡°Wendy, go away.¡± Bell sighed. ¡°I need to explain things to your Dad.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but¡­¡± She hesitated.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Can I have a harem?¡± She asked. ¡°I mean, if he doesn¡¯t want them?¡±

    ¡°No, get out.¡± Bell shooed her away.

    ¡°But, Muuuuuuum!¡± Wendy wailed as she was swept out the door.

    Bell turned, leaning her back against the door, and looked at Bert.

    ¡°So, that was crazy, huh?¡± She said.

    ¡°I still have no idea what happened,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Yeah, no change there then,¡± She giggled. ¡°Sorry!¡± Bell did not look sorry.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°There are a few types of bonds. One of them is the kind we have with Way Way. If either of us died, that bond would be broken.¡± She held up a finger to forestall any questions. ¡°That is a Life Bond. It lasts a lifetime. The Timeless Bond is just as easy to define.¡±

    ¡°An eternal bond?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No, just Timeless,¡± Bell said. ¡°An Eternal Bond is more of a soul bond. It means you can never be separated.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°The timeless bond lasts forever, but you can be separated by space, dimension, all of that.¡±

    ¡°So what did they do, exactly?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I mean, why bother with that instead of just joining the Court like normal?¡±

    ¡°I have no fucking idea!¡± Bell laughed. ¡°It¡¯s nuts. We effectively own them for all of time!¡±

    ¡°Own them?¡± Bert grimaced. ¡°I¡¯m not a fan of owning people.¡±

    ¡°Well, not own, just control completely.¡± Bell rolled her eyes. ¡°And I do mean completely.¡± She saw his face. ¡°Get over your human revulsion of the idea! They have basically put themselves in our hands for the rest of time. That deserves some respect.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°But¡­ I don¡¯t like it.¡±

    ¡°We did nothing to force them,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°They did this by their own will. Hells, it is only possible to do by your own will.¡±

    ¡°So what do we do with them?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Anything we like, basically.¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°They serve us.¡± She rolled her eyes at his wince. ¡°Get used to it, oh mighty Lord of the Fae. They won¡¯t be the last to swear that to us. Or the last that join the Court to serve us.¡±

    Bert gave Bell the finger and then ducked the cup that sailed across the room at him.

    ¡°Okay!¡± He held up a hand in surrender. ¡°What do we control about them, and what do you think we should do with them?¡±

    ¡°Everything. We can change their classes if we want. And anything we tell them to do, they will. They are not capable of refusing an order from either of us.¡±

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Bert snapped. ¡°They have no free will?¡±

    ¡°They do, as long as we let them,¡± Bell said placatingly. ¡°The whole bond was designed to be a way for powerful people to have others they could trust without question.¡±

    An hour later, the two half-pixie sisters fidgeted under the stares of their new Lord and Lady.

    ¡°I need an explanation for why you swore the oath,¡± Bert said gently. ¡°I¡¯m afraid the whole thing is new to me.¡±

    ¡°I was in the Summerlands for only a few weeks,¡± Rose answered immediately. ¡°But it was more than enough for me to learn a few things¡­

    When Rose first arrived in the rolling fields and forests of the Summerlands, she was overwhelmed. After a lifetime of hiding who and what she was, with only her sister to keep her company, the multitudes of the Wild Fae were more than she could process.

    She wandered freely, free of the need to eat, drink, or rest. Exploring mountains and forests many times larger than anything she had known. She spoke to other wandering Fae and learned of a great joy amongst their kind.

    The Four Seasons had uprooted, going out into the universes again after millennia in the seclusion of the Summerlands. A long-lost tribe had been found, and a massive celebration would soon be held.

    Searchers from the Courts were scouring the Summerlands, discovering the many places these people, who did not even know they were Fae, had settled.

    Rose had been overjoyed at the celebrations and had even joined one of the parties searching out these lost and forgotten Fae.

    Awed by the power of the Courts, she sought to join them in the hopes her sister would join her one day and be welcomed as well.

    It did not go well.

    The previously friendly Fae had only laughed at the idea of a Wild Fae, a half-Fae, joining a Court. The other wild ones had led her away, whispering warnings to her. The wild ones were tolerated by, but never welcome in, the Courts.

    She was crushed. Even here in the Summerlands, her kind was not entirely welcome. And then the news came.

    The word spread through the endless Summerlands like a tidal wave. The Four Seasons would each make a new Court. The wild ones rejoiced, seeing such change. But it was a short-lived joy.

    The first of these Courts was established in a far-off world. The one the lost Fae had settled. It took only the Fae of that world into its embrace¡­ and only a select few of those.

    The second was gifted to the one responsible for leading the search for the newly discovered Fae. It was open to the rediscovered Fae, but only to them. The Newly discovered Fae were ushered into this court and taught in secret. Everyone else was driven away from the lands.

    The third court was given as a wedding gift to a union between the Spring and Winter Courts. It was named the Court of the First Light and seemed even more exclusive than the Four Seasons.

    In the days before Rose received her invitation, rumors spread that the last of the new Courts was given to a strange man in another far-off world of the living. Chosen by the Lord and Lady of the Autumn Winds, this Court was supposed to be different.

    The Wild Fae spread the secret of the oath.

    They would bind themselves to each other and thereby create their own version of a Court.

    Rose refused, wanting to wait for her sister. Many of the Wild Fae refused. The first two Wild Courts were generous and kind, but would they always be so?

    One of the Wild Fae who spoke against the oath said something that struck a chord with her.

    ¡°This oath that ties us so closely to the will of another¡­ it is not something to be given freely or easily. It can not be undone. So be sure, my fellow Wild Fae, that the one you give the oath to has earned your eternal service.¡± Rose quoted it word for word.

    ¡°So when I received your offer, I was stunned,¡± Rose said happily. ¡°I screamed in joy and told all the Wild Fae around me.¡± She flushed. ¡°I almost forgot to accept it. I was so overwhelmed.¡±

    ¡°I still don¡¯t get what makes me worthy of that oath,¡± Bert said gently.

    ¡°You saved my sister despite what she did.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°You spared her, then welcomed her into your young Court. That would have been enough for me to give the oath.¡± She beamed. ¡°But you also invited me and brought me back from the Summerlands.¡±

    Bert did his best to understand.

    A cough from the door made him look up, seeing Scruff.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bert asked, not having noticed her come in.

    ¡°These two,¡± She nodded to the two Half-Pixies. ¡°They grew up with no one.¡±

    Rose nodded while Lily simply looked away.

    ¡°No family, no home.¡± Scruff continued. ¡°They want somewhere to belong.¡± She frowned. ¡°You won¡¯t understand this¡­ what it feels like to be alone, outside of everything. I do. They are not being stupid, maybe a bit naive, but not stupid.¡± Scruff fidgeted a bit. ¡°After a while, you think about it. Giving up something of yourself to belong.¡±

    ¡°Scruff,¡± Bert started.

    ¡°No! I need to say this.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°I thought about selling myself to the guild. I did. I almost went through with it, too. Another couple of days¡­ I probably would have.¡± She wiped angrily at her eyes. ¡°You offer hope, home, friendship, and a future. Then you get all confused and pissed off when people want to show you what that means to them.¡± She hesitated. ¡°I¡¯d make the oath if I could, just so you know.¡± She turned and walked out, slamming the door.

    Bert looked around the room. Bell and the Half-pixies were giving him a look.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert slumped. ¡°Okay, I get it.¡± He stood up. ¡°Rose, Lily, thank you for your oath. I promise not to make you regret it.¡±

    The two Half-Pixies rolled their eyes.

    ¡°He¡¯s new, he¡¯ll get there.¡± Bell laughed.

    ===================

    Dee found Bert on the walls overlooking Trailer One.

    ¡°You will get used to it,¡± Dee said easily. ¡°You have to.¡±

    ¡°Get used to what?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m very old, Bert.¡± Dee laughed. ¡°I¡¯ve met your type before. You never wanted to lead anyone or found a Court of the Fae or any of it.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not wrong,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I just wanted to explore this world, maybe serve a few beers and help out a little as we went by.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve seen all kinds of leaders, Bert.¡± Dee laughed. ¡°The best ones would always rather be doing something else.¡±

    ¡°You reckon?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°The ones who want the power, and the status, and the servants¡­ that never ends well,¡± Dee answered with a faraway look. ¡°Want some free advice?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert said. ¡°I could use some.¡±

    ¡°Let go of what you used to think and start to learn how to think in new ways,¡± Dee said, suddenly looking her age. ¡°If you don¡¯t, the world will move on anyways, and you will be lost in it.¡±

    ¡°The whole servants without the option to leave thing? We called that Slavery where I am from. It was a horror beyond imagining.¡± Bert frowned. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to move on from that.¡±

    ¡°If they asked, would you let them go?¡± Dee said sharply. ¡°If they ran, would you chase them down?¡±

    ¡°That is the worrying thing¡­.¡± Bert sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure they are capable of wanting to run after taking that oath.¡±

    ¡°Ahh,¡± Dee flinched. ¡°That is a tough one.¡± She laughed. ¡°Good luck with that.¡±

    The little woman walked on, still laughing.

    Bert stared at her as she walked off before turning back to Scruff¡¯s fields. He came here because it made him feel like he was doing something good.

    Scruff was his touchstone. She had nothing, and now she had this¡­ his actions led to a positive outcome.

    Sure, he joked about not being the good guy, but what if he really wasn¡¯t? He had changed so much since coming to this world. Was he still the good guy, or was he moving too far from the principles he used to have?

    From the perspective of an outsider, would he be the good guy? He traveled around in what was basically a mobile fort with orcs, undead, a mad farmer, a daughter that was also a giant machine, a giant sloth bear, and now a pair of half-pixie sworn servants.

    That certainly sounded bad. But it didn¡¯t feel bad.

    Bert sighed and dropped his head for a moment. Good or Bad, he was still him. Bert J. Hudson. A man from another world. Being a Fae Lord didn¡¯t make him any less the person he was, did it?

    Fuck, it kind of did.

    Dee was right in the end. He could try to cling to what he used to know or allow himself to change and grow. Forward¡­ or Back.

    Bert laughed and raised his head. Who was he kidding?

    Bert strode back into the Barn with purpose. Bell was waiting for him.

    ¡°Finished your dark and broody moment?¡± She asked archly.

    ¡°Yes, actually.¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°Really?¡± Bell asked. ¡°I was sure we were in for weeks of agonizing self-reflection.¡±

    ¡°Not really my style,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I¡¯m too shallow to go all deep and shit.¡±

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Bell asked, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert rubbed his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s going to take time, but I have to start accepting things are different now. I¡¯m different.¡±

    ¡°You are,¡± Bell grinned. ¡°You really are.¡±

    ¡°So enough of the moralizing,¡± Bert said. ¡°We have a pair of sworn servants. How they are treated is up to me. I don¡¯t want bad things for them¡­ so why worry?¡±

    Bell clapped her hands and smiled.

    ¡°A little break is just what we need, and since we are done in the village¡­ let¡¯s roll!¡± She grinned.

    ¡°Sounds great,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Get off, ya great bastard!¡± A voice roared as it sprinted past the door to the barn. Slothy shot past after it and came back with a dwarf struggling in her mouth.

    ¡°Will ya put me down, ya daft thing!¡±

    ¡°Uhh, maybe we should do something about that?¡± Bell noted.

    ¡°Fuck! Come on, let¡¯s go.¡± Bert had been that close to having a nap¡­.

 Chapter 63 - Setting Up and Setting Out II

    ¡°Bud!¡± Bert called. ¡°I thought you were dealing with this?¡±

    ¡°I am trying!¡± Bud called back as he tried to pull the dwarf free from Slothy¡¯s grasp. ¡°Every time I get him out, she just goes and gets him again.¡± Bud gave an exasperated sigh.

    ¡°Slothy?¡± Bert called, and she looked over at him defiantly. ¡°Will you let the dwarf go, please?¡±

    A series of images were relayed to him through their bond. It was mostly a series of pictures of them when she was young. Him taking her for walks or giving her cuddles.

    ¡°He¡¯s your pet?¡± Bert asked.

    Slothy nodded.

    ¡°Tha¡¯ fuck I am!¡± The Dwarf snarled.

    ¡°Shh!¡± Bert said dismissively.

    ¡°Ye can go fuck yerself in all!¡± The dwarf growled. Slothy wrapped a paw around his mouth and made scolding noises.

    ¡°Slothy, I don¡¯t think he wants to be your pet,¡± Bert said gently.

    Slothy whined and sent more images.

    It was her in the den, all alone, and then Bert came and took her. Of him protecting her from the wolves as he ran, and then the arrival and change at the Waystation. Following swiftly on were images of the dwarf cowering in the corner of a room, all alone.

    ¡°Oh! You think he was abandoned?¡± Bert said, scratching the giant Sloth Bear behind one ear. ¡°So you adopted him?¡±

    Slothy snuffled a yes.

    ¡°But he doesn¡¯t want to be adopted, Slothy.¡± Bert pointed it out gently.

    The images this time were of her as a cub biting and scratching at him as he carried her away from the den and the wolves. Next came feelings of happiness and images of her current life.

    ¡°Okay, okay.¡± He hugged Slothy¡¯s head. The rest of her was way too big to get his arms around. ¡°Can I speak to your pet, please?¡±

    The paw around the dwarf¡¯s head pulled away.

    ¡°Will ya-¡± The dwarf started to scream.

    ¡°Shut! Up!¡± Bert snapped. ¡°I¡¯m trying to sort this out, and you are not helping, yelling all the time.¡±

    The dwarf stared daggers at him but fell silent. Bert explained what had happened and why Slothy was so determined to adopt him as her pet.

    ¡°Oh, Aye?¡± The dwarf settled slightly. ¡°Sounds like she doesn¡¯t know she¡¯s the pet, eh?¡± He scowled. ¡°Ye better be gettin¡¯ to tellin¡¯ her is my thought.¡±

    ¡°She is more than just a pet,¡± Bert said. ¡°She¡¯s family.¡±

    ¡°Animals dinnae ¡®ave us as pets, lad!¡± The dwarf protested. ¡°Tell ¡®er that.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I found her and adopted her the same way she did you.¡±

    ¡°So I¡¯m just ¡®er pet now, aye?¡± The dwarf snarled. ¡°Supposed to just gae along with that, aye?¡±

    ¡°No, of course not.¡± Bert laughed. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to get her to understand you don¡¯t need adopting and don¡¯t want to be.¡±

    It was a difficult conversation. Slothy refused to accept the dwarf was safe to wander around on his own. She sent repeated images of him as a toddler wandering into danger. Bert tried not to laugh.

    Eventually, he managed to convince her that the dwarf was safe enough within the Waystation grounds.

    ¡°Look, Dwarf.¡± Bert tried.

    ¡°Name¡¯s Gavin, nae dwarf.¡± Gavin the dwarf grumped.

    ¡°Sorry, Gavin.¡± Bert cleared his throat. ¡°She is worried about your safety. So far, she is willing to let you wander around in the Waystation.¡±

    ¡°So far, eh?¡± Gavin pulled at his short blond beard. ¡°Ye think she¡¯ll ge¡¯ bored, aye?¡±

    ¡°More see that you don¡¯t need looking after,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°In the meantime, I am glad to ensure you have everything you need.¡±

    The dwarf just glared. ¡°Prisoner, yeah?¡± He shook his head.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Bert hedged. ¡°I¡¯d let you run off now, but she¡¯ll just go fetch you back¡­ and I probably wouldn¡¯t be able to get her to let you go again.¡±

    A knock at the door sounded, and Bert turned to see the two Half-Pixies.

    ¡°Bell told us we are ready to begin training, M¡¯lord,¡± Rose said, bobbing a curtsey.

    ¡°We will wait until you are ready,¡± Lily nodded and pulled her sister away.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± The dwarf grumped. ¡°More pets ah the beastie?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert sighed, ¡°They are my¡­ well, it is difficult to explain. Suffice to say it¡¯s not easy being a Lord of the Fae.¡±

    ¡°Och, aye!¡± Gavin said sarcastically. ¡°I¡¯d know all about that!¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°Cannae hold up a Lord ¡®o the Fae! Please, go forth, M¡¯Lord!¡±

    ¡°Oh, fuck off.¡± Bert chuckled as he headed for the door. ¡°There is food, drink, whatever you want in the Bear¡¯s Fall. Grab a room, get some sleep¡­ have a bath.¡± He shrugged.

    ===========

    ¡°Dwarf all sorted?¡± Bell asked as he joined Bell and the Half-Pixies outside the barn for their training session.

    ¡°Not really?¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°She¡¯ll let him wander around but not leave.¡±

    ¡°Aww, she¡¯s a good girl!¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°So, where do we start?¡± Bert asked Bell.

    ¡°First off, let¡¯s get the basics sorted,¡± Bell said. ¡°Rose, Lily, come here.¡±

    The girls both stepped forward immediately.

    ¡°Class and Level then spells and abilities.¡± Bell pointed to Rose first.

    ¡°I¡¯m a Thief, M¡¯Lady. Level fourteen, so no other class. I have Silent Step and Light Touch.¡± Rose answered promptly and then stepped back.

    ¡°I¡¯m a Mesmer, M¡¯Lady. Level fifteen, but only one class. I have Illusion, Mass Illusion, and Mental Influence.¡± Lily said calmly, then bowed.

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Bell looked thoughtful. ¡°Okay, now let¡¯s have a look at you.¡± The teens straightened while Bell flew around them.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bell appeared satisfied. ¡°I want to make a change; how do you girls feel about hair to match your names?¡±

    ¡°I have no care about my hair, M¡¯Lady.¡± Rose bowed.

    ¡°I have always just had what I¡¯ve got,¡± Lily shrugged. ¡°Whatever you wish, M¡¯Lady.¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Bell said. ¡°I command you to ha-¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± Bert cut her off.

    Bell glowered at him¡­ ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Why not matching hair? They are sisters, after all.¡± Bert pointed out.

    ¡°Uhh, I was going for a plant theme!¡± Bell groaned.

    ¡°We still can,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I was thinking dark brown with hints of red and green as highlights and lowlights.¡±

    ¡°Oooh,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°I like it.¡± She nodded. ¡°Girls, make it so.¡±

    Bert watched as the girl¡¯s hair changed. They both now sported dark brown hair that looked almost black at the root, but flashes of red and green showed whenever they moved.

    Bell looked pleased, as did the half-pixie sisters as they oohed and aahed at each other¡¯s hair.

    ¡°Next, we need some better clothes!¡± Bell demanded. ¡°What do you each like to wear?¡±

    ¡°Umm, I would love a long flowing dress,¡± Lily spoke first, timidly. ¡°Maybe with something Mesmer-like about it?¡±

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡°Okay, give me a moment.¡± Bell held up a hand while she communicated with Way Way. After a moment, a dress and a pair of boots emerged from the ground next to Lily. It was a deep blue, with hints here and there of other colors, but the skirts were the masterpiece; folds of cloth tricked the eye, making it seem to shift and move even when still.

    Bell sent Lily into the barn to change while they waited for Rose.

    ¡°Umm, I should probably have something to fit whatever you want me to do?¡± Rose shrugged.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Bert prompted.

    ¡°Leather armor, with a cloak,¡± Rose said quickly, then flushed. ¡°Sorry, I am still getting used to this. Normally, I would have lied and asked for a dress.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s easy!¡± Bell laughed, and a set of black and dark grey leather armor rose out of the ground, complete with a long, flowing black cloak. ¡°We just adapted one of the orc¡¯s gear.¡±

    Rose bobbed and dashed off to change.

    Training went pretty well. Bert and Bell took turns sparring with the girls, teaching them how to attack and defend themselves. Bell gave them a masterclass on using their wings to move about.

    They first gave Rose a pair of daggers, but she did better with short swords. For Lily, it was more a case of what was easiest to use, and she ended up going for a short spear.

    Bert and Bell took a short break, having a drink while the girls sparred against each other. It was incredible. Rose lost every time. Lily was simply impossible to hit as she hid behind illusion after illusion. Rose got more and more frustrated.

    Bert pulled her aside to calm down.

    ¡°Relax,¡± Bert told her. ¡°This is just practice.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s making me look bad!¡± Rose hissed. ¡°She knows how I move, what I do, and just¡­.aargh!¡±

    ¡°You know what she does, too,¡± Bert pointed out. ¡°I bet you know where she likes to hide?¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah, I guess,¡± Rose admitted. ¡°But her damn illusions!¡±

    ¡°Are not really there,¡± Bert pointed out. ¡°But maybe where they are can tell you where she is likely to be.¡±

    Rose thought about it, then nodded.

    Bert and Bell sat back to watch the next spar.

    It started as they all did, with Lily looking scared and begging her sister to go easy. While an Illusion kept doing that, Lily would hide off to one side, ready to attack the moment her sister struck. Rose crept forward, and so did Lily, getting into position.

    Rose spun and kicked out at the last second, sending Lily stumbling back and breaking the illusion.

    ¡°Got you!¡± Rose leaped on her sister, and they rolled around on the floor, punching and kicking.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Bell laughed as the two separated. ¡°Good enough for today; go get washed up, and we¡¯ll all have lunch.

    The sisters hurried off, still occasionally pushing each other or arguing.

    ===================

    The first lunch was a little awkward. Things started off badly when the two girls stood against the wall while everyone sat down and then tried to serve everyone.

    ¡°You two, sit.¡± Bell waved them down to two spare chairs. Bert and Bell put out the food, and everyone started eating except the two half-pixies.

    ¡°Girls, please just eat if you are hungry,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Fuck, you have to tell ¡®em to wipe their asses as well?¡± Wendy rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Wendy, don¡¯t be a bitch,¡± Scruff growled at her.

    ¡°I¡¯m not!¡± Wendy protested while glaring across the table at the new arrivals. ¡°They are just pathetic!¡±

    ¡°Right, you!¡± Bert stood, ¡°Outside, now!¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± Wendy rolled her eyes and stomped out, ¡®accidentally¡¯ kicking one of the girl¡¯s chairs.

    ¡°What the fuck, Wendy?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Why are they pissing you off so much?¡±

    ¡°As if you don¡¯t know!¡± Wendy rounded on Bert. ¡°I¡¯m all yours! I¡¯ll do anything you want. M¡¯Lord!¡± She sneered. ¡°It¡¯s sick!¡±

    ¡°They will learn not to behave that way faster with you being nice!¡± Bert countered.

    ¡°Why should I?¡± Wendy demanded.

    ¡°Because they are alone!¡± Bert countered. ¡°They needed somewhere to stay and went too far to try and prove they should.¡± He shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s what Scruff thinks anyway.¡±

    ¡°Do you have to adopt every stray you see!¡± Wendy snapped. ¡°I¡¯m not enough of a daughter for you?¡±

    ¡°Of course, you are, Wendy,¡± Bert said, shocked. ¡°Where is this coming from?¡±

    ¡°You are kidding, right?¡± Wendy laughed bitterly. ¡°They are your new kids now! I might as well just piss off!¡±

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Bert yelled. ¡°Get this straight, young lady, you are not going anywhere! You are my daughter, and that won¡¯t change!¡±

    ¡°Promise?¡± Wendy sniffled.

    ¡°Of course!¡± Bert said. ¡°Where is this coming from, Wendy?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just scared,¡± Wendy said. ¡°I have to tell you something, and I don¡¯t know how you¡¯ll react.¡±

    ¡°Whatever it is, we¡¯ll deal with it,¡± Bert said kindly. He was getting worried.

    ¡°Me and Scruff, well¡­.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°We are together.¡±

    ¡°Yes, and?¡± Bert asked. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Wendy sputtered. ¡°I know people on Earth don¡¯t like that kind of thing.¡±

    ¡°Oh! Ooooh!¡± Bert smiled. ¡°Some don¡¯t. But I never had a problem with it. As far as I¡¯m concerned, who someone is attracted to is between them and their partner.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Wendy sniffled.

    ¡°Promise!¡± Bert hugged her. Wendy cried into his shoulder for a bit.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t too big a shock?¡± She asked. ¡°What?¡± She demanded angrily.

    ¡°Oh, Honey.¡± Bert laughed. ¡°Bell was right; you did forget.¡±

    ¡°Forget what?¡± Wendy demanded.

    ¡°We are bonded to Way Way just like you are bonded to the Express.¡± Bert tried not to laugh as he watched the confusion give way to dawning horror.

    ¡°Oh, Gods!¡± Wendy yelled. ¡°I want to die!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°We have Way Way block wherever you two are if they notice things getting¡­ private.¡±

    Wendy looked mortified.

    ¡°I never even thought!¡± She protested.

    ¡°I know,¡± Bert nodded thoughtfully. ¡°On that note¡­ try and remember that sound carries.¡±

    She blushed crimson.

    ¡°So,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°Can you try and be nice to the new people?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll try,¡± Wendy said. ¡°But what they did just creeps me out.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Really?¡± Wendy looked surprised.

    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d rather die than give over my will like that,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I understand a little of why they did it, and I hope they never regret it, but¡­.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± Wendy gave him another hug. ¡°I¡¯ll try and be nice.¡±

    ¡°You better,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Or I¡¯ll tell Scruff about that harem comment!¡±

    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t!¡± Wendy gasped.

    ¡°Try me, kiddo!¡± Bert headed back into the Barn with a stunned but more relaxed daughter following along behind him.

    ==============

    The next morning, Bud woke the new girls early and had them join the Bud Patrol for morning training. By the time Bert was up and about, they were puffing their way through an obstacle course.

    Bert watched with amusement as Bud darted about, making things worse each time they looked to be getting the hang of it.

    The man was a natural. Pure Drill Sargent through and through.

    ¡°Eh, boyo.¡± The Dwarf strolled up to him, a flagon of something in one hand and a sausage in the other. ¡°This ¡®ere lot. They yer army, aye?¡±

    ¡°No, just people that live here,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°And that¡¯s why they''re all armed, aye?¡± Gavin laughed.

    ¡°We get attacked a lot.¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°Nah, I cannae imagine that!¡± Gavin made a shocked face. ¡°No quiet, kindly non-kidnappin'' folk like ye!¡±

    ¡°Got a point?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Nae, lad,¡± Gavin said smugly. ¡°Jus¡¯ feckin wit¡¯ ya.¡± He laughed. ¡°Yer beer¡¯s pish, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I had to kill our last brewer,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Dunnae blame ya,¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°So what is this ¡®ere house o¡¯ horrors?¡±

    ¡°The Waystation,¡± Bert said simply. ¡°Court of the Travelling Lands.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re shittin¡¯ me, aye?¡± Gavin gave him a sidelong look. ¡°Wi¡¯ all that Fae crap?¡±

    ¡°No, dingbat, he¡¯s not.¡± Bell arrived and plopped herself on Bert¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Aye, the Fae are back, oooooh!¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°Cannae fool me, love!¡±

    Bert gently cycled his mana tides, letting his knotwork shine.

    Gavin scrambled backward.

    ¡°Ah, for feck sake!¡± He stood there trembling. ¡°Yer a real Fae, aye?¡±

    ¡°Bingo, dipshit!¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°Gods Below!¡± Gavin crowed. ¡°I¡¯ve been Fae-napped!¡± He danced a little jig. ¡°It¡¯s like one o¡¯ the ole stories, aye! We¡¯re off to travel the world, aye?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Well, maybe I''ll hang around after all, eh?¡± He laughed. ¡°An honored guest o¡¯ the Fae!¡±

    ¡°Or a pet,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°Depends what Slothy decides at the end of the day.¡± She grinned.

    ¡°Could¡¯ne let me ¡®ave that, no?¡± Gavin grumped.

    ¡°Fine, crybaby,¡± Bell waved dismissively. ¡°Consider yourself our guest.¡±

    ¡°Aye, I¡¯ll jus¡¯ fuckin¡¯ do that!¡± Gavin belched hugely. ¡°That dead brewer ¡®o yours, they leave their stuff behind?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert jerked a thumb at the Bear¡¯s Fall. ¡°It¡¯s back there.¡±

    ¡°Aye, I¡¯ll just go ¡®ave a wee look.¡± He rubbed his hands together. ¡°Can¡¯t beat a wee drop of dwarvish ale, ye ken.¡±

    ¡°Just ask the vampire if she¡¯s done with it first!¡± Bell yelled after him.

    ¡°Ahh, right!¡± Gavin said, ¡°Vampires, aye!¡± They heard him muttering to himself as he walked over.

    They both closed their eyes, watching through Way Way as he made his way back to the distillery and met Dee.

    They both smiled as they heard the scream, and he ran for it.

    ¡°Feckin¡¯ vampire! Aye, feckin laugh, ya bastards!¡± he yelled as he ran past, diving behind Slothy.

    ¡°I told you!¡± Bell yelled in a sing-song voice.

    ¡°Ge¡¯ fucked!¡± The dwarf yelled back.

    Bert and Bell both laughed as the grumbling complaints continued from behind Slothy.

    =============

    A fair distance out from the Waystation, figures moved in the mists of a long, wide valley. Animals avoided the area.

    They always had. The Valley of the Mists felt¡­ wrong.

    Local legends would have spread stories of mysterious disappearances and monstrous creatures¡­ if anyone was crazy enough to live anywhere near it.

    The very existence of the place had acted as a barrier to the lords of the Three Houses for generations.

    None would go within sight of it, let alone enter the sinister area. Mages had once dared to enter with the idea of discovering the cause of the mists.

    Only two of the fifteen had come back.

    One would never speak a word again in the years that remained of his life. The other was¡­ changed. His loud and boisterous nature had been replaced with a solemn and serious study of a single area.

    The magical and mundane banishing of mist. He lived a long and industrious life, but he lived in a house and area designed and built with one thing in mind¡­ that there would never be so much as a hint of mist in his lands.

    That was enough to strangle any interest in the Vally of the Mists and its mysterious cause.

    An occasional madman or genius would insist they could traverse the area safely. No one ever found out if they were right¡­ because they were never seen again.

    On a small hill at the very edge of the mists, a scarred and cloaked figure stared into the distance at the Waystation, just a spec on the horizon. They watched without moving, without resting, and without blinking¡­. Until.

    ¡°They are coming!¡± It announced in a gravelly voice the moment the Waystation began to move.

    As the figure turned, a slip of red hair showed briefly before the mists blocked all sight.

 Chapter 64 - The Valley of the Mists

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± Bert shook his head. ¡°We should go around.¡±

    ¡°Ugh!¡± Bell grunted. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°The last time I went into the mists¡­.¡± He trailed off. ¡°Well, you know.¡±

    ¡°You met some red-haired psycho so hot for you that she ripped your head off?¡± Bell asked with a smirk. ¡°You really think there are armies of all-powerful immortals so desperate for your affections they hide in the mists?¡±

    ¡°Just one,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I am pretty gorgeous, tho!¡± He winked at Bell, who looked away suddenly.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± She laughed strangely.

    ¡°I just think, why risk going in there?¡± Bert added. ¡°The mist is dangerous.¡±

    ¡°We haven¡¯t seen that nutcase in a LONG time.¡± Bell countered. ¡°I think Gwen took care of the issue.¡±

    ¡°How long would it take us to go around it?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Who cares? We aren¡¯t in a hurry or anything.¡± Bell said flippantly. ¡°But are we just going to avoid all the future misty spots in the world?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m gonna go with a yes.¡± Bert nodded emphatically.

    ¡°Bert?¡± Bell sighed. ¡°We can¡¯t do that.¡± She flittered across the control room and landed on his shoulder. ¡°If we run now¡­ we always will be. It¡¯s just mist.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing in the mist?¡± Bert sighed, remembering his old mantra from back on Earth.

    ¡°No, there¡¯s probably lots of stuff in it¡­ and if it fucks with us, we¡¯ll beat the shit out of it!¡± She giggled. ¡°Maybe even add it to the menu!¡±

    Bert looked at the swirling mists of the valley for a long time before sighing and nodding.

    ¡°Okay, but I want to make sure everyone is ready.¡±

    ¡°Good man!¡± Bell clapped excitedly. ¡°It couldn¡¯t be worse than the grasslands, and we got a daughter out of that!¡±

    Bert laughed as they headed for the elevating platform to get everyone ready.

    ¡°Bert, everything is going to be fine, I promise!¡± Bell patted him companionably on the top of the head.

    The platform settled at the tower''s base just in time to hear Bud yelling¡­

    Bert burst out the door of the tower, expecting something¡­

    Bud looked up from where he was telling off Mic and Ric¡¯ali.

    ¡°Need something, boss?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Uh, no¡­ everything okay?¡± Bert tried to cover his overreaction while Bell giggled behind him.

    ¡°Fine, just these two trying to get into the stores again.¡± Bud glared down at the two orcs. No one can glare like an undead.

    ¡°We were just going to¡­.¡± Mic ran out of ideas and trailed off.

    ¡°Inventory!¡± Ric almost yelled. ¡°Yeah, inventory it!¡±

    ¡°Definitely,¡± Mic nodded, ¡°And not steal the beer at all!¡±

    Ric slapped his brother.

    Mic punched him back, and in seconds, they were rolling back and forth, brawling.

    ¡°Are you not going to tell them to stop?¡± Tru¡¯nal looked disgusted at the two brothers.

    ¡°No, the punishment will be much worse if they are already¡­ tenderized,¡± Bud said menacingly.

    ¡°It¡¯ll have to wait,¡± Bert said. ¡°Knock it off!¡± He roared at the two brothers.

    Mic and Ric paused, looking over at Bert. Ric¡¯s fist was still raised for the next punch.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bud asked, all business as usual.

    ¡°Valley of the Mists is creeping him out,¡± Bell sighed. ¡°So it¡¯s time to make a plan.¡±

    ¡°Guys?¡± Dee called from a spot on the wall she had been using to watch the orc¡¯s antics. ¡°That mist is coming this way.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert¡¯s head snapped around.

    ¡°The mist is flowing towards us,¡± Dee said as she backed away from the wall. ¡°Quite fast, actually.¡±

    ¡°Okay, everyone, get off the walls and get inside!¡± Bert¡¯s voice was tense.

    The orcs scrambled for the gatehouse, along with Bud, while Dee blurred, vanishing inside the Bear¡¯s Fall in seconds.

    ¡°Dad, what¡¯s going on?¡± Wendy called as she came out of the barn with two plates of food.

    ¡°Something¡¯s coming in the mist!¡± Bert yelled. ¡°Get inside!¡±

    Wendy¡¯s eyes widened, and she dropped the plates as she sprinted for the bridge to Trailer One.

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Bert yelled after her.

    ¡°I have to warn Scruff!¡± She yelled as she vanished over the bridge.

    Bert saw the dwarf, Gavin, struggling in Slothy¡¯s jaws as she vanished into the barn.

    ¡°Well, come on then,¡± Bell waved him back over the bridge and into the control tower. ¡°Let¡¯s go see what¡¯s going on!¡±

    Bert and Bell watched from the top of the tower as the mist flowed out from the mouth of the Valley of the Mists and surrounded the Waystation.

    Slowly, it rose and flowed over the walls, hiding everything within the walls in soft, grey mist that moved with strange eddies and pooled in the space between the walls.

    Bert and Bell could sense nothing moving on the grounds beside the Waystationers. It seemed to be just the mist itself, so far.

    ¡°Go on then,¡± Bell grumped.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked, sounding distracted as his eyes scanned for shapes in the grey/white flows below him.

    ¡°This is where you say I told you so.¡± Bell kicked the back of her chair in frustration.

    ¡°Actually, I didn¡¯t.¡± Bert chuckled tensely. ¡°I said we shouldn¡¯t go in, not that it would come to us.¡±

    ¡°That is kind of freaky,¡± Bell admitted. ¡°So what do we do now?¡±

    ¡°No idea,¡± Bert tried to roll the stiffness from his shoulders. ¡°We could try and head back, but would it make any difference?¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Bell asked.

    Bert pointed ahead of the Waystation.

    A figure in a long grey cloak was floating in the air before them. The mist gathered and pulsed around them as they floated there. A large, deep hood hid the face completely, but there was a familiar feeling that both Bert and Bell recognized.

    A single pale hand reached up and pulled back the hood. Red hair fell in a tumble.

    ¡°Ah, fuck!¡± Bell swore.

    The light caught Felicia¡¯s face, and they both winced at the sight. Scars covered her face, both shallow ones and deep ones. Her nose looked off-center, and one of her eyes showed only an empty socket.

    A crooked, hate-filled smile was stretched across her face.

    ¡°You will all die here!¡± Her voice was a rough whisper that sounded from the mist all around and within the Waystation.

    Felicia pulled up her hood and drifted back, vanishing into the mist again.

    ¡°I fuckin knew it!¡± Bert yelled. ¡°And I fuckin told you!¡±

    Bell gave him a scandalized look. ¡°You actually said it!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not a perfect person.¡± Bert shrugged.

    ================

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    Wendy sat in the Express, chewing her nails as she tried to keep calm. She had never made it to Scruff¡¯s.

    The mist had come up so fast!

    Glancing out the windows showed her nothing but blank whiteness. Occasionally, she thought she saw a shape in there, but she couldn¡¯t be sure.

    ¡°You will all die here!¡± A woman¡¯s voice, croaky and hate-filled, echoed out of the mist around her. Wendy swallowed hard. She knew that voice from her Dad¡¯s memories. She had never met Felicia, but she knew the voice.

    It was changed from the one she remembered, but it was still the same voice. She felt her muscles cramping and tried to breathe deeply, making herself relax.

    There was a tapping at the window next to her, and she screamed, twisting to look out the window in time to see a figure disappear into the mists again.

    She scrambled into the back of the cab, throwing herself into her bone armor and feeling it close reassuringly about her.

    Another tap on the window and a mishappen face with golden curls pressed against the glass. Gone before she could get a clear look.

    ¡°Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!¡± Wendy said over and over again.

    ¡°Come out and play!¡± A young girl¡¯s high-pitched laugh out in the mists.

    ¡°Ignore it!¡± Wendy told herself.

    There were more taps on the windows, more half-seen glimpses of a warped young girl¡¯s figure before it dashed away again.

    ¡°Let''sss play!¡± a lispy voice called from the roof above her as what sounded like claws raked along it.

    Wendy concentrated as hard as she could but couldn¡¯t sense anything other than the claws themselves, which left score marks on the roof.

    Wendy remembered leaving a Pretty outside near the stairs down to Trailer One as an early warning system if anyone disturbed her and Scruff last night.

    Was it still there?¡±

    She reached out to it, finding it still in its sleeping form. She connected to it, seeing nothing but mist a few inches out from the mob. Wendy ignored that, navigating by instinct as she moved it down the stairs to Trailer One. She was going to ignore the creepy bitch outside and check on Scruff instead.

    She took more calming breaths, still feeling her heart pumping way too fast and trying not to gasp for air.

    The Pretty struggled over the fields, finding the plants still and healthy.

    Wendy saw the open front door of the cottage, and a pit opened in her stomach. She sent the Pretty scrambling through the house, finding nothing but a few tipped-over bits of furniture.

    The Pretty just couldn¡¯t see enough dammit!

    She looked out the window again, feeling ice water in her veins.

    ¡°I want to play!¡± The face at the window again, ¡°Your friend played!¡± the half-child, half-teen face drooled as it grinned horribly. ¡°I broke her, so I need a new toy!¡±

    Wendy told herself it wasn¡¯t true, that it was just trying to get her to come out.

    A high-pitched giggle and it waved something with one tiny hand.

    Peering forward, Wendy could just make out a bloody strip of cloth.

    It was from the shirt Scruff was wearing that morning.

    She could recognize the awful pattern of leaves that her girl loved so much.

    Something snapped in Wendy, fury replacing sense as she scrambled out of the express, reaching for the demonic thing holding Scruff¡¯s scrap of shirt.

    ¡°Playtime!¡± The girl yelled, and mist swirled.

    When it cleared, Wendy found herself in a stand of trees, the ground under her rocky and broken.

    ================

    Slothy was happy to leave whatever it was to her people. She was a pet owner. It was her job to look after her charges until the danger passed. She happily pulled the fuming dwarf closer to her and started to settle down for a nap.

    ¡°Let go, ya daft creature!¡± Gavin pushed fruitlessly against the mighty paw. ¡°There¡¯s sommat happenin¡¯!¡±

    Slothy ignored her pet and started to drift off.

    ¡°You will all die here!¡± The voice came from the mist surrounding the barn, and Slothy promptly ignored it.

    Her people would sort it.

    ¡°The fuck was that, eh?¡± Gavin grumbled.

    Slothy patted him gently and went back to dozing.

    A thump at the door made her open one eye.

    Another thump, and she huffed in irritation.

    A third came, and she roared a warning. Slothy was a princess, and she needed her sleep.

    An answering roar came, igniting a memory. Slothy saw images in her mind of a barely remembered past. A giant of a bear slapping her aside and snarling at her for sleeping in the wrong spot. She had just wanted to sleep somewhere that smelled of¡­ her mother.

    A thump that shook the barn. Another roar from outside made Slothy shiver.

    It couldn¡¯t be. Another memory surfaced. Slothy was just a cub, and she tried to eat a bit of the animal her mother had caught.

    Her mother roared at her, putting a paw over little Slothy and pushing sooo hard.

    Slothy shook her head.

    She wasn¡¯t little Slothy anymore.

    She was Big Slothy!

    She roared a challenge, standing and shouldering open the door.

    The answering roar came from a mouth that was rotting away, the undead form of her mother shambling away while roaring back at her.

    Slothy would not let her mother challenge her and run!

    Slothy would show her mother!

    Slothy changed out into the mist after the retreating form.

    ¡°Don¡¯t chase it, ya daftie!¡± Gavin called. ¡°It¡¯s a trap, ye ken?¡±

    The mist began to swirl around Slothy, making her snarl in confusion.

    ¡°Ah, bugger it!¡± Gavin kicked at the ground. ¡°The bloody thing isnae yer problem!¡±

    The mist thickened as Slothy bellowed and fought to hold on.

    ¡°It kidnapped ye, aye!¡± Gavin said, his body quivering. ¡°Wha¡¯ do you care if¡¯n it gets napped!¡±

    Slothy began to slip. She roared in anger at the mist, which swirled on regardless.

    ¡°You¡¯re a daftie, aye!¡± Gavin swore at himself as she launched himself out of the barn and latched onto Slothy¡¯s tail.

    ¡°Go on, ya bastards!¡± He yelled as the mists closed around them. ¡°This ere lass is bringin¡¯ a friend!¡±

    The mist closed completely, and for a moment, Slothy felt weightless.

    Her paws settled on a dry sandy surface, her long claws digging deep into the soft soil. A faint smell of water suggested it was a dry river bed.

    She felt her pet climbing up onto her back.

    ¡°I got ya, Lass,¡± Gavin patted her back. ¡°Ol¡¯ Gavin¡¯ll nae let yer down!¡±

    ============

    Bud kept everyone away from the windows, standing with his back to them as taps, whispers, and worse sounded on the gatehouse all around them.

    ¡°Biggun!¡± Tim pointed. ¡°Biggun!¡±

    Bud patted the little gnork skeleton, trying to calm him down.

    ¡°Just ignore it,¡± Bud said soothingly.

    ¡°Biggun in trouble!¡± Tim insisted, and Bud finally turned as a roar shook the gatehouse.

    Faintly, he could see some large shape slamming into the barn. He tilted his head, wishing he could frown. Slothy was in the Barn¡­

    ¡°Should we get ready to go out there, Boss?¡± Gor¡¯tal asked.

    Bud hesitated. Bert had told them to stay indoors, but¡­ it was Slothy.

    ¡°Get ready!¡± He gave the order. ¡°And tie a rope between you, just in case.¡±

    He watched the creature run off as Slothy burst from the barn in fury. For a moment, his shoulders slumped in relief, but seconds later, he was watching the mist drag the poor creature away.

    ¡°Slothy!¡± He yelled, kicking open the door and running out just in time for his bony fingers to close on empty mist.

    ¡°Get back inside!¡± He yelled, turning to see the orcs, and little Tim followed him out. ¡°Hurry.¡±

    They tried to run back, only to find their feet kicking at air as the mist closed around them.

    When it cleared, they found themselves on an old, cracked road, the way ahead still clouded with mist. The cracked and broken cobblestones beneath them showed extensive plant growth.

    Bud cursed himself for a fool. It was such an obvious trap¡­ but even if he could go back, he would have tried. It was Slothy, after all.

    ¡°Baddies!¡± Tim pointed.

    Bud turned, seeing a line of figures emerging from the mist. In the lead was a tall skeleton in full plate armor. Behind him, a line of sneering elves, hunched and stinking. They drew their weapons and looked at the tall skeleton.

    Flames erupted at the hands of the plate-wearing leader.

    ¡°Form Up!¡± Bud called, shrugging his shoulder and dropping his bow into his hands.

    ===============

    Scruff pushed against the door with everything she had. Something outside pushed back.

    She winced as her torn shoulder brushed against the stone wall. She had no idea what was going on, but she was a bit out of patience at this point.

    A few minutes ago, she had been out behind her cottage, working on some of her more lethal plants. She kept them back here after an incident with an unexpectedly ranged variant of her spike plant she grew to make ammo for Bert. It had suddenly fired off a spike, pinning little Tim to the wall.

    The little bugger had only been coming over to say hi.

    The next thing she knew, the mist was flowing around her, and her farm was gone. Instead, she found herself in this stone tunnel. Something had swiped at her from the darkness, tearing a strip from her favorite shirt and opening her shoulder at the same time.

    She had reached for the local plants¡­ and there were none. Whatever this place was, it was desolate. Not a living plant in range. All she could sense was stone.

    Above, below, to either side¡­ stone.

    She had searched for any dirt to grow a few seeds in¡­ but there was nothing.

    And then the noises started. She had seen the figures lurching towards her¡­ and run.

    Now, she pressed her back more firmly against the stone door and pushed.

    ¡°Who the hell did we piss off this time?¡± She growled to herself.

    =============

    Bert and Bell burst out of the tower and into the mist. Their veins were glowing like twin suns as their fury drove them. They felt their people taken one by one, and by the time they made it down the tower¡­ Wendy, Slothy, Bud and the orcs, even Scruff¡­ were gone.

    ¡°I can sense Wendy,¡± Bell pointed to the east. ¡°That way.

    ¡°Slothy is to the west,¡± Burt nodded. ¡°Bud is south. Hopefully, the orcs are with him.¡±

    The mist pressed against the light, pushing to swallow them up.

    ¡°Let¡¯s take the Express and round them up!¡± Bert yelled as the winds began to howl. They pressed on, pushing through the mist as they closed on the Express.

    When they fought their way up the steps to the bridge, Bert looked at the empty space where the Express used to be.

    ¡°Bert!¡± Bell yelled, drawing his attention to the wall of the Waystation.

    Three figures hovered above it.

    The mist pressed tighter against them. Bert and Bell pushed back, staring defiantly at the trio.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Felicia¡¯s voice pierced the winds around them. ¡°We finish this!¡±

    ¡°Then stop pissing about and do it!¡± Bert yelled back.

    The mist slowed and pulled back, settling down and giving way to their light.

    ¡°No,¡± Felicia shook her head. ¡°I will not do that.¡± She laughed. ¡°My champions will come for you.¡± She waved to her companions. ¡°I have a chosen for each of you.¡±

    A blur shot from the wall, landing on Felicia as she screamed. She dropped from sight, the little form of Dee attached to her neck. The mists began dissipating a little, and the figures who had come with her became visible.

    ¡°A FUCKING FAIRY!¡± Bell¡¯s voice shook with rage. ¡°SHE CHOSE A FAIRY TO FACE ME!¡±

    Bell shot towards the hovering figure as the man with the fairy smiled and stepped onto the walls, staring directly at Bert.

    ¡°I think it is time you were taught some manners!¡± The man¡¯s tones were posh, clipped, and precise. ¡°I, Lord Troy, shall be your teacher.¡±

    ¡°Get fucked, you posh git!¡± Bert grinned savagely as he summoned his shield. ¡°I¡¯m gonna kick your fuckin¡¯ head in!¡±

 CHapter 65 - Ambushed in the Mists

    Lord Troy drew a long, shining sword from the jeweled sheath at his waist, summoning a gleaming shield with a stylish flick of his wrist.

    He nodded to Bert as he kicked off from the wall, coming to rest on the ground below the Waystation.

    ¡°Come then, swine!¡± He called, his voice rich and deep. ¡°Come and answer for your crimes!¡±

    ¡°My crimes!¡± Bert hopped off the wall, dropping to the ground and rolling up as his prosthetic hand grew into an axe. ¡°That¡¯s rich, pretty boy. What am I supposed to have done?¡±

    ¡°You know what you did,¡± He nodded again, a steel helmet shimmering into place on his head. The faceplate showed a scowling face while it was topped with a stylish crown. He blurred forward, his overhand sweep with his blade clanging off Bert¡¯s shield. Troy swung his own shield, slamming it into Bert¡¯s head. Bert staggered back, but he grit his teeth and kicked out, throwing Troy back.

    ¡°First lesson!¡± Troy laughed. ¡°Always wear a helm!¡±

    Bert summoned his helm, placing the pot on his head at a jaunty angle.

    ¡°How¡¯s this?¡± He leaped, slamming his feet into the shiny knight as he landed. Bert rolled away as Troy kicked out and swung his sword.

    They traded blows, Bert blocking and countering as they slowly sped up. Bert¡¯s knotwork began to shine as he pushed faster and faster. Troy kept up with him every step of the way.

    Eventually, they broke apart, both panting and tired.

    ¡°You fight well,¡± Troy spat. ¡°A pity you are such a rogue. We might have had a few good spars!¡±

    ¡°Me a rogue?¡± Bert laughed. ¡°Naah, mate. I¡¯m a garbage man.¡±

    ¡°I meant you are a scoundrel!¡± Troy spat back.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m a garbage man!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°You can hear in that bucket¡­ right?¡±

    Troy launched himself at Bert. ¡°Do. Not. Laugh. At. Me!¡± each word spoken between powerful blows.

    Bert kept laughing, noticing how much control Troy lost as he teased him.

    ¡°So, Mister Night!¡± Bert said as he danced under one of Troy¡¯s swings. ¡°What did she give you to sell her your soul?¡± He grinned. ¡°Was it one blowjob? Or the whole anal thing?¡±

    ¡°You disgust me!¡± Troy snarled, swinging wildly.

    Bert narrowed his eyes. It was almost time. He pushed the attack, trading blows as fast as he could.

    ¡°So it was the anal thing?¡± Bert nodded sagely. ¡°She looks the type.¡±

    ¡°Fuck you!¡± Troy screamed and rushed him.

    Bert dropped to one knee, firing a barrage of bolts from this crossbow, each one shining with Chill or Heat runes.

    Troy staggered, falling to one knee.

    Bert rushed the fallen knight, swinging his shield down on the back of his neck.

    Troy rolled aside, kicking Bert in the stomach and slamming his blade into Bert¡¯s shoulder. The blade slid in like a hot knife through butter.

    ¡°Hah! I know your tricks!¡± Troy kicked Bert¡¯s arm aside and stood, pulling Bert onto his sword as he wrapped an arm over Bert¡¯s prosthetic. ¡°You hunt and attack that immortal woman! Then you leave her to die! I will not have it!¡±

    Blood bubbled out of Bert¡¯s mouth as he laughed.

    ¡°Oh, you poor bastard.¡± He pulled Troy in closer, feeling the blade slicing deeper into his lungs. ¡°She fed you a crock of shit, posh boy.¡± Bert¡¯s hands began to glow as turn runes blazed on his palms. He slammed them against the metal armor, feeling it warp and tear.

    Troy screamed.

    ¡°I was the one hunted and attacked!¡± He felt the arm in his left-hand crunch as his armor twisted even more.

    ¡°Liar!¡± Troy kicked away from Bert. Bert tried to hold on, but his right arm was pretty much severed at this point. Troy was in bad shape as he fell back, one arm a shattered mess of crumbled metal. The knight¡¯s backplate was twisted, pushing into his back.

    Bert summoned a deer corpse, only for the mist to snatch it away. He tried again, this time getting time to cast reclaim flesh for a second before the mist could grab the deer carcass. One more try and he was healed.

    He rolled his shoulders as Troy ran into the mists.

    Bert fired after him, but the bolts disappeared into the mists.

    A moment later, Troy was gone.

    Bert sighed, gathering his shield and turning to where he sensed Wendy. He started to jog through the mists.

    ===========

    Scruff jogged down another stone tunnel. There had to be some dirt here somewhere! How can anywhere not have a single bit of dirt in it? There should be dust if nothing else, but each place she passed was as clean and spotless as the one before.

    ¡°You can not hide, Farmer!¡± an arrogant voice called in the distance. ¡°I have swept this entire complex; there is nothing here for you to use!¡±

    A half-glimpsed movement from the shadows between the light crystals in the walls made her hesitate.

    A whirring clockwork horror launched itself at her, gouging deep furrows in her arms as she grabbed it out of the air and dashed it against the wall. She searched frantically through the wreckage, finding nothing but metal cogs and springs.

    She felt wetness on her cheeks and touched her face. Her hands came away wet with tears. She shook her head, slapping herself and forcing herself onward as the blood slowly seeped into the remains of her shirt.

    She had been at this game of cat and mouse for what felt like hours already. Time seemed to pass differently when you couldn¡¯t see any difference from one corridor to another. And always, the constructs snuck and crept and attacked.

    Stone and metal that was all she found in the walls, floor, or the constructs themselves.

    She was a farmer, dammit! How was she supposed to fight without anything to fight with? She knew the answer, of course¡­ she wasn¡¯t. She was supposed to die.

    Her breath caught as an image of Wendy flashed through her mind. Wendy laughing, Wendy angry, it was all good to Scruff.

    She was so distracted that she didn¡¯t notice the corridor end as she stumbled into a large open room.

    ¡°Took you long enough!¡± A thin man sat on a stone throne. He was dressed elegantly, in a top hat and tails, and had a complex magnifier on one eye. He was tinkering with a small clockwork thing in his hands. ¡°I was beginning to think I would have to go and fetch you.¡± He sneered at her. ¡°The lower classes really should try and learn to be prompt!¡±

    Scruff ignored the taunts, looking at the shadows dotting the walls.

    ¡°Give it up!¡± The man laughed. ¡°You have nothing to grow with; you are powerless.¡± He leered at her. ¡°Maybe it is time you learn to beg?¡±

    ¡°You know,¡± Scruff smiled as she drew herself up. ¡°I almost did for a second.¡±

    ¡°Almost?¡± He chuckled darkly.

    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Yes, I think if you had asked kindly¡­ I might have actually done it for a chance to see my friends again.¡± She took a series of seeds from the pouches of her belt. ¡°But you had to be a dick about it, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Stop pretending!¡± The man spat. ¡°You have nowhere to grow those seeds!¡±

    ¡°Almost nowhere!¡± Scruff took a deep breath¡­ and slammed the seeds into her open cuts.

    ¡°Kill her!¡± The man leaped from his chair, his magnifier toppling from his eye.

    Constructs ground to life and moved towards her.

    Scruff screamed as the roots dug into her skin, drinking from her veins and muscles. She gritted her teeth and forced them to keep growing, vines wrapping around her as others forced their way under her skin and down her arms. Steel vine thorns pushed through the skin of her hands.

    The blood that had soaked into her clothes was pulled into the fast-growing plants. A ring of blood berries flowered and ripened around her neck. She popped a handful into her mouth, the juice flowing down her throat as the growth continued rapidly.

    The first constructs that reached her were small, barely larger than a cat. She kicked and stomped, their sharp claws and rugged gears cutting into her boots. She winced as a pair of vines burst from her shoulders.

    Scruff felt woozy, vines pushing their way under the skin and out from her knees, wrapping themselves around her feet. She ate more of the blood berries as the first of the larger constructs lumbered towards her. Multiple arms flailed at her as she batted them away, the thorns in her hands leaving deep gouges in the metal and stone the components were made of.

    Scruff ducked under a pair of arms tipped with scythe blades and kicked hard at the leg of the construct. It listed and fell, its arms flailing uselessly.

    She heard their creator gasp and looked over to see him scrambling back in shock.

    ¡°Kill her, I said!¡± He demanded, ducking behind the throne.

    More of the constructs detached from the shadows, each one a different shape as she punched and kicked. Flowers appeared on the vines along her arms, growing into bright flowers that she snatched and threw at the constructs. Each one hit by a flower wilted as potent acids were released.

    Her hands burned from it as well, but it was worth it.

    She had spent days perfecting this variant of the vine with the potent metal-eating acid. It was much less effective on skin and living things. She ducked a hammer-swinging construct but took a hit to her back from a four-legged construct with a flat, hammer-like head.

    The constructs kept coming, and she kept fighting.

    Scruff was slowly being pushed back, and her arms and legs began to feel heavy and lifeless. Her head rang and pulsed with each movement.

    She just couldn¡¯t eat enough berries to keep going while the vines pulled at her blood and muscles for sustenance.

    ¡°Hah!¡± The man leaped over the back of the throne as she took a heavy blow, sent flying; Scruff landed at the foot of the throne.

    She struggled, trying to push herself up.

    He put his booted foot on the back of her head, forcing it down as he took his place on the throne again.

    ¡°That¡¯s better!¡± He laughed. ¡°A fitting end for a farmer, eh?¡±

    Scruff growled, fighting to rise.

    ¡°Now, now.¡± He scolded her. ¡°You did very well. Most impressive actually¡­ but brains really do beat brawn, my dear farmer.¡± He sneered at her as the constructs gathered around her. ¡°You simply needed more places to grow your plants!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re right!¡± Scruff laughed. ¡°I do.¡±

    The vines around her body thrashed, ripping themselves free of her and wrapping themselves around the startled clockmaker.

    He opened his mouth to scream for help, but the steel vines slammed into the open mouth, forcing their way inside.

    He gargled and twitched as he slowly stilled. His corpse burst open with newly growing plants as his constructs began to fall to pieces around her.

    Scruff laughed and raised her ragged fist to the blood berries multiplying all over her former adversary.

    Now, she just had to eat fast enough to survive.

    =============

    ¡°Can¡¯t catch me!¡± The horrific creature trilled as she floated away once more.

    Wendy snarled in frustration. She had been doing this for a while.

    Her opponent seemed to be made partly of the mist itself. Every time she got near enough to actually do some damage¡­ her skeleton-wrapped fists passed through the thing as if it were mist.

    ¡°Hold still, you little bitch!¡± Wendy snapped as she leaped for a flash of golden curls. Her only reply was a high-pitched giggle that seemed to come from everywhere at once.

    Wendy broke into a sprint as she saw the creature again. It lay on its side in a cloud of mist, drifting ahead of her no matter how fast she ran.

    ¡°You really do like to play rough!¡± The girl giggled.

    ¡°I¡¯m not playing!¡± Wendy jerked forward, her hands passing harmlessly through the creature.

    ¡°Yes, you are, silly!¡± The girl snarled and flicked out her arm, the long one with the twisted claws on the end. A line of fire erupted on Wendy¡¯s chest.

    She stumbled to a stop, feeling blood running down the inside of her armor.

    The claws had opened a tear in it that went all the way through. She channeled mana into it to repair the armor as she cast Reclaim Flesh on a corpse she summoned from the storage.

    ¡°Uh uh uh!¡± The girl taunted Wendy, snatching away the corpse.

    ¡°If I ever catch you,¡± Wendy muttered. ¡°I¡¯m going to BURN YOU ALIVE!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± The giggle came from behind her, ¡°You never will!¡±

    She lunged again, missing by millimeters.

    Wendy danced backward.

    ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t!¡± She grinned and dropped to all fours, dashing off into the mist.

    ¡°Hey! No fair!¡± The girl called. ¡°You can¡¯t go!¡±

    Wendy dashed through the mist, trying to get her bearings. The giggles and calls came from her left, then right. Then it was in front of her. She leaped off to the side, only to hear the giggles again.

    She tried to run another way, but the giggles and taunts followed no matter where she went.

    ¡°Run, little bitch!¡± The girl snarled as she appeared in the mist ahead of Wendy, her claws leaving marks all the way down the suit''s left side as she lashed out.

    Wendy put her head down and ran as fast as she could; she needed to get out of range of this thing.

    ¡°You¡¯re funny!¡± The voice came again, and Wendy felt a slight weight settle on her back. ¡°Giddy up, pony!¡±

    Snarling, Wendy twisted, her claws slashing through empty air again.

    Giggles faded into the distance as Wendy stood, catching her breath and looking around her.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± She swore. She was back exactly where she had started.

    ¡°Playtime!¡± The girl came again.

    Wendy raised her fists and prepared to fight again.

    ===========

    Dee felt the immortal punching and kicking at her but ignored the assaults. The girl was strong, but with immortal blood flowing into her mouth¡­ she couldn¡¯t care less.

    She bit deeper, feeling another artery tear as the immortal began to push feebly against her.

    ¡°Shhh, girl!¡± Dee slapped at the glassy-eyed immortal. ¡°Dee needs to FEED.¡±

    She lapped at the flowing blood. Loving the warm feel against her skin as the immortal heart refused to stop pumping.

    Clamping her mouth over the flow again, she made herself hold back. She needed to draw this out as long as possible. Too fast, and the heart would stop for a while. Too slow, and the immortal would heal.

    Mists swirled and pulled at Dee, but she dug her clawed hands deep into the flesh of the immortal¡¯s back and wrapped her legs around the shivering body.

    The old tales were true.

    There was no blood like that of a watcher.

    ============

    ¡°We are too weak for this!¡± Rose whispered to Lily as they drifted silently through the mists.

    ¡°No, we are not.¡± Lily shook her head. ¡°We can help.¡±

    ¡°What can we do?¡± Rose waved her hands at the mist-wreathed valley around them.

    ¡°We can guide them home!¡± Lily hissed. ¡°Can¡¯t you feel them? I can feel where they all are.¡±

    ¡°Well, yes¡­ but.¡± Rose had felt the power of some of the creatures that invaded the Waystation. It was terrifying. If Lily had not dragged her out here, she would still be hiding in Lady Bell¡¯s rooms.

    ¡°You decided to serve them!¡± Lily hissed. ¡°This is serving them!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t make you join!¡± Rose hissed back.

    They had been arguing about this almost nonstop since the oath.

    ¡°I¡¯m just going to let you serve them alone?¡± Lily sighed. ¡°Come on, this way!¡±

    ¡°Where are we going?¡± Rose demanded, but Lily shushed her. She was just about to snap at her sister when she heard it¡­ a giggling noise from ahead.

    They floated silently on, hidden by the illusions of her sister.

    Below them, they saw Wendy. The girl hated them. They knew that, could feel it even if she was being nice now.

    Wendy was in some kind of bone armor, and she was bleeding. Both the half pixies could smell it in the air.

    ¡°What is she doing?¡± Lily looked down at Wendy as she swung and dodged¡­ nothing. There was nothing there.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Rose whispered. ¡°She¡¯s fighting!¡±

    ¡°No, she isn¡¯t.¡± Lily sighed and pointed at a malformed figure sitting demurely on a branch. It was about the same size as them but with one tiny arm and one incredibly long arm that had over a dozen elbows. It was grotesque, even its face twisted, with one side a child and the other a young teen. Parts of the body seemed to be trying to be a teen or even older, while the legs seemed withered and shrunken. One short and the other long and thin.

    It breathed in the mist, breathing back out long streams of pale smoke. The difference was subtle, but it was there.

    The thing giggled, but the sound distorted, seeming to come from a long way off.

    ¡°What do we do?¡± Lily placed her hand against her sister¡¯s head, giving her a glimpse of the reality behind the creature¡¯s illusions.

    ¡°She hates us, we could leave?¡± Rose said hopelessly.

    ¡°No, we can¡¯t,¡± Lily sighed. ¡°She¡¯s a member of the Court.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Rose sighed, drawing her short swords. ¡°I just really don¡¯t like her.¡±

    ¡°Me either,¡± Lily grinned at her sister as she tightened her grip on the spear. ¡°But I bet her parents will be happy with us if we save her!¡±

    ¡°What if we miss?¡± Rose fretted.

    ¡°Then I¡¯ll see you in the Summerlands!¡± Lily grinned, her eyes trained on the creature below them.

    The two sisters dove toward the giggling thing, weapons out, wings beating as fast as they could.

 Chapter 66 - Round Up

    Wendy watched her skeletal claws pass harmlessly through the giggling nightmare yet again. She snarled, kicking and slicing at the air, meeting nothing but more mist.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Wendy snarled, leaping at the misty form again.

    ¡°How when you can¡¯t even hurt me?¡± The girl giggled.

    ¡°I¡¯ll find a way, trust me!¡± Wendy backed away, eyes flicking around.

    ¡°No, you won¡¯t!¡± The lilting voice set Wendy¡¯s nerves on edge. ¡°You are way too stupid! Yay!¡± She giggled. ¡°Mummy said I had to kill her friend''s daughter, but she said I could play with you as much as I want first.¡± She looked thoughtful for a moment. ¡°Or I can, as long as your Dad doesn¡¯t die too quickly. Once he¡¯s dead, so are you! Stupid Toy!¡±

    Wendy slashed out at the figure as it drifted closer, trying to force her mana out of her body and into the claws. It didn¡¯t work¡­ but she felt like it might. Mocking laughter floated to her from behind, and she rolled forward straight into a slicing claw that cut a line down the side of her face.

    ¡°Ugly little thing, aren¡¯t you?¡± Wendy snarled.

    ¡°Oooh, rude Toy!¡±

    Wendy dodged a blow, then another, before taking the third on her arms. It was enough to send her flying back, her armored feet leaving furrows in the dirt.

    ¡°Playtime¡¯s over!¡± The girl snarled, flying at her out of the mists. ¡°I don¡¯t like you anymore!¡±

    Wendy drew herself up, trying desperately to channel her magic in some meaningful way.

    The creature froze a few steps away, its form breaking up and drifting into the mist. A sound behind her made Wendy turn; seeing blood raining down from above, she jumped back.

    Above Wendy, in a tree she was sure wasn¡¯t there a second ago, was the creature. A spear tip was sticking out of the front of its neck, and a pair of swords were buried to the hilt in its small chest.

    Wendy blinked, watching in shock as the air shimmered and the half-pixies appeared, holding onto the weapons.

    ¡°Um, Hi,¡± Lily said as she put her foot on the back of the creature, pushing against it to pull her spear free.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Wendy asked, feeling like the pressure in her head was fading away.

    ¡°I think it was some kind of Mesmer,¡± Lily frowned. ¡°It used illusions anyway.¡±

    ¡°My system said it was called a Mistwreathed Child.¡± Rose offered awkwardly.

    ¡°Umm, thanks.¡± Wendy blinked at her unlikely rescuers. ¡°Did you get good experience?¡±

    ¡°Very, thanks.¡± Lily nodded.

    ¡°How did you find me?¡± Wendy asked, avoiding asking why they would come to find her.

    ¡°We are linked to all members of the Court,¡± Rose offered helpfully. ¡°I thought we could help!¡±

    Wendy saw the look Lily shot at the back of Rose¡¯s head. She shook her head and summoned a corpse to heal with. She was feeling quite shaky.

    ¡°Can you help me find Scruff?¡± She asked hopefully.

    ¡°Who¡¯s Scruff?¡± Rose asked.

    ¡°The Farmer,¡± Lily sighed and shook her head at Rose.

    ¡°Oooh!¡± Rose looked embarrassed. ¡°Of course.¡± She squinted for a moment. ¡°She¡¯s that way, but also¡­ down?¡±

    ¡°I think she is underground, but she¡¯s moving, so she isn¡¯t buried or anything,¡± Lily noted, seeing the panic in Wendy¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°Show me, please,¡± Wendy asked.

    The three of them moved fast through the dense mist, with Rose acting as the direction finder and Lily focusing on keeping them hidden. Things seemed to move in the mists around them, never quite visible.

    ¡°She¡¯s still a way down, but this is the area,¡± Rose said at last.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see a way down!¡± Wendy gasped, scrambling around, looking for anything that might lead downward.

    ¡°Me either,¡± Rose shook her head, ¡°But I am directly over her here!¡±

    ¡°I need help,¡± Wendy said, closing her eyes. ¡°My Pretties are coming, but they are far away still.¡±

    ¡°Umm, Wendy?¡± Lily raised her hand.

    ¡°Yes, Lily?¡± Wendy asked, still searching.

    ¡°I just got offered a class, and it might help?¡± Lily offered. ¡°It¡¯s called a Pathseeker?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lily, I don¡¯t know that one.¡± Wendy shook her head.

    ¡°Neither do I,¡± Lily admitted. ¡°But the description says it is a Seeker Class. It might help?¡±

    ¡°I know I shouldn¡¯t ask you to do this, but¡­¡± Wendy hesitated. ¡°Please take the class and try and find Scruff.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Wendy.¡± Lily nodded, her eyes glazing over.

    Rose looked on in horror. ¡°You¡­ you made her take it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did.¡± Wendy nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t lose Scruff.¡±

    ¡°I have a skill to locate missing people!¡± Lily said excitedly. ¡°And one to find hidden ways and paths!¡± She twirled in the air, shooting off towards the north. ¡°This way.¡±

    Wendy sprinted after Lily, scooping the still-stunned Rose up as she ran past. She swung the little half-pixie onto the back of the suit and felt her grab on.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe you did that,¡± Rose wept.

    ¡°I¡¯m, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Wendy apologized as she sprinted across the ground after Lily.

    She caught up to the little Half-Pixie and found her floating over a staircase hidden in the shadow of a large rock.

    ¡°This way!¡± Lily darted down the stairs, with Wendy only a step behind her.

    ============

    ¡°Stop running, you little coward!¡± Bell buzzed through the air, her wings a blur as she chased after the retreating fairy.

    ¡°I yielded!¡± The fairy hissed back. ¡°I yielded, and you attacked me again!¡±

    ¡°And I will do worse than that when I catch you!¡± Bell snarled as she fired another of her knives at the fairy.

    The butterfly wings twitched and then folded, the fairy diving down into the bare tree branches.

    ¡°When someone yields, you have to stop!¡± The fairy wailed.

    ¡°Ha!¡± Bell narrowed her eyes. ¡°You can¡¯t run forever, you little toad sucker!¡±

    ¡°I do not!¡± The fairy flew to the right, ducking into a ruined tower.

    ¡°That¡¯s what they all say!¡± Bell blitzed into the tower and stopped, seeing the fairy fluttering in place with a pleased expression.

    ¡°Tell that to my sisters!¡± She grinned cockily as half a dozen more fairies appeared behind pillars, boxes, and eaves.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let my mates tell them,¡± Bell laughed, and nine Muilti-Bells popped into existence around her. ¡°Get ''em, girls!¡±

    The original Fairy took off out of a hole in the roof, with Bell following close behind. The Multi-Bells could take care of those other Fairies.

    She chased the fairy back and forth through the valley of the mists, moving faster than most eyes could see. Occasionally, the fairy would spin and fire some spells from her wand, or Bell would fire off a knife or two.

    The Fairy was starting to tire, but so was Bell.

    Eventually, it was forced to land, gasping on a tree branch. Bell barrelled into it and slammed her fist into the thing¡¯s face.

    ¡°I yield!¡± It cried.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t give a fuck!¡± Bell laughed viciously. She kept punching.

    ¡°I yield, you low-born bitch!¡± The fairy spat at her between blows.

    ¡°I said I didn¡¯t care,¡± Bell drew a knife and spun the Fairy round. ¡°Now let¡¯s have a look here¡­¡± She cut away the butterfly wings.

    ¡°They will grow back, scum!¡± The Fairy struggled as Bell pulled her to her feet.

    ¡°How quickly?¡± Bell asked, kicking the fairy off the branch.

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    She watched it fall, screaming, to the floor below. There was a quiet, wet splat.

    ¡°Not fast enough!¡± She giggled.

    Bell was just dusting off her hands when she heard a distant roar.

    ¡°Slothy?¡± She zeroed in on the direction. ¡°Mummy''s coming!¡±

    ==============

    ¡°Attack!¡± the Mage Captain skeleton ordered, the elves whooping and hollering as they charged.

    Bud watched them come, looking for any sign of order. There was none. He sighed, but at least it was a reasonable threat.

    ¡°Defensive positions!¡± He called, drawing his bow as the opposing Captain began to weave his flaming hands through the air. Bud watched, judging the timing, then fired as the Mage completed his cast.

    The massive fireball formed a split-second before Bud¡¯s arrow pierced it. A flash of light and a roar sounded as the mage was sent flying backward. It crashed into the wall, sliding down it with the plate armor glowing.

    He stepped back, drawing another arrow as the charging Elves ran straight onto Gor¡¯tal and Tru¡¯nal¡¯s blades. The brothers vanished, appearing a split second later and digging their daggers into the backs of the elves'' stragglers.

    Gor and Tal moved as one, his shield and her greatsword making an impenetrable wall, while Sal¡¯ali and her brothers picked off any elf to drop its guard.

    Even little Tim got in on the action. He jabbed at the elves with his twin swords from underneath Gor¡¯s shield. More than one Elf fell after a sudden stab to the foot or shin broke their shaky concentration.

    Seeing everything was in hand, Bud turned back to the Mage Captain, who was starting to struggle to his feet.

    An arrow pinned first one arm, then the other to the floor. Bud stood over the blank skull of the Mage Captain and tsked.

    ¡°You lack any true intelligence, my brother in death,¡± Bud said sadly. ¡°Your troops were not even trained.¡±

    ¡°I was not commanded to train them, only to lead them.¡± It replied.

    ¡°How can you lead them without training them?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°I-I-I.¡± It hesitated and stuttered.

    ¡°A thought for your next life,¡± Bud reached out and snapped the mage Captain¡¯s head off. The light in its eye sockets flickered and went out.

    ¡°Ball?¡± Tim asked, appearing next to Bud suddenly.

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you fighting?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Baddies dead,¡± Tim shrugged. ¡°Ball?¡±

    ¡°Play with it later,¡± Bud sighed, handing Tim the skull. ¡°We need to find the others.¡±

    ¡°Ball, later!¡± Tim said, wrapping the skull in a strip of cloth that he tied to one hip bone.

    ¡°Orders, Boss?¡± The Bud Patrol formed up.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move out,¡± Bud pointed. ¡°The Waystation is that way.¡±

    ¡°On it, Boss!¡± the two brothers moved ahead of them as they moved out, walking in single file next to Bud.

    ============

    Slothy roared and slammed her claw into the rotted skull, which shattered beneath the blow.

    ¡°Go on, ya glorious beastie!¡± Gavin cheered from her back. ¡°Smash it again!¡±

    Slothy slammed her front paws down on the ribcage, a wash of fetid liquid spraying as it was crushed beneath her. ¡°Aye, that¡¯ll do!¡± Gavin gagged on the smell.

    Slothy roared in triumph. It was not her mother. She knew that now. She had been tricked. She sniffed again at the remains. She could smell at least a few different animals that had been sewn together to make this.

    She huffed, glad no one was around to see her embarrassment. A gagging noise caught her attention, and she moved away from the rotten carcass. Her pet was there, but he didn¡¯t know she was tricked. He was not very bright, Slothy chuffed and tried not to laugh.

    It was bad to laugh at your pets.

    ¡°Ah, beastie?¡± Gavin called down to her, ¡°Wha¡¯ the ever-lovin¡¯ fuck is tha¡¯?¡±

    Slothy looked up, seeing something drifting out of the mist. It looked like a giant seashell.

    Slothy turned her head to one side, then the other. It was a new thing.

    A black ooze slid down out of the shells, long stalks of it, and eyes opened on the ends of them. Chitinous legs slid from the underside l, hanging in the air beneath the floating shell. Finally, tentacles slithered from within.

    ¡°Aye, no.¡± Gavin said calmly, ¡°We¡¯ll no be havin¡¯ any of that!¡± He pulled at Slothy, kicking his legs. ¡°Giddy up! Let¡¯s Gooo!¡±

    Slothy batted at the shell, backing away. The legs reached for her, and she roared. It drifted on, the legs twitching as a clicking sound emitted from within the shell.

    Slothy slammed one paw into it, sending it to the floor. The tentacles wound around her paw, pulling it towards the opening of the shell. She roared again, slamming the shell repeatedly into the sandy ground.

    The shell cracked, the clicking inside stopped, and the tentacles went limp.

    Slothy sniffed the strange creature to see if she could eat it, but it smelled¡­ wrong.

    Clicking noises started to sound off to her left and right. She growled, low and worried.

    Then, the noises came from in front of her, as well. She whirled to run, only to find the sounds starting from another of the creatures, a bigger one, blocking her path.

    Slothy roared, charging the shell thing that dared to stand in her way.

    ¡°I fuckin¡¯ hate this place!¡± Gavin yelled as he clung desperately to her back.

    =============

    ¡°Scruff!¡± Wendy screamed as she saw the body in the midst of the flowers and vines in the maze''s center. She dashed over to the fallen Farmer, seeing the skin torn and muscles exposed here and there.

    Shaking fingers reached for the throat, only for a vine to wrap around her hand, trying to pull her away.

    Wendy fought the vine, but it wouldn¡¯t let her touch the body a mere inch away.

    ¡°I¡¯ve got it!¡± Lily said, a pulse passing through the room.

    The vine let go, settling back into place around Scruff¡¯s shoulder.

    ¡°Hurry!¡± The little half-pixie grunted. ¡°I can¡¯t fool plants for long!¡±

    Wendy didn¡¯t hesitate, pressing a finger to Scruff¡¯s neck, feeling a faint pulse there. It was fading slightly with each beat.

    Wendy summoned a deer corpse, casting Reclaim Flesh and channeling it into Scruff.

    The farmer gasped, her eyes flying open even as the vines raced to attack Wendy.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Scruff ordered the vines, and the plants pulled back.

    ¡°Hold still!¡± Wendy said gently. ¡°This is proving tough for some reason.¡±

    ¡°The plants,¡± Scruff gasped. ¡°In me.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Wendy gasped, then summoned every corpse she had. ¡°Get them out of there!¡±

    ¡°Heh,¡± Scruff laughed weakly. ¡°I was trying when I passed out.¡±

    ¡°Well, I¡¯m here now.¡± Wendy smiled down at Scruff.

    Scruff closed her eyes, the plants around her pulling back from her, pulling out of her skin and moving to the fresh corpses.

    The healing shot ahead, wounds healing internally before the skin closed, and the color finally returned to Scruff¡¯s face.

    Wendy kissed her long and deep, then made a face.

    ¡°What?¡± Scruff asked, coughing.

    ¡°You taste a bit¡­ planty?¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°I bet,¡± Scruff pulled herself upright. ¡°How did you find me?¡±

    Wendy looked away.

    ¡°What?¡± Scruff asked, pulling Wendy back to look her in the eyes.

    ¡°I, I made Lily take a class to find you,¡± Wendy said, her eyes red.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Scruff didn¡¯t know what to say.

    ¡°And I did!¡± Lily said awkwardly, ¡°Hi!¡±

    Wendy stood and hugged the shocked Lily. ¡°Thank you,¡±

    ¡°Um, you¡¯re welcome?¡± Lily tried.

    ¡°If we had been even a minute or two later¡­.¡± Wendy shivered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for what I did, and I will try to make it up to you.¡±

    ¡°I would have done the same,¡± Lily shrugged.

    ¡°Someone¡¯s coming!¡± Rose hissed from the doorway.

    ¡°It¡¯s Lord Bert,¡± Lily said reproachfully. ¡°Rose, learn to use your new senses!¡±

    Rose shot Lily a death glare but then nodded.

    Bert rushed into the room, running straight to Wendy and Scruff and pulling them into a hug. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He asked, still hugging them.

    ¡°We¡¯re fine, Dad!¡± Wendy said. ¡°Where¡¯s Mum?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s gone to get Slothy and the rest,¡± Bert said, still trying to surreptitiously examine the two girls for injuries.

    ¡°Hello, M¡¯Lord,¡± Rose and her sister bowed.

    ¡°What the hell are you pair doing out here?¡± Bert looked shocked to see them. ¡°I didn¡¯t think you left the Waystation.

    The four of them explained their parts to Bert as they made their way back out of the tunnels. Bert winced a few times at their stories, a tension in his shoulders building. When he learned the two half-pixies had acted to save Wendy and what happened after, he just seemed to shut down.

    ¡°How did you find the entrance to this place?¡± Wendy asked when everyone was finished.

    ¡°Your Pretties are guarding it,¡± Bert shrugged, seemingly miles away.

    ¡°Oh, nice,¡± Wendy smiled. She loved those things.

    They climbed out of the long, dark tunnels and back into the mist. The Pretties were arranged in a ring around the stairway, staring out into the foggy landscape.

    ¡°We need to get you four back to the Waystation,¡± Bert said, his tone clipped.

    ¡°The Express is on the way here,¡± Wendy offered. ¡°It was moved a long distance away by whatever attacked us, so I¡¯ve been directing it back to me this whole time.

    ¡°Good,¡± Bert said. ¡°How far away is it now?¡±

    ¡°A minute?¡± Wendy guessed. She could already hear distant crashing sounds.

    ¡°Okay, wait here for it, then head home immediately.¡± Bert stalked away a bit, then stopped, ¡°Lily, I need you to find someone for me first.¡±

    ¡°Of course, M¡¯Lord.¡± Lily flew over, and they talked for a moment; then Lily pointed, and Bert blurred away.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°Where is he going?¡±

    ¡°Someone called Felicia?¡± Lily offered.

    ¡°Oh, Shit!¡± Wendy and Scruff said in unison.

    =============

    One second, Dee was lost in her hunger, drawing the sweet blood of the Immortal; the next, she was flung away. She tottered to a stop, her head feeling drunk on the powerful blood.

    She looked up, seeing Bert standing over the Immortal.

    ¡°Oh, Shit!¡± She slurred and sat down heavily.

    ¡°Wake up!¡± Bert roared in Felicia¡¯s face.

    Her eyes fluttered open, and she pushed to sit up, finding herself too weak to move. A slap brought her to her senses, and her eyes locked onto his.

    ¡°Are you awake?¡± Bert demanded.

    ¡°I am, Bastard.¡± She spat and went to say something nasty, but his eyes stopped her. She had seen many looks in those eyes before, mirth, fear, hatred, loathing, but never had they worried her. Now, she saw something worse.

    The eyes were dead. Nothing lived behind them, nothing but an empty, emotionless void. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She asked.

    ¡°This is too far; it has to end.¡± Bert¡¯s empty eyes drilled into her soul.

    ¡°Look what your wife did to me!¡± She protested. ¡°I was torn apart for MONTHS!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± His tone was flat, calm, and¡­ empty.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Felicia asked. ¡°You¡¯re not Bert, are you?¡±

    ¡°I am the end of all things,¡± That flat voice seemed to steal all her warmth. ¡°I am the one who watches the watchers.¡±

    ¡°You are a creator?¡± She asked; her voice trembled as her whole body seemed to freeze.

    ¡°Is that what you call my kind?¡± The voice asked, in that same terrible monotone.

    ¡°Yes?¡± Felicia tried to lie, to excuse her actions¡­ but there was no way to lie or hide from this. ¡°Am I to be killed?¡±

    ¡°We do not kill.¡± The voice said. ¡°We erase. We un-make.¡±

    ¡°Please!¡± Felicia wilted. ¡°Don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I am not here for that,¡± He blinked once, slowly. ¡°I am here to offer you one last chance, Felicia of the Mist.¡±

    ¡°Anything!¡± She pleaded.

    ¡°You will never interfere in any way with this group again. They are blocked from you.¡± Bert¡¯s face moved, but there was nothing of him there, she looked.

    ¡°Will he be okay?¡± She asked, her voice trembling. ¡°After you leave?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± A strange fleeting smile crossed the face. ¡°The fact you care if he is okay, in your way, is why you get a chance.¡± He stood and stepped back. ¡°If what you tried had worked?¡±

    ¡°Yes?¡± She asked.

    ¡°He would never have been him again.¡± Another slow blink and Bert staggered. When his eyes opened again, Bert was there. ¡°YOU!¡± He roared.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry,¡± Felicia said as she began to fade. ¡°I¡¯ll never come back¡­¡±

    With a wave of Mist, she was gone.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Bert stood there, his fury fizzling. ¡°What the fuck just happened?¡±

    The air horn of the Express sounded behind him.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Wendy asked, leaning out the driver¡¯s window.

    ¡°I have no fucking idea!¡± Bert yelled.

 Chapter 67 - Other Problems

    Slothy whined as more of the strange shell creatures emerged from the mists. She was tired, and it wasn¡¯t fun anymore.

    A dozen of the things lay in a path behind her, but they just kept coming. It was as if they didn¡¯t understand that she was a princess!

    The clicking intensified as the creatures drew even closer.

    ¡°Fuck off, ya bastards!¡± Gavin yelled from her back.

    Slothy swiped another one out of the air, crushing it beneath her paws.

    She was trying to decide whether she should try and run through them or not when it happened.

    The clicking was just starting to speed up again when a light appeared in the sky above Slothy, and she slumped.

    ¡°Wha¡¯s wrong, beastie?¡± Gavin asked. ¡°Don¡¯ give up, lass!¡±

    Slothy ignored her pet for the moment and decided to take a nap.

    She was tired and didn¡¯t need to deal with this anymore.

    Her little person was here now.

    ¡°GET AWAY FROM MY SLOTHY!¡± Bell descended from above, fury pulsing from her like a supernova. Her blades came with her. A storm of knives moving at speeds too fast to see hit the surrounding creatures, their shells cracking as they fell in droves.

    ¡°HOW FUCKING DARE YOU!¡± Bell roared, and her Ringer swung, a glowing blue form the size of a tree in her rage. The startled dwarf atop Slothy stared in wonder as Bell vented her fury at the monsters in the mist. So great was her slaughter that a fine black rain began to fall as the black ooze inside the creature was flung into the air in such large numbers.

    The creatures soon retreated, with Bell flying off after them¡­ none would escape her if she had any say in it.

    Gavin watched the glowing light fade into the distance as Slothy began to snore.

    ¡°Ye Gods,¡± He wiped a few spots of black ooze from his head with a grimy hanky. ¡°These people are fuckin¡¯ bonkers.¡±

    A single clicking noise came from the mist ahead of them. Gavin slowly turned, seeing a single survivor of Bell¡¯s onslaught floating out of the mist ahead of Slothy¡¯s sleeping form.

    ¡°Ah, Beastie?¡± He shook Slothy, but she just rolled onto her side and kept snoring. ¡°Beastie!¡± He tried again.

    Slothy slept on.

    Gavin searched frantically for a weapon or sight of the enraged Bell returning, but there was no sign of either. Just the dead bodies of the shattered shell creatures.

    With one eye on the thing ahead of them, he darted from body to body, trying to find something, anything to use.

    It was almost within reach of Slothy.

    In desperation, he grabbed a long, sharp, chitinous leg from one of the fallen creatures and yanked.

    He fell over, the ooze not holding it at all.

    Looking behind him, it was reaching for Slothy¡­

    ¡°No, ye don¡¯t, ye GREAT BASTARD!¡± Gavin roared as he ran up the sleeping Sloth-Bear and launched himself into the air from her shoulder. He brought all his strength to bear as he brought the improvised spear down on the shell.

    There was a loud crack, and it stuck in the shell.

    ¡°Ha!¡± Gavin yelled, pushing it further into the shell. ¡°Got ya, aye!¡±

    Tentacles wrapped around his legs, pulling him down. He got one foot on the lip of the shell and pushed, bringing the other on up and braced against the shell as well.

    A large wet eye on the end of a large stalk rose next to him as he struggled to hold on and jab the spear in further.

    ¡°What are you lookin¡¯ at?¡± Gavin snarled, headbutting the eyeball. A high-pitched keening sounded for a second, and then the clicking returned as more tentacles wrapped around his legs.

    ¡°Ge¡¯ fucked!¡± Gavin swore, wrapping his arms around the spear as the tentacles started to pull even harder. ¡°I¡¯ll take ya with me, ya creepy shite!¡±

    A loud crack sounded, the combined strain of the dwarf and the thing pulling him down finally enough to crack the shell open.

    ¡°Hah!¡± Gavin yelled in triumph as it fell, riding the shell down as it fell from the mist. ¡°Eh, Gods!¡± He waved at the smell, ¡°Ye bastards stink, aye?¡±

    A couple more clicks sounded in the mist.

    ¡°All right, then!¡± Gavin yelled, grabbing a second smaller chitinous claw for his other hand. ¡°Come on, then!¡± He ran up the slumbering Slothy again. ¡°Ol Gavin¡¯s waiting, ya smelly wee bastards! Come on! No one¡¯s hurting this ¡®ere beastie on ma watch, ya ken!¡±

    ============

    Bud heard the Dwarf yelling in the distance long before he saw him. The Bud patrol was moving slowly, killing the strange creatures in the mists before they were seen.

    He was not surprised the Dwarf was not so lucky.

    While fully aware he had only ever met one of their species, he would be willing to bet heavily that ¡®quiet¡¯ and ¡®stealthy¡¯ were not words often used to describe the dwarfs.

    What was a surprise was finding the Dwarf standing on Slothy¡¯s sleeping form and threatening the two mist creatures. There were many bodies of the things around here, and he sensed Bell nearby.

    It seemed she had passed through and left Gavin, of all creatures, on guard.

    The dwarf¡¯s many disparaging comments about Slothy had not endeared the stocky humanoid to Bud.

    This¡­ this was unexpected.

    ¡°Ge¡¯ back!¡± Gavin roared at an approaching Shell. ¡°You¡¯ll no touch a single bit of fur, aye?¡± It ignored him and came on anyway.

    Bud drew an arrow but hesitated as the dwarf leaped, hammering the broken legs he was holding into the shell as it fought to pull him inside.

    ¡°FUCK! YOU!¡± Gavin roared, driving the points through the shell and jumping back as it died.

    The other came forward, trying to get to the slumbering bear, and again, the dwarf threw itself in the way.

    This time, he was grabbed and pulled towards the large opening in the shell.

    Bud drew, aimed, and fired.

    The Shell shattered from the impact, and a rain of block ooze flooded over the dwarf as it dropped him.

    ¡°Ah, Gods!¡± Gavin gagged. ¡°It got in me mouth!¡± Gavin heaved and gagged. ¡°Gods Below, it tastes like yesterday''s unwashed arsehole!¡±

    Bud raised a hand and gestured, the Bud Patrol rushing out of the mist and forming up around Slothy.

    Gavin waved as he tried to find something clean to wipe his mouth clean with.

    Bud carefully tucked his own spotless cloth out of sight.

    If Bert had taught him one thing, it was that pettiness can be good for the soul.

    ¡°Never thought I¡¯d be glad to see a walkin¡¯ skelly,¡± Gavin said as Bud emerged from the mists and gave Slothy a scratch behind her ears. She rumbled contentedly in her sleep.

    ¡°Not happy to see us?¡± Tru¡¯nal asked archly.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    ¡°Ach, I¡¯m always glad to see a fine tall lass like yer fine self!¡± Gavin grinned¡­ the line was spoiled somewhat by another attack of gagging.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Bud asked, his hand still resting protectively on Slothy¡¯s head.

    Gavin told them what little he knew from within the Barn and how they had ended up out in the mists, then he gave a blow-by-blow of Slothy¡¯s demolishing of the undead bear and, finally, Bell¡¯s arrival and fury.

    ¡°I see,¡± Bud nodded thoughtfully. ¡°And then?¡±

    ¡°Nothin¡¯ much,¡± Gavin shrugged. ¡°Jus¡¯ you lot turnin¡¯ up.¡±

    ¡°You did not encounter more of the creatures?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°One or two,¡± Gavin said. ¡°I think the pixie lass killed most of ¡®em.¡±

    Gavin looked around, seeing at least three more corpses that had marks consistent with the improvised weapons Gavin was still holding.

    ¡°How did it trick you out of the Barn?¡± Sal¡¯ali asked. ¡°It got us when Slothy was taken.¡±

    ¡°Aye, me too.¡± Gavin nodded.

    ¡°You went after her?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Gavin patted Slothy¡¯s paw.

    ¡°She kidnapped you,¡± Sal¡¯ali said. ¡°You have been very vocal about that fact.¡±

    ¡°Well, she¡¯s only a littleun, aye?¡± Gavin said. ¡°Cannae help no understanding things.¡±

    Bud pulled out his clean cloth and handed it to Gavin.

    ¡°Oh, ta!¡± he said, wiping his face and hands.

    ¡°Bud!¡± Bell called cheerfully as she appeared out of the mists, ¡°Everyone okay?¡±

    ¡°All fine here,¡± Bud called. ¡°How are Bert and the rest?¡±

    ¡°Bert will sort them,¡± She nodded. ¡°It was Felicia.¡±

    ¡°I assumed.¡± The skeleton waived at the mists. ¡°It is a logical place for her to attack.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Bell rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Bert warned this would happen, didn¡¯t he?¡± Bud asked innocently.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Bell admitted grudgingly. ¡°Stop smirking!¡±

    ¡°I am a skeleton; I can¡¯t smirk,¡± Bud said, turning away.

    ¡°You are so smirking!¡± Bell protested.

    ¡°I am literally incapable,¡± Bud insisted.

    ¡°You have smirk energy,¡± Bell huffed.

    ¡°Uh, excuse me?¡± Gavin called.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Shouldne hang around here, aye?¡± Gavin added.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°I killed everything in the area when I got here.¡±

    ¡°Actually, there were a number after you left,¡± Bud pointed them out.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell growled. ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°I suspect they are not entirely here until they are.¡± Bud shrugged.

    Bell looked again at Gavin. The dwarf was industriously scrubbing at his face, trying to get the gunk off it.

    She looked at Bud, who nodded to her.

    Bell smiled. She always liked to see her baby''s new pets settling into their roles. Unlike Bert, she saw nothing wrong with having a Dwarf as a pet.

    ¡°Here,¡± Ric handed Gavin a spare knife. ¡°Not good to be unarmed out here.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, lad!¡± Gavin said.

    ¡°Take this as well.¡± Gor¡¯tal handed him a hammer mace one of the elves that attacked them had used.

    ¡°Ooh, ta!¡± Gavin seemed much happier now.

    ¡°Alright, you lot,¡± Bell clapped her hands. ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the Waystation.¡±

    ¡°The beastie is sleepin,¡± Gavin said apologetically. ¡°She didn¡¯ee wake when I tried.¡±

    ¡°Slothy!¡± Bell called. ¡°Time to go home!¡±

    Slothy rumbled and sat up with a yawn. After a scratch and a shake of her head, she sniffed the air and scooped the dwarf onto her back before lumbering off toward the Waystation.

    Bell grinned as they set off into the mist.

    =========

    ¡°You sure we shouldn¡¯t go get them in the Express?¡± Wendy asked doubtfully as she remotely reversed it back into its spot on the Waystation.

    ¡°No, they aren¡¯t far now,¡± Bert smiled at his daughter. ¡°Bell is with them, so it¡¯s better to wait than split up any more than we have to.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Wendy sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll just be happier once I know they are all okay.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Soo, are we going to talk about what happened?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Once we get out of this mist,¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°Is she really gone?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Bert admitted, his shoulders tensing. ¡°How¡¯s Scruff?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s fine, I think.¡± Wendy crossed her arms. ¡°Doesn¡¯t want to talk about it just yet.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯ll talk when she¡¯s ready,¡± Bert reassured her.

    ¡°Do we even know who these people were?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Sort of?¡± Bert hedged. ¡°Some kind of champions for Felicia.¡±

    ¡°Weird,¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert agreed.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Wendy asked, pointing into the swirling clouds around them.

    Bert stared, seeing a shape moving slowly towards them out of the mist.

    ¡°It looks like a¡­ floating conch shell?¡± He sighed and changed his hand into a crossbow, summoning his shield as he did so.

    ¡°Is it dangerous?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not taking a chance,¡± Bert said as he aimed a crossbow bolt at it and fired. The glowing heat rune on the bolt illuminated a path to the shell, which cracked, then shattered, whatever was inside catching fire as it fell. The crackling flames showed other shells in the shadowy mists behind it.

    ¡°Lights!¡± Bert yelled, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up as goosebumps rose on his arms.

    The lights atop the walls of the Waystation came on, casting a warm light into the area.

    Clusters of shells were approaching from every spot they could see, and a faint clicking noise could be heard.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert said, backing up. ¡°New plan, get the Express, and go get the others back here now.¡±

    ¡°On it!¡± Wendy ran up the drawbridge and into the Waystation as Bert stared to fire at the approaching shells. They went down easily, but there just always seemed to be more of them waiting to take their place.

    The air horn of the Express sounded behind him as Wendy rolled it down the ramp and off into the mists.

    Bert tensed as she approached the line of creatures, but they just shattered against the tough metal of the Express, not even slowing it down.

    Wendy gave another blast of the air horn as she drove out of sight.

    Bert had given up using his bolts. It was like trying to stop a tide by building a wall one grain of sand at a time. He was incapable of firing fast enough.

    Fortunately, these things seemed to burn extremely well.

    He had switched to summoning large Heat runes beneath groups as they approached, causing them to burst into flame.

    With these runes, he had already closed off three sides of the Waystation, but the last was proving a challenge. Even using some of the Waystation¡¯s mana, this was pushing his limits to breaking point.

    Bert was sweating and panting as he tried to summon another rune. It felt a lot like trying to lift too much weight but in his head instead of his muscles.

    The approaching rumble and crash sounds were a welcome sign the Express was almost back.

    The vehicle burst through a line of Shells with Slothy holding onto the top. Bert was pleased to see the cab stuffed with people. If it was that full, they got everyone out.

    ¡°Boo!¡± Bell yelled as she flew down next to him. ¡°Miss me?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bert grinned. She seemed to be waiting for something. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I was waiting for the rest of the joke?¡± She asked, suddenly seeming awkward.

    ¡°I don¡¯t really have time for jokes, sorry.¡± Bert winced as his headache kept building. ¡°What rest of the joke?¡±

    ¡°Never mind,¡± She rubbed her hands against her trousers. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡±

    ¡°Get everyone on board and then drive off?¡± Bert suggested. ¡°They don¡¯t seem dangerous to the Express, so¡­.¡±

    ¡°On it!¡± Bell said. ¡°As soon as you are all inside, I¡¯ll get us moving!¡± She flew off towards the control tower, then flew halfway back, ¡°Missed you too!¡± She buzzed off again.

    ===============

    Bert collapsed into his chair in the control tower. Bell hummed happily as she drove the waystation through the Valley of the Mists.

    Everyone was back on board and getting some much-needed rest. It had not exactly been a good day, but it ended with everyone back on board, safe and sound. So that was something.

    ¡°You should get some sleep,¡± Bell said. ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡±

    ¡°You need sleep too,¡± Bert said, sitting up straighter and wiping at his face. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡±

    ¡°Just sleep, you idiot,¡± Bell laughed at him. ¡°You can take over from me later.¡±

    ¡°If you¡¯re sure.¡± Bert felt his chair shifting and lay back.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°Sleep well.¡±

    Bert opened his eyes in a dark hall. No, not dark. Black. He could see just fine, but everything from the stone floor to the walls and the ceiling was entirely black.

    ¡°Oh, fuck sake!¡± He grunted to himself, ¡°What now?¡±

    A soft chuckle made him look round. A black desk was behind him, with a pair of black chairs and a¡­ figure, an even darker black blur.

    ¡°Please, take a seat, Mister Hudson.¡± The shape gestured to one of the chairs.

    ¡°Who are you, what are you, and can I opt out of whatever the fuck this is?¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°Sit.¡± The figure waved, and he was sat. There were no in-between states. No thought or movement. Just a command and a new reality. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Bert tried to speak, finding he couldn¡¯t remember how.

    What the fuck was going on?

    ¡°Who I am is so far beyond your understanding that it is irrelevant. What I am is¡­ complicated. Suffice for now to say that my kind was here before there was mortal life or light, or well¡­ anything in what you call the universe. As far as opting out, there is nothing to opt out of.¡±

    Bert gestured at his mouth, and the being nodded.

    ¡°Why am I here?¡± He asked, finally able to remember how that worked.

    ¡°A good question,¡± The figure said blandly. ¡°You are here to get an explanation of recent events.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°I¡¯m having difficulty deciding how to explain it all to beings as intellectually limited as you.¡± The figure hesitated.

    ¡°Smart enough to figure out you just called me stupid,¡± Bert said tartly.

    ¡°Yet not smart enough to change my mind,¡± The being sighed. ¡°Let''s try this¡­ bad lady made you cry. I made bad lady go away.¡±

    ¡°Ha Ha Ha,¡± Bert monotoned. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°I know you might struggle to understand this, mortal, but this isn¡¯t really about you.¡± The figure leaned back in their chair. ¡°As long as she remains a Watcher, she can no longer affect you.¡±

    Bert and the figure stared at each other for a while.

    ¡°Why are you still here?¡± It asked eventually.

    ¡°You brought me here, pal,¡± Bert said. ¡°I have no idea how to get out.¡±

    ¡°Of course, such a limited species.¡± It waved a hand, and Bert felt himself fading back into sleep.

 Chapter 67B - Interlude - Decisions

    Wendy rode the platform to the top of the tower, twitching and pulling at her clothes. She was still feeling exposed without her armor on. She wiped at her eyes as she arrived at the top, already hearing her Dad¡¯s snores.

    She smiled.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Her Mum waved her over, even changing forms to give her a big hug. It made Wendy want to melt, but she couldn¡¯t quite let herself. Her first few days with her Mum had been pretty rough, and it was taking longer to forget them than she hoped.

    What was worse was that she saw the little twitch around the eyes, the tiny change in the voice that her Mum thought she hid. She knew her Mum wanted her to trust her, and she did¡­ just not all the way, not yet.

    Not like Dad.

    ¡°Sorry, I was just looking for Dad,¡± Wendy said, seeing the little flash of disappointment on Bell¡¯s face, ¡°I wanted him to make something for me.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I can help?¡± Her mum offered.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Wendy said, ¡°I need a storage item for Scruff. So she can carry some dirt around with her.¡±

    ¡°What happened?¡± Her mum asked, and Wendy finally realized she hadn¡¯t made time to tell her Mum about their adventures yet. A flash of guilt went through her.

    ¡°When we were transported away, she was put somewhere with no place to grow anything, so she grew them¡­inside her wounds.¡± Wendy shuddered.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Her mum gasped. ¡°That¡¯s pretty impressive.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Wendy had expected some reaction, but not that one.

    ¡°Wendy, that must have really hurt.¡± Her mum took her hand, ¡°She had to have something very important to her to fight for.¡±

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Wendy admitted, ¡°But I never want her to have to do that again.¡±

    ¡°Our fault,¡± Bell shook her head. ¡°We should have given her a storage device ages ago. She is just so damn capable; we tend to think she can just handle things without help.¡±

    ¡°I was so scared,¡± Wendy said, her voice shaking. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even find her on my own.¡±

    ¡°Well, two birds then,¡± Her mum came over and held out something in her hand.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Wendy asked. Her mum was holding out what looked like a pair of small squares on a short, silver chain.

    ¡°A bonding chain,¡± Bell said excitedly. ¡°You hold one square; she holds the other. Then you both pull. When the chain breaks, you will both absorb the cubes and get access to a shared storage space.¡±

    ¡°This is great, Mum. Thanks.¡± Wendy smiled, touched by the gift.

    ¡°You will also both be able to sense where the other is at all times.¡± Her mum smiled. ¡°I mean, you can choose to block it if you want, but otherwise!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s perfect, thank you.¡± Wendy gave her Mum a quick hug. ¡°Can I hang out here for a while? Scruff is a little mad at me.¡±

    ¡°Want to talk about it?¡± Bell offered.

    ¡°I dunno,¡± Wendy hesitated. ¡°I think I might have messed up.¡±

    ¡°So after everything I went through, not being able to find her¡­.¡± Wendy trailed off.

    ¡°Plus, finding her almost dead!¡± Her mum commiserated.

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Wendy huffed. ¡°So I offered to absorb her into the Express, make her a mob so I could always find her.¡±

    ¡°And she flipped out?¡± Her mum asked gently.

    ¡°Yes! She acted like I was being stupid!¡± Wendy wiped angry tears from her eyes. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want ever to lose her again.¡±

    ¡°You have to be gentle with non-pixies.¡± Her mum huffed, ¡°They don¡¯t understand things properly. There are all these silly ideas about independence and stuff.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Wendy slumped in her chair, ¡°I got all of that from Dad¡¯s memories. It¡¯s so weird.¡±

    ¡°They can¡¯t help it,¡± Her mum looked over at Bert. ¡°It¡¯s how they are raised.¡±

    ¡°But what do I do?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Go find her; tell her you were just panicked and that, of course, you understand why she wouldn¡¯t want to be a mob.¡± Her Mum smiled, ¡°Then give her the storage and forget to tell her she can turn it off.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s brilliant!¡± Wendy grinned. She trotted over to the platform and then stopped and turned back. ¡°You know, Dad would be better off with you than with Gwen any day!¡± She hopped on the platform and waved as it dropped away.

    =============

    Bell watched her daughter as she left and smiled. Things were really getting better between them these days.

    Remembering those first few days was painful. She had been so angry, and so hurt, and so¡­ jealous. That was the worst of it. Sure, she was worried she had lost part of herself, which was terrifying. But even after Bert reassured her, she hadn¡¯t; she had still been tense and anxious.

    It was only when Bert was hurt that she realized what the problem was.

    The problem was Bert.

    It was really all his fault. He had stumbled into her life, a fat, quivering idiot of a man she could bend to her will and consistently proved insufferably¡­ loveable.

    She should have put out extra spike traps those first few days.

    And what did he do when she was badly hurt and desperately needed help?

    The little bastard had fought his way through an entire city of the undead and faced down a lich just to save her!

    True, she had to save him right back, but that only made it worse!

    A fat, clumsy, soft-hearted, sunburned, and desperate oaf was perfect as a Caretaker! Any pixie could handle one of those types.

    But now? Now, he was proving to be more difficult. He went and got all fit and tanned, which was bad, but he stayed the same lovable idiot the entire time!

    And then, poof, instant daughter.

    She had done it to prove her superiority, her power over them both.

    He was supposed to rage, to complain, and most especially¡­ to suck at it!

    Instead, he insisted on being a good father and a bloody loving one, too!

    She ended up complaining and raging and being a sucky parent. Not him.

    She only just resisted the urge to fly over there and slap him, just thinking about it.

    She had seen him look at their daughter with love in his eyes¡­ and wham! Instant rage.

    It took ages before she realized that when he looked at someone who was just like her with love, she hated that he didn¡¯t look like that at her.

    And he kept doing things!

    Just today, he had said he missed her¡­ and not as a joke.

    And she was happy he said it.

    HOW DARE HE!

    A half-hour later, once she calmed down, she looked over at him again.

    He was lying with his mouth wide open, snoring and drooling.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    She smiled.

    What was wrong with her? That was disgusting! She shouldn¡¯t see that and go all ¡®awww.¡¯ She should feel disgusted.

    Bell fluttered up out of her chair, only to stop and go back.

    She drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair.

    There was no point fighting it; she liked him.

    She had always liked him; this was just in a slightly different way. But it was still liking him. All she had to do was admit it, and it would be over.

    And what better time than now, when he couldn¡¯t argue!

    Go on! She told herself, just open your mouth and tell him! Get it over with before he wakes up; just say, ¡®Bert, I like you!¡¯

    ¡°Bert, I love you!¡± She slapped her hands over her mouth, peering down her nose at it in horror.

    It wasn¡¯t true!

    It was a lie!

    She was tired!

    She was¡­ fucked. She was completely and totally fucked.

    Bell glared at Bert.

    Her fingers drummed a rapid beat on the arms of her chair. This was his fault, and he had to pay.

    No, it was just no good.

    He was responsible for making her feel this way, so it was his responsibility to make it right.

    Bell felt a huge weight she had not even been aware of lifting from her.

    It wasn¡¯t her fault. He did it, so he would just have to be hers.

    It was only fair, after all.

    She could be happy that way. So could he. Bert would be happier with her than with anyone else. Even if it killed him.

    Bell brightened further. Especially if it killed him.

    Bell started to hum happily to herself as the Waystation crunched its way through the sea of shell creatures.

    It was good to have made a decision at last.

    ==============

    Rose followed Lily through the passageways of the Bear¡¯s Fall. Her sister had been very excited since they got back, and it was worrying her.

    After climbing another flight of stairs, they emerged into a small corridor right up in the roof of the Lodge. Five rooms led off this hall, all of them huge.

    The sloped roof looked incredible, and the same furnishings and details were here as well.

    ¡°So, it¡¯s just more rooms.¡± Rose sighed. ¡°Really big posh rooms, but I don¡¯t get it?¡± She shrugged, ¡°So what?¡±

    ¡°It says staff quarters on the door going up to this floor!¡± Lily beamed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you see?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s not for us!¡± Rose warned her. ¡°This will be for, like, the really important servants that come with guests or something.¡±

    ¡°We could ask?¡± Lily hesitated.

    ¡°You can if you want, but they will just say no!¡± Rose warned.

    ¡°Miss Bell?¡± Lily closed her eyes. ¡°Are the guest quarters in the Bear¡¯s Fall okay for us to use?¡±

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Rose laughed, then gasped as a Multi-Bell popped into existence in front of her sister.

    ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t even remember these were up here.¡± The Multi-Bell looked around. She seemed to concentrate for a moment. ¡°Bell wants to know if you would prefer these rooms or to have specially made ones in the barn?¡±

    ¡°I really like this one,¡± Lily said shyly.

    ¡°One sec!¡± The Multi-Bell concentrated again. ¡°All yours!¡±

    The sisters watched the name Lily appear on the door in an ornate, flowing script.

    ¡°How about you, Rose?¡± It turned to her.

    ¡°Umm, I would like to stay near my sister?¡± Rose asked hesitantly.

    ¡°Sure!¡± Her name appeared on the door opposite her sister¡¯s room. ¡°Anything else you need?¡±

    ¡°No, thank you, Lady Bell.¡± Lily bowed her head.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Rose did the same.

    ¡°Great,¡± The Multi-Bell paused. ¡°Oh, and Bell said to tell you that you both did incredibly well and thank you for helping to find Scruff!¡± With that, it popped like a soap bubble.

    Lily squealed in joy, throwing herself on the vast bed.

    Rose hung around the doorway, her hands rubbing absently against each other as she frowned.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lily asked. ¡°Don¡¯t you like it up here?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Rose said. ¡°I¡¯m just still angry about earlier.¡± Her stomach twisted as she remembered it.

    ¡°It was really scary,¡± Lily sighed. ¡°Worth it for this room, though!¡±

    ¡°Was it?¡± Rose asked. ¡°Aren¡¯t you really angry?¡±

    ¡°Why would I be?¡± Lily frowned, sliding off the bed.

    ¡°She made you take a class!¡± Rose whispered urgently. ¡°Just to find her friend!¡±

    ¡°Oh, Oh!¡±Lily¡¯s eyes widened, and then she burst out laughing.

    ¡°Don¡¯t laugh at me!¡± Rose felt her cheeks flush. ¡°I got us into this whole thing. It¡¯s my fault!¡±

    ¡°Rose, relax!¡± Lily said, still chuckling a bit. ¡°She didn¡¯t MAKE me.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Rose asked. ¡°I saw her, don¡¯t you remember?¡±

    ¡°She asked me. Not ordered me.¡± Lily said. ¡°And even if she had, we didn¡¯t swear to her.¡±

    ¡°But you just did it.¡± Rose felt like her head was spinning. ¡°You didn¡¯t even hesitate.¡±

    ¡°That girl, Scruff. She¡¯s her girlfriend. As in, she loves her,¡± Lily explained. ¡°I know how it feels, that kind of loss.¡± Lily swallowed. ¡°I could spare her that, so I did.¡± She smiled and spun around the room. ¡°Those same skills helped me find this place! I just wanted to find where the servant¡¯s area was¡­ and bam!¡± She grinned.

    ¡°I thought¡­ She thought¡­¡± Rose sat down heavily on the bed.

    ¡°Yeah, she mentioned something, but I told her I did it myself,¡± Lily said off-handedly while she was examining her new hair in a large mirror.

    ¡°She thought she was making you,¡± Rose felt the certainty of her anger again. ¡°And she did it anyway.¡±

    Lily sighed and turned to face her sister.

    ¡°You knew what you were doing when you took the oath. Why get pissed when people expect us to hold up our end of the deal?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t, though,¡± Rose complained. ¡°And you did it anyway.¡±

    ¡°Excuse me for assuming my sister, the smart one, would have thought it through.¡± Lily¡¯s voice was sharp.

    ¡°I thought I had,¡± Rose argued back. ¡°But living it is different.¡±

    ¡°Of course it is!¡± Lily shouted at her. ¡°It took me about a second to realize how badly wrong this could go!¡± She deflated. ¡°But there is no way out of it. For us, or them.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Rose¡¯s voice cracked slightly. ¡°There isn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°So why fight it?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°What?¡± Rose looked horrified.

    ¡°There is no way out of this¡­ oath.¡± Lily grimaced. ¡°But we could have made it to much worse people. And it is forever. No escape.¡± She looked at her sister. ¡°Whatever we become is no longer our choice. I¡¯ve accepted that, and honestly, it is kind of freeing.¡±

    ¡°Lily!¡± Rose scolded her sister.

    ¡°Fight it all you want, Sis,¡± Lily said calmly, starting to brush her new hair in the mirror. ¡°Argue, rage, resist, none of it will matter in the end.¡±

    ¡°Stop it, Lily.¡± Rose stomped over to her sister. ¡°You¡¯re scaring me.¡±

    ¡°You made this choice!¡± Lily snapped at her. ¡°You don¡¯t get to complain when it is exactly what it said it would be!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t make you join me!¡± Rose snapped back. ¡°You made your own choice!¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Lily smiled. ¡°And I have decided I¡¯m okay with it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve decided, have you?¡± Rose sneered.

    ¡°I have,¡± Lily nodded calmly. ¡°You did, too. You just haven¡¯t realized it yet.¡±

    Rose stormed out of her sister¡¯s room and slammed the door.

    Standing there in the hall, she felt very alone.

    Her sister was so close, and yet she had never seemed so far away.

    Walking into her own room, she looked around the opulent furnishings and felt sick.

    Lily was right about one thing. She made her decision when she made the oath. There was no taking it back.

    Unlike her sister, Rose was worried she wouldn¡¯t be able to live with it.

    And that was the problem.

    Even death would not get her out of this.

    She made a Timeless Oath, and for the first time, she felt the reality of that.

    Sliding down to the floor as her legs gave way, she wept.

    ===============

    Tim kicked his Ball across the grass, sending it spinning off behind the Barn. He waved to Bud and ran off after it.

    That should buy him some time.

    He found the skull resting against the back of the barn and picked it up. He looked carefully around, making sure no one could see him.

    Sitting down and cradling the skull in his lap, he turned it to face up at him.

    In his mind, he saw the flaming hands of the Mage Captain.

    He slapped the skull.

    ¡°Teach!¡± He demanded.

    The skull remained silent.

    ¡°Teach!¡± he shook the skull.

    The jaw fell off.

    ¡°Stupid Ball!¡± He slammed it against the ground a few times, but it refused to do any teaching. Tim crossed his arms and clacked his jaw.

    In his mind, he could see the Mage Captain and see the flames flickering around his hands.

    Staring down at his hands, he concentrated.

    Nothing happened.

    Tim growled and slapped himself on the top of the head.

    He had magic; he could feel it just out of reach.

    How did Bud do it? Bud was the smartest skeleton Tim had ever seen, so he must use the best way.

    Tim thought, remembering the lines on Bud¡¯s bones. The ones that shone when he used magic.

    He looked at his own bones, smooth and totally absent lines.

    Tim stared at the bone, clenching his teeth¡­ and a crude line appeared.

    Then another.

    And another.

    Tim had to stop and rest a few times. Making the lines hurt in a weird way, but he was determined.

    Finally, he got the simple lines down one arm and onto his hand. He concentrated, forcing mana into the lines.

    At the far tip of his little finger, there was a spark.

    Tim clapped his hands in joy, then froze.

    Species Change Unlocked.

    Gnork Skeleton to Waystation Gnork

    Accept Y/N?

    Tim scratched his head. The prompt was new to him, but the last time one came up, it asked if he wanted to join Bud as a minion.

    And that was a good thing.

    So this must be a good thing, too.

    Tim made his decision and then began to shake and thrash as knotwork mana channels burned themselves into his bones.

    The tides rolled into and out of his system for the first time, burning away the blockages in his system.

    Raising a single shaking hand, Tim concentrated¡­ and fire burned on his hand.

    Tim clacked his teeth in joy.

    He had done it!

 CHapter 68 - Shelling Out

    Bert looked around at the faces of his people. A lot had changed in the last day or two in the mists.

    Which was the point of this little meeting.

    ¡°So, it seems our attacker, Felicia, may actually be gone for good.¡± Bert dropped the bombshell, and¡­ nothing.

    ¡°I had a little visit from¡­ something. It dragged me off to a weird office and informed me she could never interact with us again.¡± Bert went on. ¡°It was weird, but I believe it.¡±

    ¡°You were kidnapped again?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°While I was asleep, I was¡­ taken¡­ visited¡­ whatever it is,¡± Bert confirmed.

    ¡°Like the Goddess thing?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Yup.¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°Wait, a Goddess visited you?¡± Lily said, shock overriding her reluctance to speak up.

    ¡°Oh yeah,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°Every other time Dad goes to sleep, he gets abducted by something.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry; I didn¡¯t mean to be rude.¡± Lily looked abashed.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m serious.¡± Wendy reached over and hugged Lily. ¡°It actually happens.¡±

    ¡°Way more often than I would like,¡± Bert confirmed.

    ¡°Wow.¡± Lily gulped. ¡°That must suck.¡±

    ¡°It really does.¡± Bert smiled at Lily as her sister Rose tried to quiet her.

    ¡°So!¡± Bell clapped her hands to get everyone¡¯s attention focused again. ¡°It means whatever these shell things are, they aren¡¯t her doing.¡±

    ¡°And neither are these mists.¡± Bud guessed.

    ¡°Correct.¡± Bert nodded to his friend. ¡°Which brings us to our next problem.¡±

    ¡°Why is there always a next problem?¡± Wendy banged her head on the table, making scruff laugh.

    ¡°We can¡¯t actually seem to find a way out,¡± Bell said flatly.

    Silence fell as everyone absorbed the news.

    ¡°Can¡¯t we just drive back out over our own tracks?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°No, we tried that last night,¡± Bert told them. ¡°Our tracks are gone.¡±

    ¡°In short, we are lost?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Yes and no,¡± Bert said. ¡°It seems we are being led in circles, somehow.¡±

    ¡°How can we know?¡± Lily asked timidly. ¡°And can my class help?¡±

    ¡°I popped a Multi Bell out the side of the Waystation and kept an eye on her position. It moved several times even though the Bell was sitting on a tree, not moving.¡± Bell grumbled. She did not like things that messed with her Multi-Bells.

    ¡°As for your class,¡± Bert said. ¡°I think it might help, but not directly.¡±

    ¡°Anything I can do,¡± Lily nodded.

    ¡°You have a plan?¡± Bud asked while he ran a cloth over his bow.

    ¡°We are going on an outing,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°You, me, and Bell.¡± He looked over to Lily, ¡°And I would like you to come, but it is your choice.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll come.¡± Lily smiled.

    ¡°Great.¡± Bert smiled. ¡°We are going to take the Express to help deal with the Shell creatures. While we are gone, Wendy is in charge of the Waystation.¡±

    ===========

    Wendy caught Bert as he left the barn.

    ¡°Hey, why am I being left here?¡± She asked, her hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯m just as capable as anyone else!¡±

    ¡°More than most,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°But with the Express with us and you here, we can be in contact the entire time. You are the only one of us that can be in two places at once.¡±

    ¡°No, Mum can too,¡± Wendy argued, but she seemed slightly mollified.

    ¡°Her Multi-Bells still have to communicate with her; it takes time. You will be able to see and hear everything around the Express in real-time and just talk to us straight away.¡± Bert laughed. ¡°You¡¯re our own private cheat code.¡±

    Wendy couldn¡¯t help but smile. Knowledge of her father¡¯s world was something only the two of them shared. It always made her smile when he could reference something with her that no one else on the planet would understand.

    ¡°Okay, But be careful, please.¡± Wendy hugged him, and he felt her trembling slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve had enough near misses lately.¡±

    ¡°Wendy,¡± He smiled. ¡°I doubt there is anything that your Mum and I can¡¯t handle together, with Bud as well? Forget it.¡± He laughed. ¡°Plus the Express and a couple of Pretties?¡±

    ¡°You want to take some with you?¡± She grinned.

    ¡°Of course, if you don¡¯t mind?¡± He asked.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let you take three. Two for the mission and one to help protect Lily.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bert hugged her. ¡°No wild parties while the parents are away, okay?¡±

    Wendy laughed.

    An hour later, Bert waved to the others as he climbed into the Express. He missed driving the fantastic vehicle and was excited to have an excuse to do it again.

    Bud was sitting comfortably on the opposite side, but he seemed distracted. Bert reminded himself to make sure they got a chance to chat while they were out. It had been too long since he and Bud had a quiet moment to catch up.

    Bell dropped into the chair next to him with a ''pop'' and a flash. She was in her human form again, and Bert had to admit it was nice to see that crooked smile on her face. She took the form a lot more often lately, and he had to admit it was distracting at times.

    As a pixie, she was good-looking, but a pixie is a pixie. As a human, she was¡­ stunning. Shaking the thoughts from his head, he waited for the last member of their party to join.

    Lily came fluttering over a minute later, looking flustered. Bud let her in, and she sat in one of the second row of seats, blushing at her lateness.

    ¡°Come sit up here with us,¡± Bell waved her forward.

    ¡°Are you sure, M¡¯Lady?¡± Lily hesitated.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bell grinned at her.

    Lily fluttered forward and fidgeted as she settled into the seat,

    ¡°Thank you, M¡¯Lady,¡± Lily said.

    Bell cocked an eyebrow and smiled slightly. ¡°You know what, call me Bell.¡±

    Bud almost dropped his bow.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t get to call you that for ages!¡± he protested. ¡°You made me call you Miss Bell or Lady Bell!¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t a pixie,¡± Bell stuck her tongue out at him. ¡°Different rules.¡±

    Bud laughed as they moved down into the mists, leaving the Waystation behind them as the Express crushed the Shells in front of them.

    Bert put his feet on the pedals, activating the giant mandible collectors on the front. Curious, he crunched and gathered a few of the shells into the Express.

    Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Wendy?¡± He called.

    ¡°Yeah, Dad?¡± She called back. Her voice came from the speakers in the dash.

    ¡°I just gathered some of these things. Can you tell if there is anything weird about them?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m still checking, one sec.¡± They waited. ¡°Fuck! Dad, these things are made of crude oil!¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert laughed. ¡°Seriously?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Wendy sounded confused. ¡°How could they be oil?¡±

    ¡°Fuck knows,¡± Bert shook his head, ¡°Add it to the weird shit list.¡±

    ¡°Will do, Dad,¡± She laughed. ¡°Good Luck!¡±

    ¡°We should be far enough away now,¡± Bert nodded to Bell.

    ¡°Okay, Lily, we want to find the cause of this mist,¡± Bell explained. ¡°Can you lock onto anything?¡±

    ¡°Ummm,¡± Lily closed her eyes, hands weaving a complex dance in the air. ¡°I can¡¯t really, but there is something strange¡­.¡± She opened her eyes and pointed. ¡°That way.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look,¡± Bert said, turning the Express.

    ¡°I think it might be connected, but I¡¯m not sure.¡± Lily frowned. ¡°Sorry. It is just showing as magical, rare, complicated, important, and wide influence.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± He thought about the lists she gave, ¡°Can you see a map or something?¡±

    ¡°I guess,¡± Lily shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s kind of like a mini version of the area I can spin and make bigger or smaller.¡± She winced. ¡°But most of it is hidden, and stuff I haven¡¯t seen is just marked with a cluster of words. Like the thing we are moving towards now.¡±

    ¡°Oh my God!¡± Wendy squealed. ¡°She has a GPS skill! That is so cool!¡±

    Lily jumped. ¡°Lady Wendy? Is the message spell still active?¡±

    ¡°Just call me Wendy, Lil,¡± Wendy replied. ¡°And there is no message spell. The Express is part of me.¡±

    ¡°Wow!¡± Lily blanched. ¡°Is it okay for me to be here? You don¡¯t mind?¡±

    ¡°Not at all!¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°It isn¡¯t the first time I¡¯ve had a girl inside me!¡±

    ¡°Eww.¡± Bert grimaced. ¡°Too much detail, hun.¡±

    Bell and Wendy both cracked up as Lily blushed furiously.

    They piled out of the Express in front of a large stone archway. Thick stone walls vanished off into the mist in both directions.

    Bert summoned his shield as they approached the entrance; Bell was to his right with her Ringer, now human-sized. Bud took the left, a couple of steps behind with his bow strung and an arrow nocked and ready.

    Lily followed a few steps behind with the three Pretties to either side and behind her.

    Bud had been quite impressed with the young half-pixie. She had only screamed for a second when the horrific things unfolded and surrounded her.

    ¡°We move slow and careful,¡± Bert rolled his shoulders as his prosthetic left hand morphed into the unholy combination of crossbow and nail trap he used as a ranged weapon.

    The nail gun-like creation had quickly become his favorite weapon.

    ¡°Just like old times!¡± Bud chuckled as they moved through the archway.

    ¡°With a couple of changes,¡± Bell pirouetted with the Ringer spinning like a whirlwind around her.

    Bert paid careful attention to NOT noticing how her lithe form moved as she did that.

    ¡°Movement,¡± Bert called as a shell creature scuttled across a wide stretch of grass in front of them. Unlike its floating brethren, this one was all legs, at least a dozen mismatched ones propelling a creature the size of a Great Dane across the grass.

    Bert¡¯s bolt was too slow, Bud¡¯s arrow leaving a swirling trail in the air as it smashed the shell, and the creature crumpled.

    Clicking sounds erupted as the mist around them seemed to solidify into more of the creatures.

    Bert started firing immediately, one knee on the ground and shield set.

    Bud fired calmly as he weaved his arrows between the blows Bell reigned on their attackers with her hammer flying back and forth as she threw it in large arcs.

    ¡°More coming,¡± Bert announced as the bodies piled up, and he switched his prosthetic into a hammer to save ammo.

    ¡°There is a structure not far ahead,¡± Lily called over the clicking and the sound of shattering shells.

    ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± Bert said, wading forward, his hammer and shield slamming into any of the creatures in range.

    ¡°Stay close, Lil,¡± Bell said as she took hold of Ringer again, striding forward with it spinning and slamming into one enemy after another.

    Lily moved closer, with Bud walking backward to keep anything from coming in behind them.

    He flipped his bow onto his back as they moved, drawing a dagger and sword to fight the occasional attacker.

    A faster-than-average shell crawler managed to duck under the Ringer as they moved and lunged at Lily, only for the two nearest Pretties to slam it aside and then rip it apart. Their sharp forelegs parted the brittle shells like butter, and in seconds, there was nothing left but black ooze and scattered remains.

    The party kept moving, coming to a series of stone steps that took them to a small stone parapet. The Shell crawlers refused to set foot or pincer onto the parapet and piled up on the stairs.

    Bert paused once they were a decent distance away and then took a single bolt out of his storage; he added a heat rune to the sharp tip and handed it carefully to Lily.

    ¡°Throw this into the middle of the stairs.¡± He smiled, ¡°Then duck.¡±

    Lily did as he asked, ducking as soon as she saw the little metal bolt disappear into the throng.

    Light and noise blossomed as a blastwave pushed against them.

    Bert held his shield in front of the little half-pixie until it had passed.

    She stood, eyes wide.

    ¡°I made five levels!¡± She gasped. ¡°At once!¡±

    ¡°Congrats,¡± Bert patted her gently on the shoulder. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go find that thing your skill found.¡±

    ¡°How many levels had you guys made?¡± She asked as she followed the group.

    ¡°None,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°They were too low-level to give us anything.¡±

    ¡°They were only level eighteen,¡± Bud explained. ¡°Bert and I are around thirty, and I have no idea about Bell, but I would bet she is higher.¡±

    ¡°Wendy, get back in that tower,¡± Bert said suddenly, eyes fixing on the nearest Pretty.

    ¡°You can see me?¡± Wendy¡¯s voice was small and tiny, coming from the Pretty.

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Bell warned.

    ¡°Gods! Fine!¡± She sounded grumpy but still guilty. ¡°I was just going to kill a few of them.¡±

    ¡°When we get back, we will wait while you and the others grind out a few levels,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°But only if you stay in the tower.¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Wendy¡¯s voice cut off.

    ¡°How did you know?¡± Bud asked. ¡°Can you see her?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°But she does take after us.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s what we would do,¡± Bell grinned at Bert, who felt a flush of warmth as she winked at him.

    Clearing his throat loudly, he waved them on.

    The stone parapet took them around past solid walls decorated with frescos and finally to a large metal door with words inscribed above the entryway,

    PRIVATE

    INTRUDERS WILL BE KILLED

    A symbol was inscribed on either side of the door. It looked like a wand with the tip glowing and a half-moon behind it.

    ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try,¡± Bell giggled and gestured at the door. ¡°I¡¯ll knock.¡±

    Bert raised his shield as Bud dove aside.

    Bell¡¯s ringer slammed into the door like a meteor. The metal was warped, and the stone surroundings cracked. She hit it again, and the whole thing fell inwards.

    It landed with a loud, echoing crash.

    ¡°Good luck closing that again,¡± Bud muttered as Bell laughed, stepping over the wreckage.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Bert shook his head and moved in front of her as Bud and the others walked over the busted door.

    Bell clicked her fingers, and a bright orb of light appeared above the group.

    A long hallway stretched ahead of them. It ended in a set of stairs that led down into the earth.

    ============

    The stairs narrowed as they reached the bottom; Bert guessed it was almost ten meters below the entrance when it ended.

    A pair of small rooms flanked the stairs on either side as they came into another hallway. A large cut-out from the walls allowed anyone inside to see out and observe the hall.

    Thick doors had guarded these rooms, which Bert would be prepared to swear were guard stations. One of the doors hung open, while the other was shattered.

    Looking inside, Bert saw a skeletal body in each one. Aiming carefully, he and Bud put a bolt into the two bodies at the same time.

    He didn¡¯t fancy dealing with undead down here.

    When nothing moved or so much as twitched, they entered the room with the shattered door.

    The body was only half a body; everything below the ribcage and one arm was gone. Tattered remains of what looked like a thick cloth shirt and one steel pouldron were still clinging to the corpse. There was also a small metal bangle on its upper arm. There was nothing else to see, so after grabbing the pauldron and bangle, they moved to the other.

    There was a complete body this time. It lay reaching towards the door, with a single skeletal hand still grasping the bottom of the door. They looked like they had been crawling towards the door when they died.

    Whoever, and whatever they had been was not clear. A series of faded and smeared writing on the walls was completely illegible.

    Bert tried Reclaim Knowledge, but nothing happened. Moving to the body, the armor was all removed and had been stacked on a small counter to one side of the door.

    It was a nice set, so Bert gave it a look-over. To his surprise, the set was made of skyship-grade steel. It was quite a find.

    A short spear was leaning against the wall and looked intact. It was incredibly light and very well made, with not just the tip but the entire spear made of metal. A small counterweight on the base made sure it would fly true if thrown.

    ¡°Lily?¡± He offered her the spear, ¡°I think this might work for you.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± She smiled, feeling how light and well-balanced it was. ¡°I love it.¡±

    Bert smiled and looked over to Bell, who was slipping a small necklace off the remains.

    ¡°Look what I found!¡± She said, holding out both hands. One had the necklace, the other a ring. ¡°Storage items!¡±

    ¡°Nice,¡± Bert smiled.

    ¡°Lily?¡± Bell called. ¡°Why not take these for you and your sister?¡±

    ¡°Can we?¡± Lily gaped.

    ¡°All yours,¡± Bell gave them to her, and she put the necklace on before pocketing the ring.

    ¡°I¡¯ll give you the stuff from inside as soon as we get back,¡± Lily promised.

    ¡°No, keep it,¡± Bell said. ¡°There is not much, but maybe you can trade it or sell it when we are at the next town.¡±

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Lily popped her old spear into the storage item and back out a few times. She saw the others watching and blushed. ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s my first one.¡±

    ¡°It never gets any less fun,¡± Bert chuckled as he popped his shield in and out of his storage.

    ¡°Really?¡± Lily laughed, relief visible on her face.

    ¡°Never,¡± Bud agreed as he summoned and then stored some arrows.

    ¡°Come on!¡± Bell clapped her hands together. ¡°There is a mystery to solve and much more loot to get yet!¡±

 Chapter 69 - Investigations and Investments

    The group came to another set of guard posts on the far end of the hall. A single, shining, short sword was all that remained. It was buried almost to the hilt in the stone wall.

    ¡°Yikes,¡± Bert flinched. ¡°I do not want to meet what did that.¡±

    ¡°Dad! Dad!¡± Wendy¡¯s tiny voice from the Pretty made them all jump. ¡°Do a King Arthur impression!¡±

    Bert laughed and grabbed the sword, pulling as hard as possible. It refused to budge.

    ¡°Booo!¡± Wendy called. ¡°No kingdom for you.¡±

    Bert placed a hand on the wall, the stone cracking and shattering beneath it. The sword slipped and fell, and he caught it on the way down. A turn rune faded slowly as the wall stopped trying to twist itself apart.

    ¡°King Arthur needed better skills.¡± Bert grinned as Wendy¡¯s laugh echoed from the Pretty.

    ¡°Who was this King Arthur?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°A kid who, according to legend, pulled a sword from a magical stone, and it made him king.¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°A child King?¡± Lily shook her head. ¡°Sounds like a bad idea.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, it was the English King, so pretty much anything was better than what they had.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Hey Bud, this is sky metal. Want to give it to Tim?¡±

    Bud nodded and tucked the sword away.

    Lily looked at them, eyes wide and mouth hanging open.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked. ¡°I know the pair of em are idiots, but?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just,¡± Lily swallowed. ¡°You are so free with your gifts.¡± She ran her fingers over her spear. ¡°It is not how things are normally done.¡±

    ¡°They tend to keep everything for themselves?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Well, it is their right.¡± Lily shrugged. ¡°And yours, of course.¡± She looked down.

    ¡°They keep the stuff for themselves because they are idiots,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°Hoarding power makes you stronger, but your people weak.¡±

    ¡°And sharing power?¡± Lily asked hesitantly. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it weaken you?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert explained. ¡°I have the best things I could have, so Bell and I share everything else. We are strong, and our people constantly get stronger.¡± He grinned. ¡°Look at what happened just a few days ago. My people were scattered all over, separated from me. But they are all strong and well-equipped. So they were fine. Sharing keeps you strong and your people stronger. Together, you can handle anything sent your way.¡±

    ¡°Even obsessed psycho stalker Immortals.¡± Bell nodded vigorously, then laughed.

    They moved on, passing from the corridor into a large circular room. Recessed alcoves lined the walls, with shattered glass cases all around. Each one was empty, with nothing but shards inside.

    Lily found a hidden door between two alcoves that revealed another staircase leading down.

    Bert led the way as they moved, single file, down the stairs.

    ¡°We are getting closer,¡± Lily whispered. ¡°But I can¡¯t see how to get there.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Bud patted her on the shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re doing very well.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± She whispered back. ¡°I¡¯m really nervous.¡±

    ¡°Is it that?¡± Bud pointed up where the Pretties were creeping along the ceiling, keeping pace with the group. ¡°They are creepy, even to me.¡±

    ¡°Actually, I kind of like them,¡± Lily admitted. ¡°They are minions, just like me.¡±

    ¡°You consider yourself a minion?¡± Bud hesitated and stopped walking for a moment.

    ¡°Well, since the oath. I kind of am one, aren¡¯t I?¡± She gave a gentle laugh. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad life.¡±

    ¡°I was a minion once,¡± Bud said, kneeling down. ¡°My Tim is a minion now. I am glad you do not see it as a bad thing.¡± He tilted his head to the side. ¡°If it helps, Bert once told me that we are all someone¡¯s minion.¡±

    ¡°Even¡­ even him?¡± Lily barely dared whisper it.

    ¡°He is pretty sure we are all Bell¡¯s minions as far as she is concerned.¡± Bud patted her on the shoulder. ¡°We better catch up.¡±

    The two of them trotted down the stairs and caught up with the others just as they reached a half-open door at the bottom. Lily was smiling the whole way, her eyes shooting from the Pretties to Bud and back again.

    ¡°Fuck me!¡± Bell gasped, falling back against Bert. ¡°Why did there have to be a maze?¡±

    ¡°It is a weird place to put one,¡± Bert admitted. He was feeling somewhat distracted by her warmth as she rested against him. Her hair smelled of blueberries and cinnamon.

    He had never noticed that before. Bell sighed, pushing herself away from him.

    ¡°Better get started, I suppose.¡± She stretched, her arms high over her head, and then bent and touched her toes.

    Bert hurriedly tried to look away, but she caught him staring and winked.

    It suddenly felt very stuffy in the doorway, and he moved a few steps away, letting the others into the huge cavern before them.

    The mist was heavy here and bright. A light source in the distance made the mist-wreathed area glow. Before them was another stone archway down a short set of stairs. The crumbled guardhouses on either side were long gone, but the maze walls looked fully intact. With walls rising up well above head height.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my tracking skill doesn¡¯t seem to work here,¡± Lily frowned. ¡°I can tell whatever it is is in there, but not how to get there.¡±

    ¡°No point in a maze if it doesn¡¯t block skills,¡± Bell said. ¡°Onward!¡± She giggled and pointed.

    Bert grinned and started down the stairs with Bell while Lily and Bud shared a smile and followed.

    ¡°Ugh, I¡¯m so bored!¡± Bell said minutes later as they rounded another corner. ¡°Let''s turn a different way!¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Bert shook his head. ¡°Always turn the same way in a maze, and you always find the way out.¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t die of boredom first,¡± Bell muttered as she folded her arms, leaving Ringer to float along next to her. ¡°We could just smash our way through.¡± She kicked one of the walls. ¡°These are not that tough.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but I bet they have defenses against that,¡± Bert warned, a fraction of a second before Bell slammed ringer into the nearest wall.

    There was a flash of light.

    They were back at the start of the maze.

    Bert turned and glared at Bell.

    ¡°I tripped?¡± She tried.

    ¡°You have perfect balance,¡± Bert noted. ¡°You never trip.¡±

    ¡°Worth a try.¡± She laughed without a trace of remorse. ¡°Let¡¯s get going then. Chop chop.¡±

    Bert grumbled as he started down the stairs again. He paused, looking at the walls.

    ¡°It¡¯s different.¡± He noted. ¡°This is not where we started last time.¡± Looking behind him showed only one destroyed guardpost. ¡°Definitely not where we came in.¡±

    ¡°Ooops?¡± Bell offered.

    ¡°No one hit the walls, please.¡± Bert sighed as they set off again.

    Five minutes later, he stared at the start once more and turned a flat stare on Bell. ¡°I did say please.¡±

    ¡°I was just checking.¡± She grinned. ¡°Why don¡¯t I lead? That way, I won¡¯t get bored.¡±

    ¡°After you,¡± Bert gestured. ¡°If anything tries to eat you, just dodge.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bell laughed, trotting off into the maze with the others trailing behind her.

    ============

    ¡°I swear I will take Ringer away from you until we get back to the Waystation!¡± Bert roared an hour later as they stared at yet another entrance.

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    ¡°Try it!¡± Bell got right in his face.

    They stared into each other''s eyes, glaring as Bud calmly motioned Lily back.

    ¡°I am serious!¡± Bert hissed.

    ¡°So am I!¡± Bell hissed back.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be stuck in this mist for the rest of time because you have impulse control issues!¡± Bert growled.

    ¡°Oh, is that the problem?¡± Bell grinned.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Bert snapped.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bell smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be good.¡±

    Bert blinked as she shrunk Ringer back down to its original size and slipped it into her belt. She winked and kissed the tip of his nose.

    ¡°Uh, thank you,¡± Bert asked, giving her a confused look.

    They entered the maze again, with Bert constantly glancing at Bell, who was wandering along, humming happily to herself. Turn after turn, the group got more and more tense, waiting for the flash of light that would lead them back to the start again.

    Finally, an archway appeared ahead of them, the mist shining brightly inside it.

    They all prepared, with a slight hesitation when Bell enlarged Ringer. She gave them a flat look and rolled her eyes.

    Ahead of them, the light blocked anything like clear sight. Creeping forward one step at a time, they finally got close enough to shield their eyes and see what it was Lily had sensed.

    It was an archway with bright, shining light coming from it. But it wasn¡¯t just light that flowed out of the portal. It was mist.

    They had found the cause of the misty valley after all.

    ¡°Any idea how we close this?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Thought you would never ask!¡± Bell grinned as she swung Ringer in a wide arc. It moved so fast it whistled in the air, passing inches from Bert¡¯s head and striking one side of the portal arch. The arch shattered into smithereens.

    Instantly, the portal began to destabilize. The party backed up, feeling a suction effect slowly building.

    ¡°Run?¡± Bert suggested, just as a flash of light came, and they found themselves back at the entrance.

    Lily lowered her spear.

    ¡°I thought it was worth a try?¡± She squeaked as she lowered her new spear when the others glanced around.

    Bert started to laugh. Bud gave her a one-armed hug as Bell cheered and clapped.

    ¡°See! Pixie¡¯s rule!¡± She patted Lily on the back as the maze in front of them dimmed.

    Finally, the light died completely, and Bell summoned the light orb again.

    ¡°Think there is anything else worth taking while we are here?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°We can look,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°The place is trashed, and I am a Garbage Man.¡±

    ¡°Umm, excuse me?¡± Lily raised her hand. ¡°What do you mean a Garbage Man.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°You haven¡¯t heard that part yet.¡±

    ============

    Wendy glared out the crystal windows of the Control Tower as the mist started to thin, the Shell creatures vanishing along with it.

    ¡°Dad!¡± She called through her Pretty to the group far below the surface.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± His voice sounded distant but clear.

    ¡°The mist is taking all the Mobs away.¡± She complained. ¡°We won¡¯t get to grind if we wait much longer.¡±

    ¡°Stay on the drawbridge, and make sure you are careful.¡± Mom¡¯s voice came over the connection.

    ¡°Thanks, Mom!¡± She dropped the connection and dashed for the elevator. It was a good thing she remembered to remove her Skelly suit from the Express before they borrowed it.

    She dashed across the ground and then hesitated. Was she being smart about this?

    ¡°Way Way. Can you let everyone know about the plan?¡± She waited and was rewarded with the doors around her flying open, Orcs, a dwarf, and a sleepy farmer pulling on their gear.

    Scruff yawned as she held out a hand, vines wriggling toward her over the bridge to Trailer One and wrapping around her body.

    ¡°Hey, sexy!¡± She said as Wendy called her Skelly suit over to her and climbed in.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°Ready to go kill some Shells before they are all gone?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°I should be able to grow something new from their remains.¡±

    ¡°Fingers crossed!¡± Wendy saw the blank look and rolled her eyes. ¡°It means I hope it goes the way you like.¡±

    ¡°Bud Patrol, ready to roll!¡± Gor¡¯tal saluted her, a broad grin on his face.

    ¡°Aye, let¡¯s get to smashin¡¯!¡± Gavin cheered.

    Wendy led the way over to the drawbridge as Slothy emerged from the barn and trotted along after them.

    As soon as the drawbridge touched down, they charged. Wendy was in the front, with Gor¡¯tal and Trunal on either side. Gavn and the brothers, Mic and Ric, at the flanks.

    Slothy and Scruff hung back, watching and taking out any stragglers they missed.

    Wendy laughed as her skeletal claws tore through the shells. More and more of the shells fell as she and Orcs held a strict line at the edge of the drawbridge.

    ¡°Ahh, Gods!¡± Gavin yelled in joy, ¡°I love this hammer!¡±

    Wendy began to lose herself in the carnage as her blood began to sing. First, one foot, then the other left the drawbridge. The orcs and the dwarf followed her, and they pushed into the tide of the shells.

    She laughed as her fists smashed her enemies aside. The first she knew of there being a problem was when she heard Sal¡¯ali cry out behind her.

    Whirling around, she saw they were encircled, with shells on all sides. Sal¡¯ali was in the middle of their circle, cradling her arm as she healed a deep puncture wound.

    ¡°Hold!¡± Wendy yelled. The others stopped advancing and looked at her. ¡°We need to push back to the drawbridge.¡±

    Tru and Gor nodded and switched positions with Mic and Ric. They started to push back, and in minutes, they were back on the drawbridge.

    ¡°Good work!¡± She grinned at the Bud Patrol. ¡°Sal¡¯ali? You okay?¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± The orc woman nodded to her.

    ¡°My fault,¡± Wendy admitted. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have moved forward.¡±

    ¡°Your blood sings with the joy of battle!¡± Tru¡¯nal beamed. ¡°There is no better feeling.¡±

    They laughed and returned to fighting.

    Glancing around, Wendy realized that Rose wasn¡¯t there.

    ¡°Take over from me,¡± Wendy asked Scruff, who shrugged and trotted down the drawbridge to do so. ¡°Thanks, I don¡¯t want Rose to miss this.¡±

    ¡°She isn¡¯t.¡± Scruff pointed at Rose, who was peering around the edge of the gatehouse.

    Wendy ran over to her, smiling as she left splatters of black oil around.

    ¡°Hey, Rose.¡± She smiled. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come join us? We can protect you while you get a few levels.¡±

    ¡°Do I have to?¡± Rose asked.

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Wendy said, backing up. ¡°I just wanted to offer.¡±

    ¡°Then I would rather not,¡± Rose said.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Wendy took a few steps back, ¡°If you change your mind, just come on over and join us. You¡¯re always welcome.¡± She turned and dashed back into the melee as Scruff dropped back and joined Slothy in watching.

    ¡°This is fuckin¡¯ great!¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°I¡¯m makin¡¯ levels like crazy!¡±

    ¡°Good for you!¡± Ric clapped him on the back.

    The numbers were definitely starting to thin out as the mist burned away even more; luckily, they all flowed toward the group. Blindly throwing themselves into the grinder.

    A distant Air Horn sounded, and Wendy smiled wider.

    ¡°Uhh, are we gonna get in trouble for doing this?¡± Mic asked, eyeing his brother.

    ¡°No!¡± Wendy yelled as she pulled down another Shell and smashed it against the drawbridge''s base. ¡°We have permission.¡±

    The air horn sounded again, closer.

    Rose dashed down the drawbridge and hesitantly started to fight. Tru¡¯nal moved over a bit, covering her and giving her tips. Wendy frowned when she saw the girl reach down and wipe oil from some corpses on herself.

    Was she trying to make it look like she had been fighting the whole time?

    Wendy shrugged.

    It was up to her if she wanted to fake it, but experience points didn¡¯t turn up by magic. Wendy had just leveled to twenty-three and was only two levels away from her first class evolution.

    The Express broke through the last of the mists and approached its ramp while Wendy and her crew kept fighting. She was glad they were back, but this opportunity was too good to let pass. She felt the Express come to rest in its usual spot on the Waystation and focused on the enemies in front of her.

    She could see the last of the shells disappearing beneath the blades of her group.

    When the last one fell, she laughed in joy, turning to see her Mum and Dad watching her and waving. She wanted to just run back up and give them a hug but held herself back, checking everyone was okay, and no one needed healing.

    Once that was done, however, she ran back up and hugged them.

    ¡°How was it?¡± Her dad asked.

    ¡°It was so much fun!¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°I can¡¯t believe they just kept coming, and we just cut them down!¡±

    ¡°Aww, my baby¡¯s first battle!¡± Her mum hugged her tightly.

    ===========

    Later that night, Lily knocked on her sister¡¯s door. They hadn¡¯t talked much since their argument. She looked down at the ring in her hand.

    ¡°Hello?¡± Rose called

    ¡°It¡¯s me, Lily,¡± She called back.

    The door opened a crack, and Rose peered round it.

    ¡°What?¡± She asked. ¡°Am I needed?¡±

    ¡°N-No, no.¡± Libby took a step back. ¡°I just have this for you.¡± She held out the small gold and silver band. ¡°It¡¯s a storage ring.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Rose¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°How did you get it?¡±

    ¡°Bell found them on a body in the ruins!¡± Lily said excitedly.

    She winced as her sister slapped her across the face.

    ¡°Don¡¯t call Lady Bell that!¡± Rose looked horrified. ¡°What if she hears you?¡±

    ¡°S-She told me to call her that.¡± Lily felt tears welling in her eyes.

    ¡°No, she didn¡¯t!¡± Rose shouted at her, ¡°Why would she?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s nice, and we¡¯re pixies, sort of.¡± Lily stammered.

    ¡°Stop lying!¡± Rose went to slap Lily again, but Lily caught her hand.

    ¡°Stop that!¡± She pushed her sister¡¯s hand away, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°How are you so strong?¡± Rose gasped.

    ¡°Lord Bert, he helped me level,¡± Lily said.

    ¡°Why?¡± Rose started to cry. ¡°Why would he? We are nothing to them!¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t get it, they aren¡¯t like that.¡± Lily shook her head. ¡°The Lord explained it to me.¡±

    ¡°Explained what?¡± Rose spat. ¡°How we are useful?¡±

    ¡°Well, yes. Sort of. Can I come in? It¡¯s kind of long.¡± Lily tried.

    ¡°Tell me here, or leave me alone,¡± Rose demanded.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Lily sighed. ¡°Lord Bert believes that to keep things to yourself is stupid. That by making everybody stronger, we are safer together.¡± She frowned. ¡°Or something like that.¡±

    ¡°So what, how does that apply to us?¡± Rose scowled. ¡°We are just servants.¡±

    ¡°Well, so what?¡± Lily shrugged. ¡°Bud was a minion, and Tim is one now. They are still part of the family and the Court.¡± She remembered something. ¡°The Lord even found a new sword made of sky metal, and he gave it to Bud for Tim!¡± She summoned the spear she was given. ¡°They gave me this as well, and a storage item!¡±

    ¡°Because they needed you, idiot!¡± Rose sneered, finally opening the door wide. ¡°To guide them to what they wanted.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± Lily tried to explain. ¡°I couldn¡¯t help with this one bit, and they were just as nice.¡±

    ¡°Well, I am just going to do what I am ordered to do. Nothing more. You go ahead and be useful all you want.¡± She sniffed. ¡°Just don¡¯t be surprised when they still treat us as servants.¡± She ignored the ring, slamming the door and locking it.

    Lily heard Rose crying, but her sister wouldn¡¯t open the door.

    She returned to her room, sitting on the bed and looking at the ring.

    Finally, she got up and put the ring in a drawer.

    She¡¯d keep it for Rose, for when she was ready.

 Chapter 70 - Oaths, always read the fine print!

    After spending the last few hours on watch, Bert stretched as he exited the Control Tower. It had been a quiet night as the mist rolled back. The first rays of the sun had already started to reveal several interesting-looking ruins and buildings in the surrounding area, and he felt good about the idea of sending out some search parties a little later today.

    He was just trying to decide between cooking breakfast or getting a short nap when he saw the little half-pixie, Lily, leaning on the parapet over the gatehouse. Her shoulders were slumped, and she seemed off.

    He climbed the wooden steps up the overlook, catching her wiping tears from her eyes.

    ¡°Lily, what¡¯s wrong?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Nothing, M¡¯Lord, sorry.¡± She looked away and started to hurry off.

    ¡°Wait, if something is wrong, I want to help,¡± Bert called her back.

    ¡°It¡¯s nothing, sir,¡± Lily hesitated. ¡°I just had an argument with my sister.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Bert felt himself relax. ¡°Anything you want to talk about?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I should, but¡­ honestly, I¡¯m worried.¡± Lily took a half step back toward him, then stopped.

    ¡°Whatever it is, we will do our best to sort it out.¡± Bert smiled.

    ¡°It¡¯s about the oath,¡± Lily winced as if she was expecting to be struck or yelled at.

    ¡°It¡¯s kind of messed up, isn¡¯t it?¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know it was possible.¡±

    Lily stood there, trembling, her eyes wide and staring.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Did you think we thought it was a normal thing to do?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Lily hesitated, ¡°Well, no.¡± She laughed weakly. ¡°I guess I just assumed it was something you were used to.¡±

    ¡°Not even close,¡± Bert leaned against the wall, crossing his arms as he thought. ¡°I kind of freaked out at first.¡±

    ¡°Me too.¡± Lily took another step closer. ¡°I¡¯m so worried about saying the wrong thing or upsetting you or Bell.¡±

    ¡°It has to be kind of terrifying.¡± Bert nodded. ¡°Did you know what the oath meant when you said it?¡±

    ¡°Sort of?¡± Lily shrugged. ¡°As soon as I wondered what Rose was talking about, I got a message explaining it.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯d guess you said it to try and look after your sister?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Pretty much.¡± Lily leaned against the wall next to Bert.

    ¡°I tried to find some way to release you both from the oath, but there is nothing to remove it, apparently.¡± Bert frowned.

    ¡°You did?¡± Lily shook her head. ¡°Want to know the strangest thing?¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°I don¡¯t hate it,¡± Lily admitted. ¡°Once it was done, and I accepted, I couldn¡¯t change it¡­ I just kind of felt relieved?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±  Bert looked down at the little half-pixie, shocked.

    ¡°My whole life, I¡¯ve never belonged anywhere. Never knew what my future held.¡± She stared into the distance as she talked, ¡°No one other than Rose cared where I was or if I was okay. There would never be someone to teach me, and no guarantee I¡¯d ever find a home, or safety, or anything.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s tough.¡± Bert felt for the half pixie. He wanted to give her a hug, but she went on.

    ¡°I stood here, realizing what the oath meant. How I was never going to be able to make my own choices and all the things I gave up.¡± She laughed. ¡°That was when I realized I never had choices to make before or a place to call my own or people. Sure, I gave something up, but here¡­ I could belong. I had a place.¡±

    ¡°It was still a lot to give up,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Was it?¡± Lily asked. ¡°I may not get to choose what to do in the future, but I never really had a choice before. Poor, homeless, hunted. That isn¡¯t a lot to give up.¡±

    ¡°But if we were different¡­.¡± Bert frowned.

    ¡°I could have been beaten, abused, or worse?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°It happens,¡± Bert said. ¡°In my world, it happened way too often.¡±

    ¡°And I bet it was normally the poor, or the alone, right?¡± Lily asked, her voice flat.

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°It would have been no different here,¡± Lily said grimly. ¡°As we were, it was only a matter of time before we were killed or forced to sell ourselves to live.¡±

    ¡°Still, it was a big risk you took.¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°And I won!¡± Lily laughed. ¡°I may be terrified of saying the wrong thing, but at night, I sleep well and eat well. I have a new class and levels. I feel good about myself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m glad.¡± Bert really meant that. The oath thing was still playing on his mind like a constant itch.

    ¡°If I could go back knowing what I know now?¡± Lily said. ¡°I¡¯d be the first to make the oath.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s still early days,¡± Bert warned. ¡°You have a long time to come to regret it.¡±

    ¡°And at times, I am sure I will,¡± Lily shrugged. ¡°But I know this is the best option for me. A better one than I ever would have had alone.¡±

    ¡°I worry about that,¡± Bert grimaced. ¡°That I will forget how big a sacrifice you made in time, or it will make me a bastard.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d be happy to remind you if you like?¡± Lily grinned.

    ¡°I would,¡± Bert looked at her, his face serious. ¡°If Bell or I ever take what you did lightly, remind me of this conversation.¡±

    ¡°Of course, M¡¯lord.¡± Lily bowed.

    ¡°So, what about this argument with your sister?¡± Bert nudged her. ¡°Was it about the oath as well?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Lilly groaned. ¡°She is completely freaking out and pissed at me for accepting the oath.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t blame her,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°I actually do,¡± Lily said angrily. ¡°It was her idea in the first place. She doesn¡¯t get to pretend it is not something she CHOSE.¡±

    ¡°Choosing something doesn¡¯t make it easier to accept the consequences.¡± Bert knew that from personal experience. ¡°Sometimes, it just makes them hurt more.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Lily sounded doubtful.

    ¡°Trust me,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°I know that from bitter experience.¡± Images of the cult danced in his mind. He chose to help twice, and something told him he would never stop regretting it.

    ¡°What if she can¡¯t accept the consequences?¡± Lily asked softly. ¡°What if it destroys her?¡±

    Bert thought for a long time. ¡°I have one idea.¡± He thought it through. ¡°What if I ordered you both to take any other orders I or Bell gave to be suggestions, not orders?¡±

    Lily blinked hard.

    ¡°Would it work, do you think?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°It¡­ yeah, my oath says that would work.¡± Lily grimaced.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked, concerned.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear that order.¡± She looked away. ¡°Is that okay?¡±

    ¡°Uhh, sure.¡± Bert looked at Lily. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Lily looked up at him. ¡°I want to follow; if you gave me that order, I wouldn¡¯t act any differently, but I would feel less¡­ secure?¡±

    Bert stared into the distance for a long moment. It was a big decision, but if he chose to make her obey the order just to make him feel better, wouldn¡¯t he be doing the very thing he wanted to avoid?

    ¡°All right,¡± He nodded eventually. ¡°I¡¯ll get Bell; you go get your sister.¡±

    ¡°If she won¡¯t come down?¡± Lily hesitated.

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    ¡°Tell her we want her to come down. Don¡¯t make it an order unless you have to, but I want to get this sorted,¡± Bert said as he trotted down the stairs and headed for the barn.

    ¡°Rose, come in,¡± Bell called when they saw the little half-pixie at the door to the Barn.

    Lily pulled her sister into the barn and went to stand off to one side.

    ¡°Lily told us how upset you are about the oath,¡± Bert started.

    ¡°She¡¯s lying!¡± Rose shouted. ¡°She just wants to get me in trouble!¡±

    Lily gasped, and Bell¡¯s eyebrows rose.

    ¡°Rose,¡± Bell sighed. ¡°We are linked to this land, to Way Way.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Way Way sees everything, and they already relayed what¡¯s been happening.¡±

    Bert looked over at Bell, ¡°They have?¡±

    ¡°Well, they have to me,¡± Bell grinned. ¡°Way Way knows you like to give people privacy.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Rose dropped to her knees, ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt me.¡±

    ¡°No one is going to hurt you,¡± Bell rolled her eyes. ¡°We aren¡¯t punishing you.¡±

    ¡°We have found a way to remove one of the restrictions of the oath,¡± Bert said gently.

    ¡°What?¡± Rose looked up, shocked. ¡°That is impossible.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just cheating with words,¡± Bell grinned. ¡°Bert¡¯s good at cheating!¡±

    ¡°Tell me what would happen if I ordered you to treat all orders from anyone as suggestions from now on?¡± Bert asked.

    Rose looked confused, blinked, and gaped in shock as her oath told her the response.

    ¡°It would work!¡± Rose said breathlessly.

    ¡°Great!¡± Bert smiled, ¡°Would you like me to give that order?¡±

    ¡°Yes, M¡¯Lord!¡± Rose nodded and reached for her sister, who merely shook her head. ¡°My sister?¡± Rose looked nervously at Bert and Bell.

    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want this, Lil?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure, Bell, but thanks!¡± Lily said happily.

    Rose winced, then looked up, seeing Bell rolling her eyes.

    ¡°Can we get on with this, please?¡± Bell asked. ¡°We have stuff to do today.¡±

    ¡°Rose, I order you to treat all orders as suggestions, no matter who gives them to you, from now on!¡± Bert said happily. ¡°I order you to come and go as you wish.¡± Bert amended it as an afterthought.

    Lily clapped her hands in joy and rushed over to her sister, who was still kneeling down, her head bowed.

    Bert and Bell left them to it; they had a lot of places to search and wanted to get started.

    ============

    ¡°Rose, you¡¯re free!¡± Lily laughed as she hugged her sister. ¡°Isn¡¯t it amazing!¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Rose asked, her voice dead. ¡°Why did they do that?¡±

    ¡°You were so upset about being so restricted by the oath.¡± Lily stroked her sister¡¯s hair. ¡°They did it to make you feel better.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a lie,¡± Rose shook her head. ¡°They did it for themselves. I know it.¡±

    ¡°Partly, yeah,¡± Lily admitted. ¡°Lord Bert is not super fond of the oath.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not?¡± Rose looked up, surprised.

    ¡°No! He gets really uncomfortable talking about it.¡± Lily smiled, remembering the powerful Lord fidgeting.

    ¡°So he didn¡¯t do it for me?¡± Rose seemed to find that easier to accept.

    ¡°Not entirely,¡± Lily nodded. ¡°I think he sees it as more responsibility rather than anything else.¡± She ran a hand through her hair. ¡°He already tried to dissolve the oath. This was his second attempt to free us.¡±

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you get him to give you the order?¡± Rose demanded. ¡°We could have both been free!¡±

    ¡°Rose, I don¡¯t want to be free,¡± Lily said kindly, hating the look her sister gave her. ¡°I was free for years, and it sucked!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re an idiot!¡± Rose snarled. ¡°I¡¯m still a part of the Court, but I¡¯m not a servant!¡±

    ¡°Exactly!¡± Lily said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you wanted?¡±

    ¡°I wanted that for both of us!¡± Rose protested. ¡°This way, we could BOTH have all of the perks of being in a Court and none of the duties!¡± She laughed. ¡°I can sit in that chair over there and do nothing forever; I can take their gifts and their money and use their power and never have to pay any of it back!¡±

    ¡°Why would you?¡± Lily asked, ¡°I want to show them I appreciate it all!¡±

    ¡°Only a fool does anything they don¡¯t have to!¡± Rose sneered. ¡°I tried to show you that as we grew up!¡±

    Lily realized her sister had always done exactly that. Looking back over their lives, it was always there. The difference was that they were taking so little and taking advantage of such awful people; she never felt bad about it.

    All that anger and crying hadn¡¯t been about her at all. Lily finally saw something she had been willfully blind to for a long time.

    Her sister was a nasty piece of work.

    ¡°Do what you like,¡± Lily stood and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m going to earn my place here. Starting with helping with the search team the Lord and Lady are sending out.¡±

    ¡°Go on then,¡± Rose laughed. ¡°Go lick their boots and kiss their ass!¡±

    ¡°Piss off, Rose,¡± Lily sighed as she left the barn.

    It felt like she left a part of herself behind in that room. A piece that she decided she would not miss.

    She ran over to where the Lord and Lady were talking with Bud.

    ¡°Sorry to interrupt!¡± She said, ¡°Can I help?¡±

    ¡°Sure, Lil.¡± Bell waved her over.

    Lily beamed. Her sister would never know what she was missing.

    ============

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert clapped his hands together. ¡°We have three different places to go and look over.¡± He pointed out the windows of the Control Tower. ¡°First, that large stone tower. It seems to be mostly intact, so it should have something inside.¡± Bud, I thought you and your Patrol could head that way.¡±

    ¡°You got it, Boss.¡± Bud nodded.

    ¡°There is a small set of houses to the other side that might have something useful in them,¡± Bert pointed to where they could see a cluster of low-roofed houses between the dead trees. ¡°Wendy, that is all yours.¡±

    ¡°Can I put together my own team?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°Cause Scruff is busy trying to make an oil plant and gets touchy when disturbed.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert agreed. ¡°And last of all is a larger structure a bit behind us.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be taking that one,¡± Bell said, looping her arm through Bert¡¯s.

    ¡°Now Lily says there are things at each point according to her skill, so be careful.¡±

    ¡°Lil, can you come with me to the houses?¡± Wendy asked the half-pixie, who was staring out at the world around them in wonder.

    ¡°Sure.¡± Lily shrugged. ¡°Anything I can do to help.¡±

    ¡°Great, put your teams together and head out as soon as you¡¯re ready.¡± Bert nodded to the group.

    ¡°We are heading out now,¡± Bell added. ¡°So have fun and be careful!¡±

    A few minutes later, Bell was back in pixie form and perched on Bert¡¯s shoulder as he walked across the pale ground toward the distant structure they had chosen to check out themselves.

    Lily said it had been labeled as dangerous, so he and Bell were checking it out alone.

    ¡°Comfy?¡± He asked the pixie as she fussed around, getting comfy.

    ¡°Not really,¡± She complained. ¡°When you next design some new armor for yourself, I think you should add a chair or at least a pillow.¡±

    ¡°You could walk?¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°Why?¡± Bell giggled. ¡°I prefer to ride you!¡±

    There was a moment¡¯s silence as Bert¡¯s mind shorted out.

    ¡°Dirty thoughts?¡± Bell purred in his ear, making him jump.

    ¡°No!¡± He insisted. ¡°I was just looking at that tree!¡±

    ¡°The tree?¡± Bell laughed. ¡°Thinking of wood, are we?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant,¡± Bert laughed, feeling himself blush slightly. Since when did he blush? He was a grown-ass man. Surely blushing was something he outgrew?

    ¡°Next time, either admit it or get a better excuse!¡± Bell laughed. ¡°A fucking tree!¡± She slapped the side of his head.

    Definitely did not outgrow blushing, it seemed.

    ¡°So,¡± He coughed. ¡°What did you think of Rose this morning?¡±

    ¡°Honestly?¡± Bell sighed. ¡°I expect she will be gone as soon as she can.¡±

    ¡°Should we try and stop her?¡± Bert asked. ¡°For Lily¡¯s sake, I mean?¡±

    ¡°Naah,¡± Bell chuckled. ¡°I think it¡¯s better for both of them if they separate.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked. He had been thinking about trying to get them to spend more time together, not less.

    ¡°They grew up together. Completely alone except for the other.¡± Bell shifted. ¡°Once they were separated, it changed both of them.¡±

    ¡°The Summerlands changes people,¡± Bert muttered, thinking about Gwen.

    ¡°Yes and No.¡± Bell said, ¡°It is more that they grew to be different people.¡± Bell paused for a second before going on. ¡°Sometimes, when you are with someone for a long time, you kind of adjust to them,¡± Bell said. ¡°But a few weeks or months apart can really change who you are as a person.¡±

    ¡°And as much as you wish you could, you can¡¯t go back to the way things were,¡± Bert said grimly.

    ¡°In your case, I suspect there was some intentional blindness involved.¡± Bell chuckled. ¡°Did she really change that much?¡±

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know,¡± Bert admitted as he leaped over a set of boulders in their way. ¡°She was always kind of centered around what she wanted, but since it was always something I wanted or could give her, I saw it more as being driven, ya know?¡±

    ¡°But now you can¡¯t,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Yes, so I suddenly became less important, at least in the short term.¡± He felt Bell stiffen up for a second. ¡°But she was always quite weak before. Not a lot of money or power, so¡­ I think that is what made me expendable.¡± He swallowed, but it was easier to talk about now. ¡°She¡¯s powerful, independent, and having a blast. To come back to me would mean sacrificing something she always wanted.¡± He laughed. ¡°The crazy thing is, I never saw it coming.¡±

    ¡°So you think she will come back to you?¡± Bell asked, her voice distant.

    ¡°Probably? Some day?¡± Bert laughed. ¡°But I¡¯m not interested.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bell sounded shocked, which he guessed he couldn¡¯t blame her for.

    ¡°She tossed me aside because she didn¡¯t need me right then,¡± Bert said simply. ¡°That¡¯s not a forever person. It¡¯s a now and then person.¡±

    ¡°So what? You hate your wife now?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°No!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°I¡¯m angry at her, sure. But I¡¯ll always care for her. But I don¡¯t love her that way anymore.¡± He stopped, taking a deep breath and looking around. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be friends. Eventually. But she dumped me after abandoning me. That is going to take time to fade.¡±

    ¡°I guess,¡± Bell said. ¡°Does it still hurt that she dumped you?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bert smiled. ¡°It pisses me off, but it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡±

    ¡°So, bye-bye, Gwen? Look for someone new?¡± Bell sounded hopeful.

    ¡°No!¡± Bert said with certainty.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Bell hopped off his shoulder and stood in his way, her arms crossed. ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Can we not do this right now?¡± Bert huffed.

    ¡°No!¡± Bell demanded. ¡°I want to know why you won¡¯t move on!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say I wasn¡¯t moving on!¡± Bert snapped. ¡°I said I wasn¡¯t looking for someone new!¡±

    ¡°Why not?¡± Bell rolled her eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying!¡± Bert insisted.

    Bell grinned. ¡°Yes, you bloody are.¡±

    ¡°Bell!¡± Bert warned as she drew her Ringer and enlarged it. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°I want the answer, Caretaker.¡± Her eyes sparkled.

    ¡°Piss off pixie,¡± Bert smirked, ¡°This isn¡¯t the time and place.¡±

    ¡°Tough!¡± Bell slammed Ringer into the ground, causing it to crack. ¡°Tell me, or I make you tell me!¡±

    ¡°Nope!¡± Bert refused, summoning his shield. ¡°This isn¡¯t how I want to do this.¡±

    ¡°Do what?¡± Bell growled in frustration. She flung Ringer off to the side. ¡°Just tell me!¡± She stormed up to him, ¡°Why won¡¯t you find someone new?¡±

    ¡°Because I already have,¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°You better bloody mean me!¡± Bell growled.

    ¡°I do,¡± Bert smiled.

 Chapter 71 - Seek, and ye shall find!

    Bell leaped into his arms, kissing him long and deep. Bert lost himself in it, a feeling of warmth and complete happiness wiping all thoughts from his mind.

    She let go, dropping to her feet as she stepped back.

    Bert¡¯s head snapped to the side as she slapped him.

    ¡°How can you tell someone you love them out here?¡± She demanded. ¡°Do you have NO sense of timing?¡±

    ¡°You demanded I tell you!¡± Bert pointed out. He looked around at the desolate landscape of dead trees and bare earth. ¡°Not the place I would have chosen.¡±

    ¡°Bert!¡± Bell caught his attention. ¡°I want you to know it is your fault,¡± She smiled.

    ¡°What is?¡± Bert asked, exasperated.

    ¡°I am not having sex on this dirty floor!¡± Bell said in outrage.

    ¡°Of course not!¡± Bert protested.

    ¡°So everything I do between now and when we find a nice place is your fault!¡± She held out a hand, Ringer flying into it.

    ¡°Come on!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°What are you going to do?¡±

    ¡°Payback,¡± Bell grinned in a way that set him on fire. She turned her back on him, walking away, her hips swinging like a cat. She laughed long and dirty as he found himself swallowing hard.

    ¡°You know, we could head back to the Waystation?¡± He offered.

    ¡°Uh uh!¡± She looked back at him, winking. ¡°You have to suffer first.¡±

    ¡°You know, I¡¯m okay with that,¡± Bert grinned, watching her butt wiggle as she walked.

    ¡°Come on!¡± She waved to him. ¡°The sooner we get this place searched, the sooner we get laid.¡±

    Bert hurried to catch up.

    They approached the colossal building from behind. It wasn¡¯t stone, to his surprise. The outer walls, at least, were wood and steel. Thick steel plates between tall steel beams. The wood took over about halfway up, extending the wall up to at least fifteen feet. A complex series of floors and towers were visible over the top of the wall.

    ¡°See you, slowpoke.¡± Bell grinned, popping back into pixie form and flying over the top. Bert grinned, taking a run up and launching himself up, grabbing the top of the wall and vaulting over; he rolled as he landed, coming upright just as Bell popped into human form a few feet up.

    ¡°Oops!¡± She called theatrically as she fell into his arms.

    Bert leaned down and kissed her, tasting the faint chocolate taste of her mouth and tongue.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± She winked, blinking into pixie form, and back again stood upright a few steps away. ¡°Guess I¡¯m a little clumsy!¡± She giggled and dropped Ringer, bending over theatrically and picking it up.

    Bert chuckled, trying to ignore a growing tightness in his armor.

    ¡°Oh, shit, this place is actually kind of impressive.¡± Bell looked over at the multistory building in front of them. Wood and metal wove together to form what looked like a rambling mansion.

    ¡°It really is,¡± Bert said, coming up next to her and winding his fingers through hers. ¡°Kind of having difficulty focusing on it, though, can¡¯t imagine why.¡±

    ¡°Me either,¡± She grinned and looked down, the top three buttons of her shirt popping off one after another. ¡°Oops.¡± She laughed and walked off around the side of the building, leaving him to follow.

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just evil,¡± Bert laughed, catching up to her.

    ¡°Not evil, just bad,¡± She turned and winked at him. ¡°Evil would be if I was just playing.¡± She stopped, turned, and placed a warm hand on his chest, her eyes boring into his. ¡°It¡¯s just bad because all of this,¡± She waved at her body, leading his eyes down and up her body, ¡°All of me¡­ is yours.¡± Bell looked deep into his eyes, ¡°Just as soon as we find somewhere to play.¡± She kind of groaned the play bit, and Bert pulled her into his arms, pushing her up against the wall of the building.

    ¡°I can¡¯t wait,¡± He panted into her ear as he kissed down her neck.

    ¡°Me either,¡± Bell clicked her fingers, her clothes disappearing as she wrapped her legs around him. ¡°So don¡¯t.¡±

    ============

    ¡°Hey Slothy!¡± Wendy gave the giant sloth bear a few pats and scratches. ¡°Can I take Gavin with me? I promise I¡¯ll look after him.¡±

    Slothy tilted her head for a minute, then nuzzled Wendy and chuffed.

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Wendy hugged Slothy¡¯s head and walked off.

    ¡°Dead embarrassing, tha¡¯ was.¡± Gavin grumped as they headed over to the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    ¡°It¡¯s just because she cares.¡± Wendy shrugged.

    ¡°Aye, lass. I ken.¡± Gavin said, only slightly mollified.

    Wendy pulled open the door and saw Rose sitting at a table near the back, playing with a small ring. The little half-pixie looked utterly absorbed in the little bit of metal.

    ¡°Hey, Rose,¡± Wendy called. ¡°We are off to search some nearby houses for any good loot; want to come?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Rose laughed. ¡°And no one can make me!¡±

    ¡°Uhh, okay,¡± Wendy frowned. ¡°Lily¡¯s coming if you change your mind.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Rose said dismissively. ¡°I want some alone time anyway.¡±

    ¡°Suit yourself,¡± Wendy sighed. She was about done with Rose. She knew what she tried to do when Scruff was hurt was wrong, but something about the girl just rubbed her the wrong way.

    ¡°Just the three of us, I guess,¡± Wendy told Gavin as they headed towards the Express.

    ¡°Tim, come!¡± The little gnork ran up. ¡°Tim wants to go to.¡±

    ¡°The four of us then,¡± Wendy pulled the little gnork up onto her shoulders. He was tiny, and she was already in her skeleton suit, so she didn¡¯t even notice the extra weight.

    ¡°Oooh, this is real comfort, aye!¡± Gavin grinned as he perched in the far passenger seat of the Express. ¡°Bloody good machine this is!¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Wendy grinned. She loved getting compliments about the Express.

    Lily and Tim had the seats next to Wendy, although Tim spent more time standing on his seat staring out the windshield than actually sitting in it.

    ¡°Tim, get down!¡± Lily tried to pull him back down, but Tim dodged her. ¡°You¡¯ll get hurt.¡±

    ¡°Tim, safe!¡± Tim insisted, ¡°Leave alone!¡±

    Lily laughed but kept a hand out, ready to catch him in case he fell.

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell!¡± Wendy warned him.

    ¡°No tell,¡± Tim begged.

    ¡°You told!¡± Wendy argued back.

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    Tim sat in his chair and folded his arms, clacking his jaw in irritation.

    ¡°So, which end do you think we should start with?¡± Wendy asked Lily as they approached the cluster of squat houses.

    ¡°The far side feels the best,¡± Lily said, then laughed. ¡°It is so weird knowing that, without knowing how I know that.¡±

    ¡°I bet,¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°It is incredibly awesome, though.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Lily blushed.

    The houses themselves looked more like bunkers to Wendy as they drew near. At least in design. They were all identical, like the kit houses that her Dad remembered from back on earth, but these were slabs of stone laid roughly over large wooden squares. Small openings served as windows, the only sign of anything like a nod to a livable structure.

    The flat, slightly sloped sides rose to a four-sided slate roof. Wendy wondered if they were built after the arrival of the mists, as it would have rendered them almost invisible. With no decoration, grey stone and slate would have been impossible to see in the blank grey murk of the previously constant mist.

    A faint road was visible between the two lines of bunker houses, and Wendy carefully drove down the center, parking at the far end as Lily suggested.

    ¡°Okay, everybody out, but stay close.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m leaving two of the Pretties to guard the Express, just in case,¡± Wendy said to her ramshackle troops. It was a far cry from fighting with Scruff or the Bud Patrol, but she was determined to do well.

    They all nodded.

    ¡°We will also all have a Pretty with us at all times.¡± She waved, and the Pretties unfolded, scuttling along the floor and taking position next to each of them.

    Tim happily jumped on his, and Lily patted her¡¯s affectionately. Gavin tried to lean away from his without anyone noticing.

    It leaned with him, and the dwarf took a half step away; the Pretty moved a half step closer. Wendy watched as this devolved into the dwarf, running in circles with the Pretty merrily following.

    ¡°Ge¡¯ away, ya creepy bugger!¡± Gavin yelled.

    ¡°Gavin!¡± Wendy snapped, and the dwarf stopped. ¡°It stays, or you go back in the Express.¡± She said sternly.

    ¡°Och, come on!¡± Gavin protested. ¡°I cannae have this wee creep followin'' me e¡¯erywhere. I¡¯ll go spare!¡±

    Wendy gestured, and the door to the Express opened invitingly.

    ¡°Fine.¡± Gavin stomped back over to the others. ¡°Aye, let¡¯s go, ya wee fuck.¡±

    The pPetty looked almost smug as it stood next to him. Wendy was almost sure it was standing closer to him than before.

    ¡°Right.¡± Wendy huffed, ¡°Let¡¯s get moving. Lily and I will check the nearest house on this side of the road. Gavin and Tim check the other side. We meet up back here after we are done and move to the next one in line.¡±

    They all nodded.

    ¡°Keep the doors open and call if you need help.¡± Wendy said, ¡°Stay safe, everyone.¡±

    With that, they moved off, and Lily Joined Wendy as they approached their first house.

    Her suit helped her pull aside the heavy stone-wrapped door. Its extra muscles came in more and more useful, and thanks to her ability to cast Reclaim Flesh, she could actually help it to self-repair if needed.

    Lily peered inside, clicking her fingers to summon a small light ball in the large room before them.

    ¡°Hey, I didn¡¯t know you could do that!¡± Wendy said, happy to have the extra light.

    ¡°Neither did I until I saw Bell do it!¡± Lily grinned. ¡°I tried to visualize a light and clicked, and there it was!¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± Wendy thought for a second. ¡°You know, I never even thought of that.¡± She clicked, adding a second light ball. ¡°It works, you¡¯re a genius!¡±

    ¡°Didn¡¯t you get taught when you were growing up?¡± Lily asked her face a picture of confusion.

    ¡°Ha!¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°I never grew up; I was a Multi-Bell originally.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Lily slammed a hand over her mouth. ¡°Really?¡± She mumbled from behind it.

    ¡°Yeah, a magical attack severed me, so I joined with the Express¡¯ core. I got a bunch of stuff from Dad then¡­ and poof instant me.¡± Wendy grinned.

    ¡°That¡¯s so awesome!¡± Lily grinned.

    ¡°It really is,¡± Wendy agreed, moving into the now bright room. It didn¡¯t seem to hold much. A few bits of dusty furniture. A moldy couch along one wall was the biggest thing in the room.

    ¡°Hey, look,¡± Lily called, and Wendy turned to see a weapon rack nailed to the wall next to the door. ¡°They look like the sky metal weapons we found in that other place!¡±

    Wendy moved in for a closer look. There was a pair of swords, an axe, and a metal bow with no sign of a string.

    ¡°Grab ''em,¡± Wendy smiled. ¡°Dad will be glad of the sky metal.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Lily swept a hand over the rack, each of the weapons disappearing in turn.

    They moved further in through a regular wooden door to find a set of collapsed bunks and a pair of storage chests. Wendy poked the trunks several times, then opened them from a reasonable distance away with one of the poles from the collapsed bunks.

    ¡°More sky metal!¡± Lily looked through the seemingly random pieces of armor. They were odds and ends, with vastly different sizes.

    ¡°Let¡¯s check the rest of the places, then we can put the chests in the Express,¡± Wendy said, moving on to what seemed to be a small toilet. It was not great, basically a really deep hole in the floor with a metal cover over it.

    ¡°Want the metal cover?¡± Lily asked doubtfully. ¡°I don¡¯t think it is sky metal.¡±

    ¡°Naah, they can keep that.¡± Wendy chuckled. ¡°Never nick the toilet; it shows a lack of taste.¡±

    The girls laughed and moved to the final door. This one was metal, heavy, and rusted in place.

    ¡°This looks pretty solid,¡± Lily gave a few tugs to no effect.

    Wendy tried next, but it was no good, even with her suit¡¯s help. She stepped back and kicked the door in frustration.

    ¡°Do we move on, or?¡± Lily looked at the door longingly. ¡°There has to be something good in there, right?¡±

    ¡°See, this is why it pays to date a farmer,¡± Wendy said, pulling a tiny green shoot from her belt pouch and placing it gently on the faint seem in the door.

    The plant exploded into life after the first few seconds. Its roots wound into the tiny gaps and grew. After about a minute, the door was completely covered and then opened with a creak and a pop.

    The plant began to die off, revealing that the door was stripped of all metal, and a large, seed-shaped lump was left behind.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Lily asked; she leaned down and gently prodded the metal seed.

    ¡°That is just the cleaned metal,¡± Wendy grinned and patted it. ¡°The plant was part of Scruff''s continuing attempts to make a metal refining plant.¡±

    ¡°Can you even do that?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Wendy shrugged. ¡°But that never stopped her before.¡±

    They directed their light orbs into the dark room beyond. It had no windows, so there was no ambient light at all.

    The room gleamed.

    Row after row of armor suits took up most of one wall, with another full of helmets and a final wall of shields.

    ¡°It¡¯s all sky metal!¡± Lily gasped. ¡°This is enough to bankrupt a whole town!¡±

    ¡°Fuckin¡¯ Hell,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°If this is what your skill can find, I think I¡¯m jealous.¡±

    Wendy was just carrying out the first of the storage chests, with Lily dragging the other behind her when Tim came dashing over, rattling more than normal. He was covered in sky metal armor.

    He had on what looked like a bit of sky metal chainmail, which came down almost to his feet. He had also managed to get a pair of small pouldrons tied on almost correctly and a gleaming helm bouncing wildly on the top of his skull.

    ¡°Tim found second sword!¡± He waved his now-matching sky metal swords.

    ¡°Did you find some armor too?¡± Wendy laughed.

    ¡°No!¡± Tim insisted as he pushed his helm back up.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Wendy asked, raising an eyebrow the way she saw her mom do.

    ¡°Maybe?¡± Tim tried. ¡°This mine!¡±

    ¡°Sure, Tim, that stuff is yours.¡± Wendy grinned as TIm danced around. ¡°Can I put it on properly for you?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Tim tried to run away, but Wendy held him down and tightened all the right straps and clips until it no longer bounced around.

    ¡°There ya go,¡± She said, letting him go.

    Tim moved around, seeing everything stayed in place. ¡°Thanks!¡±

    ¡°Are ye ever comin¡¯ back, ya bony little bastard?¡± Gavin yelled. ¡°I need some bloody help wi¡¯ all this!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re coming!¡± Wendy chuckled as she trotted over to see what Gavin and Tim had found. She slid to a stop in the doorway of the house.

    She gaped.

    Not house, warehouse.

    She blinked.

    Not a warehouse¡­. An armory.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Lily swore, slapping a hand over her mouth automatically once more.

    Wendy flicked her light orb into the building and watched it drift down row after row of gleaming armor, chests, weapons, crates, and more.

    ¡°So, lass!¡± Gavin asked, his arms full of assorted hammers. ¡°Wha¡¯ we takin¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Everything!¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°We take everything.¡± She tapped her foot on the floor, hearing the familiar metallic ring of sky metal. ¡°Then we take the fucking floor.¡±

    =============

    Gwen stormed through the halls of the Palace of the Autumn Winds, bursting into the throne room with sparks flying from her eyes. A wild shadow reached out behind her, but not just her own. The shapes of animals appeared and disappeared as if she was surrounded by a veritable army of them hiding in her shadow.

    ¡°I DEMAND JUSTICE!¡± She snarled.

    Karl barely looked up from the map of earth he was studying.

    ¡°For what?¡± Myrtle sighed.

    ¡°For what they just did!¡± Gwen hissed. ¡°He has betrayed me with that pixie whore!¡±

    ¡°Told ya!¡± Crissy laughed, and Jerry handed her a small pile of gems.

    ¡°No,¡± Myrtle dismissed her. ¡°They are Lord and Lady of a Court. They outrank you.¡±

    ¡°Then I demand a trial!¡± Gwen shook with rage.

    ¡°Be careful,¡± Karl said, looking up from his map. ¡°What is done may not always be undone.¡±

    ¡°I demand a trial,¡± Gwen said, drawing herself up.

    ¡°Then it is so,¡± Karl sighed and pushed himself away from the table, placing a hand on his throne.

    A Trial Is Called!

    All participants will be summoned in¡­

    3¡­.

    2¡­.

    1¡­.

 Chapter 72 - Court of Courts

    ¡°What the hell?¡± Bert growled as he received the summons. He pulled his armor back into place, and Bell clicked her fingers, her clothes returning a split second before a lighting strike blinded him.

    When the flash faded from his eyes, he found himself in a tall, expansive, opulent room. Bell was beside him, in human form and looking defiant. The iridescent stone floor swept into a patterned wall broken by a parapet with a series of thrones. Karl and Myrtle sat in the center thrones, with other pairs appearing as he watched.

    ¡°The Lords and Ladies of the Four Seasons,¡± Bell whispered to him.

    ¡°What the hell are we doing here?¡± Bert whispered back.

    ¡°Ask her,¡± Bell nodded across the room where another small platform held Gwen. Her eyes bored into him, fury in every line of her face.

    ¡°Lords, Ladies, and Fae of all ranks, welcome to this Court of Courts.¡± Karl stood as he spoke. ¡°For the record, I think this is an unnecessary action that would be better resolved privately.¡±

    ¡°Noted,¡± A lady of one of the other Courts stated.

    ¡°The matter before the Court is a betrayal of Marriage vows by one Lord Bert J. Hudson of the Court of the Travelling Lands. The offended party who called this Court is Gwen Hudson of the Court of the Autumn Winds.¡±

    ¡°Is this a joke?¡± A woman he couldn¡¯t see clearly laughed. ¡°A cheating husband? Hands up everyone here who has slept with others than their spouses.¡±

    Most of them put up their hands.

    ¡°Callie, get your hand up,¡± The woman laughed. ¡°You slept with me, remember?¡±

    ¡°How could I forget,¡± Another Lady groaned. ¡°It started a war!¡±

    ¡°If we could get to the matter at hand?¡± Myrtle tried not to laugh. ¡°We are all busy people.¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Karl called. ¡°Lord Bert, how do you plead? Did you cheat on your wife?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± Bert insisted. ¡°She dumped me weeks ago.¡±

    There was general laughter.

    ¡°We are still married!¡± Gwen insisted.

    ¡°Very well,¡± Karl sighed. ¡°Let the trial begin with testimony.¡±

    ¡°The accused will explain their side!¡± A man in winter clothes and with long white hair called.

    Bert found himself teleported into the center of the room.

    ¡°Uh, Hi!¡± He said to general laughter. He saw Bell groaning at his reaction.

    ¡°Are you ready to give testimony?¡± Karl asked.

    ¡°I... guess?¡± Bert sighed. ¡°What do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°Have you knowledge of how this court works?¡± Myrtle called.

    ¡°No idea.¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°You may call forth any memory, and we shall witness it entirely,¡± Karl said. ¡°There is nothing hidden.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert sighed and remembered his last conversation with his wife.

    He stood and stared as it played out in front of him again. Perfect recreations of all parties rising into existence in the middle of the floor. It was tough to see it play out.

    Finally, it ended when Gwen told him she did not want to hear from him again.

    ¡°That seemed pretty final to me,¡± Bert grimaced. ¡°It certainly felt that way.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Lord Bert.¡± Karl waived, and Bert was back with Bell.

    ¡°Let the accuser answer!¡± A woman called.

    Gwen appeared in the center of the floor, her eyes still boring into Bert.

    ¡°What say you?¡± Myrtle asked. ¡°The fact of your breakup was seen by all, felt by all.¡±

    ¡°Felt?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°They all feel what you felt in the memory,¡± Bell explained, shushing him.

    ¡°What he felt and thought is irrelevant,¡± Gwen insisted. ¡°We are still married.¡± She shot him a look, ¡°Even if we are not together.¡±

    ¡°We will consider,¡± Karl said and a wall rose, blocking them from sight.

    Gwen turned and stalked back across to her side of the court.

    Bert sighed and turned to Bell.

    ¡°What do you think?¡± He asked.

    ¡°What if they decide you were in the wrong?¡± Bell fidgeted with her nails. ¡°What will you do?¡±

    ¡°What can they do?¡± Bert asked. ¡°To us, I mean.¡±

    ¡°Umm, not a lot?¡± Bell said hesitantly. ¡°They could call you a cheater? Or maybe declare your marriage dissolved.¡±

    ¡°Worst case?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°They declare your marriage valid, and she can keep dragging us back here.¡± Bell sighed.

    The partition wall dropped again. They all turned to look as Lord Karl stood.

    ¡°I give the accuser one last chance to drop this complaint?¡±

    ¡°I will not,¡± Gwen said.

    ¡°Then the court will consider the validity of the marriage.¡± Karl raised a hand. ¡°We will decide not based on documents or words but on memories. Your lives will be laid bare.¡±

    ¡°Bert, if you would?¡± Karl waived him forward.

    Bert took his place in the center of the room once more. The Lords and Ladies all seemed excited as he took his spot.

    A seat appeared, high-backed and comfortable looking.

    ¡°Sit, please; this may take a while,¡± Karl called.

    Bert sat, and the chair slid back, clearing the center of the floor. Figures began to form¡­

    ¡°Gwen?¡± Myrtle motioned, and a second chair formed; Gwen sat in it, and it slid to the far side of the room.

    ¡°For this sequence, up until the moment of Gwen¡¯s death, both memories will be combined,¡± Myrtle explained. ¡°This will remove the aspects you each see as individuals and paint a real picture of events. I warn you, this may be tough to watch.¡±

    The figures in the center took shape¡­

    Bert watched as he met Gwen for the first time. It was just as he remembered it, except it went on after he left to make a call. Gwen took out a phone and called a friend, chatting about their date. She mentioned he was a little dull but seemed like a nice, safe guy.

    Stolen novel; please report.

    After a moment, he came back, and they continued their date.

    Bert frowned, having never known about that. Still, it was only their first date. Time seemed to speed up from then, and he watched date after date take place over the next few days. He also started to notice something he hadn¡¯t remembered.

    She looked bored so often, her eyes lingering on better restaurants, better-clothed people, and nicer holidays than they could afford.

    It came to a head when he saw Gwen crying on the phone to a friend, saying she was getting kicked out of her house share.

    ¡°I¡¯ll just have to move in with Bert,¡± Gwen sighed, ¡°At least for now.¡±

    Bert felt the pain of that. She hadn¡¯t even wanted to move in with him. Time sped up again, with them moving in and their life together. As time went by, Gwen spent less time looking at better things and seemed happier. It slowed at a night out with some friends from work. Gwen was sitting listening to a woman who was lamenting having to settle for a ¡®lesser¡¯ life.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Gwen smiled warmly, ¡°I settled, and I have never been happier. Sure, he can¡¯t give me everything, but he always does his best, and he will try and get anything I want.¡± She laughed. ¡°Somewhere along the way, I really fell in love with my silly little hubby.¡±

    Time sped past, their lives playing out for everyone to see. They both had chances and offers to cheat, and they both refused. It was obvious they were happy together. But it was also clear that their entire relationship was about Gwen. She wanted, she needed, she demanded.

    Over time he just stopped noticing that.

    Then she got sick, and of course, it was hell. He wept openly, seeing her weaken and die all over again. He wept as she laid a ghostly hand on his shoulder, telling him she loved him before she went into the light.

    The figures faded, and the silent room was quiet for a moment longer. A soft susurration from the Lords and Ladies was followed by Myrtle standing, still wiping her eyes.

    ¡°There is no doubt the marriage was valid at the time of Gwen¡¯s passing to the Summerlands.¡± She said, and Gwen looked triumphant.

    ¡°Don¡¯t celebrate yet,¡± Karl warned. ¡°This is only half of the story.

    ¡°Let us see the rest,¡± A Lady called. ¡°The Accused first, please.¡±

    ==============

    This part really hurt as Bert watched his misery and loneliness play out.

    Bert watched his second life t, hearing laughter at his mistakes and seeing more than one tear among the Lords and Ladies as he kept talking to Gwen.

    They cheered his victories and booed his enemies, but he was distracted. As time went by, he noticed he talked to Gwen less and less often. He didn¡¯t notice at the time because it was busy, and he was often frantically terrified at the time.

    But it happened.

    Over time, he talked less and less often to his wife. He also noticed how he spent more and more time talking to Bell, laughing with Bell, and so on. It was only friendly, but was there a spark there that shouldn¡¯t have been?

    He didn¡¯t think so, but could he really be sure?

    Then he reunited with his wife, and his joy was clear to see. They thankfully skipped the actual ¡®reuniting¡¯ showing only the conversations. It felt strange to see it all over again. He still felt the same pain, but it was more distant now. A partially healed wound rather than a fresh one.

    It went on, focusing on his conversations with others about Gwen, until it came to the actual point of the trial, where he pushed Bell up against the wall of the impressive building.

    The images faded.

    ¡°And now the accuser!¡± A Lord called, and Bert felt himself sliding backward as Gwen moved forward.

    Gwen had wept as she crossed the rainbow bridge and wandered the Summerlands listlessly, spending most of her time watching Bert, her pain at his state written all over her face.

    A little over a month into her time on that side, she had seen a woman casting light balls and pretending to juggle. She approached her and started to try the same thing. Gwen¡¯s smile when she discovered her first magic was just the same smile he had seen so many times.

    She spent the next few months tracking down new spells, acquiring a series of pets along the way. She checked in on him constantly, always in pain at seeing him in such a state.

    Even after everything that had happened, it was nice to see her smile as she learned new spells, made friends, and gained confidence. When he ran into Felicia, she was watching; her rage was as clear to see as her smile had been.

    She cried and then cheered, then cried again as time passed. Finally, she tracked down a spell that would let her pierce the veil.

    She really was there, pointing him to the Waystation.

    Things sped up again, with everything continuing until the Fae discovered him. Gwen sat back in shock as she watched it happen, then turned and began to run.

    Her feet flew over the ground as she ran for days, arriving at a gate with a decoration of falling leaves blown in the wind.

    She spoke to the guards and was let in.

    Life in the Summerlands changed for her then. She lived in a palace, was waited on by servants, and trained with the best the Autumn Wind could offer. She blossomed, returning every now and then to those she learned from and bringing them gifts and spells. She danced at balls, made friends, and still, at first, she sat and watched him every day in her spare time.

    She used her new power more than once to reach through the veil and help him.

    Over time, she was busier, watching less and less as her new life caught more and more of her attention.

    She even became part of a crowd, handing out with them most days and laughing, chatting, studying together. It was nice to see.

    Then, a week between checking on him became two.

    Just as they approached the time when the two of them would finally meet again, she learned of the plans of the Autumn Wind to return to Earth. She spoke to friends about how much she was looking forward to showing all those she left behind her new power and titles.

    It was brutal to see their relationship die. It happened when a memory showed Lady Myrtle talking to Gwen, advising her to slow down and stay with Bert for a while. And Gwen really considered it.

    He saw the indecision on her face, but ultimately, the idea of more power, more levels, and a return to Earth won out.

    The final warning from Myrtle was that should she walk away from Bert now; he may not be there to walk back to,

    Gwen laughed.

    ¡°He¡¯ll always be there.¡± Gwen said, ¡°A guy like him gets a girl like me? They¡¯ll wait for you forever!¡±

    He looked over at Gwen, seeing her wince at the comment.

    After that, watching her say goodbye made so much more sense. As far as she was concerned, he would always be there. To settle for when she needed him again.

    He had to admit to a bit of fury flowing when he saw her laugh as Bell fell. And her anger as he fought his way to save Bell. She watched then, watched him suffer.

    Her face set in anger in misery the whole time she watched.

    ¡°I warned you,¡± Myrtle said in the memory. ¡°You changed much since you died. Did you really think he didn¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°He wasn¡¯t supposed to change,¡± Gwen said grimly. ¡°He was supposed to wait.¡±

    ¡°He did, Gwen.¡± Myrtle said gently, ¡°And then you left all over again.¡±

    ¡°I never wanted to lose him,¡± Gwen said simply. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want him right now.¡±

    ¡°Even in the land of the Fae, that¡¯s not how it works,¡±  Myrtle told her. ¡°It¡¯s not too late, you know. You can go to him.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Gwen pulled herself closer to the viewing portal. ¡°He still might die and join me here.¡±

    Gwen watched more after he recovered than she had in a long time, and everything she saw made her angrier. She complained to her friends that he was supposed to die, and she was sure he would.

    Now, if she went to see him, it would be obvious she let him suffer.

    No, she would wait, and it would be fine.

    Then, one night, she saw Bell move over and get into his camp bed. She watched all night, seeing nothing happened, but she was in a rage.

    When she met with him and the others, that rage, fear, and anger all poured out.

    She arrived back in the Summerlands, and the rage slowly left her.

    ¡°Go, fix it.¡± One of her friends told her the next morning. ¡°Tell them you are sorry, and get him back.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Gwen sniffed. ¡°I don¡¯t want him back now. He¡¯ll never look at me the same way.¡± She laughed and pretended not to care.

    But just once more, she looked.

    And she saw him press Bell up against the wall, and her patience snapped.

    The chair slid back, and Gwen and Bert returned to their platforms.

    The partition wall was only up for a moment before falling.

    ¡°It is with a heavy heart that I deliver this verdict,¡± Karl said. ¡°But I will do so.¡±

    He waved, and Bert and Gwen found themselves standing together in the center of the floor.

    ¡°The marriage between you two was strained by death but was broken as you both grew apart. You are not the people who married or even those you were at the time of Gwen¡¯s death.¡±

    ¡°But-¡± Gwen started only to be silenced.

    ¡°There was no crime, as the marriage was over before the incident, and you both knew that. This trial happened only because one of you regretted it more than the other.¡± His face grew grave as he sat, and Myrtle rose to her feet.

    ¡°Lord Hudson of the Court of the Travelling Lands, go forth from here with no mark against your good name. You are a single man, and your marriage to Gwen is dissolved.¡± She took a deep breath, ¡°Moreover, it is your right to demand sanction of Gwen for her false accusation.¡±

    Bert looked at Gwen, frozen in fear and rage.

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯m sad about what happened between us, but as Lord Karl said, we just grew apart.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Lord Hudson.¡± Myrtle smiled. ¡°Abstaining from punishment is a credit to you and your Lady.¡±

    ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call a show!¡± Was the last thing Bert heard before he found himself and Bell back where they had started.

    ==========

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Bert and Bell asked each other. Then laughed at the same time.

    ¡°Are you?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m better than okay,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°I know what happened, and it wasn¡¯t that bad.¡± He slid his hands around her waist. ¡°What about you?¡±

    ¡°If you ever let anyone say you''re single again, I¡¯ll rip your dick off!¡± Bell grinned and clicked her fingers, removing both their clothes. ¡°Okay?¡±

    ¡°Anything you say, dear.¡± He grinned as she wrapped her legs around him again.

 Chapter 73 - New Beginnings

    Bert and Bell rounded the corner, finding the front of the building dominated by a stone patio and ornate wooden columns rising to and supporting a decorative awning. The awning was made of thin wooden strips that were woven in a complex and intricate pattern.

    It had a few places where the delicate wood had given way over the years, with little evidence of what had caused the collapse. A few stains suggested it might have been Shells, but it was too faded to tell for sure.

    There were no windows on the ground floor; instead, there were wooden slats that seemed to have been able to open and close. It was all decorated with the flaky remains of various colors of paint. A path led away from the building and towards another sizeable covered area, now collapsed.

    Bert approached a set of wide, tall wooden doors that sat on tracks in the center of the wall. Dust-covered writing over the doors was too faded to read, but it seemed familiar. He grabbed one of the doors and pulled. It ground along the track about halfway before the warped wood, and bent runners caused it to jam in place.

    Bell got the other side of the door, which opened almost completely before it jammed. A dust-covered wooden floor was revealed, with a long, wide entranceway leading to a counter at the far end. A wide staircase to the higher floors was on one side, with a few large doors on the other.

    Bert started to get a bad feeling as they walked into the building, and from the way Bell drew closer to him, she did as well. His boots clomped across the floor as they drew closer to the counter.

    A faded book covered in leather lay on a small shelf behind the counter, and a broken quill rested in a dried-out inkwell next to it. Bert brushed the dust off the cover and heard Bell gasp.

    Waystation of the Valley

    Welcome Book

    ¡°Bert,¡± Bell said breathlessly. ¡°I think this is¡­.¡±

    ¡°A dead Waystation,¡± Bert finished for her. It hurt to say. His chest actually ached to be standing in this building, knowing what it once was.

    ¡°I always knew it could happen,¡± Bell said, her eyes filling with tears. ¡°All those years, I worried it would happen to Way Way and me¡­.¡± She sniffed. ¡°But to actually see it.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Bert clenched his fist as he leaned on the counter. ¡°It¡¯s so much worse to see it than we could have possibly imagined.¡±

    ¡°We have to find them!¡± Bell said, her voice almost panicked. ¡°The Spirit and the Caretaker. Put them in their rooms.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll try.¡± Bert nodded. ¡°If they are here, we¡¯ll find them.¡±

    ¡°Then we burn this place to the ground,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I mean, is that the right thing to do?¡±

    ¡°It feels right,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Then let¡¯s get searching,¡± Bert said. ¡°See if we can find out what happened to this place.¡±

    They searched the staff areas on the ground floor first. It seemed the most logical place to look for people like them. Because that is what they were doing, the pair that ran this place would have been just like them.

    It made Bert feel sick to imagine this end for Bell or Way Way.

    The kitchens were empty, and not just empty, but barren. Every cupboard and surface was cleared out. Not even a hint of food remained. From there, they went into the pantries, also finding them cleared of every last trace of whatever had been inside.

    There was no sign of whoever had occupied this place.

    ¡°Surely something this size must have had staff?¡± Bert asked Bell as they found yet another emptied storage room.

    ¡°Lots, probably,¡± Bell said sadly.

    From there, they searched the rest of the ground floor. It was impressive, in a sad kind of way. They found two restaurants and what appeared to be a dance hall, complete with a stage. From what they could see, there was no sign of so much as a stick of furniture remaining.

    Finally, they moved up the stairs, only to be met with some kind of improvised barricade. Chairs and tables were stacked up and jumbled together to create a wall that completely blocked off the stairway.

    They took a few minutes, carefully taking it apart; for some reason, they couldn¡¯t bring themselves to actually destroy any of it. It had been a part of the Waystation, and it still was. It would have felt like snapping the fingers off a corpse. They noticed a peculiarity here they never noticed downstairs.

    The center of the building had a stone pillar that seemed to rise all the way to the top of the structure. It wasn¡¯t structural, as the Waystations didn¡¯t need any such reinforcement since the entire structure, no matter what it looked like, was a single fused item.

    As they cleared the barricade, they found the first bodies. A couple held each other, their backs against the wall. A dust-covered glass was still clutched in their hands. Bert felt a shiver down his spine, memories of cult suicides on Earth flashing into his mind.

    His fears were realized as they continued through the rooms on the floor. It had apparently been the main guest floor, and every room was occupied. Singles, couples, whole families, you name it. They all lay in their beds or sat in chairs with dusty glasses in their desiccated hands.

    Bell turned back into a pixie halfway through the search, moving to sit on Bert¡¯s shoulder and silently observe as they continued their grim task. They found a few things in their search. An ornate shield here, a heavily ornate war hammer there. They left them all where they were.

    They climbed the stairs to the third floor with a heavy tread.

    It was the same as the previous floor, although the rooms here were bigger. The sun had found its way through the grimy windows, which somehow worsened the grim scenes. You were supposed to find skeletons and corpses in the dark, not in the sunlight.

    They still checked for any sign of the Caretaker and their Spirit. No matter how many heartbreaking scenes they found, they would not give up.

    Bert lingered at one last door before they mounted the stairs to the top floor. It was an opulent room, absolutely stuffed with furniture. A huge bed dominated the room, with two bodies in it. A woman, from the clothes, cradled a child in her arms, the glass in her hand still tipped to the child''s lips.

    A man stood at the foot of the bed in full armor, the expensive-looking suit still keeping his long-dead body upright after all this time. He had his hands around the hilt of a sword that was resting with its tip planted in the floor of the room.

    Whoever they were, their guardian had stood one last watch even as he died.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Bell said, her voice rough with tears, ¡°We have to go on.¡±

    They arrived at the top of the stairs to find a closed door marked ¡®Private¡¯ and ¡®Staff Only.¡¯

    When Bert pushed it open, Bell gasped.

    ¡°It¡¯s exactly the same as the one in the Bear¡¯s Fall,¡± She said, her voice breaking.

    She fluttered ahead of Bert. ¡°This would be Lily¡¯s room, and her sister, Rose, is here.¡± She pointed.

    They checked the rooms, finding a pair of long-dead goblins in one and what might have been a dwarf in another. Another three rooms held a pair of humans in each.

    Bell changed into human form and bowed her head before each one, thanking them for their service to their Waystation.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    Finally, Bert and Bell stood hand in hand before the final door. It would lead to the largest room.

    ¡°The Caretaker is either in there,¡± Bell said, ¡°Or they abandoned this place to die.¡±

    ¡°If they did, and they still live¡­ We¡¯ll find them.¡± Bert heard his voice shaking and tried to calm himself.

    ¡°If they did,¡± Bell nodded. ¡°They¡¯ll scream before we are done with them.¡±

    They pushed open the door with held breath.

    ¡°W-who¡¯s there?¡± A shaky voice called in the gloom of the large room.

    ¡°A Caretaker and Spirit from another Waystation,¡± Bell called.

    The light slowly rose in the room, and Bert stumbled to his knees as Bell began to weep.

    A single bed lay on the far side of the room, facing the door. A huge figure, long dead, lay in it. Standing before it, fighting to hold a short sword before him, was an extremely ancient-looking male half-pixie.

    Seeing the desolation on their faces, the old man dropped the sword and summoned an old chair with a click of his ancient fingers.

    ¡°Welcome to the Waystation of the Valley,¡± He said, tears rolling down his ancient cheeks. He looked out the slats at the sunlight. ¡°Is the mist finally gone?¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Bert said. ¡°We found its source and closed it.¡±

    ¡°We made it ¡®ole girl!¡± The man cackled, talking to the air above him. ¡°We outlasted it in the end.¡± He smiled. ¡°She can feel the sun again. She missed that.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll get you a new Caretaker!¡± Bell said, running over and placing a hand gently on the half-pixie''s shoulder. ¡°We have good people with us.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± The old man smiled. ¡°We don¡¯t want that. Either of us¡±

    ¡°Please?¡± Bell begged.

    ¡°No, but thank you.¡± The elderly man shook his head with determination. ¡°I¡¯ll not wait another lifetime to join my Caretaker again.¡±

    ¡°What happened here?¡± Bert asked, joining Bell next to the elderly half-pixie.

    ¡°One last tale before the fire, eh?¡± The Spirit laughed. ¡°A fitting way to end, yes.¡± He clicked his fingers, summoning a pair of large pillows. ¡°Sorry, that is the best I can do these days.¡±

    Bert and Bell sat on the pillows, holding hands as the old half-pixie began to talk.

    ¡°A few hundred years ago, this was mostly wilderness,¡± He smiled. ¡°My caretaker¡¯s father was a giant, an honest-to-the-gods giant. He and his tribe passed through, leaving a very pregnant village girl behind.¡± He gave a crooked smile. ¡°But he also left behind a lingering area of power, and when my Caretaker was almost grown and fleeing a group of invaders from the next village, she found it!¡±

    Bert and Bell exchanged a look.

    ¡°Yup,¡± He laughed. ¡°The fear and the powerful need for safety created an instant Waystation.¡± He winked. ¡°And instant pixie!¡± His face darkened for a moment. ¡°It was a long, hard fight, but we won with the old girl¡¯s help.¡±

    He looked up at the ceiling fondly for a moment.

    ¡°Anyway,¡± He continued. ¡°We started to build, and people came for shelter and protection. We were both young, and one thing led to another.¡± He held up his hands. ¡°I know it¡¯s rare, but it happened. We fell in love.¡±

    Bert squeezed Bell¡¯s hand.

    ¡°They found a good set of mines in the area, and over the next hundred years or so, the area became the main producer of sky metal. Everything was grand, and me and the missus got married properly.¡±

    ¡°She was over a hundred?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Oh yeah, her giant side gave her a very long life.¡± He looked over at the bed, ¡°Or it should have.¡± He paused. ¡°Anyway. A group of mages started doing some experiments on the metal, trying to find a way to improve it. Something went wrong, I guess. That is what Melissa thought, anyway.¡±

    ¡°Your wife?¡± Bell guessed.

    ¡°Yeah, she was a diamond for thinking things through,¡± He smiled fondly. ¡°This place was bloody huge and constantly packed when things went bad. When the mist came, everyone from the area came here.¡±

    ¡°But, even a Waystation can¡¯t fight mist,¡± Bell added grimly.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± The old Spirit sighed. ¡°We lost ground every day until we eventually lost the ground floor. We barricaded up and kept the lights burning. The station absorbed everything from down there, and we built up.¡±

    ¡°The barricade was still standing when we got here,¡± Bert told him.

    ¡°Good, but it didn¡¯t help. In the end, the mist got in, and we were running out of power. Those things were starting to form in the damn hallways, and we had to move the core of the Waystation higher and higher to maintain control.¡± The Spirit grimaced at the memory.

    ¡°The mist affected it?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yeah, the mist was seeping into the damn ground, where the station core was, so up it went. It wasn¡¯t long till she ended up here in the roof with the rest of us.¡± He looked up fondly again. ¡°Once we started to lose control of the second floor, we held a meeting. There was almost no food left, and we were losing.¡±

    ¡°You gave them all a choice,¡± Bell said grimly.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± The old Spirit sighed. ¡°Been through tough times yourself, eh?¡±

    ¡°I have,¡± Bell said. ¡°Bert saved us.¡±

    ¡°More we saved each other.¡± Bert smiled thinly.

    ¡°Good for both of you, then.¡± The man smiled. ¡°The choice was to try to make it on your own or go gently in here.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°A good number wanted to try and make it on their own, and they left to see what was left of the place. The rest, well. They all had a drink that ended it gentle and happy.¡±

    The half-pixie stared off into the distance for a while.

    ¡°Was that when Melissa went?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No, we held on as long as we could.¡± He smiled. ¡°Almost a year. Just the two of us in here. We could only control this room by then. She swore we¡¯d make it through till someone came.¡±

    ¡°But no one did,¡± Bert said quietly.

    ¡°Not for a long time,¡± The Spirit said. ¡°And one day, the station started to flicker out of mana. It kind of broke Melissa, feeling that.¡± He stopped. ¡°So she did the only thing she could.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bell yelled in horror.

    ¡°Yes,¡± The Spirit said grimly. ¡°She gave her life and all she had to the station.¡± A palpable wave of sadness rolled over the room, thick and heavy.

    ¡°I know. old girl, I know.¡± The Spirit said soothingly. ¡°You never wanted that.¡±

    ¡°Fucking hell.¡± Bert felt like he understood what she did and why. He would have done it if he had to. ¡°It was her responsibility, in the end.¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± The half-pixie laughed sadly. ¡°Her very words.¡± He turned to Bell, ¡°He¡¯s a good ¡®un.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bell said proudly.

    ¡°Anyway, I didn¡¯t exactly love the idea, but I respected it. Watching her go, well¡­ it damn near took me out.¡± He sniffed and wiped his eyes. ¡°But she gave me one last order. To make it through.¡± He clicked his fingers again, and a kind, warm voice filled the air.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you give in! Ever! You fight through till this ends, or I¡¯ll never forgive you! Beat this blasted mist just like we beat everything else!¡± The determination in the voice was awe-inspiring. ¡°I love you, my darling.¡±

    ¡°I recorded that and played it back every time I wanted to give in.¡± The half-pixie drew himself up. ¡°I woke up every day in this room and fought to keep this old girl alive one more day For years. For decades, and now, at last, I am done.¡±

    ¡°I have to ask,¡± Bell said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you teleport away when the mist hit?¡±

    ¡°Simple,¡± The Spirit laughed. ¡°Can only teleport to somewhere the station or Caretaker have been before. We never went anywhere, and Melissa wouldn¡¯t leave us, even for a day.¡± He sniffed. ¡°Besides, we would have had to leave everyone behind. Abandon our guests to the mists.¡±

    ¡°What can we do to help?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Is there anything?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± The old man sighed. ¡°Witness the decommissioning of this Waystation.¡±

    ¡°Whatever you need,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Meet me on the porch in a few minutes?¡± The old man asked. ¡°I want to take one last look around first.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be ready and waiting,¡± Bell pulled Bert up and out of the room.

    She explained what they needed to do for the Spirit and the Waystation as they hurried out of the building.

    ¡°I am ready. We are ready.¡± The old half-pixie had dressed in a faded suit and hat. He leaned heavily on a walking stick as he stood on the porch just beneath the sign above the door. He held a large silver broach in one hand.

    Bert knew where it had come from, having seen it on the body in the bed. It added another crack to his broken heart.

    Bert took a deep breath, steadying himself, and then nodded he was ready.

    The Spirit drew himself up, standing tall once more.

    ¡°All the guests have been served! All the Travellers have been sent in merry cheer along the roads of life! Our Caretaker has passed! The Station and the Spirit agree.  We seek to reunite in the next world! What say you?¡± The Spirit flickered, and a younger man stood in his place.

    Bert stepped forward with Bell on his shoulder.

    ¡°You were the light in the darkness. The warmth in the coldness of winter! When there was nowhere to go, you offered shelter! Your last table is served now, kind heart. Your last call has sounded.¡± Bert swallowed hard, and Bell joined her voice with his.

    ¡°Go now, and let the warmth and love you offered others now welcome you home that you may rest. Your duty is fulfilled, good soul. Rest now, for there is no work left to be done.¡±

    Bert and Bell stood back as a light began to flow over the Spirit and the Station itself.

    ¡°This Waystation is Closed!¡± They called together.

    Light flashed, and the Waystation was gone. A bare space now stood behind the high walls of the fence.

    ¡°It¡¯s done,¡± Bell gasped, and she and Bert hugged each other tightly. Then, they wiped their eyes and walked out of the ruined front gate.

    Bert and Bell held hands as they walked back to their own Waystation, already able to see the Express rolling back into its spot.

    Bert watched the faint signs of activity and smiled. It was a grim thing, finding that waystation almost dead. Closing it was almost worse in a bittersweet kind of way.

    ¡°What a day!¡± Bell sighed.

    ¡°Right?¡± Bert chuckled.

    ¡°Has to be some kind of record,¡± Bell said. ¡°You get put on trial, get divorced, get a new girl, and close a Waystation, all in one day.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a natural overachiever!¡± Bert winked.

    ¡°You better be,¡± Bell winked and giggled.

    There was a moment of silence as they walked together.

    ¡°Bert?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Yes, Bell,¡± Bert replied.

    ¡°I¡¯m still a pixie!¡± She tripped him and popped into pixie form, flying off laughing.

    ¡°Bell!¡± Bert pulled himself up and raced off after her.

 Chapter 74 - Change of Plans I

    Bud saw the Express idling at the drawbridge of the Waystation as he arrived back. He waved to a very grumpy-looking Wendy as he waved the Orcs over to help with the unloading.

    He could see Slothy¡¯s pet dwarf and one of the Half-pixie girls helping to hand a veritable stream of metal to the vines that dragged them inside. Scruff was ignoring all of this as she tried to get Wendy to talk.

    With a heavy sigh, Bud sped up his pace. That look on Wendy¡¯s face was very much like her father¡¯s.

    And it was not a happy look.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bud asked, looking her over and seeing no injuries or damage to her bone suit that stood next to her.

    Wendy just hugged him, crying.

    ¡°Okay, I know you¡¯re upset, but why?¡± Bud asked, pulling Wendy off him and looking her in the eye.

    ¡°I¡¯m not upset!¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°I¡¯m happy!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Bud asked. ¡°This is a lot of tears for happy.¡±

    Wendy laughed between sobs. ¡°I¡¯m pretty pissed as well,¡± She admitted.

    ¡°What did I miss?¡± Bud asked Scruff.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°She said something about her Dad getting divorced and then¡­¡± She waved helplessly at the mess that was Wendy.

    ¡°Bert got divorced?¡± Bud asked. ¡°Gwen¡¯s here?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Wendy sniffed. ¡°Mom flew by laughing and told me Dad got divorced; then he chased her into the Waystation.¡±

    Bud scratched the top of his bony head in confusion.

    ¡°I better go check-¡± He started.

    ¡°No!¡± They both yelled at him.

    ¡°What?¡± Bud asked, ¡°Are they fighting again?¡±

    ¡°Not fighting,¡± Wendy gagged. ¡°I went to find out what was going on and¡­.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Bud prompted.

    ¡°They were fucking,¡± Scruff said simply. ¡°She saw her parents having sex.¡±

    ¡°I take it this is upsetting?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Wendy shuddered.

    ¡°Ach, common, Lass!¡± Gavin called round the back of the Express, ¡°It couldnae be that bad, aye?¡±

    ¡°There were Multi-Bells involved!¡± Wendy hissed at him.

    Everyone was quiet for a moment after that.

    ¡°Let¡¯s, let¡¯s just unload the Express,¡± Scruff said hesitantly.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bud nodded and put an arrow past the orc brothers Mic and Ric as they tried to sneak up the Drawbridge. ¡°You two stay!¡±

    ¡°Just curious!¡± Mic grinned as Ric chortled.

    It took them over an hour to unload the Express, only for none of them to want to brave the drawbridge just yet.

    Wendy opened up the sides of the Express, and everyone got comfortable around the fold-out camp.

    ¡°You seemed to find a large amount of metal,¡± Bud broke the silence as he watched Tim try and copy the practice thrusts and strikes that Tru¡¯nal was doing off to one side.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Lily said shyly. ¡°We did pretty well.¡±

    ¡°We did amazing,¡± Wendy grinned at Lily. ¡°Our Lily is amazing at finding stuff!¡±

    ¡°How was the tower?¡± Scruff asked as she leaned back against Wendy¡¯s legs.

    ¡°Strange,¡± Bud admitted. ¡°I thought it was a bust at first, just a bunch of maps of areas we had already been¡­.¡± He trailed off.

    ¡°What?¡± Wendy asked, her eyes darting from the fire to pin Bud in place. ¡°You found something good?¡±

    ¡°I think so,¡± Bud grinned. Well, he felt happy. A grin was kind of guaranteed for him, as a skeleton. He pulled out a large, oiled leather map and a book bound in heavy leather.

    Unrolling the map on the wooden deck of the fold-out, Bud leaned back so the others could get a good look.

    Gavin whistled as he leaned over.

    ¡°Is this what I think it is?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°I think so,¡± Bud nodded.

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Scruff said. ¡°It¡¯s just a map?¡±

    ¡°No, lass.¡± Gavin shook his head, ¡°That is a WORLD map. It shows all the different land masses, ye ken?¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Scruff asked. ¡°I mean, nice, but who cares?¡±

    Bud put his hand on some faint lines that connected the various continents.

    ¡°What are those?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Gods Below!¡± Gavin scrambled over for a closer look, ¡°Tha¡¯s the Gateways, aye?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure what they are,¡± Bud admitted, ¡°But there is this,¡± He flipped open the book, placing it on top of the map. Pages of strange script were broken up by intricate diagrams showing a large structure, and in the center of that structure was a huge opening.

    Gavin reached out a hand, stroking the picture reverentially.

    ¡°So,¡± Bud asked. ¡°Which one of you wants to go get Bert and Bell?¡±

    Silence.

    ¡°Well, this is unusual,¡± a voice said from behind Bud.

    He spun, summoning his bow, and then lowered it.

    ¡°I did say we should announce ourselves,¡± Lowes said as he emerged from a shadow on the far side of the fire.

    ¡°I always prefer to arrive with style,¡± Reed countered. ¡°Besides, I have absolute faith in Captain Bud.¡±

    ¡°It has been a while,¡± Bud said. ¡°A pleasant trip?¡±

    ¡°Very,¡± Reed said smugly. ¡°I do hope our room is still available?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bud nodded.

    ¡°Excellent,¡± Lowes said, reaching back into the shadow he had slipped from, ¡°I¡¯m afraid we will need another if that is no trouble.¡± He leaned back, his hand now being held by the pudgy hand of the most cherubic-looking little toddler girl. The little blond curls bounced on her head as she stared around the fire before seeing Bud and giggling.

    ¡°You adopted a kid?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°In a manner of speaking,¡± Lowes said carefully.

    ¡°Incidentally,¡± Reed said, ¡°Are you aware a very powerful vampire is in the tree above us?¡±

    ¡°Hi, Dee!¡± Wendy waved up. ¡°This is Reed and Lowes, friends of Dads.¡±

    A faint breeze left Dee sitting next to Wendy, her eyes fixed on the toddler.

    ¡°You telling them, or should I?¡± Dee asked.

    ¡°Introductions!¡± Lowes laughed, ¡°Of course.¡± He smiled, ¡°Everyone, this is our charge, Betty.¡± He gestured to the girl. ¡°Betty, these are our friends.¡±

    ¡°Hi!¡± Betty waved energetically.

    ¡°You left a bit out,¡± Dee said, smiling kindly at the girl.

    ¡°He worries she will be judged harshly,¡± Reed rolled his eyes, ¡°Everyone, this is Betty, Death¡¯s daughter.¡±

    ¡°Because, of course, she is,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°Hey, Betty, want something to eat?¡±

    Betty gave a delighted noise and tottered over to Wendy, only to stop and stare at the suit of bone and muscle still standing next to the Express.

    ¡°Teddy?¡± She asked.

    ¡°No honey,¡± Reed pulled a horrific assemblage of bone and flesh from his spatial storage. ¡°Teddy is right here!¡±

    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Teddy!¡± She laughed and reached for it. There was a wet, squelching noise when she hugged it.

    ¡°Well,¡± Scruff sighed. ¡°She¡¯ll fit right in.¡±

    ¡°So what did we miss?¡± Reed asked, pulling the toddler onto his lap.

    ¡°And why are we all out here instead of in the Waystation?¡± Lowes asked, slipping in next to his husband.

    ¡°A lot,¡± Wendy said. ¡°And we are out here because my Mom and Dad are having loud, disgusting sex in there.¡± She jerked a finger at the Waystation.

    ¡°They got together?¡± Lowes asked, smiling.

    ¡°Just today,¡± Scruff confirmed. ¡°Apparently.¡±

    ¡°How about that?¡± Lowes beamed at Reed, who sighed and handed him a small pile of coins. ¡°Who could have seen that coming.¡±

    ¡°No one likes a poor winner,¡± Reed said. ¡°So, what happened?¡±

    Everyone looked at Bud, so he started recounting their adventures to the two assassins while ignoring the adoring looks he was getting from the toddler bouncing on their lap.

    ================

    ¡°Daddy!¡± A high-pitched voice woke Bert from a well-earned slumber. He opened his bleary eyes a fraction and paused. A fat baby with pixie wings was perched on his chest.

    ¡°Daddy!¡± He looked over to the side, seeing another one.

    ¡°Daddy!¡± Another one pulled at his arm.

    ¡°Oh, good you¡¯re up,¡± Bell said, looking exhausted. There are another five in the other room.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± Bert groaned. ¡°Where did they come from?¡±

    ¡°From what we did last night, of course,¡± Bell huffed. ¡°Now hurry up before I go into labor again.¡±

    Bert sat bolt upright,¡± Wait! What?¡± He caught the one off his chest as it started to tumble off. His hand passed right through it. ¡°Fuck sake, Bell!¡± He groaned as the little babies turned into smoke and drifted away.

    ¡°Your face!¡± Bell giggled, flashing back into pixie form and rolling around in the air, laughing at him. ¡°When I said the other five were next door, I swear you almost swallowed your tongue!¡±

    ¡°Ha!¡± Bert monotoned, ¡°Funny pixie!¡±

    ¡°You weren¡¯t complaining last night,¡± Bell stuck out her tongue and winked.

    ¡°No, I was not,¡± Bert grinned at her. ¡°Want to see if I complain this time?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­.¡±

    ¡°NO!¡± Wendy yelled from outside the door, making them both jump. ¡°I do NOT need to hear my PARENTS having SEX again!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll be right out!¡± Bert called sheepishly.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just talk to a Multi-Bell?¡± Bell whined.

    ¡°I can¡¯t even LOOK at a Multi-Bell!¡± Wendy said darkly.

    ¡°Ha ha, oops,¡± Bell flushed.

    Bert pulled open the door to his room in the Barn, heading into the common area to find it full. The group clustered around the table even included Reed and Lowes, who they hadn¡¯t seen for a while.

    ¡°Morning!¡± He called cheerfully while trying to ignore Bell, who was sitting on his shoulder whispering truly depraved things in his ear.

    Wendy caught his eye and stabbed a length of bacon hard enough to crack the plate.

    ¡°Sorry, we must have slept in a bit.¡± He grinned sheepishly, ¡°It was kind of a long day yesterday.¡±

    ¡°I hear you are recently divorced?¡± Lowes asked.

    ¡°You seem to be taking it well,¡± Reed grinned at Bell, who giggled.

    ¡°It was kind of a whole thing,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°But yes, me and Gwen are divorced now.

    ¡°But enough about that!¡± Bell said archly, ¡°Too bad, so sad, moving on!¡±

    ¡°How did everyone do yesterday?¡± He asked, pulling out a chair and grabbing a plate as Bell went pixie and simply started filling her plate by stealing off other people.

    He listened raptly to Wendy¡¯s enthusiastic report about her own adventures with Lily, Gavin, and Tim. Once she was done, Bert was grinning broadly.

    ¡°That is a lot of sky metal,¡± Bert said happily, ¡°I was thinking it was time to upgrade Way Way a little.¡±

    ¡°What happened with you two?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Maybe we should-¡± Bud started, but Wendy simply raised a finger.

    ¡°Well, it all started when your Dad decided to choose the middle of a wasteland to profess his love for me,¡± Bell rolled her eyes.

    ¡°I chose?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Hush, don¡¯t interrupt,¡± Bell said.

    Bell¡¯s version of events was creative and certainly a lot more dramatic. But she got all the major points across and was having a blast, so he didn¡¯t interrupt. In her version of events, they were star-crossed lovers, fighting their love for each other until they were unable to resist a moment longer. The entire Fae Court was apparently against their union until witnessing their love firsthand melted their hearts, and they blessed the match.

    ¡°And that all really happened?¡± Scruff asked, looking dubious.

    ¡°It did,¡± Bert nodded. It certainly made a more dramatic story than how he would have put it. Two people met and fell in love. All the rest? That was just insignificant detail.

    Bell beamed at him.

    ¡°Anyway, long story short,¡± Sha patted him on the head, ¡°He¡¯s mine.¡±

    ¡°Can I ask something?¡± Wendy added.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Can you two move upstairs, or at least try and keep it down.¡± She made gagging noises. ¡°And PLEASE close the damn door!¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Bert said. ¡°I guess we were a bit excited.¡±

    ¡°Now that everyone is caught up?¡± Bud cleared his nonexistent throat, ¡°I think I should explain what I found.¡±

    ¡°I see what you mean,¡± Bert said as they examined the book a few minutes later. ¡°It certainly looks like a gate of some form.¡±

    ¡°From what Gavin said, these gates used to link the continents, at least in legend,¡± Bud told him.

    ¡°Used to?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°They were lost, at least here in this continent,¡± Bud shrugged. ¡°The people who built them just weren¡¯t around anymore.¡±

    ¡°I think I can guess why,¡± Bert pointed to a few forms visible on the diagram of the gateway.

    ¡°Are they?¡± Bud peered closer.

    ¡°Gnork runes,¡± Bert said. ¡°I recognize the forms, even if they aren¡¯t the ones I have.¡±

    ¡°Do you think we can find the gate?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°No idea,¡± Bert sighed, ¡°But it can¡¯t hurt to look, right?¡±

    ¡°We can go and search the tower again as well,¡± Bud said. ¡°They had this much; maybe they also have a location.¡±

    ¡°Worth a try,¡± Bert agreed. ¡°I asked Wendy to take the Express and head over to the site of the old Waystation and grab the materials they left us; when they get back, we¡¯ll take Way Way over to the tower.¡±

    ¡°In the meantime,¡± Bud nudged the book over to Bert. ¡°Worth a try, eh?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert grinned, ¡°Worth a try.¡±

    Bert placed his hand on the book as Bud cleared away the map. With a deep breath, Bert reached for a skill he hadn¡¯t used in a very long time.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Bell called, ushering in Lily and Rose. ¡°I want them to see this.¡±

    Bert waited till she had them all in place, then started again.

    ¡°Reclaim Knowledge,¡± Bert said, his eyes closed.

    A prickling sensation started at his hand and reached up his arm. He frowned, pushing more mana into the spell.

    The sensation increased to a burning, his hand blackening where it touched the book.

    Bert took a deep breath, feeling the manatides flowing into him. The burning reduced to a prickle again. Bert poured more mana into the spell and felt a sensation like pushing against a great weight.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± Bert panted, ¡°It¡¯s fighting back.¡±

    ¡°So go all Fae Lord on it!¡± Bell called. ¡°It was obviously warded.¡±

    Bert laughed and cycled his tides faster, feeling the weight shift just a little. This thing was powerful. Even with his full surge tide hitting it every few seconds, it refused to give way.

    He had wanted to try this since he figured out how to do it, so¡­

    Bert held one hand out to his side, fingers splayed. He used that side of his body to pull a massive, constant Ebb tide. His other hand pressed firmly against the book, was pushed into a constant Surge tide. The mana flowed in one side of his body and was funneled through his knotwork, pressed into tighter and tighter knotwork until it rushed out of his hand like a firehose.

    The book trembled slightly but held.

    ¡°Bloody hell!¡± Bell said, ¡°That is a lot of mana!¡±

    ¡°Maybe this isn¡¯t a great idea?¡± Bud offered.

    Bert ignored them all, his entire focus on the book. He could drown the damn thing in mana if he connected to Way Way, but it felt too dangerous.

    Bert focused on the pull of mana, getting every extra drop he could out of the Ebb tide pouring into him. Once he was sure he could not pull so much as a drop more, he focused on the mana flowing through his knotwork. It compressed the mana, but maybe he could do better?

    Focusing on his knotwork, he willed it to squeeze the mana tighter, purify it more.

    Nothing.

    A crazy idea came to him, and without another thought, he focused on the point the mana was streaming out of him. A Turn rune blazed like a miniature sun the size of a single hair right at the exit point for his mana.

    In seconds, the mana coming from his hand was a spinning torrent, a whirlwind of power drilling into the book.

    A creak sounded, and then¡­ the world exploded.

    Bert woke up to the sound of a slow clapping noise.

    ¡°Bravo, idiot!¡± Bell said, keeping her slow clap going. ¡°You blew it up!¡±

    Bert opened his mouth to respond, onto to pause as a line of black ink swirled across his vision.

    ¡°Umm,¡± Was all he got out before his vision blacked completely, and he was lost in a sea of ink.

    Who are you?

    The words floated against a constantly shifting background of tiny writing.

    ¡°I¡¯m Bert, Caretaker of the Waystation and Lord of the Court of Travelling Lands,¡± Bert introduced himself.

    You are not the Keeper of the Knowledge.

    How did you open me?

    ¡°Brute force, honestly,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°We found this book in some ruins, and I used a spell called Reclaim Knowledge.¡± The writing swirled again. ¡°It took a bloody huge amount to open you, by the way.¡±

    Where is the Keeper?

    ¡°Not sure,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°The knowledge has been lost for a long time, apparently.¡±

    Why do you seek to cross the Gateway?

    ¡°Because I want to see it all,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°I want to explore everywhere in this world.¡±

    You seek knowledge?

    ¡°Yes, well, sort of.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Mostly, I just want to see it all, ya know?¡±

    You seek this forbidden knowledge, this great secret, just to look at things?

    ¡°And meet people,¡± Bert admitted, ¡°Maybe sell some meals or maybe a beer if our new dwarf can brew it.¡±

    You spent all that mana just to cross the gateway and maybe sell some beer?

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could make writing look so sarcastic,¡± Bert said flatly. ¡°How are you doing that?¡±

    There really is no Keeper?

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°Maybe they left through the Gateway?¡±

    This is puzzling.

    ¡°I suppose it must be,¡± Bert admitted.

    You are clearly an idiot, and yet you meet the criteria.

    ¡°Rude,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°But probably fair. What criteria?¡±

    You wanted the knowledge, and so I give it to you, Keeper of the Knowledge.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bart said carefully. ¡°Why do I feel like I am missing-¡±

    Bert gasped as his mind was flooded with images, ideas, and memories of a civilization he had never seen. They passed faster and faster through his mind until he was no longer even sure which was which.

    ¡°Ow.¡± Bert gasped as they finally stopped. ¡°That was a lot.¡±

    Book of Secrets

    Soulbound

    Indestructible

    Upgradable

    Contains designs, concepts, skills, and classes of a lost civilization.

    As Keeper of this book, you may use it, as well as allow others access.

    ¡°Well,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°It¡¯s never dull around here, is it?¡±

 Chapter 75 - Change of Plans II

    Searching the tower turned out to be primarily a waste of time. There was a considerable amount of old maps and a few more journals, all of which Bert could now read well enough to tell they were absolutely useless.

    Bert felt like he was covered in an inch of dust by the time they finished. He was leaning against the wall outside the tower while he got some fresh air and enjoying a fresh breeze in the evening air when he felt a faint thrum of energy run through the building.

    Looking up, he saw the bricks where he had been leaning were glowing with a faint blue light.

    Pressing a hand against them, he felt the thrum of mana running inside. He added a thin thread of mana, and the glow spread. With a slight frown, he did it again, noticing the glow was only covering one side of the building.

    As he continued to pour mana into the structure, he noticed the glow changed colors in some areas while remaining the same in others.

    Getting excited now, he poured even more mana into the faintly glowing stones. It took a good few minutes, but eventually, the whole side of the tower glowed with mana.

    The daylight was still bright enough to obscure the pattern, so Bert summoned a chair from his storage and sat down to wait.

    After a few minutes, Wendy walked over and sat down next to him, summoning her own chair.

    ¡°Hi,¡± She said.

    ¡°Hey, how¡¯s your day been?¡± He asked, his eyes flicking to her before returning to the tower.

    ¡°Insufferable,¡± She sighed. ¡°The book demanded its own room.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert laughed. ¡°What for?¡±

    ¡°It and I¡¯m quoting here, required a room for supplicants to appreciate its power.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°The third time it demanded a bigger lectern, Scruff threatened to mulch it.¡±

    ¡°Did it work?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°But it was fun watching it write swear words in dozens of different languages at her.¡±

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I know a lot has changed recently.¡±

    ¡°We have a daycare now,¡± Wendy pointed out. ¡°It is currently occupied by a gnork skeleton called Tim and a toddler called Betty, who is apparently death¡¯s daughter.¡± She huffed. ¡°It kind of makes your head spin.¡±

    ¡°Not exactly what I meant,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°I know,¡± Wendy said, looking up at the tower, ¡°I¡¯m glad you and Mom are together now,¡± She hesitated, ¡°But there is something bothering me.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Are you guys going to have kids?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°I-what?¡± Bert felt his brain short circuit.

    ¡°You know, kids.¡± She waved vaguely, ¡°Baby pixies, or half pixies, or whatever.¡±

    ¡°No plans,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I guess I never really thought about it. Why?¡±

    ¡°If you have proper kids, what happens to me?¡± She asked.

    ¡°What do you mean proper kids?¡± Bert asked. ¡°You¡¯re our proper kid.¡±

    ¡°I mean,¡± She gave him a look, ¡°Kids from birth.¡±

    ¡°How are they any different from you?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I was never a kid, you know that,¡± Wendy said. ¡°I was an accident.¡±

    ¡°Listen,¡± Bert tried to keep his voice calm. ¡°You are my PROPER daughter. It doesn¡¯t matter HOW you were born. You are my daughter, mine, and Bell¡¯s. End of story. Nothing changes that, ever.¡±

    ¡°You look pissed off,¡± Wendy said, wincing.

    ¡°I am,¡± Bert admitted carefully. ¡°If anyone else said you weren¡¯t my proper daughter or called you an accident¡­ I think I¡¯d kill them.¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Wendy sighed. ¡°It¡¯s silly, but I worry, you know?¡±

    ¡°Well, stop.¡± Bert laughed. ¡°You are the best thing ever, so stop thinking anything will change that?¡±

    ¡°Even if I become a serial killer?¡± Wendy joked.

    ¡°Just try and get the bodies to Scruff for her garden,¡± He smiled. ¡°Becoming a serial killer doesn¡¯t mean you can be messy.¡±

    They sat in silence for a bit.

    ¡°Thanks, Dad,¡± Wendy said eventually. ¡°I guess I can be a bit of an idiot sometimes.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault,¡± Bell said, zipping over and plopping herself down on Bert¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You get that from your father.¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Every bit of it.¡±

    ¡°The killing,¡± Bell admitted. ¡°That¡¯s probably more from me.¡± She grinned. ¡°We¡¯re a very stabby family.¡±

    ==================

    Scruff watched Lily and Rose arguing again while she was teasing a particularly promising new metal bloom. It was almost right. The petals were fine-grade steel but not quite at sky metal levels yet.

    She nursed the little flower along. She now needed to cross-breed with a mana-heavy plant to push it over the edge. The only problem was that the most mana-heavy plants she had were all in the shed.

    The floating flower creatures were¡­ fascinating, but they were also voracious. The large flowers that made up their bodies were absolutely filled with mana, while their delicate roots beneath trailed through the air, looking for food.

    And they would literally eat anything. That was why they were kept in the shed. The Waystation fed them pure mana directly, and so far, she had been unable to take even a single one of them for cross-breeding without the little bugger draining the other plant before she could finish the process.

    They were darlings; they just had self-control issues.

    Watching Rose sneer at Lily, Scruff knew how her plants felt. It took everything she had not to send a stray tendril off to Rose and tear her apart.

    Her other life, the one on the streets of a shitty city, was still with Scruff. She had seen enough people like Rose to last her a lifetime.

    Seeing Rose spit at Lily and stomp off back towards the central part of the Waystation, Scruff snapped a little.

    She pulled the little plant up by the roots. It was close but nowhere near what she needed.

    Another failure.

    She strode over to the shed and threw the little plant to her floating friends. They always appreciated her failed experiments.

    ¡°Sorry if we distracted you,¡± Lily said behind her.

    ¡°You can¡¯t let her treat you that way,¡± Scruff said as kindly as she could, turning to frown down at the little half-pixie. ¡°It never ends until you make them respect you.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Lily looked forlorn, ¡°I just keep hoping she will snap out of it.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to snap out of,¡± Scruff shook her head, ¡°This is just how she is.¡±

    ¡°You talk like you¡¯ve been there?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Yup.¡± Scruff grinned savagely. ¡°And I learned the hard way, too.¡±

    ¡°So, telling me my sister is a hopeless case, is you being nice?¡± Lily asked.

    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°I never said hopeless, and no, it was me being bitchy.¡± Scruff grinned. ¡°If I was nice, I would have waited till there was no one around and fed her to my plants.¡±

    ¡°I think we may have different definitions of nice,¡± Lily said tactfully. ¡°But you think there is hope?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s always hope.¡± Scruff grinned.

    ¡°You¡¯re pretty scary, you know that?¡± Lily offered.

    ¡°Me? I¡¯m just the farmer,¡± Scruff laughed. ¡°It¡¯s the stuff I grow that gets scary.¡±

    ¡°No, it¡¯s definitely you,¡± Lily said. ¡°But what can I do to help my sister?¡±

    ¡°Just still be there when she comes to you,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°Because she is going to need a sister when she does.¡±

    ¡°Do you think she will?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°I know she will,¡± Scruff bent down to tend a small tendril, just starting to poke its head above the soil.

    ¡°How do you know?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Have you seen all those little blue flowers all over the Waystation?¡± Scruff asked Lily.

    ¡°Yeah, they¡¯re really pretty,¡± Lily said.

    ¡°They see you, too.¡± Scruff grinned. ¡°And they have just seen your sister sneak into the Barn and the Book of Secret¡¯s room.¡±

    Lily went pale.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, kid.¡± Scruff grinned as a shriek came from over the walkway. ¡°Bell wasn¡¯t born yesterday.¡±

    A Multi-Bell appeared next to Scruff with a little ¡®Pop¡¯ noise.

    ¡°Bell wants the girl held until she is done with family time,¡± It said and flew over to pet a flower.

    ¡°Got it,¡± Scruff nodded as a bunch of vines exploded out of the ground next to her and rapidly reached across. ¡°And got her.¡± Scruff smiled as the vines dragged the struggling Rose back over the bridge and hung her upside down in front of the cottage.

    ¡°Please, don¡¯t hurt her,¡± Lily sighed. ¡°She¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s family, I get it.¡± Scruff said lightly. ¡°And don¡¯t worry. Bert and Bell are really good at creative punishments.¡±

    Scruff kept an eye on Lily while Rose blustered, threatened, and cajoled to be let down. It was almost laughable.

    Lily¡¯s pleading voice, however, was setting Scruff¡¯s teeth on edge. Had she sounded that pathetic when she begged her friend to change?

    She looked up when she heard a happy whistling noise she recognized as Bell contemplating something violent.

    ¡°Hey, Scruff,¡± Bell waved happily. ¡°Come over with me?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Scruff wiped the mud off her hands and patted the Waystation''s ground in thanks before standing up.

    ¡°Way Way really likes that you do that,¡± Bell said, a faint whooshing noise accompanying her change to human-sized as she dropped to the floor.

    ¡°Well, they always give me a hand when I¡¯m working,¡± Scruff just shrugged.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bell said as she led them over to the struggling Rose. ¡°It¡¯s weird; they don¡¯t normally do that with people not bound to them.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a farmer,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°We kind of have our own bond with our land, I guess.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bell gave her a look. ¡°More than you know.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Nothing!¡± Bell smiled happily. ¡°Now, what are we going to do with you, little Rose?¡±

    ¡°I was tricked!¡± Rose said immediately. ¡°Lily asked me to get her the book! I thought I was just doing the right thing!¡±

    Lily just gaped at her sister.

    Bell laughed and reached out a hand to shut Lily¡¯s mouth for her.

    ¡°Next?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°What?¡± Rose blanched. ¡°Next what?¡±

    ¡°Excuse, lie, apology, your choice.¡± Bell¡¯s cold smile even gave Scruff the willies, and she wasn¡¯t the one in trouble. At least, she didn¡¯t think so.

    ¡°You can¡¯t make me say anything!¡± Rose said at last. ¡°I¡¯m not under your control, not anymore.¡±

    ¡°Very true,¡± Bell said happily. ¡°But you are under my protection.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m in your Court; you have to protect me.¡± Rose smiled smugly. ¡°I know that much.¡±

    Bell laughed long and hard.

    ¡°Oh honey, where did you get that idea?¡± Bell said at last.

    ¡°I was told¡­¡± Rose trailed off, looking uncertain.

    ¡°By the Wild Fae?¡± Bell asked. ¡°The ones not in a Court?¡± She added sweetly.

    ¡°But¡­¡± Rose started.

    ¡°I can do what I like to you, little one. You are a member of my Court, and I can skin you alive for shits and giggles if I like.¡±

    Lily went even paler and opened her mouth to beg, but Bell simply put her hand over Lily¡¯s mouth.

    ¡°Or maybe I should do it to Lily instead while you watch?¡± Bell said, her voice almost feral.

    ¡°What?¡± Rose demanded. ¡°Don¡¯t you touch her!¡±

    ¡°You or her. Your choice.¡± Bell said in a voice so cold Scruff felt her blood run cold. What the fuck? Bell was never¡­. And then Scruff started to smile.

    ¡°What are you smiling for?¡± Rose asked, aghast.

    ¡°I¡¯m just looking forward to the show,¡± Scruff laughed.

    ¡°Choose now, or I do it to both of you,¡± Bell said nastily.

    ¡°Lily!¡± Rose screamed, ¡°Skin her, not me! I choose Lily!¡±

    ¡°Wow,¡± Scruff shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s fucking cold.¡±

    Bell turned to the trembling Lily and forced her to face her sister.

    ¡°I was never going to skin someone,¡± Bell said in Lily¡¯s ear. ¡°But I wanted you to see her, really see her. When push came to shove, she chose herself.¡±

    ¡°I knew it was a trick!¡± Rose protested.

    ¡°Shut up, Rose,¡± Lily said quietly. ¡°Just for once, shut up.¡±

    ¡°Run along and keep Bert and Wendy company, Lily,¡± Bell said. ¡°They get crazy ideas if you leave them alone too long.¡± Lily hesitated, ¡°Go on, I won¡¯t hurt her, I promise.¡± Bell said with a kind smile.

    ¡°Yes, Bell.¡± Lily sighed and walked off towards the bridge with a heavy tread.

    ¡°Poor kid,¡± Scruff said, watching her go.

    ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Bell said dismissively. ¡°She¡¯s got plenty of people to look after her now.¡±

    They watched Lily climb the stairs and vanish over the bridge.

    ¡°Now!¡± Bell turned to Scruff and put a hand on Scruff¡¯s shoulder. ¡°For this next part, I want you to know something.¡±

    ¡°Okaay,¡± Scruff felt a little nervous. At that moment, something in Bell¡¯s eyes truly terrified her.

    ¡°You are not just our friend or even just like a daughter to us. You are the woman my daughter loves, and it is very important that you know how much you mean to us.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to like the next bit, am I?¡± Scruff said, fighting back tears from what Bell had just told her.

    ¡°Not even a little bit,¡± Bell said. ¡°And you can not tell anyone what I am about to do, ever!¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Scruff winced as Bell turned away and grabbed Rose around the neck. She closed her eyes as Bell pulled Rose out of the vines.

    There was a distinct lack of neck-breaking noises over the next few seconds, so Scruff risked opening one eye.

    Bell was hugging Rose to her tightly. She was stroking the girl¡¯s hair and rocking her gently as Rose sat frozen and terrified.

    ¡°Now, Rose,¡± Bell said at last. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry for the life you had to live before you came here. It was hard and nasty and horrible.¡± She pulled Rose in for another hug. ¡°But! That doesn¡¯t mean you can become just as nasty, hard, and heartless as that life was.¡± She stroked Roses¡¯ hair. ¡°We live forever, and the way you are going, it''s going to be a very long and horrible life. Also, a lonely one.¡±

    ¡°I can change!¡± Rose said, ¡°I will! I¡¯ll change right now!¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bell said softly. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± Bell wiped a tear from Rose¡¯s cheek. ¡°Not as you are now. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m going to have to break you into itty bitty pieces, and then we can build you back up into someone nice. Okay?¡±

    ¡°Break me? You¡¯re going to kill me?¡± Rose asked, horrified. ¡°Torture me?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bell laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not going to harm you.¡± The laugh died suddenly. ¡°I¡¯m going to break your mind down until all the nasty is gone.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Scruff asked with a fascinated horror.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to make her into that servant she so desperately wanted to be.¡± Bell grinned. ¡°You are going to do everything anyone tells you to do, not because of some oath,¡± Bell laughed a wicked little laugh, ¡°But because of what I will do to you if you don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°What-what will you do?¡± Rose asked, proving herself both stupider and braver than Scruff had ever given her credit for.

    ¡°Scruff,¡± Bell said, standing up and carrying the Half-Pixie one-handed with no apparent effort. ¡°We need to see the Shed.¡±

    ¡°Uh,¡± Scruff felt her blood drain. ¡°It is kind of occupied.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Bell said, walking across the fields.

    Scruff noticed every plant move aside for her as she walked and felt the shivery feeling of goosebumps covering her body,

    The plants didn¡¯t even do that for her.

    Scruff ran to catch up but was too late. Bell threw the door open to the teeming flowers.

    Scruff froze in shock as they all simply¡­ floated there. Not one tried to escape or to feed.

    ¡°What are they?¡± Rose asked.

    ¡°Here, let me show you,¡± Bell said. She reached out a hand, and one of the floating plants came forward, its roots pale and wispy as they reached for Rose.

    A stream of mana was pulled from Rose at once, who shivered and groaned.

    ¡°This is what I will do,¡± Bell said as the flower kept feeding. ¡°I¡¯ll leave you in there, and they will feed on you, over and over and over. Forever.¡±

    ¡°Please!¡± Rose struggled uselessly. ¡°Stop it.¡±

    Bell flicked her hand, and the plant stopped immediately, floating back to join the others. She closed the door and threw Rose to the floor at Scruff¡¯s feet.

    ¡°You work for Scruff now,¡± Bell said sweetly. ¡°Now, remember, they are always hungry and always there.¡±

    Rose nodded frantically, clinging to Scruff in terror.

    ¡°Where did those things come from?¡± She asked Bell.

    ¡°She made them,¡± Bell said, pointing fondly to Scruff.

    Rose scrambled away from Scruff as if she was on fire.

    ¡°How long?¡± Rose asked. ¡°How long until I can go back to be with Lily?¡±

    ¡°Until you are a good person who appreciates her sister,¡± Bell said. ¡°If that is a week or a century is really up to you.¡±

    Rose scowled, only to scream as the door to the shed flew open. She ran for the cottage as it drifted slowly closed.

    ¡°That was¡­ terrifying,¡± Scruff said to Bell.

    ¡°Never fuck with a pixie,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°Our dark side is so deep you¡¯ll drown before you even reach the bottom.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Scruff said. ¡°Good to know.¡± She swallowed, her mouth dry.

    Bell clapped her hands, and the darkness in her seemed to vanish like the sun came out from behind a cloud. ¡°Now, let¡¯s go see what Bert found at that tower.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Scruff said. ¡°I¡¯d love to be around other people right now.¡± And not just alone with you, she added to herself.

    ¡°Hah!¡± Bell laughed. ¡°Scaredy cat, if that scared you, just wait until you piss my daughter off!¡± She winked at Scruff. ¡°I have decades of practice dealing with my anger and am not partly a massive steel death machine!¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± Scruff laughed. ¡°Luckily, I don¡¯t plan to piss her off.¡±

    ¡°Aww, that¡¯s adorable!¡± Bell laughed. ¡°As if it¡¯s up to you.¡±

 Chapter 76 - Change of Plans III

    As darkness fell, the pale glow on the tower showed more and more. It took hours, but in the end¡­ it was worth the wait.

    A mountain, blocky and pixelated by the brickwork but recognizable, shone at the top of the tower. From there, a winding path led down deep into the earth. The bottom of the tower showed a gateway, shining pale and ghostly against the darkness.

    Bert acted on instinct, entering the tower and running up the central stairs all the way to the very top. Sure enough, the tower¡¯s top room had but a single window.

    Dead center of the window, a darker shape against the darkness that settled as night fell completely, was the mountain from the image.

    Bert laughed and slapped the stones next to the window, knocking a bit off in his enthusiasm.

    They had a new destination, and a whole new continent awaited them.

    He hummed happily to himself as he trotted back downstairs, the excitement bubbling away in his chest.

    It was always the way. The feeling of starting off on a big trip somewhere, even as a kid.

    Bert remembered trips as a child with his parents. He got the feeling then, as well. That sense of new horizons and endless possibilities.

    Back then, on the other side of the world from the England he had left, his parents had always insisted on leaving before sunrise. Planners to the point of obsession, they would get the family up hours before dawn and bundle them all into the car.

    Bert remembered the chill morning air, the stars passing overhead as they drove, and he lay in the backseat, watching them pass. He was supposed to be sleeping, of course. Just like he was supposed to have had a bedtime the night before.

    He could never sleep, though. He lay awake for hours, the excitement making him unable to even lay still. They were going traveling, and there was no way he could sleep.

    So he lay there, watching the stars pass overhead, waiting for the first rays of sunlight, and pretended he was going on some epic adventure in another world. In his own mind, he was an explorer out of legend, traveling to unseen lands and finding secrets no one had ever even considered before.

    At least for a couple of hours.

    Once the sun rose, he would sit up, pretending to have just woken, and his mother would hand him a roast beef and mustard sandwich. It was always the same sandwich, and even as he grew older and moved half a world away, his childhood dreams long gone¡­ the taste of a roast beef and mustard sandwich could always make him smile. Just for a moment, as he took that first bite, he was back in the car on those long drives¡­ and the world was a place of mystery and magic again.

    He immediately added the search for mustard to the top of his to-do list for when they made it to this new continent.

    Here in this world, the mystery and magic were very real, and he couldn¡¯t wait to bundle his new family into the Waystation and get started.

    Bert practically exploded from the door to the tower, making Wendy and the others jump.

    ¡°Sorry!¡± He laughed, not really sorry in the slightest. His blood was on fire.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bell asked, looking around them.

    ¡°Nothing!¡± He grinned, leaping across the ground, sweeping her into his arms, and dancing around with her held against him. ¡°There is a whole new continent out there, and I just found the way to get there!¡±

    Bell laughed and danced with him. He watched her eyes sparkle in the light of the stars as she laughed with him, felt her body pressing against him, the warmth of her, the scent of soil and magic telling him she had been in Scruff¡¯s fields.

    He winked at her and pulled her in for a kiss.

    The bone-aching groan from Wendy was enough to prevent things from progressing further, at least for now.

    ¡°I think I preferred it when you guys were fighting,¡± Wendy said. ¡°This whole loved-up newlyweds bit is even worse.¡±

    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Bert laughed, yanking Wendy up to dance with him and Bell. ¡°We are off to explore a new land! It¡¯s fun.¡± He stopped dancing, spinning Wendy to stand facing the spot where the distant mountain lay hidden in the darkness.

    ¡°Image this. You¡¯re sitting in the Express, Scruff at your side, and you rumble down the ramp, the treads hitting the ground on a new continent. The ground vanishes beneath your treads as you set out into a complete unknown. Anything could be out there, and somewhere is something no one has EVER seen before. All you need to do is find it, and for the rest of time, that spot will forever be yours. Yours and Scruff¡¯s. Your own private, personal discovery.¡±

    ¡°Holy shit,¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°Right?¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°When do we leave?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Now!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°I just need to make some sandwiches!¡±

    ¡°Sandwiches?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Wendy nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but it feels right.¡± She grinned. ¡°I¡¯m coming with!¡±

    Bert and Wendy dashed off towards the Waystation, a father and daughter racing through the night laughing.

    ===============

    Lily put the huge pile of sandwiches down in front of the snoring Slothy in total confusion.

    None of this made sense, and she didn¡¯t really want to wake the sleeping giant. Fortunately, that wasn¡¯t a problem as the giant Sloth Bear¡¯s nose twitched a few times, and then a long tongue snapped up a sandwich and dragged it into her mouth.

    She chewed with every sign of enjoyment but did not, in fact, wake.

    ¡°Ya alright there, Lass,¡± Gavin said from the darkness, making Lily jump. ¡°She¡¯ll no be waking up soon.¡± He patted Slothy as he emerged from the gloom. ¡°She¡¯s got a wee bit of rest ta catch up on, ya ken?¡±

    ¡°Is she¡­ okay?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Better than both of us!¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°Ya should a seen her out there; she handled the bastards by the dozens, nae bother.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± Lily remembered suddenly, ¡°I have sandwiches for you, too.¡± She pulled another plate from her storage ring. ¡°I have no idea why, but apparently, going on a big trip means everybody has to have sandwiches.¡±

    ¡°Oh, aye?¡± Gavin took the plate happily. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll no be turning down a snack.¡± He smiled. ¡°Care to join me?¡±

    ¡°Uh, sure,¡± Lily said, pulling her own plate of sandwiches out. She had been planning to eat them alone in her room; company would be nice.

    ¡°This way,¡± Gavin said, leading her back to a small partition that hid a table, chairs, and a dwarf-sized bed. ¡°Help yer¡¯self,¡± He gestured to the other chair.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Lily sat and found the chair was actually a very comfortable height for her. ¡°Is this your place?¡± She asked diplomatically.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Gavin sighed. ¡°The beastie there likes to keep me close.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Lily said, then blushed. ¡°Sorry, I guess you might not feel that way.¡±

    ¡°I didnae like it much at first,¡± Gavin said thoughtfully, munching on a sandwich. ¡°But now,¡± He shrugged. ¡°It seems almost normal compared to this lot,¡± He laughed.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you miss your people?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Na,¡± He smiled, ¡°I don¡¯t have a family, lost em all in the ant wars, ye ken?¡±

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lily said. ¡°Were you married?¡±

    ¡°Married!¡± Gavin almost choked on his food. ¡°How ol¡¯ do ya think I am?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure, maybe thirty?¡± Lily tried to be polite.

    Gavin stared at her in horror.

    ¡°I¡¯m seventeen!¡± He said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll no be lookin¡¯ thirty, thank ya ver¡¯ much!¡±

    ¡°But,¡± Lily protested, trying to defend herself, ¡°You have a beard.¡±

    ¡°Aye!¡± Gavin said. ¡°I¡¯ve had a beard since I was ten, like any good dwarf!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lily said, looking down at her plate to avoid his insulted look. ¡°I¡¯ve never met a Dwarf before.¡±

    ¡°Oh, aye?¡± Gavin said, smoothing his beard, ¡°That¡¯ll be it then. I look ver¡¯ good for ma age, by dwarf standards. Ye just never seen a dwarf before. Aye.¡±

    They ate in silence for a few minutes.

    ¡°I better go and deliver the other sandwiches,¡± Lily excused herself. ¡°Thank you for sharing a meal with me.¡±

    ¡°My pleasure,¡± Gavin said stiffly. ¡°Uh, thanks for coming, aye?¡±

    As Lily hurried out, she heard Gavin muttering to himself about doing more exercise and getting more sleep.

    She managed to keep herself from laughing until she was out of the area, just.

    Lily went to deliver Scruff some sandwiches, but it seemed Wendy had already done so, and was still there if the noises coming out of the cottage were anything to go by.

    And she thought her Mum and Dad were loud.

    Lily blushed furiously as she hurried across the fields towards the figure at the far end. She didn¡¯t even understand what some of those sounds WERE.

    Approaching her sister, she paused, looking over her shoulder and up at the lights shining from the control tower. Bert and Bell were up there. She felt better just seeing the light.

    It was strange how much she could come to rely on people she had not even known a month ago.

    Steeling herself, she forced a smile on her face and went over to her sister, who was weirdly just sitting on a small wall around one of the fields.

    ¡°Hi, Rose. I brought you some sandwiches.¡± She said brightly.

    ¡°What?¡± Rose said, her eyes never leaving the shed she was staring at.

    ¡°Bert and Bell wanted everyone to have some sandwiches, so I brought you some.¡± She said brightly.

    ¡°They did?¡± Rose asked, taking the plate and sniffing it. ¡°Everyone has to eat them?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about has to.¡± Lily rolled her eyes. ¡°They just said to take them to everyone.¡±

    ¡°Better not to risk it,¡± Rose sighed and began to mechanically eat the sandwiches.

    ¡°What are you doing out here, anyway?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°There are monsters in there,¡± Rose said simply, gesturing to the shed. ¡°The Farmer made them.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Lily said. She could believe it. Scruff¡¯s fields were terrifying. Lily could not possibly imagine what she felt it necessary to hide away. ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°So, I don¡¯t think I want to stay here,¡± Rose said simply. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Lily said. ¡°And you have nowhere to go.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m leaving,¡± Rose said, standing up. ¡°Now.¡±

    ¡°Rose,¡± Lily sighed. ¡°Stop it.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to come with me,¡± Rose said cooly. ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t want you to come.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Lily said.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Rose said.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Lily agreed.

    ¡°You¡¯re really not coming?¡± Rose checked.

    ¡°I¡¯m really not coming,¡± Lily confirmed. ¡°I like it here.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not even a person to them,¡± Rose said. ¡°You¡¯re a pet.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still staying,¡± Lily said stubbornly.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Rose said. ¡°Stay here and be their little pet half-pixie bitch! I hope you are very happy together.¡±

    ¡°We are leaving the continent, Rose,¡± Lily said flatly. ¡°If you storm off, you won¡¯t be able to come back.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Rose sneered. ¡°I just need some supplies, and I¡¯m gone.¡±

    They both jumped as a pack rose out of the ground.

    Lily pulled it open and laughed.

    ¡°What?¡± Rose asked.

    Lily showed Rose the contents of the pack. It was clothes, armor, weapons, food, water, and even a huge amount of money.

    It also had a note.

    Dear Rose,

    If you want to go, go. We will not stop you.

    Be careful, don¡¯t get into trouble that you can¡¯t

    Get out of.

    When you are ready to come back, come find us.

    Remember, you always have a place here.

    Bell.

    ¡°They are just letting me go?¡± Rose asked. ¡°With a bunch of treasure?¡±

    ¡°Seems like it,¡± Lily said. ¡°Sure you don¡¯t want to stay?¡±

    ¡°Come with me,¡± Rose said quietly. ¡°With twice this amount of money, we could be set for life!¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Lily said. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but no.¡±

    Rose stared at her for a moment before she picked up the bag, walking towards the bridge to the main part of the Waystation.

    Lily stayed with her all the way up to the drawbridge. It dropped as the Waystation came to a brief stop.

    Rose strode down it, looking back at Lily once, and then, with a wave, she ran off into the night.

    Lily watched the drawbridge close, feeling the Waystation start to rumble forward again before she turned and walked through the Bear¡¯s Fall and up the many stairs to her room right at the top.

    She paused outside her sister¡¯s door for a long moment before pushing into her own room.

    She stood there, feeling lost until a ¡®Pop¡¯ sound heralded the arrival of a Multi-Bell. She opened her mouth to ask if they needed anything, but the Multi-Bell just shushed her and changed into a human form.

    She hugged Lily, and Lily felt herself begin to cry.

    She clung to the Multi-Bell and cried until she was too tired to even think.

    It tucked her into bed and stroked her hair while she fell asleep.

    Her last thoughts were that Multi-Bell or not, she had gotten more love and affection from Bell in the last few hours than she did from her sister their entire lives.

    ==============

    Bert chewed the last of his Sandwiches as he watched the figure of Rose disappear into the darkness behind them.

    ¡°I¡¯m not a huge fan of leaving her out here alone,¡± He admitted.

    ¡°You would rather she was a prisoner?¡± Bell asked. ¡°Cause that was the other option.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m still worried,¡± Bert said. ¡°Should we wait a few days? See if she changes her mind?¡±

    ¡°Fine!¡± Bell huffed. ¡°But she won¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°When we get to the mountain, I can take some time to upgrade Way Way,¡± Bert said. ¡°Kill two birds with one stone.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked. ¡°What do birds have to do with it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just a saying from Earth,¡± Bert said. ¡°It means to accomplish two things with one action.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Bell said. ¡°Because that is not the way to kill birds.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, not really got anything to do with birds,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°I mean, who kills birds with rocks anyway?¡± Bell asked. ¡°That¡¯s just weird.¡±

    ¡°Like I said,¡± Bert said, frowning, ¡°It¡¯s just a common expression.¡±

    ¡°Your people have something against birds?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just-¡±

    ¡°Fucking freaks throwing rocks at perfectly innocent birds,¡± Bell went on.

    ¡°That¡¯s not. I mean, people don¡¯t.¡± Bert said.

    ¡°The saying had to come from somewhere!¡± Bell said indignantly. ¡°Birds are pretty, and you dicks throw rocks at them!¡±

    ¡°Bell,¡± Bert shook his head. ¡°That isn¡¯t the point.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Bell crossed her arms. ¡°The poor birds!¡±

    ¡°Fusk sake, Bell.¡± Bert snapped. ¡°No one hurt the birds!¡±

    ¡°You so much as pick up a rock near a bird, I¡¯ll be watching!¡± Bell said sharply.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°Watch as close as you like.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Bert said a few hours later. He was looking at the huge archway cut into the base of the mountain. It was still here, even after all this time. It was made of some heavy stone with silvery glints shining in the early morning sunlight.

    It was an impressive construction that would dwarf almost anything that approached it.

    Almost anything.

    ¡°It¡¯s too small!¡± Bell said, stating the obvious. ¡°Way Way won¡¯t fit in there!¡±

    Bert could see she was right.

    It wasn¡¯t just the control tower that was a problem; it was the width of the Waystation. He could also just about see a curve at the end of where the light reached.

    The Waystation would never make the turn, even without trailer one.

    ¡°Can we cut our way in?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Not without bringing the mountain down, I don¡¯t think,¡± Bert said. He looked up at the mountain, which disappeared into the clouds far above. That was a lot of weight to go digging around under.

    ¡°So?¡± Bell asked. ¡°Are we going to check it out or leave?¡±

    ¡°Change of plans,¡± Bert said. ¡°Instead of a simple upgrade, I¡¯m doing a complete rebuild.¡± He grinned. ¡°It¡¯s time, and we have enough sky metal.¡±

    ¡°What are you going to do to Way Way?¡± Bell asked defensively.

    ¡°Do you remember me telling you about the land trains?¡± He asked, grinning hugely.

    ¡°No,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert deflated a little. ¡°I went on and on about them before I made the first changes to Way Way!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but in those days, I was still expecting to kill you.¡± She shrugged. ¡°A lot of that just went in one ear and out the other.¡± She almost looked ashamed, but not really.

    ¡°Well, I guess you will just have to wait and see then,¡± Bert huffed.

    ¡°Tell me!¡± She demanded.

    ¡°I did,¡± He grinned, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault if you were planning my murder instead of listening.¡±

    ¡°Bert!¡± Bell said. ¡°Tell me!¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± He shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll just have to wait and see.¡±

    ¡°I bet Wendy knows!¡± She said suddenly and popped into Pixie form, flying off.

    ¡°Cheat!¡± He called after her before sitting down in his command chair.

    This was going to take a while.

 Chapter 77 - Overhaul

    Bert noticed the difference in Way Way the moment he dropped into the massive tides of mana it contained.

    In all of his previous visits, the mana had felt welcoming but wild and uncontrolled. It moved in a rush in Ebb or Surge tide with massive flows in a constant struggle.

    He always saw it as a storm-tossed sea, never feeling threatened but always with the feeling that the sheer power of it could sweep him away.

    This time, it was different.

    The mana still flowed just as fast, but now it flowed beneath a calm surface, controlled and managed.

    It put his own mana control to shame.

    ¡°Wow, Way Way, this is really impressive.¡± He smiled, ¡°Well done.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Bert!¡± A delighted voice echoed around him. ¡°I¡¯ve been working really hard on it.¡±

    Bert felt as if he had come home to find his cat curled up on the couch with a packet of crisps and shouting at the Television.

    ¡°Way Way?¡± He tried, ¡°Is that you?¡±

    ¡°It is!¡± The voice wasn¡¯t male or female, just kind of a neutral tone.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know you could speak,¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°I just learned how. I¡¯ve been waiting for ages for you to join me again so I could finally say hi!¡± There was a tone of recrimination in the words, and he immediately felt guilty.

    ¡°Yeah, sorry about that.¡± Bert said, ¡°I¡¯ve been a little busy.¡±

    ¡°I know¡­ Please stop going so far away. I can¡¯t really see what is happening if it isn¡¯t near me.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, I guess I¡¯ve not been a great Caretaker lately, have I?¡± Bert admitted to Way Way but also to himself.

    Another thing he realized was that this changed everything. What if Way Way didn¡¯t want to change?

    ¡°Oh, I do!¡± Way Way said immediately. ¡°I can sort of see what you want to do, and I can¡¯t wait.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Bert said, feeling some relief. He had long ago gotten used to the idea that Way Way could read his mind at all times. He kind of liked it.

    ¡°Me too!¡± Way Way said happily, ¡°I¡¯ve learned so many new words from you! And ideas!¡± There was a sighing sound, ¡°Bell just mostly thinks about hitting stuff. Or stabbing stuff, or hitting and stabbing!¡± What sounded suspiciously like a dirty laugh sounded, ¡°Unless she¡¯s thinking about your-¡±

    ¡°Moving right along!¡± Bert said desperately. ¡°Is it usual for Waystations to be able to talk like this?¡±

    ¡°How would I know?¡± Way Way said. ¡°I¡¯ve just been getting¡­ bigger? In my thoughts, I mean.¡± There was a pause. ¡°You don¡¯t mind, do you?¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s amazing!¡± Bert said truthfully.

    ¡°Shall we get started?¡± Way Way asked. ¡°I¡¯ve looked at what you had planned, and I have notes!¡±

    A series of images flooded his mind, some small changes, some huge ones. More than one raised a few questions, but he decided to start with the big one first.

    ¡°How do we start this?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want to stress you more than we have to.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re sweet,¡± Way Way said. ¡°But I have no idea. You¡¯re the Caretaker; it¡¯s kind of your thing.¡±

    Bert laughed and activated build mode.

    While he tried to figure out where to begin, Bert fired the grapples into the surrounding area. Once they had taken over the land around them, Bert decided to simplify things.

    He was doing a complete rebuild, and trying to figure out how to divide the buildings was¡­ honestly beyond him.

    Bert had Way Way absorb everything except the Bear¡¯s Fall and the shed housing Scruff¡¯s horrors. He also dropped the walls on one side of the Waystation and Trailor One.

    Once he had that done, he simply made ramps, slid the two buildings, along with the fields, off, and placed them next to the Waystation.

    Now, he was left with the basics.

    Next, he absorbed the massive collector and harvest system on the front before he moved all the soil and such out of the gigantic hulls that comprised trailer One and the Waystation.

    ¡°I feel naked,¡± Way Way joked.

    Smiling to himself, Bert tried to figure out how to make the next step work. He didn¡¯t want to place Way Way¡¯s consciousness into the Bear¡¯s Fall, so he needed something to¡­

    ¡°I have the materials in storage to construct a brand new one!¡± Way Way said excitedly. ¡°It is design number 42b3.¡±

    Bert mentally sorted through the images they had sent him until he found it.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit narrow?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I was thinking of keeping more of the width we have now.¡±

    ¡°That would work for this tunnel, but what about future tunnels?¡± Way Way argued. ¡°Let alone bridges. I was mortified when you had to basically fill a gorge to make a bridge for me that time.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t a problem,¡± Bert said. The last thing he needed was a Waystation with body image issues, ¡°But I worry if we go this narrow, then we will be unstable, considering the height.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Way Way sounded doubtful. ¡°I would be more flexible this way, and you seem to like how flexible Bell is.¡±

    Bert felt his cheeks flush as he blushed.

    ¡°I am more worried about being able to protect you if we get attacked.¡± He hurried on, ¡°Too long, and we won¡¯t be able to cover the entire length well enough.¡±

    ¡°I thought of that!¡± Way Way sent an image of a wagon train circled up for protection. ¡°Would that work?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s actually kind of perfect,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°Can I add just a little extra width to the design? I want it to be impressive.¡±

    ¡°Is this a size issue? Bell is extremely happy with your-¡± Way Way started again.

    ¡°Not that kind of impressive!¡± Bert wondered what he looked like lying up in the control tower and¡­ The control tower was gone¡­ so where was he?

    ¡°With me, silly.¡± Way Way sounded exasperated. ¡°I just absorbed you.¡±

    Bert tried very hard not to panic. It wasn¡¯t easy.

    ¡°Absorbed me?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Well, I converted your form into mana, and I am holding it separate until I convert it back,¡± Way Way sounded proud of themselves. ¡°As soon as we make the engine car, I can convert you back.¡±

    ¡°You can do that?¡± Bert was stunned.

    ¡°Probably!¡± Way Way said happily.

    Bert swallowed hard; it was way too late to go back, so he had to go forward.

    He had Way Way absorb the front third of the Waystation, adding to the massive pile of sky metal bars that were being deposited on the far side of the Waystation before he extended a single line of metal to build the Engine around.

    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    Pushing aside the building panic of knowing he was a bundle of mana at this point with no body to return to, He concentrated on the design.

    For a proper land train, they would have needed wheels. The problem was that they had no rubber to make tires.

    He could just make them metal, but all the suspension in the world wouldn¡¯t make that a comfortable ride.

    Pulling on his experience building the Hudson Express let Bert create a proper chassis this time as opposed to a hull with stuff on it.

    Way Way¡¯s new chassis was only half as wide as the old Waystation, but it was three stories tall, so it was still an intimidating sight. In place of the old control tower was a massive control room that covered over half the top floor.

    With a smile, Bert built it to look like a bridge, complete with twin consoles at the front, a wide, low arch in the center that held four chairs instead of the three they had, as well as smaller consoles and chairs along the walls. The Crystal windows returned, thicker and stronger, stretching from just above the floor and going up and over the bridge, allowing them to see everything above, in front, and on both sides of them.

    He added truly massive wing mirrors made of silver and crystal as well.

    Admittedly, the consoles didn¡¯t do anything, but still, they looked great.

    Twin staircases spun down from the bridge to the other two floors. The front half of the second floor was completely converted into an armory, complete with a few sets of armor and a smattering of weapons.

    The third floor was¡­ strange. It, along with the rear half of the second floor, was a complex mix of crystal latices and steel.

    ¡°Where did that come from?¡± Bert wondered aloud. He certainly didn¡¯t build it.

    ¡°I made it,¡± Way Way said. ¡°I want that bit. Is that okay?¡±

    Bert shrugged. Whatever it was, it seemed to make Way Way happy. ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Way Way said. ¡°I promise it will be worth it.¡±

    After adding the suspension systems and axles, Bert grew a quartet of smaller tank treads on each side. Each one was designed as a separate system, with suspension and runes, and was a triangle shape. It would let the Waystation move even easier over rough ground.

    Bert ran a line of light crystals down each side of the Engine and put a pair of huge ones on the front. He added another row just beneath the bottom edge as well. He was not too proud to pimp his ride.

    ¡°PIMP!¡± Way Way squealed in his ears. ¡°I know what that word means!¡±

    ¡°NOT LIKE THAT!¡± Bert yelled in horror. ¡°On Earth, ¡®pimp my ride¡¯ means to make it look fancy and impressive.¡±

    ¡°Oh. Okay. I like that!¡± Way Way responded happily.

    Bert was wondering how on earth he could feel like he was covered in sweat when he was just mana.

    ¡°I converted you back into physical matter a few minutes ago,¡± Way Way added helpfully.

    ¡°Great!¡± Bert yelled. ¡°Please don¡¯t do that again without asking.¡±

    ¡°How can I ask if I can¡¯t talk to you?¡± Way Way asked. ¡°What about this?¡±

    Bert felt a sensation of being pulled apart.

    ¡°Is that a good signal?¡± Way Way asked. ¡°From your reaction, I¡¯m guessing no.¡±

    Bert tried to form words but failed. There was no way to explain the wrongness he felt when they sent that sensation into his mind.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said eventually. ¡°I think we should make a few changes.¡±

    He added a thin layer of white onto the consoles before covering them in another thin layer of black. ¡°Can you use this to make words and send messages?¡± He asked.

    ¡°I can!¡± Way Way said happily. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Bert worked in silence for a little while, putting the finishing touches on the suspension and balancing the treads on each side.

    ¡°That sensation -DON¡¯T SEND IT AGAIN!- That isn¡¯t what it feels like when I make changes to you, is it?¡± Bert asked when he couldn¡¯t stop himself any longer.

    ¡°No, just something I thought of,¡± Way Way said cheerfully.

    ¡°Good, it''s¡­ not a nice sensation,¡± Bert said carefully.

    ¡°Sorry!¡± Way Way said brightly.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Is that a real ¡®it¡¯s fine¡¯ or more of a Bell ¡®it¡¯s fine, and I will make you pay for this until I get bored¡¯ kind of fine?¡± Way Way asked.

    Bert laughed. ¡°It¡¯s really fine, I promise.¡±

    A couple of hours later, the gleaming sky metal Engine was completed. It was incredible, like a space-age train had a baby with a tank and a truck at the same time.

    And that was the problem. It looked too modern, too different than the things in this world.

    Way Way suggested the answer, covering the entire length in rich, red wood with only metal highlights and strips showing.

    With a weary sigh, Bert turned his attention to building the collector on the front. He was very tempted to just create a miniature version of what they had before, but if a job was worth doing, do it right.

    Adding a ram in classic train design was the first step, but this one opened up into a pair of pincers, revealing the maw of the collector. Two larger pincer arms were added on each side of the engine.

    When not in use, they looked like armor, but once activated, they slid forward, snapping into shape and allowing the Waystation to scoop and shove things into the collector.

    Promising to be back in a few hours, Bert rose out of the tides and opened his eyes.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Bell was crouched on his lap in human form, hands gripping his shoulders. ¡°What did you do?¡±

    =============

    ¡°You were gone!¡± Bell snarled. ¡°I looked everywhere!¡±

    ¡°You might need to calm down for this,¡± Bert warned.

    Bell just slapped him, which seemed to be pixie for ¡®no thank you, please answer my question¡¯ from recent experience.

    ¡°Way Way absorbed my body and shifted it into mana.¡± Bert felt the horror of it again but tried and failed to keep it from showing on his face.

    ¡°What!¡± Bell gaped at him. She got a distant look on her face before spinning and looking at a console, which had text scrolling. ¡°Way Way, you can talk?¡± She read the console again, ¡°Did he suggest that?¡± She nodded a little, ¡°No, Way Way, that isn¡¯t normal to do to someone.¡± Bell kept reading, the tension leaving her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m sure you were a big help.¡±

    Bert took a moment to look around the new bridge. It was really impressive. He¡¯d be proud if he weren¡¯t so tired and hungry.

    By the time he was done, Bell was staring down at him, hands on her hips.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t your fault, but I¡¯m still mad.¡± She said. ¡°While I decide whether to kiss or hit you, do you want anything to eat?¡±

    ¡°Uh, yes, please,¡± Bert said.

    He never found out what Bell decided as the Multi-Bell that brought his sandwiches was apparently made while Bell was having pleasant thoughts about him, as it winked at him when it gave him the plate.

    He ate while he watched Bell arguing with what was basically herself.

    Bert was asleep before he even finished his food.

    When Bert woke a few hours later, Bell was gone. In her place was Scruff, with an angry look on her face.

    ¡°How long do my plants have to be off the Waystation?¡± She asked grumpily. ¡°They are starting to get restless.¡±

    ¡°Another few hours, maybe a day?¡± Bert guessed. ¡°This shit ain¡¯t easy.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Scruff sat in a chair at one of the front consoles. ¡°Keeping all those plants in line isn¡¯t easy either.¡± She shrugged. ¡°They want to expand, to grow.¡±

    ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°If you think leaving behind a mass of homicidal plants to take over the area is bad, then yes.¡± Scruff grinned. ¡°If you can get even a few of them back on board, that¡¯d be great.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll work on it,¡± Bert promised, already coming up with some ideas.

    Scruff didn¡¯t move.

    ¡°Anything else on your mind?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Maybe?¡± Scruff sighed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure what to do about something.¡± She looked anxious. Bert let her decide what to do. He wanted to hurry her but knew she would just shut down if he did.

    ¡°Am I a bad person?¡± Scruff asked suddenly. ¡°I grow plants that eat people, and I keep coming up with worse and worse things¡­ but I love it.¡± She held up a hand when he went to speak before hurrying on. ¡°My girlfriend is a woman who I watched tear those cult people apart with a smile on her face, and it just makes me love her more.¡± Her face twisted. ¡°And I have a shed full of creatures that I¡¯m pretty sure could wipe a small town off the map.¡±

    Scruff put her head in her hands.

    ¡°It¡¯s a lot to handle,¡± Bert said. ¡°Do you want to wipe a small town off the map?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Scruff protested.

    ¡°Then you¡¯re not a bad person,¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°What if I become one?¡± Scruff asked quietly.

    Bert sat and thought for a minute. How far did he think Scruff could actually go? He didn¡¯t see her wiping out any towns for no reason. If there was a reason, it would depend on what it was.

    If she started killing for the fun of it? He¡¯d just send her to Bell, who also loved killing things.

    ¡°Then at least try and give us a heads-up before you destroy any towns,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°If you get really murderous, then Bell can always give you some tips.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Scruff gasped. ¡°Let us know if you¡¯re going to end all life in a town, and if you become a serial killer Bell will give me some tips?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Bert confirmed mildly. ¡°What did you expect?¡±

    ¡°How about telling me I shouldn¡¯t kill people unless I have to, or maybe that it¡¯s wrong?¡± Scruff demanded.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t know that?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Of course I did!¡± Scruff gasped. ¡°I¡¯m not a nutcase!¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°You don¡¯t want to be the bad guy? Don¡¯t be.¡±

    ¡°Oh.¡± Scruff deflated.

    ¡°What did you want?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want anything, really.¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°I just didn¡¯t want to lose you guys because I did something wrong.¡±

    Bert tried for a second not to laugh and failed.

    ¡°No chance,¡± He grinned at her. ¡°You¡¯re stuck with us no matter what you do.¡± Bert thought for a second, ¡°Of course, if you get really nuts, I can always have Bell give you a special chat.¡± He looked at her, ¡°In private, all alone¡­ with no one watching.¡±

    Scruff paled, shivering. ¡°I think my soul just shivered.¡± She gulped.

    ¡°She¡¯s a scary lady,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°As the person she is most often pissed at, let me assure you¡­ you have no idea.¡±

    Scruff nodded, thanked him for listening, and then almost ran out of the room as Bell returned, looking happy.

    ¡°You going back in?¡± She asked Bert.

    ¡°In a sec,¡± Bert confirmed.

    ¡°What did Scruff want?¡± She asked, dropping into the seat next to him.

    ¡°To know what we would do if she wiped a whole town off the map by accident,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°Or on purpose.¡±

    ¡°Oh! I¡¯d be so proud!¡± Bell wiped a tear from her eye. ¡°A girl''s first mass murder is a special time!¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Bert sighed, dropping back into the tides.

 Chapter 78 - Overhaul II

    ¡°Welcome back!¡± Way Way called as Bert dropped into the tides once more. ¡°I love feeling you inside me!¡±

    ¡°WHAT?¡± Bert was not ashamed to feel a sense of panic at that moment.

    ¡°Sorry, Bell made me promise to say that as soon as you returned!¡± Way Way explained. ¡°It doesn¡¯t even make sense as I haven¡¯t absorbed you again¡­¡±

    ¡°What is Bell doing right now?¡± Bert asked Way Way.

    ¡°Standing next to you and laughing.¡± Way Way said happily.

    ¡°Great, please dump a bunch of icy water on her head,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°What¡¯s she doing now?¡±

    ¡°She is holding out one hand¡­ and now her Ringer has joined her.¡± Way Way seemed anxious. ¡°Should I absorb you?¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°She won¡¯t actually hurt me,¡± He hesitated briefly, ¡°Probably.¡±

    A tense minute passed.

    ¡°She has changed her form to being a pixie and flown out of range.¡± Way Way replied.

    ¡°Welp, so much for the local wildlife,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°While she vents her anger on them, let''s keep working on your makeover.¡±

    ¡°Shall I copy the basic design while keeping the interior empty at this stage?¡± Way Way offered. ¡°It would speed up the process significantly.¡±

    ¡°An excellent idea,¡± Bert said. ¡°But one change I want to make is to have the roof and top floor of the next two carriages converted for farming. Open the walls up as much as we can.¡±

    ¡°Show me, please.¡± Way Way asked.

    Bert took the design that Way Way was using and applied his dimly remembered knowledge of the idea of vertical farming. Sturdy support beams in the corners and three running up the center line held up the top of the carriage while the floor was converted into a deep tray filled with stones, then gravel, and finally rich soil. The roof itself was converted into a large tray that, if he was being honest, he stole from a massive cooking tray he used to use to make lasagne. He added a spiral staircase between the two, raised sturdy railings along the sides, and called it good.

    Good, not perfect.

    The bottom would only get light from the sides, meaning that only plants that preferred shade could grow there, but it was good enough. He did spend a minute or two worrying about the wind but decided the Waystation would rarely be moving fast enough for that to be a significant issue.

    For the bottom floor of the carriages, Bert made an easy decision and made it onto a living area for Bud, Tim, and the Orcs. It made sense as it was closest to the armory.

    As a bonus, it gave them all plenty of room, at least more than they had in the Gatehouse.

    Now came the tricky part: coupling. He had seen how train cars were joined, of course, but seeing and understanding were vastly different concepts. Trying to remember the details was almost impossible.

    After an uncomfortable amount of time, the Waystation came to his rescue.

    ¡°I would suggest the following design,¡± Way Way said nervously.

    Bert looked it over and shook his head.

    ¡°It won¡¯t work?¡± Way Way sounded embarrassed.

    ¡°It¡¯ll work,¡± Bert said happily, ¡°In fact, I think this is probably better than anything we have on earth.¡± And he meant every word of it.

    The basic idea was a ball and socket, at least at its base. Way Way had added a series of reinforcers, a truly elegant impact resistance that acted as a shock absorber while transferring those stresses into tightening the clamp on the ball and socket.

    In short, the more stress you added, the stronger it got. It was the kind of design an engineer would put on a poster over their desk to inspire them to do better.

    ¡°I think this is the most perfect design I have ever seen,¡± Bert said to Way Way. ¡°We ever get back to Earth. I can think of a dozen companies that would fall over themselves to get this design.¡±

    ¡°You can sell it if you wish,¡± Way Way said magnanimously.

    ¡°Never,¡± Bert said with a grin. ¡°This is your design; you get to decide what to do with it.¡±

    He felt the warmth and happiness Way Way felt all around him. It was like being submerged in a warm bath.

    With the design of the next two carriages set, they got to work, making them into a reality. It was actually much easier, and Bert felt Way Way helping him along with a boost whenever he flagged.

    In no time, he was watching in build mode as the wood paneling covered the two new carriages. Even better, the carriages once built moved into line, joining onto the engine with barely a whisper of impact.

    Way Way added walkways, bridges, and more without him even having to ask.

    Just like that, the Waystation had started to look like a proper land train.

    Deciding he had at least one more carriage in him, Bert moved on to the replacement for the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    He immediately added a half-story of extra height to the carriage. It was worth it, plus it made it look grand and extraordinary. Making the first two floors an extra quarter story high made a big difference. The second floor was converted into guest rooms. He used the designs from back on earth, with a more elegant version of the bunks found on train carriages and opulent furnishings. It still allowed for a fair amount of rooms without sacrificing style.

    Each one contained a basic bathroom, complete with a shower. All of it would be managed by Way Way, who could supply water without having to worry about silly things like pipes and plumbing. They would also remove any waste and break it down instantly into fertilizer for Scruff¡¯s crops. Crystal windows to watch the world pass only added to the magic.

    The ground floor was the restaurant recreated in almost every detail.

    Almost, as there was simply nowhere to put the kitchen or brewery. Bert put that problem off for now, turning his attention to the top floor. He used crystal glass to open the walls and roof to light from outside and added a raised dining area, with the rest of the floor dedicated as a dance or meeting area.

    He even included a small raised stage.

    ¡°I have a suggestion,¡± Way Way added a new design, which he liked immediately.

    Another carriage was created in an exact mirror of this one, doubling the space.

    In between the two would go Way Way¡¯s design.

    At first look, it was similar to the others that would make up the Bear¡¯s Fall, but only at first. All the details were different.

    The ground floor of the new design was a massive entrance hall, complete with access to both carriages of the Bear¡¯s Fall. It was also reinforced, trapped, and, all in all, defended extremely well.

    The second floor held the kitchen, brewery, and a pair of rooms for whoever wanted them. The top floor, however, was a work of art.

    It shared the crystal roof and walls of the other cars, but the crystal walls were partially frosted. This was where their new rooms were. Everyone had one, even Gavin, if Slothy would let him.

    A single wide passage joined all the cars, from end to end, on the second floor. It would let anyone traverse the entire length easily and quickly.

    It was sized to allow Slothy to use it if she wanted. Bert suspected she would prefer the farming areas anyway but wanted to make sure she could move if she wanted.

    As soon as they had finished the designs, the new carriages started to form. It was exhausting, especially since this was supposed to be one car, but he could not bring himself to care.

    This new Bear¡¯s Fall was a thing of beauty. It was elegant, it was practical, and he couldn¡¯t wait to see what everyone thought of it.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Three hours later, he no longer gave a flying fuck what anyone thought of it; he just wanted food and sleep.

    A half-hour later, it was done, and so was he. He watched as the new carriages joined onto the Waystation with a sleepy smile.

    ¡°See you soon!¡± Way Way called happily as he rose out of the tides.

    He wanted nothing more than a meal and a sleep. It had been a trying few hours work, and he was beat.

    That was probably why he had forgotten about pissing Bell off.

    He opened his tired eyes, feeling the ache in his entire body, and looked straight into the drooling mandibles of a giant spider.

    Bert felt adrenaline hit him in a wave, his hand turning into an axe as he swung wildly at the thing about to bite his face off. Summoning his shield as he rolled away the moment the axe hit.

    Bert forced mana into his aching mana channels and spun to face the horror.

    He looked at the hacked-off head of the spider as it swung back and forth on the string that had been used to hang it from the ceiling.

    Just a head.

    No body.

    His exhaustion-fuddled brain finally noticed the lack of life in the eyes and the fact that the mouth was propped open with sticks.

    Momentarily stunned, it took a second for him to put together what had happened.

    Well aware he was overreacting, he did it anyway.

    ¡°BEELLLLL!¡± He roared as he surged towards the door with mana-sped steps.

    =============

    Wendy was sitting at the Express¡¯ campfire with most of the others when the roar came from within the strange new shell of the Waystation.

    She looked up in time to see a pixie blur away into the forest, laughing maniacally.

    She watched calmly as her dad erupted from the Waystation, charging off after her into the dark woods.

    ¡°Ye gods,¡± Gavin shuddered. ¡°They¡¯ll no kill each other?¡±

    ¡°Hah!¡± Scruff laughed. ¡°Give it a few minutes, and they¡¯ll probably be banging again.¡±

    Wendy gagged, still unable to get over her instinctual reaction to her parents¡­ doing that. She had tried to talk to people about it, but they just laughed. So she turned to the oldest member of the crew¡­ Dee.

    That had been a mistake. Dee had tried her best to help. The suggestion that she think of it as her parents had a ¡®special hug¡¯ had made her unable to even touch another person for days.

    It wasn¡¯t just the sex.

    It wasn¡¯t.

    The problem is that they didn¡¯t just have sex or make love. No, they did that, but that was quiet and sweet. She could even find that acceptable.

    The problem was that Bert and Bell¡­ fucked.

    It was loud and dirty and made her want to bleach her brain clean of the images.

    Sounds of combat erupted in the forest; Wendy watched as Lily cowered when trees exploded, and spells flashed in the dark. Bud hadn¡¯t even looked up from polishing his bow.

    Was it weird that they were so used to this?

    ¡°So, what you thinking?¡± Scruff asked. ¡°You look worried.¡±

    ¡°Is this normal?¡± Wendy asked, ¡°I mean that they fight like this, and we are all so¡­ used to it?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯ve been this way as long as I¡¯ve known them,¡± Bud said lightly. ¡°They aren¡¯t really fighting or even arguing.¡±

    A loud WHOOMPH sounded behind them.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lily asked hesitantly, ¡°It certainly seems like fighting,¡± She said as she picked a fragment of the woodchips that were formerly a tree out of her hair.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure,¡± Bud laughed. ¡°It¡¯s not fighting. Never has been.¡±

    ¡°Then what is it?¡± Wendy asked, honestly wanting the answer.

    The sounds in the forest turned to laughter, and then¡­.

    ¡°Foreplay,¡± Bud grinned as Wendy turned green.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s kind of cute,¡± Scruff said. ¡°And hot.¡±

    Wendy hit her, immediately regretting it as she hurt her hand on the farm-earned muscles.

    ¡°Yuck,¡± Wendy said airily, trying to superstitiously massage feeling back into her hand.

    Everyone sat in silence for a bit.

    Very unsilent silence.

    ¡°So, what does everybody think of the new Waystation?¡± Wendy asked desperately. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it loudly!¡±

    ¡°An impressive structure, worthy of a proud band of warriors,¡± Tru¡¯nal said from behind Wendy.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Wendy jumped out of her skin, ¡°Where did you come from.¡±

    ¡°I was scouting in the trees,¡± Tru¡¯nal grinned. ¡°I suddenly had less trees to scout, and then-¡±

    ¡°Stop!¡± Wendy said. ¡°Don¡¯t want to know!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Tru¡¯nal teased her. ¡°Some of what I saw was very impressive.¡±

    ¡°Excellent physical training?¡± Bud asked jovially.

    ¡°I suspect endurance may be involved,¡± Tru¡¯nal said happily.

    ¡°Training!¡± Wendy said, grasping onto the concept like a drowning victim did to a life raft. ¡°Yes! I like that.¡± She breathed deeply, relaxing into the warmth of the fire.

    It actually helped to think of it as exercise. Fun exercise, but exercise all the same.

    ¡°Very squelchy exercise,¡± Scruff said seriously.

    Wendy turned a look of horror onto her girlfriend such, as was normally reserved for abominations.

    She pouted as Scruff and everyone else burst into laughter.

    Somehow, somewhere, somewhen, she would make her parents pay for this.

    A couple of hours later, an even more exhausted-looking Bert stumbled out of the forest and collapsed next to the fire. He was snoring before Bell had even sat down next to everyone, giving them a look that dared even one of them to mention what had happened.

    No one did.

    ¡°Nice exercise session?¡± Tru¡¯nal said innocently in the silence.

    Bell glared at her for a moment. Wendy winced, but the others seemed to be all innocent smiles.

    ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Vigorous exercise is good for you,¡± Bud added, still cleaning his bow.

    Wendy watched Bell slowly relax before nodding and producing a drink.

    ¡°Why was it squelchy exercise?¡± Tim asked Scruff, pulling at her sleeve.

    Everyone froze.

    ¡°You said it was squelchy!¡± Tim demanded.

    Wendy could swear she saw a bead of sweat on Bud¡¯s shiny skull, which was impossible, right?

    ¡°Tim, honey,¡± Bell called, her voice light. ¡°Who said that?¡±

    Tim looked around at the nervous faces¡­ and immediately pointed at Scruff.

    ¡°Really?¡± Bell turned an appraising eye on Scruff.

    ¡°Just teasing Wendy,¡± Scruff said.

    ¡°Oh!¡± Bell relaxed again. ¡°In that case, go ahead.¡± She grinned ferally at Wendy, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t interfere in my daughter¡¯s relationship.¡±

    Wendy breathed a sigh of relief.

    ¡°Especially her squelchy ones,¡± Bell said a moment later.

    ¡°MOM!¡± Wendy felt as if she was blushing to her roots as everybody exploded into laughter.

    =============

    Bert woke a few hours later, still tired but, more than anything, hungry.

    Everyone was curled up around the fire, with Wendy sleeping with her head on Scruff¡¯s chest.

    Even Bell was asleep, her pixie form resting comfortably on a small pile of leaves someone had gathered for her.

    It was nice.

    He tried to be quiet as he got himself some food from the Express but found Bud leaning against the fold-out when he returned.

    ¡°Hey, Bud.¡± Bert nodded to him. ¡°Having a good night?¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± Bud nodded. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind if I join you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Bert beamed. ¡°It¡¯s been ages since we had a chance to chat.¡±

    ¡°It certainly has,¡± Bud admitted. ¡°I might have been avoiding this conversation.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bert felt a chill in his bones. Bud was one of his closest friends; if he was thinking of leaving¡­

    ¡°I have hidden something about Tim,¡± Bud looked embarrassed by the admission. ¡°I was afraid it would be something¡­ bad.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m always here, Bud,¡± Bert said. ¡°No matter how busy I am, if you¡¯re worried, I¡¯ll make the time.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bud laughed, ¡°That makes me feel better and much worse for hiding it for so long.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m a skilled man,¡± Bert winked. ¡°So, what¡¯s up?¡±

    ¡°Analyze Tim,¡± Bud said, wincing.

    Bert looked over at the little¡­ ¡°Waystation Gnork?¡± Bert gaped.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Bud nodded.

    ¡°That¡¯s great!¡± Bert said, ¡°How did you manage it?¡±

    ¡°That is the problem,¡± Bud shook his head. ¡°I didn¡¯t. He did.¡±

    They both looked at the little skeleton sleeping happily by the fire.

    ¡°Good for him,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know how he did it, but good for him.¡±

    ¡°There is more,¡± Bud admitted. ¡°He has somehow learned magic. I¡¯ve caught him casting fireballs when he thinks no one is around to see him.¡±

    ¡°Bud, you¡¯re frowning,¡± Bert said carefully.

    ¡°Well, it worries me,¡± Bud said, shaking his head.

    ¡°No, Bud,¡± Bert said again. ¡°You ARE frowning.¡±

    Bud¡¯s hands flew to his normally smooth bone forehead, finding that he was actually frowning.

    Bert watched him try smiling, finding his normally immobile skull now stretched and moved almost as much as skin. It was quite something.

    ¡°How is this happening?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°You feel okay?¡± Bert asked, casting Analyze. It showed nothing new.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Bud frowned again. ¡°But, now that I think about it, I have noticed more sensation in my face.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Congratulations,¡± He grinned. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s something about your new body that is just affecting your skull now?¡±

    ¡°That would make sense,¡± Bud admitted. ¡°The Fleshcrafters did say it would ¡®adapt¡¯ over time.¡±

    ¡°Heh,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°Good luck hiding those expressions the next time Bell catches you doing something she doesn¡¯t like.¡±

    Bud groaned. ¡°I had not thought of that.¡±

    ¡°So, about Tim,¡± Bert said slowly. ¡°Tell him you know all of it, and let him know you are proud of him.¡±

    ¡°So you think I should support his new¡­ interest?¡± Bud asked. ¡°I always planned on him becoming a Captain, like me.¡±

    ¡°Well, kids don¡¯t always follow your plans,¡± Bert said carefully. ¡°He seems to have an interest in magic. Maybe he¡¯ll be a mage, even a Mage Captain.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a good point,¡± Bud said, deflating, ¡°Still, it makes me nervous. If he doesn¡¯t follow my path, how do I guide him?¡±

    ¡°By being there and by letting him know whatever he does, it¡¯s all going to be okay,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bud said happily, his shoulders losing a little of their tension. ¡°How do you always know what to say?¡±

    ¡°Rewards of a misspent youth,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I¡¯ve made all the mistakes and know how people helped me. I¡¯m just passing on their help.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Bud said, ¡°Wherever it comes from, I¡¯m glad.¡±

    Bert clapped him on the shoulder and stood, stretching.

    Looking at his Waystation under the moonlight gave him a burst of energy.

    It was more than he ever dreamed it could be, and he wasn¡¯t even half done.

    It was time to finish it.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna go and finish working on the Waystation. Let people know when they wake up, will you?¡± Bert said over his shoulder to Bud.

    Bud just waved and nodded.

 Chapter 79 - Overhaul III

    ¡°Hello!¡± Way Way said excitedly when Bert dropped into its mana tides again.

    ¡°Hi, Way Way,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°Ready to build some more carriages?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡±  The voice sounded distracted.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You plan to complete the change today,¡±  Way Way hesitated. ¡°I will miss talking to you.¡±

    ¡°No, you won¡¯t,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll drop in to say hi every day if I can.¡±

    ¡°I would like that,¡± Way Way said.

    ¡°Plus, you can use the consoles to talk to everyone else as well.¡± Bert said, ¡°You¡¯ll be sick of talking to us before too long.¡±

    ¡°No, I won''t!¡± Way Way said happily. ¡°Shall we get started then?¡±

    Bert didn¡¯t need to answer; a simple thought brought up build mode again.

    Staring at the basic carriage momentarily, Bert thought about what to build next.

    Deciding to get the farm stuff done before he woke up wrapped in razor vines, a hint he was sure Scruff would be on board with, Bert started with the farms.

    The first carriage was simple, with three tiers of growing levels. It was basic but effective.

    A single spiral staircase was added, as well as an elevating platform Way Way would move to help transport heavy goods and plants between levels. It was equivalent to the area that she had before, not including the two forward carriages.

    So, of course, he added a second Carriage. This time, the entire bottom level was a storage area for Scruff¡¯s little horrors currently residing in the giant shed. The second level was half a planting area and half a living space. The top tier was a growing space with a difference. It was designed for slothy, complete with a windbreak made of crystal.

    A living area was made for her, lower and more comfortable than the others, with a massive area for Slothy and a smaller area for Gavin.

    They built those carriages quickly, as they were simpler than the others. Adding the single large crystal-encased tunnel that would connect the carriages to the main pathway took a little longer.

    It was something he wouldn¡¯t compromise on. They needed a secure path along the entire length, or it would simply be too difficult to defend.

    He was kind of hoping the plants would help with that in the same way they did with Trailor One. Those plants on most carriages would ensure that nothing messing with the Waystation would last long.

    The next carriage in line was an easy one. A massive storage bay on the top and bottom levels, with smaller ones off the central passage in the middle level.

    They could always add another storage carriage if needed, but this rebuild was consuming the vast majority of their resources.

    The final touch was two completely empty carriages, their floors bare except for the main passage.

    The purpose was simple. They could be used as emergency storage or converted to anything the Waystation needed. For now, the top layer was a growing level, like most of the other cars.

    Wincing, Bert remembered the Express.

    He quickly converted the rear carriage¡¯s bottom two floors into a garage, with both sides able to drop down to make excellent ramps.

    ¡°I¡¯m too tired if I¡¯m forgetting the Express,¡± Bert muttered to himself.

    ¡°It could have followed along under its own power,¡± Way Way said in commiseration.

    ¡°Tell my daughter to walk along behind.¡± Bert winced.

    ¡°You have completed an amazing job, assuming you did it over a month. To do it this fast is borderline crazy.¡± Way Way said soothingly. ¡°It is not surprising things started to get forgotten. Like a way for people to get on board.¡±

    Bert groaned.

    ¡°I have already added sliding gangways at each carriage and a wide one for the main entrance to the Bear¡¯s Fall.¡± Way Way laughed.

    ¡°You¡¯re a lifesaver,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some sleep; then it¡¯s time for the big unveiling!¡±

    ¡°Come back soon!¡± Way Way said cheerfully as Bert rose out of the tides.

    This time, Bert didn¡¯t even make it out of the chair before he fell asleep.

    ============

    ¡°Wake up!¡± Bell called in increasingly irritated tones.

    Bert struggled up from sleep, actually feeling a lot better.

    ¡°Morning, sweetie,¡± He grinned at her irritated face, loving the way her cheeks flushed slightly despite her clear irritation.

    ¡°At last,¡± She slid onto his lap, ¡°Way Way won¡¯t let anyone on board until you wake up, and the villagers are getting restless.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°I¡¯ll go let them in.¡± He winked. ¡°And I have a surprise for you.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t exactly call it a surprise anymore, but I¡¯ll take it.¡± She giggled as she shifted on his lap.

    ¡°That too, but I meant a different surprise.¡± He grinned.

    It took a while for them to get around to actually leaving the bridge, but he certainly felt better for the experience.

    Instead of jumping down like he had before, Bert found a long walkway that slid out of the space between floors. A small railing popped up as it dropped down to ground level.

    It was almost like the gangplank from a ship, and he massively approved.

    Giving the Waystation a congratulatory pat, he trotted down with Bell sitting on his shoulder in pixie form.

    She was apparently ¡®done walking like a base animal¡¯ for a while.

    The collected group was one short...

    ¡°Where is Scruff?¡± Bert asked as he hopped the last few feet onto the ground.

    ¡°Up here!¡± Scruff waived from the top of the first carriage. ¡°I¡¯m getting some plants settled.¡±

    ¡°There is a bigger-¡± Bert started to say.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    ¡°She already filled it,¡± Wendy rolled her eyes. ¡°And the things are in their storage bay.¡± She looked put out.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°She won¡¯t let me on board!¡± Wendy snapped. ¡°She lifted Slothy up with her vines, but me¡­ I am just stuck down here.¡±

    ¡°You remember you¡¯re a pixie, right?¡± Bert asked in confusion.

    Wendy got a stunned look on her face while Scruff and Bell roared with laughter.

    ¡°Daddy,¡± Wendy said sweetly, ¡°Can you make me a hammer like Mom¡¯s?¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Scruff called down. ¡°Don¡¯t do that!¡±

    ¡°Honey,¡± Bell said with quiet glee. ¡°You don¡¯t need one. You have that suit of yours.¡±

    ¡°Yeah! I do.¡± Wendy said, fires burning in her eyes.

    ¡°Eh, I¡¯ve got a lot of plants,¡± Scruff shrugged, going back to bedding down the plants. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re no fun!¡± Wendy snapped.

    ¡°You don¡¯t mean that,¡± Scruff called down.

    ¡°Soo¡­¡± Bert interrupted, ¡°Shall we do the tour?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Bell insisted. ¡°I don¡¯t do delayed gratification.¡±

    ¡°And don¡¯t we all know it,¡± Wendy muttered.

    ¡°I DO have that hammer,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Sorry, Mum,¡± Wendy rolled her eyes.

    Starting with the engine, Bert led the group through the entire landtrain. It was all worth it as he saw them stare around in wonder or beam happily at their new accommodations.

    The Orcs took their proximity to the Engine as a great honor. They were slapping each other on the back and grinning hugely even while they looked around the rest of the carriages.

    The grand crystal top floor of the front carriage had them all stunned. They had seen it from the outside, but it was different even than he had expected. The crystal made it warm and magnified the beauty of even these barren surroundings.

    They were even more astonished with their new rooms. Lily almost fainted when she saw hers between both Wendy''s and Bud¡¯s rooms.

    ¡°How come Bud has two rooms?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Scruff has a room here and the cottage,¡± Bert pointed out. ¡°Just in case we all need to be close or just want to be.¡±

    Lily paused in front of the last room, seeing the name on the door.

    ¡°You even made a room for¡­¡± She looked tearful, ¡°But she rejected us.¡±

    ¡°And if she changes her mind,¡± Bert said, ¡°She¡¯ll find a room waiting for her, always.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lily said quietly.

    ¡°No worries,¡± Bert smiled, ¡°Come on all, I have a surprise for Bell.¡±

    He led them through the rear carriage of the Bear¡¯s fall and up to the door to the top level. A sign above it read ¡®Gallery,¡¯ in ornate script.

    Pushing open the door, he led them in, enjoying their gasps at the sketches that adorned the many panels around the room.

    Bell stared around, seeing the light playing over the sketches done by  woman long dead.

    A small panel in bronze sat all on its own. It contained the story of that woman from Earth. The one who was lost to bad luck.

    He had promised they would remember, and now, he felt like he was finally keeping that promise.

    ¡°You can lock the door to whoever you want,¡± Bert whispered to Bell, ¡°But now you can open this to anyone you choose to.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Bell said, happy tears falling. ¡°We¡¯ll have to get more stuff as well!¡±

    ¡°Naturally,¡± Bert said, ¡°Whatever you choose, we keep here.¡±

    Bell grinned through the rest of the tour.

    Scruff was back on the farming carriages when they got there, walking contentedly between the rows, her green mana pouring into the plants as they bedded down.

    Their last stop on the path was to see Slothy¡¯s new home. She was laying on her back in the patch of grass Way Way had already grown for her outside her cavelike home.

    ¡°Och, Beastie,¡± Gavin fussed, ¡°You¡¯ve messed yer fur up again!¡± He took out a brush and began smoothing it down as Slothy contentedly snuffled at the air. ¡°I¡¯ll be forever running back and forth to check on ye!¡±

    ¡°I did add a space for you here if you prefer?¡± Bert nodded towards the cave.

    The Dwarf hurried in, emerging again in a few moments.

    ¡°Grand, I¡¯ll just stay here, aye?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Whatever you like,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°It¡¯ll save me running back and forth, is all,¡± Gavin said.

    ¡°A great plan,¡± Bert said.

    Gavin nodded, returning to brushing the giant sloth bear as it snored.

    In all, everybody seemed to be thrilled with the changes.

    ¡°What about the Express?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°Do I just drive along behind?¡±

    ¡°Nope.¡± Bert grinned and asked Way Way to drop the ramp closest to the Express.

    Wendy squealed with delight, driving the express into its new home with a grin.

    ¡°You can decorate that as you like,¡± Bert said. ¡°It¡¯s your space.¡±

    ¡°Thanks!¡± Wendy said, hurrying off to get started.

    He felt guilty all over again, seeing how happy she was.

    It was humbling to realize how many people he had to think about now.

    The funny thing was he used to be a bit of a loner.

    ==============

    Sitting on the bridge of the Waystation Land Train was an incredible experience. Everyone was sitting at a console or in one of the main seats as they started to roll forward for the first time.

    Getting ready had simply not been necessary. Everything was already on board, and they had no idea what awaited them in the tunnel, so they couldn¡¯t plan ahead.

    They still took a day to rest and settle in before starting out.

    In no time at all, they would hopefully be exploring a new continent with new people and new adventures.

    So, a day was nothing.

    Still, Bert was glad to be getting underway.

    The giant light crystals lit up as they slipped into the darkness of the tunnel.

    The golden light revealed smooth walls with no sign of any damage or decay.

    The floor itself was made of the same silvery rock.

    Analyzing it had no effect, but Bell was pretty sure it was magically merged with sky metal to increase their strength.

    Treads grinding against the hardened stone echoed around them as they descended deeper and deeper into the ground. Long loops led them down and down. It was lucky they had designed this to take a large amount of traffic, or even the redesigned Waystation wouldn¡¯t have fit.

    Luckily, Way Way was able to navigate the occasional tight turn through all of the turnings.

    Many hours after they entered the spiral, the ground finally leveled out. Bert could not even imagine the depth they had descended. He forgot all about it as the Waystation rolled into a massive underground chamber.

    The lights glinted off distant walls, and an even more distant roof shimmered with glints of reflected light, making it seem like a starry sky stretched above them.

    I can feel magical receivers beneath the floor; should I feed mana into them?

    The writing scrolled across the consoles in the bridge, and Bert nodded, asking Way Way to do it carefully.

    It was unlikely to be trapped after all; major traffic through here made it too likely that someone would accidentally set it off. He still felt himself holding his breath as the Waystation started to feed its mana to the chamber.

    Slowly, light started to flow across the walls, and recessed light crystals of incredible size started to shine.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ ¡° Bell gaped.

    Bert didn¡¯t need her to say it. No one did.

    ¡°Well, now we know who made this place,¡± Bert grinned at the knotwork shining along the walls and floor. ¡°And why Karl suggested we head this way.¡±

    I have sensed a much larger formation ahead.

    I think it is the gate. Shall I begin charging it?

    ¡°Do it!¡± Bell said excitedly. Bert closed his half-open mouth, feeling slightly aggrieved at not being the one to give the command.

    The feeling vanished as he watched Bell¡¯s eyes shining in the reflected light. Her face was lit up in joy.

    No way he would begrudge her that.

    The silence in the Bridge built as they all waited with baited breath.

    Finally, it happened.

    A spot of light appeared in the darkness at the far end of the area. No lights had lit there, and he was starting to understand why. The point of light began to grow, spinning in place until lines were flung out. They grabbed onto the edges of a massive stone arch, the lines flexing as the spot snagged.

    A second later, a tearing sound ripped through the cavern, and the space between the lines pulled back.

    And just like that, they were looking at a new continent.

    The gate was obviously not buried on that side. Bright light and clear skies greeted them.

    In the distance, far above and miles from the gate, a zeppelin moved lazily across the sky with what looked like a tall ship hanging from it.

    ¡°Well?¡± Bell asked, her eyes on the distant horizon, ¡°What are we waiting for?¡±

    ¡°We want to make sure it¡¯s stable,¡± Bert said. ¡°We don¡¯t want any of Way Way to be left behind.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t we leave in the evening?¡± Wendy asked, pointing to a sun hanging high in the sky. ¡°How far away is this place.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s like a whole new world!¡± Bud said excitedly.

    And that was all it took for Bert¡¯s strained patience to snap.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± He grinned as the Waystation eased forward, his anxiety forgotten.

    As the Waystation neared the breach, he expected something to happen, like a lightspeed or tunnel of magic type of thing.

    Instead, it simply rolled through as if there was no distance at all.

    Bell wound her fingers between his, grinning as wide as he was, as the Waystation moved through the arch, a whole new adventure starting.

 Chapter 80 - Explorers Gift I

    ¡°Dad!¡± Wendy called, her face almost pressed against the side window of the bridge, ¡°Look at that! What are they?¡±

    Bert leaned around her, finally seeing what she was looking at. On a rise to their left were what could be trees. Could be, except the thin black trunks split and grew in long curves and arches while they sprouted long, thin, white tendrils of wispy-looking something. It almost reminded him of spider silk, but there was not a web in sight.

    A breeze moved through whatever they were, and the wisps undulated like waves. Where they crossed each other, a faint pinkish glow turned whole sections pale pink. It was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

    ¡°Want!¡± Scruff said, ¡°Want. Want. Want.¡± She was jabbing her fingers against the window on the far side as she scouted plants.

    ¡°How does it stay up there?¡± Bell asked, eyes locked on the distant zeppelin with the ship hanging majestically beneath it. ¡°That¡¯s not an airship.¡±

    ¡°At a guess, lighter than air gas in the balloon,¡± Bert said. ¡°At least that was how it worked back on Earth.¡±

    ¡°You had them!¡± Bell said, ¡°You never mentioned them!¡±

    ¡°We HAD them,¡± Bert explained. ¡°They are famously flammable, so people stopped using them.¡±

    ¡°Burns?¡± Tim asked, his head snapping to face Bert without bothering to turn around the rest of him. ¡°Big burns?¡±

    ¡°No setting Zepplins on fire!¡± Bert said immediately.

    Tim tried to blow a raspberry and found it impossible without cheeks, lips, or a tongue. He immediately forgot the Zepplin in favor of trying to figure out the mystery of the raspberry.

    ¡°No guards,¡± Bud noted, watching the last of the carriages pass through the portal. ¡°Not even a watcher.¡±

    ¡°No one has used that place in a long, long time,¡± Bert said, watching the portal ripple and vanish like a burst soap bubble.

    ¡°Then who has maintained the area?¡± Bud asked pointedly.

    Bert considered what he said. Now that he was thinking about something other than the incredible feeling of exploring a new continent, Bud was right.

    The grass was short, and the wide, flat area they were passing over was too flat to be natural. The abundant plants, the strange tree things on the rise¡­ it was all something like a landscaped garden in a stately home.

    Looking ahead, he saw the flattened area continuing into the distance, where it vanished between two large rises in the landscape. The large rises themselves were covered in a dizzying array of flowers, colored rocks, and even a few of those strange trees.

    Very artfully covered. It looked like a natural formation at first glance, but once you noticed the layers, it was clear someone had taken a great deal of time to make sure it was just so.

    ¡°I think this is someone¡¯s backyard,¡± Bert said. ¡°Or something.¡±

    ¡°My experience of people¡¯s reactions to finding unexpected visitors on their land is limited,¡± Bud admitted, ¡°But I suspect it is seldom friendly.¡±

    ¡°Fuck,¡± Bert swore. ¡°And here I was hoping for a few quiet days.¡±

    ¡°As if,¡± Bell giggled. ¡°That¡¯s never going to happen.¡±

    ¡°Everyone get ready for a fight,¡± Bert sighed. He had really been looking forward to exploring.

    ¡°We already are,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°I have my suit ready to go.¡±

    ¡°Vines are coiled and ready on top of the first carriage,¡± Scruff shrugged.

    ¡°The Bud Patrol is fully armed, and they should be on top of the same carriage by now,¡± Bud said.

    ¡°Ringer¡¯s under my chair,¡± Bell waved vaguely.

    ¡°Did anyone not come prepared for a fight?¡± Bert asked, seeing Lily trying to hide her weapons under the console.

    ¡°Aye, beastie¡¯s havin¡¯ a nap,¡± Gavin said happily. ¡°She figured we could handle it.¡±

    ¡°Other than me, did anyone NOT assume this was going to end in an immediate battle?¡± Bert asked with his hand over his eyes.

    Silence.

    Bert was still feeling grumpy as the Waystation¡¯s engine car approached the gap between the two rises. The worst part was he couldn¡¯t blame them. In their time on the road, there had been a near-constant danger. No matter where they went, they found nothing but combat. Especially the mist. He was brooding on it when Bell broke his concentration.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s different.¡± She said, sounding shocked.

    Bert looked up quickly, wondering what horror awaited them this time, and gaped.

    The area beyond the rises opened into wide, open plains. Whole areas of which had been converted into the most amazing gardens Bert had ever seen. Some were riots of color, with huge loops and curves that rose stories into the air, with vines, flowers, and more hanging from them like a rainbow had been transformed directly into a physical object.

    Others were vast stone and gravel patterns with swirls and obelisks arranged in a way that almost hurt the eye. In the center of all of this, and where the road led, was a vast mansion of glass. It was easily seven stories tall in places with balconies, chimneys, and more.

    All glass.

    Bert was stunned by all of that.

    What really took his breath away, however, was the people lining up outside the building, right where the path led past the building before winding between the gardens.

    They were dressed in everything from dungarees to overalls to scholarly robes. He saw features that reminded him of orcs, humans, dwarves, and even goblin, but they were all around the same height.

    Seven feet tall.

    Even that wasn¡¯t the biggest shock.

    The biggest shock was that the people were cheering, waving, and clapping.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just creepy,¡± Wendy said. ¡°Should we just attack now?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bert said sternly, ignoring Bell nodding vigorously.

    ¡°If we do,¡± Scruff said, ¡°Which I¡¯m not saying we should¡­ can I have their plants?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Bert huffed. ¡°You are all getting lessons on not attacking people on sight!¡±

    ¡°Honey?¡± Bell giggled.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Your hand changed into your crossbow as soon as they started waving,¡±  Bell said. ¡°Just saying.¡±

    Bert looked down at his arm, shaking his head and forcing it to change back into a hand.

    ¡°We have trust issues,¡± Bert grumped as they pulled level with the cheering groups.

    ¡°So, we can leave our weapons here?¡± Bell teased.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said. ¡°I mean, we can bring them, just in case¡­¡± He trailed off as they all started to laugh. ¡°Ah, fuck it!¡± He laughed as well. ¡°Let¡¯s go meet the weirdos.¡±

    ¡°How do you know they¡¯re weird?¡± Wendy asked as the group headed for the main exit at the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    ¡°They are clapping and cheering,¡± Bert said plainly, ¡°That makes them weird in our experience.¡±

    ¡°Fair,¡± Wendy grinned as her suit caught up with her, and she leaped into it.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert stopped them. ¡°No death suit.¡±

    ¡°But Dad!¡± Wendy protested.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert put his foot down on this one.

    ¡°Fine,¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°But I get to bring three Pretties.¡±

    ¡°One,¡± He countered.

    ¡°Two,¡± Wendy wheedled.

    ¡°Done,¡± Bert nodded, and they went to meet their first people on this continent.

    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    =============

    ¡°Welcome!¡± A scholarly-looking man with white hair sticking out from under his cap called as the ramp dropped into place. ¡°Welcome! We are delighted to meet you at last!¡±

    Bert and Bell exchanged a look.

    ¡°You were expecting us?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± The man beamed. ¡°As soon as the wild hunt rode across the sky, I said we would be getting visitors from the lost gateway.¡± He cackled. ¡°So many people are going to owe me money!¡± A strident cough interrupted him.

    ¡°Head Gardener Berhardt meant to say we are delighted to welcome you all,¡± A woman said from her position at the old man¡¯s side. She was the same height as everyone else, but her build was muscular, with dark green skin and long black hair. Two delicate tusks pushed out of each side of her mouth. One had a small golden hoop in the tip.

    ¡°I did!¡± Bernhardt said, looking chastised. ¡°I did.¡±

    ¡°Is your friend feeling quite well?¡± The woman asked, gesturing to Scruff.

    Bert saw Scruff was shaking, sweating, and looking pale. She whispered to Wendy, who turned to the woman.

    ¡°Did you say Head Gardener?¡± Wendy asked brightly.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± The woman nodded, ¡°It is an evolved version of the Farmer class. It is extremely rare, but still a great class.¡± She paused. ¡°I hope being greeted by a Gardener is not an insult to you.¡±

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Wendy insisted. ¡°We just need to freshen up, and we will be right with you.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bernhardt smiled nervously, ¡°Take your time.¡±

    Bert joined the others in shuffling back into the Bear¡¯s Fall, wondering what was going on but following his daughter¡¯s lead.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bell asked as soon as the doors had closed.

    ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a thing for her,¡± Wendy admitted, helping Scruff to a chair.

    ¡°We¡¯ll give you a few minutes if you like?¡± Lily said, picking up Tim and waving over Gavin.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Scruff said through clenched teeth. ¡°I just¡­ this is embarrassing, and I think you all might hate me.¡±

    ¡°Is this about what we talked about before?¡± Bert asked gently.

    ¡°Sort of,¡± Scruff admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve reached the class evolution for Farmer, and the options are¡­.¡±

    ¡°She thinks they make her evil,¡± Wendy blurted out. ¡°Which is silly.¡±

    ¡°Can we know what they are?¡± Bert asked.

    Scruff hesitated and then asked Way Way to show everyone.

    ¡°They can do that?¡± Bert whispered to Bell.

    ¡°I guess,¡± Bell just shrugged.

    When the writing appeared on the wall, Bell squealed in joy.

    Gardener of Nightmare

    Rank: Mystical

    Type: Mage

    No matter the horrors of beast, fang, and claw. You know that true power grows in leaf and vine. Combine the best of both to creature creatures that nightmares are made of.

    Example: Hybrid - merge plant and animal into a new form.

    Mad Gardener

    Rank: Rare

    Type: Mage

    Everyone says you can¡¯t do that. You choose to do it anyway.

    Growth without the limits of common sense or even sanity

    Example: Me and Mine - Extend your body into the very plants you grow, controlling them as you would an extra limb.

    Gardener of the Waystation

    Rank: Unique

    Type: Unknown

    You grow things that should not grow in ground that moves; you have left all behind you¡­perhaps even your sanity.  Do you dare to move beyond your limits forever?

    Example: Unknown

    ¡°That one!¡± Bell stabbed the Gardener of the Waystation description.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t worried about what the other classes were?¡± Scruff looked shocked. ¡°They were pretty bad.¡±

    ¡°Eh,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°They seem okay, but I bet the Waystation one is more powerful.¡±

    ¡°They are all evil?¡± Scruff asked lamely.

    ¡°No, they are all scary,¡± Bell grinned.

    ¡°You¡¯re not worried that they mean there is something wrong with me?¡± Scruff was crying.

    Bert felt frozen, and even Bell looked shocked. He forced himself to say the only thing that came to mind.

    ¡°I trust you with my daughter,¡± He said kindly, ¡°I can¡¯t think of anything else to say.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Really,¡± Bell nodded.

    Scruff stood a bit straighter and wiped her eyes.

    ¡°You don¡¯t mind if I take the Waystation one?¡± She asked, ¡°It seems a little nuts,¡± She grinned. ¡°And I like that.¡±

    ¡°Go for it!¡± Wendy cheered.

    Bert smiled and then watched Scruff¡¯s eyes widen.

    ¡°It¡¯s so¡­ beautiful!¡± Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stiffened, rising into the air and hanging there.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Bert muttered.

    ¡°Look through Way Way,¡± Bell whispered, her eyes closed.

    So he did.

    ==========

    As he dropped into the tides of the Waystation, Bert saw it immediately.

    In his mind, he saw her. Scruff was here¡­ in the Waystation. A torrent of mana was flowing in a whirlpool around her.

    ¡°What is this place?¡± She asked him.

    ¡°This is the mana tides of the Waystation,¡± He smiled. ¡°And it seems they are-¡±

    He cut off as the whirlpool rose, the mana breaking into a stream of a thousand colors that slammed into Scruff in an unending torrent.

    Scruff screamed as her body was obliterated in seconds.

    In its place came the mana of the Waystation. It rebuilt her from scratch, her entire body woven out of the very mana of the Waystation.

    He looked closer, seeing more than just mana. It was¡­ part of the physical Waystation. The actual metal, earth, wood, and more were being broken down and reformed into her new body.

    More than anything else, it was her plants that made up her new form. They were broken down and rebuilt by the incredible power of the Waystation.

    Once it was complete, the mana moved on, scouring knotwork mana channels into her soul by pure force of will.

    A second passed, then another, and it was over.

    Scruff turned her face to him, her tan skin replaced with a pale green as she smiled.

    ¡°I love this place,¡± She laughed and rose out of the mana tides.

    ¡°Will she be okay?¡± Bert asked Way Way.

    ¡°Better than okay!¡± Way Way promised.

    Bert nodded and rose out of the tides, eager to see the reborn Scruff.

    When he opened his eyes, Bert couldn¡¯t help but smile. Everybody was staring open-mouthed at the former farmer. The pale green tint to her skin was much more subtle now, but it was a big change to her previous tan appearance. Other than that and the addition of extra muscle mass, she looked almost the same, as long as you didn¡¯t look at her face or hair. Speaker of her hair, he noticed it was now a deep apple green color, darkening to almost black at the roots. Even her eyebrows and eyelashes were green.

    That was nothing compared to her eyes, however. Vibrant emerald green broken with motes of brilliant gold made up her cornea, which was enough to make a difference, but more than that¡­ the colors moved constantly, flowing into the pupil before flowing back the other way in a hypnotic rhythm.

    He Analyzed her reflexively and joined the others in gaping.

    Gardener of the Waystation Lvl 27

    Race: Waystation Fae - Metamorphic Plant Fae

    ¡°What the shit?¡± Scruff gasped. ¡°I¡¯m not a human anymore?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bell checked and then cheered. ¡°Yay! Another new Fae!¡±

    ¡°I thought new types of Fae were rare?¡± Bert said, ¡°We seem to get them every few months.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because we''re amazing!¡± Bell preened. ¡°One more type, and we will be tied with the number of species created by the other Courts combined!¡±

    Scruff held up her hand and looked at it. She flexed her fingers, reveling in the feeling of the mana flowing through her.

    She blinked, and her hand shifted and elongated into a thick vine. She blinked again, and the vine grew longer and more sprouted from her shoulders and back.

    ¡°Oooh!¡± Wendy purred. ¡°My girl got tentacles!¡±

    Scruff¡¯s eyes bulged as Wendy slapped a hand over her mouth.

    Bell¡¯s filthy laughter only made the poor girl blush even deeper red.

    ¡°Oh, look,¡± Bell giggled mercilessly, ¡°She¡¯s part beetroot!¡±

    ¡°Och, see, I tol¡¯ ya we were missin¡¯ the bes¡¯ bit!¡± Gavin pushed open the door and continued to grumble as Lily and Tim tried to drag him back.

    ¡°You can come in now,¡± Scruff said, looking grateful for the distraction.

    ¡°Are those your class options?¡± Lily asked, hurrying over to the writing that they had forgotten was still on the wall. ¡°Wow, I hope I get things this good when I level up.¡± She turned around, seeing Scruff staring at her. ¡°Sorry, did I say something wrong?¡±

    ¡°You know what,¡± Scruff beamed, ¡°No. You said exactly the right thing. Thank you, Lily.¡±

    ¡°OH MY GOD YOU¡¯RE FAE!¡± Lily screamed and threw herself at Scruff in a hug. ¡°Congratulations!¡±

    ¡°And she¡¯s got tentacles!¡± Wendy added with a wide grin.

    ¡°Lucky!¡± Lily nodded while Scruff looked mortified again.

    ¡°I think we better go meet the neighbors,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°Before they get too worried.¡±

    When they opened the door again, the nervous faces of the Head Gardener and his Assistant greeted them. The rest of the people had retreated inside, but Bert saw faces pressed to the glass on almost every level.

    A glass table had been placed in front of the Waystation with a selection of food and drink on it. It reminded Bert of the spread you got in an English Garden party of the Jeeves and Wooster style.

    ¡°Is all quite well?¡± The Assistant asked hesitantly. ¡°We apologize for any offense we may have given.¡±

    ¡°Shhh!¡± Bernhardt waved her away. ¡°Let them speak.¡±

    ¡°Uh, Hi!¡± Bert said. ¡°Sorry about that; we just had some family stuff to sort out.¡± He smiled, ¡°You know what long trips with the family can be like!¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Bernhardt said mildly, ¡°I never had time for much other than plants.¡±

    ¡°You have seven children!¡± His assistant said tensely.

    ¡°Do I?¡± Bernhardt frowned. ¡°Still?¡±

    ¡°Yes, still.¡± The assistant fumed.

    ¡°Am I married?¡± He asked, looking worried.

    ¡°No, Sir,¡± His assistant said, ¡°She left you.¡±

    ¡°I wonder why?¡± Bernhardt said easily. ¡°Still, we need to make our¡­ really, seven?¡±

    ¡°YES!¡± His assistant snapped.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure I would have noticed,¡± He shrugged. ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to be difficult; it just seems like I would remember that.¡±

    ¡°So you always say,¡± The assistant said in a bored tone. ¡°You missed the births and six marriages to date, not to mention the divorce proceedings when your wife left you.¡±

    ¡°What was I doing?¡± Barnhardt looked guilty.

    ¡°Trying to perfect the Golden Lily of the Sun,¡± The assistant sighed.

    ¡°Oh, well then!¡± Bernhardt looked relieved, ¡°At least it was for a good reason.¡±

    ¡°It was not!¡± The assistant looked aghast.

    ¡°Do tell me if any of them come by,¡± Bernhardt said happily, ¡°I¡¯d love to meet them.¡±

    ¡°Yes, DAD, I will!¡± She looked ready to slap the old man.

    ¡°Should we do something?¡± Bert whispered to Bell.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± Bell grinned back.

    ¡°We need to invent Popcorn!¡± Wendy chuckled.

 Chapter 81 - Explorers Gift II

    Bert ate the cucumber sandwich, savoring the delicate little triangles that were a taste of home that he had never even realized he missed. They even had cracked black pepper on them! The lemonade was cool and refreshing, and it was all so strange.

    He had been in nonstop madness for so long now that this calm little garden party, which it had definitely become, was so out of the ordinary as to seem fantastical. Of course, he was watching a selection of seven-foot-tall people with markers from various fantasy species interacting with a dwarf, a half-pixie, whatever the hell Scruff was now, and a skeleton¡­ so there was definitely a fantasy theme.

    ¡°Whatcha thinking?¡± Bell asked from her perch on his shoulder.

    ¡°How crazy this bit of normal feels,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°I can fix it!¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°How?¡± Bert asked, amused and curious enough to disregard caution.

    ¡°If you look under the table, you will see Tim trying to light the table on fire; Lily has cast a glamour so no one can see her, and the orcs have surrounded the group in case of trouble.¡± She giggled, ¡°And Gavin is frantically avoiding looking up as the lady chatting to him is wearing a short skirt and hasn¡¯t realized that with his height, he would look up it as soon as he looks up.¡± She took a bite of her sandwich, which was almost the same size as her, ¡°Feel better?¡±

    ¡°Loads, thanks,¡± Bert said, scooping Tim out from underneath the table and sending him running off toward Bud. He wasn¡¯t lying, either.

    ¡°Lily,¡± He said to apparently empty air, ¡°Why are you hiding?¡±

    ¡°Too many people make me nervous when I¡¯m really me,¡± She said quietly.

    ¡°Run back into the Waystation and come out in a glamor if you like,¡± He said quietly while apparently trying to choose a sandwich. ¡°On the way, grab the nearest orc and tell them that if Mic and Ric knick anything, I¡¯ll give them to Slothy as a chew toy.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir,¡± She giggled as her voice faded away.

    ¡°Nicely done,¡± Bell burped happily. ¡°Now you just have one huge problem to worry about.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°The fact that their house would make such wonderful smashing sounds if I drove the Waystation through it,¡± She said breathlessly. ¡°It¡¯s literally all I can think about.¡±

    ¡°Fuck sake, Bell,¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°Bert!¡± Scruff waved him over to where she was talking with Bernhardt.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bert asked, giving a friendly nod to the Head Gardener.

    ¡°Your friend was just telling me about some of her plant ideas,¡± Bernhardt said. ¡°They are genius but quite impossible to actually make.¡±

    ¡°Got new plans?¡± Bert asked Scruff, who was looking frustrated.

    ¡°No!¡± Scruff said. ¡°He just doesn¡¯t believe me that the plants exist!¡±

    ¡°So, let¡¯s give him a tour.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°But let¡¯s skip those ones; they¡¯d just eat the guests.¡±

    ¡°Surely, you jest?¡± Bernhardt said mildly. ¡°I am a high-level Gardener of the highest order; I am more than a match for any plant.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll leave that up to Scruff,¡± Bert said, grinning. ¡°They¡¯re her creations.¡±

    ¡°Are you coming?¡± Scruff asked when he joined them.

    ¡°We don¡¯t want to miss the show!¡± Bell giggled.

    It took a couple of minutes as the Head Gardener kept stopping to examine things on the way. He was one of those terminally curious people who could never not touch the thing.

    When they got to the first level of the farm car, he froze, his eyes shooting around like a kid in a candy store for the first time.

    ¡°No!¡± He said in shock as he bent over a bloodberry bush. ¡°This can not be!¡±

    ¡°It can, and they are tasty to boot.¡± Scruff preened. ¡°Not quite as good as a healing potion, but close.¡±

    ¡°May I?¡± Bernhardt asked, his hand hovering over a berry.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Scruff watched the man pick a berry, sniffing, squeezing, and even licking it before eating it.

    ¡°Marvelous!¡± He said happily. ¡°I must have a seed or two!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t start haggling until you¡¯ve seen the rest,¡± Bell warned.

    Over the next few minutes, Bert and Bell watched a grown man regress to being a toddler, wandering around with his mouth open as Scruff showed him everything from the razor vines to the Bolt bushes. There were also a number of plants Bert had never seen before.

    ¡°Steelgrass,¡± Scruff said proudly. ¡°It took me so long to get a natural refinement process until I figured out it naturally tried to form into a long thin shape.¡± She grabbed the Gardener¡¯s hand as he reached down. ¡°Careful, it¡¯s extremely sharp.¡±

    ¡°I promise, I¡¯ll be fine,¡± Bernhardt said, and true to his word, the grass didn¡¯t harm him in the slightest. ¡°Grown from Iron ore and coal?¡± He asked. ¡°Really?¡±

    Scruff nodded. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    ¡°What do I think?¡± Bernhardt laughed. ¡°I think you should teach a class here!¡± He shook his head, ¡°Your thinking is so¡­ open. So creative. It is a field of marvels, with no end in sight.¡±

    ¡°Can I leave you here for a moment?¡± Scruff said proudly. ¡°I just have a small surprise for Bert.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bernhardt said. ¡°I¡¯ll be here.¡±

    Scruff led Bert and Bell into the small living area and to a seedling tray.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Scruff said nervously. ¡°So, I wanted to find a way to thank you both for everything,¡± She swallowed hard. ¡°So I made this, it took a while to get it right, but I can plant a whole bed of this stuff whenever we want now!¡±

    Bert looked at the little bushel of grass and thought it was more Steelgrass until he noticed the blueish sheen to the silver.

    ¡°No fucking way!¡± Bert said, looking up at Scruff.

    She nodded anxiously.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell demanded. ¡°Tell me!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to say it out loud,¡± Bert said, suddenly paranoid, ¡°Analyze it.¡±

    Bell almost fell off his shoulder, slamming her hands over her mouth.

    Sky Steel Grass

    A remarkable creation that grows pure sky steel at unmatched purity.

    Requires iron, coal, and an ample supply of manner to grow.

    The Waystation would never need to worry about expanding ever again.

    ==========

    ¡°For the last time, you can not trade your children for seeds!¡± The assistant roared in Bernhardt¡¯s face.

    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± He asked. ¡°Is it in the Guild Charter?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± She snapped. ¡°Because they didn¡¯t think anyone needed to be told that!¡±

    Bert, Bell, and Scruff sat on the other side of an ornate crystal table from the Head Gardener and a few of his people as they negotiated an exchange of seeds and knowledge.

    It seemed that Scruff had created the Gardener¡¯s version of a collection of near-mythical plants. And they wanted them badly.

    Barnhardt was also a frankly terrible negotiator. This was the second time he had offered his assistant, or their choice of any of his children, for a single seed of the steelgrass.

    ¡°If I may?¡± Bert leaned forward before the poor Assistant had a stroke. ¡°We need a great deal of things; I¡¯m sure we can find a good exchange for things such as knowledge.¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± Bernhardt said happily, ¡°I have a collection of over a thousand horticultural tomes; they are yours for¡­ two seeds?¡±

    ¡°Out!¡± His assistant said. ¡°That is it! Out!¡± She pulled him out of his chair and pushed the protesting man out the door.¡±

    ¡°And the child of your choice!¡± He yelled around the door before she managed to slam it closed.

    Bert tried very hard not to laugh.

    So far, he had given Scruff over a hundred seeds, most of them rare, a Professorship on the staff and her own room in the building. In exchange, Scruff had given him five seeds. Three Bloodberry and two Steelvine. She offered Razorvine,  but he said he had no interest in combat plants.

    ¡°What is it that you need,¡± His assistant said as she smoothed her hair and tried to regain her composure. ¡°I would be happy to help.¡±

    ¡°You have a lot of glass around,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯ve been using crystal up until now. I wonder how much you have spare?¡±

    ¡°Glass?¡± She nodded. ¡°We have several thousand spare panes.¡± She dipped her quill and made a note on a paper pad in front of her. ¡°I can also supply a book on the making of it, should that be of interest to you?¡±

    ¡°Very much.¡± Bert nodded. ¡°Is that okay with you, Scruff?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± She shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve got everything I wanted already.¡±

    ¡°In addition, I would like to offer you a Guild Symbol,¡± The Assistant said proudly. ¡°It will not require anything of you, as frankly, you have exceeded the required contributions to the field already. It will definitely facilitate your free movement across the known nations.¡± She looked proud. ¡°Everyone respects the guilds, and we are one of the largest.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°What are the Guilds exactly?¡±

    ¡°After the Ten Kingdoms war, the individual rulers were mostly broke,¡± She smiled, ¡°The Guilds rose to fill the gaps. The Crafter¡¯s Guild was the first, as there was just so much to do. Then came the Builders, the Rangers, and the Growers. That last one is us.¡± She smiled. ¡°There are more, of course, but that all came much later. ¡°The four original guilds are the strongest and, of course, respected across boundaries like kingdom or country.¡±

    ¡°Nice,¡± Bert said mildly. ¡°Symbols anyone can recognize and rely on.¡±

    ¡°Exactly,¡± She nodded and passed a thick golden coin to Scruff. ¡°The symbol can be displayed anywhere on your vehicle, but some may want to verify with that coin. Just put a little mana into it, and it is permanently bound to you.¡±

    Scruff concentrated, and the coin flashed.

    ¡°Excellent, welcome to the Guild.¡± She smiled.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to check with anyone or mark it down somewhere?¡± Bell asked suspiciously.

    ¡°No, My family is the Originator of the Guild, so my coin is connected to all registers, everywhere.¡± She nodded. ¡°Any questions?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, what¡¯s your name?¡± Bert asked. ¡°It feels rude to keep thinking of you as the assistant.¡±

    ¡°Milly. Milly Light-Foot.¡± She beamed, ¡°Thank you for asking.¡± She stood and nodded, ¡°Assistant Head Gardener of the Guild of Growers, Guild Mage General, and Heir of the Thousand Leaves Family.¡± She beamed. ¡°And you?¡±

    ¡°Bert and Bell Hudson, Caretaker and Spirit of the Waystation, respectively, and Lord and Lady of the Court of the Travelling Lands. Nice to meet you.¡± Bert said, including their titles just in case it was rude not to.

    ¡°Sorry?¡± She asked. ¡°Lord and Lady¡­ as in Fae Courts?¡± She looked at them for a second. ¡°You¡¯re not just the first to travel through¡­ like merchants?¡± She gulped. ¡°Actual Fae, real Lord and Lady?¡±

    ¡°Wait, what did you think I was?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not familiar with races of the lost continent; I assumed a native?¡± Milly said slowly, ¡°I thought Fae had these glowing things?¡±

    ¡°Ooh, let¡¯s do the thing?¡± Bell cheered.

    ¡°The thing?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Cycle the mana tides,¡± Bert explained. ¡°Like I showed you?¡±

    ¡°Okay!¡± Scruff said with a grin, ¡°I wanted to try that!¡±

    The three of them concentrated, Bell even shifting into human form to show off more. Their knotwork began to glow gently.

    ¡°By the Gods!¡± Milly gasped. ¡°I beg your pardon! I¡­ I¡­ ¡° And she fainted.

    ¡°Well, that went about as well as usual!¡± Bert huffed as Bell bent over laughing.

    The door opened, and several waiting gardeners saw them as Bernhardt glanced in, taking in the scene as more Gardeners fainted behind him; he grinned.

    ¡°Fae! I can definitely trade my children! I knew I could!¡± He said happily. He closed the door, and they heard him humming happily as he walked off.

    ¡°Weird guy,¡± Scruff noted.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert agreed.

    ¡°I like him,¡± Bell said, pulling up a chair and sitting next to Bert. ¡°It¡¯s been ages since people were willing to give kids to the Fae.¡±

    ¡°Fuck sake, Bell!¡± Bert groaned as Bell just beamed and started to poke the unconscious Milly.

    ============

    There was a lot of explaining to do once Milly woke up. For some reason, she seemed extremely anxious and embarrassed, which was like catnip to Bell.

    ¡°I am afraid I expected somewhat more pomp and ceremony when a Court of the Fae landed in our neck of the woods,¡± Milly admitted. ¡°I hope you were not too offended?¡±

    ¡°Nah,¡± Bert waved it off. ¡°We are very relaxed about that kind of thing.¡± He smiled.

    ¡°Still,¡± Milly sighed. ¡°I want to express my thanks for your understanding.¡±

    ¡°Forget about it,¡± Bell said with a laugh. ¡°I thought you would be more freaked out by meeting a Plant Fae than us,¡± She smiled.

    ¡°Plant Fae?¡± Milly asked.

    ¡°Hi!¡± Scruff waved from where she had her feet up on the table. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡±

    Milly passed out again.

    ¡°That¡¯s so much fun!¡± Scruff laughed as Bell clapped. ¡°Bet we can make her pass out again before dinner!¡±

    ¡°Done!¡± Bell said excitedly.

    Bert just sighed. The more Fae, the more trouble. And Scruff was taking to being Fae like a duck to water.

    Milly woke up five minutes later.

    ¡°Are you doing okay?¡± Bert asked, legitimately concerned.

    ¡°Fine,¡± She said woozily. ¡°Perhaps I should lie down for a while, however.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯ll just take this lot back to the Waystation until you¡¯re feeling better.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Milly said quickly. ¡°Please, you must let us host you for the night.¡±

    ¡°Sure.¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°Lily, let everyone know we are staying for dinner,¡±  She said to the empty space next to Milly.

    ¡°Of course, Lady Bell,¡± Lily appeared in a flash and bowed.

    ¡°And¡­ there she goes!¡± Scruff laughed as Milly hit the table face-first again.

    ¡°Enough!¡± Bert said, fighting not to laugh. ¡°She¡¯ll end up with brain damage, fainting all the time like this.¡±

    ¡°Not our fault she¡¯s so jumpy,¡± Bell protested as he ushered them out of the room.

    ¡°Hey, Bud,¡± Bert said as they exited the massive glass doors. Bud and the others had stayed at the garden party, which was rapidly turning into an all-day affair.

    ¡°Good,¡± Bud nodded, ¡°One question. Why does the Head Gardener keep asking if I want one of his children?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s a little weird,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°And they know we are Fae.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bud laughed, ¡°What gave it away?¡± He pointed to a small cluster of Gardeners who were cheering and clapping as Tim threw fireballs at plates they were tossing for him. Gavin was lying in the middle of the table, snoring with a glass of something potent on his belly; the orcs were sparring with what seemed to be a living rock with all signs of enjoyment, and a circle of unconscious figures was lying around a little girl who was bouncing on her father¡¯s knee.

    Given that her father was this world''s Death God, Bert hoped they were only unconscious.

    ¡°Hello again,¡± Bert said, walking over to check the pulses of the unmoving forms. He blew out a relieved breath when he found they still had one.

    ¡°Greetings, Lord of the Fae,¡± Death nodded.

    ¡°Call me Bert,¡± Bert said.

    The god nodded.

    ¡°I came to thank you for allowing my daughter to remain on board,¡± He nodded to the Waystation. ¡°Not many demigods get to stay in a Court of the Fae.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Bert said. ¡°Care to stay for dinner?¡±

    ¡°Not today,¡± The god looked pleasantly surprised, ¡°But thank you for the offer.¡±

    Bert nodded.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t come just to say hi, did you?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Death sighed. ¡°I have a complicated issue I may need your help with in the future.¡± He looked into the distance. ¡°I could task Reed and Lowes with it, but they have awkwardly sworn not to kill.¡±

    ¡°They seem flexible on the definition,¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Death smiled. ¡°But I prefer not to push them.¡± He bounced his daughter for a minute. ¡°If I can not sort this out¡­ I will need someone who can kill,¡± He looked at Bert. ¡°Such as yourselves.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t kill just because you say so,¡± Bert warned.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not worried,¡± Death smiled. ¡°If I make you aware of this problem, you would race there and kill them now. They more than deserve it.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert frowned. ¡°Then why the hesitation?¡±

    ¡°I think the matter may be resolved without further killing,¡± The god sighed. ¡°But we shall see.¡± He clicked his fingers, and Reed appeared out of nowhere. The god kissed his daughter on the head and handed her to Reed, who promptly vanished again. ¡°So, if needed?¡±

    ¡°If we can help, and they really need to be removed, I don¡¯t see why not,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Death said, fading away.

    ¡°That seems a bit foreboding,¡± Bud said a moment later.

    ¡°Let¡¯s forget about it for now- Oh, for fuck sake!¡± Bert turned around to see Milly face down on the grass.

    ¡°She ran over to apologize and saw you talking to Death!¡± Bell said between gasps of laughter. ¡°I think she died!¡±

    Scruff and Bell were leaning against each other, laughing as Bert summoned a small carcass and pulsed healing through Milly. She seemed relatively unharmed.

    He dismissed the carcass, and Bud picked up the unconscious woman.

    ¡°Careful,¡± Scruff gasped, ¡°If she comes round being carried by a skeleton, she¡¯ll fucking die for real!¡±

 Chapter 82 - Explorers Gift III

    Bert finished adding the chill runes to the storage carriage as the first supplies arrived. One of the advantages of coming across the Gardeners was the opportunity to get something they had been missing out on a lot.

    Fruits and vegetables.

    The variety of dishes and meals they would be able to make would more than triple with the huge stores they were taking on board. Salad vegetables and similar short-life things were placed in their other new acquisition.

    Stasis Cubes.

    The vast glass cubes were covered in a flowing spell script that was fed mana constantly by the Waystation. Anything inside was frozen in time from the moment it came to rest until it was moved again. If the Waystation didn¡¯t take any big knocks, everything inside would be fresh and crispy for pretty close to forever.

    The huge amount of glass they had acquired was absorbed by Way Way instantly, to be used later. For the moment, he was keeping the crystal windows they had. The panes could be used for a greenhouse as they were, but with some practice, Bert was willing to bet that Way Way and him could come up with better options.

    His mind danced with the possibilities of lenses and screens. Binoculars, telescopes¡­ maybe even moving screens controlled by Way Way?

    They had only been on the continent for a single day and already had a significant upgrade for Way Way.

    It was clear that technology had moved on a bit here in the new continent. It was exciting to imagine what other discoveries and upgrades were waiting just over the horizon.

    Bell had pointed out that the people here also seemed to be of a higher average level, which was fun. They might be the exception, but he was still excited, given that he had seen a couple near level thirty.

    It had been a long time since he had leveled, and he couldn¡¯t help but wonder what other secrets his classes had yet to reveal.

    Once the ground level was mostly filled, Way Way added a set of stairs and a second level. The Orcs helped with the loading, forming a human chain up the stairs while he and Bud ran around stacking everything in place.

    It took hours, but it was worth it.

    The Waystation was stocked and ready to serve customers again. At least as long as they were happy with a meat-free menu. As a bonus, they still had a whole third of the storage car yet to fill. With a bit of luck, meat would be what they found next.

    ¡°All done?¡± Bell asked as he trotted down the ramp from the Storage Carriage.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°Someone that Milly wants us to meet,¡± Bell said. ¡°She¡¯s much less fun when she¡¯s not fainting every five minutes.¡±

    Bert chuckled.

    As he and Bell crossed the lawn towards the massive glass structure, Bert couldn¡¯t help but smile at the crowd that was surrounding Scruff. It was long past time that the girl got some encouragement from non-Waystation people.

    The last time she had anyone appreciate her work, other than them, was the Undead.

    Despite everything she had accomplished, Scruff still suffered from a lack of self-confidence thanks to a childhood spent being told repeatedly she was worthless or a disappointment.

    He watched Bernhardt arrive, towing a resigned-looking man behind him.

    A second later, he left looking dejected at Scruff¡¯s refusal to trade seeds for another one of his children.

    It turned out four of them were here. So far, three had been offered in trade.

    Bernhardt had serious issues when it came to anything that did not include plants. Bert knew the type. Even on Earth, they had people who were geniuses in their field¡­ but completely clueless in day-to-day life.

    Of course, trying to trade your kids for seeds was taking it to a whole new level.

    He was still chuckling to himself as they entered through the main doors of the Guild Hall.

    ¡°Welcome, honored guests!¡± Milly said brightly.

    Bert and Bell stood in the doorway, looking around suspiciously. This meeting room was much grander than the one they had used the day before. It was also full.

    Milly was flanked by a dozen men and women in a variety of clothing styles. A quick check with Analyze showed that there were more than a couple with levels higher than his own.

    One was level forty-five!

    Bert and Bell exchanged a look as they went in.

    ¡°Thank you for coming,¡± Milly said with a warm smile. ¡°I thought a proper meeting would be in order.¡±

    Bell held up a hand to stop her, then clicked her fingers.

    ¡°These are representatives of various groups in the area. I think there would be more, but they would all need longer to get here,¡± Lily¡¯s voice came from next to Bell. ¡°They didn¡¯t discuss anything worrying while they waited and seemed genuinely excited to meet you.¡± She paused for a moment, ¡°I suspect the woman at the back on the left has been able to see me all along, but I don¡¯t think she told anyone.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, Lil,¡± Bert said cheerfully. ¡°Have a seat.¡±

    An empty chair beside him pulled out, then scooted forward again.

    ¡°There was someone hiding in here the whole time?¡± A man asked. ¡°Why do they not reveal themselves?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s shy,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°Sorry, Milly, you were saying?¡±

    Milly gaped for a second before shaking herself and recovering.

    ¡°Uh, yes.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°I just thought you might wish to greet a few of the other Guilds and such before you set out on your journey.¡±

    ¡°Nice thought,¡± Bell said, smiling with way too many teeth. ¡°Would have been nice to inform us as well.¡±

    Milly paled.

    ¡°Mind if I take over?¡± The woman Lily had mentioned stepped forward and gently nudged Milly aside. ¡°I¡¯m Dana, and I represent the Explorer¡¯s Guild.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Bell said, her expression not changing.

    ¡°I¡¯m level forty-five and a combat class, which I am sure you already know.¡± She said, her face calm and friendly. ¡°Milly does not often deal with people from¡­ interesting places. She had no idea how much this would look like an ambush.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Milly looked appalled. ¡°The very idea!¡±

    Bert relaxed, but only slightly.

    ¡°Idiot,¡± A dark-haired man in leather armor laughed. ¡°Hey, by the way, I¡¯m Cyrus Combs, a rep for the Delver¡¯s Guild.¡±

    ¡°Delver¡¯s Guild?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Get a lot of repeat business?¡±

    ¡°Not much,¡± He grinned. ¡°But if they make it past the first one, they often last whole months before getting mashed.¡±

    ¡°How many runs?¡± Bert asked, sitting forward.

    ¡°Me?¡± Cyrus said. ¡°Five, and the last one damn near got me.¡±

    ¡°You know,¡± Bell said. ¡°We ran across a rabbit-themed one a while back.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Cyrus said, sliding into a set at the table. ¡°Did you close it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert said. ¡°It had converted a whole nearby town, so we didn¡¯t have much choice.¡±

    ¡°That where you lost the arm?¡± Dana asked.

    ¡°Rude!¡± Milly snapped, but everyone ignored her.

    ¡°No, I lost that in an abandoned Dwarf Palace.¡± Bert winced at the memory. ¡°Damn roof came down on top of me.¡±

    ¡°Worth it?¡± Dana asked, her eyes shining.

    ¡°Yes and no,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I did get this arm out of it, but not much else.¡± He grinned. ¡°Fun, though. Until it suddenly wasn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Ain¡¯t that always the way?¡± Cyrus shook his head. ¡°So what brings you to our shores? Looking for more dungeons?¡±

    ¡°Looking in general,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s somewhere we had never been, so¡­¡±

    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    ¡°Damn,¡± Cyrus grinned. ¡°Looks like they are more your Guild than mine,¡± He flicked a coin to Dana.

    ¡°You seen that vehicle?¡± Dana winked. ¡°Home from home that, pure Explorer.¡±

    ¡°That would be our Waystation,¡± Bell said proudly. ¡°We have all the usual amenities on board.¡±

    ¡°Like Waystation. With a capital W?¡± Another man asked. He was very dark-skinned and even a good bit shorter than the others, but his muscles pressed against his shirt. He was peering over the top of his glasses hopefully.

    ¡°Definitely,¡± Bell smiled.

    ¡°Gods!¡± He laughed. ¡°Legends said they all died out!¡±

    ¡°Not all,¡± Bert said sadly, ¡°But most.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bell took his hand, ¡°We had to close one not long before we came.¡±

    ¡°I hate to think of that,¡± The man shook his head. ¡°Rey¡¯ala, Crafter¡¯s Guild. Pleased to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Likewise,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°That¡¯s an orc name, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± He nodded warily. ¡°If you have a problem with that¡­¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bert assured him. ¡°I just thought the orcs we have with us would like to chat with you if you have time.¡± He leaned forward. ¡°It has been a while since they left home.¡±

    ¡°I would be delighted!¡± He smiled.

    ¡°If I may?¡± Milly said desperately, ¡°This was supposed to be a meeting to discuss any future plans you might have.¡±

    ¡°We don¡¯t really have any,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Just planning to wander around and see what is out there.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Milly said uncertainly. ¡°I assumed your plans would be more¡­¡± She trailed off.

    ¡°Organised?¡± Bell offered, ¡°That isn¡¯t really what we do.¡± She grinned. ¡°We do want to make stops to explore, trade, and so on.¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°And, of course, if we find somewhere the Waystation is actually needed, we¡¯ll set up shop for a bit.¡±

    ¡°I think we might be able to help with that,¡± Dana and Cyrus exchanged a look. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind dangerous areas?¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re all dangerous if we¡¯re in them,¡± Bell laughed.

    Milly looked horrified.

    ===============

    ¡°It¡¯s closer than I thought,¡± Bert admitted when they had adjourned to the Bear¡¯s Fall a while later.

    ¡°This is actually the far end of the settled lands,¡± Cyrus admitted. ¡°The Grower¡¯s Guild just happens to like the area, so they keep everything nailed down pretty tight.¡±

    ¡°A few miles from here, and you are in truly wild country,¡± Dana agreed.

    Bert looked closer at the map. The land of the Grower¡¯s association was a long dagger that struck down from the borders of the settled lands, reaching all the way to the gateway.

    On either side of it was empty wilderness. Empty, not unexplored. The spot in question was a good few miles off to the west of where they were. In the middle of all that wilderness was a small red square labeled in a strong hand as ruins.

    ¡°We tried to come at it from above, but cliffs make the way unpassable until bridges have been built,¡± Dana said. ¡°And even with the Guild of Builders, that is going to take a while.¡±

    ¡°We have some experience with bridges,¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Dana shook her head. ¡°But the Builders can do that work. What we need is facilities on site.¡±

    ¡°Anyone qualified to be there can get there without the bridges,¡± Cyrus confirmed. ¡°But my people are Delvers, not Builders. They need somewhere safe to sleep, rest, and prepare.¡±

    ¡°The Explorers are used to making do, but they won¡¯t exactly complain about a soft bed and solid walls around them either,¡± Dana smiled. ¡°In a few weeks, we will have bunk houses, storage barns, and the rest. For now? They are out there alone, worrying about wild animals, weather, and a hundred other things that stop them from actually doing their jobs.¡±

    ¡°A good place for the Waystation,¡± Bell said seriously. ¡°It is exactly what Waystations do.¡±

    ¡°I was hoping you would say that,¡± Dana smiled. ¡°I can¡¯t pay much, but doing this will qualify your people for membership in the Guild. Anything you can find or learn will obviously boost your membership level.¡±

    ¡°Sounds good,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°And any delving you do will also qualify you for my guild.¡± Cyrus grinned.

    Bert felt Bell tense a little on his shoulder.

    ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ll leave that to the experts,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Too much to see to be dashing into dungeons any time soon.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t blame you,¡± Cyrus said, looking around. ¡°You have a nice setup here. Good place, good people.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bell said happily.

    ¡°You will be meeting up with a Builder¡¯s Guild member called McRae,¡± Dana said. ¡°He will let you know what¡¯s needed and where is the best area to set up.¡±

    ¡°If any of your people can knock together a few small buildings, he¡¯d probably let you join their Guild as well,¡± Cyrus added.

    ¡°They aren¡¯t exclusive then?¡± Bert asked, surprised.

    ¡°No, not unless you end up running the place,¡± Dana laughed. ¡°Thank the Gods.¡±

    ¡°The more Guilds you belong to, the more respect you get,¡± Dana said. ¡°Also, some Kingdoms or Countries have ties to one Guild or another, so it helps to have multiple badges.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll keep it in mind,¡± Bert said. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    ¡°What do you think?¡± Bert asked after the Guildies had left.

    ¡°Eh, they seem okay.¡± Bell sighed. ¡°Different from where we came from, though.¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert agreed. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I buy the whole happy families angle.¡±

    ¡°There is no way these Guilds all play nice,¡± Bell agreed. ¡°Especially the bigger ones.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll just play it the usual way,¡± Bert said happily.

    ¡°Be nice until they piss us off, then hit them so hard they don¡¯t get back up?¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°Hey, it works.¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s go round up our people before someone actually takes one of Bernhardt¡¯s kids.¡±

    Bell giggled.

    It didn¡¯t take long to find the first of their crew. Bud was lingering around the Waystation, his eyes scanning the grounds suspiciously.

    ¡°Hey, Bud,¡± Bert said. ¡°What¡¯s got you on edge?¡±

    ¡°The Brothers,¡± Bud said simply. ¡°They found out the Growers have a brewery, and I haven¡¯t seen them since.¡±

    Bert laughed.

    ¡°Well, we are moving out soon. Round up anyone you find, okay?¡± Bell said.

    ¡°Where are we headed?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Some ruins a few miles out in the wilds need a Waystation for a week or so,¡± Bert said. ¡°Should be fun.¡±

    ¡°Think I can do a bit of hunting?¡± Bud asked eagerly. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I went out with Slothy.¡± He smiled fondly.

    ¡°Definitely,¡± Bert said. ¡°We need to learn about the local animals.¡±

    ¡°Like how they taste,¡± Bell giggled.

    ¡°I¡¯ll go find the Patrol,¡± Bud grinned and headed off.

    Finding Scruff was easy as the crowd following her around was clear from a mile away. She was starting to look a little flustered with the constant questions, not to mention the occasional trade attempts by Bernhardt.

    ¡°Scruff!¡± Bell called, flying up over the crowd. ¡°We are heading out soon!¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡± Scruff looked relieved.

    ¡°No!¡± A man cried out in alarm. ¡°She must stay and teach us!¡±

    The others took up the cry, causing Scruff to start to look almost panicked.

    ¡°Such knowledge simply must remain in the Guild!¡± An older woman with human features said. ¡°A prodigy like this is wasted anywhere else!¡±

    ¡°You going to stop her?¡± Bell said, popping into human form, Ringer in hand.

    ¡°What?¡± The woman leaned away from Bell¡¯s feral grin. She looked around desperately for help. ¡°Someone explain to these savages!¡±

    ¡°They are not going to listen,¡± Another sniffed dismisively. ¡°The Head Gardener himself will not stop them,¡± They shrugged.

    ¡°Ridiculous!¡± The woman then made a horrific mistake. She reached out and clamped her hand around Scruff¡¯s arm. ¡°Come with me!¡±

    ¡°Let her go,¡± A quiet voice said. Something about it cut through the arguments going on.

    ¡°Who said that?¡± The woman looked around, seeing no one.

    ¡°Do you have nightmares?¡± The voice trilled. ¡°Would you like to see mine?¡± Lily popped into the woman¡¯s eyeline. ¡°I have ever so many.¡±

    The woman gulped and slowly and carefully released Scruff¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Don¡¯t touch the Fae without consent,¡± Lily smiled. ¡°It is rude.¡±

    ¡°S-S-Sorry,¡± The woman backed away from the little Lily, who was fluttering in place a few feet off the floor.

    Lily vanished again, and the woman turned and ran. The rest of the crowd suddenly found better things to do.

    ¡°Fucking hell!¡± Bell giggled. ¡°That was incredible!¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Lily sounded happy. ¡°I have been practicing my menacing face in the mirror.¡±

    ¡°The deranged smile really sells it!¡± Scruff said with an uncertain smile.

    ¡°What deranged smile?¡± Lily asked in confusion.

    ¡°Never mind!¡± Scruff said hurriedly. ¡°I¡¯ll just go grab Wendy and head for the Waystation.¡±

    Bert chuckled as he heard her muttering about scary pixies as she hurried away.

    He was just starting to get concerned when he saw Bud hurrying over, looking furious. He and Bell had looked everywhere for Wendy, Gavin, and the Orcs. No one had seen a single sign of them for hours.

    ¡°I can¡¯t find some of our people,¡± He said quietly to Bud as soon as the skeleton was in range.

    ¡°Oh, I found them!¡± Bud said. ¡°But you better come see for yourself!¡±

    ¡°Are they okay?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°They will be until I get through with them!¡± Bud growled.

    Now less worried and more anxious, Bert and Bell followed him all the way back to the last carriage of the Waystation. The one with the Express in it.

    Lily was standing next to one open ramp with a chastised expression.

    Bert gave her a questioning look.

    ¡°I just helped them hide!¡± She said quickly. ¡°I swear I didn¡¯t know what they were doing!¡±

    Bert broke into a run, getting there a second after Bell did.

    The Express was still there, which was a relief.

    The previously empty carriage was now full from the Express up, with barrel after barrel of something. Every wall was covered. A half floor near the ceiling also held what looked suspiciously like dozens of crates of wine.

    Empty barrels almost covered the top of the Express, with the free space taken up by unconscious orcs.

    Gavin was slumped against one of the barrels, singing quietly to himself.

    The only fully conscious one was Wendy, who burped and waved happily with a wine bottle in each hand.

    ¡°We found their brewery!¡± She said happily. ¡°It¡¯s pretty good stuff!¡± She gave them a big goofy grin, ¡°We decided to do a taste test!¡± She giggled and noticed the passed-out orcs and dazed dwarf. ¡°Lightweights!¡± She took a deep glug from one of the bottles. ¡°I like wine!¡±

    Bell started to laugh.

    ¡°They stole it!¡± Bud said. ¡°And they had Lily hide them, so I couldn¡¯t stop them!¡±

    ¡°No one saw them?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Bud sighed, giving Lily a sideways look. ¡°Lily is very skilled.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, sorry,¡± Lilly said sheepishly.

    ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Bert asked again.

    Bud nodded.

    ¡°Right, help me close the ramp,¡± He said to Bud.

    ¡°What?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°You think we should give it back?¡± Bert asked with a grin.

    ¡°Ah!¡± Bud hurried to help him close the side of the carriage.

    As they were passing the Bear¡¯s Fall, an irate-looking Milly came striding out of the Guild House.

    ¡°Excuse me!¡± Milly called. ¡°I need to have a word with you, please!¡± She was going as fast as she could without running. ¡°There is a matter of some missing supplies to discuss!¡±

    ¡°Sorry!¡± Bert called back. ¡°Can¡¯t stop.¡± He waved. ¡°Must go, you know how it is!¡±

    He pushed Bud up the ramp to the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    ¡°Thanks for everything!¡± Bell waved happily and slammed the door.

    ¡°Leg it!¡± Bert yelled, and the Waystation started to move as Bell erupted into fits of laughter.

 Chapter 83 - Glamping in the Rough I

    Bell cheered as the collector on the front of the Waystation, currently in the closed shape of a ram, smashed aside another boulder.

    ¡°I can see why they were having trouble getting people out this way,¡± Bert laughed as Bell directed the Waystation through the canyon.

    The ground ahead was a mass of fallen rocks, thick brush, and hardy vines. The occasional tree reached for the light that made it this far into the canyon. Tall walls of dark, almost black, stone rose on either side of the land train as they wound through the tightest part of the canyon.

    Bert had always thought of canyons in terms of the sun-drenched Grand Canyon, but this one was overflowing with growth. High above them, easily ten stories up, the ghostly wisps of silk from those strange trees hung out over the edges of the canyon. The occasional flash or glow of pink far above had been entrancing the night before but was barely visible now.

    ¡°How much longer till we get there?¡± Bell asked, flopping back into her chair as she sighed. ¡°This is boring!¡±

    ¡°You were literally just cheering?¡± Bert smirked.

    ¡°That was seconds ago!¡± Bell rolled her eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve been in a canyon for hours.¡±

    ¡°The map is rough, but we are almost there.¡± Bert checked the hand-drawn map they had been given. ¡°It¡¯s surprisingly accurate, considering.¡±

    ¡°Meh,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°They did okay, I suppose.¡±

    The ground ahead of them began to rise slowly, signaling the exit from the canyon was approaching. The high walls began to shrink as they rose, the light filtering down brighter and brighter as they went. In a few minutes, the gap also started to widen, the horizon creeping wider and wider until the valley was finally revealed.

    ¡°Pretty,¡± Bell said, ¡°But I¡¯ve seen better.¡± She turned away.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t,¡± Bert grinned as the valley stretched ahead of them. Grasses in a hundred shades of green covered the floor as entire forests of strange trees crowded across the far side of the valley. A thick cluster of them struck out in a broad, rambling line reaching almost all the way to the canyon.

    Strange firs, wispy spider-silk trees, and even a few enormous things that reminded him of succulents, but the size of buildings, all mixed in together. They had massive fan-like clusters that grew from a central spire that crested into a single enormous fan riddled with large irregular holes that appeared natural, at least from this distance.

    ¡°Quick reminder there, you have seen me naked,¡± Bell said archly.

    ¡°Oh, nothing mortal could compare to that,¡± Bert said with a smile.

    ¡°Good save,¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°I was proud of it,¡± Bert admitted.

    As they moved further into the valley, winding their way toward the distant smoke trails rising near the forest''s edge, another peculiarity showed itself. There were only a few rocks scattered about; the ones that were¡­ were all some form of clear blueish crystal. Veins of the same crystal showed through the grass as they moved between mounds that seemed naturally formed around the crystals.

    ¡°I want to get some of that stuff,¡± Bert said. ¡°Blue crystal rocks!¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bell asked. ¡°They are just rocks.¡±

    ¡°Still,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I think it¡¯s cool.¡±

    ¡°Hey, if it makes you happy, we¡¯ll grab every bit in the valley,¡± Bell shrugged again.

    ¡°Speaking of things that make us happy,¡± Bert waggled his eyebrows.

    Bell laughed as she leaped at him.

    Way Way could make sure they didn¡¯t crash into anything for a few minutes¡­.

    ===========

    The route through the valley ended up being a bit more circuitous than they had imagined. A series of natural sinkholes littered the middle of the valley, forcing them to swing wide around the edge before returning to the path.

    When they had managed to avoid that, they ran into a thick forest. The winding offshoot of the central forest had closed around their path, forcing them to slow as the collector on the front went to work.

    Bert was happy enough to get a few samples of the trees; who knew what would come in handy, but it still slowed them down. By the time they cut their way through the last of the trees, revealing the smoke trails to be just over a slight rise, the sun was definitely starting to drop toward the distant mountains.

    Bert was expecting there to be some sort of camp in place, maybe even a few guards, or a whole town in the process of being built.

    What they saw as they finally cleared the rise was underwhelming. A dozen tents were scattered across a wide area, with cooking fires here and there. The ground itself looked hard-packed and rugged, the grass worn away in a couple of places, and the people huddled around those fires barely even looked up as the Waystation arrived.

    ¡°Rude!¡± Bell gasped. ¡°They should at least look a bit awed at seeing Way Way!¡±

    ¡°Maybe someone sent word ahead?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°They better have money!¡± Bell snapped as she stomped across the floor toward the main corridor. ¡°That kind of attitude does not get free drinks!¡±

    Bert chuckled to himself as he hurried to join her.

    The wind had turned cold as they traveled; Bert felt it bite into him as he stepped out of the protection of the Bear¡¯s Fall and headed down the ramp to the half-frozen ground below.

    He was shivering before his foot crunched down on the frosty grass.

    ¡°Damn, this place is freezing!¡± Bert sucked in his breath as he rubbed his arms.

    ¡°Stop that!¡± Bell laughed. ¡°Look,¡± She fluttered in front of him and breathed deeply; her hair shimmered and flowed in the breeze as a wave of blueish light flushed out from her core. The wave reached her hair, and it changed color, going blue-silver as she exhaled and inhaled slowly. She grinned as she finished, showing no signs of being cold as she relaxed.

    ¡°How did you do that?¡± Bert asked between clenched teeth.

    ¡°Stop fighting the cold, let it in, and cycle the tides, pulling the temperature into the mana channels as you do it,¡± Bell said.

    Bert hesitated but did as she asked. He took a long, deep breath in. The cold flowed into him, and instead of fighting it, he let it fill him as he began to cycle the tides in a slow, steady rhythm to match his breathing. Allowing the cold to flow into the knotwork felt almost natural. As he did, his shivering stopped, and the air felt warmer, comfortable even.

    By the time he was done, Bert felt like it was a beautiful spring morning, with just enough of a chill in the air to be refreshing.

    Bell applauded him and zipped around in circles. ¡°You¡¯re really getting the hang of being Fae,¡± She said with a touch of pride in her voice. ¡°Ooh, I should send a Multi-Bell to tell Scruff how to do that!¡±

    There was a distant pop, a scream of shock, a cry of outrage¡­ and then Wendy¡¯s head appeared over the edge of the carriage with Scruff¡¯s quarters on it.

    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!

    ¡°Stay out of our room!¡± She yelled. ¡°At least knock first!¡±

    Bell rolled around, giggling in the air as Wendy growled in frustration.

    ¡°Were they?¡± Bert asked with his hand over his face.

    ¡°Yup!¡± Bell said with a satisfied sigh. ¡°Scruff¡¯s a flexible girl, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Too much information,¡± Bert said quickly.

    Bell laughed again.

    ¡°Shall we go meet the locals?¡± Bert offered his arm.

    ¡°Let''s,¡± Bell popped into human form and linked her arm with his.

    ¡°McRae?¡± Bert asked one of the cloaked figures huddled over the first fire they came to. The figure just pointed listlessly at a man with his back to them, hunched over another campfire on the far side of the group of tents.

    They wound their way between tents of cloth and leather, some patched, others looking almost new.

    ¡°McRae?¡± Bert asked again once they reached the man. Long grey hair tumbled down the back of a dark leather cloak, which was all they could see of their contact.

    ¡°Fuck off,¡± The man grumbled. ¡°Whoever you are, just fuck off. I ain¡¯t moving till that Waystation turns up.¡±

    ¡°That would be us,¡± Bell said sharply. ¡°We can fuck off as well if you like.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± McRae looked around. His face appeared as tanned and lined as old leather. His eyes were sharp, but exhaustion was visible in how his eyelids drooped and his strained brows. ¡°You¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°You all right, mate?¡± Bert asked. ¡°You look, no offense, but you look like shit.¡±

    ¡°You are here?¡± McRae asked again, narrowing his eyes as he looked past them to the gleaming silver and wood land train. ¡°Fuck!¡± He shook his head. ¡°No one stopped you?¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Bell sighed. ¡°I expected at least a little awe, maybe some cheering.¡± She smiled. ¡°What do you need?¡±

    ¡°Um, everything,¡± McRae said, his voice strained, almost desperate. ¡°We¡¯re dying out here.¡±

    Bert and Bell shared a look.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Bell laughed. ¡°They get one free meal and one free drink.¡± She smiled at McRae, ¡°And they can get some sleep.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t understand,¡± McRae sighed. ¡°We get attacked by animals at night. We need guards.¡±

    ¡°Just tell us where to set up,¡± Bert smiled at him. ¡°We can take care of it.¡±

    ¡°Uh,¡± McRae blinked a few times, then seemed to pull himself together. ¡°We need to be close to the ruins, so as close to here as possible, I guess.¡±

    ¡°Can do,¡± Bert said. ¡°Won¡¯t take too long.¡±

    The Waystation came to a stop, curled around the scattering of tents. They had to reverse a little before the opening faced the area containing the ruins, but he gave the order once Bert was satisfied that they had a reasonable-sized gap for people to come and go.

    Way Way claimed the land within the circle in moments, erecting a gateway over the open space between the engine and rear carriages. Bell opened the Bear¡¯s Fall, welcoming people in, with Lily helping out while Bert went to work on the area. He first smoothed the land in the center to make it easier to move around while Way Way absorbed all the small stones, rough grasses, and detritus. They left the tents and campfires alone but covered the entire area in short, soft grass.

    A few light crystals on poles from their days helping the refugees were remade and sent up through the ground to light the enclosed area with a soft, warm light.

    As a final touch, Bert summoned a ring of chest-high stone pillars in a circle around the center of the space. Each one was hollow, with small holes in the sides near the base. In the center of each pillar, Bert placed a heat rune; with a slow trickle of mana, the pillars became outdoor heaters, bringing the temperature up to a more comfortable level for everyone.

    Way Way noted that they would eventually be able to tent the enclosed space with enough cloth, and Bert put that on his priority list.

    He spent a few minutes just chatting to Way Way in the tides before heading back to see how the Bear¡¯s Fall was doing.

    The answer was¡­ it was packed.

    Bert figured that people must have been using the tents to sleep in shifts, as almost fifty people were packed into the dining area, all hunched over their food as if it was the most fantastic thing they had ever eaten.

    Multi-Bells buzzed back and forth with food and drink while Lily stood at the entrance, directing people to tables or upstairs to rooms once they were done.

    Shooting Lily a look to ask where Bell was, she pointed up and waved.

    He waved back before heading up to the top of the carriage, finding a small group clustered at one of the tables beneath the crystal dome.

    He saw Bell looking frustrated and put a bit more hurry in his step.

    ¡°It¡¯s just not possible,¡± McRae was saying in between spoonfuls of a spicy-smelling soup. ¡°The rules for the different Guilds are too different.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Bert asked as he approached the table.

    ¡°I want them to pay for their stay while they are here with stuff from the ruins,¡± Bell said with a stern look at McRae. ¡°But they want to pay in credit.¡±

    ¡°Credit?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Is that a currency around here?¡±

    ¡°Guild credit,¡± McRae clarified, ¡°We will offer credit toward joining our guilds instead of funds.¡±

    ¡°Do we want to join their guilds?¡± Bert asked Bell, who just laughed at the look of shock on the assembled people¡¯s faces.

    ¡°I understand you are new to this area,¡± A dark-skinned woman with a bald head and sharp features said carefully, ¡°But you will not get far without being part of at least one guild.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right,¡± Bert smiled, ¡°Well, we already have Grower¡¯s Guild membership,¡± He shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can scrounge up a few more memberships when we have time.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m fine with paying in spoils,¡± A blond man with orcish features said it a grin. ¡°Saves lugging it somewhere else to sell. I¡¯m sure my guildies will be happy to do the same,¡± He stood and extended a hand to Bert, ¡°Sonny Rickter, nice to meet you. I¡¯m Delver¡¯s Guild liaison here.¡±

    ¡°Bert Hudson,¡± Bert shook his hand warmly. ¡°Hope the food is to your liking?¡±

    ¡°Lovely,¡± Sonny said with a happy sigh. ¡°And those beds look amazing too,¡±

    ¡°Can we get back to discussing payment?¡± McRae insisted, giving Sonny a sharp look that the man completely ignored.

    ¡°Ruins loot, or I suppose cash is good,¡± Bell crossed her arms.

    ¡°How about my members?¡± The woman asked. ¡°We are Explorers, not Delvers. We don¡¯t loot things.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, right,¡± Sonny laughed. ¡°Your museums aren¡¯t full of loot in any way.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Bert thought momentarily, ¡°You must do something here, right?¡± Bert nodded to her.

    ¡°Yes,¡± She nodded. ¡°We make maps, take notes of interesting new discoveries, and catalog the plants and animals found. We also take samples.¡± She stared flatly at Bert. ¡°How are we supposed to pay with that?¡±

    ¡°Well, we can use maps, definitely the new discovery stuff, oh, and any samples of plants and animals, especially seeds and the like,¡± Bert said excitedly. ¡°I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t take too much effort to make an extra map or a second set of notes.¡±

    The woman stared at him, her eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Notes, maps, and samples?¡± She asked again. ¡°We can pay with those?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Also, bonuses for any nice art pieces you can collect for us.¡±

    Bell smiled at that, beaming at the thought of new art to collect.

    ¡°Unexpected,¡± The woman tapped her nails on the table for a moment. ¡°Abby Hoffstetter, Explorer¡¯s Guild Liason. We have a deal.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Bell clapped her hands happily.

    ¡°Uh, what about me?¡± A lithe figure on the far side raised their hand. ¡°April Weaver, Messenger¡¯s Guild.¡± Her short hair was red, which almost burned against her pure white skin. A long tail twitched behind her. She also seemed a lot shorter than the others on this continent, almost five feet tall at most. ¡°I delivered the message you were coming, and now I¡¯m stuck here.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t carry much money on runs, and I can¡¯t exactly go delving or anything.¡±

    ¡°Messenger?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Like you ran here? Alone?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± April said proudly. ¡°Would have run back, but the damn animals and the weather caught me.¡±

    Even Bell looked impressed.

    ¡°You can stay for free,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Messengers are always welcome at the Waystation.¡±

    ¡°Seriously?¡± She asked, confused. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because he said so,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°You really want to argue against free?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± April said carefully, ¡°But I do want to know why,¡±

    ¡°Back where I come from, there are legends about messengers,¡± Bert said with a smile, ¡°Several of them are legends; we even have a god of messengers, several in fact.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± April sat forward.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°So as a remembrance of all the messengers who made it just in time or died trying, this Waystation is free to messengers.¡±

    ¡°Such a softie,¡± Bell said fondly. ¡°Kind of cool, tho.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m honored,¡± April said happily.

    ===========

    ¡°So what kind of attacks are we expecting?¡± Bud asked Bert as they stood on the top deck of the second carriage, looking out into the gathering darkness outside the Waystation.

    ¡°They say it is varied,¡± Bert said. ¡°But something has killed at least four people without ever being seen.¡±

    ¡°Do you think we are okay?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°I think so,¡± Bert nodded, ¡°Just keep everyone close to each other.¡±

    ¡°Will do,¡± Bud said. He clicked his teeth together loudly, hearing calls back from all down the Waystation. ¡°I have them in groups, with Gavin and Lily helping out.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Bert said. ¡°Plus, I have arranged a little something extra,¡± He nodded to the farming cars, ¡°Just in case.¡±

    Vines with razors of metal sprouting from them grew down the outside of the Waystation, digging into the ground and sprouting into a thick, thorny wall. Black shapes darted amongst the vines, light occasionally glinting off their carapaces.

    ¡°Pretties?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert said with a shiver. The damn things still sent a chill up his spine. Looking over his shoulder to the last car, sitting snug against the gate, he saw a figure in bone and flesh armor looking off into the forest. As he watched, the figure was joined by a twisting mass of vines that pulled back, leaving a vine-clad form behind.

    Gods help whatever tried to attack from that side.

    Nothing else would.

 Chapter 84 - Glamping in the Rough II

    Bert felt the impact against his shield up in his shoulder. His whole arm was going slightly numb. He swept his arm up, his hand transformed into a crossbow as he did, firing a stream of steel bolts, each glowing with Heat or Chill runes.

    He hit nothing. Again.

    The next hit sent him flying back off the top deck. He hit the ground and rolled as a shapeless black shadow chased him. Bert kept blocking, firing, and moving as the mass of shadows pursued him. No matter how fast he returned the attack, he hit nothing. The creature, whatever it was, seemed only to exist at the point of impact.

    Spikes rose from the ground beneath the shadow creature as Way Way tried to strike it down, but they passed harmlessly through the smokelike substance.

    Light made no difference, the creature apparently unaffected by it.

    ¡°Come on, you tricky bastard!¡± Bert growled, ¡°Tell me how to kill you!¡±

    Another tentacle of shadow slammed into his shield, and Bert blasted mana through it, smiling grimly as the tentacle darted away.

    So, there was something that could harm it.

    Bert turned his prosthetic back into a hand, using it to brace his shield as he got the timing down. The attacks were regular, almost machinelike. He counted under his breath before and after each attack. Once he was sure¡­.

    Bert released a massive blast of mana at the exact moment of impact. The blast traveled up the tentacle and blasted into the center mass.

    A brief hissing screech sounded, and the smoky substance began to dissipate.

    ¡°Mana!¡± Bert yelled through his cupped hands, ¡°They are vulnerable to mana bursts when they strike.

    He stood in the dark, grinning wider and wider as he heard hissing screeches from all around him.

    He took a moment, leaning against one of the stone pillars as he watched mana-charged arrows flying across the enclosed space. Once Bud knew how to end these things, they had no chance.

    The hour-long attack had ended in under a minute, with the last hissing screech of whatever these things were.

    He had tried to Analyze one, but nothing had come back. Maybe if he came across another, he would try again as it struck out at something.

    Might work.

    A few hours later, Bert stretched after a decent nap; it was his turn on watch again. He joined Wendy and Scruff as they patrolled the top of the Waystation in the last couple of hours before dawn.

    ¡°Did I miss anything interesting?¡± Bert asked as he sipped a spiced tea that the Grower¡¯s Guild had introduced them to.

    ¡°Nothing much,¡± Scruff said as a group of vines hauled a mass of bleeding flesh over the side of the farming carriage.

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert asked, his eyes tracking another huge corpse being stuffed forcefully into the side of the farming carriage. ¡°Nothing at all?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Scruff said casually.

    ¡°All quiet, nothing to report,¡± Bert nodded as a wet squelching noise sounded clearly from behind Scruff¡¯s frantically relaxed face. ¡°Nothing¡­ to¡­ report.¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Scruff smiled as a bright spray of blood erupted as the vines ripped the stubborn carcass in half.

    ¡°Wonder what¡¯s for breakfast?¡± He asked. ¡°Sure could use some meat.¡±

    ¡°Oh, for fuck sake!¡± Wendy lost her patience. ¡°It¡¯s right there; we can all see it, we can HEAR it!¡±

    Bert and Scruff laughed as Wendy raged silently.

    ¡°They are called BruteOxen,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°They went near the camp, so I had some vines harvest them.¡±

    ¡°How near?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Near-ish,¡± Scruff smiled innocently.

    ¡°Could I walk there before breakfast?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Probably,¡± Scruff said before breaking into a smile, ¡°If you walk fast.¡±

    ¡°Oh my god,¡± Wendy sighed, ¡°You¡¯re as bad as he is!¡±

    ¡°I just hope they taste good,¡± Bert said. ¡°We need meat for the guests.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, well, my babies need feeding,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°Better these than the guests.¡±

    Bert had almost got the first bite of BruteOx stake in his mouth at breakfast when Mic and Ric came charging into the dining hall.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t do it!¡± They said immediately.

    Bert eyed his steak longingly before sighing and putting it back on his plate.

    ¡°Do what?¡± He asked without turning.

    ¡°You better come see.¡± They shifted nervously. ¡°And please don¡¯t bring Bell.¡±

    ¡°Well, now I¡¯m definitely coming,¡± Bell said from above them.

    The orcs flinched and looked up with expressions of mounting doom.

    Bell smiled down.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t do it!¡± Mic tried again.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Bert said with a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s go see what they did this time.¡±

    ¡°WE DIDN¡¯T DO IT!¡± The brothers protested in perfect rhythm.

    Bert hurried after the orcs with Bell perched happily on his shoulder.

    They were led down the main corridor all the way back to the storage car. The brothers meekly slipped into line with the other orcs and a pissed-off-looking Bud next to the door to the primary storage room.

    ¡°Bud?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You won¡¯t believe me,¡± Bud said hopelessly, ¡°You better look for yourself.¡±

    With a sense of anxiety, Bert opened the door and peeked inside.

    He slammed it closed again.

    ¡°How?¡± He asked.

    ¡°No idea!¡± Bud shrugged.

    With a deep breath, Bert opened the door again.

    ¡°Hello!¡± Bernhardt chirped from his spot in the corner.

    ============

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t quite done talking to you fine people,¡± Bernhardt beamed as he helped himself to another portion of steak. ¡°This is fine steak, by the way; well done.¡±

    ¡°My pleasure,¡± Bell said smugly as she watched Bert seethe.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you simply come up to the Bear¡¯s Fall?¡± Bert offered slowly as if speaking to a child. ¡°How did you even survive back there for all that time?¡±

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t do that,¡± The old man laughed. ¡°Milly would never let me leave the Guildhall without a fight.¡± He looked serious momentarily, ¡°I wonder if she has noticed I left yet?¡±

    ¡°You must have been alone back there for a week or more,¡± Bert prompted.

    ¡°Not alone!¡± Bernhardt scoffed. ¡°Never alone!¡± He scooped something out of his pocket and held up a series of seedlings. ¡°I took the liberty of bringing some of my friends with me.¡± He fondly stroked the delicate stems and pale leaves.

    ¡°What did you eat?¡± Bert asked, refusing to ask where he went to the bathroom. If the man didn¡¯t offer that information, he would simply burn everything inside.

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t need things like food and water!¡± He laughed. ¡°I simply planted myself in some soil your wonderful Waystation provided me.¡±

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°It did?¡± Bert asked, eyes shooting over to the panel on the wall.

    ¡°He only requested soil¡­I like him.¡±

    ¡°Well, it seems Way Way likes you,¡± Bert sighed in defeat.

    ¡°Oh, I like them too,¡± Bernhardt nodded happily. ¡°They were at least willing to consider a trade.¡± He looked forlorn, ¡°Pity I didn¡¯t bring any of my children with me to trade.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Maybe another one will turn up.¡±

    Bert fought the urge to slam his own face into the table. How did this kind of thing keep happening?

    ¡°Do they at least know where you are?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No idea,¡± Bernhardt said with a dismissive wave. ¡°I know I left a note, but I¡¯m not sure where¡­¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert huffed. ¡°But I have to insist you take a room here at the Bear¡¯s Fall. I don¡¯t think having the head of a Guild living in the luggage carriage would go down so well.¡±

    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Bernhardt said. ¡°I will be quite happy to camp amongst the wonderful creations of your gardener.¡±

    Bert stared at the old man as Bell laughed behind him.

    Fuck it.

    The plants probably wouldn¡¯t eat him anyway.

    Probably.

    ¡°If you are happier that way,¡± Bert said, dragging a hand over his face.

    ¡°Everyone get a good night¡¯s sleep?¡± Bert asked as the same group as last night met on the upper deck after breakfast. McRae looked significantly more lively this morning, as did the others. Food, warmth, comfort, and showers could do wonders for even the most hardened of people.

    A round of nods and thanks answered his question as he sat at a free chair, helping himself to the pot of spiced tea.

    ¡°So, anything you need from us for today?¡± Bert asked Sonny.

    ¡°Some rations wouldn¡¯t go amiss,¡± Sonny smiled back. ¡°Other than that, we should be fine. With this place set up, we can finally get to work on the Ruins themselves.¡±

    ¡°Great, we will have some stuff ready in an hour or so to take with you,¡± Bert said, sending a message to Bell via the Waystation.

    ¡°How about you?¡± He asked Abby.

    ¡°We will just be doing the initial exploration and mapping today,¡± She nodded. ¡°Our attempts up to now have been frustrated by the cold and the local wildlife.¡± She looked uncertain for a moment, then hurried on, ¡°We would appreciate any protection you might be able to offer us.¡±

    ¡°How bad is it out there?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Attacks during the day are rare, but they happen,¡± McRae said sullenly. ¡°Normally, only a couple of creatures. Sometimes, a pair of BruteOx will wander through.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s fine,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll send the Bud Patrol out with you.¡±

    Abby nodded reluctantly.

    ¡°Problem?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Are you sure they will be sufficient?¡± She asked. ¡°They look young.¡±

    ¡°Oh, they are.¡± Bert grinned, ¡°But they are Waystation trained by my Captain, Bud.¡±

    ¡°Very well, thank you.¡± Abby still looked anxious. ¡°Will he be joining us?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°He and Slothy are taking a little hunting trip.¡±

    ¡°Alone?¡± McRae asked. ¡°This is dangerous territory.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not worried,¡± Bert admitted. Anything that could take out Bud and Slothy could take out anyone, so there was no need to worry about it.

    ¡°What about defending here?¡± McRae asked. ¡°We need to know this area is secure.¡±

    ¡°Me, Bell, Scruff, and my Daughter Wendy will be remaining here today,¡± Bert said. ¡°At least until the afternoon, when Wendy will probably take Scruff out to grab some samples and supplies.¡±

    ¡°Just two of you?¡± McRae asked. ¡°Is that wise?¡±

    ¡°Just a Lord and Lady of the Fae, enough plants to destroy a small town and the Waystation itself,¡± Bell said as she entered the room with a tray piled with compressed ration bars.

    McRae swallowed sharply and looked away.

    Bert grinned.

    Once the others set off, Bert was left with McRae and April. McRae still looked troubled, while April just looked lost.

    ¡°Have you got any idea what we need to build to support the site?¡± Bert asked McRae.

    ¡°Yeah, I have a list,¡± McRae grumped. ¡°But it will take months.¡±

    ¡°I think we can speed that up a bit,¡± Bert said, pulling the list towards himself and memorizing it. ¡°I might pop out to collect some materials from the forest before the Explorers set out for the day.¡±

    McRae just shook his head and got up from the table. He wandered out of the room, grumbling to himself.

    ¡°Friendly guy,¡± Bert grinned at April. ¡°What are your plans for the day?¡±

    ¡°None,¡± She huffed. ¡°It¡¯s too cold out to run long distances, and there is nowhere close.¡± She stretched her shoulders, ¡°I¡¯m getting stiff without anything to do.¡±

    ¡°Want me to make you a treadmill?¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± April asked, her brows drawn together in confusion.

    ¡°It''s sort of like a piece of floor that moves so you can run on it without going anywhere,¡± Bert frowned, ¡°Put that way, it sounds ridiculous, but it would let you run.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± April said. ¡°I don¡¯t have anything else to do, and if I don¡¯t run soon, I¡¯ll go nuts.¡±

    Bert took her to find an empty room; once they had one, it only took a moment to rig a simple treadmill on the floor. He added a fold-out bar to the wall so she had something to grab onto. It wasn¡¯t much. Just a tightly stretched bit of roughened leather between a pair of rollers, but Way Way could make sure it ran as it was supposed to.

    April gave it a try, laughing as they started to run faster and faster.

    ¡°I can have the Waystation vary the angle of the treadmill and even add resistance if you like?¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°Please!¡± She grinned, not slowing down.

    Way Way gently tilted the treadmill, simulating running uphill.

    ¡°This is amazing!¡± She laughed.

    ¡°Enjoy,¡± Bert waved and pulled the door closed, giving her some privacy as she ran.

    It was time to get the Express and head out to gather some building supplies.

    ==============

    Bert had ended up taking Gavin, Lily, and Tim out with him. They didn¡¯t need to come, but they did need something to do.

    ¡°Aye!¡± Gavin yelled, ¡°Give it some more!¡± He punched the ceiling of the Express and cheered as it smashed down another tree. ¡°By the Gods!¡± He panted. ¡°I¡¯d no mind one of these things meself!¡±

    Bert laughed as Lily hung out the window, trying to coax Tim back down from the ballista on top of the Express. Her wings fluttered, keeping her firmly in place as the Express tore down another huge tree.

    ¡°Tim, get down here!¡± She called. ¡°You¡¯ll get hurt!¡±

    A rattling laugh was her only response. They had not yet managed to get the Sky Metal armor off the little skeleton, who seemed to have decided they were permanent upgrades.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make me come get you!¡± She called up to him in what Bert thought was a perfect Big Sister voice. She shrieked and ducked inside as a small fireball flew past her. ¡°You little shit!¡± She snarled. ¡°I¡¯ll tell Bud!¡±

    A screech of protest came back.

    ¡°You throw fire at people, and I¡¯m telling!¡± She threatened.

    Bert left them to their arguing as he deployed the collectors properly, grabbing stones and larger rocks for the Waystation as they continued to cut their way through the forest.

    He knew he should feel bad for the deforestation, but this world was not overpopulated, and it could spare a few trees. After they left, it would probably be decades before anyone cut another tree down.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Lily asked, poking the massive succulent as they gathered around it.

    ¡°Isnnae a tree, ya ken?¡± Gavin said, patting it. ¡°Feels a bit weird, too.¡±

    Bert placed his hand against the smooth, cool flesh. It felt halfway between rubber and plastic.

    A flash next to him and a hiss of frustration proved it also didn¡¯t catch fire easily.

    This stuff might actually be useful, Bert mused.

    ¡°Everyone back in the Express,¡± Bert ordered. ¡°No, Tim, inside.¡± Bert caught the little skeleton and pushed him into the cab. ¡°I want to see what happens if I cut it.¡±

    While three sets of eyes, make that two sets of eyes and one set of glowing sockets, watched, he carefully sliced a section off the lowest of the clusters of fans.

    The stalk shivered, and the entire cluster fell to the floor.

    ¡°Huh,¡± Bert poked the cluster gently, summoning his shield in case it released some kind of acid. Nothing happened. He tried again with another cluster, and the cluster dropped off before his sword even touched it.

    Bert paused.

    ¡°How did it do that?¡± A breathy voice next to Bert muttered. He looked around, seeing Lily pressed against the window, watching intently.

    ¡°I thought I told you to wait in the Express,¡± Bert said casually.

    ¡°I am, look¡­¡± Lily huffed. ¡°Oh, bugger!¡±

    Bert laughed as Lily faded into sight.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Bert said. ¡°I don¡¯t think it is dangerous.¡± He put a hand gently on the stalk. ¡°Thank you, whatever you are.¡±

    Two more clusters dropped. Bigger ones from further up.

    ¡°Any chance of a seed. We have a gardener on board who would love to get to know you?¡± Bert asked.

    A long silence.

    ¡°Why are you talking to the plant?¡± Lily whispered to him. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    The ground trembled beneath their feet, and Lily jumped back with a yelp.

    A thin tendril pushed out of the ground and dropped an off-white teardrop on the ground.

    ¡°Very kind, thank you,¡± Bert said, scooping it up. ¡°Once she figures out what you like, I¡¯ll come back and say a proper thank you. In the meantime, I¡¯ll ensure no one touches anything like you in the area.¡±

    He and Lily carried the clusters back to the Express, loading them into the collector before they left.

    Bert whistled happily as Lily sat there, stunned, and Tim took the opportunity to scamper back onto the roof.

    The Express rolled back up its ramp an hour later, full to the brim with wood and an assortment of stone, rock, and even a good number of the strange rubbery plastic clusters.

    He left Gavin and Lily unloading while Tim sat on the roof of the Express and shot fireballs over the wall.

    He climbed up to the Farm carriages, seeing that Slothy had already set out with Bud as he passed. He was looking forward to showing Scruff the new seeds but never got a chance.

    ¡°Why is there an old man planted in my fucking garden?¡± Scruff grabbed his arm, dragging him over to a corner of the middle level.

    There, buried up to the waste in the soil at the end of a row of bolt bushes, was Bernhardt. He was snoring away; his back leaned against one of the supports, his arms hanging limply.

    ¡°How did he even get here?¡± She hissed.

    ¡°He snuck on board,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°We only found him this morning.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Scruff demanded, frowning. ¡°You can sense anything happening in this place.¡±

    ¡°Can, not always do,¡± Bert said. ¡°You get used to not spying on people,¡± He cleared his throat, ¡°And it seems Way Way likes him, so they never told us.¡±

    ¡°So I¡¯m stuck with him?¡± Scruff demanded.

    ¡°For a bit, yeah.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m sure Milly will figure it out before too long and come collect him.¡±

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Scruff said, kicking a stray pebble. ¡°You so owe me for this!¡±

    ¡°How about these?¡± Bert said, pulling the succulent seeds from his storage. ¡°They were given by those huge smooth succulent-like trees.¡±

    ¡°Given?¡± Scruff asked, her eyes locked on the seeds.

    ¡°I wanted to cut some of the fan clusters, but they dropped off. I had a hunch and asked for a seed.¡± He smiled, seeing the spark in Scruff¡¯s eyes. ¡°So a tendril gave me this¡­ and a few other of them did as well.¡±

    ¡°They think?¡± Scruff¡¯s hands twitched, ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Something like it,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°So¡­. we even?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, gimme.¡± She made grabbing motions with her hands.

    Bert handed them over and headed off, completely forgotten by Scruff, who was sitting on the floor, whispering to the seeds.

 Chapter 84B - Interlude - Bonding Time

    Slothy padded happily down the ramp from the Bear¡¯s Fall and sat down to wait. It didn¡¯t take long for Bud to come bounding out of the Waystation and give her a few head pats and scritches.

    No one gave skritches like a skeleton. Bud¡¯s bony fingers were perfect for a really good scratch. Usually, Slothy would be happy just to get skritches and pats all day, but she was excited to get going.

    She shuffled, nudging his hand away, and her faithful Bud immediately mounted up. His heels pressed against her fur to let her know he was ready.

    It always made her smile how he thought it was him that balanced in that saddle. Slothy knew the truth. She walked carefully forward, using her shoulder muscles to hold the strange seat stable as she moved.

    Preening at the stares of fear and respect from the assembled masses as she ambled carefully out of the gate, Slothy felt every inch the Princess that she was always told she was.

    As she strolled into the forest, sniffing for any likely prey scents, Slothy reveled in the normality of it. So much had changed lately, and everyone was always so busy. Slothy was sure that was why she was given the central car in the Waystation. No matter where they were headed, everyone always took a moment to stop in and give her a few pats and hugs.

    Even her human, who didn¡¯t feel or smell so human these days, and her pixie, who felt much more human these days, stopped by for hugs every day.

    Hugs were nice.

    Slothy made a mental note to give Gavin more hugs. Her pet needed to know she cared about him, even if he still struggled and swore whenever she washed him.

    Bud whistled softly, and a slight pressure on her left side directed her towards a new direction. She sniffed, but the wind was blowing the wrong way for her to get a good sense of things.

    Bud put a hand on her neck, and Slothy lowered herself to crawl forward on her powerful legs. There was movement ahead, and it smelled¡­ tasty.

    Pushing a shrub aside with her muzzle, Slothy saw their target. It was a big thing, with horns and large muscles. Dark fur covered its body. It smelled good, like the meat that her human called steak.

    Mouth watering, she tensed herself to charge but slumped as she heard Bud¡¯s stick thrower¡¯s string pull taught. She never got to do the killing when he did that.

    The string twanged, and a stick with a glowing tip slammed into the head of the beast. It slumped, dead.

    Slothy huffed in irritation.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Bud laughed, ¡°The next one is yours, I promise.¡±

    Slothy thought she should have gone first but padded forward and let Bud claim the kill anyway. She liked Bud, so she would be generous.

    Bud was just climbing back into his funny chair thing on her back when a tantalizing scent tickled her nose. It wasn¡¯t the same as the beast they had just killed; it smelled¡­ stronger. Slothy let out a low growl and shifted her head to face the direction the scent came from.

    ¡°Got another one?¡± Bud asked. ¡°Lead on, then.¡±

    Slothy stalked forward, trying to keep her heavy paws from making a sound as she moved through the forest. She was just passing one of the large, strange green things with big fans on it when the scent changed slightly. Anger and fear were mixing into the smell.

    She began to lope forward, the need for stealth gone as it must have sensed her somehow. Crashing up ahead and snarls.

    SOMETHING WAS ATTACKING HER PREY!

    Slothy roared a challenge, shouldering aside trees as she raced through the forest. A yelp from Bud made her hesitate, but a command to her vine pet sent it up to hold him in place.

    Slothy burst out of the forest, seeing a large squat reptilian creature covered in scales. It was on all fours, with long, powerful legs and a thick tail that stood stiffly out behind it. Large jaws lined with sharp teeth were currently clamped around the strangest creature Slothy had ever seen.

    It looked like a ball of fur, with short, thick legs and powerful arms. Large eyes stuck out from between the fur near the very top of the ball. Slothy stopped, her head turning this way and that as she tried to figure out what it was.

    Bud was yelling something, but she was busy, so she ignored him. The strange thing pulled itself from the jaws of its attacker. Long rivulets of blood flowed over its fur as the ball of fur opened.

    Slothy felt her jaw hang open as a huge mouth was revealed, almost half of the body as a single mouth! Sharp teeth clamped down on the reptile, digging deep into the scaly flesh.

    Slothy was impressed!

    She chuffed happily as the reptile began to thrash uselessly.

    ¡°Slothy!¡± Bud yelled, ¡°We have to go!¡±

    Slothy blinked, looking around suspiciously. More of the reptiles were slinking out of the forest, low to the ground, hissing ominously. With a mighty twist, the furball finished off its attacker, turning to face the newcomers.

    ¡°Slothy!¡± Bud yanked on the fur on the back of Slothy¡¯s neck.

    Rude!

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    Slothy huffed and pulled away.

    ¡°Slothy, behind us!¡± Bud called urgently.

    Slothy looked behind her, seeing a pair of giant lizards creeping towards her.

    Ruder!

    Slothy looked back at the furball, now being attacked from all sides¡­ and saw the little ones.

    A small cave was revealed as the furball tottered under a new attack. In it, she saw the cubs.

    Cubs.

    Slothy felt the rage rushing through her body for a fraction of a second before she heard Bud.

    ¡°Are those babies? Oh fuc-¡±

    The rest was lost as she surged to her back legs, roaring a challenge to the reptiles, the forest, and anything that would attack a cub!

    Her powerful paws slapped off the head of the first lizard to answer her challenge. She ripped the throat from the second as she heard Bud swearing as he began to fire as fast as he could.

    ¡°Dammit!¡± He growled. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring enough arrows for this!¡±

    ============

    Slothy began to think she had made a mistake as the fight began to drag on. The first few lizards had been easy, but the larger ones were tougher. She was driven back, closer to the furball, as more and more of the creatures came from the forest. Bodies began to litter the clearing.

    Bud was out of arrows, and she saw his swords flashing in the edges of her vision as she fought.

    She could run, Slothy knew.

    But if she did, those cubs would die!

    Slothy roared and reached for more power¡­ and came up empty. She was fighting as hard as she could already, and she was starting to tire.

    She growled in frustration as she stamped on a lizard, crushing its spine beneath her weight.

    She had seen her human and pixie fight for longer than this! Was she some kind of child? She chuffed at the thought. Princess Slothy, a child! As if! She was a big girl now!

    So how did they do it?

    Another one of those annoying messages popped up, and she shook her head to clear it. A lizard tried to take advantage of her inattention, darting at her neck, but a sword skewered it before it could.

    It wouldn¡¯t clear!

    Level Up!

    Evolution Available!

    Fae Compatibility Detected!

    Perform Fae Evolution?

    Chuff/Huff?

    What was that all about?

    Slothy was too busy to worry about it, but the floaty words got in the way of her being able to see. She took a moment to consider it while she tore the head from a particularly large lizard.

    Fae¡­ that was what her human and pixie were¡­ right? She was sure they had said something like that.

    A loud roar in the forest proceeded the most giant lizard she had ever seen. It was even bigger than her!

    Slothy let out a chuff, looking forward to the challenge.

    Evolution Accepted!

    Wait, what?

    Slothy whined as pain raced through her body. She felt herself tremble and felt as if she couldn¡¯t breathe for a moment.

    And then¡­

    Fire traced a pattern all over her body. She couldn¡¯t focus on what it was¡­ but it seemed familiar.

    The fire faded in moments, and Slothy saw the great lizard rushing towards her, mouth open.

    Slothy reared, and the world changed.

    Something roared into and out of her body in a torrent. It felt like sunrise and rain on hot fur. It felt like cool morning air and waking up from a good nap.

    Most of all, it felt like power.

    Slothy grabbed the power as it moved through her and felt her body absorb it. So she did it again.

    The lizard in front of her arrived, mouth open.

    Slothy caught the jaws in each paw and pulled. There was a moment of resistance, so she took more of the power, feeding it into her arms and shoulders.

    With a wet tearing noise, the jaws parted, snapped, and came off in her paws. The lizard wailed in pain. Slothy darted her head forward, her teeth passing through thick scales and skin as effortlessly as she had ever felt.

    The lizard gurgled as it died.

    Looking around, the other lizards were scattering, fleeing into the forest.

    Slothy threw her head back and roared!

    And then she did it again.

    And again.

    ¡°Slothy!¡± Bud complained. ¡°I¡¯m going deaf back here!¡±

    Whoops! Slothy lowered herself with an apologetic chuff.

    She had forgotten he was there!

    ============

    The strange furball had survived, sort of.

    It lay bleeding on the floor in front of the cave, rivers of blood pumping from it. The poor thing had lost an arm.

    It tensed as Slothy approached, but she whined and nudged it, showing she was friendly.

    It let out a long keening noise as it reached for its cubs with its one remaining arm.

    They came out of the cave, clustering around it with cute little chirping noises.

    Slothy sat down, watching.

    The big one keened and chirped at its young. A blood-covered hand reached out and pushed them towards Slothy, one at a time.

    Then it stilled.

    The little ones keened and wailed.

    Slothy nuzzled them, giving them kisses and head pats to try and calm them.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Slothy,¡± Bud patted her neck. ¡°You did your best.¡±

    Slothy nodded sagely; she really had.

    She gathered the little ones into a hug, nuzzling them as they keened. Eventually, they all quieted, nestling into her fur.

    She let them nap there, in her arms, as Bud went around and collected some of the dead bodies. When they woke, she tore off strips from the reptiles and fed them.

    ¡°We have to head back,¡± Bud said a little later from his spot, watching the little ones. ¡°They are safe now, I think.¡±

    Slothy nodded. They were safe now. With her. She chuffed at them as he climbed up onto her back. The tottering little furballs, with their big eyes, lined up behind her.

    ¡°Well, I guess we can look after them for a bit,¡± Bud said. ¡°If you want.¡±

    Slothy chuffed again, thanking him for being a good friend.

    Slothy held her head high as she walked back into the Waystation. Her new family followed happily along behind her. Her human hurried past with only a confused look. Slothy smiled happily to herself.

    See, she knew he would be fine with it. He might have complained a little when she adopted Gavin, but he got used to the idea¡­ besides her new ones were cute!

    The Waystation obviously agreed as she felt it examining the new ones and making cooing noises.

    She seemed to be the only one who heard the Waystation in her head, but that was okay.

    She was special, after all.

    She was a Princess.

    Everybody said so.

 Chapter 85 - Glamping in the Rough III

    Bert sank into the tides of the Waystation with a happy sigh. Collecting supplies and building materials seldom resulted in discovering a new mystery. His morning excursion had yielded more than just the seeds; it had opened up something that his people could solve. Let the rest of them scrub the ruins dry; they had their own mystery!

    ¡°Welcome back!¡± Way Way sounded excited as well.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bert said, ¡°We have a bit of building to do, but first¡­ how are those materials we collected?¡±

    ¡°Great, some bizarre things are mixed in with the stone and wood.¡± Way Way trilled.

    ¡°Those massive fan clusters should open up some new building options for us,¡± Bert agreed. ¡°What about those weird trees, the ones with the silk-like stuff on them?¡±

    ¡°They are what I am most excited about!¡± Way Way said while feelings of smugness radiated from the mana tides all around Bert, ¡°With enough of them, I think I can make cloth!¡±

    ¡°That would be awesome,¡± Bert agreed, ¡°Is it strong enough?¡±

    ¡°The actual fronds are almost as strong as steel; that is just hidden by how thin they are.¡± The voice hesitated, ¡°I will need to find a way to combine the fronds into thread before they can be used.¡±

    ¡°I think I might be able to help there,¡± Bert said, going on to explain the childhood skill of platting threads together. A favorite of bored kids everywhere, and now, of the Waystation.

    By the time he finished explaining how there were ways to add more threads at once and wrapping or spinning thread¡­ Way Way was almost vibrating with excitement.

    There was something so comforting about a consciousness the size of a small town becoming enamored with platting threads together that he almost forgot why he was there in the first place.

    Still, he could give the Waystation a few minutes to enjoy itself, right?

    Almost an hour later, Bert finally brought up the build mode. Way Way was still distracted by their new hobby, but they were literally born to multitask.

    Enough time had passed this morning for the teams to have collected their tents and moved in fully to the Waystation. The entire central area was clear of obstructions as Bert set to work. Some bits were easy; They had a set of buildings already planned out, so it was pretty close to the old drag-and-drop of RTS or city-building games at this point.

    Starting with a classic, the first building was a small Barn. It had nostalgia value as well as being the best storage option mankind had come up with. Everything after that was simply iterating on the basic design. For this one, Bert added some light crystals and an interior floor and converted the Hayloft into a complete second level.

    After a moment¡¯s thought, he added an awning to the front, assuming someone might want to guard the place. Guards always appreciated something to keep the rain off.

    His final touch was a central stone platform for people to place their own heating methods on. He wanted the place to be usable after they left, after all.

    Bert duplicated the design and then shrank it slightly before adding a steel enclosure with a heavy door. It was not much of a vault, really, but it would do for now. Somewhere to store stuff no one wanted others to touch. He added guard posts, a desk in front of the vault, and the enlarged Hayloft gave a height advantage to guards placed up there.

    With both of those placed, about a third of the interior space was taken up already, so he decided to improvise.

    Bert built four cabins instead of bunkhouses, which was what was on McRae¡¯s list. Using a steel frame, Bert was able to make the cabins three stories high, and sinking the foundations deep kept the things stable in even the worst storm. The interiors were basic and lacked blankets or cushions; otherwise, they were perfectly functional. A central chimney carried heat through the buildings to ensure everyone would be warm and comfortable.

    As a final touch, Bert added a silo-like building, half dug into the ground with a spiral staircase that went around the inside wall and several floors. The below-ground areas were lined with stone and would be cold enough to act as ice and food stores, while the above-ground areas would offer extra storage and space for crafting, you name it.

    None of this was instant, of course; it took hours to complete, and Bert was starting to feel the strain.

    He was happy with the results, however. The buildings ringed the inside of the Waystation in a circle. The central area was clear and allowed easy movement. In case of rain, he added cobbled paths that all led to a central cobbled circle that would keep the mud at bay if storms hit.

    There was more to be done, of course. They hadn¡¯t made any defenses as yet, as the Waystation was the outer wall at this point. It would do for now, however.

    Bert was just about to leave the tides when he remembered his promise to the strange plant creatures.

    He added a large sign over the gate, warning anyone in the area not to harm the strange trees on pain of expulsion from the Waystation.

    With a final goodbye to Way Way, who was still distracted with platting, he rose out of the tides and went to get himself some much-needed dinner.

    =============

    ¡°I think you broke McRae!¡± Bell laughed as he entered the Waystationer¡¯s private dining area. Bert had avoided the public areas as, frankly, he was too tired to deal with people right now.

    ¡°Sorry I was so long,¡± Bert smiled back, getting a much-needed hug before he collapsed at the table.

    ¡°No problem,¡± Bell shrugged, ¡°I was entertained watching McRae have several mental breakdowns all in one day.¡± She clicked her fingers, summoning a plate of steak and vegetables, and plopped it down before him. ¡°Want some tea?¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± Bert said, with feeling. He watched Bell making the tea by hand, humming happily to herself as she added the herbs and spices to the steaming water. He couldn¡¯t quite believe how well they worked together. They still fought, of course, but something about them just clicked.

    It was something he had always wanted, had even thought he had found it a couple of times before¡­ but now he felt it for real. They just worked. Everything felt natural.

    He looked away just as she turned, returning his attention to the steak on his plate with relish.

    He knew Bell had caught him staring because she was smirking.

    ¡°So, what happened to McRae?¡± Bert asked, changing the subject before she could ask what he was thinking.

    ¡°Oh, he is a builder class,¡± Bell poured the tea. ¡°He was busy telling everyone how long it would take even a Master Builder like him to make a single bunkhouse without help when the Barn popped up out of the ground!¡±

    Bell sat down, chatting away in between sips of tea.

    McRae had apparently barely recovered from the first Barn when the second one started to rise. Then, he had completely lost it as the four cabins rose from the ground in stages.

    Bell laughed as she recounted McRae storming off, wandering through the Waystation in a daze, only to end up on the farming car, staring in horror as Bernhardt planted himself for a nap.

    Apparently, the silo had been the last straw, causing him to throw his hands in the air and retire to his room with a bottle of wine.

    Bell giggled as she tried to pour them both some more tea.

    He was staring again, he knew.

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    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked suspiciously.

    ¡°I love you,¡± Bert said simply. The words just felt natural at that moment, in the warmth of the Waystation, with a full belly and a cup of warm tea in his hands.

    He had realized that he could spend eternity in this moment and never want to leave.

    ¡°I¡­¡± She swallowed hard. ¡°I love you too.¡±

    Bert smiled and went back to his tea, catching tears in Bell¡¯s eyes as she smiled at him.

    =============

    ¡°What happened?¡± Bert frowned at the bleeding Sonny, slumped in the corner of the entranceway.

    ¡°No idea,¡± Abby shook her head vaguely. ¡°We were on our way back and found him lying outside the entrance they dug.¡±

    Bert summoned one of his few remaining carcasses and activated Reclaim Flesh.

    ¡°Any injuries among your team?¡± Bert asked as he was already healing someone.

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Abby said happily. ¡°The Bud Patrol took care of all attacks with remarkable skill. Just as you said they would.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Bert finished healing Sonny, but he still hadn¡¯t woken up.

    ¡°Anything I can do?¡± Lily offered.

    ¡°Yeah, can you head into the air and scout for any others? Stay hidden, and if you see anyone come and get us, don¡¯t try and rescue them yourself.¡± Bert nodded to Lily, and she dashed out the door, leaping into the air and fading from sight.

    Bert carried Sonny up to his room, laying him in his bed as Bell brought some water and towels for him.

    ¡°What do you think happened?¡± Abby asked.

    ¡°No idea,¡± Bert said. ¡°We will find out when he wakes up.¡±

    ¡°Should we go search?¡± Abby asked, somewhat reluctantly.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert shook his head. ¡°It is almost dark, and we have no idea if we will be attacked tonight. Any search will have to wait till morning.¡± He sighed and pulled the door to Sonny¡¯s room closed. ¡°Are any of his people still in camp?¡±

    ¡°Maybe?¡± Abby hedged. ¡°I think that Mandy is one of his guildies, but I¡¯m not sure.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll check,¡± Bert nodded, ¡°Any idea where she is?¡±

    ¡°That I can tell you,¡± Abby said, ¡°She was just going into the Barn when I came in.¡± She paused before walking away. ¡°How did those buildings get here, by the way?¡±

    ¡°The Waystation made them,¡± Bert said, not caring to explain,

    Abby seemed to sense his attitude and simply walked off, turning onto the stairs to the dining area.

    Bert was just exiting the Bear¡¯s Fall, heading for the storage Barn, when he saw Bud and Slothy enter the gate, a line of small creatures following along behind the smiling Sloth Bear.

    He blinked, then decided he didn¡¯t have time to figure that out just now. He waved to Bud and Slothy and hurried into the Barn.

    ¡°Is there a Mandy in here?¡± Bert called.

    ¡°That¡¯s me!¡± A cheery voice called from upstairs on the second level. Bert hurried up the ladder, finding a tall woman in simple leather armor. She was bald, which he suspected might be the style in some areas, with green eyes and the kind of small but defined muscles you saw on dancers. Something about her screamed Rogue to Bert.

    ¡°Are you with Sonny¡¯s people?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I am,¡± She smiled. ¡°Whatever he¡¯s done, the Guild will pay for it.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s injured,¡± Bert said quickly. ¡°I¡¯ve healed him, and he¡¯s sleeping at the moment, but he hasn¡¯t woken since he was found. Do you know how many people he had with him?¡±

    ¡°Seven,¡± Mandy replied promptly. ¡°A healer, two tanks, a ranger, an archer, and two mages.¡± Her face was set in a professional calm, but a slight tremble around the eyes showed she cared for Sonny. ¡°Where was he found?¡±

    ¡°Abby Hoffstetter found him outside the entrance to the ruins,¡± Bert said. ¡°No sign of others, but I have one of my people searching the area, just in case.¡±

    ¡°I should go and check on the others,¡± She sighed. ¡°Thanks for letting me know.¡±

    ¡°Can it wait till morning?¡± Bert asked. ¡°These attacks, they come at night, and I would prefer no one was outside the walls till morning.¡±

    ¡°What about the team?¡± Mandy asked hotly. ¡°Should I just leave them?¡±

    ¡°If they are in the ruins, chances are you won¡¯t get to them in time.¡± Bert cautioned. ¡°They must be pretty deep in by now. If they aren¡¯t¡­ my people will spot them and bring them home.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it,¡± Mandy huffed, her green eyes burning with the frustration she wasn¡¯t allowing herself to show. ¡°But if you promise to bring in anyone they find, I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t like it much either,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I just don¡¯t see a better way.¡± He headed back to the ladder. ¡°If you follow me, I¡¯ll take you to Sonny.¡±

    ¡°Thank you,¡± She nodded stiffly.

    The first watch that night was quiet, which just gave Bert more time to worry. There was something here that he didn¡¯t like, and it wasn¡¯t just having to wait till morning to go looking for the Delvers.

    Lily hadn¡¯t found so much as a sign of anyone above ground in the last hours before dark, and Sonny was still out cold.

    There was no temperature or fever, but it was still worrying.

    What the hell had happened in those ruins?

    The news Sonny had finally woken reached him just as he was coming off watch.

    The man looked like a washed-out dishrag when Bert got to his room. Mandy held him down, arguing as Sonny tried to force himself out of bed.

    ¡°We have to go!¡± Sonny demanded. ¡°They might still be alive!¡±

    ¡°Stop it!¡± Mandy slapped him. ¡°We can¡¯t go till morning! You know that!¡±

    They turned, seeing Bert in the doorway.

    ¡°You said we have to stay here until dawn?¡± Sonny demanded. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°You were found half dead, unconscious, and bleeding,¡± Bert said soothingly. ¡°The sun was setting, and we could find no sign of anyone else outside the ruins.¡±

    ¡°Then they must still be in there!¡± Sonny protested.

    ¡°I hope so,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°But there is nothing we can do till morning.¡±

    ¡°You think they might really still be alive?¡± Sonny asked, collapsing back against the pillows, a light sweat on his brow.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°What happened in there?¡±

    ¡°That is Guild business,¡± Mandy said coldly. ¡°We keep that information to ourselves.¡±

    ¡°How many other Delver¡¯s Guild are here?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°None,¡± Mandy admitted, her lips pulling into a tight line.

    ¡°How long until more arrive?¡± Bert asked, more gently this time.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± She slumped. ¡°Too long, probably.¡± She shook her head bitterly, ¡°And the Explorers won¡¯t help us.¡±

    ¡°Then, if you want my help, I need to know what happened,¡± Bert said, his voice firm. ¡°You¡¯d say the same if the situation was reversed.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Mandy said bitterly. ¡°But for the record, I don¡¯t like it.¡±

    Bert ignored her, turning to Sonny.

    Sonny took a deep breath and started talking.

    ¡°We knew it was a weird one when we entered it,¡± Sonny said with a weak smile. ¡°The roof we punched through led to a storage room of some kind. It was mostly rubbish, but we were hopeful.¡± He waved his hand, and a lump of metal dropped onto the bed. ¡°Some rare stuff in there.¡± He handed Mandy the metal, and she whistled.

    ¡°This is gold, right?¡± She asked.

    Sonny nodded.

    ¡°There is more in there, lots of it. Like we store iron, they store gold.¡± He winced. ¡°We might have gotten too eager, heading through these weird half-circle hallways and down to the second level. That¡¯s where everything went to shit.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come back?¡± Mandy asked. ¡°When it got bad?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s just it,¡± Sonny said sadly. ¡°We did. Or we tried to. The stairs were blocked, and these things just kept coming for us!¡± His face darkened. ¡°Our healer tapped out on mana quickly, and we lost a tank. Everyone was fighting like hell as we tried to clear the stairs.¡± His arm muscles trembled and twitched as he remembered the fight. ¡°We got a small gap, but that was it.¡± He shrugged. ¡°My swords were broken, so I was sent through to go get help.¡±

    ¡°But they had sent something round behind you?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Bingo!¡± Sonny coughed when he tried to laugh. ¡°Should have seen that coming, but it messed me up good.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s easy to remember in the quiet,¡± Bert said, ¡°Not so easy in the middle of a fight.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Sonny waved the attempt at comfort away. ¡°The last thing I remember was leaping for the exit. I felt something tear open my leg and back, and¡­ it all goes black.¡±

    ¡°How was the team when you left?¡± Bert asked. ¡°They sent you for help, so I assume they felt they could hold, at least for a while?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Sonny nodded. ¡°They were starting to push ¡®em back when I left.¡± He shook his head, ¡°And you know the worst part?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Mandy asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what we were fighting. Some we cut apart easily, others we just hit metal beneath the skin.¡± Sonny lay back into the bed.

    Bert was about to say something, anything, to cheer the man up when a shout from above caught his attention.

    ¡°Looks like we have visitors,¡± Bert sighed and pushed away from the wall he was leaning against. ¡°I¡¯ll go help out; you get some rest.¡±

    Bert was just closing the door to the room when he saw the ghostly form passing through the outer wall. It solidified into a humanoid figure, the head a blank, formless plane of flesh just as his prosthetic finished changing into a crossbow.

    Mandy reacted faster, striking at it with a pair of daggers. It shimmered into a ghost each time she struck.

    As Bert aimed, it reared back, long, clawed fingers ready to strike.

    As the claws scoured against Mandy¡¯s armor, a line of blots impacted the head and chest, pinning the creature to the wall.

    It struggled for a second, parts becoming ghostly before breaking apart. Ethereal smoke floated gently through the walls.

    Bert stared at the results of his Analyze skill in shock.

    Security Drone, Mark Seven

    Construct of the Solpara Empire

    An iterative drone of the Imperial Security Control.

    Flee our lands or die trying; we accept no surrender.

    ¡°Solpara Empire?¡± Bert asked, not really asking anyone in particular.

    ¡°Never heard of it,¡± Mandy shrugged. ¡°Thanks for the save, by the way.¡±

    Bert nodded and ran for the stairs.

    ¡°Way Way! These things are vulnerable when they strike, and only then!¡± He yelled.

    ¡°Understood! I will take appropriate measures and let everyone know!¡±

 Chapter 86 - Search and Rescue I

    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to wish we had never found these damn ruins!¡± Abby hissed as Bert leaped over her shoulder.

    His shield slammed into the security drone before it could fade into its ghostly form. The microsecond of hesitation that caused left it impaled on a long spear of sky-metal flung up from the Waystation. Before he could respond to her, a scream came from outside.

    Bert dashed off again.

    The Waystation was like a kicked ant hill. The crew was constantly moving as they tried to defend their guests from creatures that could literally pass through the walls. Even the Waystation itself was struggling with over fifty of the strange creatures attacking at the same time.

    Fortunately, they went down quickly once you actually managed to catch them in their fleshy form.

    Without that, Bert knew they would have no hope.

    The battle raged for only twenty minutes, but they lost people even in that short time.

    Three of their guests had been killed in their beds, and another four died fighting or fleeing.

    Among their own people, they were lucky. The orcs took a couple of injuries; it would have been worse, but they managed to fall back to the farm carriages, where the plants came to their rescue. Gavin lost an arm defending a couple of Explorers, which Bert was able to regrow.

    He left the Dwarf to recover in the capable and very appreciative care of the two Explorer¡¯s Guild members. Bert couldn¡¯t help but smile as the two women cooed over the beaming Dwarf.

    ¡°Nae bother, lassies!¡± Bert heard him say with faux humility as he closed the door, ¡°Couldnae allow anything to happen to such a beautiful pair, aye?¡±

    By the time the sun came up, the funeral plans had been made, and the bodies were stored in the basement of the silo. He met up with Bell to decide what to do about the missing Delvers.

    ¡°They¡¯re dead,¡± Bell said simply. ¡°There is no chance they survived the night.¡±

    ¡°Most likely,¡± Bert agreed.

    ¡°We¡¯re gonna have to go look anyway, aren¡¯t we?¡± Bell sighed.

    ¡°Pretty much.¡± Bert drained his teacup, quickly refilling it. ¡°We were fine last night, almost got our buts kicked, but we managed. I don¡¯t know how long we can last here, though.¡±

    ¡°Figures,¡± Bell sighed. ¡°No one got any experience from them, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t think they are real creatures,¡± Bert explained what his Analyze skill had told him.

    ¡°Summons?¡± Bell asked. ¡°That sucks.¡±

    ¡°And I¡¯d bet the summoner is down in those ruins.¡±

    ¡°Unless it is the ruins?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Could be,¡± Bert acknowledged. ¡°Either way¡­¡±

    ¡°Someone has to go look,¡± Bell agreed. ¡°Find a way to stop it.¡±

    They watched each other quietly for a while, but it was Bert who was the first to say it.

    ¡°We can¡¯t both go.¡± There, it was said. They both knew it. Someone strong had to stay here, someone who could get the Waystation to safety if something happened down there.

    It was almost like those stories from back on earth. The ones where both parents never traveled on the same plane¡­ just in case. He never thought to be in the situation himself.

    ¡°I¡¯ll stay,¡± Bell said quietly. ¡°I can cover the entire place with Multi-Bells. It will let you take the most people with you.¡±

    ¡°Okay, But the orcs stay here as well,¡± He sighed. ¡°And Gavin.¡±

    Neither of them mentioned Tim. The little Gnork was like a child and would stay here no matter what.

    ¡°Really?¡± Bell said coldly. ¡°Anyone else you want to leave here?¡±

    ¡°I''m thinking it should be me, Bud, Wendy, and Scruff,¡± Bud admitted. ¡°Maybe Lily, if she can stay hidden.¡±

    Bell stared at him.

    ¡°Why?¡± She asked through clenched teeth.

    ¡°Other than you, we are the strongest fighters. Any of us gets separated from the others¡­ I reckon we can fight our way out solo.¡± Bert went on, ¡°Lily can hide indefinitely. That leaves you, Slothy, Gavin, and the Orcs as our backup team.¡± Bert explained. ¡°If it gets too bad, we can camp in place and hold until you come and get us.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Bell said, slightly mollified. ¡°How long do we wait?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°We aren¡¯t back by this time tomorrow; you come looking.¡±

    Mandy joined the group as they started to move towards the gate.

    ¡°This is it?¡± She asked. ¡°Four people?¡±

    ¡°Five,¡± Bert amended.

    ¡°Yeah, fine. I¡¯ll come.¡± She huffed.

    ¡°He wasn¡¯t talking about you,¡± A voice said from apparently nowhere.

    Mandy yelped, and Bert tried to hide his smile.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come anyway,¡± Mandy insisted. ¡°And we will need at least another five. Maybe ten?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said. ¡°No one else.¡±

    ¡°You aren¡¯t even going to look for them, are you?¡± Mandy accused. ¡°This is just pantomime!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll look,¡± Bert said. ¡°Numbers didn¡¯t help the last team, did it?¡±

    Mandy ground her teeth.

    ¡°I¡¯ll come with you as far as the entrance, at least.¡± She spat the words as an accusation. ¡°To make sure you go in.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Bert said. He nodded to the others.

    Wendy whistled, six black shapes scuttling out of the Waystation''s shadows and forming around her. She was already in her bone suit.

    Scruff held out a hand, and vines erupted from the ground, wrapping her in a shifting armor that sprouted flowers on her shoulders. Bud and Bert simply summoned their weapons and armor before a last nod had them moving again.

    They exited the gates, seeing the bumps that marked the rooves of the ruins a little ahead.

    ¡°Tides!¡± Bert called, and they slowly began to cycle their man tides, a soft glow permeating them all. They jogged through the forest, Bud¡¯s arrows occasionally taking out a threat.

    In under a minute, they arrived at the entrance. Wendy waved the Pretties in, and they waited.

    ¡°Clear!¡± She called.

    Bert jumped down, hearing the others do the same as they dropped into the gloomy shadows below.

    ===========

    The entrance was just as described. A glorified closet or pantry with empty shelves, dust, and a few broken crates.

    ¡°We go slow, we go careful, and if it looks dangerous, we kill it on sight,¡± Bert said to the others. ¡°We clear each and every place we come to and make sure we have a safe path out.¡±

    Moving out of the entrance, they found the strange hallways Sonny had mentioned. Flat floors with the walls and roof being a smooth half circle. Everything was white stone, smooth and unmarred by seams or cracks. It looked shaped rather than built. Bert would think it was carved if not for the fact he had seen no white stone like this anywhere in the valley.

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    No sounds came from the darkness ahead of them.

    ¡°Want some light orbs?¡± Lily whispered.

    ¡°Yeah, but keep them above and a bit behind us, okay?¡± Bert asked.

    A low, pale light sprung up behind the group, rising until it illuminated the passage ahead. It had a strange quality to it, an off-white light with hints of purple and blue. It flickered slightly as if it came from a torch.

    Bert was puzzled by it, holding up his hand and seeing how it looked in the strange light. He noticed the others were doing the same.

    ¡°Lily?¡± He asked.

    ¡°They are will o¡¯ the wisp lights,¡± Lily said. ¡°Their light can only be seen by the ones I choose to see it.¡±

    ¡°So we have light no one else can see?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Lily sounded pleased with herself. ¡°It affects non-fae badly; they get all dazed and sleepy, but it has no effect on Fae.¡±

    ¡°Hah!¡± Scruff grinned. ¡°This fae stuff is crazy.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Bert said, ¡°We have a lot of searching to do.¡±

    He wasn¡¯t wrong. They moved slowly, checking each room and passage they came to. Once it was cleared, Scruff planted vines to cover the openings, keeping a single clear path back to the exit.

    They came across what appeared to be houses, storage, and even small offices. It was underwhelming in the extreme. Especially since they didn¡¯t encounter a single enemy.

    After almost two hours, they came to a set of stairs leading down. It was in the center of a large structure, complete with railings and a spiral of stairs that led down below. The place looked more ornate than the other buildings, but whatever it had been had collapsed above this floor, leaving scattered rubble and fallen walls.

    Descending carefully, they found the stairs blocked with rubble, a single small gap still open, spattered with blood.

    They had found where Sonny had crawled out.

    Bert immediately led them back to the entrance, sending a Pretty up a vine with a note letting Mandy know the first floor was cleared.

    That done, and with confirmation the area behind them had stayed clear, Bert and the team started to clear the blockage.

    He noticed Wendy and Scruff whispering to each other urgently.

    ¡°What?¡± He asked.

    ¡°I want to plant some seeds,¡± Scruff said. ¡°They can start to grow through the walls and stuff.¡±

    ¡°And bring it down on our heads!¡± Wendy huffed.

    ¡°Will they?¡± Bert asked Scruff.

    ¡°No,¡± Scruff said, holding out a small handful of seeds for him to see. ¡°I want to plant them up there,¡± She pointed to the ceiling. ¡°And they can make us a new exit while we search.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert said, ¡°But hurry, please.¡±

    Scruff grinned, dropping the seeds onto a vine that uncurled from her shoulder. The vine shot off, slamming into a gap in the corner.

    ¡°Done!¡± She said happily. ¡°Give my babies a couple of hours, and we will have this entire room and a new exit.¡±

    The last of the rubble cleared, sucked into his storage, and the team moved down to the second level.

    A large oval room greeted them, even larger than the one above. Tunnel openings in the wall here and there were yawning mouths of darkness. A number of dead animals and creatures lay here and there, but only one corpse. It was one of the tanks; Bert could see the man¡¯s shield broken in two, the strange grey creature that killed him still there, his sword buried in its chest like its horns were buried in his chest.

    Bert pulled the animal clear before taking the corpse of the man into his storage.

    ¡°Spring Healed Goat, modified.¡± Bert shook his head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t say what by.¡±

    The goat itself looked much like earth goats, except for much larger back legs and horns. Changing his prosthetic hand into a hatchet, he peeled back the skin, seeing smooth polished metal and stone covering the skull and spine.

    The back legs were also modified, with metallic-looking muscles and reinforced joints. Strange runes on the base of each hoof as well. He didn¡¯t recognize them.

    ¡°What the hell are these things?¡± Wendy asked from where she was carving apart another animal corpse. It looked like a piece of fallen stone, white and grey like the walls around them, but she had flipped it over, revealing soft, slimy-looking pale green flesh. ¡°I just get Punt Toad - modified when I analyze them.¡± She carved it open, the pale flesh parting easily to her sharp bone claws. With a grunt, she pulled out a chunk of rune-covered metal and glass.

    ¡°It¡¯s strange,¡± Bert said, ¡°This almost looks like they were turned into cyborgs.¡±

    ¡°Right?¡± Wendy agreed.

    ¡°Whatever it is, I don¡¯t like it much,¡± Wendy said, kicking the carcass away from her.

    ¡°Something in the tunnel to the right,¡± Bud said, drawing a loosing a glowing arrow as he spoke. Bert watched the arrow thunk into a mass of dark muscle.

    ¡°Behind me!¡± He called, leaping forward as he began to cycle the mana tides at a much higher speed.

    He had barely landed and braced before the creature charged.

    Bert let out an audible grunt as the flat head slammed into his shield. Two vicious horns waved over the top as he chuckled. Sometimes, it paid to be short. The animal¡¯s hooves sparked, and the pressure against him doubled. He braced his shield with his prosthetic, cycling the tides faster as he slid back across the floor.

    After a few more feet, he had it again.

    Arrows were sprouting from the shoulders of the beast to no apparent effect.

    ¡°When I say,¡± Bud said, calmly dropping to a crouch and pulling a new arrow. ¡°Dodge aside.¡±

    Bert drew mana, charging his shield in preparation. As soon as Bud called out, Bert blasted the mana of two full surge tides out of his shield.

    The creature screamed, rearing back as Bert rolled aside. Bud fired, and a crack of thunder boomed through the room.

    A thump, and it was over. The creature lay on the floor, missing its entire head.

    It twitched, and vines pulled it apart.

    ¡°Just to be sure,¡± Scruff shrugged.

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Bert said, wiping a spray of blood and gore from his face. ¡°Mind letting me move first next time?¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± She said, abashed.

    Bert Analyzed one of the bigger chunks left.

    Brute Goat

    Modified

    Crossbreed

    A hybrid between the Brute Ox and Spring Healed Goat. Heavily modified.

    ¡°Well, this sucks,¡± Wendy said, holding up a piece of horn. It gleamed with metal and runework. ¡°I¡¯m used to being the overpowered one.¡±

    ¡°On the other hand, I did level from that kill,¡± Bud said smugly.

    ¡°Really?¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes gleamed.

    ============

    The tunnels on this level were different. Round, with raised walkways on either side. A series of openings from above and the sides gave away what they were even if the lingering smell didn¡¯t.

    ¡°How bad did this sewer stink if they still smell?¡± Wendy asked as they made their way through yet another endless tunnel, their feet clicking against the brickwork.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope we never find out,¡± Bert said, with feeling. He kept a wary eye on the pipes lining the tunnel''s top. More than once, some strange stick-bug-like creature had dropped from there, camouflaged as one of the pipes until after it moved.

    ¡°My question is,¡± Bud said ominously, ¡°Where are all the enemies?¡±

    There was a collective groan as sounds emerged from the end of the tunnel.

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert sighed. ¡°Why did you have to say that?¡±

    ¡°Levels,¡± Bud shrugged his bow off his shoulder.

    The group picked up the pace, running for the end of the tunnel so they could create a choke point.

    They only just made it, with a teeming mass pouring into the far side of the room just as Bert took his place in the entrance.

    He enlarged his shield, using it to block the end of the sewer tunnel as his team got ready.

    ¡°Look up,¡± Lily whispered in his ear.

    Bert did, seeing the Spring Healed Goats running across the ceiling.

    That was just bullshit!

    ¡°Goats on the ceiling, be careful!¡± Bert called.

    Wendy laughed from behind him.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna make a kebab!¡± She grinned as her Pretties chittered excitedly next to her.

    ¡°Ready!¡± He called, and they all nodded.

    ¡°Let¡¯s do this,¡± Bert said, summoning his pot onto his head as he dropped the mana shield, hacking his way forward a step into the room.

    He was flooded with enemies almost immediately. Mana blasts through his shield kept the pressure from overwhelming him as he swung his axe-shaped prosthetic through the first attackers to reach him. A dull thud on his helm let him know the goats had arrived.

    Arrows poured over his head, glowing with mana and death. Goats rained down as Bud cleared them from the entrance.

    ¡°Clear!¡± He called.

    A blur next to him and the Pretties arrived, their scythe arms swinging as they harvested the enemies. Changing his hand into a sword, Bert began a measured advance.

    Vines coated with razor-like metal thorns reached around the edges of the entrance, tearing and slashing at anything that tried to flank him. Slowly, they pushed forward, him and the Pretties holding the front line until they had over half the circular room cleared.

    A loud boom from his left and a section of the wall beside them crumbled and fell, more enemies swarming through the hole.

    ¡°I got it!¡± Scruff called, her vine-wrapped form struggling for a moment to stem the tide. Scruff snarled; the flowers on her shoulders swiveled and sent sprays of acid against the creatures while her vines dug into the floor, anchoring her in place.

    ¡°You okay?¡± Bert called, worried.

    Scruff turned, her eyes shining with a bright green light.

    ¡°I. Got. It.¡± More vines erupted from her back, darting and slashing over her shoulders as she lifted from her feet. With a wild laugh, she dove through the gap. Blood and the screams of dying animals fountained from what looked like a blender of green vines.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert said. ¡°You got it.¡±

    ¡°My turn!¡± Wendy growled, throwing herself into the fray. Her bone and flesh armor blurred as clawed hands ripped into the enemy.

    Bert fought his way forward as the pressure eased, able to use both the shield and his sword as weapons, sending mana blasts through his shield as he felled enemies left and right.

    Watching Wendy was like watching a dancer. She didn¡¯t move so much as flow from one place to the other. Her clawed hands sent blood fountaining wherever she moved.

    Another five minutes, and it was over.

    Level Up!

    +1 to all main stats!

    ¡°Weird,¡± Bert said. ¡°I got a point in all three main stats instead of just one.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s so unfair!¡± Scruff huffed, coming out of the hole in the wall, red blood vanishing as the greedy vines absorbed it all.

    ¡°Maybe it is different after level thirty?¡± Wendy asked, panting. Her eyes were slightly glazed over, her skin pink with a faint flush.

    ¡°By the way, there¡¯s a hidden room back there and stairs,¡± Scruff said. ¡°I blocked it off with vines.¡±

    ¡°I think we need to go this way,¡± Bert said, peering into the next room.

    ¡°Why?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°There''s a big hole in the wall,¡± Bert said. ¡°And someone just waved at me.¡±

 Chapter 87 - Search and Rescue II

    ¡°We didn¡¯t think that Sonny had made it out,¡± The woman leaned on her tower shield hard, her features drawn and tense. Looking around the small space, Bert saw several people lying in corners, some sleeping, others just unconscious.

    Everyone was covered in blood, with the remains of a small fire in the center of the room. Only two others were still on their feet beside the tank they were talking to.

    A rogue that looked a bit like he had copied Mandy¡¯s look, but male, and a walking corpse of a woman in pale robes. She wavered on her feet, looking distant and unfocused.

    ¡°That¡¯s what¡¯s left of our healer,¡± The tank said quietly. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t stop healing, even when she was out of mana. She just kept drinking down potions, even when they made her scream in pain.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll get some carcasses from the next room,¡± Wendy said, darting out to collect them.

    ¡°You can heal?¡± The tank asked, surprised. ¡°Where is the rest of your group?¡±

    ¡°Yes, and it¡¯s just us,¡± Bert said. He took the first carcass from Wendy and started casting Reclaim Flesh on the worst off.

    The healer mutely followed him around, watching with dead eyes while he and Wendy worked to heal everyone. She let him heal her only after they were done with everyone else.

    Her body reinflated as Bert healed her, but her eyes remained unfocused and distant. Before they moved out, Scruff sealed the stairway with thick, vigorous vines. It wouldn¡¯t hold for long, but it would give them enough time to walk the others out.

    And they were headed out.

    None of the Delver¡¯s Guild argued. They were more than happy to see the last of the ruins for now.

    ¡°What in the Gods¡¯ eyes is all this?¡± The tank stared over the edge of the walkway at the veritable garden growing in the ditches below them.

    Scruff just smiled when Bert raised an eyebrow at her in question.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to waste the good soil,¡± She said eventually. ¡°I always carry some good seeds with me, just in case.¡±

    ¡°Pretty,¡± The healer was staring at the flowers on a vine that was slowly growing up toward the walkway.

    It was the first time she had said a word.

    Wendy gently took her hand and kept leading her along with the others. The way was clear, although it looked like several somethings had tried their luck against the various vines blocking off the side passages.

    All that remained were pools of blood and some very healthy-looking vines. It only took them twenty minutes to reach the stairs again. The direct route was always best when it came to evacuations.  The glow from above was immediately apparent.

    They emerged into bright daylight from the archway above them. It was made of twined vines and bits of rubble. The rest of the roof on one corner had been transformed into a set of broad, strong stairs. Glowing blooms lined the stairs.

    Bert had to admit the smug look on Scruff¡¯s face as everyone stared in wonder was well deserved.

    ¡°Up you go, Ladies and Gentlemen,¡± Bud waved them up the stairs. ¡°Head straight for the Waystation, please.¡±

    Bert sat down on a piece of rubble, marveling at his people. He really needed to get some more levels. He was starting to think he was lagging behind.

    Bud was able to fire arrows fast enough to compete with a machine gun. Wendy was dancing death with an army of creepy crawlies to back her up, and Scruff¡­ she may well be the strongest of them all. Well, except Bell.

    Once everyone had evacuated, Bert led the team back down. They moved quickly through the level and back to the stairs. They still had no idea how many more levels down they would have to go before they found whatever was spawning those Security Drones.

    From the look of the light coming through the arch, they were past noon already. He just had to hope the next levels were smaller than those they had already searched.

    Bert waited, weapons raised, as Scruff pulled back the vines over the stairs.

    A metal fist slammed through the gap, making his shield ring. Bert countered, slamming his axe down, hearing a loud ringing as his whole Prosthetic vibrated with the impact.

    ¡°Light!¡± He called, and the Fae-Lights reappeared.

    A metal statue glowered at him from behind the vines. As soon as the last one pulled back, it stepped out. The hardened metal of a kind he had never seen before sheathed the figure; it almost looked like a suit of armor but without the room on the inside of it. A blast of mana from his shield flowed over the thing as if it was a light breeze.

    The figure bowed once, and he finally realized what it reminded him of. It was an artist¡¯s dummy but with hands and a face. Two more blows rained on his shield as it advanced.

    Striking out with his shield, Bert watched it easily sidestep the blow and launch a kick at him. The metal foot dented his chest piece as he was forced back a step.

    An arrow lodged in one arm joint, which slowed the creature slightly.

    Bert took the opportunity to change his prosthetic into a hammer, a glowing heat rune engraved on the head.

    Scruff sent her vines at the thing, but it simply ripped itself clear of them and kept coming.

    Bert did something he had not had to do in a long time. He cycled the tides as fast as he could, the mana coursing through his muscles and bones to strengthen them. The dummy came again; his hammer struck it in the chest, his full power behind it, leaving a faint impression on the dark metal. Grinning, the Garbage Man went to work.

    He may not be a strategic genius or even much of a fighter, but he knew what to do in a brawl.

    The two traded blows, with the dummy slowing more and more as it became dented and dimpled with the impact of hammer and shield. It began to shake as he slammed his hammer into one joint after another. It fell to one knee, then to the floor as he rained blows down, all attempts at control gone as the mana flowing through his veins sang to him of battle.

    When he stood over its unmoving form and saw two more marching up the stairs, he didn¡¯t hesitate. He strode forward to meet them as something changed in the mana tides; they shifted slightly, a rhythm forming as he fought harder and harder.

    His mana channels began to pulse in time to the beat, turning the dark stairway into a strobe-lit nightmare. The metallic gong of his axe and shield striking the golems faded away as he dropped further and further into the fury of the Fae. Something here called to his blood, demanding he never stop fighting. Never stop fighting.

    Never stop fighting.

    Never stop.

    Never.

    He felt himself roar, his manic anger unleashed as he stopped thinking entirely. He reached the bottom of the stairs and leaped into the dark, the ground cracking where he landed, another enemy in his sights; Bert shield charged, sending it flying.

    Somehow, he knew this place was an enemy.

    Not just his enemy.

    An enemy of the Fae had been found.

    And they would answer to a Lord of the Fae.

    A fire blazed in the deep.

    Then another.

    Looking around him, Bert saw his Court. Their eyes frenzied; they all burned with the Fury of the Fae.

    Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

    More figures strode from the darkness around them. Dark metal lines formed up in the darkness, ready to charge.

    Bert threw his arms wide and laughed in joy as a flaming figure faded into place above them. She waved her hands in time with the beat, and the figures stumbled, turning on each other.

    Bert Hudson, Lord of the Fae, charged.

    And his Court charged with him.

    When he could finally think again, Bert was exhausted, his breath coming in ragged gasps through a throat raw from yelling. Around him, the others were doing the same, Scruff and Lily collapsing to the floor, their chests heaving.

    The large, open room around them was scattered with broken and smashed automatons.

    ¡°What¡­ the¡­ fuck¡­ was¡­ that,¡± Scruff panted from her spot on the floor.

    ¡°Fury of the Fae,¡± Bud said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve seen it once before.¡±

    Bert shook his head, clearing the cobwebs from his mind. Flashes of fighting in the dark came to him, everything lit by the Fae fire. Fists coming out of the gloom, then maces and swords. His armor was¡­ wrecked.

    He¡¯d need to fix that.

    ¡°Dad?¡± Wendy asked gently.

    ¡°Yeah?¡± He responded dully.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± She asked, crouching down next to him.

    Bert was pleased to see her armor was already repairing itself.

    ¡°Good enough,¡± He looked around. ¡°Everyone made it?¡±

    Bud gave him a tired thumbs up, and so did Scruff, although she did it with a vine so she didn¡¯t have to move.

    ¡°Lily?¡± He called.

    She didn¡¯t move.

    Bert scrambled over to her, finding she was breathing shallowly with her skin pale and covered in a sheen of cold sweat. He tried to heal her, but other than a few cuts here and there, she didn¡¯t seem hurt.

    Just unresponsive, staring at the ceiling with a locked gaze.

    ¡°Did anyone see anything hit her?¡± He asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Bud shook his head. ¡°Not that I can remember.¡±

    ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have brought her here,¡± Bert chastised himself. ¡°She was supposed to hide!¡±

    He held the little Fae close, her body cooling in the underground room.

    She took one breath, then another, then¡­

    Lily caught fire, the Fae fire burning brighter than before as she began to shake and convulse.

    Bert held on to her, trying to force Reclaim Flesh to heal whatever was wrong.

    Her eyes closed, and the fire consumed her, starting at the arms and legs.

    ¡°NO!¡± Bert screamed, trying desperately to hold onto her as she burned away. ¡°NO!¡±

    The fire continued to burn her away until only a large orb remained in his hands.

    Bert wept as Bud put a hand on his shoulder, silent tears of glimmering gold running down his skull.

    The orb shivered, and cracks began to spread through it. A vibration passed over the shell, shattering it, and what was inside made Bert freeze in place.

    A small body yawned and stretched and yawned again.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Lily asked, looking up at Bert in confusion, ¡°And why are you so big?¡±

    Bert was too stunned to speak.

    Lily¡¯s eyes went as wide as saucers as she stared at something only she could see.

    Then she screamed in joy.

    ¡°I EVOLVED INTO A PIXIE!¡± Lily screamed, with all of her power behind it. The call rang through the dark room. She launched out of Bert¡¯s hands, zooming in circles around the stunned group.

    Bert collapsed onto his back.

    ¡°This fucking world is gonna kill me,¡± Bert laughed.

    ===========

    ¡°What is it?¡± Abby Hoffstetter asked her assistant, Aldrich.

    ¡°How am I supposed to know?¡± The man asked dumbly before turning back to the sight above them.

    High above the Waystation, a pixie floated, burning with blue fire. All up and down the line of the Waystation, the Multi-Bells burned with the same fire. None of that was what people were staring at.

    They stared at a Giant Sloth Bear standing on her back legs and roaring as she burned with a bright blue flame.

    Every one of the burning ones faced the same direction, their eyes fixed on the ruins.

    A half-hour later, it stopped.

    The Sloth Bear huffed and went back to sleep while the Multi-Bells turned back to their guard duty.

    Bell herself lowered down from the sky, returning to her human form as she touched lightly down in the center of the Waystation¡¯s claimed land.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Abby demanded the moment Bell touched down.

    ¡°That was the anger of a Lord of the Fae,¡± Bell said as she turned to face the explorer. ¡°Pray you never see it again.¡±

    Abby stared at Bell and realized for the first time that the woman in front of her was not even remotely human. She had studied insects as a young researcher. She remembered how she looked down on them as they scurried through their burrows and nests.

    Today, Abby Hoffstetter knew what it was like to be one of those insects and look up.

    She swallowed and turned away.

    Bell walked calmly back into the Waystation, everyone in her way scrambling to avoid her gaze.

    ¡°Suddenly, I remember all those stories my grandparents used to tell,¡± Aldrich said slowly.

    ¡°What stories?¡± Abby asked, desperate to distract herself.

    ¡°They boil down to one message,¡± Aldrich said, ¡°Be afraid of the Fae.¡±

    ¡°Do you tell your children those stories?¡± Abby asked.

    ¡°No,¡± Aldrich admitted.

    ¡°Start,¡± Abby said firmly and strode away. Perhaps it was time to move into the new buildings.

    Or perhaps across the continent.

    ============

    ¡°Why did that happen?¡± Wendy asked when everyone had recovered from the exhaustion and the following shock of Lily¡¯s transformation.

    ¡°And is it going to happen again?¡± Scruff asked. ¡°Because I don¡¯t think I can do that twice.¡±

    ¡°Whatever this place was, it was run by an enemy of the Fae,¡± Bert said. ¡°Don¡¯t ask me how I know; I just do.¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡± Bud, Scruff, and Wendy asked immediately.

    Bert laughed.

    ¡°When I cycled the tides, they told me.¡± Bert winced.

    ¡°Me too,¡± Bud admitted.

    ¡°And me,¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°Then why did you ask?¡± Bert gave her a look.

    ¡°What?¡± She grinned. ¡°Like I was going to be the one who said their magic was talking to them?¡± She laughed. ¡°No chance. I¡¯d sound nuts.¡±

    Bert raised his eyebrows at her.

    ¡°Oh, come on,¡± She said. ¡°Everyone thinks you¡¯re nuts already.¡±

    Bert laughed.

    She wasn¡¯t wrong.

    Bert climbed slowly to his feet, and the group spread out, collecting everything they could of the fallen gollems. Training gollems, to be exact. No wonder they were so difficult to put down; they had been designed to be smacked for years. When they started to run out of space, Scruff slammed some vines into the floor to collect and hold all the shattered and broken metal.

    The team moved on, leaving the complicated vine work to start processing the metal while they searched.

    It didn¡¯t take long to find the barracks. The lines of collapsed bunkbeds were a dead giveaway. Footprints in the dust showed the golems had come through here, so they moved through quickly, seeking the source.

    The last thing they wanted was more of those things sneaking up on them.

    They found another training hall, complete with the empty storage rooms where the golems had been kept.

    The lines of footprints confirmed they had come from there, but even without that, the scattered parts that remained piled in the corners would have been enough to prove it.

    ¡°Barracks, Training Hall, all we are missing is the good bit,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°The Armory,¡± Bert grinned.

    They kept searching, coming across the occasional lone golem here and there, finding no sign of an armory at first.

    They found the empty kitchens and eating hall at the back of their third barracks room, but there was nothing interesting there either.

    Finally, they came to the last couple of rooms. The first was an officer¡¯s barracks, with small offices complete with a bed and a side table of carved stone. The largest office sported a large engraved map on one wall.

    ¡°Is this the continent we are on?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Must be,¡± Bert traced the map until he found what appeared to be where they entered the continent. It looked different in many ways, but he could read a map well enough to know it was the right place. From there, he worked his way until he found where they were. A sigil carved in that spot was repeated in another eleven locations on the map.

    The problem was that everything looked a little off. However long ago this map had been drawn, it looked like it was almost useless now.

    Still, it was the best they had for now, so he told everyone to do their best to remember it. He even tried Reclaim Knowledge, but the spell fizzled out without result.

    Beyond there, they found the armory.

    It was empty. Only the metal weapon racks and empty armor dummies were left behind to prove what it had once been.

    They were on their way out when Bert¡¯s foot knocked against a bit of detritus in a corner.

    Looking down, he stared in shock.

    ¡°Is that a bloody gun?¡± Wendy dashed over for a closer look.

    They excitedly cleaned off the lump of metal and paused.

    It almost looked like a gun. A pistol, to be precise. Bert had never been much of a gun guy, but there was something about the shape of an automatic pistol that just stuck in the brain.

    This was almost that.

    The grip was larger, and almost oval in shape, and the barrel had no slide that he could see.

    The brittle metal cracked open easily, revealing a series of small mana crystals long drained. Bert stared at it in confusion.

    This was some form of magic-powered pistol; he was sure of it. But why? In a world of magic and spells, let alone skills that allow an archer to outpace anything short of a Gatling gun¡­ what was the point? He slipped it into his bracer storage anyway, for study later.

    The last tunnel led to a large door, now hanging open. Claw marks marred the floor, and faint burn marks marred the smooth stone.

    More stairs, heading down.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Bert said, readying his shield as he led his team deeper still into the ruins, ¡°Let¡¯s see where this goes.¡±

 Chapter 88 - Search and Rescue III

    ¡°This just isn¡¯t right,¡± Wendy said, horror written across her face as she stared through the open door.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Bert asked with a sinking feeling.

    ¡°There are no words,¡± Wendy said, backing away. ¡°I¡¯m not going in there, and you can¡¯t make me.¡±

    Bert hurried over to see what fresh horror awaited them and gagged.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Bud asked, drawing his bow as he focused mana into an arrow.

    ¡°What happens when a whole bunch of animals are penned up behind a closed door?¡± Bert asked, leaning away from the doorway with a wince.

    Bud looked around the door and merely shrugged.

    ¡°How did they get it on the walls?¡± Wendy asked in disgust.

    ¡°The goats were on the ceilings,¡± Bud offered helpfully.

    ¡°Yuck!¡± Wendy said, with feeling.

    ¡°I¡¯ll sort it,¡± Scruff said with a sigh. ¡°My plants will love it.¡±

    Five minutes later, the group silently descended the stairs while plants flourished in the deep.

    ¡°Hey, at least we solved one mystery,¡± Bert said as he led the way.

    ¡°What mystery?¡± Wendy asked. She stepped gingerly down the stairs with her hand over her mouth and nose.

    ¡°Now we know what those sewers smelled like,¡± Bud said with a laugh.

    ¡°I hate you all so much,¡± Wendy said while the others laughed.

    Wendy continued to grumble as they came to the bottom of the stairs and were greeted with¡­ chaos.

    The room was once an entranceway to the level, Bert was sure. The trampled remains of wood and stone lay underfoot while the walls were scoured with marks from horns and dented from impacts.

    The animals had apparently not all fit on the stairs themselves. Glancing around the room showed three doors, all broken down except one.

    The heavy metal door was dented and scratched but still intact. Bert examined it while Scruff grew vines over the other two openings.

    He first noticed the grooves in the ceiling and confirmed the matching set in the floor after clearing away some of the rubble and¡­ mess.

    ¡°Come give me a hand with this!¡± Bert called over to Bud.

    Between them, they managed to figure out that they had to pull the door towards them and then slide it aside.

    Wendy and Scruff joined them just as they slid the heavy metal aside. The door stuck in the track, half open. The dents were just too much for it to open any further.

    Lily sent some Fae lights through the door, showing clean white stone and gleaming metal beyond. Nothing moved in the minute or so they watched, so they stepped inside. Bert was just about to start exploring the room when Scruff caught his arm and pointed to an archway to their left. Her eyes were glowing with a soft green light.

    ¡°Living plants, or something, through there,¡± She said softly.

    Bert nodded, and they moved across to the archway, with Bud and Wendy keeping a wary eye on the rest of the room. The space beyond the archway was large, low, and crowded. At first, Bert thought he was looking at the trunks of thick trees until he saw the things moving gently inside them.

    Scruff stiffened as Lily added more light to the room.

    ¡°Are they plants?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°What the fuck?¡±

    Bert just shook his head, having no idea. The dark green towers looked like plant tissue, but each one held a partially see-through sack cradled in the center. Blood, or something like it, definitely pulsed through veins on the sacks, and inside, a series of forms grew, floating in a pale liquid.

    A soft pattering beside Bert made him look down. Drops of blood were falling from Scruff¡¯s clenched fists.

    ¡°Scruff?¡± Bert called carefully.

    ¡°Can you see what they did?¡± She asked, her voice cracked and choking with emotion.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said, ¡°Can you tell us?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have the words,¡± She hissed. ¡°For this¡­ abomination.¡±

    Bud carefully approached the nearest tower, bending closer to the sack to examine it.

    ¡°Are these things the monsters we fought?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Get out,¡± Scruff said, her voice shaking. ¡°All of you.¡±

    ¡°Scruff,¡± Bert put a hand on her arm.

    ¡°Please,¡± Scruff said, ¡°Please, go.¡±

    Bert nodded and motioned the others back. The moment they were clear of the archway, vines closed it off from sight.

    ¡°What was that in there?¡± Bud asked Bert. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen anything like it before. The flesh on the plants was¡­ wrong.¡±

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°This is all a bit beyond me.¡±

    They all turned to the vines as a roar of anger, pain, and pure hatred came from behind the vines. It was Scruff¡¯s voice, but not like they had heard before. There was a primal aspect to it.  The sounds of tearing and destruction continued for a long time.

    When the vines cleared away, a weeping Scruff collapsed into Wendy¡¯s arms, sobs wracking her body. Bert and Bud looked through the archway into a sea of destruction. There was nothing left but tattered bits of flesh, plant, animal, and something in between.

    After long minutes of Scruff whispering to Wendy between sobs, they finally started to understand. Whoever had run this place, whoever had built it, wanted to create those hybrids that had attacked them earlier. Bert knew that on Earth, that would have involved a massive amount of technology. Here in this world of magic, it was apparently just as hard.

    The creators of this house of horrors had done something that no one else had ever managed. The plant¡¯s flesh had seemed so strange because it was Undead. They had created an undead plant. They used that as a bridge between the species. Something about the undead flesh allowed the fusing of species. Nestled in a womb of undead flesh, the creatures were grown from embryos created by the pillars.

    Each pillar was infused with the flesh of the two species to be mixed together. Once the pillar was created, all it needed was mana, and the pillar would simply grow the creatures until it ran out of flesh.

    ¡°No one can know about this,¡± Scruff snarled. ¡°No one. Ever.¡±

    ¡°Then we better not leave anything behind,¡± Bert said. He raised both hands, summoning Heat runes on every surface he could see. He poured mana into the ruins, feeling the heat scorch his face as he turned the room into an oven. As soon as the room was blazing, with glowing walls and ceiling, Bert replaced the runes with chill runes. He poured even more into these runes, and the temperature plummeted. The walls cracked and shattered, a flood of soil flowing into the room as Bert cut the runes, casting a turn rune into the center of the room in their place. The rune created a miniature tornado in the room, sucking the smoke, soil, and charred remains into the center.

    He only stopped when the soil began to fall through the archway.

    ==============

    The rest of the level held nothing to match the horror of the breeding room. It was mostly offices, with the occasional area that resembled a laboratory or a storage area. They destroyed any remaining notes or writing that they came across, just in case.

    Scruff was still not back to her usual self when they found the set of stairs leading down. She was quiet and withdrawn, with hunched shoulders and tension radiating through her body. Wendy stayed close to her, just in case she didn¡¯t react to something in time.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    The thing was, there was nothing to react to so far. This was a ruin, not a dungeon. Things weren¡¯t jumping out at them from every corner or waiting to attack. The training automatons, the hybrid creatures, all of it was behind them now. The quiet was almost worse than being attacked.

    They were all jumpy when they started down the stairs.

    ¡°Huh,¡± Bert said as they stepped off the stairs. It seemed they had finally made it to the bottom of the structure. And their reward for all of this seemed to be nothing more than a single large room.

    Pipes led up from two large machines on either side of the stairway. They took up the entire back half of the room. Bert examined them carefully, only to step back in shock.

    ¡°What? Wendy asked.

    ¡°Air, Water, and heat,¡± Bert said. ¡°This is the central heating and plumbing system.¡± He looked non-plussed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why it¡¯s so weird to find these in a ruin, but it is.¡±

    ¡°Expecting something more?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°I think I found something that would qualify.¡±

    Bert moved to join her in front of the stairs. Now that he actually looked, it was strange. The front half of the room was curved, almost a half circle, but stretched and elongated. The floor featured a complex set of symbols arranged in concentric circles, while the far wall was dominated by a mural of a great tree with several indentations in it. A small metal orb was placed in the lowest space, amongst the roots of the tree.

    ¡°Can you feel that?¡± Wendy asked, holding her hand near the circle on the floor.

    Bert reached out, noticing a faint pull on his mana. The closer he got to the circle, the stronger it got. Blinking a few times, Bert activated Mana Sense, a skill he had not used in a very long time.

    The room became a whirlpool. Bert wavered and steadied himself as he watched all the colors of mana sucked into the circle, seeping into the floor and being funneled beneath the floor to the machines at the back, the floors above, and the orb in the mural.

    ¡°Whoa, that¡¯s trippy,¡± Bert said, canceling the skill before it gave him a migraine. ¡°This thing is a mana collector, it¡¯s literally sucking in all the surrounding mana.¡±

    ¡°Gross,¡± Wendy said, making a face. ¡°Why would anyone do that?¡±

    ¡°Not everyone has the mana tides,¡± Scruff said blandly. ¡°As someone who just got them, let me tell you, it is life-changing.¡±

    Dim figures began to form in the center of the circle, half there and half not. They looked like a combination of the shadow creatures and the ghost creatures that attacked the Waystation the night before.

    They were forming slowly, but they were forming.

    ¡°Guess night has officially fallen,¡± Bud said drily. ¡°Any idea how we turn it off?¡±

    ¡°Destroy the circle would be my guess,¡± Bert said. ¡°I just don¡¯t know how big an explosion it would make if we did.¡±

    Wendy swung her claws at the circle before anyone could stop her.

    The sharp bone simply bounced off, leaving Wendy yelping and waving her fingers.

    ¡°Fuck, ow!¡± She hissed, ¡°That thing is tough.¡±

    ¡°Did you miss the bit about an explosion?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You were guessing,¡± She huffed.

    ¡°Still,¡± Bert said. ¡°Plus, I want that orb, whatever it is.¡±

    ¡°I can charge a shot that should pierce the circle,¡± Bud said. ¡°Maybe best if I do it from the stairs?¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert said. ¡°Let me just get that orb thing. I think it might tell us something.¡± He edged around the circle, keeping as far from it and the things forming in it as possible. Wendy and the others fell back, Bud dropping to one knee as he started to charge up a powerful shot with his bow.

    ¡°Get ready, just in case we need to run once I grab this,¡± Bert called.

    ¡°Why?¡± Scruff asked. ¡°What do you think will happen?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea, hence the running away,¡± Bert grinned and grabbed the orb. It fought to stay in place, but he yanked it free and froze as the half-formed creatures in the circled screamed and faded.

    He ran for the stairs anyway, just in case.

    The stairs shook under their feet as vibrations started to run through the walls.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Wendy accused him immediately.

    Bert checked with his Mana Sense, seeing the mana running wild through the systems as if suddenly uncontrolled and chaos was raging.

    ¡°Okay, shoot the circle!¡± He called, looking frantically around to see if there was anything worth taking.

    Bud released the arrow at the same moment that Bert cast Reclaim Knowledge at the nearest of the large machines flanking the stairs.

    Rune Knowledge Acquired!

    Rune: Water Learned!

    Congratulations!

    His vision spun, and he felt dizzy as the knowledge settled into his brain. He raised his shield on instinct, pulsing mana through it to create the mana shield. A huge wave of released mana smashed against it.

    ¡°Time to go!¡± Bert yelled, and the four of them turned and sprinted up the stairs.

    The trip back up through the ruins was chaotic at best. They slipped and slid through the ruins as uncontrolled mana caused random effects around them. Pieces of the floor turned into liquid, and parts of the wall aged and crumbled to sand. Worse than that were areas where the walls seemed to be leaking blood, sap, or slime. On more than one occasion, they saw areas catching fire as strange creatures erupted from the shadows, chittering and howling at the fleeing group.

    ¡°Mana Storm!¡± Scruff screamed.

    Bert thought it was as good a name as any; the floor ahead of them dropped away, empty voids sucking at everything in the room. They leaped over it, feeling the pull on their bodies as they cleared it.

    ¡°How much further?¡± Wendy gasped.

    ¡°One more floor,¡± Bud called as they emerged into the sewers again.

    They dashed along the walkways, seeing strange creatures like living slimes crawling from pipes and amongst the plants at the bottom of the sewer.

    ¡°Fuck, that¡¯s gross!¡± Wendy gasped as the sewer pipe they were just exiting shivered, the stone dropping away to reveal pink, pulsing flesh.

    They dived out the exit, Bert¡¯s roll letting him see the tunnel snap closed behind him.

    He dragged Bud upright and pushed him towards the stairs as Lily faded into view.

    ¡°The archway won¡¯t last long! Hurry!¡± She snapped before buzzing off up the stairs.

    ¡°Why is Lily naked?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°She burned up,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°Did you think Pixies were born with clothes on?¡±

    Bert shook his head, filling it under ¡®to be ignored,¡¯ and hurried after the others.

    Lily had been right about one thing. The archway of flowers and vines was twisting and bucking as they ran up it. Bert felt more than heard the thump of its collapse as he rolled across the forest floor.

    ¡°Everyone okay?¡± Bert called as he lay gasping on his back.

    A chorus of ¡®yes,¡¯ ¡®maybe,¡¯ and ¡®fuck you¡¯ reassured him, so he took a minute to get his breath back.

    =============

    ¡°So, was it worth it?¡± Wendy asked, nudging him as they walked back to the Waystation in the darkness.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°The orb!¡± She snapped. ¡°The thing that caused all that!¡± She waved vaguely back the way they had come.

    Even though he still clutched it in his hand, Bert had almost forgotten the thing.

    It was a metal orb with a complex pattern of runes and symbols engraved on it.

    Bert cast Analyze, hoping it wasn¡¯t just some complicated magical plug he had yoinked.

    Solpara Control Core 1/12

    The Gift of Sight

    ??Unknown??

    ¡°Uh, I can¡¯t tell,¡± Bert admitted. He held it up for her to see.

    ¡°Try harder, Dad,¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°Mum is going to want to know what we just risked getting buried alive for.¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± Bert admitted. He turned the orb in his hands for a long time, finding nothing new, and eventually cast Reclaim Knowledge on it simply because he ran out of other ideas.

    He stopped as the forest around him vanished. Before him was a tree, but not a tree; it seemed to be there and not there at the same time. One second, it had roots; another, it had tendrils like an anemone, then roots again. The branches became coursing mana, or great roads, and then were branches again. The leaves themselves shifted before him, becoming whole worlds and dimensions before returning to leaves.

    And the tree was looking at HIM.

    Bert tried to scream, but he had no mouth, no body, nothing. A consciousness the size of a universe surrounded him.

    He felt shock, then amusement from the entity. Finally, he felt it recede, and a series of images slammed into him with the force of a waterfall.

    Swept into the deluge, Bert was carried away.

    He saw a new berry form on the tree, then be plucked and placed into the world contained in a single leaf. The berry bloomed, growing into a building. A civilization grew around the building as Bert watched. Then time blurred, and war raged.

    Bert watched strange people with long skeletal forms battle against people with glowing knotwork. Again and again, the skeletal people lost. Finally, they were driven to only their central building. It shimmered and faded, taking the skeletal people with it.

    A new world appeared, with the building in it. The Skeletal people surrounded it, an entire civilization casting a single spell. And in the center, the building that had grown from a berry.

    The building shivered, shook, and eventually cracked apart. The pieces were taken, and the people scattered to the four winds. A single piece lay forgotten in the ruin. A spark of life that formed a seed.

    The great entity pulled the seed from that leaf, weeping at what was done to it. It duplicated the remaining seed and scattered the results amongst the leaves.

    Each one grew into a building but they were crippled. A shadow of what was. The buildings were found by the Fae, who took pity and bound one of their own species to it to let it survive.

    Bert gasped in silence as he realized these buildings must have been the first Waystations.

    Meanwhile, the visions changed to follow the skeletal people. They experimented on their own little pieces of the building, eventually binding it to their will. They used these bits, stolen from the thing that had raised and protected their civilization, to recreate the abilities of their enemies.

    The war with Fae continued, more even now than ever before. In the end, it was not enough, and the last of the Skeletal people, the Solpara Bert guessed, escaped into spells of their own creation. One by one, the places of power were taken, but the Fae never stayed.

    They never found the pieces, and they never solved the mystery.

    The images stopped on a familiar ruin as it was buried over time and deep inside a part of the forgotten whole.

    The visions faded, and Bert was left looking at the tree once more.

    Each fruit, seed, berry, or nut was unique. A gift to the worlds in the leaves.

    One had been broken¡­ and he now had two pieces of what was once whole.

    The visions faded, and Bert woke up, looking at the dark night sky while Wendy and the others panicked around him.

    ¡°Worth it!¡± He laughed. ¡°So worth it!¡±

 Chapter 89 - Simple Things I

    ¡°What happened to being careful?¡± Bell yelled at Bert as soon as they came into sight of the Waystation. She stood with her hands on her hips, looking furious as the lights behind her lit her hair with a soft glow.

    ¡°Gods, you¡¯re beautiful,¡± Bert said with a tired smile. He meant it, too. ¡°And we were cautious.¡±

    ¡°Careful doesn¡¯t require using the Fury of the Fae!¡± Bell snapped, but Bert saw her slightly turning to let the light catch her at a slightly better angle.

    He smiled.

    ¡°He passed out again!¡± Wendy said cheerfully.

    ¡°What!¡± Bell¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Get everyone together,¡± Bert called to her. ¡°We have a thing.¡±

    Bell fumed but did as he asked. A series of highly grumpy Multi-Bells summoned the collected forces of the Waystation to the private area of the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    Bert and the others sat in tired silence while the others filed in.

    ¡°Where¡¯s Dee?¡± He frowned. ¡°Has anyone seen her recently?¡±

    ¡°Aye,¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°If ye want to get her oot the distillery, ye¡¯ll have to set fire to it.¡± The dwarf looked around and frowned. ¡°Where¡¯s Lily?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± Her voice called from the corner.

    ¡°Why is Lily hiding?¡± Bell asked sweetly. ¡°Did something happen to her?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Everyone yelled at once. They all knew what happened when Bell took that tone.

    ¡°Well, yes,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°Something good.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to interrupt,¡± Lily said quietly. ¡°I¡¯ll show after the discussion.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bert said. ¡°It¡¯s good news. Go ahead, but we have to throw a proper celebration soon.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Lily sounded excited.

    ¡°Of course!¡± Wendy encouraged the little fae.

    ¡°If you¡¯re sure,¡± Lily said bashfully. ¡°I just thought I should wait until I got clothes.¡±

    ¡°Shit,¡± Bert felt terrible for forgetting. ¡°Good point.¡±

    ¡°Why is Lily naked?¡± Bell asked with her sweetest tone.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Wendy said. ¡°Way Way can make you something,¡±

    ¡°Everyone close your eyes for a bit, please?¡± Lily called.

    ¡°If anyone looks, they lose their eyes,¡± Bell added, looking at the orc brothers, who suddenly clamped both hands over their faces.

    ¡­

    ¡°Ready!¡± Lily called.

    Bert opened his eyes along with the others.

    ¡°Pixie!¡± Bell made a high-pitched squee of joy, and everybody winced.

    The next few minutes were all spent congratulating the preening Lily. When everyone had finally finished, they had a small celebration with food and drink. It was nice.

    When everyone was just starting to settle again, Bert cleared his throat.

    ¡°Okay,¡± He started. ¡°This is kind of a big one, so everyone pay attention.¡± His eyes scanned the others, making sure everyone was focused. ¡°That ruin was made by a race of people called the Solpara, and they are to be killed on sight.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bell started, but he held up a hand to ask for quiet.

    ¡°Let me explain why,¡± Bert said. ¡°What do you know of the origin of the Waystations?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Bell admitted, ¡°No one does. They just are.¡± Everyone nodded.

    ¡°Everybody is wrong,¡± Bert stated. ¡°Way Way, I¡¯m sorry, this might be difficult for you to hear¡­ The Waystations were never meant to be as they are.¡±

    Bell actually slapped him.

    Hard.

    Chaos reigned, and Bert had to shout to be heard.

    ¡°Enough!¡±

    A sea of angry and shocked faces stared at him.

    ¡°A very long time ago, a creator from outside of everything made an extraordinary seed,¡± Bert did his best to translate what he had seen and learned. ¡°It was a living building of incredible power, knowledge, and skill. It grew and learned and could provide everything anyone could ever want. In time, a civilization grew up around it. The building gave them everything, and they flourished under its protection.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Bell said. ¡°A Waystation.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said. ¡°It was more than even a Waystation.¡± He felt his shoulders tense as he remembered the scenes. ¡°The people were greedy and wanted more. Their empire needed to expand, and they ended up in a war with the Fae. A war they lost. The First Building saved them, taking them to a new world. They¡­ tore it apart, each taking a piece and scattering it across the continent.¡±

    Everyone was silent now.

    ¡°They missed one piece,¡± Bert went on, ¡°And the creator took it back, duplicated it, and spread the new seeds across the worlds. Those seeds were the first Waystations. The same instincts, the same care, but with a lot of what it was taken away.¡± His voice cracked, but he went one. ¡°The people used the parts they took to create a great empire. The Solpara Empire. The stolen power was twisted into pieces of technology that they used to make their installations,¡± He swallowed. ¡°What happened next? I don¡¯t know. Something wiped them out, and they left the ruins behind.¡±

    He placed the small metal orb on the table.

    ¡°One of twelve,¡± Bert said quietly. ¡°That is what it says.¡±

    Bell gasped.

    ¡°Twelve pieces were stolen from the Waystation¡¯s original form. I want to get them back.¡± He swallowed. ¡°The thing, whatever it was that created the original, showed me what happened¡­ and I think it was because they knew I would do anything I could for Way Way.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re serious,¡± Scruff said after a moment of silence.

    ¡°I am,¡± Bert confirmed. Bell smiled and took his hand.

    ¡°One of twelve,¡± He said, placing a hand on the orb. ¡°That means there are eleven more of these out there, waiting to be found. I mean to get them and restore the Waystation to what they were meant to be.¡±

    ¡°So what¡¯s the plan?¡± Scruff asked with a yawn.

    ¡°Everybody get some rest,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°Tomorrow, we start to show this world what the Waystation can really do.¡±

    The others filed out of the room with various shades of wonder and anxiety on their faces. This would not be a small task. Eventually, it was just him and Bell left in the room.

    ¡°It¡¯s only a matter of time before people figure out what those orbs are if they haven¡¯t already,¡± Bell said. ¡°They might not feel like sharing.¡±

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    ¡°They don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Bert said. ¡°Those things belong to Way Way, and we are going to take them¡­ one way or another.¡±

    ¡°Ooooh, I think I like you all dark and broody,¡± Bell winked.

    ============

    Bert dropped into the enormous Mana Tides of the Waystation, cradling the recovered orb in his hands.

    ¡°I can sense it already,¡± Way Way said with a hint of anxiety.

    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Bert said with no small amount of relief. ¡°Because I have absolutely no idea how we integrate this thing back into you.¡±

    ¡°Do you¡­ do you think I¡¯m broken?¡± Way Way asked with a trembling voice.

    ¡°No!¡± Bert said. ¡°You were born as a Waystation; this is just an upgrade for you.¡±

    ¡°Like leveling?¡± Way Way said, sounding happier, ¡°Like you do?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°Any idea how we¡­¡± He cut off as the orb left him, floating in a swirl of mana.

    ¡°Hmm¡­ It looks like it¡¯s all locked up with these strange runes.¡± Way Way said as tendrils of mana ran over the surface. ¡°Do we need them?¡±

    ¡°I doubt it,¡± Bert had spent a lot of time last night thinking about it. ¡°I think they needed it to make it work, but it is part of you, so you shouldn¡¯t need that.¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Way Way said. ¡°It¡¯s ugly and feels¡­ wrong.¡±

    The metal peeled away, shredded by angry tendrils of mana. A small pulsing of power burst out of the pierced shell.

    Bert let out a yell as the entire world seemed to slam into his eyes in a single second.

    ¡°Whoops,¡± Way Way said, ¡°Hey, this is weird¡­¡±

    Bert felt like a bubble of mana surrounded him, and the pain ebbed away. He gasped, calming himself.

    ¡°Way Way, are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Okay? OKAY?¡± Way Way squealed in excitement as the mana tides surged and danced. ¡°I¡¯m better than okay! I CAN SEE!¡± A laugh trilled through the mana surrounding him. ¡°Oh my, I¡¯m gorgeous! I love the metal and wood look! It really suits me. Oooh, are those the trees? I wondered what they looked like when they were still all stood up. Ahh¡­ why is there nothing above me? Is that normal? Why does the¡­ never mind.¡± Way Way babbled.

    ¡°What do you mean by see?¡± Bert asked. ¡°What can you see?¡±

    ¡°Everything! I can see everything! All light spectrums, all mana types, all the colors, everything.¡± Way Way stopped. ¡°It¡¯s weird. It¡¯s kind of like how I knew how everything was shaped, and that, but now I can see it¡­ like really see it! Like you see things.¡± Way Way laughed. ¡°I love it.¡±

    ¡°So where do you see from?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Do you have eyes now?¡±

    ¡°No, why?¡± Way Way seemed confused. ¡°I can just see out of everything in my control. Wait, is that not how it always works?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert laughed, ¡°We see out of our eyes.¡±

    ¡°ONLY?¡± Way Way sounded horrified. ¡°Oh, you poor things!¡±  There was a pause. ¡°Bert?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Way Way?¡±

    ¡°The other eleven parts¡­ do they do similar things?¡± Way Way asked.

    ¡°I assume so,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°They all must add something.¡±

    ¡°I want them!¡± Way Way trilled. ¡°I want them all!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Bert smiled.

    ==============

    Bert sat and marveled as the bridge of the Waystation came alive around him. The simple panels of black were all shifting as more grew out from the ceiling. Each one flickered and rippled as Way Way did¡­ something.

    He was not sure what, as they had asked to make it a surprise. Bert felt his mouth drop open as, one after another, the panels cleared, showing crystal-clear images of areas around the train. The side panels flickered and changed, showing views of the forest and land around the outside, and the left and right front panels shifted and rose, creating a three-dimensional map of the terrain ahead and behind them, respectively.

    ¡°BERT!¡± Bell came screaming down the corridor, pixie wings a blur, ¡°What in all the hells is going on?¡± She came into the bridge and stopped, staring around in wonder.

    ¡°I can see!¡±

    The words scrolled across all the screens in the room simultaneously. Bell hiccuped a couple of times, and then her eyes rolled back. Bert caught her as she fell out of the air.

    He laughed. It was the first time he wasn¡¯t the one to faint.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let anyone that isn¡¯t one of us see those screens,¡± Bert said to Way Way, ¡°We don¡¯t want to let them know what the orbs can do.¡±

    ¡°Got it!¡±

    There was more than just the screens that had changed, however. Bert could feel his connection to the Waystation was even stronger than before. It was almost as strong as when he had first connected to them. He could feel everything¡­ everything.

    Bert sat down as he became a bit woozy. He took calm, deep, slow breaths and let his mind adjust.

    The next few days passed in a blur. Without the constant attacks at night, the camp began to come alive. The Explorers continued to send out search parties and teams to document everything while the Delvers tentatively returned to the ruins. The first team was careful to keep to the first floor, clearing the vines away before making their way through every inch of the complex. The mana waves had done significant damage, and there were new enemies to fight.

    There was also loot, so the Delvers were happy.

    Each team always brought back a few items, the least valuable of which they turned over to the Waystation in payment for their rooms, food, and so on. It pissed Bert off to no small end, but he kept his mouth shut. At least in front of them.

    Bell said they should just start taking what they wanted, but Bert was hesitant. They needed the Guilds to help with finding the other orbs, so he would play nice, at least for now.

    They were still taking the piss, though. He wasn¡¯t the only one to notice. Amanda refused to meet his eyes as he walked around, and it would all have come to a head if not for one person.

    April of the Messenger¡¯s Guild had not been seen in days. In fact, she had not been seen since he gave her that room with the treadmill.

    Another week passed, and just as Bert reached boiling point with the Delver¡¯s Guild, he also ran out of patience and knocked on the door to the treadmill room.

    ¡°Come in!¡± April sounded out of breath but happy.

    Bert opened the door and stared, lost for words.

    April was running on the treadmill, but it was almost vertical. Only the tips of her feet hit the leather as she sprinted almost straight upward.

    ¡°Just a few more seconds!¡± She called, her eyes feverish with joy. ¡°I¡¯m so close!¡±

    Bert leaned against the wall and waited. A few moments later, a ripple of energy passed over her, and the treadmill slowly dropped down, slowing until a panting April stood on a perfectly flat floor.

    ¡°That was the best run of my life!¡± She laughed, her eyes half-lidded. ¡°Five levels in one run! You just can¡¯t run for that long without stopping anywhere else!¡±

    ¡°When was the last time you ate?¡± Bert asked, unable to avoid getting swept up in her enthusiasm.

    ¡°Uhhh,¡± She looked lost. ¡°What day is it?¡±

    ¡°Come on,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°Let¡¯s get you some food before you drop dead.¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± She shrugged and followed him to the restaurant.

    ¡°Wait, that¡¯s all they are paying?¡± April asked as they passed a pair of Delvers offering a few broken weapons, rusted cogs, and a pair of dull iron bars.

    ¡°That¡¯s it,¡± Bert confirmed with a frown. The two men sneered and dumped the rubbish on the counter before heading upstairs.

    ¡°Pricks!¡± April yelled up the stairs after them, and Bert chuckled. ¡°Why are you letting them get away with that?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Honestly,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I guess it just shows me who I can expect to trust and who will screw me over.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± April said, sitting down with a plate of steak and eggs. ¡°So, who do you trust?¡±

    ¡°Explorers are keeping to their agreement, just,¡± Bert admitted, ¡°The Delvers are screwing us over right and left, and McRae is still drunk.¡±

    April snorted as she devoured her plate of food in seconds. Bert got her another one before she could ask.

    ¡°Sounds right,¡± She admitted. ¡°The Messenger¡¯s Guild hates running for the Delvers because they always try and squirm out of the deal.¡± She sighed, ¡°The Explorers are reliable, but they never give more than they agreed to, even if the runner dies on the way,¡± She shrugged. ¡°The Builders are slow, but they do pay eventually.¡± April yawned.

    ¡°You better head back to your room,¡± Bert said gently. ¡°Before you fall asleep at the table.¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± April admitted. ¡°Thanks for the meal and everything.¡± She tottered away, yawning hugely.

    Bert smiled after her before heading back to the storage carriage, waving to the old gardener pattering back and forth amongst the rows of one of Scruff¡¯s fields.

    ¡°Way Way,¡± Bert called as he finished clearing one of the side rooms of goods. ¡°I¡¯m gonna need a door and my crafting table, please.¡±

    His old crafting table rose from the floor as a steel door swung closed behind him.

    ¡°And a light!¡± Bert asked as he stumbled around in the dark, glad no one had seen that. Soft light suffused the room.

    He unclipped his shoulder pads, setting them on the table and summoning the toolkit they contained. The soft blue glow always made him smile. It was the same color as his mana. Summoning a chair, he sat and got to work.

    The next few hours were spent cleaning, polishing, and smoothing the various cogs, gears, and assorted mechanisms the Delvers had been dropping as payment, always with a sneer and a joke.

    Well, that was fine.

    Bert felt his eyes start to glow as the pieces began to move. Under his direction, the cogs moved, gears spun, and mechanisms clicked and shifted. He smiled to himself and got out the pieces of the automatons from the ruins. It was tough, prying the bits apart, but it would be worth it.

    They wanted to bring him rubbish? That was fine.

    He¡¯d show them what a Garbage Man could do.

 Chapter 90 - Simple Things II

    Liquid metal bubbled in specially made vats around the room''s edges, the heat causing the strips and panels of leather to sway and move as they hung from the ceiling. Bert took a specific size of cog from one of the many shelves arrayed above his crafting table and fitted it in place before reaching out with a tendril of mana.

    Liquid Sky-metal flowed into an orb and hovered over the table before settling and flowing into place, cooling as it did so. He checked everything worked as he intended and then stored the piece in his bracer.

    Bert cracked his neck and pulled a hammer from the toolkit. It took Shaper¡¯s Will to soften the black metal of the automatons enough to shape. He spent the next half hour hammering the item into shape, binding it to the leather before moving on. A screen lowered in front of him, showing one of the orcs, complete with measurements, courtesy of the Waystation.

    Bert smiled and went back to work.

    When had they gotten so big? Bert wondered as he worked on a tricky bit of plate. He could remember the first few weeks, just him, Bell, and Bud. Now, they were almost twenty-strong, and they still seemed to be attracting more. From one pixie, they now had three. One skeleton had become two. Not to mention six orcs, a human-turned Plant Fae, a Gaint Sloth Bear, a dwarf, one vampire, two assassins, and Death¡¯s own daughter.

    It was great, it was terrific¡­ it was a bitch to make gear for.

    ¡°Upcycle!¡± Bert said tiredly, watching the blue glow fix the various mistakes he made. ¡°How are we doing now?¡± He asked, eyes turning to the screen above him.

    ¡°All major components completed! I can create copies that are resized and adapted from here on. Would you like to do weapons next?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s get started.¡± Bert shook his shoulders to release the tension as the blue glow rose around him again.

    ¡°Is it really worth all this just to prove a point?¡±

    ¡°We needed to upgrade our gear anyway,¡± Bert smiled, ¡°Proving a point is just a nice bonus.¡± He took the small anvil and enlarged it before starting to beat the metal. The dark metal resisted. Even as he pressed on it with Shaper¡¯s Will, it fought back. It felt¡­ strange.

    Each metal felt different, he had found. Iron was slow, sluggish, and solid, while steel seemed to flow like a river, aching to form an edge. Sky Metal was a sponge, drinking in mana with a nearly unquenchable thirst. This metal, however, was a mountain, solid and immovable. It fought mana, refusing to let it enter, fighting every step.

    Even the hammer seemed to slow as if hitting a cushion, before striking. It also seemed to refuse to accept light. Never once had it reflected the mana lights around him. And no amount of polishing made it shine. It was almost as if it was permanently in a shadow.

    ¡°Shade-Steel,¡± Bert said finally. ¡°I think I¡¯ll call it Shade-Steel.¡± He reached for his cup, finding it empty. A rune glowed above it, and it filled with water.

    ¡°Show off!¡±

    Bert laughed, spraying a mouthful of water over his work.

    Three more days passed before he was done. Bert put his head down on the table and closed his eyes.

    ¡°Did you make me something nice?¡± Bell asked, her voice a purr in his ear.

    Bert blinked and opened his eyes. She was straddling him, smiling down in that peculiar pixie way, and she was naked.

    ¡°Now that¡¯s a nice way to wake up in the morning,¡± Bert smiled, his mind fuzzy.

    ¡°Stop changing the subject, mister!¡± Bell said, leaning down and running her hands over his chest. ¡°Did you make me something?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bert said happily, ¡°Several things, in fact.¡±

    The next hour or so disappeared as Bell showed how much she appreciated his efforts.

    ¡°How did I get to bed?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I fell asleep in my workshop.¡±

    ¡°Way Way, let me know to come get you,¡± Bell shrugged, ¡°Now, where are my new toys?¡±

    Bert laughed and summoned it from his bracer.

    Bell squealed at the black metal plates covering the dark leather. He had designed it based on the tactical outfits of a modern military from Earth, but it ended up looking a little different.

    Okay, a lot different.

    Shining steel cogs and gears covered the shoulder pads, belt, and bracers. The wearer could power hidden turn runes to enlarge the shoulders, tighten or loosen the belt, or fire hidden projectiles from the bracers. The other suits he had made included hidden storage rings in the bracers. Everyone would have storage to spare from now on. Bell pulled on the outfit, finding the clip for her Ringer, with a matching one for the enlarged version on her back, between the small, armored opening for her wings.

    ¡°How do I look?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Amazing!¡± Bert said with a dry mouth. How was he supposed to concentrate when she looked like that? ¡°Have you checked the storage on the belt yet?¡±

    Bell frowned, feeding mana into the belt.

    Watching her eyes open wider and wider was one of the best moments of his life.

    ¡°Ho-How many?¡± She asked, summoning a single jet-black knife from the storage. It had a double-edged blade with a long, thin handle.

    ¡°Uhh, let me see¡­¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I think I stopped at around seventy.¡±

    Bell placed a hand on her chest, eyes brimming with tears as a rapidly growing cloud of knives hung around her.

    ¡°I think this is the happiest moment of my life!¡± She gulped.

    ============

    After breakfast, Bert went from person to person, visiting each of the Waystationers in turn to give them their new gear. The orcs also got their own custom weapon. Watching Tru¡¯nal stroke the new greatsword like a mother holding a baby was probably one of the most disturbing moments of his life, at least until he got to Wendy and Scruff.

    ¡°How come she gets two suits!¡± Scruff asked as Wendy added the armored gauntlets and shoulder pads to the other pieces, now reinforcing her bone suit.

    ¡°Because I¡¯m the best, obviously,¡± Wendy teased.

    ¡°Oh, I have something special for you as well,¡± Bert promised, summoning the backpack he created. Wood covered in Shade-Steel plates hid a series of compartments, each of which was storage.

    ¡°Oh great, I get to carry a fancy chest around,¡± Scruff rolled her eyes. She tried it on and then paused, feeling the backpack with her mana.

    Vines erupted from her shoulders, pulling items from the field around her and shoving them into the chest, more and more living plants disappearing inside as she grinned wider and wider.

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    ¡°I¡¯ll never be caught without soil or seeds again!¡± She crowed, running over to Bert and hugging him. Dozens of vines and creepers hugged and patted him, giving him the feeling of thousands of things crawling all over him.

    He tried not to scream and hid his sigh of relief until he got around the corner before a whole-body shiver overtook him.

    After sending a beaming Gavin off with a new set of armor and an axe that could extend and contract as needed, thanks to some clever gearing, Bert turned to Slothy.

    ¡°Hey there, girl,¡± He said, patting her head and scratching her behind the ears. ¡°I made you a set of armor as well. Do you want it?¡±

    Slothy huffed and shook her head.

    ¡°Sure?¡± He asked.

    She chuffed and nuzzled against him. Bert smiled and hugged the colossal head before putting the various armored plates and straps against the wall. Just in case. By the time he was done, Slothy was asleep again.

    Bert headed through the corridors until he came to the distillery. A faint blur in the air paused before the wall of complicated tubes and boilers. Dee appeared dazed, her hair wild and unkempt. Gleaming red eyes fixed on him.

    ¡°What?¡± She asked, her voice hoarse.

    ¡°I made you some new gear,¡± Bert offered, hanging the hooded bodysuit on the wall next to him. He showed her the twin daggers in the bracers.

    ¡°I don¡¯t tend to waste blood,¡± She said, her eyes already drawing back to the machinery behind her. ¡°But thank you.¡± The blur resumed as clouds of pink vapor filled the air.

    ¡°Have fun,¡± Bert said, turning to go.

    ¡°Fun?¡± Dee appeared in front of him, close enough to send him reeling backward in shock. ¡°This is not fun! This is a whole new world!¡± She had a crazed look in her eyes.

    ¡°Good luck?¡± Bert tried.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Dee said, vanishing again.

    Bert hurried away, fighting the urge to cover his neck.

    His final visit was to Bud and Tim. Bud took his new gear with a wide smile, nodding in satisfaction as he pulled it on without effort, but it took both of them to wrestle the little gnork skeleton free of his scavenged Sky Metal armor. Tim hissed and wriggled, sending fireballs in all directions and keening as the armor dropped away.

    Then Bert summoned the pieces for the new gear.

    Tim stopped struggling once the new bits were fastened, staring at his new gear with wide eyes.

    ¡°Mine?¡± He clacked his teeth.

    ¡°Yours,¡± Bert confirmed.

    Tim ran for his old armor, sweeping all of it into his storage, and then scrambled out the door.

    ¡°He means thank you,¡± Bud frowned after his wayward charge.

    ¡°No problem,¡± Bert said, feeling better now his people were all geared up. ¡°What do you think of April, by the way?¡±

    Bud laughed.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You pick up strays like others pick up treasure,¡± Bud grinned. ¡°And I just won a bet.¡±

    Bert grumbled but had to admit Bud was right. Why did he keep doing this?

    ¡°Speaking of strays, what were those creatures that came back with you two?¡± Bert asked, ¡°And where did they go?¡±

    ¡°Ahh, about that,¡± Bud rubbed the back of his skull. ¡°She adopted them, and they are¡­ everywhere.¡±

    ¡°Are they friendly?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Not at all,¡± Bud laughed. ¡°But they don¡¯t attack people. They have moved into her cave, but they crawl all over the train during the day.¡± He looked away and mumbled.

    ¡°What was that?¡± Bert asked, unable to stop the smile from creeping across his face.

    ¡°The Waystation made them their own crawlways,¡± Bud said reluctantly. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, so don¡¯t ask me!¡±

    ¡°Way Way?¡± Bert asked, turning to look at a panel on the wall.

    ¡°They are adorable!¡±

    ¡°They are staying.¡±

    ¡°Well, I guess that is that,¡± Bert sighed.

    ===========

    ¡°I need to know what else needs to be done,¡± Bert told the assembled Guilds.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sonny asked with a lazy smile on his face.

    ¡°To complete the camp,¡± Bert said. ¡°Other than a wall, what do you need?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m confused,¡± Abby said, ¡°Why the sudden hurry?¡±

    ¡°Because we are leaving soon,¡± Bert said simply.

    ¡°What?¡± Sonny frowned. ¡°Why?¡±

    Bert ignored him, looking at the bleary-eyed McRae. It was the first time the man had come out of his room in days, and the smell of booze was still strong on him.

    ¡°All we need is the wall,¡± McRae grumbled finally. ¡°Or some other form of defense.¡±

    ¡°How the fuck would you know?¡± Sonny yelled. ¡°You drunken old sod!¡±

    ¡°We would also need supplies, a source of heat, guards, a water supply, and much more besides!¡± Abby protested.

    ¡°It is not our job to supply everything,¡± Bert said flatly. ¡°We came to buy the supply train a couple of weeks; that was it.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk about this!¡± Sonny said, a smooth smile on his face. ¡°We can maybe find a few more bits of loot to pay for a longer stay.¡±

    ¡°Unreal,¡± April rolled her eyes.

    ¡°Shut up, bag girl,¡± Sonny said with a growl, ¡°No one asked you.¡±

    ¡°More junk, huh?¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°While the vault I built is so full you can hardly move in there.¡±

    ¡°How do you know?¡± Sonny asked, his eyes narrowed. ¡°Done a little search, have we?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have to,¡± Bert rolled his eyes, ¡°It¡¯s on Waystation land; I can sense every inch of it.¡± He smiled coldly, ¡°And what¡¯s in it.¡±

    Sonny blanched a little but recovered smoothly.

    ¡°So there is a bunch of stuff, it¡¯s nothing worth very much,¡± He hedged. ¡°We gave the best stuff to you.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert said with a carefully blank face, ¡°Shall I list it all?¡±

    April sniggered as Sonny scowled.

    Building the wall was a simple process, made all the easier by Scruff. Her vines wound together under her attention, pushing up through the frozen ground and snow to form a solid wall of living plants.

    The cold and snow had no effect on the vines, which closed slowly as the Waystation rolled out of the camp. They stopped outside the wall, facing across the valley at the approaching wagons. It would still take the wagon train a few hours to reach them.

    Bert headed out with Lily and Gavin for one last look at the strange giant succulents while they waited. There was just something about those peculiar plants¡­

    ¡°Hello again!¡± He called cheerfully as he approached the stalk he had first spoken to. ¡°We are about to head out in a few hours. Just wanted to say goodbye.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s talking to the fucking plant again,¡± Gavin whispered to Lily, who was riding on his shoulder in her pixie form.

    ¡°I know,¡± Lily said, ¡°The weird bit is I¡¯m half waiting for it to talk back.¡±

    ¡°Yer both crazy,¡± Gavin shook his head, ¡°Plants don¡¯t talk, ya ken?¡±

    Bert ignored the comments from the peanut gallery and placed a gentle hand on the pale green flesh. There was a faint tremble, but otherwise, it seemed happy enough. He leaned closer, placing an ear against the thick stalk to listen.

    Thump, thump, thump, thump¡­

    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s a bit weird,¡± Bert said, backing away a bit. ¡°This plant has a heartbeat.¡±

    ¡°Dinnae be silly!¡± Gavin laughed, confidently striding over and placing an ear against the stalk. ¡°Ye Gods!¡± He scrambled back, hiding slightly behind Bert. ¡°We¡¯ll just be leaving now, aye?¡±

    ¡°One second,¡± Bert said, activating sense mana. ¡°I want to¡­.¡± The words died in his mouth as he watched. The flow of mana in the area was strong, but that wasn¡¯t a surprise with the ruins and all that happened. What took his breath away was the sight of the mana being filtered before his very eyes. High above them, that strange flared top was cutting through the mana flows like a sail. Where it passed through those strange holes in the sail, it changed. Certain colors of mana were captured and funneled down into the plant itself. The colors brightened as the mana flowed down before being rereleased into the environment via those strange fan clusters.

    The filtered mana was brighter and cleaner. It took him a long time to realize what was happening¡­ a long-forgotten conversation came back to him. Bell had talked about how the mana accumulated essence as it moved through the worlds, and without Fae, the essence slowed and choked the mana.

    Looking at the strange plants, Bert knew without a doubt that the Fae were no longer the only creatures that cleaned mana in this world.

    ¡°Uuh, you okay there, biggun?¡± Gavin asked.

    ¡°Do you know what these plants do?¡± Bert asked. ¡°They clean mana and eat the essence¡­ it¡¯s¡­¡±

    ¡°Is that right, aye?¡± Gavin said gently. ¡°That¡¯s nice. The plants with the heartbeat are cleaning, aye.¡± He started to gently pull on Bert¡¯s arm. ¡°Let¡¯s just get back to the Waystation for a nice rest, eh lad?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Bert insisted.

    ¡°Aye!¡± Gavin said, ¡°Nae bother! You be serious¡­ let¡¯s just go, aye?¡±

    ¡°Well, well, well¡­¡± Sonny stepped into the clearing, a half dozen Delvers Guild with him, ¡°What do we have here?¡±

    ¡°Hmm?¡± Bert dragged his eyes away from the amazing plant. ¡°Just having a last look at these plants before we head out.¡± He felt his eyes being dragged back to the plant almost immediately. There was something about it¡­

    ¡°About that,¡± Sonny said. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we will have to have a little talk about something first.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked, distracted.

    ¡°That armor of yours,¡± Sonny insisted. ¡°Can¡¯t help but notice the quality.¡± He smiled. ¡°Where could we get something like that?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t,¡± Bert shrugged, ¡°I made it.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯ll just have to make us some then,¡± Sonny said, the smile leaving his face. ¡°Before you go.¡±

    ¡°If we let you go,¡± One of the others sniggered.

    Bert sighed.

    ¡°Let¡¯s not do this,¡± Bert said, canceling the mana sense and looking directly at Sonny for the first time. ¡°I scraped you lot out of that ruin, remember?¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± One of the others spat. ¡° Seven of us, two of you¡­ seems like good odds to me,¡±

    Bert heard the sound of Gavin drawing his axe.

    ¡°Get ''em!¡± Sonny yelled.

 Chapter 91 - Simple Things III

    Sonny¡¯s twin blades clanged against Bert''s shield as an arrow bounced off his shoulder plate. He ducked behind his shield, releasing a blast of mana through it to send Sonny flying. The man was determined, however, and kicked off a tree in mid-air to strike at a different angle.

    Bert slammed him away with his shield, firing his prosthetic arm¡¯s crossbow form at the backline fighters as he did so. The bolt sank into the shoulder of their ranger, eliciting a scream of pain as the chill rune froze the wound.

    Gavin charged to Bert¡¯s left; the new axe extended into a dwarf-sized halberd as he slashed at the quickly retreating rogue that had tried to flank them. While Bert blocked a fireball with his shield, he saw the two mages nod to each other, separating to attack from opposite sides.

    Bert¡¯s next bolt found the ranger again, slicing open his leg and taking him out of the fight just in time for Bert to trade blows with Sonny again. He rolled under an ice bolt and blasted Sonny back, but the man was learning fast, dodging and rolling to try and tie up Bert¡¯s attention.

    The mage behind him screamed, and Bert turned to see a black-tipped spear had sprouted from their chest. The moment of distraction cost him, and Sonny¡¯s left blade darted past his shield, stabbing dead center into his chest.

    CLANG!

    Sonny stared at his blade, lodged barely a millimeter into the new chest piece. Bert grinned, activating Shield Charge at point-blank range. He heard the sound of breaking bones, and Sonny was flung limply across the clearing.

    He groaned as the rogue jumped over Gavin, landing behind him, blades flashing in a rapid series of strikes. Gavin collapsed, vanishing as he hit the floor.

    A spear drove down into the Rogue from directly above, growing as it fell.

    Gavin appeared, the spell broken, behind the mage with a roar and buried his axe in the woman¡¯s back.

    Blood flew from her mouth, and she fell forward.

    ¡°Where did the healer go?¡± Bert asked, unable to see the man anywhere.

    ¡°Over here!¡± Lily called in a sing-song voice.

    Bert and Gavin hurried around the trunk of a large tree to find the healer. The man was waving his arms wildly, mana flowing out of him and into the trees around him.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°He¡¯s bravely healing his dastardly allies as they fight the unremitting Fae,¡± Lily said seriously before breaking into giggles. ¡°Shall we kill him now, or wait till he runs out of mana?¡±

    ¡°None of the above,¡± Bert said, trying not to laugh as the healer let out a grunt of effort and cast a powerful heal on a small shrub. He grabbed the man by the back of his robe and yanked him backward, dragging him toward the groaning forms of his surviving colleagues.

    ¡°What in the-?¡± The man sputtered as he saw their bleeding and battered forms.

    ¡°Shut up and get healing,¡± Bert said, throwing the man down in the center of the clearing.

    Sonny looked quite amusing, trussed up like a turkey, glaring around his gag. The others were allowed to walk, minus the three corpses, which Bert was dragging along with the protesting Sonny.

    ¡°You know,¡± Bert said causally, ¡°You really are a strange man, Sonny.¡± He glanced back, seeing murder in the Delver¡¯s eyes. ¡°I mean, what was the point of all that, really?¡±

    ¡°Murdlerlf!¡± Sonny screamed through his gag.

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert shook his head, ¡°No, sorry. Can¡¯t follow. I guess we¡¯ll just ask the others.¡±

    It only took a half hour or so to get back to the thorn and vine walls of the camp. Bert dumped his cargo in the gate and waited.

    It didn¡¯t take long.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Mandy came over with hands behind her back, no doubt resting on the handles of her daggers.

    ¡°This lot attacked me and my party while we were in the woods,¡± Bert said flatly, not bothering to hide his irritation. ¡°Something about our gear.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Mandy hissed. ¡°Not even Sonny is that stupid!¡±

    ¡°They said there were seven of them and only two of us, ye ken?¡± Gavin said, resting his arms on his bloody axe. ¡°They must ¡®ave forgot about our Lily,¡± He grinned. ¡°Dunnae think that¡¯ll happen again, aye lads?¡± He kicked one of the surviving attackers in the back of the knee, sending them sprawling.

    Mandy sighed, fingers pinching her nose as she winced.

    ¡°No chance we can just forget this, right?¡± She asked.

    ¡°All Delver¡¯s Guild members are banned from the Waystation from now on,¡± Bert said blandly. ¡°Other than that¡­ fuck ¡®em.¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait!¡± Mandy said, ¡°We can work this out,¡± She thought quickly, ¡°We can give you this bunch of idiots share of the loot! How about that?¡± She smiled hopefully.

    ¡°Forget it,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°They paid us in garbage and then got pissed when I turned it into something good.¡±

    Sonny¡¯s eyes bugged out at that, and he seemed to be trying to chew his way through the gag.

    ¡°May I?¡± Mandy asked carefully.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert waved her over, and she removed the gag.

    ¡°You made that stuff out of what we paid you with?¡± Sonny asked, ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t care if you believe it, asshole,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°Come on, people, time we hit the road.¡±

    ¡°Wait one second!¡± A man stepped out from behind the wall.

    ¡°What, McRae?¡± Bert asked tiredly.

    ¡°Just¡­ well,¡± McRae held out a token bearing a hammer against a stone wall. ¡°You¡¯re entitled to this.¡±

    ¡°Builder¡¯s Guild seal, huh?¡± Bert fed it some mana and watched it flash. ¡°Cheers.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll not pretend to like you, boy,¡± McRae grunted, ¡°But you sure can build.¡±

    ¡°Thanks, I guess.¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°See you around, old timer.¡±

    McRae just waved and walked off.

    ===========

    ¡°What the hell now?¡± Bert grumbled as he saw the line of people waiting outside the Bear¡¯s Fall. They were all carrying packs; a couple even had a small wagon with them.

    ¡°Hello!¡± Abby said as he pulled alongside of her spot at the head of the line.

    ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°We wish to book passage to the next town,¡± Abby said with a hint of formality. Her eyes wandered to the splashes of blood on their gear. ¡°Is this a bad time?¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask Bell?¡± Bert frowned at her.

    ¡°She said, and I quote, ¡®Only if Bert says yes,¡¯ and I decided not to push the issue,¡± Abby said with a touch of hurt pride.

    ¡°Okay, but you have to pay your way,¡± Bert said. ¡°We need information; you need travel.¡±

    ¡°Agreed,¡± Abby said with a small bow. ¡°What do you wish to know?¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s start with the location of more Ruins like this and go from there,¡± Bert said, leading her up the gangplank.

    ¡°Delighted,¡± Abby said, turning once to look back at the snow slowly starting to fall. ¡°I will be overjoyed to leave this desolate place behind us.¡±

    Abby was true to her word, and the first leads on the next few ruins arrived before he had even finished getting cleaned and changed. His new armor was great, but he still liked to relax in the simple shirts and pants that the Waystation provided.

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    Way Way was starting to make changes to the things they provided now that they could see. He was still not sure how much had changed with how they saw within their own land. One thing that was certain was that they wanted more color about the place.

    That was why he found himself wearing a pair of plain cotton and leather trousers in a dark grey matched with a violently pink shirt.

    ¡°Can we tone the color down a bit?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No, I like it!¡±

    Bert ignored the sniggers as he strolled up the train and tried not to laugh himself as he entered the bridge. It seemed the Waystation¡¯s new fondness for color had found its way into the wardrobes of every member of the team. He pointedly ignored the scowling farmer dressed in a neon green outfit so bright it seemed to glow every time they went into shadow and the equally grumpy Wendy in a polka dot coverall and admired Bell, who had won the color lottery.

    She was sitting happily in her chair, a beautiful mustard yellow dress clinging in all the right places.

    ¡°Can we talk about the color thing?¡± Scruff asked with a hint of desperation in her voice.

    The room suddenly went black as the crystal windows disappeared.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s a no,¡± Bert said.

    Light returned to the bridge.

    ¡°We ready to go?¡± Bell asked, idly flicking a knife in the air with one hand. ¡°Getting bored here.¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Bert said with a smile. ¡°Everyone is on board, and we are heading back the way the wagon train came. Should be a decently easy trip.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll drive!¡±

    The train started to crawl forward, swinging wide around the astonished wagon train, who all turned to gawk as they passed. The Waystation picked up speed as they cleared the wagons and followed the flattened earth road that the Wagon Train earth mages had created.

    It took less than five minutes after they had passed out of the valley before it happened.

    ¡°Are we there yet?¡± Bell moaned.

    Bert joined the Orcs for some training while Way Way followed the road. He wasn¡¯t actually hiding from their guests; he just preferred not to have to deal with them directly. It was nice to burn off some extra energy against the orcs, especially with Lily joining in.

    It was much more of a challenge than it used to be, but once Lily started playing with illusions, it skyrocketed fast. The fight sped up as the brothers flanked him while Tru¡¯nal pressed him.

    A sudden charge from Mic vanished into smoke as a wooden spear bonked him on the head.

    Lily giggled.

    ¡°No one ever looks up!¡± She laughed, rolling back and forth in the air.

    Bud grinned from the corner while Bert rubbed the small bump forming on the top of his head.

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing a helmet?¡± Trun¡¯nal asked with a scowl. ¡°We need to train with full gear.¡±

    Bert had been really hoping no one would ask.

    He summoned his helmet and tried to ignore the stares.

    ¡°You forgot to upgrade the helm?¡± Bud asked carefully.

    ¡°It won¡¯t upgrade,¡± Bert whispered.

    ¡°Pardon?¡± Bud asked, with a wide smile stretching his skull.

    ¡°It won¡¯t upgrade!¡± Bert said, flushing slightly as the copper pot remained steadfastly stuck on his head.

    He stalked out of the practice rooms as they roared with laughter.

    ============

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s certainly a choice,¡± Bell giggled as Bert slumped into his chair on the bridge. He had emerged from having a wash to find his clothes had once more changed color. His entire outfit was now a dark grey with bright copper pots emblazoned with delicate stitchwork all over both the shirt and the pants.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t choose it,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°But I have to admit, I kind of like the shirt.¡± He grinned.

    Bell narrowed her eyes and considered it, ¡°Yeah, me too.¡± She flopped back in her chair. ¡°Did Abby give you the details of the city yet?¡±

    ¡°I, uh, have kind of been avoiding them,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Me too,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m tired of talking to people; it¡¯s more fun when they are running screaming for the hills.¡±

    ¡°Do you think we are getting anti-social?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°More anti-asshole,¡± Bell grinned. ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡±

    Bert looked round to see a woman in a long green dress standing in the middle of the road and waving her arms.

    ¡°We could run her down,¡± Bell said. ¡°She¡¯d probably get out of the way in time.¡±

    ¡°Naah,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°We better see what this is all about.¡±

    ¡°Fine, but if anyone needs killing, I get to do it,¡± She grinned and summoned her armor. ¡°You got to kill the last ones.¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Bert protested, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill them; Lily and Gavin did.¡±

    ¡°Still counts!¡± Bell called back as she headed for the side door of the bridge as the Waystation rumbled to a stop.

    Bell trotted down the steps and leaped the last few feet to the hard-packed dirt with effortless grace. Bert just tried not to slip. He was still in his regular outfit and had just remembered that did not include shoes.

    ¡°Who are you, and what do you want?¡± Bell said brightly, spinning her Ringer in one hand as she stalked towards the woman.

    ¡°Thank the Gods!¡± The woman brushed her messy black hair out of her eyes with trembling fingers as she tried to look past Bell to see Bert. ¡°I need help!¡±

    ¡°Same questions, but this time I hit you if you don¡¯t answer,¡± Bell grinned.

    ¡°Can you call off your attack dog, please?¡± The woman asked Bert.

    ¡°THE FUCK SHE JUST CALL ME?¡± Bell said, mouth a perfect ¡®o¡¯ of shock.

    ¡°You probably have about three seconds to live, so talk fast,¡± Bert advised.

    ¡°My group was with the wagon train, but we broke down and got separated,¡± The woman said with a nervous smile. ¡°We are desperately in need of help, and shelter, good sir.¡±

    ¡°So it¡¯s an ambush?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°What?¡± She asked, starting to look nervous.

    ¡°It¡¯s an ambush,¡± Bert said to Bell.

    ¡°It better fucking be,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°I promise, good Sir, there is no-¡± The words cut off as the woman collapsed.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t me!¡± Bell said quickly. ¡°Is she dead?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert sighed, ¡°She¡¯s faking¡­ look, her chest is moving, and she keeps peaking whenever she thinks we aren¡¯t looking.¡±

    ¡°This¡­ is kind of pathetic,¡± Bell said. ¡°I feel embarrassed for her.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°Oi! Piss off out of the road, will you?¡±

    ¡°Mom?¡± A boy came out of the scrubs on the side of the road and gave a theatrical yelp. ¡°Mom!¡± He rushed over to her, crouching down and pulling at her dress. ¡°Please! You must help my dear mother!¡± He wept and then looked confused for a moment. He stopped and took a small scrap of paper out of his pocket, then muttered for a minute before finding his place. Once he had, he tucked it away and began to beg with huge gasping sobs.

    ¡°Woe is me! Woe! Woe, I say!¡± He turned with a trembling lip and gazed beseechingly at Bell. ¡°Kind lady, won¡¯t you take pity on a poor boy in need?¡±

    Bell just stared.

    ¡°Is this a joke?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Do you have prank shows in this world?¡± He looked around. ¡°I feel like someone is going to jump out and say they fooled us at any second.¡±

    ¡°How is that funny?¡± Bell asked as they turned and walked away.

    ¡°Hey!¡± The ¡®dead¡¯ woman called. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help us?¡±

    ¡°You never actually said what you wanted help with,¡± Bert called over his shoulder. ¡°Other than maybe some acting lessons.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± She called desperately. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you.¡±

    ¡°And then, we were lost in dark woods for a year!¡± She exclaimed. ¡°Now it is just my dear son and me; so desperate for help are we.¡± She looked at their impassive faces. ¡°And the boy is sick!¡± She nudged the boy.

    ¡°Cough,¡± The boy said.

    He didn¡¯t cough, just said the word.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert clapped his hands together. ¡°Well, that was fifteen minutes of my life that I¡¯ll never get back.¡±

    ¡°She still didn¡¯t actually tell us what she wants!¡± Bell rocked back and forward, laughing.

    ¡°A lobotomy?¡± Bert guessed. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go.¡±

    ¡°Awww, but they¡¯re fun!¡± Bell protested. ¡°We should help them for amusement value alone!¡±

    ¡°How?!¡± Bert yelled in exasperation. ¡°They won¡¯t tell us what they want!¡±

    Bell was now laughing so hard she was having trouble breathing.

    At this point, they had also attracted a crowd. A good few of the crew and guests were gathered around the pair, all wearing the same expression of horrified awe.

    ¡°How do they talk so much without saying anything at all?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°Is it some kind of spell?¡±

    ¡°Please, do help us, dear people!¡± The woman held her hand out in a vague approximation of an imploring gesture.

    ¡°How?¡± Bert demanded. ¡°HOW. CAN. WE. HELP. YOU?¡± He spoke loudly and clearly.

    ¡°Tis a long and terrible tale!¡± The woman declaimed in a shaking voice.

    ¡°Of Woe!¡± The boy pointed out.

    ¡°Of Woe!¡± She agreed. ¡°For our people are trapped in the deep dark woods!¡± She pointed.

    ¡°That?¡± Bert asked, looking at the small and picturesque clump of about four trees. ¡°That is not a wood¡­ that is not even a cluster!¡± He pointed his shaking finger at the pair, ¡°That is four trees! You can see through them!¡±

    ¡°Small dark wood?¡± The woman tried.

    ¡°Fuck it!¡± Bert threw his hands in the air. ¡°Let¡¯s just run them over!¡±

    There was a yelp behind them, and a ragged-looking man in dusty clothes ran out from the Bear¡¯s Fall, his pants on fire, while Tim chased him.

    The group caught him, and Bud pulled a wriggling Tim away before he could light the man on fire again.

    ¡°Hah!¡± The woman yelled exuberantly. ¡°You have fallen for our ploy!¡±

    ¡°And now we vanish into the night, all your riches in our hands!¡± The boy added.

    Eyes flicked back and forth between the woman and child and the obviously captured thief.

    ¡°It¡¯s noon!¡± Bell said, collapsing into giggles again. ¡°He said they would vanish into the night¡­ and it¡¯s noon!¡±

    ¡°He didn¡¯t even take anything,¡± Lily said, appearing in the air above the man. ¡°He literally just walked around, and then Tim saw him!¡±

    ¡°None can see the shadow!¡± The man proclaimed loudly.

    ¡°Do we¡­ do we need to take care of them?¡± Bert asked, completely at a loss. ¡°It seems like they need professional help.¡±

    ¡°We can¡¯t just leave them here,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°It¡¯d be like leaving a puppy on the side of the road.¡±

    Bert felt his first migraine coming on since arriving in this world.

    ¡°Come on then,¡± Bert sighed, giving up.

    ¡°Caught! Alas! Flee!¡± The boy called as Tru¡¯nal gently took his hand. ¡°Woe is me!¡± The boy intoned as he followed the orc with no apparent attempt at resistance.

    ¡°None can hold us!¡± The man yelled as Bud threw him over one bony shoulder.

    ¡°None can hold the shadow and his aids!¡± The woman called back as she followed them happily into the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    ¡°This fucking world just gets weirder,¡± Bert shook his head and walked back to the Bridge. He stopped, went back, and picked up Bell, who was still laughing too hard to walk.

 Chapter 92 - The Hamlet I

    ¡°I like it,¡± Bell said. ¡°It¡¯s cute.¡±

    Bert had to admit the sparking little village was beautiful in the warm morning light. No high walls defended it; no giant keep took the center ground¡­ It was the very picture of happy village life. Slate roofs edged in a pale green moss, dark timbers reinforcing the stone, wattle-and-daub construction.

    Cobbled streets ambled between well-kept houses and cottages with neat and tidy gardens. The delicate coating of snow turned it into a picture postcard, complete with delicate trails of smoke rising from chimneys.

    Beyond the village proper, the fallow fields were each lined with hedges of a deep blue color, which contrasted nicely with the red barns at the corner of each field.

    Through it all ran a wide, strong road that passed through the center of the market area, where he was sure the sound of a blacksmith would echo enchantingly without ever being too loud.

    It was perfect.

    Bert eyed the single tall building in the place. A multistory mansion on the edge of the market square adorned with flags and pennants.

    They fluttered fetchingly in the wind.

    ¡°What did Abby say this place was, again?¡± Bert asked Lily, who was hovering in one corner.

    ¡°A small hamlet called Avonburgh, a border village belonging to the Kingdom of Lastia. Or it may be a Queendom¡­ I¡¯m not sure.¡± Lily replied promptly. ¡°Several Guilds maintain a presence here, in a designated Guild House.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna go out on a limb and say that¡¯s the huge one with all the flags,¡± Bert deadpanned.

    ¡°So, are we going to sit here all day, or what?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll set up outside the village,¡± Bert said. ¡°But something about the place sets my teeth on edge.¡±

    ¡°We could change that!¡± She laughed.

    Bert tried not to smile but failed. He had never been a fan of Bell¡¯s love of running over things, but something about the cute little village made him want to yell ¡®Ramming Speed!¡¯ and call it a day.

    It took some time to find a suitable place to set up; the Waystation wasn¡¯t exactly small, after all. Even as a train. Eventually, the Waystation was set up on the side of the main road. They didn¡¯t circle the train, as there seemed little point.

    Bert went to help the Explorers unload and greet the inevitable small army of guards.

    He was just passing the main restaurant area when the sounds of raised voices caught his attention. Bert stuck his head in to see what was going on and frowned.

    ¡°Okay, who put them in chains?¡± Bert demanded, staring at the ¡®Shadow¡¯ and his two motley assistants as they crouched in a corner, chained to a table.

    ¡°Vile fiend!¡± The Shadow proclaimed. ¡°To bind us so!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± Bert said; he heard the snickers behind him and turned to see the orc brothers, Mic and Ric. ¡°Is this you two?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± They both insisted. ¡°Look!¡±

    Bert turned back just in time to see the boy pull his hand out of the shackle to scratch his nose.

    ¡°We don¡¯t even know where they got the chains,¡± Mic shrugged.

    Bert reached out and picked one of the chains up. It was wood, painted to look like metal.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Bert asked, genuinely stumped. ¡°Where did you get these?¡±

    ¡°You bound us, foul creature!¡± The woman wailed. ¡°Alas, I fear for my virtue!¡±

    ¡°Never fear!¡± The Shadow proclaimed, ¡°For never shall I let ill befall thee!¡±

    ¡°You dropped your chain,¡± Bert pointed out, as the coils of wooden chain dropped away.

    ¡°Tricks and lies!¡± The man insisted as they watched him gather the fake chains around him again.

    ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t have time for this,¡± Bert shook his head and walked away.

    ¡°You will never hold us!¡± The Shadow called after him.

    ¡°The doors open, asshole,¡± Bert called back. ¡°Feel free to leave at any time.¡±

    ¡°If you accompany us to the guild hall, we shall conclude our business,¡± Abby said with a slight bow. Her people were milling about on the road, clearly eager to get back into civilization.

    ¡°Wait for us!¡± Bell called, trotting down the gangplank with Lily and Wendy. ¡°We want to look around.¡±

    ¡°Anyone else?¡± Bert asked. It had been a while since they had a chance to get into an actual village, and he didn¡¯t blame anyone for a bit of cabin fever.

    ¡°Nope!¡± Wendy said. ¡°Gavin is busy with Dee, Scruff is arguing with Bernhardt, Bud and the rest are heading out to do some hunting, and Reed and Lowes said the little girl was not ready for socializing yet.¡± She grinned. ¡°Apparently, she tends to scare the normals.¡±

    Bert shrugged, offered Bell his arm, and let Abby lead them on into the hamlet of Avonburgh.

    Their little procession was quick to draw notice, which Bert found strange as no one had reacted to the Waystation. As they moved into the village itself, shutters opened a crack, doors were opened, and a bunch of very smartly dressed people came out to gawk at the newcomers.

    The clothes were very different from what he had seen before. Smart suits, complete with cloth shoulder guards and stylized trousers with a small half skirt on one side over the pants for the men and vaguely Victorian long skirts with a blouse and waistcoat for the women.

    And again, the faux shoulder guards. He even saw a few women with decorative lace bracers. More than that, he saw something he had not seen since Earth.

    Several of the people were wearing glasses.

    ¡°The Hamlet of Avonburgh is quite advanced,¡± Abby said, noticing him staring. ¡°The Guilds have brought a large amount of skilled craftsmen with them, so the people here live better than most.¡±

    She wasn¡¯t kidding, Bert thought, as the place was spotless. As were the people. Not a single person who had come out to stare at the procession was anything less than impeccably dressed. Several impressive waxed mustaches were on proud display.

    ¡°Supplies of most types are available here in the market square,¡± Abby said proudly as her people filed away to the massive mansion on the far side. ¡°We like to have everything organized well,¡± She added.

    ¡°Is this where you live?¡± Bert asked as Abby was giving off a little bit of a tour guide vibe.

    ¡°It is,¡± She smiled. ¡°I helped to build this place up over the last few years.¡±

    ¡°Was it that much different before?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°It was¡­ shameful,¡± Abby said before changing the subject to the nearby clothes store.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    Which was good timing as a tall, beared man with orcish features came barging out of the Mansion as they arrived, scowling.

    ¡°Just what is the meaning of this?¡± He demanded. ¡°Why do you bring these barbaric-looking people into our town?¡±

    ¡°Calm, Mason,¡± Abby said with a fond smile. ¡°They are from beyond our lands and aided us in returning home in ease and comfort.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Mason humphed, ¡°I suppose a single exception can be made on the returning expedition sub-clause!¡±

    ¡°My thoughts as well,¡± Abby said, smiling. ¡°Everyone, allow me to introduce you to Master Lewis, Mason to his friends. He was my partner in elevating this small corner of the world.¡±

    The white-haired man gave a small bow, but his scowl remained. Bert tried not to stare. Did the man have his eyebrows waxed like a mustache?

    ¡°Hey,¡± Bert said, ¡°Nice to meet you.¡±

    ¡°Mmmm,¡± Mason said, ¡°Make sure you follow the ordinances while you are here, yes?¡± His eyes flicked between Bell, Wendy, and Lily. ¡°Proper dress is expected within village limits.¡± Finally, his eyes settled on Bert, ¡°For you as well.¡±

    ¡°At least give them time to read the booklet!¡± Abby laughed, beckoning them inside, past the scowling old man.

    She wasn¡¯t joking.

    Bert and Bell stared down at the copy they had been given.

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a booklet,¡± Wendy stage whispered, ¡°It¡¯s a book!¡±

    She wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. It turned out that what the hamlet lacked in size, it made up for with a complex and interconnected series of civic ordinances. There were apparently over a hundred that governed clothing alone. What made it worse was that many seemed to contradict each other.

    Hence, the booklet.

    While the Guild Council understands that many will experience confusion with the expected dress code for Avonburgh, it is much less confusing than one would think. One need merely apply common sense.

    For example: The Guild Council forbids wearing armor in public, while the Town Charter calls for Armor to be worn at all times.

    While we, the Council, would like to simply remove the archaic Charter, we still respect its laws. As such, we recommend and indeed encourage the decorative armor pieces on offer at all good Clothiers!

    And remember! Good Ordinances make Good neighbors!

    ¡°Are they kidding?¡± Bell whispered to Bert as she examined the garishly printed cover once more. ¡°I can¡¯t tell!¡±

    Good Citizen¡¯s Guide to Avonburgh!

    Living, made easy, simple, and fun!

    The cover showed a rosy-cheeked child being handed a wrapped sweet by a man in a smart coat. A blushing woman clasped her hands and simpered next to him.

    ¡°If you make me wear that, I¡¯ll puke,¡± Wendy hissed, pointing at the illustration of a woman in an elaborate bustle and train dress that was marked ¡®Formal Wear.¡¯

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert sighed, ¡°It all seems a little much.¡± He grinned. ¡°I bet we can find some nice clothes here, though.¡±

    ¡°Oooh, I wonder if they have maid outfits!¡± Wendy said suddenly, flicking through the handbook.

    That was the point at which Bert simply tapped out of the conversation.

    ===============

    Bert looked at himself in the mirror. Well, okay, it was more of a screen where Way Way showed him what he looked like, but it did the same thing at the end of the day.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Bert grinned as he checked the fit once more. He looked pretty good in a dark charcoal grey suit made of something like thick wool with a matching waistcoat. The absence of lapels had thrown him a bit, but once he realized the shirts all boasted a smooth collar reminiscent of Asian styles back on Earth, it made sense. The shirt was a red color that Bell had described as ¡®arterial spray¡¯ which might explain how much of a discount they had gotten on the clothes.

    He fastened on the cloth spaulders and frowned. They completely ruined the lines of the jacket. Taking them off again, he considered his options. The cloth armguards looked ridiculous, and the cloth leg guards as well.

    In the end, he pulled on a pair of cloth gauntlets, which at least left the rest of the clothes intact.

    Now what?

    It is important to remember that an uncovered head is the sign of a barbarian. Make sure that you wear something appropriate at all times!

    ¡°Yeah, no,¡± Bert said to himself. He had tried to find a hat, but his head was simply the wrong shape. Nothing he tried had worked, so in the end, he had convinced the tailor to sell him several squares of cloth to match the suits. He tied one now, covering his head with it like a bandana.

    ¡°Now that¡¯s more like it!¡± He heard Bell from down the hall and went to join his people.

    ¡°I look fucking stylish!¡± Gavin screamed at Scruff as she laughed. ¡°I¡¯ll no be takin¡¯ backtalk from yerself.¡± The dwarf glowered as he crossed his arms. He was wearing a suit¡­ sort of. It turned out that they didn¡¯t have any Dwarf-sized clothes, so the tailor had done his best based on the description.

    It wasn¡¯t great.

    The jacket brushed the floor as he stomped about in a rage, the tailor having apparently simplified matters by merely shortening the arms and legs. What made it worse was the frilled ruffle that he insisted on wearing with the ensemble. It was almost as wide as he was.

    ¡°Oh, leave him alone!¡± Wendy chided Scruff. ¡°I think he looks sweet!¡±

    ¡°Aye, that¡¯s me!¡± Gavin said, jerking his thumb at his ruffle. ¡°Sweet as fuckling pie!¡±

    Wendy and Bell laughed. Bert looked at them and marveled. They had both chosen matching dresses. Blue for Bell, while Wendy chose a dark red. Both of them sported every cloth armor option they could get.

    ¡°How do I look?¡± Scruff asked, a bit nervously. She had gone for a more conservative look, with a long dark skirt, long-sleeved blouse, and waistcoat. She sported a single bracer with delicate stitchwork as well.

    ¡°Fantastic,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°Shall we?¡± He offered her his arm.

    Scruff grinned and took it.

    They met the others on their way out of the Bear¡¯s Fall. Mic and Ric were fidgeting with their collars while Trun¡¯nal slapped their hands away. Their sister was regally dressed, her arm through Gor¡¯tals in a way that was apparently making him nervous.

    ¡°That is the cutest thing ever!¡± Bell and Wendy said at the sight of Bud and Tim, both in white suits. Tim was preening under the attention, holding onto Lily¡¯s hand proudly.

    ¡°I wore the black dress,¡± She said timidly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t find the maid¡¯s outfit we brought.¡±

    ¡°Aww, bless,¡± Bell said with a grin. ¡°The maid outfit wasn¡¯t for you, sweetheart.¡±

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t?¡± Lily asked, walking innocently into the trap.

    ¡°No, it was for sex,¡± Wendy said with a wink to Scruff, who actually blushed almost as much as Lily did.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert said, changing the subject quickly, ¡°We are off to go buy supplies, people; you all have funds?¡±

    The chorus of Yes, yup, of course, was interrupted by Mic and Ric swearing they hadn¡¯t gotten any money. Tru¡¯nal hit them both, and they nodded reluctantly.

    ¡°One last thing,¡± Bert added. ¡°Keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious or out of place.¡±

    They all stared at him.

    ¡°What?¡± He asked.

    ¡°This place looks too nice for anything weird to be going on,¡± Wendy said eventually.

    ¡°A nice place doesn¡¯t need this many laws,¡± Bert said, holding up the handbook. ¡°Be careful.¡±

    ¡°Go on, shoo!¡± Bell said to the others as she took his arm, ¡°We have a meeting to go to.¡±

    The team scattered as they headed into the town.

    ¡°What a pleasure to see you!¡± Abby greeted them at the door to the Guild House with a smile. Her garb reminded Bert of the uptight Victorian looks he had seen in period dramas, yet with added severe angles and planes.

    It was quite something.

    She ushered them back through the wood-paneled foyer and up a set of stairs to a grand hall. It seemed to stretch on forever, thanks to mirrors on every wall.

    ¡°Impressive,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Thank you, we like it.¡± Abby bowed slightly and led them over to a small group of people loitering near a low table covered in food and delicate crystal glasses.

    Bert took in the group as they walked over.

    Three things stood out to him immediately. The first was that they all wore the same look of forced smiles and stiff postures. No matter how it looked, these people hated each other.

    The second was that they were all extremely well off. He had browsed the dress and tailor shops while waiting for his suits to be made. The clothes and decorations on their hosts were all from the top shelf. More than that, it was conspicuously so. The two women in attendance had several fabrics in clusters at the bustle. They served no purpose other than to show off as many types of fabric as possible. The blond woman with blue eyes was also sporting a set of ornate ribbons in her hair that would cost more than the entire suit he was wearing. The woman with the hawkish features and short, curly, auburn hair was also sporting ribbons, but these ones fell from her shoulders.

    The thirst thing he noticed was that not one of them so much as glanced at Bell. Every pair of eyes instead turned to him.

    Little did they know.

    ¡°Our guests at last,¡± The blond woman said with a smile that never reached her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m Madam Cooper, but you may call me Rachael for the evening.¡± She acted as if the lack of formality was a favor she was doing them.

    ¡°Indeed,¡± The man opposite her said. ¡°I am Master Craftsman Bailey, but let¡¯s not stand on ceremony; just call me John.¡± His speech was clipped and precise but not entirely unfriendly.

    Mason was there, of course, and the man simply nodded and turned away, dismissing them entirely.

    The final member of the little group looked extremely uncomfortable with the action, stepping forward to hold out his hand to Bert and Bell immediately.

    ¡°Carter Miller, Nice to meet you both.¡± He flashed a nervous smile and then was abruptly pushed aside by the blond battleaxe, Rachael.

    ¡°Stand aside, boy, allow them to introduce themselves.¡± She said with a momentary sneer.

    ¡°Bert and Bell Hudson,¡± Bell said sweetly. ¡°Madam Cooper, was it?¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± The woman smiled.

    ¡°So¡­ a madam,¡± Bell said innocently. ¡°Are you a whore yourself, or do you just run them?¡±

 Chapter 93 - The Hamlet II

    Bert watched the reactions with no small amount of amusement. Carter Miller, the most friendly of the group so far and the least fake was desperately trying not to laugh, but even turning away wouldn¡¯t hide his shaking shoulders. Abby merely looked stunned, while old man Mason looked as if he was having a stroke.

    Curiously, Evelyn was not even attempting to hide the glee on her hawk-like face.

    In the end, it was the Master Crafter Bailey who broke the silence. He drew his sizable frame up in an almost frantic pose of gallantry.

    ¡°I must ask you to explain that comment, young woman!¡± He intoned. Attempting to intimidate Bell.

    ¡°A madam is the woman who runs a whorehouse,¡± Bell said flatly. ¡°They are often the most expensive prostitute in town.¡± She smiled with way too many teeth.

    ¡°A simple misunderstanding, I¡¯m sure,¡± Abby said, stepping forward quickly. She was the only one in the room who had any idea what Bert and Bell were, which may have explained the anxiety. ¡°I¡¯m sure no offense was meant.¡±

    ¡°None at all,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°I quite like whores.¡±

    ¡°Will you stop using that damnable language!¡± Mason thundered. ¡°I will not stand for it!¡±

    Bert and Bell exchanged a look.

    ¡°We apologize,¡± Bert said, ignoring Bell, who was rolling her eyes hard enough to dislocate them, ¡°This is the first time we have encountered people of such delicate natures in a long time.¡±

    ¡°Delicate?¡± Mason chided, ¡°You consider manners and basic decency a sign of delicacy?¡± He humphed again. ¡°When you are among your betters, it would be wise to keep such ignorance to yourself.¡±

    Abby blanched.

    ¡°Maybe I should do a more formal introduction,¡± She tried, but Bert had hit his limit with the ¡®your betters¡¯ comment.

    ¡°Our betters?¡± Bert said. ¡°How do you judge yourself better?¡±

    ¡°I lead a Guild House, boy!¡± Mason laughed. ¡°What do you lead?¡±

    ¡°A Court of the Fae,¡± Bell said with malicious glee.

    ¡°We suck at meeting people,¡± Bert said as they walked away from the Guild House, having finally managed to shrug off the ensuing argument.

    ¡°Oh, come on.¡± Bell said, ¡°We were never going to play nice with them, and you know it.¡±

    ¡°Still,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°We have to have a working relationship with the guilds at least.¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Bell jostled him. ¡°Cheer up. We left without setting the building on fire. That¡¯s progress!¡±

    Bert laughed.

    ¡°Did you see her face when I called her a whore?¡± Bell giggled. ¡°I think her mind literally broke.¡±

    ¡°I thought Mason was going to keel over right there!¡± Bert could still see the old man''s stricken look.

    ¡°Not bad for an evening¡¯s entertainment,¡± Bell agreed. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s find a restaurant and have dinner together!¡±

    Bert happily accepted. It would be nice to do something so normal. Despite the uproar in the meeting, this was their first time in civilization without a major issue. Based on previous experience, that would typically have required the entire population to either be dead or undead.

    They were approaching the entrance to a very smart-looking little Tavern, the smells from which convinced them it was a great place to eat when it happened.

    ¡°Guards! Guards!¡± A woman called. Her voice sounded angry rather than panicked¡­ but still.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Bell snapped. ¡°So close¡­¡± She held out a hand toward the tavern. ¡°Alas, we are denied at the last moment!¡± She pretended to swoon.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been spending too much time around the Shadow and his crew,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°We better go see which one of ours is causing trouble.¡± He thought for a moment. ¡°I mean, it is possible it isn¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s always our people,¡± Bell said. ¡°They take after us!¡±

    ¡°The shameless hussy¡¯s are at it again!¡± The old woman had her hair in a tight bun as she informed the two well-armed guards of her complaint. She was gesturing at a pair of women on the other side of the garden fence, both of which seemed completely normal to Bert.

    They didn¡¯t even appear to be doing anything, just sitting in their back garden with drinks and a small meal. It actually looked really peaceful.

    Bert and Bell joined the small crowd while the over-armed guards frowned.

    ¡°You are quite sure?¡± He asked the woman again.

    ¡°I am!¡± The old woman clutched her neckline as if in fear. ¡°See for yourselves!¡±

    ¡°And it was in public?¡± The guard asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± The woman wailed. ¡°Right out in the open!¡±

    ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, don¡¯t look, you nosy old bat!¡± One of the women shouted.

    ¡°Silence, accused!¡± The guard shouted back, placing a hand on his sword.

    ¡°Accused?¡± The old woman scowled, ¡°They are guilty! Look at them!¡±

    Bert did. They seemed perfectly normal to him. Just two women relaxing in their own back garden with mugs of something warm.

    ¡°She¡¯s got a point, Sarge,¡± The other guard said. ¡°They are being unseemly.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Bert blurted out before he could stop himself.

    ¡°Silence!¡± The Guard bellowed.

    ¡°He asked you a question, Guardsman,¡± One of the ¡®accused¡¯ called over the fence, still sipping her drink. ¡°Answer it.¡±

    ¡°I will have silence!¡± The guard drew his sword. ¡°I am the guardsman here! Obey or be punished!¡±

    ¡°I just asked a question,¡± Bert said, frowning. ¡°One you should be able to answer.¡±

    The Guardsman turned, glaring at Bert.

    ¡°Silence, citizen! I won¡¯t tell you again.¡± He glowered at Bert.

    Bert smiled back; the guard was a bully¡­ they almost all were, but he was just about pissed off enough to-.

    ¡°What is going on here?¡± A familiar voice called.

    Abby Hoffstetter strode into the situation as if she owned it.

    ¡°Miss Hoffstetter!¡± The old woman looked relieved. ¡°They have done it again!¡±

    ¡°So I see,¡± Abby frowned sadly at the pair over the fence.

    ¡°And this citizen needs to learn his place!¡± The sergeant sneered at Bert.

    ¡°He is a guest of the Guilds, not a citizen,¡± Abby said. ¡°Apologize to him immediately.¡±

    The Guardsman looked shocked.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say?¡± The Guardsman hissed. ¡°I would have answered you immediately.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t give me a chance,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°I apologize,¡± The guard bowed, glowering at Bert the whole time. The look promised retribution at a later date.

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    Bert hoped so¡­ preferably in a dark alley, with no witnesses.

    The two guards withdrew, and Abby turned to them with an embarrassed smile.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry you had to see such unpleasantness.¡± She gave an awkward little chuckle. ¡°It seems we still have more work to do with this little village, after all.¡±

    She turned back to the old woman and the two ¡®accused¡¯ with a serious look on her face.

    ¡°Audrey Johnson, Daisy Moore,¡± Abby called imperiously over the fence. ¡°You are both hereby banished from Avonburgh permanently. You have ten minutes to leave or face summary judgment and a period of enforced guild service.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± The women both cried.

    ¡°It is done!¡± Abby snapped before turning back to Bert and Bell with a soft smile. ¡°Again, I apologize for the unpleasantness.¡±

    ¡°What did they do?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°They have repeatedly broken the very reasonable ordinances we set in place for this village,¡± Abby said, sounding disappointed. ¡°This evening, the offense was to go out in public in unseemly attire.¡±

    ¡°Public?¡± Bert asked. ¡°They were in their own garden, fully clothed.¡±

    ¡°Others can see them, and every space outside of the personal domicile is classed as a public space,¡± Abby explained. ¡°And they were shamelessly showing their hair down and wearing trousers to boot.¡± She shook her head. ¡°We were so clear in the town ordinances.¡±

    Bert and Bell just stared at her.

    ¡°You¡¯re shitting me, right?¡± Bell giggled. ¡°They got punished for wearing trousers and their hair down?¡±

    ¡°We like things neat,¡± Abby sniffed. ¡°It is simple if they follow the rules.¡±

    The two women came out of the house, desperately pulling bags of goods behind them.

    ¡°So they just have to walk out into the snow now?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Oh, no!¡± Abby said. ¡°We are not monsters.¡± She chuckled. ¡°There is no way they can make it out of the village in time. They will serve a few years as indentured guild members, then released in some other area.¡±

    ¡°They are now our guests,¡± Bell said quickly. ¡°Attempting to detain them would be a bad idea.¡±

    ¡°No matter,¡± Abby said, ¡°If they fail the time limit, they will automatically be locked into the servitude contract. We can wait until you tire of them.¡±

    Bert and Bell looked at each other, nodded, and moved. Each of them grabbed one of the women and sprinted for the Waystation.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± The woman screamed at him as he ran.

    ¡°Getting you out of the village!¡± Bert yelled back. ¡°Tell me when we get outside the limits!¡±

    The screams turned to laughter and cheers as he ran on, Bell drawing level with him without any apparent effort.

    ¡°We should have just run this place down!¡± She called back with a happy smile. ¡°Tell me we are going to do something about this!¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bert laughed.

    ¡°What about the leads on the ruins?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°We¡¯ll take them out of the wreckage!¡± Bert yelled as he poured on more speed.

    The women claimed they were free and clear before long, but they ran onward for a while, just in case.

    ============

    The others trickled back into the Waystation, loaded with supplies, over the next few hours. Only the orc brothers, Mic and Ric, were unaccounted for.

    Everyone had a story.

    ¡°There was this one woman we met who had been working for the Guild for ten years without pay or anything,¡± Lily said. ¡°I had to stop Gavin from headbutting the shopkeeper!¡±

    ¡°I saw it,¡± Scruff had said. ¡°This place is a sham. There are all these people in back rooms or whatever, and they do all the work!¡±

    ¡°We offered to help one man,¡± Bud added with a heavy sigh. ¡°He begged us not to. He has a wife and children that he managed to smuggle out.¡±

    ¡°Smuggle?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°People here are so scared they hide in trader¡¯s carts to escape the town,¡± Bud said.

    ¡°What the fuck did we wander into?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°This is like something out of a horror story.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know about that,¡± Scruff said. ¡°It was what the guild in my town was doing. These people have just done it better.¡±

    ¡°Any reason not to just flatten this place?¡± Bell asked eagerly.

    ¡°The servitude contracts would just transfer to the next nearest Guild house,¡± Bud said. ¡°I asked.¡±

    ¡°Can I just say how proud I am?¡± Bell said, a hand on her chest, ¡°You are the fourth member of our group to think about flattening this town¡­ It¡¯s like a dream come true!¡±

    ¡°Moving swiftly on,¡± Bert said. ¡°We are going to have to take a different tack with this one.¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡± Bell asked. ¡°I want to flatten something!¡±

    ¡°Lily,¡± Bert called.

    ¡°Yes?¡± She answered, looking surprised to be called on.

    ¡°How would you go about encouraging a little chaos in this town?¡± Bert asked.

    The next morning started early, mostly thanks to the return of Mic and Ric. They tried to sneak in, which was pointless when it came to the Waystation, which promptly woke everyone up.

    ¡°We didn¡¯t do anything!¡± Mic complained as Bert and Bell glared down at them.

    ¡°Yes, we did!¡± Ric said defiantly. He stood up to his full height, causing several underused muscles to strain. ¡°And I¡¯m glad we did!¡±

    ¡°What did you two do this time?¡± Tru¡¯nal had a face of pure thunder.

    ¡°Well, there was this girl¡­¡± Ric started.

    ¡°She was in trouble!¡± Mic carried on. ¡°We had to help!¡±

    ¡°And this guardsman,¡± Ric continued. ¡°So we thought we might be able to sort it out.¡±

    ¡°And then it burned down,¡± Mic added.

    ¡°What burned down?¡± Bert asked, feeling there was a lot left out in their explanation.

    ¡°The guardhouse,¡± Ric said, ducking instinctually as Tru¡¯nal swiped at him.

    ¡°Did they see you?¡± Bell asked thoughtfully.

    ¡°No,¡± Mic said with a smile. ¡°They were busy.¡±

    ¡°What with?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°The other fire,¡± Mic said slowly as if it was obvious.

    ¡°What other fire?¡± Bell said with a smile.

    ¡°The one behind the Guild House,¡± Ric said. ¡°That one we did on purpose!¡±

    He grinned.

    ¡°Is there any point to this?¡± Bell asked as they walked towards the guild house later that morning.

    ¡°None at all,¡± Bert admitted, ¡°But we should at least give them the chance.¡±

    ¡°They won¡¯t take it,¡± Bell said with a grin.

    ¡°No, they won¡¯t.¡± Bert agreed.

    There was still a faint smell of smoke around the little hamlet; those fires must have had a bit of fun before they were put out. Not a person moved on the streets despite it approaching midday.

    ¡°Spooky,¡± Bell giggled as she bounced up the steps.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Bert said and knocked.

    There was furious whispering on the other side of the door and even a few distant arguments before it finally opened with a hesitant groan.

    ¡°Sorry for the wait,¡± Abby said. She was dressed as perfectly as before, but dark circles under her eyes spoke of a sleepless night. ¡°We had a few problems last night.¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Bert said, smiling warmly. ¡°I was hoping we could speak to the council.¡±

    ¡°Oh, we don¡¯t have a council,¡± Abby said smoothly. ¡°We just kind of muddle through.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s not play games, eh, Abby?¡± Bell said brightly. ¡°We met them last night.¡±

    ¡°That is not an actual council,¡± Abby said, ¡°We just work together for the betterment of all.¡±

    ¡°The betterment of all,¡± Bert said, ¡°Right.¡±

    ¡°So, how soon can we see them?¡± Bell asked. ¡°It is kind of urgent.¡±

    ¡°Come in, I¡¯ll try and get everyone together,¡± She said, ¡°I do hope nothing is wrong?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re fine,¡± Bert said, evading the question without outright lying.

    They were led into a small waiting room where they twiddled their thumbs for almost an hour. Bell spent the time carefully carving marks into the tables, chairs, walls, and floor. Eventually, he had to ask.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± He asked as she carefully scoured a long line down the side of the bookshelf. ¡°Are those runes or something?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bell shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m just ruining their stuff.¡±

    Bert found he had nothing to say to that, so left her to it.

    ============

    ¡°I hope this doesn¡¯t take too long,¡± Mason said, sitting imperiously at the head of the large table, the other members of the informal council around him. ¡°We have much to do and little time to do it!¡±

    ¡°Now, now,¡± Carter said pleasantly, ¡°They are visiting dignitaries after all.¡±

    ¡°Very undignified dignitaries,¡± Rachel scowled down the table as Bert and Bell took their seats at the far end of the table.

    ¡°Hi, Miss Hooker!¡± Bell waved happily at the blond woman.

    ¡°We¡¯ll try not to take up too much of your time,¡± Bert said, jumping into the silence before Mason could explode. ¡°Fortunately, this is a simple matter to solve.¡±

    ¡°Delighted to be of help, I¡¯m sure,¡± Abby said, standing next to Mason and placing a soothing hand on his shoulder.

    Bert noted the death glare that Rachael gave Abby, filing the information away for later.

    ¡°It¡¯s about the indentured service contracts,¡± Bert said calmly.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, they are only given to members of the Guilds,¡± Mason snapped. ¡°Are we done?¡±

    ¡°You misunderstand me,¡± Bert said with a smile. ¡°I don¡¯t want to BUY a person or RENT one.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bell added, ¡°We are here to tell you nicely to release them all.¡±

    Silence reigned in the hall for a long moment.

    Then, surprisingly, Mason started to laugh.

    ¡°Why in the name of the Gods would we do that?¡± He asked, wiping his eyes clear of the laughter-induced tears. ¡°Free labor is a great boon to the village.¡±

    ¡°Not to mention it is a great deterrent to rule-breaking,¡± Evelyn added. ¡°And our rules do work!¡±

    ¡°Surely, you must see the perfection we have built?¡± Abby asked.

    ¡°How many people did you have to turn into slaves for this perfection?¡± Bert asked coldly. ¡°How many did you run off or kill?¡±

    ¡°We do not kill!¡± Mason slammed his hand down on the table. ¡°Who are you to come here and demand we change our ways?¡±

    ¡°Us?¡± Bell grinned. ¡°We¡¯re the Fae, you old cockroach. Now do as we ask, and everything will be fine.¡±

    ¡°You are threatening us?¡± Abby looked appalled. ¡°With what?¡±

    ¡°One, we will not trade with you, aid you, or any of the Guilds in this building now or in the future,¡± Bert counted off on his fingers, ¡°Two, we will make it known that anyone who does trade or work with this town will be a formal enemy of the Waystation, and the Fae.¡±

    ¡°And third, you¡¯ll piss us off!¡± Bell spat. ¡°More than you already have!¡±

    ¡°What if we simply do not let you leave this room?¡± Rachael growled.

    ¡°Well, to start with,¡± Bell beamed. ¡°Our Waystation will drive straight through it!¡± She looked hopeful. ¡°Please try that! I so want to see it go smoosh!¡±

    ¡°The answer is no,¡± Mason snarled. ¡°Get out!¡±

    Abby looked hopelessly between the two groups as Bert and Bell strolled out of the room.

 Chapter 94 - The Hamlet III

    Clair DeLett hummed to herself as she closed up her shop for the day. She had sold three dresses this afternoon, which was quite a boon. Honestly, the shop was not doing well. She had moved to Avonburgh to take advantage of the cheap labor, but it just wasn¡¯t enough.

    When Rachael initially invited her, it was like a dream come true. The rules were strict but worked in her favor. People HAD to have good clothes or end up on the wrong end of a debtor contract. Money had poured in.

    Especially the cloth armor orders.

    The problem was that the orders had dropped off over the last couple of years. If it wasn¡¯t for Charles, she would have already had to close her doors for good.

    ¡°Charles, I¡¯m going to head home!¡± She called. ¡°Make sure everything is ready for tomorrow, or I¡¯ll flay your hide!¡±

    Silence greeted her.

    Clair sighed. The man was a fantastic tailor, dressmaker, and designer. She had been delighted when she first hired him, finding he learned everything at a prodigious rate and was not bad to look at.

    That was the problem, of course. He could have run his own shop within a year. She couldn¡¯t have that.

    It was his fault. If he had just responded to her advances, she would not have been forced to sabotage him.

    ¡°Charles!¡± She snapped. ¡°If I have to come back there, you¡¯ll regret it!¡±

    Clair felt irritation, warring with glee. She would have to punish him again¡­ which she had discovered was a lot of fun!

    She counseled herself not to get carried away again; he had almost died last time, after all; she went back to his work area.

    Clair stepped through the doorway and felt a wave of dizziness overtake her.

    Her stomach lurched, and she reached out a hand to support herself.

    Clair¡¯s hand passed through the wall like smoke, and she fell, feeling mud splash her face.

    Blinking, she looked up, confused. Her shop faded away as she fought to clear her head. She was in her neighbor''s yard? How had she got here?

    ¡°What have you done?¡± Her neighbor ran over to her, red in the face.

    ¡°What?¡± She asked, her head finally clearing. ¡°I was in my workroom; how did I get out here?¡±

    She lifted a hand to wipe the mud from her face and found she was holding something.

    A torch flickered in her hand.

    ¡°Dan!¡± A panicked voice called, ¡°Dan! We need help here!¡± Men burst out of the door in front of her, carrying an unconscious figure.

    Her neighbor ran over to the men, healing energy flowing from his fingertips.

    ¡°Is he alive?¡± The man asked.

    ¡°Yes, just knocked out,¡± Dan said, breathing a sigh of relief.

    ¡°What happened?¡± The man asked.

    ¡°That bitch just set fire to my store, is what happened!¡± Dan pointed towards Clair.

    Clair looked behind her, finding no one.

    ¡°What the hell is going on in this village?¡± Another voice called.

    ==============

    Sargent Carston walked his regular beat with a light step. This was not a night to be out in the dark. Too many strange things were happening in Avonburgh at the moment. The guard captain had gathered everyone together at the start of the shift and laid down the law. No one was to shirk. Something was very wrong in Avonburgh, and they were going to see that it was fixed.

    ¡°Crack skulls, kick over rocks, whatever it takes!¡± The old man had said. ¡°We have had a flurry of strange reports today. People burning each other¡¯s businesses down. A baker merrily baked an entire batch of obscene loaves of bread, and no one can even find the way out of the village!¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± A corporal, a new boy who wasn¡¯t gonna last, asked with a laugh. ¡°You just walk in any direction.¡±

    ¡°Try it,¡± The Captain said. ¡°I did. All. Damn. Day.¡±

    Carston had tried it as well. He walked carefully and slowly up the main street, and then he was in a side street, with no idea what had happened. One step was the main street; the next was the alley behind the tavern.

    Hearing a commotion from around the corner, Carston drew his sword and crept forward.

    He would not run; running would not give him time to decide if he even wanted to be there.

    Peering around the corner, Carston felt his brows crease. He looked behind him, checking the street was clear, then looked forward once more.

    Behind him¡­ street.

    In front of him¡­ a clearing in a forest.

    The clearing wasn¡¯t empty. Audrey and Daisy were sitting there, cooking a bit of food over a campfire.

    Carston had always wanted Daisy, but the stuck-up cow would never give him the time of day¡­

    Something was going on, but he didn¡¯t care. He stepped forward, and the street vanished. Cold pressed in around him as the smell of a frost-scaled forest filled his nose.

    Carston smiled. He was out of the village, and he even had a bit of entertainment before he headed for somewhere.

    He¡¯d have a bit of fun with Daisy, get help for the village, and be a hero.

    ¡°What do we have here?¡± He said, striding forward and unbuckling his belt. ¡°Two little runaways in need of a lesson!¡± He laughed as they squealed.

    He took his time, getting his trousers off entirely before he stepped forward.

    ¡°SARGENT CARSTON!¡± A voice like thunder rang in his ears.

    Daisy laughed as she dissolved along with the forest.

    Looking around him, Carston saw himself in the middle of the market square, his trousers lying discarded behind him while everyone stared. The guard captain stood a few feet away.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Carston said dumbly.

    ¡°Get your naked arse out of my market square!¡± The Captain roared.

    Carston scrambled away, pulling his pants on desperately while everyone laughed and pointed.

    ==============

    Abby Hoffstetter sat in her office in the Guild House and felt the creeping tension gathering in her shoulders.

    It had not been a good day.

    Fifty-six upstanding citizens had been cautioned for disrobing in public. Fifty-six! Every one of them had claimed to believe they were at home at the time. At first, no one believed them, but the numbers kept rising.

    Three businesses had been burned to the ground; two had been closed due to obscene merchandise, and the grocer had faithfully stacked his stall in the market full of rocks before attempting to eat one, resulting in shattered teeth.

    No one seemed to be free from the strange events, even Abby.

    She had done the same paperwork seven times, and the papers still sat on her desk undone.

    Looking up as her door opened, she watch Mason shuffle in, drop his trousers and take a long piss on the floor.

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    ¡°Mason!¡± She snapped.

    He blinked and looked around him in shock. His eyes darkened in rage.

    ¡°Enough!¡± He screamed, pulling up his trousers. ¡°Enough, I say!¡± He walked over to her desk and slammed his hand down on it. ¡°No more playing around! We are going to attack those upstarts, kill them all!¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Abby asked archly. ¡°Have you forgotten we can¡¯t seem to find a way out of town?¡±

    ¡°Dammit!¡± Mason huffed. ¡°What do you suggest then?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± She snapped. ¡°Maybe we should have listened to them.¡±

    ¡°Because of parlor tricks?¡± Mason sneered. ¡°They haven¡¯t harmed anyone. Have you noticed?¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Abby failed to see his point.

    ¡°So tomorrow morning, we are having a town meeting,¡± Mason said, smoothing his shirt with a determined expression. ¡°A few well-placed punishments on the indentured servants will make them back off, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Abby frowned. ¡°We do not wish to actually harm them.¡±

    ¡°They can be healed at a later time,¡± Mason waved her worries aside. ¡°We must show our metal as well as our disdain for these theatrics.

    ¡°If you are sure,¡± Abby said, feeling the knot of worry wind itself tighter in her stomach.

    ============

    Lily sat on the gutter''s edge and swung her legs back and forth. She stifled a yawn as she chomped down on another strip of dried meat. Below her swinging feet, the little meeting continued, oblivious of the pixie above them.

    ¡°Have you heard the latest plan by our fearless leader?¡± Carter Miller was smartly dressed, with only the faint sign of a slight belly disturbing the smooth lines of his suit.

    ¡°What now?¡± Evelyn sighed with exaggerated frustration. ¡°Has he decided to pass an ordinance against breathing?¡±

    There was a faint chuckle from the others.

    ¡°He plans to torture the slaves to discourage our visitors,¡± Miller frowned.

    ¡°Will it work?¡± Bailey¡¯s bulky frame made the rickety table creak as he leaned on it.

    ¡°Even if it would,¡± Miller argued, pulling his jacket off and throwing it over the chair behind him, ¡°Do we want to cross that line?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question,¡± Bailey stated blandly.

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t know the answer,¡± Miller admitted. ¡°What I can say is that the options aren¡¯t good.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Evelyn Scott turned herself to face the others. ¡°What options do we have?¡± She looked at the others, ¡°If we move against Mason, could we win?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean our options, Eve,¡± Miller replied. ¡°I mean that if Mason¡¯s plan works and news spreads¡­ who will ever come here again? If it doesn¡¯t work¡­ what will our visitors do in reprisal?¡±

    ¡°You have a plan, Miller,¡± Rachael Cooper spoke for the first time, her face hidden in a rich blue cloak. ¡°Or you wouldn¡¯t have called us here.¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Miller took a deep breath, ¡°I plan to speak at the meeting tomorrow. More than that, I plan to release all of my contracts publicly.¡±

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t take much to make you fold, does it?¡± Rachael laughed. ¡°It¡¯s been a day.¡±

    ¡°I never liked this setup anyway,¡± Miller said. ¡°I have nothing against any of you personally, but this is bad business.¡± He nodded, grabbed his jacket, and walked away.

    ¡°I think I¡¯ll join him,¡± Evelyn said, brushing some dust off her dress as she stood. ¡°The advantages of free labor are only short-term rewards. No new settlers will come here once word spreads, and it will.¡± She sniffed and bid them goodnight.

    ¡°Well?¡± Bailey asked his blond partner. ¡°What do you say?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m strong here,¡± She laughed. ¡°And I am not the type to give up power easily.¡±

    ¡°Strength can be gathered anywhere,¡± Bailey counseled. ¡°But if our little scheme were to become public knowledge¡­ we may find ourselves with nowhere else to go.¡±

    ¡°We have done nothing illegal, John,¡± Rachael said. ¡°We merely used the setup for our own good.¡±

    ¡°Very well,¡± Bailey shook his head. ¡°But I will be freeing my indentured workers tomorrow as well. Miller was right. Money is made by giving people what they want. Not by making them slaves.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll think about it,¡± Rachael said with a grimace. ¡°Walk me home?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bailey bowed and took her arm.

    Lily fluttered away, passing silently and invisibly through the small helmet. Every now and again, she saw someone doing something interesting. She¡¯d fly over, make a few changes, and then move on.

    The sound of shouting drew her attention, and she zipped in through a gap in the roof of a small house.

    Below her, a woman was berating a young boy. The woman was large, greasy, and frankly she smelled. Rich clothing draped her substantial frame, but she was sweating through it at the neck, thanks to a roaring fire.

    ¡°You stupid little shit!¡± She screamed at the cowering figure in front of her. ¡°That table has been in my family for three generations!¡± She gestured to a spilled drink currently soaking an ornate side table.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry!¡± The boy was trying to shrink into himself as the woman raged. His arms were thin, shaking, and uncovered. The only clothes he had on were full of holes and stains.

    ¡°I should never have wasted the money on you!¡± The woman sneered, reaching over the mantel for a long, thin switch that took pride of place. ¡°Take off your shirt, boy.¡± She pointed in front of the fire.

    The boy wept as he pulled off his shirt, showing long, thin welts all over his back.

    ¡°Please, please, please,¡± He begged as the woman laughed.

    Lily frowned and waived her hands; casting the illusion and confusion spells simultaneously was easier now.

    The woman wavered for a second, then dropped the switch in the fireplace, grabbed the poker instead, and, with a broad smile, approached the side table.

    ¡°This¡¯ll teach you to watch what you are doing!¡± She swung over and over again, the poker smashing the table into kindling as she laughed.

    The boy scrambled away, eyes wide in fear.

    ¡°Sleep now, little one,¡± Lily flew down and whispered in his ear.

    Yawning, the boy curled up in front of the fire, asleep before he even knew what was happening.

    The woman finished with the table, so Lily had her start on the rest of the furniture. By the time she was done, nothing remained whole in the small house, and the woman was swaying in place.

    Lily walked her back in front of the fire, casting the illusion of the boy as a battered and bleeding corpse.

    ¡°What, what happened?¡± The woman looked at the poker, the smashed room, and the corpse¡­ and ran screaming from the house.

    Lily snickered and flew out into the softly falling snow.

    It was still early, and the morning was a long way off.

    She had work to do.

    The citizens of Avonburgh did not have a restful night. Every few minutes, another scream, wail, or crash would make them jerk awake, eyes darting around in horror.

    Flames burned in the night as people lit fires for warmth, only to find they were burning down their own houses, holdings, or treasures. What was worse was that the ones who tried to flee the town would return shaking, talking of horrors, twisting roads that should be straight, or worse.

    More and more as the night wore on, people noticed a pattern.

    Only those who owned or rented indentured workers were suffering. Their neighbors passed the night unvisited by nightmares, calamities, or strange happenings.

    By the time the Guild House opened in the morning, the queue of people coming to return their indentured workers was stretching around the block.

    ==========

    ¡°Well, that didn¡¯t go as intended!¡± Abby snapped as Mason barred the door to the Guild House. ¡°What is your next plan to get us all killed?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a trick!¡± Mason insisted. ¡°It has to be.¡±

    A rock smashed the window next to him.

    ¡°It¡¯s not a trick, you moron!¡± Rachael hissed, ¡°It¡¯s a revolt!¡±

    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± Mason insisted, sweat rolling down his face. ¡°Where are the damn guards?¡±

    ¡°Oh, there they are!¡± Rachael said, peering through a window.

    ¡°Are they coming?¡± Abby asked, hopefully.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that likely,¡± Rachael said lightly, ¡°They are hanging from a tree around the corner.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Abby shrieked.

    ¡°And I am officially done,¡± Rachael said. ¡°Bailey was right; this is no longer worth the risk.¡±

    ¡°You are trapped here, the same as us!¡± Mason snarled.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so,¡± Rachael said smugly as she grabbed one of her earrings and broke it. Abby yelped as the woman vanished, only to fade back into sight moments later, frowning.

    ¡°Ah, of course,¡± She sighed and pulled a roll of documents from her storage. She tossed them on the fire with a flourish. ¡°Happy now?¡±

    ¡°Who are you talking to?¡± Abby hissed.

    ¡°Them, obviously,¡± Rachael took the other earring in hand, then paused as if listening to someone only she could hear. ¡°Thank you,¡± She said, smashed the earring, and vanished again.

    ¡°Get upstairs,¡± Mason yelled, ¡°I can¡¯t hold this door for much longer.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t leave you,¡± Abby insisted.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have a choice!¡± Mason said. ¡°They will kill us both!¡±

    ¡°Actually, you do,¡± Lily said, appearing in a chair behind the counter. ¡°You can always just give the contracts up.¡± She smiled warmly at the two remaining council members. ¡°Without them, leaving is still possible.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Abby said instantly, ¡°We agree!¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Mason snapped. ¡°I will not give in to a group of damnable outsiders!¡±

    ¡°Group?¡± Lily laughed. ¡°This is all just me!¡± She leaned forward, her smile becoming colder, wider, and deeply unsettling. ¡°The others will come along if you fail to take this final option.¡±

    Abby looked back and forth between Mason and Lily.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mason,¡± Abby wept as she tossed the remaining contracts on the fire.

    ¡°Damn you!¡± Mason snapped, ¡°It¡¯s done. Now leave us alone!¡±

    The banging on the door continued.

    ¡°You said you would stop!¡± Abby turned to Lily.

    ¡°I have,¡± Lily shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t make them want to lynch you¡­ you did.¡±

    ¡°Save us!¡± Abby begged. ¡°We can still be of use to you!¡±

    ¡°Not my job,¡± Lily said as she started to fade away. ¡°I suggest you both run; I believe they just found a battering ram.¡±

    ==========

    ¡°This may have gotten slightly out of hand,¡± Bert admitted as he and Bell watched the fires begin to spread through the small village.

    ¡°Meh,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°They made their choices,¡± She grinned. ¡°Lily did well.¡±

    ¡°Remind me never to piss her off,¡± Bert said, watching the roving bands of freed slaves searching the little hamlet for their friends and relatives.

    ¡°I think we should probably get moving,¡± Bell said. ¡°Eventually, they are going to want to come after us as well.¡±

    ¡°Wish we could have found a lead on the ruins,¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°We¡¯ll find something,¡± Bell said, leaning against him. ¡°We always do.¡±

    They watched the fires for a few more minutes while they waited for Lily to return.

    Once the exhausted pixie was safely on board, the Waystation started to roll away.

    A few days later, the survivors began to reach the nearby villages, and the rumors began to spread.

    All over the region, bowls of milk and honey were put out on doorsteps, candles burned in windows, and whispers passed from village to village.

    The details changed, were exaggerated, or forgotten, but the message remained the same.

    It never pays to deny the Fae.

 Chapter 95 - Questing I

    Milly Light-Foot stood in the middle of the roadway, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. On either side of her was an escort of extremely high-level personnel. A large carriage made of living wood rested on the side of the road as she glowered at the approaching Waystation.

    It didn¡¯t hurry, taking its time and slowly moving up the road towards her.

    ¡°Are the scouts deployed?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Yes, Assistant Guild Head,¡± The man on her left answered. ¡°There is no sign of the Head Gardener attempting to leave the vehicle.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± She chewed her lip for a moment. It was an old habit, one she had hoped to leave behind as she got older. It had returned in the weeks since her father had vanished, stowing away on the Waystation like a runaway child.

    It was so frustrating to her.

    Why couldn¡¯t she have had a normal father? Even given his¡­ eccentricities, could he not have chosen to run away with someone other than the damnable Fae?

    The Waystation rolled to a stop a few feet away, a walkway sliding out of the side of the wood and steel carriage next to the giant crystal windows. Familiar figures strolled unhurriedly down the ground and approached their group with the relaxed ease that she had never managed to feel, even for a single moment of her life.

    ¡°Lord and Lady,¡± Milly bowed at the perfect angle to show both her respect and anger. She had practiced it extensively.

    ¡°Hey, Milly!¡± Bell waved happily. ¡°Funny place to hang around.¡±

    ¡°I-¡± Milly began.

    ¡°You¡¯ve come to get your Dad, I assume?¡± Bert said before she could say a word.

    ¡°I must insist!¡± Milly tried to get the situation under control again.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bert said with a sympathetic smile.

    Milly felt the blush start. She had been here to drag her father back¡­ not to be welcomed as a friend, and then smiled at! Everything was going precisely opposite to plan! Again!

    ¡°Want a drink or something, fellas?¡± Bert asked her escort. ¡°Maybe a meal?¡±

    ¡°Excuse me!¡± Milly tried to wrestle the situation back under control. ¡°I am here to insist on the return of our Head Gardener!¡± She felt a thrill of triumph at managing to get the sentence out. ¡°As well as an explanation on why you left with him!¡±

    ¡°Like we said,¡± Bell said with a shrug, ¡°You¡¯re more than welcome; why don¡¯t we chat about it inside?¡±

    ¡°Now!¡± Milly snapped, feeling more and more blush creeping up her cheeks.

    ¡°Sure, sure,¡± Bert said placatingly, as if to an upset child.

    Milly seethed, her magic reaching for the plants around her automatically.

    ¡°He hid in the supplies,¡± Bert said with an awkward shrug, ¡°We didn¡¯t even know he was there for a while; sorry about that.¡±

    Milly stared at the pair with wide eyes.

    ¡°He stowed away?¡± She asked. ¡°He¡­ he hid?¡±

    ¡°Yup!¡± Bell said brightly, ¡°He¡¯s planted himself in one of Scruff¡¯s fields at the moment, so if you could go get him, that¡¯d be great.¡±

    Milly felt one eye starting to twitch. The greenery around the sides of the road was starting to bend and wave as if in a high wind, despite the quiet skies.

    She heard a cough behind her, then another one.

    Then, there was a snigger, followed by a scream as a tree branch slapped the man into the distance with a vicious twist.

    Damn!

    Milly took long, calming breaths as she warred with the fury inside her.

    ¡°You alright?¡± Bell asked, ¡°You¡¯re looking kind of twitchy there.¡±

    Milly fought hard to hold onto her temper as more coughs began to sound out behind her.

    ¡°Do you want to plant yourself for a bit?¡± Bert asked gently, ¡°It really seems to help your dad.¡±

    Her vision flashed a bright pink, and she lost control. The next few minutes were a blur of green and red, with a faint screaming in the background. All she could feel was the frustration and anger of years of trying to deal with her father.

    It all came out in one glorious, heady rush.

    She came to her senses a few minutes later, standing in the middle of a nightmare. All around her was a riot of twisted, overgrown trees and groaning bodies.

    ¡°No, no, no, no, no!¡± She gasped, feeling the dreadful anger receding. Then she heard the clapping.

    ¡°Do it again!¡± Bell was cheering from a spot on top of the Waystation. ¡°Do it again!¡±

    ¡°What did I do?¡± She gasped, seeing broken and torn armor all around her.

    ¡°Well,¡± Bert said from where he was crouched over the form of one of her escorts, ¡°Where I come from, we call it ¡®having a paddy,¡¯ or losing your shit.¡±

    ¡°Are¡­¡± She swallowed, afraid to even ask the question, ¡°Are any of them alive?¡±

    ¡°All of them,¡± Bert said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Images started to come back to her of a pair of figures dancing through the chaos, snatching people out of the air, pulling aside roots, and a shield ringing under repeated strikes.

    ¡°Feel better?¡± Bell asked, appearing next to Milly without warning in her pixie form, ¡°I always feel better after beating the shit out of people!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Bert nodded, ¡°Of course, she rarely leaves survivors afterward.¡±

    ==============

    Bert watched the over-stressed Milly arguing with her father. The old man had buried himself in the ground up to his neck. It was like watching a nanny trying to coral a recalcitrant child.

    Occasional flashes of mana pulsed as one or the other lost their temper for a moment, but this was Scruff¡¯s domain, so none of the plants responded.

    ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± Bell giggled as she fluttered over from the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    ¡°I think she¡¯s winning,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°He¡¯s digging in deeper, so I doubt Milly¡¯ll get him out, but¡­¡± He shrugged. ¡°How are the escorts?¡±

    ¡°Eating and drinking,¡± Bell said with a shrug, ¡°Nothing but a lot of bruises left now.¡±

    The fight between father and daughter dragged on long enough for Milly to look exhausted. He had a feeling this was how Bernhardt always won. He was simply too stubborn to give, and Milly ran out of energy to fight with.

    Milly was currently waving and gesticulating wildly at the top of Bernhardt¡¯s head. He was currently buried up to just below his eyes.

    Bert took pity on her and stepped in to try and call a time-out.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    As he gave her a drink and convinced her to eat something, he noticed the escorts shying away from her as she passed.

    Milly noticed it as well, looking awkward and fidgety. She was explaining her frustration and problems while she kept a wary eye on the door, already anticipating the next round.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you just take over?¡± Bell asked, plopping herself down on Bert¡¯s shoulder as they talked.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Milly complained, ¡°The Guilds are as powerful as their Guild Head. My father is as powerful as he is infuriating.¡± She huffed, polishing her knife absently with a napkin. ¡°I can¡¯t just take over, and he refuses actually to be a leader.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you be his proxy?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Milly asked, ¡°Is it a Fae thing?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°It¡¯s something businesses do back where I come from. You nominate someone to act on your behalf. Make decisions, vote, do everything you would do¡­ and then only need to do it yourself if you want to.¡±

    ¡°This is a recognized position?¡± Milly asked carefully. Leaning forward over the table for the first time. ¡°A position that others understand?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Bert explained. ¡°All the big players have proxies, so they can get on with what is important to them.¡±

    ¡°Proxy,¡± Milly said, tasting the word in her mouth.

    A couple of hours later, the Grower¡¯s Guild had their first Proxy, and Bernhardt was happily wandering the fields while Milly preened. A conclave was called at a nearby town for the official recognition of the position by the other Guilds.

    It was apparently a big deal, so Bert and Bell offered to take them there.

    The escort seemed more than happy not to have to head out into the distance with nothing between them and Milly.

    She had made an impression that Bert was betting would come in handy in establishing her power within the Guild.

    The nearest town wasn¡¯t huge by any standards, but it would do, apparently. It took the Waystation less than a day to travel there, and they kept to the roads the entire way. It was a pleasant enough trip, and Bert and Bell took the opportunity to spend a decent amount of time together, leaving Lily to run the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    =============

    ¡°Welcome to Branston!¡± The mayor called, a bead of nervous sweat running down his bulging cheeks. ¡°It is a delight to have you here!¡± He swallowed noisily.

    ¡°Everything all right?¡± Bert asked, watching a vein pulse in the man¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Fine!¡± The man squeaked. ¡°Would you like some milk?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert frowned.

    ¡°Never mind!¡± The man gulped, ¡°What can we do for you, honored guests?¡±

    ¡°Friendly,¡± Bell said. ¡°And terrified. I like that!¡± She grinned.

    The Mayor paled.

    ¡°Stop teasing the man,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°We are merely here to deliver the Grower¡¯s Guild members to the conclave.¡±

    ¡°Oh!¡± The Mayor¡¯s shoulders dropped noticeably as color slowly began to return to his voluminous form. ¡°That is kind of you.¡±

    ¡°Stop groveling, man,¡± A stern voice called. ¡°I¡¯m sure they will leave your little town intact.¡±

    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t we?¡± Bert asked, confused.

    ¡°Ask Avonburgh,¡± The man the voice belonged to was¡­ Bert failed to find an analogy for the man as he stepped forward. He appeared to be several times more solid than the world around them.

    ¡°I would like to take this opportunity to point out that we do not have any slaves in this city!¡± The Mayor squeaked.

    ¡°Shut up,¡± The man growled.

    ¡°Yes, sire.¡± The Mayor bowed.

    ¡°Sire?¡± Bert asked, still trying to figure out what the man was. Human didn¡¯t seem to be an accurate description. He stood at least eight feet tall and was almost as wide at the shoulder. His muscles appeared to have muscles of their own. He looked like the god of bodybuilders and had skin as tanned and leathery as Bert had ever seen. Had this man ever been indoors before?

    His bald head gleamed as if polished, but he was dressed in an elegant, if simple, style with an ornate, sleeveless shirt, belt, and flowing trousers that struggled to hide the muscles coiled beneath them.

    ¡°Dagon, and I¡¯m the King here,¡± Dagon said it simply, without flourish or grandeur.

    ¡°Really?¡± Bert said, ¡°Did you eat the last one?¡±

    There was a tense silence, followed by a loud bellowing laugh.

    ¡°I like you!¡± The king said, slapping Bert on the back hard enough that he felt like his spine shattered in the process. ¡°Now, tell me. Why did you destroy my town?¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Dagon said, tapping his mammoth fingers on the stone table. ¡°That is regrettable.¡±

    Bert didn¡¯t say anything. The king was not what he seemed. When Bert had seen the muscles and heard the voice, he had assumed the king would be the affable lug sort.

    He wondered how many had died for that mistake.

    While they had spent the last couple of hours chatting and talking, it had become clear to Bert that the King was one of the smartest people he had ever met.

    It kind of pissed him off.

    That much strength and a mind like Machiavelli was just unfair.

    People should choose one.

    A flood of reports had passed under his hands as they talked, and each was dealt with with barely a glance. It was terrifying. You could feel the intelligence behind the eyes like a furnace that never dimmed.

    ¡°It seems they did nothing to actually break the law,¡± Dagon said with a frown. ¡°The letter of it, at least.¡±  His eyes flickered as if he saw a thousand documents all at once and read them all at the same time. ¡°The crop must be tended, however, not just according to the rules, but the conditions.¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± Bert asked, feeling lost.

    Dagon smiled and laughed.

    ¡°They followed the law, but they fucking deserved it anyway!¡±

    Bert felt himself let out a sigh of relief. He did not want this man as an enemy.

    ¡°However,¡± Dagon smiled. ¡°Recompense is certainly due.¡± He winked.

    ¡°Ah, fuck,¡± Bert muttered.

    Dagon roared with laughter again.

    ¡°Do not worry, Lord Fae,¡± A flash of a smile, ¡°I will not ask much.¡±

    ¡°Call me Bert,¡± Bert said. ¡°What did you have in mind.¡±

    ¡°Quests, Bert!¡± Dagon said seriously, ¡°Quests!¡±

    ¡°Go on,¡± Bert said. ¡°What kind of quests?¡±

    ¡°You and your people will complete five quests,¡± Dagon said. ¡°And then the debt will be paid.¡±

    ¡°What if we fail?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Dagon said with a smile. ¡°As long as it makes a good story.¡±

    ¡°Come again?¡± Bert frowned, feeling like he had missed the thread again.

    ¡°The Five Quests of the Fae!¡± Dagon proclaimed. ¡°It is perfect! My Kingdom is young and needs legends and tales, Bert.¡±

    ¡°Will these be dangerous quests?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Dagon laughed, ¡°Or strange or wondrous!¡± He looked Bert in the eye, ¡°You can quit any of them at any time, but the Bards will talk about it for a thousand years!¡±

    Bert sat there for a long time, thinking.

    ¡°You¡¯re a bit of a bastard on the quiet, aren¡¯t you, Dagon?¡± He said eventually.

    ¡°Very much, yes.¡± Dagon grinned. ¡°One does not become a King otherwise!¡±

    ============

    ¡°Oooh, fancy!¡± Bell clapped her hands in joy. ¡°Well done, Way Way!¡±

    There was a new feature in the control room. A gleaming slab of black marble was placed on the wall next to the corridor.

    Quest List

    Rescue the captured Princess

    Recover the Crown Jewels

    Clear the Haunted Castle

    Find the Missing Cow

    Discover the Lost Temple

    The white text almost shone against the black.

    ¡°Is this a joke, or are we actually going to do all this?¡± Wendy asked, waving at the list.

    ¡°Dagon seemed pretty set on this,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I think any alternative would be worse.¡±

    ¡°Is he trying to kill us or?¡± Scruff asked. ¡°Find a missing cow. Is that one real?¡±

    ¡°Anything on this list could be deadly,¡± Bert cautioned. ¡°The King thinks in circles and is a lot smarter than he appears. Assume each one is deadly.¡±

    ¡°Anything else?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°You¡¯re shifting around like there¡¯s something you haven¡¯t told us.¡±

    ¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Bert said, trying to stay still. ¡°But since we have a sec, we have to take a bard with us on each quest.¡± He looked at his bracer, ¡°Oh, look at the time, got to go!¡±

    ¡°Freeze, mister!¡± Wendy cut off his attempted dash for the door. ¡°A bard?¡±

    ¡°Oh, did I not mention?¡± Bert said, feeling a bead of sweat roll down the side of his face at the flat stares of his wife and daughter. ¡°Dagon wants stories for his people. This whole thing is designed to be a big story thing called the Five Quests of the Fae.¡± He tried to sidestep Wendy, only to find a Multi-Bell in his way.

    ¡°So we go traipsing off on quests with some random idiot; who could be anyone?¡± Bell hissed.

    ¡°No!¡± Bert said. ¡°Which is to say¡­ yes?¡±

    ¡°I instantly dislike this idea,¡± Bud said flatly.

    ¡°We can always just say no,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°And then the Bards sing about how we refused a quest to find a missing cow,¡± Bell said flatly. ¡°Not exactly great for our reputation.¡±

    ¡°Do we get to vet these Bards?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Bert said. ¡°And each will swear an oath to not harm us in any way. On Dagon¡¯s honor.¡± He sighed. ¡°I think that actually matters to him.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll make it a Fae oath!¡± Bell grinned. ¡°If they fuck with us, they die. Simple!¡±

    ¡°So we are doing this?¡± Wendy asked.

    Everyone nodded.

    ¡°Dibs on the Princess!¡± Bell yelled, slapping the quest board. The quest changed blue.

    ¡°Cheat!¡± Wendy snapped.

    ¡°Dibs on the Castle,¡± Bud blurred as he moved and slapped the board.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Wendy complained.

    ¡°Only three groups at a time!¡± Bert yelled as everyone began to argue and fight to get to the board. ¡°We have to be careful!¡±

    Wendy blindly slapped at the board.

    ¡°Hah!¡± She crowed, ¡°Got one!¡±

    Scruff started to laugh.

    ¡°What?¡± Wendy moved her hand and swore.

    Find The Missing Cow.

 Chapter 96 - Questing - Rescue the Captured Princess!

    The man was sat crosslegged on a barrel, playing a small wooden flute as if the rest of the world did not exist. He was dressed smartly, if flamboyantly, in moss-green trousers, a red shirt with voluminous sleeves, and a tight black waistcoat. His collar was turned up, and a monocle was perched over one closed eye.

    The sun warmed his dark skin and glistened on his slicked-back red hair. Across his back, he carried a small bandolier with miniature instruments of various types.

    A number of people were dancing around him as he played, smiling and laughing as they lost themselves in the bright, happy tune.

    ¡°Could be worse,¡± Bert admitted, feeling the music lifting his spirits.

    ¡°He¡¯ll do, I guess,¡± Bell said, smiling and tapping one foot to the rhythm. ¡°I like the tune.¡±

    Bert held out his hand with a flourish. ¡°May I have this dance, fairest of maidens?¡±

    Bell giggled and took his hand.

    There was a desperately awkward moment where Bert remembered he didn¡¯t know how to dance.

    At all.

    Then the music took him, and he simply let it guide him. They danced, twirling through the group. Bell¡¯s eyes shone as she danced with a joy he usually only saw when she held a weapon. They lost themselves in the music for a few minutes, just enjoying the feeling of holding each other.

    As they moved, the music flowed through them, their mana tides synchronized with the music and each other. The air seemed to shine, and Bert felt he no longer had to think about the dance.

    It was natural, it was¡­ right.

    All he could think about was the feel of Bell¡¯s hand, the scent of her, and the joy in her eyes.

    He laughed as the music got faster, Bell and him dancing in the center of the group as dancers whirled around them. They danced as the sun moved across the sky. They danced as it set. They danced until a delicate cough interrupted the music, breaking the spell.

    The people around them fell, gasping and smiling.

    Bert was holding Bell close, her fast breath tickling his cheek as she planted a delicate kiss on his cheek.

    ¡°That was fun,¡± She smiled.

    ¡°Sorry to interrupt,¡± A rich, smooth voice said. ¡°But I feared the other dancers would injure themselves if they danced any longer.¡±

    Finally breaking eye contact with Bell, Bert realized the sun was down, the moon soon to set. He blinked a few times.

    ¡°Why did you stop?¡± A woman asked, lying on her back, gasping for air. ¡°I¡¯ve never had such fun!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Jackson,¡± The bard smiled tiredly, ¡°Even the dance of the Fae must pause occasionally.¡±

    Bert and Bell followed the man as he walked away. He bowed and introduced himself once they were out of sight of the dancers.

    ¡°Andre of the Broken Drum,¡± He said with a smile. ¡°An honor to play for the Fae.¡±

    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Bert held out a hand, ¡°I¡¯m Bert, and this is Bell.¡±

    The Bard seemed surprised but shook hands happily with them both.

    ¡°So, do you need to rest now?¡± Bell asked, unusually considerate as her eyes still shone with joy, ¡°Or shall we start the quest?¡±

    ¡°The family involved are expecting our arrival, I¡¯m sure,¡± Andre said. ¡°Although we are, perhaps, later than expected.¡± He led them through the streets with practiced ease. Everywhere they passed, the few people on the streets at this hour would call a greeting or wave to Andre.

    ¡°You certainly seem popular,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Everyone loves a Bard,¡± Andre said with a smile, ¡°Until it¡¯s time to pay them, of course.¡±

    ¡°So, who¡¯s paying you for this quest?¡± Bert asked, liking the easy confidence of the man. It didn¡¯t make him any less suspicious, but still.

    ¡°King Lastia, of course,¡± He smiled. ¡°He is the one who wants the stories, after all.¡±

    ¡°About that,¡± Bell said, ¡°If you try to betray or harm us, I¡¯ll flay you alive.¡±

    ¡°I would expect no less,¡± Andre laughed. ¡°Have no fear; my contract is clear. I am to observe, aid, and return. That is all.¡±

    ¡°Would you swear to that?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°On pain of excruciating death?¡± Bell added.

    ¡°I so swear,¡± Andre said as if it was unimportant to him. ¡°Even if my contract did not call for that¡­ to accompany the Fae on a quest is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a Bard.¡±

    Bert felt the oath take hold and relaxed. He really did like the man.

    ¡°You should get a cat,¡± Bell said out of nowhere.

    ¡°Sorry?¡± Andre missed a step at the abrupt change of topic.

    ¡°A cat,¡± Bell said, ¡°A small fluffy thing. It could sit on your shoulder and look disapproving at people.¡± She nodded to herself. ¡°It would suit you.¡±

    Andre appeared to think for a moment, then shrugged.

    ¡°I¡¯ll look into it,¡± He said, humming softly as they walked.

    ========

    The house did not look particularly noble. It certainly didn¡¯t look like the kind of place a Princess would live.

    Andre knocked a rapid tune out on the door, only to have it snatched open halfway through.

    ¡°What kind of time do you call this?¡± A short, pudgy man in threadbare clothes of red and white asked. He had clearly been waiting at the door for quite a while and had crumbs all over the front of his shirt.

    ¡°A thousand pardons,¡± Andre said with a bow, ¡°We were detained in the name of art!¡±

    ¡°Bloody Bards,¡± The man huffed before peering past Andre at Bert and Bell. ¡°Is this it? Two people to rescue my daughter?¡±

    ¡°They are not mere people!¡± Andre drew himself up. ¡°Your noble house has attracted the attention of the noble Fae! Here, in person, you find the legendary personages of a Lord and Lady of the Fae!¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t bloody look it!¡± The man grumbled. ¡°They look like a pair of ruffians to me.¡±

    ¡°A clever disguise,¡± Andre stage whispered to the man, ¡°So that your foes are not warned of the justice to befall them!¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± The man grumbled. ¡°You better come in, I suppose.¡± He turned, walking away from the door without a backward glance.

    Bert and Bell exchanged a look.

    ¡°Who was that?¡± Bert asked Andre.

    ¡°The deposed king of a distant land, Nathaniel Bricka the third.¡± Andre said, waving them inside, ¡°His rival stole his throne and exiled him; it was quite the scandal.¡±

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    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Bell said, following Bert into the house. ¡°Bit of a grump.¡±

    ¡°His people have not exactly clamored for his return,¡± Andre said with a smile.

    A woman snored on the chaise lounge before a flickering fire while King Bricka brushed crumbs off a faded wooden throne and heaved his bulk into it.

    ¡°Right.¡± He sighed. ¡°My daughter¡¯s been taken by House Bream; go get her.¡±

    ¡°Any idea where they took her?¡± Bert asked, looking around the otherwise empty rooms.

    ¡°No,¡± The king huffed. ¡°She was shopping for a husband and never returned!¡± He noticed one of the larger crumbs on his shirt and popped it into his mouth.

    Bell made a slight gagging noise.

    ¡°Well?¡± He glared at them. ¡°Piss off and go get her!¡±

    Bert gently pulled Bell¡¯s hand off her ringer and cleared his throat.

    ¡°Can you tell me where she was when she was taken?¡± He asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± The man grumbled. ¡°Charlene!¡±

    ¡°Wha?¡± The woman roused briefly.

    ¡°Where was Baby when she was taken?¡±The King yelled.

    ¡°Shopping,¡± The woman mumbled before starting to snore again.

    ¡°Shopping where?¡± The man yelled, ¡°Charlene! Shopping where?¡±

    ¡°Wha?¡± The woman burped, releasing a smell that could gag a skunk, ¡°Oh, she went to the cliffs after one of the Dane boys.¡±

    ¡°Can we leave yet?¡± Bell asked, ¡°Or at least open a window?¡±

    ¡°What does your daughter look like?¡± Bert asked. ¡°How do we recognize her?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s the princess, fool!¡± The King flopped back in his chair. ¡°She looks like me.¡±

    ¡°No wonder she can¡¯t find a husband,¡± Bell muttered.

    ¡°What was that?¡± The King leaned forward in his chair.

    ¡°Time we got started on that noble rescue!¡± Andre said smoothly, ¡°Have no fear; your daughter will doubtless be returned soon!¡±

    ¡°She better be,¡± The king scowled as they left the room, ¡°She better bloody be!¡±

    Bert and Bell took deep breaths of the cool night air as they decided what to do next.

    ¡°Any idea who the Dane boys are?¡± Bert asked Andre.

    ¡°Of course,¡± The man smiled, ¡°They are minor local nobility and a bunch of part-time bandits to boot.¡±

    ¡°Part-time?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°They do kidnapping to order jobs,¡± Andre said. ¡°Ransom, and that kind of thing.¡±

    ¡°No one ever stopped them?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Andre shrugged. ¡°They don¡¯t target locals, employ locals, and pay well.¡±

    ¡°So why the Princess?¡± Bert asked. ¡°She was local, right?¡±

    ¡°Recent arrival,¡± Andre said, ¡°Plus, she went right to them. I don¡¯t think they could resist the temptation to make a bit of extra cash.¡±

    ¡°They don¡¯t seem to have much money,¡± Bell nodded towards the house.

    ¡°They don¡¯t,¡± Andre agreed, ¡°But the new King may well pay for her.¡±

    ¡°For a legitimate aire?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Eww,¡± Bell slapped his arm.

    Andre laughed.

    ¡°No, she is his niece,¡± The Bard grinned. ¡°The kingdom is small, and the two brothers had an argument long ago.¡± He shrugged. ¡°His brother didn¡¯t like the King much, neither did anyone else.¡±

    ¡°Aire and a spare,¡± Bert said, ¡°It always causes issues.¡±

    ¡°Nice way of putting it,¡± The bard grinned.

    ¡°This is so sweet!¡± Bell said, sitting cross-legged on the back of the cart as it rumbled its way through the countryside. The groans and creaks of the ancient and poorly maintained wooden vehicle were a constant background noise as they rumbled along.

    ¡°How?¡± Bert asked, amused.

    ¡°When was the last time you traveled in something so simple?¡± Bell asked. ¡°I¡¯ve never even been on a cart before!¡±

    Bert realized how much he forgot these days that she used to be trapped inside the Waystation. Something as simple as a cart ride was new and exciting to her.

    She was, of course, still a pixie. Hence, it took less than five minutes for the novelty to fade.

    ¡°Are we there yet?¡± She asked, laying flat on her back as the clouds rolled past.

    ¡°It¡¯ll take at least a day for us to travel to the Dane¡¯s lands,¡± Andre said. ¡°We have been traveling for only a few minutes.

    ¡°Gods above,¡± Bell huffed, ¡°Grow wings already!¡±

    ¡°That is, unfortunately, not a tune I know how to play,¡± Andre said wistfully.

    ¡°How attached are you to those horses?¡± Bell rolled over, peaking over the driver¡¯s bench to examine the two placid nags plodding faithfully along.

    ¡°I paid for ¡®em,¡± The driver, a quiet and weathered man with a faint smell of linament, replied. ¡°I¡¯ll not be leaving them.¡±

    ¡°Pity,¡± Bell said with a wince. ¡°No way I can lift them as well as the cart.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Andre asked.

    ¡°Oh, I just figured I could fly us there faster.¡± She shrugged.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t we just leave the cart behind?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No!¡± She patted the old cart. ¡°I like it.¡± Sitting up, she began to look around with a thoughtful look. ¡°I¡¯ll just have to find ways to amuse myself while we travel.¡±

    Bert winced, eliciting a questioning look from Andre.

    ==============

    The StoneFell bandits were having a bad day. This kingdom was supposed to be soft on banditry and low-level crimes.

    They had started off well; the cart had rumbled blindly into their trap, the horses bucking against the traps as the smoke bombs went off. They had leaped into view, surrounding the old cart with its rich-looking occupants.

    The boss had called for them to surrender their weapons and valuables¡­ just like always.

    Then she sat up in the back of the cart.

    The demon giggled and clapped her hands.

    ¡°I told you!¡± She had crowed in a high-pitched, I-told-you-so voice. ¡°I can amuse myself!¡± With a giggle, she flicked a knife, and a man went down screaming. The others had attacked, but the demon split. It seemed to move in every direction at the same time, and the screams got louder.

    The boss called a retreat, and they fell back into the forest.

    That should have been it¡­ but it wasn¡¯t.

    The demon chased them, moving through the trees and seeming to change size. One moment, she was a woman, the next the size of a bird.

    The StoneFell learned to fear the sound of wings.

    One by one, they fell, screaming, only to be dragged off into the woods. Now, it was just the Boss running ahead of him.

    Zach stumbled to a stop, listening intently. Looking behind him, he saw nothing but trees, with dappled sunlight shining through the branches.

    ¡°I don¡¯t see anything, Boss,¡± He gasped. He couldn¡¯t hear anything either. The boss must have stopped running as well. ¡°Boss?¡± He whispered.

    The wind rustled the leaves above him, and he flinched. Swallowing bile, Zach looked around.

    ¡°Boss?¡± He called again.

    No one answered. Nothing moved as he looked desperately around. There, on the floor ahead¡­ a drop of blood.

    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Zach begged. ¡°Boss!¡± He yelled in panic, immediately regretting it as the breeze carried a distant giggle to his ears.

    He turned to run and felt the spit in his mouth dry up when she was sitting on a fallen tree behind him. Throwing himself to the side, he screamed. She was there as well, leaning against a tree and waving.

    Scrambling back on his hands and knees, he found himself looking at two smooth black boots.

    ¡°Hi!¡± The demon called brightly.

    Zach passed out as they closed in all around him.

    The smell of urine stung his nostrils as he woke, surprised to be alive. He was even more surprised to find the rest of the gang moaning gently all around him. The smell of fear, urine, and worse filled the small shelter.

    He recognized the place. It was a small hunter¡¯s cabin that was next to the road up to the cliffs.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He whispered to the man next to him.

    ¡°We are waiting here until someone comes to arrest us,¡± The man grumbled back.

    ¡°Where is the demon?¡± Zach asked, hearing his voice shake just at the name.

    ¡°Gone,¡± the Boss¡¯s voice was a welcome relief. ¡°For now.¡±

    ¡°We were told to wait here,¡± Bridgitte replied from a spot by the door.

    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we run?¡± Zach asked.

    ¡°And have her come find us?¡± The Boss laughed bitterly. ¡°You go ahead.¡±

    Zach thought it through. He could run. The demon might never find him. It may not even bother to look.

    He began to climb to his feet, but a thought stopped him.

    Would he ever sleep again? Or would he always be waiting for the sound of that giggle to carry to him on the wind?

    Zach sat back down, seeing others nodding to him.

    ¡°Clever lad,¡± Bridgitte said with a sigh.

    ==============

    ¡°That was quite amusing,¡± The driver said with a reluctant smile. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen a bandit cry before.¡±

    ¡°Pfft!¡± Bell said dismissively. ¡°You should have seen the three that pissed themselves!¡±

    ¡°I believe I would enjoy that,¡± The man said with a faraway look.

    ¡°Maybe we will find a few more of them,¡± Bell said.

    ¡°I doubt there will be more,¡± Bert said. ¡°The screaming really carried.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t be a killjoy!¡± Bell said, ¡°I bet this area is just crawling with bandits.¡±

    She hummed to herself, flopping back into the cart once more to watch the clouds pass by.

    ¡°That will certainly make for a good story,¡± Andre said after a while. ¡°It might even merit its own song.¡±

    ¡°We aim to please,¡± Bert said with a smile.

    ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Bell laughed. ¡°I always aim for the balls.¡±

    ¡°I noticed,¡± Andre said with a wince.

    ¡°Soo¡­¡± After a few more minutes of silence, Bell said, ¡°Are we there yet?¡±

    Putting away his quill and notes, Andre started to play.

    The soothing tune drifted lazily in the air, and Bert felt his tension, the pains of the travel, and every other irritation fading away. He laid down next to Bell, who snuggled in against him.

    Maybe they should think about getting a bard for the Waystation; they were kind of awesome.

 Chapter 97 - Questing - Rescue the Captured Princess II

    The fortress looked much less like a fortress than they had expected, which wasn¡¯t to say it would be easy.

    Trees and shrubs had been cleared and replaced with farmland and wide open spaces. Any attempt to sneak up on the place would be doomed to failure before it even began. Beyond the farms, a sturdy wall sat overlooking a deep moat. The wall itself was only stone at the base, but the thick wooden beams looked like they could stop almost anything. Beyond the wall, which stretched all the way to the precipitous cliffs, were several long houses.

    The enemy that made it that far would have to cross a long, narrow wooden bridge over a massive drop between the cliff and the inner keep, which was built on a promontory of rock standing tall and proud in the grinding surf.

    There, the tall stone tower rose, built onto the rock itself. A small door offered access, and no windows graced the lower levels.

    It was, in short, a nightmare to attack.

    Should the attackers threaten the place, the defenders could simply cut the rope bridge and sit pretty in their massive tower, likely firing down onto their enemy from above.

    ¡°So, how about I just fly in there and get her?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Works for me,¡± Bert agreed.

    ¡°They must have defenses against that,¡± Andre warned. ¡°And at least one of the brothers is an accomplished mage.¡±

    ¡°Meh,¡± Bell flicked an errant hair behind her ear. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    ¡°And how will you extract the Princess safely?¡± Andre looked doubtful.

    ¡°With style and grace!¡± Bell proclaimed.

    ¡°They¡¯ll chase us,¡± Bert said thoughtfully.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bell sighed. ¡°At least at first.¡±

    ¡°Need a distraction?¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°Nope,¡± Bell said, stretching as she yawned. ¡°But the cart should head off now.¡±

    ¡°Good luck,¡± Bert hugged Bell and watched her as she changed into her pixie form and flew off into the sky.

    ¡°Let¡¯s turn that cart around,¡± Bert told Andre.

    The driver didn¡¯t mind the quick turnaround, merely heading off down the road with a wave.

    ¡°Where did you find him?¡± Bert asked Andre.

    ¡°He¡¯s my neighbor,¡± Andre replied, ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s very calm,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°Normally, people are more thrown by spending time around us.¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s seen a lot in his life,¡± Andre said. ¡°Ex-soldier, I believe.¡±

    ¡°Well, good choice, anyway.¡± Bert clapped Andre on the back.

    ¡°What do you think she is planning?¡± Andre asked as they made their way back to the small cluster of rocks they used to scout the fortress.

    ¡°I never know,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°But it¡¯s always worth seeing.¡±

    Bert and Andre watched a flock of birds wheeling across the sky an hour later. They flowed across the sky as if dancing, unremarkable in the cool afternoon air.

    Only as they neared the tower did one of the birds suddenly move away, darting in through a window at the very top of the tower.

    ¡°She can¡¯t possibly fight her way out of-¡± Andre was interrupted by the sound of smashing glass and a piercing scream as a body rocketed out the window.

    The woman¡¯s golden hair trailed behind her as she vanished below the cliff line.

    The screams got more distant and then seemed to stop in place.

    Just as the fortress erupted into movement like a kicked anthill, the screams got closer again.

    Finally, the woman burst into sight off to one side of the fortress, Held aloft by several small figures as they passed over the edge of the farmland and into the trees. The screaming stopped abruptly as the figure passed into the sparse woodland.

    Bert turned to Andre to see the smooth-talking Bard with his mouth hanging open. He pointed weekly at the tower, then at the cliff.

    ¡°We should probably get going,¡± Bert said as the sound of snapping branches and rustling leaves got closer.

    ¡°Ya think?¡± Bell laughed as she burst out of the trees. The grinning Pixie was sitting on the head of the unconscious princess while a half dozen Multi-Bell¡¯s wings buzzed to keep her aloft.

    They sprinted down the road after the cart.

    Bert hung back for a moment, felling trees over the road to slow their pursuers. Once he had a few good-sized trees blocking the path, he turned and sprinted after the others, chuckling to himself.

    ============

    ¡°So, this is awkward,¡± Bert said as the armed riders ahead of them glared down at the cart and its passengers. ¡°I guess you guys knew a shortcut.¡±

    ¡°Hand over the princess,¡± The men were clearly brothers. They could almost have been triplets. ¡°And we will make your deaths quick.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, mate,¡± Bert shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s part of our quest.¡±

    ¡°Do as you¡¯re told!¡± The brother on the left demanded. He gripped the handle of his greatsword and drew it will all due menace.

    ¡°I did the tower,¡± Bell said. ¡°You take this bit.¡±

    ¡°Stop talking!¡± The brother on the right slammed his fist into his palm, firing sparks of flame from the contact.

    ¡°Shhh!¡± Bell waved him away. ¡°The grown-ups are talking.¡±

    ¡°You will pay for that, bitch!¡± The brother snapped.

    Bell laughed.

    Bert hopped out of the cart and approached the brothers with unhurried steps.

    ¡°Right, off your horses,¡± He called up to them. ¡°Then we can do this.¡±

    The brothers looked at each other.

    ¡°Hurry up, will you?¡± Bert huffed. ¡°She gets bored easily.¡±

    ¡°I do not!¡± Bell protested.

    ¡°Uh¡­¡± The middle brother seemed confused. ¡°You want to fight us?¡±

    ¡°You the smart brother?¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Come on, I don¡¯t have all day.¡±

    ¡°For the sake of the gods!¡± The greatsword wielder dropped from his horse and swung at Bert.

    Bert stepped back, feeling the tip scraping across his armor. The momentum of the sword pulled the man off balance, so Bert followed it up with a kick to the arse.

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    He may have put more force into it than was strictly necessary.

    The main wailed, dropping his sword as he cupped his bruised ass.

    Bert was still laughing when the horse kicked him in the head.

    Bert heard the low chuckle from the driver, and it did not help his mood at all. He summoned his shield and armor, going from relaxed traveling gear to dark metal and leather in a moment. It was just in time.

    The brothers attacked as one.

    Bert raised his shield to block the fireball and caught the next kick from the riderless horse on his prosthetic arm, but the middle brother¡¯s dagger found a weak spot in the armor around his knee.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Bert swore. The next kick got past his guard as well, sending him back a step as his chest armor rang from the impact.

    ¡°Stop playing around!¡± Bell yelled.

    Bert let the tides flow, ripping the dagger from his knee and flinging it off to the side. As the brothers attacked in earnest, Bert sped up, unable to move due to his injured knee. His shield moved in a blur, blocking strikes, spells, and kicks alike.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Bell yelled.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to hurt the horses!¡± Bert yelled back.

    ¡°So don¡¯t,¡± Bell said. He could hear her rolling her eyes.

    Keeping his guard up, Bert sent a blast of mana through his shield. One brother was sent flying, and Bert got enough time to change his prosthetic into its crossbow form. Finally able to strike back, he started to fire off bolts at his attackers.

    The mage went down first, having missed the bolts headed for his legs as Bert sent another blast of mana out of his shield.

    The problem was still the horses; as the men fell away, the three horses closed in, kicking and biting from odd angles as they tried to protect their riders.

    Bert dove between the horses, feeling his knee screaming in protest.

    The last brother was in front of him now. The horses, wheeling as they readied to continue the attack¡­. A sudden scream made them all freeze.

    ¡°You threw me out a window!¡± A blond figure launched herself at Bell, screaming again as Bell simply leaned out of the way.

    The princess hit the floor with a thud.

    ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her!¡± The remaining brother roared.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked, ¡°You kidnapped her; why would we hurt her?¡±

    ¡°We didn¡¯t kidnap her; you did!¡± The mage yelled.

    The two groups looked at each other and then slowly backed away.

    ¡°Her parents sent us to rescue her,¡± Bert said carefully.

    ¡°She is to marry my brother,¡± the mage said, pulling the bolts from his legs and downing a potion.

    ¡°The one you kicked in the ass,¡± The middle brother said.

    ¡°Hey, he swung first,¡± Bert added.

    ¡°You threw my fiance out a window!¡± The man barked.

    ¡°I caught her before she went splat!¡± Bell argued defensively.

    ¡°By my hair!¡± The princess was trying to pull herself together.

    ¡°It was the nearest thing to hand,¡± Bell shrugged, unrepentant.

    ¡°Why do your parents send people after you?¡± The middle brother demanded of the princess.

    ¡°Ugh, they just want the money,¡± She said with a huff. ¡°It¡¯s all they care about.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just ask?¡± The mage snapped. ¡°We are happy to pay their price.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not for sale, Hector!¡± The Princess snapped. ¡°I have my dignity.¡±

    ¡°How was your dignity as you flew out the window?¡± Hector chuckled, but his brother hit him.

    ===============

    ¡°Do you reckon this counts as a success or a failure?¡± Bell asked from her spot on the floor of the cart.

    ¡°I call it a success,¡± Bert said after considering it for a minute. ¡°Princess happy, safe, and beyond her family''s clutches.¡±

    They rattled along the cobbles as they drove through the town, heading back to a certain house to give their final report. Andre was scribbling furiously in his notebook as he had been for a long time now.

    ¡°Happy, if partially bald,¡± Andre added drily.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Bell complained, tossing a bag of coins from one hand to the other, ¡°She only lost a couple of clumps!¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± The driver added as he pulled on the reigns.

    ¡°Want me to come?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Naah, this won¡¯t take long,¡± Bert said, hopping over the side of the cart and catching the bag of coins as Bell chucked them to him.

    Daylight did little to improve the place. The faded and peeling paint was all the more obvious, as were the bare patches on the lawn.

    He knocked and waited¡­ and waited¡­ and waited.

    Shuffling steps approached the door, and it swung open to reveal the fallen King, still in the same clothes. Large sweat stains had joined the crumbs on his clothes.

    ¡°Well?¡± The man grumbled.

    ¡°She¡¯s marrying the Dane boy,¡± Bert said. ¡°She said you wanted this?¡± He held up the bag of coins.

    The king snatched the bag from Bert¡¯s hands with a grin.

    ¡°Do they have much land?¡± The king asked.

    ¡°Loads,¡± Bert confirmed, ¡°And plenty of money.¡±

    ¡°She did well,¡± The king laughed. ¡°Charleen! She did it!¡± He called into the house.

    ¡°I¡¯ll start packing!¡± Charleen called back. ¡°We¡¯ll go by carriage.¡±

    ¡°No, you won¡¯t.¡± Bert countered.

    ¡°What?¡± The king sputtered.

    ¡°The Dane brothers are taking your daughter, not her family. If you show up, they¡¯ll kill you.¡± Bert smiled.

    ¡°They wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± The king sputtered.

    ¡°Try them,¡± Bert chuckled, ¡°Please.¡± He reached out and closed the door, leaving the king with his mouth hanging open.

    ¡°Hey, Bell?¡± Bert called as he trotted down the path and back to the cart, ¡°Want to get dinner with me?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± She called. ¡°And this time, if we hear a scream, we ignore it!¡±

    After a delightful meal in a lovely little tavern, they returned to the Waystation, arm in arm. Bell considered the whole quest to be their first official date and was telling him how it was almost perfect. Next time, there just needed to be more blood.

    As they approached the entrance to the Bear¡¯s Fall, a familiar figure was waiting for them. It is hard to be inconspicuous when you are the size of a shaved yeti, but Dagon wasn¡¯t even trying. He was leaning against the side of the Waystation, carving a small tree with a blade long enough to be a sword in anyone else¡¯s hand.

    ¡°A fun outing, I hope?¡± He asked with a smile.

    ¡°It was certainly eventful,¡± Bert said, noticing Andre¡¯s notebook sticking out of the King¡¯s trousers pocket. ¡°So, how did we do?¡±

    ¡°Hah!¡± Dagon patted his chest, ¡°Very well!¡±

    ¡°Can we offer you something to eat or drink?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°No, no,¡± Dagon waved his massive hand as he shook his head. ¡°I am fine. I am merely here to drop off the quest reward.¡±

    ¡°There is a reward?¡± Bell asked, delighted.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Dagon said seriously, ¡°Every quest must have a reward.¡± He fished in another pocket for a moment and then tossed something to Bert and Bell.

    ¡°I think this will be a suitable reward.¡± He patted the side of the Waystation gently and strolled off down the road. ¡°Four more quests to go, my friends, four more rewards to earn!¡±

    Bert looked at the small bundle of silk Bell had caught.

    ¡°What do you think it is?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Open it, and let¡¯s find out,¡± Bert grinned.

    Bell undid the tie, finding a paper wrapped around something like a small orb. Bert took the paper, looking at it in surprise.

    ¡°This is the deed to some land,¡± He said, squinting in the light. ¡°I think it¡¯s the land where we¡¯re parked at the moment or part of it.¡± He laughed. ¡°Not bad for a day¡¯s work.¡±

    ¡°Bert,¡± Bell said. ¡°Is this what I think it is?¡±

    Bert looked at the small orb in her hand.

    Solpara Control Orb 1/12

    The Gift of Water

    ??Unknown??

    ¡°Son of a bitch!¡± Bert gasped. ¡°He knows.¡±

    A deep booming laugh echoed in the distance.

    ¡°Who is that guy?¡± Bell asked, peering down the road. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°No idea,¡± Bert shook his head, ¡°But I think we¡¯ll find out when he wants us to.¡±

    ¡°Four more quests,¡± Bell said, ¡°Do you think?¡±

    ¡°I have no idea,¡± Bert sighed.

    ===============

    Integrating the Gift of Water was simpler than the Gift of Sight.

    ¡°Tickles!¡± Way Way said in a weird voice. ¡°I hate it!¡±

    ¡°Duly noted,¡± Bert said. ¡°So, what did it do?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll see!¡± Way Way said with a mischievous giggle.

    Bert rose out of the mana tides and spluttered. Water was lapping at the edges of the chair as he lay there.

    ¡°Bert!¡± Bell shrieked. ¡°Make them stop!¡±

    He laughed as Bell shot through the door, wings a blur as she dodged jets of water that sprayed her from every angle.

    ¡°Stop laughing!¡± She demanded. ¡°It¡¯s not funny!¡±

    ¡°Way Way,¡± Bert asked, ¡°Why are you spraying Bell?¡±

    ¡°You think she¡¯s dirty, so I thought I¡¯d wash her!¡±

    ¡°You what?¡± Bell shrieked.

    ¡°Not that kind of dirty!¡± Bert protested. ¡°Oh, shit,¡± He rolled out of his chair as Bell held out her hand and summoned her Ringer.

    ¡°I am not dirty!¡± Bell hissed. ¡°I am cleaner than you are!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s just slang for sexy!¡± Bert insisted.

    ¡°Ooops!¡±

    ¡°Apologize!¡± Bell growled.

    ¡°I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Bert said, ¡°I should never have called you sexy!¡± He realized what he had said a fraction of a second before Bell¡¯s eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Ah, bollocks,¡± Bert summoned his shield and ran.

 Chapter 98 - Questing - The Missing Cow I

    Wendy really wanted to kick something. That was the only problem with living on the Waystation. There was nothing to kick when you were frustrated. You couldn¡¯t kick a wall, the floor, or anything without kicking the Waystation.

    Not only would that be astonishingly mean, but probably terminally stupid as well. You were likely to wake up encased in metal, buried, or worse. She could go onto the Express and kick things, but that was literally kicking herself, so what was the point?

    The idea of kicking one of Scruff¡¯s plants or trees was too terrifying to even think about. Even if the plants didn¡¯t literally eat you, the woman who grew them would. So she swallowed her anger, letting it simmer until she got something to take it out on.

    Of all the quests she could have hit, she got the search for a missing cow.

    What kind of a joke was that?

    Thanks to her Dad¡¯s memories, she knew about quests. The games back on Earth were full of them, and they came in several levels of quality. At the top level, they were the main story kind of things, which always offered interest, intrigue, or a great fight. Next, in terms of quality, was a great side-story quest that offered a little variety to the gameplay.

    Finding a missing cow was not of that level, however. Below those, you had the worst of all quest types¡­ fetch quests and the deaded escort quest. Her intuition was telling her this was likely to be both of those things combined.

    To make matters worse, she was going to have an audience for her humiliation. Some bloody Bard.

    At least once she was outside the Waystation, she could find something to kick.

    ¡°Ow! Shit! Bollocks!¡± Wendy hopped on one foot, cradling her aching toes in her hands. What the hell was that tree made of? It had felt like kicking a steel plate.

    ¡°Ironwood trees are famed for their resistance,¡± An amused voice said from behind her. ¡°Especially to toes.¡±

    ¡°Get fucked,¡± Wendy snapped. ¡°No one likes a smart-ass.¡± She turned to see a young teen with a smirk and deep brown eyes peering past the tumbling curls of dark hair. ¡°Shit, sorry, kid.¡± She muttered.

    ¡°Not a kid,¡± The teen shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve heard swearing before. Often at me,¡± She laughed.

    ¡°Color me surprised,¡± Wendy said. ¡°Is sarcasm your only setting, or do you have others if I hit you hard enough.¡±

    ¡°Try it,¡± The girl taunted. ¡°Bet I can turn you inside out before you get to me.¡± She took a pose, a strange-looking guitar swinging into her hands. It looked almost like an electric guitar in shape but was entirely made of wood.

    ¡°Oh fuck off,¡± Wendy complained. ¡°You¡¯re my Bard?¡±

    ¡°Angela of the thousand strings,¡± The teen gave a mocking curtsy.

    ¡°Wendy Hudson,¡± Wendy said, purposely ignoring the mockery. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±

    ¡°Such an illustrious start to a quest,¡± The teen sighed. ¡°What are we doing anyway?¡±

    ¡°Finding a missing cow,¡± Wendy said with a grimace.

    ¡°What? Really?¡± The Bard doubled over, laughing. ¡°How many Fae does it take to find a missing Cow?¡± She gasped between bursts of laughter.

    ¡°Fuck sake,¡± Wendy hissed. ¡°As if this wasn¡¯t bad enough already.¡±

    ¡°Lead on, oh mighty cow finder!¡± The teen gestured towards the nearby farms.

    ¡°Are you aware how much that thing smells?¡± Angela commented as they moved over the fields.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t smell that bad,¡± Wendy insisted. Her bone suit let her move around outside of areas controlled by the Waystation or her Express. It was perhaps a little unsettling, being made of bone and undead muscle¡­ but it did not smell. ¡°It¡¯s not like it¡¯s rotting or anything.¡±

    ¡°You smell like a butcher¡¯s shop,¡± Angela noted, sniffing her arm as they walked.

    ¡°Will you stop sniffing me?¡± Wendy yanked her arm away.

    The suit looked much better these days, mostly covered with black leather and metal plates her Dad had made for it. She knew it was overkill to use it to find a cow, but at least people didn¡¯t start screaming and running when they saw it coming.

    Not as often, anyway.

    ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Angela smirked, making a note in some kind of book she had stuffed in a small bag at her hip. ¡°Were none of the non-smelly Fae available¡­or?¡±

    ¡°I wonder how quickly I could bury you in that field?¡± Wendy said sharply.

    ¡°Har, har, har. The fabled wit of the Fae,¡± Angela smirked.

    ¡°Yup,¡± Wendy smiled nastily. ¡°That was totally a joke.¡±

    Angela dropped back a couple of steps.

    ¡°It¡¯s the next farm on the left,¡± Angela said sulkily.

    ¡°Just open the door, for fuck sake!¡± Wendy demanded.

    ¡°No!¡± The woman inside snapped. A scraping noise suggested she was dragging something in front of the door. ¡°I put out milk and honey; now go away!¡±

    ¡°What has milk and honey got to do with anything?¡± Wendy asked Angela, who was still keeping her distance.

    ¡°It is supposed to be a gift, you know?¡± Angela appeared confused. ¡°You drink it and then go away.¡± She frowned. ¡°Everyone knows that about the Fae.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°Why the hell would we want some rancid milk that is probably full of bugs after being outside all night?¡±

    ¡°Umm¡­.¡± Angela was at a loss for words.

    Wendy turned back to the firmly closed door with a small feeling of victory.

    ¡°Look,¡± She called through the door. ¡°I¡¯m just here about your cow; I was told it was missing?¡±

    ¡°You leave my cow alone!¡± The woman yelled. ¡°I gave you milk!¡±

    Wendy briefly considered smashing the door but got herself under control just in time.

    ¡°I am on a quest to rescue it!¡± Wendy hissed through the thin wooden planks.

    ¡°It ran way three nights ago; just take it and leave me alone!¡± The woman seemed almost hysterical with fear.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Wendy sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll find it and bring it back. Did you see which way it went, at least?¡±

    ¡°No! Go away!¡± The woman sobbed.

    ¡°I¡¯m going, jeez, Lady.¡± Wendy stomped off the porch.

    ¡°So far, your legendary deeds include kicking a tree, threatening to bury your Bard alive, and terrifying an old lady,¡± Anglea said scornfully. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°I never said you¡¯d be alive when I buried you,¡± Wendy said sweetly.

    ¡°Oh, I almost forgot the bitching about rancid milk,¡± Angela said equally sweetly.

    ¡°Do you have any pixie in your ancestry?¡± Wendy asked Angela suspiciously.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    ¡°No, why?¡± Angela frowned.

    ¡°No reason,¡± Wendy said, looking around the small farmyard. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see if we can find where the cow got out.¡±

    ¡°Action at last!¡± Angela said, ¡°Be still my beating heart!¡±

    ¡°If only,¡± Wendy sighed, striding across the farm and heading for the Barn. She was pretty sure cows lived in barns, right?

    There were no cows in the Barn, but there was evidence left behind. Wendy felt a particularly petty thrill when the annoying Bard stepped in some of it. From there, they headed out to the little field of grass. A trio of underfed cows were grazing listlessly.

    ¡°Does that fence look repaired to you?¡± Wendy pointed to one corner; the wood there looked less weathered than the rest of the fence enclosing the field.

    ¡°Dur, is that like new? Quoth the Fae,¡± Angela said with a sneer.

    ¡°You got hit a lot as a child, right?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°No, why?¡± Angela asked.

    ¡°Just wishful thinking,¡± Wendy said, striding off towards the repaired fence.

    It had definitely been repaired, and badly. The nails were only halfway into the weak-looking wood. A light breeze could take this thing down, let alone a fully grown bovine.

    ¡°Are those cattle branded in any way?¡± Wendy asked as she examined the fence closely.

    ¡°Dunno,¡± The Bard sighed, ¡°Have you tried looking?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to help me at all, are you?¡± Wendy glared at the Bard.

    ¡°Nope!¡± Angela said with the first genuine smile Wendy had seen on her face. ¡°I¡¯m being paid to observe, not aid.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not being paid to be sarcastic either,¡± Wendy said as she stalked off across the field.

    ¡°Consider that a bonus offered at no extra cost!¡± Angela called after her.

    Wendy hopped the fence easily, leaving Angela to struggle and complain. If she was not gonna be helpful, then sod her.

    The ground was still carrying a bit of snow, and that meant there should be prints, tracks, or whatever you called it. She found them just as she heard a yelp and a thump behind her. She sniggered at the pile of clothes and limbs that was the Bard.

    ¡°Are you going to help me up?¡± Angela demanded.

    ¡°Not being paid to help you,¡± Wendy said with an apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    ¡°Okay! I get it!¡± Angela slid on the snow, ending up spread-eagle again. ¡°Just help!¡±

    Wendy pulled the Bard up, holding on to her until she had her balance, then turned back to the track thingies. They were definitely hoof-shaped prints.

    ¡°Looks like it went this way,¡± Wendy pointed, ¡°Let¡¯s get after it before it freezes or something.¡±

    They walked in silence for a few minutes while Wendy concentrated on the tracks in the snow ahead of them. She didn¡¯t hear Angela get closer, only noticing when she felt something tapping on the black ovals she had clipped to the back armor of her suit.

    ¡°Stop that,¡± She muttered, ¡°It¡¯s distracting.¡±

    ¡°What are they?¡± Angela whispered. ¡°Are they your wings or something?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have wings as a human,¡± Wendy said distractedly. She was finding it more and more difficult to pick out the tracks as they neared a rocky area ahead of them. ¡°Only when I¡¯m pixie-shaped.¡±

    ¡°You can shape-shift?¡± Angela said. ¡°Show me!¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Wendy waved her away. ¡°I need the suit, and it doesn¡¯t shift with me.¡±

    ¡°I bet you can¡¯t even do it!¡± Angela laughed. ¡°Just trying to show off.¡±

    ¡°Whatever,¡± Wendy said. ¡°I¡¯ll show you once we are done with the quest and back at the Waystation.¡±

    ¡°Whatever,¡± Angela sniffed. ¡°Do you smell something? Other than you, I mean.¡±

    Wendy opened her mouth to swear at the girl but stopped. She did smell something; it was almost sweet but rancid as well. It was kind of familiar.

    ¡°Shit!¡± She threw herself at Angela just in time. The look of terror on the Bard¡¯s face made her happier than it should have, but she made it. She put her suit between the fragile teen and the rocks just in time.

    Wendy had remembered the last time she had smelled that scent. It was the Punt-Toads in the ruins.

    Three rocks broke against her back, and then Wendy moved. She pushed the Bard flat on the floor and backflipped towards the rocks. Three of the largest boulders had revealed themselves now. She landed and rushed them, knocking aside the smaller rocks as she charged. Her claws opened the throat of one toad while the others leaped away with loud croaks.

    She leaped again, kicking one toad hard and leaping away to let a boulder hit it instead of her. The creature was caught in the exposed belly by the flying stone and crumpled.

    That left one.

    Wendy scanned, seeing nothing but rocks as it returned to hiding. The tides surged in her veins as she leaped from one large boulder to another. On the fifth jump, she felt give under her foot and jumped back just in time to dodge a kick aimed at her chest. Catching the leg in her clawed hands, she used her whole body to spin the creature and smash it down on its back.

    The stone-like surface shattered against the rocks and went still as she finished her throw. A quick slice across the throat ensured it was dead.

    Only then did she go and check on the Bard.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Angela admitted grudgingly. ¡°That was almost impressive.¡±

    ¡°Would it have been more impressive if I let them smoosh you first?¡± Wendy asked waspishly.

    ¡°Probably, but then who would tell the tale?¡± Angela laughed.

    ¡°You have a weird way of saying thank you,¡± Wendy noted.

    ¡°What for?¡± Angela frowned. ¡°I could have managed on my own.¡±

    ¡°Sure, kid,¡± Wendy said with a laugh. ¡°Sure.¡±

    ¡°Why do you keep calling me a kid?¡± Angela demanded. ¡°I¡¯m only a few years younger than you!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but it was a busy few years,¡± Wendy smiled. ¡°Well, months, actually. Eh, who¡¯s counting.¡± Searching the ground in frustration, she finally found the scant few tracks the cow made as it passed by this point. It didn¡¯t seem hurried, so it must have passed through while the Punt Toads were asleep.

    Now, if she could just manage to keep following the trail¡­

    Inherited Skills Unlocked!

    Pathfinding

    Scrub Vision

    ¡°Nice,¡± Wendy grinned.

    ¡°What?¡± Angela asked, looking around.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Wendy said, taking a moment to acclimatize to the new information. It was amazing how much more she could see with Scrub Vision active. Even though this was definitely not Scrubland, it was still useful. She saw many more tracks, noticed broken twigs and flattened grass¡­ and so much more.

    Better than that, she could see the path the Cow took highlighted as if a patch of sunlight was illuminating it. ¡°Come on,¡± Wendy said with a grin, ¡°The cow went this way.¡±

    ¡°You think?¡± Angela peered suspiciously at the ground, clearly not seeing anything.

    ¡°I know,¡± Wendy said with confidence. This may not be the greatest of quests, but she already got rewards from it. Two skills, especially ones that Pixies and Half Pixies couldn¡¯t usually get, were nothing to be sneezed at.

    ============

    ¡°We have to stop to rest!¡± Angela insisted.

    ¡°Why?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s getting dark, and it¡¯s freezing!¡± Angela¡¯s voice took on a whiny note.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t notice,¡± Wendy shrugged. Wendy felt great with her new skills, pixie eyesight, and the Fae¡¯s ability to adapt to temperature. She had no trouble seeing as the sun slowly dropped behind the wooded hill they were winding their way up.

    ¡°Please?¡± Angela asked, grinding her teeth to try and disguise the word.

    ¡°Fine!¡± She snapped. ¡°But only for a bit.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Angela said with a shiver. ¡°I¡¯ll get a fire going.¡±

    Wendy watched the teen fuss around for a few minutes before strumming a cord on her guitar. It was a strange instrument, and not just because the chord caused a spurt of fire to leap from the guitar to the bundle of wood. The single chord seemed to contain several instruments playing, all at the same time.

    The logs ignited merrily despite there being no kindling or anything to help the fire along.

    Wendy shrugged; she had seen weirder. While the Bard fussed around the fire, Wendy sent the two Pretties she had brought with her off into the surrounding area to patrol. Better not to be ambushed twice in one day, and a fire would show in the failing light.

    The two mobs unfolded from her back silently, slipping into the gathering shadows without a sound.

    ¡°I just wish we had some food or something,¡± Angela huffed. ¡°I thought it would be quicker than this.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t bring supplies?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°No, why would I?¡± Angela frowned. ¡°Does it always take this long to do stuff?¡±

    ¡°Never leave town without at least the basics,¡± Wendy said. ¡°Food, water, camping stuff, weapons, and whatever else you can think of.¡±

    ¡°As if people actually carry all that stuff around with them!¡± Angela laughed. ¡°I notice you don¡¯t have anything, either.¡±

    Wendy held up one hand and summoned a plate of steak and eggs, a glass of fruit juice, and a small bundle of sweet roots that Scruff dried for her. It was tasty, and you could chew it for hours.

    Angela¡¯s eyes fixed on the plate of food; steam was rising from it.

    With a smug smile, Wendy dug into the food, using her claws to cut up the steak and then skewering it with one finger and eating it.

    She had plenty more; all the Bard had to do was ask.

    ¡°Do you have any more?¡± Angela feigned casually looking into the fire, but her eyes were drawn to the plate over and over.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Wendy nodded.

    Angela looked expectantly at her, waiting for the offer.

    Wendy smiled back and kept eating.

    Watching the warring emotions on the teen¡¯s face was fun, but in the end, the stubborn creature had to give in.

    ¡°Can I have some, please?¡± She almost growled.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Wendy summoned another plate from her storage and handed it over. She added a glass of fruit juice as well.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Angela said icily.

    ¡°Pleasure,¡± Wendy grinned.

    The following day, Wendy was up and about before the sun rose, calling back her Pretties and packing up the camp. She had given the tent to Angela. She packed it back into her storage and then did the same with the sleeping mat when Angela refused to get up yet.

    ¡°Barbarian!¡± Angela hissed as she crouched over the fire.

    ¡°Cheerleader,¡± Wendy smiled back.

    ¡°What?¡± Angela frowned.

    ¡°Nothing!¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°Want some breakfast?¡±

    ¡°Might as well,¡± Angela said. ¡°Gods above only know what trouble you will find for us today.¡±

 Chapter 99 - Questing - The Missing Cow, II

    ¡°How about we buy a cow, brand it, and deliver it to the farm?¡± Angela offered as they started down the far side of the hill.

    ¡°Not the same thing as finding this one,¡± Wendy said, but she was tempted anyway. The climb up to the crest of the hill had not been fun. She had a distinct feeling the cow must have been chased up there. It was the only reason why the creature would not have gone round.

    She had also noticed what she suspected were bootprints near the trail as well.

    ¡°Over here,¡± Wendy called, turning sharply to the right as a series of scuffed marks caught her eye. Kneeling down and letting her new skills get a better look added a pair of fainter trails to her eyeline. ¡°Someone caught our cow and led it away.¡± She started off down the new track. ¡°Looks like at least two people, probably more.¡±

    ¡°Great,¡± Angela moaned. ¡°We wasted our time. Someone has probably returned the damn thing already.¡±

    ¡°Doubtful,¡± Wendy said, breaking into a jog. ¡°They are headed away from the farm. Come on.¡±

    ¡°Urgh,¡± Angela huffed in irritation. ¡°Why are we running?¡±

    ¡°In case they decide to have steak for dinner,¡± Wendy called back. She kept her eyes on the trails, watching for any deviation as they jogged along through the snow.

    The trails led first to a small cartway that wound through the hilly landscape. They followed it for almost an hour before leaving it behind as what Wendy hoped was the right set of hoof prints led toward a distant cluster of tents.

    ¡°Any more bright ideas?¡± Angela asked as they crouched in a large tree overlooking what appeared to be a bandit camp. Around fifty men and women, all armed, were moving to and fro.

    There might be even more that were out robbing and maiming as they waited.

    ¡°Look, they have a paddock over there, at least I think so.¡± Wendy pointed to a small fenced area behind the tents, which was barely visible. ¡°We just need a distraction.¡± She looked pointedly at Angela.

    ¡°Piss off,¡± She hissed. ¡°I¡¯m not wandering into a bloody bandit camp just so you can steal a cow!¡±

    ¡°I dunno,¡± Wendy said. ¡°What about being thrown out of a tree? That might be distracting enough.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t you bloody dare!¡± Angela looked scandalized.

    ¡°Just an idea,¡± Wendy said reproachfully. ¡°Fine, wait here.¡±

    She lowered herself carefully out of the tree and began to crawl forward. She really needed to make a lighter version of the suit. It was great for combat, but sneaking was not precisely its style.

    If she could get a distraction going with the Pretties, she should be able to sneak around in the chaos. She sent them the command, and the two bug-like mobs unfolded from her back and scuttled away.

    It was silent, hidden from view of the camp, and perfectly stealthy.

    Or it would have been if not for the screaming.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± She yelled up at the Bard as two dozen fighters started toward them from the ring of tents.

    ¡°The-the-the,¡± Angela pointed a shaky finger at the Pretties.

    ¡°Who¡¯s in there?¡± A gruff voice called. ¡°Come on out of that there copse, or we¡¯ll make a corpse out of ya!¡± He nudged his buddy and grinned. ¡°Get it? Copse of trees, corpse, get it?¡±

    There was a round of dutiful sniggers.

    ¡°Uh, no thanks,¡± Wendy called back. ¡°No chance you¡¯ll just go away and leave me alone, right?¡±

    ¡°None at all, sweetheart,¡± A woman said, spitting to one side. ¡°One way or another, you¡¯re worth money.¡±

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Wendy swore as she stepped out of the shrubbery and into sight.

    ¡°That¡¯s one of the ways, certainly,¡± A grizzled-looking man laughed.

    ¡°Eww, fuck off,¡± Wendy said. ¡°Creepy old fucker.¡±

    Several of the bandits laughed, a few shoving the old man a little.

    ¡°You¡¯ve got spirit, I like that,¡± Another man grinned.

    ¡°Are you guys reading this creepy shit out of a book or something?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°No!¡± A voice yelled, a little too fast.

    ¡°Wait, really?¡± Wendy grinned as she checked their classes with Analyze. ¡°Not one combat class amongst you?¡± Her skill showed her tailors, farmers, dressmakers, one blacksmith, and more.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need a combat class!¡± Another man yelled from the back. ¡°Jed says so!¡±

    ¡°Who¡¯s Jed?¡± Wendy asked. She wasn¡¯t exactly feeling comfortable; there were a lot of them after all, but things were looking up.

    ¡°Jed¡¯s our Warlord!¡± A woman said.

    ¡°Warlord?¡± Wendy asked, channeling the sarcasm her Bard seemed to find so easily.

    ¡°You stand before the Horde of the Night!¡± A man yelled.

    Several cheered.

    ¡°Want to see why you really do need a combat class?¡± Wendy asked, with what she thought of as one of her mother¡¯s special smiles.

    ¡°Get ¡®er!¡± A woman yelled, and the mob charged.

    So much for sisterhood.

    The first man to reach her flew back over the heads of the others, a suit-empowered uppercut taking him out of the fight instantly. The early victory buoyed her spirits, but it didn¡¯t take long for the tide to start to turn. She moved as fast as she could but was quickly surrounded.

    Fists and feet flew at her from all directions, and the armor could only do so much. She swept the legs of the two attacking from the front, but it was less than a second of breathing room. She punched and kicked as she could, but defense was taking up most of her time.

    ¡°Last warning!¡± She called.

    ¡°Shut up!¡± A man punched her in the face, and she triggered the cowl of the suit to protect her head.

    So much for doing this nicely.

    She extended her claws on the hands and feet of the suit, and blood began to flow as she sliced, stabbed, and gouged.

    Space opened around her, people pulling back, clutching bleeding wounds.

    ¡°Kill the bitch!¡± Someone yelled, and everyone drew weapons.

    Wendy panted, backing up a step to try and put her back to a tree. An axe bounced off her arm guard; then a sword swung at her. She grabbed the sword, pulling it past her as she headbutted the attacker.

    The melee resumed this time with added weapons. Gritting her teeth as impacts reigned down all over her suit, Wendy started to go for throats and vital organs.

    ¡°Pull back!¡± The crowd around her thinned, and then, finally, blessed space appeared. Several bodies were pulled from around her, and there were a dozen more holding wounds.

    ¡°Not bad,¡± A gaunt figure said, holding a sword over one shoulder while he rested on a tall shield he had planted in the ground. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s only a matter of time before you fall to numbers¡­ but still not too bad,¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Wendy said, keeping her bleeding face covered in the shadows of the cowl. This man must be Jed. He was shown as a hedge knight to her Analyze skill, not a warlord, but it didn¡¯t really matter now.

    A hedge knight without troops, or a horse for that matter, was not a force to be reckoned with. With his little cluster of desperate people, it was a different matter.

    This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    She should have brought someone with her.

    All this, just for a cow?

    ¡°How about you all fuck off, and we call this a day?¡± Wendy offered without any real hope.

    ¡°Sure,¡± The man grinned, ¡°Just take that armor off, and you can go.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not going to happen,¡± She shrugged.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Jed theatrically scratched at the stubble on his chin. He looked to be about twenty at most. A boy playing Warlord, with real lives on the line. ¡°Then give us something worth as much, and you can leave.¡±

    ¡°Not carrying that much cash,¡± Wendy said, trying to sound casual. It didn¡¯t work very well. She was alone out here, except for her Pretties, which she was trying to move into position.

    ¡°Ah, well,¡± Jed tried to look resigned, ¡°No one can say I didn¡¯t try.¡± He stabbed his sword into the ground and raised his voice. ¡°Bring me that armor, my horde!¡±

    The people around her rushed forward again.

    Wendy knew this time it was a fight for her life. She let go of all restraint and leaped over the first line of attackers. She landed in a roll and then launched at the nearest fighter. She ripped his throat out and spun away, slashing the face of the man next to him before dancing between the men and women, claws flashing.

    The Pretties were almost ready.

    A chord rang out from the tree where she had left the Bard, and a fast song began to play. She fell into the rhythm of the music and felt her pains and worries fade away.

    Blood fountained as she was able to focus at last. Riding the music kept fear, worry, and mercy at bay. She laughed as she tore a man¡¯s head clean off his shoulders and threw it at a woman nearby.

    The more ferocious she got, the more the ¡®Horde¡¯ rethought their life choices. More and more of them broke and ran.

    The song ended, and she found herself standing before a line of die-hard supporters. They clustered together with the blazing ferocity of the true believer.

    She took a deep breath and gave the command.

    The Pretties, who had been crawling closer and closer while she fought, launched themselves at Jed¡¯s back.

    He gave one brief scream and died.

    The sight of the black creatures dicing their ¡®Warlord¡¯ into slices seemed to be the last straw. Everyone fled.

    ===========

    ¡°This is a joke, right?¡± Wendy kicked the flimsy corral, and it fell to pieces. ¡°What is this cow, an escape artist or something?¡±

    Angela let out an unguarded giggle but cut it off quickly.

    The corral was empty. A set of hoof prints led away from where a piece of it had been chewed through. They looked relatively fresh.

    Wendy looked around at the abandoned camp, taking in the large, warm-looking tents, abandoned supplies, and more. If they rested now, the cow would only get further away.

    ¡°Check the place over quickly, then we go after the cow,¡± Wendy said with a tired sigh.

    ¡°I kind of think the cow needs its own song at this point,¡± Angela admitted.

    She was being much friendlier now. Wendy would love to think they had bonded over the battle, but Angela¡¯s entire offering to that fight was one song.

    It probably had more to do with Wendy ripping people''s throats out and laughing.

    That tended to make people think differently about how they treated you.

    They found money, some nice-looking travel rations, and a few more good-quality bits and pieces. They also found a luxury bed roll and a rolled tent of thick leather and fur. They loaded most of it into a backpack for Angela that she nearly refused to carry, and then Wendy went around and took as many of the large tents as she could cram into her storage. She managed three.

    The Waystation could definitely use the cloth and leather. They were a nice mustard color that she quite liked.

    ¡°There once was a cow that went to see,¡± Angela sang under her breath, ¡°Just what in the world there was to see.¡± She hummed it over a few times, then noted it down and carried on, ¡°The hills went up, the cow strolled down¡­¡± She seemed to like that and carried on composing as Wendy tracked their elusive quarry.

    ¡°I think it sped up a bit here,¡± Wendy hinted.

    ¡°I¡¯m not running with all this on my back!¡± Angela called. ¡°I¡¯m not a pack animal.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not that heavy,¡± Wendy huffed but didn¡¯t push the issue. They were traveling fast enough, and the creature couldn¡¯t run for long.

    The path turned and went along the bottom of a small cliff topped with long tufts of grass. The Bard had been quiet for a while.

    ¡°Was that your first time killing people?¡± She asked eventually. ¡°I noticed you tried not to at first.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Wendy admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve killed before.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Angela asked bluntly.

    ¡°To protect myself, to protect others,¡± She shrugged. ¡°The usual, I guess.¡±

    ¡°How many?¡± Angela sounded horrified.

    ¡°I lost count a while ago,¡± Wendy admitted. ¡°In battle, you can¡¯t exactly tell if someone is dead and take the time to remember them.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s awful,¡± Angela said.

    ¡°It¡¯s not all bad,¡± Wendy said. ¡°You fight and kill for a reason, and it is all worth it.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t have anything I¡¯d kill to keep,¡± Angela said thoughtfully.

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Angela snapped. ¡°That is not a bad thing!¡±

    ¡°I beg to differ,¡± Wendy said.

    The path led into a small patch of forest, and Wendy could tell the tracks were getting fresher. They were close.

    Ducking beneath the boughs, she followed the delicately illuminated path while keeping a wary eye on the surroundings.

    Rustling up ahead caught her attention, and she leaped forward, unwilling to let the cow escape again.

    It was there!

    ¡°Found you!¡± She called, seeing the cow peacefully eating grass in the center of a small clearing.

    ¡°Wendy?¡± Angela called from far behind.

    ¡°I¡¯m up here!¡± She called back. ¡°I found the cow!¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Angela¡¯s voice seemed to be getting further away. ¡°But I hate spiders!¡±

    Wendy turned her eyes up just as the first spider launched itself at her.

    Wendy sliced it apart in mid-air, only to feel something hit her back, scrabbling at the armor. She deployed the Pretties, and they went to work, watching her back as she fought off spiders. It was a nest, she guessed. Or at least it was very close to one. There were so many.

    The size of large dogs, with legs kept close to their bulbous bodies as they dropped from the trees and crawled from under the shrubs and around trees.

    It wasn¡¯t a major threat as long as she kept them off her exposed skin.

    At least here she could move.

    It only took her a few minutes to send the spiders running for their hidey holes.

    She looked around and sighed in abject defeat.

    The bloody cow was gone again, the familiar trail disappearing into the trees ahead.

    ¡°I¡¯m not stopping until we are out of these woods!¡± Angela had come back eventually. The idea of being in the woods unprotected had finally gotten through the fear of spiders. ¡°I don¡¯t care if we have to walk all night!¡±

    ¡°Suits me,¡± Wendy said with a sigh.

    If she never saw another cow again, it would be too soon.

    Speaking of the cow, it had left the clearing at speed, sprinting through the woods in a random direction. They had been following it for hours, and the tracks were getting fresher again.

    At this point, Wendy was expecting to find it had run into a dungeon, been abducted by a dragon, or something of that nature. Any reasonable animal would not have survived this long. It was cursed, blessed, or both.

    Or she was.

    ¡°You seem down,¡± Angela said from beside her.

    ¡°Can you blame me?¡± Wendy asked, ¡°I really didn¡¯t expect all this over a damn cow.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s how it works with stories,¡± Angela argued as if it was obvious. ¡°If things just go in straight lines, who would even care?¡±

    ¡°This isn¡¯t a story,¡± Wendy huffed. ¡°This is life.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Angela asked. ¡°I mean, with everything that went on today, it sure feels like a narrative is at work.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean  a narrative?¡± Wendy asked, mostly to pass the time.

    ¡°All Bards know of them,¡± Angela said smugly, ¡°They are like wandering ideas, drifting along looking for people to play out the story.¡±

    ¡°Seriously?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°You ever notice how similar some stories are?¡± Angela asked, ¡°Like, you haven¡¯t heard that story, but one like it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Wendy admitted. ¡°Everyone has.¡±

    ¡°Those are the narratives.¡± Angela nodded. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that?¡±

    =============

    They camped in a small valley a couple of miles outside the woods. Angela got her new tent up, ate some rations, and even lit a fire from proper kindling and everything.

    While she slept, Wendy examined the thing Angela had pointed out in a gloomy corner of the forest. A single shaft of moonlight had broken through the trees, casting its pale green light on the small metallic object half buried beneath a fallen tree.

    She had tried to Analyze it but got nothing back other than a bunch of question marks. It almost felt alive, but not quite. Complex lines covered the surface in intricate patterns that had been half buried in dirt and muck over the years. Eventually, she got bored, put the cube into her storage, and immediately forgot it existed.

    When they woke the next morning, neither of them could remember ever having found it. They had breakfast, chatted a little, then broke camp and got back on the trail of the elusive bovine.

    ¡°You have got to be kidding me!¡± Wendy laughed.

    The trail had led them all the way back to the farm on the outskirts of the town. The cow was munching happily on a small bush across the road from its home.

    Wendy grabbed the rope that hung from its neck and gently led the creature back into the farm, into the barn, and shut the door. She spent a few extra minutes repairing the fence properly, kicked the bowl of milk and honey, and called the quest complete.

    She and Angela walked back to the Waystation side by side.

    ¡°So, that was kind of a weird experience,¡± Angela said at last. ¡°Or was that kind of normal for you?¡±

    ¡°Nope, that was weird,¡± Wendy admitted. ¡°Don¡¯t know if it will make much of a story for you.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I think there are two, at least!¡± Angela said, appearing excited for the first time. ¡°The Errant Cow will be one. I already have a pretty good start on a song for that as well.¡± She looked away, ¡°The Savage Fae will be the other.¡±

    ¡°Savage?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°Look, it¡¯s just a better title. A savage Fae Warrior who helps a poor woman to recover her dearest possession¡­ her cow. They fight off ambushes, bandits, and spiders, all to keep an elderly woman¡¯s hope alive. It just works better that way.¡± Angela said nervously.

    ¡°I guess I can live with that,¡± Wendy said.

    ¡°Thanks for all the stuff, by the way,¡± Angela gestured to her pack.

    ¡°No problem,¡± Wendy said. ¡°Just the spoils of battle.¡±

    ¡°I guess,¡± Angela smiled. ¡°I¡¯m off to write. Bye!¡±

    The teen turned and walked away, her head already buried in her writing.

    ¡°See ya, kid,¡± Wendy laughed at the wince and headed into the Bear¡¯s Fall.

    She wanted a nice bath, a meal, and Scruff. In that order.

 Chapter 100 - Questing - Clear the Haunted Castle

    ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± Lily asked Bud as he stared up at her.

    Lily was fluttering about near the crystal ceiling of the Bear¡¯s Fall restaurant. Strictly speaking, she had no reason to be up here. With her skills, Lily could keep an eye on things from just about anywhere, and she had done so many times before.

    Stil¡­ she was a pixie now, and flying in this form was just too much fun. As a half-pixie flight was tiring, something she had to practice and train for. It had taken her and her sister years of practice to be able to stay aloft for more than a  few minutes at a time. Any sustained flight would be like running a marathon; she could do it, but it would require a long rest before she could do it again.

    Not so now.

    Her wings fluttered as she thought, and it felt like breathing. It required no more effort than standing still did. It was even a bit restful if she was honest. At least, usually.

    ¡°I¡¯m quite sure,¡± Bud said, his skull stretching into a smile. ¡°But it is your choice; I¡¯m not ordering you or anything.¡±

    Lily hummed to herself as she considered his¡­ request. It seemed a strange idea to her, but she would be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t tempted.

    ¡°Just the two of us?¡± Lily asked for the third time.

    ¡°Well, us and the Bard.¡± Bud looked over at a crash of plates hitting the floor.

    ¡°One second!¡± Lily trilled, her wings thrumming as she shot over to where the orc brothers were attempting to throttle each other, their dropped plates forgotten.

    ¡°He started it!¡± They both yelled when she arrived.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care which of you started it,¡± Lily said simply, ¡°Apologize to each other, clean up this mess, and eat like proper orcs!¡±

    ¡°But!¡± Mic complained.

    ¡°Shall I get Tru?¡± Lily asked, ¡°Or your sister?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± They both yelled, scrambling to clear up their smashed plates and dropped food.

    Lily glowered down at the pair as they got to work cleaning up. It was unnecessary for them to actually do it, as Way Way could easily absorb it all in a moment, but they would never learn that way. Lily insisted on that with all the certainty in her little body. Bud might have taught them to fight, but it seemed up to Lily to make them responsible.

    Her old self would have worried if she had any right to make that decision.

    Things were much more straightforward as a full pixie. Silly things like if people wanted her help or if she had the right to do something no longer bothered her.

    There had been a lot of changes since she was reborn, and she wasn¡¯t entirely sure they had stopped yet. It seemed like she was her and yet more herself. Everything was amplified. Happiness was now joy; mild irritation was now fury. As for when she was calm¡­ it was as if she knew true peace in those moments.

    Of course, there was a downside, too.

    Lily had spent most of her life in a middle ground of emotions. Slightly happy, slightly worried, slightly happy. That was what she was used to.

    She had not had a single moment of that since she had evolved.

    Pixies, it seemed, did not do mild emotion. They oscillated between extremes constantly.

    In the bare handful of minutes since Bud had asked her his question Lily had experienced crippling anxiety, pulse-pounding fear, utter elation, smug superiority, and now her emotions swung toward a steely determination.

    ¡°I¡¯ll do it!¡± She called over to Bud.

    ==========

    Bud double-checked his supplies as he strode down the ramp from the Bear¡¯s Fall. He had his bow, quiver, short sword, dagger, throwing knives, and a supply of meals, water, and all the spares he could think of.

    He was ready.

    Snow crunched under his boots as he waited for his partner in this adventure. He had considered taking the orcs with him but decided against it. He was proud of their progress; he really was. They were a formidable group, but in a way, they were also his charges, and he hated risking them on unknown threats.

    Bert¡¯s warning to take this seriously may not have struck home with Wendy, who had stomped off a few hours earlier completely on her own, but it did with him.

    ¡°Ready to go?¡± Lily asked, striding down the ramp behind him.

    Bud turned and nodded, marveling at the young pixie. She was in human form, with her armor hidden beneath a fur-lined cloak. Her spear was strapped to her back, with a small buckler on her arm. Her hair was tied back in a tight ponytail, and she even shivered slightly as she stepped into the cold air.

    ¡°Ready when you are,¡± Bud said with a small bow. ¡°The spell?¡±

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s already done,¡± She smiled back.

    Bud looked down at his¡­ skin. Turning his hands over to look closer, he saw calluses on his bow fingers and even a small cut that had scabbed over his palm.

    He grinned. It was an illusion, of course, but it was a work of art.

    ¡°You never cease to amaze,¡± Bud admitted.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Lily blushed slightly, ¡°So where do we meet our Bard?¡±

    ¡°At the gates of the city,¡± Bud said. ¡°This way.¡±

    They walked together down the road, leaving the Waystation behind as their feet crunched across the snow-covered road. A few flakes began to drift down as they walked in companionable silence.

    ¡°Why me?¡± Lily asked after a few minutes. ¡°For the illusion?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bud replied. ¡°I could get by without an illusion; there was a much better reason.¡± He cleared his throat nervously, a habit he had picked up from Bert as he did not, in fact, have a throat to clear. ¡°Bert said to take it seriously, and so I am.¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Lily said.

    ¡°Yes,¡± Bud said. He knew she would get what he meant. They had often exchanged looks as the more exuberant members of the group had been doing something ridiculous.

    Not that Bud minded that in any way; he loved them all, he really did. That being said, it was nice not to have to wrangle arguing orcs, bickering Multi-Bells, or calm an enraged plant Fae every now and again.

    They continued on in silence again until a distant drumming began to draw closer. They followed the sound until they drew near a small mound to the left of one of the gates.

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    A teen was sitting in the snow, his chest bare as he played a set of wooden drums in front of him. He looked to be barely past puberty, and his thin arms moved in a blur as he beat a rhythm out with a wild look on his face.

    Steam rose from him in waves as the beat pulsed out, the flakes of snow swirling and dancing to the pulse of the music. His feet stuck out either side of the drums, bare and twitching to the beat.

    Bud and Lily exchanged a look.

    ¡°You are the Bard, I assume?¡± Bud asked in a lul between beats.

    The boy looked up, smiled, and leaped to his feet with a single drum slung across his chest as the others faded. Besides the drum and a kilt, he was completely naked.

    ¡°Hey!¡± In a high-pitched voice, he said, ¡°Are you the Fae?¡±

    ¡°We are,¡± Lily confirmed.

    ¡°Hey there, Pretty Lady!¡± He grinned. ¡°Hello there, Mister Creepy Archer Man!¡± He beat a quick rhythm on his drum as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m Archie of the Drumline!¡± He cheered his own name, bowed again, and then turned on his heel and marched off through the snow. ¡°Onward! To Glory! To Honor! To Bacon Sandwiches!¡±

    ¡°Ah,¡± Lily said as Bud hung his head for a moment before following the quickly receding figure. ¡°So much for serious.¡±

    The drumming had a strange effect as they walked on across the snow-covered landscape. Bud stared down as they walked. Each step was the same, but the distance traveled didn¡¯t seem to match the width of the steps.

    The disparity was not subtle.

    ¡°Ugh,¡± Lily said, looking green. ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°The march of the Bounding Bass!¡± Archie called back, flipping his messy red hair out of his eyes as he walked. ¡°Ain¡¯t it great?¡±

    ¡°Do not like,¡± Lily said, closing her eyes as she took each step.

    Bud bent down, staring closer at the ground until¡­ there! He saw the faint blur that happened right before he put his foot down. It was quick, but his eye sockets were too good to fool.

    ¡°Is it some kind of small teleport spell?¡± He asked the drummer.

    ¡°Fucked if I know,¡± The teen laughed. ¡°I just play the drums!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gonna puke!¡± Lily warned. ¡°I can¡¯t do this!¡± She grabbed Bud, flickered into pixie form, and scrambled up onto his shoulder.

    ¡°Better?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Shhh,¡± Lily said, her eyes pressed tightly closed.

    Bud nodded and walked on, following the strange drummer as the world repeatedly blurred for a fraction of a second during each step. One of the great advantages of being a walking skeleton was the complete absence of a stomach. He was completely immune to things like motion sickness and nausea of any kind.

    He marched on, the city vanishing behind them as they moved down through valleys and over plains. The wildlife fled before the thrumming beat of the drummer, visible only as short blurs before the next step took them beyond sight.

    As the sun finally broke out of the clouds and the last flake of snow landed, the trio emerged onto a frigid coastline.

    The beat changed slightly, and they marched at a slower pace, the world barely blurring at all as they passed along a series of pebble beaches before coming to a stop at last.

    ¡°I feel we were denied some necessary information,¡± Bud noted.

    ¡°Ain¡¯t that always the way?¡± The drummer asked with a wide smile. ¡°Shall we head back?¡±

    Bud ignored the question as he stared across the rolling waves and out at the castle in the sea. Waves broke against its walls, white foam spraying over the dark stones. Beyond the impressive walls and a high steel gate, an imposing structure rose, looming over the icy seas around it.

    Aside from the placement in the middle of the bay, it was the typical haunted castle. Dark stones, grinning gargoyles, the faint wisps of tattered cloth, and even a single light burning at the top of a tower.

    Bud and Lily exchanged a look. She grinned, having reverted to a human shape before the drummer had turned around.

    ¡°Shall we?¡± He asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m ready,¡± Lily confirmed.

    ¡°Wait,¡± The drummer¡¯s smile slipped. ¡°There is no boat, and that water is not empty.¡± He looked at their smiles. ¡°We are miles from anywhere, so don¡¯t think you can get a boat either. Let¡¯s just go back, eh?¡±

    Bud slowly shook his head.

    ¡°Did you assume we would just give up?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°There is no way out there,¡± The drummer insisted. ¡°I¡¯m not helping you.¡± He added as their smiles remained.

    ¡°Can you get there?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± The Bard laughed. ¡°But I am forbidden from aiding you, so let¡¯s just head back, no harm done.¡± His eyes flicked to the distant castle, clearly nervous to be so close to it.

    ¡°Then we will meet you there,¡± Bud said with a nod, enjoying the tension that shot through the arrogant young drummer. ¡°Lily, would you like to fly over or?¡±

    ¡°No need,¡± She said, pulling her spear from her back.

    ¡°Then we shall begin,¡± Bud said, turning and striding into the surf, Lily at his side.

    =============

    The icy water closed over his head, and his feet sank into the soft sand, but he pushed on. The illusion faded beneath the waves, and a grinning skeleton drew his sword and dagger as he walked on. Above his head, the waves rolled on by, twisting the sunshine, distorting it as they passed.

    Turning to look behind him, he saw Lily walking primly across the top of the sand, her feet leaving no trace as she looked around. He tilted his head in question, and she just laughed.

    Pixies, it seemed, were just at home in the water as they were on land.

    They walked on, aiming for the distant rise in the bay that denoted the presence of the castle. As they moved, they attracted attention.

    Shapes moved in the gloom ahead of them, resolving into the form of large fish with wicked-looking teeth. The first to come near, he stabbed in the eye, not slowing. The second he took with a slash of his sword.

    Then, the shoal was upon them. Bud and Lily fought back to back. His blades flashed as her spear struck out in all directions. In less than a minute, the fish broke away, fleeing.

    The pair walked on, the waves above growing distant as they descended into darker water.

    Bud was just starting to enjoy the walk again when a tentacle wrapped around his leg, pulling him under the sand before he even registered the threat. He fought in the dark, the sand fountaining around him as he stabbed with his dagger. Eventually, the tentacle went limp, and he pulled himself out of the sand.

    Ah, not a tentacle, but an eel.

    Lily danced back and forth, stabbing into the sand with her spear. The deadly tip left trails of blood as it came out of the sand more often than not.

    Neither of them was in real danger, but blood in the water was a worry.

    Grabbing Lily, Bud hurried on, his feet pushing against the sand as he got them away. After a few meters, the bloodied water faded behind them, just in time as well. A dark shape moved through the water behind them, aimed for the scent of blood. He felt Lily stiffen but resisted the urge to look back.

    There are some things you just don¡¯t want to see. And most of them live beneath the seas.

    The ground began to slope upward again, and the light began to return.

    Pale white coral was clustered around the base of the walls. Bud hesitated, but only for a moment. The things in the deep could smell blood from a good distance, and both he and Lily had to be leaving a trail. The best bet was to get above the waterline. And fast.

    The coral was strange, almost looking like a set of grasping hands, and Lily pulled him back.

    Bud gave her a look, asking what was wrong. Lily simply shook her head and pointed at the coral. She mimed grasping hands, and Bud gave the coral a suspicious look.

    As the skeletal Ranger Captain looked back to agree with Lily, he saw it.

    A dark shape was approaching, unhurried and huge. The first light to reach it showed a nightmare of teeth, eyes, and small ridges.

    Bud made an executive decision and ran towards the coral, Lily thrown over his shoulder. He knew when she saw the nightmare fish because she screamed and vanished.

    He could still feel her there, but she had made herself invisible by reflex.

    The first bit of coral tried to close on his foot as he kicked off from the floor of the bay, swimming for the wall as hard as he could.

    Grabbing onto the cracks in the smooth stone, Bud propelled them upward, kicking and grabbing as he rose. Something heavy slammed into the wall below them, and for a second, his foot found flesh. He kicked off once more, bursting above the surf.

    Air, sound, and sunlight returned as he clung to the gaps between the stones. Lily untangled herself, and they climbed, both looking back down at the water below them.

    Bud felt it all the way up the wall. It was still down there, a faintly darker bit of water visible as it swam back and forth, searching for its prey.

    ¡°Next time, I¡¯m flying,¡± Lily said as they pulled themselves onto the ramparts.

    ¡°I can¡¯t fly,¡± Bud noted. ¡°But I may give it a try anyway.¡± He shivered, remembering a smooth shape with a mouth on both sides of its head and way too many eyes.

    ¡°What if we can¡¯t find a boat?¡± Lily asked calmly. ¡°How will you get back?¡±

    ¡°Simple,¡± Bud said, watching the shape still circling below. ¡°I¡¯ll wait here while you go find one.¡±

    Lily laughed.

    ¡°So, do you think this place is really haunted?¡± Lily asked, peering over the walls at the surf below.

    ¡°I am going to go with yes,¡± Bud said absently. ¡°Look.¡± He watched as the courtyard below was lit by a shaft of sunlight. Figures lurched back and forth while others stood listlessly with milky eyes staring blankly ahead.

    Beyond the courtyard of zombies, stairs rose to dark wooden doors guarded by a pair of skeletons in rusted armor. The doors themselves were slightly open, and a steady flow of ghostly figures were marching out; each one walked into a zombie, slipping into the the dead flesh. As soon as a ghost entered the zombie, it straightened, and a pale ghostly armor formed over the creature.

    And every single one of the possessed was looking directly up at him.

 Chapter 101 - Questing - Clear the Haunted Castle II

    ¡°Do we wait for the Bard?¡± Lily asked as they watched the possessed zombies begin to form into small groups.

    ¡°Can we assume he is actually coming?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Good point,¡± Lily pulled a face.

    ¡°We have this,¡± Bud said, pulling his bow from his back and stringing it. He kept one eyesocket on the gathering forces as he filled his quiver with dry arrows. Wet fletching didn¡¯t guide well, and it would weigh down the arrows. He ran his hands over his belt, checking his potions, knives, and weapons. Beside him, Lily did a few stretches and spun her spear a few times.

    ¡°We will need to infuse our strikes to affect the ghosts,¡± She said distractedly.

    ¡°If things get too bad, just vanish,¡± Bud said. She ignored him, but he turned and stared at her. ¡°I mean it.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± She promised with a grimace. ¡°But I won¡¯t run unless I have to.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect any less,¡± Bud nodded. ¡°This may get a bit hectic.¡± He flexed his fingers as he dropped to one knee.

    ¡°I have your back,¡± Lily promised, her hands shaking slightly.

    ¡°Just keep calm and keep killing,¡± Bud advised with a laugh.

    One, two, three breaths to calm himself, and then he began.

    Arrows rained down on the remaining zombies, shattering their skulls, severing their necks, or slamming through sockets. They fell as he fired, the arrows in his quiver constantly replenished from his storage. His initial focus was on the unpossessed to prevent them from serving as vessels for more ghosts.

    It didn¡¯t take their enemy long to figure out what was happening. A group began to move towards the walls while more conjured bows or started to cast spells.

    Beside Bud, Lily waited.

    The first return fire clattered against stones far to the left of him, and he smiled as the spells splashed against empty stones. The first ghosts to make it onto the wall likewise charged in the wrong direction, pursuing enemies only they could see.

    Bud ran out of zombies and began to target the possessed. His first arrow bounced off the ghostly armor, but the second elicited a fading scream as the mana-tipped arrow slammed through the armor and killed the zombie host.

    The groups began to scatter as he kept firing, trying to hide behind cover.

    It was still like shooting fish in a barrel. They seemed confused and stumbled in their borrowed bodies.

    And each stumble cost them as the arrows rained down from the walls.

    ¡°They caught on!¡± Lily warned as the ghostly mages began to target random areas of the wall with their spells, and more possessed climbed onto the walls, swinging their weapons wildly as they moved.

    ¡°I noticed,¡± Bud said, charging a shot. He loosed into a distant group, the mana packed into the arrowhead, detonating as the blow struck. Three of the five possessed died, their spirits screaming as they were destroyed.

    He checked around, seeing that most of the remaining ghosts had taken to the walls, over thirty of them moved along the ramparts.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± He grinned at Lily and dropped over the wall into the courtyard.

    Lily landed next to him and rolled upright.

    ¡°Keep us hidden for a minute, okay?¡± Bud asked as he began to charge a pair of arrows with everything he could fit into them. Lily nodded, putting her hands out to either side of them. A little bubble appeared around them, and sounds became distant and quiet.

    Bud kept charging until the arrows vibrated and glowed, then pulled the bow back with both arrows nocked.

    He released, the arrows flying in twin arcs and striking the skeletal guards like mortar rounds. Two massive explosions followed, and when the dust and smoke cleared, nothing was left but bone chips and scattered rock.

    ¡°Vanish,¡± Bud commanded Lily, ¡°Stirke them from the sides when they don¡¯t expect it.¡±

    ¡°Got it,¡± She nodded.

    ¡°Do NOT get into extended combat,¡± Bud said as he stood, drawing his sword and dagger. ¡°Hit and vanish.¡±

    Lily rolled her eyes but nodded.

    ¡°Too much time around, Wendy,¡± Bud muttered to himself as the possessed ran down from the walls to surround him.

    ¡°Good afternoon,¡± Bud smiled at the possessed form surrounding him, his weapons held loosely at his sides. ¡°Can we talk?¡±

    A ghostly night roared and struck out.

    Bud moved, pouring mana into his sword and dagger as he stepped into the blow. The knight''s sword missed, and Bud buried his dagger in the thing¡¯s eye. It slumped to the floor as the spirit was banished.

    He stepped back,

    ¡°Is that a no?¡± He asked mildly.

    More attacked, but their strikes were hampered by the forms they possessed. No matter the skill they had in life, they were using the rotten bodies of zombies. That made them slow.

    Bud was not slow, and he deflected, dodged, and then struck. Each blow was a stab, and each stab was to the head. It was not easy, but it was far from hard as he moved constantly, unable to tire. Mana was always pouring into his weapons as the tides constantly refreshed his mana pool.

    And so he fought, and the possessed died. A few of the smarter mages began to back away, starting to cast spells to slow or capture, but they died as a spear reaped their lives, its wielder only visible for a scant second as she struck and then vanished.

    Several ghosts released their bodies, fleeing back into the castle as the numbers thinned and Bud showed no signs of slowing. Some screamed, seeing the archer breaking free and coming for them. Their spells slammed into their comrades, and they gasped before a spear claimed their vessel.

    Bud and Lily kept working methodically through the courtyard until the last of the ghosts had fled or been banished, and the last zombie lay with a smashed skull or severed head.

    ¡°Well done,¡± Bud beamed at Lily as she faded back into sight next to him, cleaning a bit of zombie off her spear.

    ¡°Thanks,¡± She grinned. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±

    ¡°Next?¡± Bud grinned, ¡°Next, I need to collect my arrows again.

    Lily looked around at the courtyard; scattered arrows lay all over.

    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± She protested. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t all fun and games as an archer,¡± Bud nodded, pulling arrows from the nearest zombie.

    =============

    The great hall that served as the entrance to the castle had obviously been intended to inspire awe. It was massive, with an abundance of chandeliers hanging above while thousands of candles burned on every available flat surface.

    ¡°Good thing this place is made of stone,¡± Lily said as she looked around. ¡°If this place was wood, it would have been cinders years ago,¡±

    ¡°But who lit the candles?¡± Bud asked, his eye sockets roving the great hall for any sign of movement or life.

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    ¡°They¡¯re ghosts,¡± Lily said. ¡°What else have they got to do?¡±

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Bud frowned. ¡°But why would ghosts need the light?¡±

    ¡°Ambiance?¡± Lily offered.

    Bud merely grunted. Something in here was moving, he was sure. He just couldn¡¯t catch the actual movement happening. His attention was drawn to the gargoyles that decorated the top of the room. Or did¡­

    Bud drew his bow in a flash, spinning and firing. His arrow sank into the apparently stone form with ease, and a scream came from the creature as it landed on the ground, thrashing as it tried to pull the arrow from its chest.

    ¡°Gargoyles!¡± Bud called.

    ¡°I noticed,¡± Lily said, her spear smacking two away from her as she stomped down on a third. ¡°Eww!¡± She cried out as the small creature mushed beneath her foot. ¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to be stone?¡±

    ¡°Apparently, they are not,¡± Bud muttered as another arrow pinned one of the creatures to the floor.

    The attack stopped as quickly as it started, the creatures crawling onto furniture or back up the walls. Their flesh changed colors as they moved, matching where they sat.

    ¡°That¡¯s pretty creepy,¡± Lily said, wiping her foot against the floor as she tried to get the last of the gargoyle off her boots.

    ¡°Some kind of camouflage,¡± Bud said, his eyes flicking between the creatures. He was acutely aware he had already lost track of several of them.

    ¡°Now we know what the candles are for,¡± Lily said, watching the flickering light. ¡°Makes them even harder to track.¡±

    ¡°Definitely feeling like a trap.¡± Bud agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s move towards the stairs.¡±

    ¡°The stairs are out,¡± Lily said as the but of her spear sent another of the gargoyles flying.

    Bud spun, his sword skewering a leaping gargoyle while his dagger stabbed another that crept along the floor. Every step towards the stairs revealed more of the creatures. Hidden nooks and gaps in the floorboards, they came from everywhere.

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡± Lily asked as Bud saw sweat start to roll down her neck.

    ¡°They have to run out eventually,¡± Bud muttered.

    ¡°Great plan!¡± Lily said and sent a pulse of mana through her spear. The explosion blasted a hole in the attackers, and they stepped a few inches closer to the stairs.

    ¡°Got a better one?¡± Bud asked as the Gargoyles started to back away. Bud felt a chill in his bones. This couldn¡¯t be good.

    ¡°Hey, it¡¯s work-¡± Lily said as a shadow dropped towards her.

    A massive gargoyle slammed down where she had been, the impact sending Bud flying into the line of waiting gargoyles. The last thing he saw before they swarmed him was the pool of blood spreading under the giant creature.

    Bud poured mana into his body, driving the mana tides faster through his system.

    Punching, kicking, and biting, Bud fought his way clear of the swarm. His bowstring was snapped and bitten through. His dagger was left in a gargoyle. He struggled up, grabbing a gargoyle in each hand and using them to beat their brethren apart.

    He looked up as a shadow loomed over him, seeing a massive arm coming at him from the left. Bud dove backward, feeling the wind of the strike pass inches from his back as he rolled. He leaped to his feet again, flying backward as his knotwork gleamed beneath his armor.

    Ducking another blow from the giant creature, Bud spun, flicking throwing knives at the remaining gargoyles before he dove over the giant¡¯s tail as it lashed at him.

    He kept moving and kept dodging as he whittled down the numbers.

    Patience was something he and his enemies shared, and both were silent as he kept his deadly dance going with the giant.

    Once the last of the gargoyles had finally died or fled, Bud jumped back, restringing his bow as he backflipped through the air.

    The massive gargoyle roared as he chipped away at it, arrows barely impacting the flesh. All he needed was time to charge a decent shock, but no matter how he moved, it was always there.

    A glancing blow knocked him into the candles, which tumbled down around him. He rolled, only to see the grinning giant¡¯s foot falling towards him. With a wall behind him and one to his side, there was nowhere to go.

    Bud raised his arms and hoped enough of him would be left for Bert and Bell to put him back together.

    The gnarled foot slammed down next to him, sending bits of candle spraying into his face and sides. Then it slammed a fist into the floor and continued on its way. He watched as it swung and stomped at the empty air.

    ¡°Don¡¯t just sit there!¡± A voice hissed from above him. ¡°Shoot it!¡±

    Looking up, Bud saw a shadowy figure fluttering just below the roof.

    ===========

    Lily saw the shadow falling toward her, but it was too late to move. She swallowed hard and shifted to her pixie form just as the massive form slammed down. She flew as fast as she could beneath the swinging arm, dodged the tail, and finally felt the invisibility spell take effect.

    It was a great spell; it really was. She just wished it was instant.

    Dodging leaping gargoyles and swinging limbs proved a challenge as she dove and twisted herself through the air.

    Once she had enough distance, she tried to stop, only to see several small heads tracking her. Could they see her?

    She flew from side to side, watching them track her as they started to crawl slowly forward.

    They could see her?

    How?

    Lily finally noticed the little dust motes that filled the area and realized her mistake. They might not be able to see her, but they were watching the dust and seeing the small changes left by her wings.

    ¡°Bugger,¡± Lily muttered. It was a word she had picked up from her Lord and was just too apt NOT to use. She dove aside just as the first of the gargoyles leaped at her.

    She flexed her mana, sensing the air around her. It was still, except for around the fight. Lily didn¡¯t precisely fancy her chances of dodging that much action.

    Out of ideas, she flew in a wide arc, moving toward the battle while the tracking gargoyles kept following.

    She sent a blast of wind in one direction, leaped off a wall, and then flew directly over the giant gargoyle. Hovering just above and behind the head, she was finally able to stop and get her breath back.

    Bud was glowing as he fought, his mana cycles already active, but she didn¡¯t dare go that far. Even big, ugly here would notice something like that.

    So that meant minor spells only.

    Lily got to work, using illusionary flashes, gusts, and shadows to buy Bud the space he needed to fight. It was tough going. She never ran out of mana, but at the same time, her normal spells would attract too much attention this close to a creature.

    It was a masterclass in subtlety, with a failing grade equalling immediate death.

    But hey, no one said being a pixie would be easy.

    The battle seemed to stretch for hours, even if it was much shorter in reality. She was going to make a mistake; she knew it. There was no way this could keep working¡­

    Bud was sent flying, and Lily chose that moment to move. She darted into a shadowed corner, far from the giant creature, and hovered there.

    Before she had a chance to get her breath, she saw Bud was pinned. Free of the limitations of proximity to the giant, she cast an illusion, placing it just as the invisibility took effect on Bud.

    It was not a second too soon.

    A giant foot slammed down next to Bud, and Lily cast again and again.

    While the massive gargoyle chased an illusion, she waited for Bud to shoot.

    He didn¡¯t; he just lay there!

    ¡°Don¡¯t just sit there!¡± She hissed in irritation, ¡°Shoot it!¡±

    Bud¡¯s glowing sockets frowned at her, clearly confused.

    ¡°Shoot the bastard!¡± She hissed again, ¡°I can¡¯t keep this up forever, you know!¡±

    She watched Bud clamber up and start to charge a shot, which rapidly became a problem.

    The arrow was glowing! She cast a shadow illusion to counter it, but the glow kept increasing. She cast another over the first and then a third; the damn arrow was going to light up the whole castle!

    She cast a new illusion, but her split focus slowed it, and the gargoyle¡¯s fist passed straight through it.

    The illusion popped, and it growled.

    ¡°Ah, shit!¡± She sighed as it spun, eyes fixed on her.

    ¡°I need more time!¡± Bud demanded.

    ¡°Fine!¡± She hissed back. ¡°I¡¯ll just go play target dummy, shall I?¡±

    She flew out, letting her own skin begin to glow until she was a darting ball of light. The giant gargoyle swung at her, and she dove under its fist. She darted past the tail and slammed her spear into one toe.

    It roared at her.

    She laughed and spun away, shooting up and stabbing it again, this time in the nose. Blood flowed from the wound, and she dropped as it slapped at her.

    Lily laughed as it punched itself in the face and then yelped as the flailing tail almost got her.

    ¡°Any time now!¡± She called back.

    ¡°Almost there!¡± Bud called.

    She darted around the creature, her spear flashing into joints and weak spots as she flew by. Lily rolled in the air, feeling a kick miss her by millimeters, and jumped off the wall, casting an illusion in multiple directions.

    The gargoyle chose poorly, and she landed on the snout, stabbing her spear into one eye as she grew to human size.

    The rapidly growing spear slammed through the back of the eye and into the brain just as the claws closed around her neck.

    ¡°Get off!¡± She yelped as the claws suddenly went slack, the spear pushing out the back of its head. ¡°Oh, wow!¡± She laughed, riding the corpse down to the ground. ¡°That worked better than expected.¡±

    She dusted her hands off and looked over at Bud, a glowing arrow nocked and now¡­ pointed at nothing.

    ¡°Your mouth is kind of hanging open, did you know?¡± She asked.

    ¡°I was¡­¡± He gulped, ¡°I thought you were dead!¡±

    ¡°Huh?¡± She looked around and only now remembered the blood illusion she cast just before she changed. ¡°Well, sorry?¡±

    ¡°Do not do that again!¡± He said severely. ¡°You can¡¯t make me worry like that!¡±

    He fired the arrow blindly out the open doorway and into the courtyard, where it detonated with a rolling thunder of sound.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Lily said, blushing slightly.

    ¡°Promise me,¡± Bud demanded.

    ¡°I promise!¡± Lily said, seeing his tension.

    ¡°Good,¡± Bud shook his shoulders to loosen them up. ¡°Let¡¯s get ready to move.¡± He started to gather his items, muttering to himself as he did so.

    Lily looked at his back, feeling a warmth in her chest.

    It had been a long time since someone other than her sister cared if she died.

 Chapter 102 - Questing - Clear the Haunted Castle III

    ¡°Do you think there is ever any actual treasure?¡± Lily asked Bud as they cleared yet another small room full of dust and moldy furniture. The first floor of the Castle had turned out to be a complete waste of time. Passages and rooms filled with dust, mold, and a pervading damp smell.

    And little else.

    ¡°Probably,¡± Bud shrugged. ¡°But outside of dungeons, who leaves a bunch of valuable stuff just lying around the place?¡±

    ¡°I guess,¡± Lily sighed. ¡°I just expected more, I suppose.¡± She grinned, ¡°The last place I explored was full of armor and weapons. Sky Metal ones, remember?¡±

    ¡°I do,¡± Bud said. ¡°That was hardly typical, however.¡± He led the way back out into another nondescript hallway in an endless series of empty corridors.

    Lily watched Bud move along the corridor, alert as always. She had to admit the Ranger Captain was a master of his craft. She had never even seen him slack off once. Always busy, always doing something. It was impressive but a little challenging to live up to.

    Not to mention tiring.

    When she had first arrived at the Waystation, she had been terrified of everything and everyone. So much had changed since then. Now, she felt like she belonged amongst this strange crew, but one thing had not changed.

    Bud was still a mystery to her. She had pretty much figured the others out, but not him. Bert was surprisingly simple for a Lord of the Fae. He wanted to go places, look at stuff, and look after his people. That was it. Wendy wanted adventure and to prove herself¡­ which was difficult as the child of a Lord and Lady of the Fae. Scruff wanted to grow things and make new plants, and that was it.

    Bell wanted to see the world and find new things to kill. It was kind of creepy, but that was Lady Bell for you. As long as Bert was there, it would be fine.

    Slothy wanted naps, the Orcs wanted to train, and Gavin wanted to see the world. Tim wanted to make Bud happy and burn things.

    But Bud?

    Bud seemed to want nothing and everything all at once. He never complained, never shirked, and never tired. He smiled and even joked with Bert¡­ but what was his drive?

    What did Bud want?

    Lily liked to know these things when she was a half-pixie, but now she was a full pixie; it was almost a physical need. She could make an illusion of whatever a person wanted or needed most¡­ except for Bud.

    ¡°Hold,¡± Bud said, peering around the corner at the end of the corridor. ¡°There is something in the next room.¡±

    ¡°Shall I go look?¡± Lily offered, ready to activate the invisibility spell.

    Bud shook his head slowly, slipping silently around the corner ahead of her.

    She activated the spell anyway and followed. It wasn¡¯t like he told her to stay behind, after all.

    She felt the magic envelope her and edged toward Bud as he crouched and pushed open the door to the room, staying to one side. He peered suspiciously into the room as she began to edge around him, straining to see.

    The room was dark, almost pitch black. So that meant no windows in it. Maybe a storage room of some sort.

    Stepping into the doorway, she prepared to cast a Faelight into the room, only to freeze as two glowing eyes opened in the darkness.

    They fixed on her, and she gulped and froze in place. If she didn¡¯t move¡­

    Tendrils of shadow whipped out of the room and fastened around her.

    Lily screamed as she was yanked into the darkness, so shocked she forgot to try to shift back into pixie form.

    A mouth opened, a soft pulsing glow coming from within as she was dragged toward it.

    She was going to die!

    Flashing into pixie form, she tried to fly away, only to find the tendrils still holding her, and now she was being dragged even faster.

    An arrow flashed past her, vanishing into the maw of the shadow. Three more followed it, hitting the shadows around the maw.

    The tendrils loosened, and she slipped free, flying as fast as possible for the door.

    ¡°How could it see me?¡± Lily sat against the wall and shuddered.

    ¡°Mana Vision,¡± Bud said as he crouched next to her, eyes flicking up the hall ahead of them as he spoke. ¡°It didn¡¯t see you; it saw the magic you were cloaked in.¡±

    ¡°They can do that?¡± Lily shuddered.

    ¡°Some,¡± Bud nodded. ¡°It¡¯s a skill.¡±

    ¡°How do you know all this?¡± Lily rubbed her arms, feeling shivery.

    ¡°I have the skill,¡± Bud said as if it was obvious.

    ¡°WHAT?¡± She gasped. ¡°So every time I¡¯m invisible¡­.¡±

    Bud simply patted her on the arm.

    ¡°I could have died,¡± Lily said.

    ¡°It always pays to assume the enemy can counter you,¡± Bud said, pulling Lily to her feet. ¡°Next time, be prepared.¡±

    Lily nodded, giving the shadowy room a filthy look as they passed. She promised she would be ready next time¡­.

    ============

    ¡°Approach and face judgment, Intruders!¡± The words rolled down the hallway as they approached.

    They had searched the first floor thoroughly, finding it full of bedrooms, meeting rooms, and even a half-collapsed ballroom, but nothing else. There had been a few more shadow monsters, which Bud was pleased to see Lily had learned to check for.

    A simple ball of invisibility was conjured in front of each doorway. If one of the creatures was there, it attacked. Lily had insisted on killing the second one herself, even though she trembled as she fought.

    It was a great sign, and Bud had to admit he was proud of her. More than that, he was sure she would never again make the mistake of relying on invisibility to keep her safe.

    Bud grinned to himself, making sure that she was behind him. It was not exactly a nasty trick, letting that thing grab her¡­ he could have killed it at any time¡­ but it was important that she learned the lesson.

    Plus, she hadn¡¯t figured out that he COULD have stopped her BEFORE it grabbed her.

    ¡°Judgement awaits you!¡± Whoever was yelling was apparently impatient, which was good. If Bert had taught him anything, it was how effective pissing people off was. It made them sloppy.

    A ghost awaited them at the foot of a sweeping staircase to the next floor. It was a knight of some form, complete with gleaming armor and a huge sword. The most impressive thing about him was not the armor or the sword, neither of which was ghostly but very real.

    It was his eyebrows, like huge furry caterpillars.

    ¡°Who are you, that intrudes upon the Lady¡¯s Castle?¡± The ghost bellowed.

    ¡°No need to shout,¡± Bud said easily, ¡°We are right here.¡±

    Lily shot him a look, which he ignored.

    ¡°Fools!¡± The ghost roared at them. ¡°Show respect! You stand before a knight Captain of her Ladyship!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Bud grinned, copying Bert¡¯s most irritating smile, ¡°Is she about?¡±

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    ¡°Name yourself,¡± The knight growled, ¡°That I may know who I killed for insolence.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m Bud,¡± Bud said mildly, ¡°Champion of the Court of Travelling Lands, Ranger Captain of the Waystation, Friend of Slothy, and uh¡­¡± He scratched his skull for a moment, ¡°Oh yeah, Trainer of Orcs!¡±

    ¡°Court of the Travelling Lands?¡± The knight asked.

    ¡°One of the Fae Courts?¡± Bud said slowly, as if to a child, ¡°Surely you must have heard of us?¡±

    ¡°Fae!¡± The ghost began to look slightly panicked. ¡°As in the Fae?¡±

    ¡°In the flesh,¡± Bud looked down, ¡°Well in the bone as it happens, but yes.¡±

    ¡°What would the Fae want here?¡± The sword began to sag a little.

    ¡°We have a quest to clear this haunted castle,¡± Bud hesitated, ¡°You are aware you are dead?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± The knight blustered. ¡°Our tireless vigil to protect the Lady is a matter of pride.¡±

    ¡°Who is the Lady?¡± Bud asked. ¡°You keep mentioning her.¡±

    The knight hesitated, his sword slumping to the floor.

    ¡°I, uh,¡± The ghost hesitated, ¡°Well, that is¡­.¡± He blinked a few times.

    ¡°Can you even remember?¡± Lily asked gently.

    ¡°No, well¡­ no.¡± The sword clattered against the floor. ¡°How¡­ how could I have forgotten?¡± He wailed and dropped to his knees.

    ¡°Well,¡± Bud said, moving up next to the ghost, ¡°Why don¡¯t we go ask?¡±

    ¡°WHAT?¡± The ghost stared at him.

    ¡°We are visitors from a Fae Court,¡± Lily said smoothly, stepping over the sword and bending down to the kneeling knight. ¡°Why not introduce us to your Lady?¡±

    ¡°But you are invaders!¡± The knight tried to rally, ¡°You admit you are here to harm us!¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bud corrected, ¡°We are here to clear the castle,¡± He patted the Knight Captain on the head like a child, ¡°But I am just as happy not to.¡±

    ¡°WHAT?¡± The Knight gasped again.

    ¡°Completing the quest is optional,¡± Bud said. ¡°We get rewarded anyway.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s a Fae thing,¡± Lily added.

    The ghost seemed to hesitate for a moment, then his face cleared, and he stood with a smile.

    ¡°Welcome to the Castle of the Lady of the Waters, Honoured Guests!¡± He intoned.

    Lights bloomed throughout the castle as ghosts floated out of the walls, lighting candles, dusting, polishing, and generally fussing about the place.

    Bud followed the suddenly friendly ghost through the castle, ending up in what appeared to be a throne room. A dozen ghosts dressed like Maids and Butlers bustled around the place, trying to wipe away years of dust and grime with cloths and mops that were as ghostly as they were.

    Lily and Bud were offered a pair of chairs and asked to wait while the Lady was found.

    Time passed, and the two twiddled their thumbs as they waited.

    And waited, and waited.

    ¡°Think this is a trick?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Bud eyed a passing maid suspiciously. ¡°They look so happy like they have been waiting for this moment a long time.¡±

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Lily admitted, but he saw her watching the ghosts more closely.

    He went back to watching as the place was reclaimed from time, dust, and grime. It was fun to see the place restored to some reflection of its former glory. More ghosts flooded in with candles, floating up to place them in chandeliers and sconces as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Lily frowned.

    ¡°What?¡± Bud tensed, ready to pounce on whatever threat she had seen.

    ¡°You have Mana Sight¡­ could you see that shadow monster?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bud said, relaxing.

    ¡°So you let me walk into the doorway and get grabbed?¡± She asked, frowning.

    ¡°I did,¡± Bud said. ¡°It was an important lesson.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Lily said, her tone as sharp as a knife.

    ¡°Sorry, but you needed to learn,¡± Bud added after a moment. ¡°You rely too much on invisibility to keep you safe.¡±

    ¡°Bud?¡± Lily asked.

    Bud turned to look at her.

    ¡°Did it occur to you to just talk to me before you let me almost be eaten?¡± Lily said calmly.

    ¡°Uh,¡± Bud floundered. It hadn¡¯t. ¡°Would that have worked?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Lily hissed, breathing deeply for a few breaths before continuing in a calmer voice. ¡°I would have listened.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Bud thought about it. ¡°You were in no danger; I was ready to step in.¡±

    ¡°You told me not to assume I was safe while invisible,¡± Lily said slowly, ¡°I would ask if you ASSUMED you could see all the threats in the room.¡±

    Bud gaped at her.

    He tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair as he thought. She had a point, which was irritating. It was a risk that he hadn¡¯t considered.

    ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± He admitted after a long moment, ¡°I could have missed something.¡± Bud ground his teeth. Ever since he got all those upgrades to his senses, he had missed nothing. That didn¡¯t mean he couldn¡¯t miss something, just that he hadn¡¯t done it yet.

    Lily looked smug as she sat back in her chair, her foot tapping happily on the floor as she began to hum to herself.

    ¡°This is a disaster!¡± The Knight Captain strode back into the throne room, pulling at his hair.

    ¡°What?¡± Bud pushed himself to his feet, one hand on his belt pouch, ready to string his bow.

    ¡°No one knows where she is!¡± The ghost wailed, ¡°No one even knows who she is!¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡± Lily frowned at the distressed ghost. ¡°No one?¡±

    ¡°None!¡± The Knight Captain kicked a chair across the room. ¡°I asked the oldest of us, and he thought we were protecting a treasure!¡±

    ¡°Calm down,¡± Bud said. ¡°Have you searched the Castle?¡±

    ¡°Three times!¡± The ghost insisted.

    ¡°How did you search if you don¡¯t know what you are looking for?¡± Lily asked.

    The ghost¡¯s face went blank. He simply stared ahead of him, lost.

    ¡°I think you broke him,¡± Bud waved a skeletal hand back and forth in front of the Knight Captain, getting no response.

    ¡°What the hell is going on in this place?¡± Lily whispered to Bud.

    ¡°It¡¯s not as uncommon as you think,¡± Bud said, shaking his head. ¡°Ghosts have trouble holding on to memories; they get confused, forget things, and then they just get stuck in a pattern of behavior.¡±

    ¡°Just like everyone else, then?¡± Lily smiled.

    ¡°But ghosts don¡¯t die,¡± Bud said sadly, ¡°They just keep getting worse until¡­.¡± He waved a hand at the ghosts around them.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Lily looked at the ghosts in the room, ¡°That¡¯s awful.¡±

    ¡°What? What was I doing?¡± The ghost seemed to come alive again, blinking at the pair in confusion.

    ¡°Knight Captain,¡± Bud nodded to him. ¡°We must search the Castle ourselves. Please accompany us.¡±

    ¡°I, uh,¡± He blinked and then drew himself up. ¡°As you wish, sir.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Bud nodded. ¡°Everyone must immediately present themselves to us as we go. I expect them to report any unusual sightings, memories of the Lady, or other important information.¡±

    ¡°Of course, sir,¡± The ghost nodded and began shouting orders to the other ghosts. Several vanished through the walls, floor, and ceilings, carrying the orders to the other inhabitants of the keep. ¡°Do you require an honor guard?¡±

    ¡°No need, Knight Captain,¡± Bud said. ¡°I don¡¯t wish to disturb the castle more than necessary.¡±

    ¡°Kind of you, sir. My thanks.¡± The Knight Captain saluted and led them from the hall.

    Bud saw the shock on Lily¡¯s face and allowed himself a small smile.

    He may have made a mistake, but he was more than up to this task.

    ===========

    They started at the top of the Castle and worked their way down. Bud had insisted they even check the rafters, but they found nothing. Lily was beginning to be glad they had not had to fight through all these creatures. A line of wraiths darted between the towers as they moved, passing messages and reporting back to the Knight Captain.

    Their first real clue came in the room that held the sole light they had seen from the walls. It appeared to be a library, complete with shelves of books. Lily had looked through them, finding they were nothing more than a collection of romance novels, full of ripped bodices and pounding¡­ pulses. It was also completely clean, with not a speck of dirt or mold in sight.

    A forgotten shawl lay over the back of a chair, the wood beneath darker than the rest of the chair.

    Someone had obviously cleaned it regularly and then returned it to its place on the back of the chair. It had been there long enough to prevent the sun from bleaching the wood, as it had everything else in line with the window.

    ¡°I think this belonged to a young woman,¡± Lily said. ¡°Maybe early teens?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bud frowned at the room.

    ¡°Because of the books.¡± Lily gestured. ¡°They are all something a teen girl would want.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Bud hesitated, ¡°They seem pretty adult to me.¡±

    Lily blushed slightly as he read from one at random.

    ¡°Teens consider themselves adult,¡± She pointed out, with a flush on her cheeks. Her fingers brushed over the shawl, ¡°And this is very pretty. But still a young woman¡¯s shawl.¡±

    ¡°What is the difference?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°I can¡¯t explain it,¡± Lily sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just something you know.¡±

    ¡°As a pixie?¡± Bud asked, clearly confused.

    ¡°AS A WOMAN!¡± Lily insisted hotly.

    Bud nodded, and they continued down to the next floor.

    Their next clue came from an old diary in one of the few clean rooms. Its yellowed pages had blurred the writing, with even more of it having faded thanks to the simple passage of time, sunlight, and salty air.

    Another day in this interminable castle, another plate of fish for every meal.

    I know they do their best, but I am afraid since the sea swallowed the land.

    I can see the beach from my window, but it seems so far away.

    Able and a detachment of soldiers tried to swim it, but they were attacked before reaching the shore. So we are cut off.

    I even thought of making a boat out of the wood in the castle, but they said that would not work.

    So we eat fish, and I read, and I cry.

    The sad girl in the window, with nothing but Ghosts to keep her company.

    Will my parents come back? Have they forgotten me?

    Should I not have raised the others?

    The rest was lost to time, mold, and cheap paper.

    Lily could feel the melancholy, the anguish, in the words. The poor girl was alone.

    Of course, that was not what interested Bud.

    ¡°She said she raised the others?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t say how or who she means by the others,¡± Lily pointed out.

    Bud simply waved at the ghosts clustered around the door.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Bud said. ¡°We better keep looking.¡±

 Chapter 103 - Questing - Clear the Haunted Castle IV

    Bud kept a count as they went. There were at least fifty guards per floor, and that didn¡¯t include the actual ghosts who were maids, butlers, or servants. All of those carried ghostly knives in addition to their other supplies. It would have been a nightmare to fight through them all.

    According to the Knight Captain, they had kept all their defenses on the ground level, bar a few higher-leveled ghosts to guard the upper floors.

    They left the first floor to the shadow creatures; not even ghosts went there these days, as several had been banished as a result of being eaten,

    ¡°How does banishment work?¡± Lily asked suddenly, ¡°From our side, it looks like the ghosts are destroyed.¡± She looked worried.

    ¡°Their ectoplasm is destroyed, but it will regrow over time. They simply lose the ability to interact with this world until then,¡± The Knight Captain said, somewhat wistfully. ¡°The luckiest will lose contact with this world and cross to the afterlife.¡±

    ¡°So it is not a bad thing then?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Depends on what awaits you on the other side,¡± The ghost said with a wide smile. ¡°Each and every soul gets what is owed to it, after all.¡±

    ¡°Do you long to cross the barrier?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°I do,¡± The Knight Captain said simply. ¡°I have served for so long I do not even remember who is waiting for me anymore. But I do remember that I love them.¡±

    ¡°Did you ever consider attempting to cross on your own?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°No,¡± The Knight Captain said simply. ¡°I will not abandon my duty.¡±

    Bud simply nodded as they arrived, once more, on the ground floor of the Castle.

    ¡°No sign of a Lady,¡± Lily said, looking up at the stone edifice stretching above them.

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Bud said.

    ¡°Yet?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°We went up; now we have to go down,¡± Bud said.

    ¡°The dungeons?¡± The Knight Captain nodded. ¡°But why would the Lady be there?¡±

    ¡°Who knows?¡± Bud said. ¡°Maybe she went to explore?¡±

    Lily looked back and forth between the two, then threw her hands in the air.

    ¡°Hello?¡± She pointed over the wall, ¡°Down is underwater, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    The other two simply nodded. She shuddered.

    Lily hadn¡¯t minded being underwater at first. Her pixie body was as capable of breathing water as air, but that didn¡¯t last. Once the creatures had begun to attack, she had rapidly come to dislike the water.

    Then that thing had come. She could still see it if she closed her eyes. A long, powerful body, three pairs of fins, ridges that ran down both sides. It was ugly even before it opened its mouth.

    Mouths.

    Two vertical mouths, one on either side of its head, had opened, revealing rows of viscous teeth. Between those mouths, a line of wicked eyes had glared at her and Bud.

    Lily was sure she would be seeing that creature in her nightmares for years to come.

    And now Bud wanted to go BACK in the water?

    ¡°Yeah, no,¡± Lily said, smiling frantically. ¡°I will just wait up here, okay?¡±

    Bud''s grin said it all.

    A line of armored ghosts marched ahead of them as they descended into the flooded dungeon levels. The pale light from their ghostly bodies lit the way as they moved.

    Bud gestured to her, so she conjured light orbs, sending them ahead of them.

    A watery world lit up around her as they stepped off the last of the stairs.

    Chains floated forlornly around the walls, clutching the ghosts contained within them. The agonized faces screamed silently or raged, straining against shackles that should not have been able to hold them.

    Worse still were the empty stares of the faded ghosts. They flickered, fading in and out, features smoothed and blurred until they were nothing more than vague shapes with empty eyes. Those ones didn¡¯t move; they merely stood and stared ahead.

    The other ghosts turned away from those ones, their faces set and immobile.

    Rusted bars lay here and there, the long destroyed remnants of cells.

    They marched on, heading past the eerie tableau and down another set of stairs, the water an ever-present pressure against her skin. It did not impede her or slow her as it did Bud, but it was always there, reminding her of where she was.

    It took everything in her not to flee back up into the sunlight and open air above.

    Thinking about those strange faded ghosts, she wanted to fly all the way back to the Waystation and never leave it again.

    More rusted cells awaited them on this level, with a single ghost still remaining in there.

    It was not chained like the others. Instead, it was walking in an endless circle, empty eyes staring ahead as it pushed against a wheel that had long ago rotted away. Of its companions, nothing remained but the occasional flicker of light. A strained, blurry face appeared for a fraction of a second with every turn of the nonexistent wheel.

    They edged around the circle, even Bud too creeped out to enter the area.

    Moving on, they descended again, and Lily gasped as they broke clear of the water.

    She looked up above her, seeing the water above her head, then down at the stone stairs, and watched the water run off her arms and fall UP to the water above her. The air was stale here, any oxygen having long ago been used up.

    Lily reached up and scooped an armful of water, casting a coating of mana to contain it. Then she settled it on her back and continued to breathe the water.

    Bud looked pleased with her ingenuity, having no need to breathe himself.

    This room was the smallest, with only a single room of space.

    It was also the answer to why they had come down here.

    A pile of bones lay crumpled on the floor, a tattered and moldy strip of fabric all that remained of the clothing the Lady had worn.

    ¡°She was young,¡± Bud commented as he examined the bones. ¡°You were right.¡±

    Lily assumed he was right; after all, who better than a skeleton to judge bones?

    ¡°What happened to her?¡± The Knight Captain whispered.

    Lily pointed to a small altar near the far wall. A soft glow was coming from it, almost hidden by her light orbs. They stepped aside as Bud and she went over to examine it.

    It was a compact little thing, Lily noted but covered in a complex script with long, flowing letters. She didn¡¯t recognize even a word of it, but Bud did.

    ¡°This is the necromantic script,¡± He pointed it out to her, ¡°I think we know why the ghosts are here now.¡±

    Lily looked back over her shoulder, noticing the ghosts themselves were avoiding looking directly at the altar. She pointed to the altar, then the body.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± Bud said, ¡°She said she called them; I assume she meant this.¡±

    Lily rolled her eyes and pointed again.

    Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t she come back?¡± Bud asked.

    Lily nodded.

    ¡°Good question,¡± Bud looked thoughtful, turning his skull to one side. ¡°Let¡¯s have a closer look at the body.¡±

    They sorted through the bones, finding a pair of small rings, a broken necklace, and little else of note. Finally, he stood.

    ¡°We can release the ghosts,¡± He said to the Knight Captain. ¡°All we have to do is destroy the altar, and you¡¯re free.¡±

    ¡°And the Lady?¡± The Knight Captain asked.

    ¡°She is long dead,¡± Bud said.

    ¡°Did we fail in our duty?¡± One of the Ghosts asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Bud looked away.

    ¡°Then we can not go.¡± The Knight Captain insisted.

    ¡°Wait!¡± Lily said, looking closely at one of the rings. She had seen it before. ¡°Look at this!¡±She held the ring up for Bud to see, and the light in his sockets flared in recognition.

    ¡°She was in the ballroom, wasn¡¯t she?¡± He asked.

    Lily nodded.

    ¡°Captain,¡± Bud said. ¡°There is a maid who wears this ring; bring her here immediately.¡±

    Three of the ghosts left, floating straight up through the roof. Lily would never get used to that.

    ===========

    Bud stared at the maid as she came slowly down the stairs. She looked terrified and young.

    ¡°You sent for me?¡± She asked.

    Lily handed the ring to her, and she stared in confusion at the little ring of corroded metal.

    ¡°Miss?¡± She asked.

    Lily pointed at the same ring on the ghost''s finger.  The maid marveled at it as if seeing it for the first time. Then, slowly, she slid the real one in place.

    As the two rings lined up, the maid changed.

    Her clothes shifted and flowed, going from a maid''s drab uniform to a Lady''s ornate dress.

    ¡°What happened?¡± The Knight Captain jumped back from the young woman as if scalded.

    ¡°This is my ring,¡± The young woman smiled. ¡°I had forgotten it after all these years.¡± She looked around the room, blinking as if she was waking from a dream.

    ¡°How long has it been?¡± She asked, then saw the bones. ¡°Oh.¡±

    ¡°Lady, you have returned!¡± The Knight Captain and his troops knelt immediately.

    ¡°It seems I have,¡± She smiled at the man. ¡°Wait for us above, please.¡±

    The ghosts hesitated, then disappeared into the ceiling.

    ¡°It seems I have a lot to make up for,¡± She shook her head. ¡°Are you one of mine?¡± The woman looked at Bud, then shook her head, ¡°No, you are quite different, aren¡¯t you.¡± She looked closer. ¡°Quite alive as well, so definitely not mine.¡± She gestured to the bones and waved the ring. They vanished. She did the same, and the altar floated up from the floor. ¡°Shall we talk above? I died down here and could do with a brighter setting for my story.¡±

    Bud nodded, and they set off back through the dungeons. The young woman winced at the ghosts in chains, more so at the faded ones.

    Finally, they broke above the water, and she led them out into the fading sunlight and icy winds.

    ¡°My parents were the true Lord and Lady here; I was simply left behind.¡± She grimaced as they sat on chairs brought out by the flustered ghosts. ¡°They went to answer a summons by the local king only to be murdered by the same man.¡± She looked fondly at the Knight Captain as he stood behind her chair proudly. ¡°I was barely thirteen at the time.¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Lily said, feeling something was called for.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t so bad at first,¡± The Lady said. ¡°I had my guards and my Knight Captain. All the servants I could want and lots of money. I missed them, but I was safe. Or so I thought.¡± She sat forward in her chair, fidgeting with her ring. ¡°On my sixteenth birthday, I became a true Lady, class and all. That was when the King came to demand my hand in marriage. He came with a small army, surrounded the castle, and laid a bed in front of the gates to the cheers of his men.¡±

    ¡°Bastard!¡± Lily hissed as Bud clutched his bow tighter.

    ¡°He really was,¡± The young woman smiled. ¡°He said it was him or his entire army.¡± She grinned. ¡°My mages had other ideas. We couldn¡¯t fight¡­ they were earth mages, builders, not soldiers. So they altered the land, sinking everything below the waves. The King and all his soldiers drowned in the flood!¡± She laughed. ¡°I was ecstatic; I was safe and got revenge simultaneously!¡±

    She stopped, and her face fell.

    ¡°I was an idiot because I forgot to take into account one thing.¡±

    ¡°The sea is full of monsters,¡± Lily whispered.

    ¡°Exactly.¡± The Lady sighed. ¡°I was cut off from the land, from everything. I was safe but trapped.¡± She slumped. ¡°The food ran out after a few weeks, then we fished, then¡­ even the fish stopped coming near us. We could barely catch enough to feed a dozen, let alone hundreds. Some tried to swim to shore; some tried to make boats¡­ no one made it.¡± She looked guiltily up at her Knight Captain. ¡°They killed themselves one night while I slept. Only five remained to care for me.¡±

    Lily heard herself gasp.

    ¡°They gave their lives for me so that I could survive a few more months. Months. I couldn¡¯t have that, but it was too late¡­ and I did not react well.¡±

    ¡°We only tried to serve, Lady,¡± The Knight Captain said with a distant look.

    ¡°I know, Daniel, I know,¡± She patted his hand fondly. ¡°And having lost so much, I turned to my family''s secret to recover what I lost.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re necromancers,¡± Bud said, awed.

    ¡°We were,¡± She nodded. ¡°So I brought them back, the stupid girl that I was. All of them. It took me months to realize what I had done and try and undo it. I went down to the altar and planned to release them all¡­¡± She trailed off. ¡°I was in there when the sea breached the wards and rushed in. I cast a spell to reverse the water, but I could only clear that one room,¡± Her eyes looked hunted as she remembered. ¡°And sealed as it was, I began to run out of air, too deep to swim out, and no one knew to look for me there.¡± She shuddered. ¡°Once I was a ghost; I couldn¡¯t just abandon them, could I?¡± The Lady looked at the growing crowd of ghosts listening to the tale.

    ¡°You need not have stayed for us!¡± One called.

    ¡°It was our honor, Lady!¡± Another called.

    Lily wiped a tear from her eye while no one was watching.

    ¡°Of course, I would stay for you,¡± She called back. ¡°You are my family, each and every one of you!¡±

    ¡°But over time, you forgot,¡± Bud added after a moment.

    ¡°It seems I did,¡± She laughed. ¡°I guess in the end, I simply stopped being me and joined my people completely.¡± She smiled. ¡°Yes! I remember now. Even in death, they refused to let me work and talk with them as equals! So, I started to dress as a maid. To make a point¡­ and I guess¡­.¡±

    Lily awkwardly patted the ghostly hand; it felt like patting a cloud.

    ¡°So, what now?¡± Bud asked.

    ¡°Now?¡± The young woman smiled. ¡°Enough is enough. It is time my people went to their rest, and me along with them.¡±

    ¡°My Lady?¡± The Knight Captain hesitated.

    ¡°Daniel. It is time.¡± She stood, every inch of her a Lady, and gestured to the alter. ¡°Smash that, kind people, that we may go to whatever awaits us.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°I am,¡± The girl smiled at her. ¡°Just give me one moment.¡±

    Lily watched her summon every ghost in the castle, the courtyard full to bursting with pale ghostly figures.

    ¡°My people!¡± She called to them, ¡°My wonderful, loyal, kind people. My family. Your duties are at an end; your work is done. I thank you with all I have. Each and every one of you. As we leave this world, I ask only that you know that no one in this world or any other has ever served better than you! Thank you, and now, please¡­ REST!¡± She nodded to Lily.

    Lily smashed the altar, and a collective sigh howled through the courtyard as each and every ghost faded until only the Knight Captain and the Lady remained.

    ¡°Daniel?¡± The young woman asked.

    ¡°It would be my honor to escort you one last time, my Lady.¡± He bowed.

    ¡°The honor, now and always, is mine, my shining knight, my second father.¡± She bowed back and took his hand.

    The woman waved, and then¡­ they were gone.

    The castle was silent, empty, and forlorn.

    ¡°How the bloody hell are we supposed to get out of here?¡± Bud asked after a moment.

    ===========

    ¡°You need a diet!¡± Lily hissed as she flew, Bud dangling below her.

    ¡°Rubbish!¡± Bud insisted. ¡°And fly higher, will you?¡± He swore as another fish leaped at him. ¡°I¡¯m not bait!¡±

    Lily laughed and almost, almost dropped Bud by accident.

    ¡°Lily!¡± Bud yelled.

    ¡°Sorry!¡± She called down, unable to keep the giggles from starting. ¡°I¡¯m not doing it on purpose!¡±

    They made it to the beach, but only just. Their Bard was waiting for them there, goggling at the sight of a tiny pixie carrying the skeletal ranger over the freezing waves.

    Lily dropped him on the pebbles and then lay gasping on his shoulder as he unfolded himself back up to his full height.

    ¡°That went better than expected,¡± Archie grinned at them.

    ¡°How would you know?¡± Bud asked, hand straying to his dagger.

    ¡°Beat of the Farseer,¡± Archie laughed. ¡°Watched the whole thing from here.¡± He nodded. ¡°Was quite the adventure, I have to admit.¡± He winked at Lily. ¡°Say, want to spend the night with me, Miss Pixie?¡±

    ¡°Do you know what a survival instinct is?¡± Bud growled at the grinning drummer.

    ¡°No,¡± Archie looked confused.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t think so,¡± Bud said. ¡°Get playing, or I¡¯ll rip your hands off and stuff them up your arse.¡± He turned and stalked off, the laughing Bard following along as the landscape began to blur around them.

    Lily closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, lulled by the gentle rocking of Bud¡¯s pace.

    The King was waiting for them as they returned, leaning once more against the side of the Waystation.

    ¡°I nearly killed your Bard,¡± Bud said in passing.

    ¡°It¡¯s his nature,¡± The King laughed. ¡°If he makes it to twenty, I have promised him his own keep.¡±

    ¡°He won¡¯t make it,¡± Lily growled.

    ¡°Still, it was a job well done,¡± the king said, tossing them a small item wrapped in paper. ¡°Your reward.¡±

    Bud caught it, then stopped and turned back to the King.

    ¡°Did you know?¡± He asked, ¡°About the Lady and the rest?¡±

    ¡°I sent the Fae, didn¡¯t I?¡± He laughed.

    ¡°Why all of this?¡± Bud asked, ¡°Why these quests? Why not just do it yourself?¡±

    The King thought for a moment, then nodded to himself.

    ¡°A king is many things, all of them important,¡± He said solemnly. ¡°But he is also completely useless. Unless his people are worthy¡­ and for that, they need stories. Ones to warn them, ones to drive them, ones to make them strive, and dream, and live.¡± He nodded to Bud and Lily. ¡°I do these things? They think only a king can do them; you do it¡­ and they try to be as good as the Fae. Is it better, don¡¯t you think?¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Bud said.

    ¡°Probably, you don¡¯t. Not all of it, but I suspect you will one day.¡± The king laughed and walked towards the city once more.

    ¡°He¡¯s not what I expected,¡± Lily said quietly.

    ¡°Kings and madmen,¡± Bud said. ¡°The only difference is the crown.¡±

    They heard the king begin to laugh.

    ¡°I like that! Yes! I like that!¡± They heard his booming voice as he laughed.

    ¡°See?¡± Bud offered.

 Chapter 104 - Interlude - Changes

    ¡°Does this seem too easy to anyone else?¡± Bert asked as he stared across the table at the two small orbs.

    ¡°What the hell?¡± Wendy protested. ¡°We are getting them, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°Personally, I think the challenge was reasonably high,¡± Bud added. ¡°That castle was overrun with ghosts.¡±

    ¡°Still,¡± Bert drummed his fingers on the table as he thought. Besides the orbs, the table itself was empty except for three bits of paper. Each one was covered in flowing script granting ownership of a large piece of land. And all of it was outside the city walls. The three parcels of land were each the size of the landtrain that made up the current incarnation of the Waystation. Plus, a couple of meters on either side. And they all connected.

    ¡°What do you think it means?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Could the King be trying to court our favor?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope not,¡± Bert muttered.

    ¡°Why?¡± Lily looked confused.

    ¡°No one ever does that for a good reason,¡± Bell explained. ¡°If they are trying to persuade you to do something¡­¡±

    ¡°...Then it is something they would HAVE to persuade you to do,¡± Bert finished.

    ¡°Cannae trust kings, aye,¡± Gavin nodded. ¡°You don¡¯t become no king by being nice, ya ken?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not what worries me,¡± Bert said with a frown.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Scruff asked. She was turning one of the succulent seeds repeatedly in her hands, not really paying attention.

    ¡°How did he know about these orbs?¡± Bert asked the others, ¡°And how does he know we want them?¡±

    Everyone went silent around the table as they considered it.

    ¡°Should we just leave?¡± Lily asked carefully.

    ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Bell shook her head. ¡°We still have two more orbs to get.¡±

    ¡°Which is the other worry,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°We need the orbs, and he seems to know that. So he has us trapped until we get them.¡±

    Everyone around the table looked up in shock.

    Bert tapped the table again, his fingers beating a rapid tattoo of worry and irritation. The one constant about his time in this world, up until now anyway, was that they had been free to do as they wanted.

    Now?

    They were trapped. Frozen in place by a King who seemed to know way too much and a bunch of unique items that they simply couldn¡¯t walk away from.

    A few miles away, deep inside his castle, a King put his feet up on the table and lit a cigar. The cigar was custom-made, suited to his size and tastes. Regular cigars had looked too small in his enormous hands, but it turned out this world did have a few decent craftsmen in it.

    He blew a smoke ring ahead of him and watched the ripples of smoke. He clicked a finger, and they froze in place, a picture forming within. A group of Fae sat around a table, looking anxious and worried.

    He grinned, the smile stretching his face way past the limits of a regular mouth.

    The King laughed and waved his hand through the image. The ring broke, and the image faded.

    ¡°Yes, it was worth coming here after all!¡± He chortled and got back to the important issue of his cigar. More smoke rings were blown, showing a series of images as he willed them. Each one made him smile or laugh as he watched events unfolding across the world¡­ all of them seemed to amuse him.

    The room was heavy with smoke when a knock on the door disturbed his fun.

    ¡°Come,¡± The King didn¡¯t bother to dismiss the images.

    ¡°They are coming, my Liege,¡± A woman came forward, looking very out of place in this world. A suit of fine cloth covered her body, and the glasses perched on her nose were plastic. Her outfit would have been very familiar to Bert, being common in his world, as would the clipboard and pen she carried.

    ¡°Have the others begun their preparations?¡± The King asked as he laced his fingers behind his head.

    ¡°They have.¡± The woman¡¯s eyes scanned the city visible out the window with visible disdain. ¡°I still do not understand the importance of this backwater world.¡± She frowned. ¡°Would your time not be better spent somewhere more civilized?¡±

    ¡°Like your Earth, Fiona?¡± The King laughed.

    ¡°We at least had indoor plumbing, my Liege.¡± She sniffed.

    ¡°Oh, but this one is so much more fun,¡± He grinned and beckoned her over. ¡°See that man, there?¡± He pointed to a picture of Bert.

    ¡°Yes?¡± She squinted. ¡°He looks unremarkable, if somewhat interesting.¡±

    ¡°He is why you are here, Fiona. He is why the Fae returned to your world.¡± The King watched as the pen was driven through her clipboard.

    Fiona¡¯s eyes narrowed as she ground her teeth.

    ¡°Now, now,¡± The King gently patted her on the back. ¡°He never meant for it to happen, so can you really blame him for all that death?¡±

    ¡°YES!¡± Fiona snapped her clipboard in half.

    The King laughed and smoked his cigar.

    =============

    A long way from the smoking King and his raging assistant, an ancient gateway sat in a carefully manicured garden unlike any other. It had sat there for years, decades, and more, unused until very recently.

    Besides that one incident involving a train and the return of the Fae, the gate had been ignored. A fancy and somewhat mysterious lawn ornament for the strangest of gardeners. Perhaps if he had been there, in his place, someone would have been watching the gateway.

    Or perhaps his daughter might have if she was there.

    But she was a long way away trying to dig her old man out of a strange flowerbed while he argued that the word ¡®bed¡¯ was in the name¡­ so why couldn¡¯t he sleep there?

    Gardeners, you see, are rather like cats. They have an intense interest in their own desires, cares, and wants but almost no interest in anything they don¡¯t personally care about.

    It was a quirk of personality that would have been innocent enough on any other day.

    But on THIS day, it would cause a great deal of problems. For everybody.

    Unwatched, unguarded, and unattended¡­ the gateway flickered and lit up.

    Light spiraled towards the center, gathering and rippling until it connected with a bright flash.

    The flash might have warned others, but it was midday, and the flash went unnoticed.

    Two figures walked through the gateway: a tall woman and a teenage girl. One was blond, the other with dark hair and a darker expression.

    ¡°You see, Rose? I told you it was within your power,¡± Martha smiled down at the teen with a placid grace. The smile was kind and quite beautiful if you didn¡¯t look too closely.

    The eyes were the failure, however. They were bright, glowing with mania. Pair them with the smile, and suddenly, the smile looked more like a shark, showing its teeth before snapping closed on a passing swimmer.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± Rose hissed, her eyes darting around. ¡°Are you sure you are strong enough?¡±

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    ¡°Me, dear?¡± Martha laughed, ¡°Of course not. But together? Together, we are unstoppable!¡± She waved a hand, and figures began to pour through the gateway behind her.

    Several of them looked human, but the vast, vast majority looked mishappen and horrific. Tangled wood, stone, and even metal had replaced limbs, body parts, and even torsos. The creatures that lined up around the gateway were enough to make even the toughest soldier shiver¡­ but there were no soldiers.

    ¡°Missionaries! We move!¡± Martha waved a hand, walking forward.

    ¡°The Waystation is that way!¡± Rose hissed as the group moved away from the gate and, indeed, the college that sat unaware on the other side of a pass. She pointed to the left as Martha marched them away to the right.

    ¡°I know, Rose,¡± Martha smiled again. ¡°But we must spread the good news of the Grove before we are ready to meet them again.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Rose sneered. ¡°Just remember our deal.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, child,¡± Martha called to her. ¡°When we free the Waystation from the False Ones, your wayward sister will be yours to do with as you wish.¡±

    ¡°Forget my bitch of a sister,¡± Rose laughed. ¡°I meant the money and the treasure.¡±

    Martha looked over her shoulder at the little half-pixie and shook her head.

    ¡°Missionaries, we must hurry,¡± She called, rising on needle-thin legs that had been hidden beneath her plane skirt. All around her, the missionaries began to move at speed as wood, metal, and stone warped their limbs into long, bounding legs.

    Rose sighed and began to fly along after them, casting angry looks towards where she sensed the distant Waystation.

    She had an army now, and they would PAY.

    And a long way, a half-destroyed town, several traumatized would-be bandits, and one smoking King from Rose, her sister watched enraptured as Bert dropped into the mana tides of the Waystation with an orb in each hand.

    She kept a wary eye out this time, making sure Bud wasn¡¯t in here to give her away. This was not technically forbidden, but he always did this bit alone. Sometimes Bell would come in, or once in a very long while Bud would. The original three.

    No one else.

    She didn¡¯t think Wendy had even been here when he was this vulnerable. Unconscious, mind in another place. She had wondered to herself what he looked like when he was like this or when he slept.

    When awake, he was all action, smiles, jokes, and worries. But here, or when asleep? Did he look peaceful then?

    She hovered closer, examining this man who had such power over her and the others.

    It had taken a long time to work up the nerve for this. She couldn¡¯t see him when he slept, as that was with Bell¡­ and she would not risk THAT. Her intentions could be misinterpreted.

    Not with Lady Bell. Lily shivered at the thought.

    And so she looked down on Bert and saw¡­

    ¡°He¡¯s just the same?¡± She whispered. His eyes moved beneath his lids, his face lit into a smile, and his shoulders were still tight. ¡°Do you ever really relax?¡± She asked quietly.

    ¡°Of course he does,¡± Bell said from above and behind Lily. ¡°Why?¡±

    Lily tried to remember any words other than ¡®don¡¯t kill me¡¯ and failed. She spluttered, and a small scream escaped her.

    Bell¡¯s laugh was not comforting. It was her tinkling little laugh. The one with knives in it.

    ¡°Ummm¡­ he always looks so busy, and¡­.¡± Lily trailed off.

    ¡°Want to help him relax?¡± Bell whispered in her ear.

    ¡°NO!¡± Lily squeaked.

    ¡°Good girl,¡± Bell said, her voice like ice. ¡°I don¡¯t share.¡± A hand patted Lily on her head. ¡°So you just came to see him relaxed?¡±

    ¡°I, uh, I guess?¡± Lily said. She was blushing, sweating, and felt a peculiar mix of panic and embarrassment that was as new to her as it was unpleasant. ¡°He¡¯s, well, you both¡­ I wasn¡¯t in a good place¡­ now I¡¯m¡­.¡± She floundered. Bell was way way too close.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± Bell said thoughtfully. ¡°I guess that is okay?¡± She glanced over at Bert. ¡°Okay, Okay.¡± She grinned. ¡°You can watch, but only occasionally.¡± She stopped. ¡°You are old enough, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°WHAT!¡± Lily paled and backed away. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that!¡± She fled; the last thing she heard as she dashed along the corridor was Bell¡¯s laughter and the faint sound of her voice.

    ¡°Just kidding!¡±

    ==========

    ¡°This is so cool!¡± Way Way laughed as the rune spun in the air. The rune appeared again and again until it seemed to be everywhere. ¡°It¡¯s just like yours!¡±

    Bert had to admit that it was impressive. The Turn Rune was now available to Way Way without his help. It would make a huge difference when building new carriages, not having to place them himself.

    ¡°I have so many ideas for this!¡± Way Way¡¯s voice was bright and happy.

    ¡°You do?¡± Bert said, shocked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± Way Way hesitated for a moment, ¡°Our current usage is a bit basic. I have theorized many improvements.¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you take some time to get used to this before we do the next one?¡± Bert suggested.

    ¡°No!¡± Way Way was stern. ¡°I want to see what it does, and it feels like the next one will do something special.¡±

    ¡°You can sense what it does?¡± Bert looked at the remaining orb, sensing nothing strange about it.

    ¡°No, but I feel like¡­ having four of them will mean something?¡± Way Way said. ¡°I can¡¯t really explain it.¡±

    ¡°Show me instead?¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°Okay!¡±

    Feelings, images, and sensations flooded through his mind. He got the feeling of something almost complete while still being a small part of something larger. No, that wasn¡¯t right. It wasn¡¯t just a part of the whole¡­ it was a third.

    A third made of four parts¡­ with two other thirds to go, each with¡­

    ¡°It¡¯s a set,¡± Bert said. ¡°Each group of four parts makes a set.¡±

    ¡°A set? Okay, let¡¯s see what it does!¡±  Way Way plucked the orb from his hand with a tendril of mana and began to unravel it.

    Bert waited, feeling himself tensing for the flood of connection that always came with the orbs.

    When it hit, he passed out instantly.

    Bert came too, lying on the floor of the bridge. Bell was groaning next to him, her wings limp as she slowly came round.

    He could feel it immediately. No wonder he had passed out.

    The sense he had of the Waystation and the area it controlled was something that he thought he had gotten used to. Now it felt like it had on that first day.

    For just a second, Bert thought he would pass out again.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Bell accused him, rolling over onto her back and glaring at the roof.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me,¡± Bert groaned as he tried to remember which bits of him were him.

    ¡°Too much!¡± Bell complained.

    ¡°I know,¡± Bert winced.

    He could feel the Waystation; every inch of it was as clear to him as if he WAS the Waystation. More than that, which was overwhelming enough, the sense no longer ended at the train. He could sense every blade of frozen grass, flakes of snow, inches of ground, air, or sky for several meters around the Waystation.

    And not just sense it.

    It was shifting into the control of the Waystation. More and more as time went by.

    Bert took long, deep breaths, keeping his eyes tightly shut for all the good that did.

    The Waystation could see, and thanks to the changes, so could he.

    Bert half laughed as he realized he could see the back of his own head.

    Then he threw up and passed out again.

    Bert woke again, and this time, the overload was less. He could almost think. He knew it took time, but he would get used to it.

    That, or his mind would snap like a twig.

    He laughed, then frowned as he felt himself moving.

    It took a long time to figure out which bits of him were him, and then he became aware of the arms carrying him. He focused, opened his eyes, and gaped.

    He was being carried by the Grim Reaper.

    ¡°Uh?¡± He tried.

    The cowled figure looked down, and Bert saw the smooth, faceless blackness within.

    He punched it, and it dropped him.

    Struggling to his feet, Bert summoned his armor while he tried to remember how to stand¡­ And which eyes should he be looking out of?

    The figure was tall, thin, and cowled. A long black robe with hands that thankfully were NOT holding a scythe.

    Then he saw words scroll across the blank face.

    ¡°That was rude!¡±

    A jet of water blasted him, and Bert gave up, letting darkness retake him.

    ¡°According to Dad¡¯s memories, there is an animal on Earth called a Fainting Goat; I think he might be related to them,¡± Wendy¡¯s voice roused Bert for his latest bout of unconsciousness.

    He took a moment to check himself over and was relieved to find that not only was he all there, but he actually knew where he ended, and the Waystation began.

    Opening his eyes Bert saw his daughter smiling down at him with her mother sitting on her shoulder as a pixie.

    Behind them, two looming shadows in cowls stood silently, still as the grave.

    ¡°Someone explain the Reapers, please.¡± Bert groaned.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°They do have a kind of Grim Reaper vibe going on, don¡¯t they?¡± She patted the nearest one. ¡°They are Way Way¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t an explanation; try again,¡± Bert pulled himself into a sitting position with a groan.

    ¡°The orb was called the Orb of the First Form,¡± Bell chimed in. ¡°Way Way can now make these forms to control within the Waystation grounds.¡±

    The robed figures bowed to him, then turned and walked into the wall.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bert rubbed his face. He felt like he had a massive hangover. His brain caught up with his ears at last, ¡°Hey! I am not part fainting goat!¡±

    Wendy and Bell laughed before Bell shooed their daughter out and shut the door.

    Flashing into a human form, Bell settled on the bed next to Bert.

    ¡°You okay?¡± She asked.

    ¡°I think so,¡± Bert tried to smile. ¡°My head is killing me though.¡± He winced as another wave of pain passed. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°I think¡­¡± Bell looked worried. ¡°I think you might be too human.¡±

    ¡°Try again,¡± Bert asked. ¡°I don¡¯t get what you mean.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m worried, idiot!¡± Bell slapped his arm, ¡°I don¡¯t know if your human anatomy can survive all the changes happening to Way Way.¡±

    Bert was quiet for a while, thinking.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked, seeing him smile.

    ¡°Next time, we have Wendy cast Reclaim Flesh on me while Way Way upgrades,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°And keep casting it, just in case.¡±

    ¡°It might not be that simple,¡± Bell warned.

    ¡°If that doesn¡¯t work¡­ we¡¯ll try something else,¡± Bert insisted. ¡°What else can we do?¡±

 Chapter 105 - Questing - Discover the Lost Temple

    Bert was not surprised to see King Dagon outside the Waystation the following day. With a heavy sigh, Bert walked out into the cold to greet the strange King.

    ¡°I love the new waitstaff!¡± King Dagon bellowed as he took a steaming mug from a tray held by the robed form. ¡°Very nice! Yes!¡±

    ¡°So when do we get to the bit you actually care about?¡± Bert asked flatly.

    ¡°Not one for small talk, are you?¡± Dagon grinned.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°Once you finish your quests, we will talk,¡± Dagon winked. ¡°Let¡¯s not skip the fun!¡± He laughed.

    ¡°Orbs for the remaining rewards?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Of course, else you would leave.¡±

    ¡°Probably,¡± Bert admitted, crossing his arms.

    Dagon just laughed again, standing in the falling snow as comfortably as Bert. That was interesting.

    ¡°We have two left. Any requests?¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°Many,¡± Dagon said seriously, ¡°Many, and more. But they must wait, see?¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked, ¡°Why do it like this?¡±

    Dagon shrugged and then seemed to think of something.

    ¡°Now that you mention it,¡± He stared off into the distance for a moment, ¡°There is something I could ask¡­ oh, but should I?¡± He laughed again. ¡°Oh, why not?¡± He turned back to Bert. ¡°Do the Temple next, yes? And do it alone.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I will not say,¡± Dagon said, ¡°But it would be interesting. Much more dangerous¡­ yes. But interesting.¡± He stared at Bert, ¡°I would even offer an extra reward. Not an orb¡­ but something you could use, yes.¡±

    Bert stared back at the King. It could be a trap. A way to get him killed. Yet, looking at Dagon, the tanned King in the snow, he knew Dagon could kill him easily. There was no point in an ambush.

    ¡°Done,¡± Bert said with a tired sigh.

    ¡°Good!¡± Dagon laughed. ¡°Good! I knew I liked you! Yes!¡±

    The king turned and walked into the snow, leaving Bert to watch as the flakes fell around him.

    ¡°Are we sure this is a good idea?¡± Bell asked doubtfully as Bert loaded his storage with food and supplies.

    ¡°Nope,¡± Bert kept packing.

    ¡°So why do it?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°Something, I¡¯m not sure what, but something is telling me this is part of the game.¡± Bert hesitated for a moment, then nodded and kept packing.

    ¡°What game is it?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°I¡¯m hoping that this is how we find out,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°And if you die?¡± Bell demanded.

    ¡°Call me back,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll just be in the Summerlands after all.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know if I could do that!¡± Bell said.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know I¡¯ll die,¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°If you do, I get to stab you every day for a year!¡± Bell demanded.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert gaped at her.

    ¡°That¡¯s the deal, or I¡¯m going with you!¡± Bell yelled.

    ¡°Fine, fine.¡± He laughed.

    ¡°Fine!¡± She snapped, slapped him, then hugged him.

    ¡°Wish me luck!¡± He called back as he trotted down the ramp and into the snow.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be lucky, be careful!¡± She called back.

    Bert waved over his shoulder and started to jog towards the city.

    He couldn¡¯t believe he was doing this. What reason did he have to even do this? Anxiety twisted in his gut, and Bert took a moment to calm himself. He had been out on his own before.

    He managed okay then, and he was stronger now.

    More than once, he almost stopped and turned back. It wouldn¡¯t even be that bad if he did. They would still get the orb if he did the quest with others.

    Yet.

    What would he learn? What would the King learn?

    Bert really hated playing a game by someone else¡¯s rules. Especially when no one would tell him what those rules were or even what game it was.

    Still.

    Bert sped up, his booted feet crunching through the snow with new energy. There was only one thing he could reasonably do.

    Roll the dice and hope that they roll his way.

    The gate of the city approached, and instead of a Bard, as he had expected, he saw the King.

    ¡°Hello again,¡± Bert said, slowing to a stop a few feet back. ¡°Coming with me?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Dagon laughed. ¡°No! I can not.¡± He waved it off. ¡°I came merely to tell you there will be no Bard this time.¡±

    ¡°And here I was thinking that was the point,¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°Ah yes,¡± Dagon laughed. ¡°A good point, but this game is different now.¡± He scratched the back of his head with one huge hand. ¡°I will see the story as I see many other things, little Lord.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not really much of a Lord,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I¡¯m more of a Garbage Man, to be fair.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not really a King,¡± Dagon smiled, his grin several times wider than his face. ¡°I¡¯m more¡­ something else.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I got that,¡± Bert said, trying to ignore the smile. ¡°Do they know?¡± He gestured to the city.

    ¡°Some do, some don¡¯t,¡± The King admitted, and Bert noticed he was taller now, at least twelve feet, and still growing. ¡°None care.¡±

    Bert looked at the colossus in front of him and thought for a moment.

    ¡°Which way am I headed?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I should know?¡± Dagon asked, still smiling. ¡°It is a lost temple, after all.¡±

    Bert just stared at him.

    ¡°That way,¡± The King laughed and pointed over the city. ¡°You will know it when you see it, little Earthling!¡±

    Bert whirled back, eyes narrowing at the thing that was the King. It was not human, not any race he knew. Close to twenty feet tall, with more arms than the average biped had any right to. The more it moved, the more of it there appeared to be.

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    ¡°What are you?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Ah, that, little Lord,¡± Dagon laughed, ¡°That is beyond your mind to know.¡±

    Bert stared for a moment.

    ¡°How many dimensions are you working with there?¡± Bert asked finally, ¡°Five, six?¡±

    Dagon blinked.

    ¡°Interesting thing,¡± Bert said to himself. ¡°A theory I once read in a magazine said that anything like you would have difficulty interacting with those in fewer dimensions.¡± He walked towards the King, seeing the eyes widen. ¡°Something about the nature of reality in points of contact.

    ¡°Enough!¡± The King shrank back to his original size as Bert kept walking. ¡°Do not come any closer!¡±

    Bert smiled as he came to a stop.

    ¡°Surprising creatures,¡± The King said thoughtfully, ¡°But that was a risk, little Lord. How could you be sure?¡±

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°But I did notice the snow.¡± He gestured at the flakes gently falling around them.

    The King looked up and frowned. ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°They fell through you,¡± Bert said simply.

    The King looked at him and laughed. The snow began to land on him as he laughed.

    ¡°Very good, little Lord, very good.¡± His eyes sparkled. ¡°And what does that tell you?¡±

    Bert smiled back at the thing that would be King, ¡°That you have to concentrate to become solid in this world.¡± It also meant the King wasn¡¯t all-knowing or all-powerful, as much as he liked to seem like he was. That bit he kept to himself.

    Just in case.

    ¡°That is the problem with you Earthlings,¡± Dagon chuckled. ¡°You see so much more than you should.¡± He turned and walked off into the city without a backward glance. ¡°Good luck, mister observant! I will be watching; yes, I will!¡±

    ===========

    ¡°Dagon, you absolute bastard!¡± Bert laughed as he stood before the ruins. It hadn¡¯t even been a long walk to get here. The ¡®Lost Temple¡¯ was barely ten minutes outside the city, at the base of a mountain.

    So much for being lost; a paved path ran right up to it.

    So much for being a Temple, it might once have been, but it was certainly not one now.

    A woman hung out of one of the marbled archways on the second story and waved.

    ¡°Looking for a good time?¡± She winked.

    Dagon had sent him to a brothel.

    Someone had taken the ruins and used wood to replace the collapsed sections. In fairness, the original temple seemed to have been built of something like rose marble, so it certainly looked the part.

    Braziers on either side of the entrance kept the worst of the cold at bay while incense burned to add a sweet spice to the air above them. The bouncers were staying close to the braziers to accommodate their almost total lack of clothes. They were oiled, with only a thin loincloth to cover themselves. They looked miserable but straightened and flexed their muscles as he approached.

    ¡°Welcome to the Temple of Delights!¡± The pair called as he passed beneath the archway and into a smoky, covered courtyard with several braziers surrounded by low couches, piles of furs, and, in one case, giant pillows.

    ¡°Welcome to the Temple of Delight, virile traveler!¡± A woman sauntered towards him, hips swinging as she carefully arched her back to show off her bare chest as favorably as possible. ¡°Men, women, and everything in between. We can fulfill even the most hedonistic of desires. How can I quench your thirst?¡± She licked her lips and winked.

    Bert kept his eyes firmly fixed on her face, despite her best efforts to direct his attention in other directions.

    ¡°I¡¯m here on a quest, actually.¡± He said, ¡°Something about the Lost Temple?¡±

    She blinked at him carefully. ¡°Can I not tempt you to indulge?¡± She ran her hands down her body suggestively.

    ¡°No, sorry,¡± Bert smiled politely.

    ¡°Oh, thank the gods!¡± She shivered and snapped her fingers. A thick wool coat appeared around her, which she hugged to her. ¡°It¡¯s too bloody cold for this!¡±

    ¡°Braziers don¡¯t do much with that archway open all the time?¡± Bert guessed.

    ¡°It¡¯s snowing!¡± She moaned. ¡°And we have to dress like it is high summer! I¡¯m seriously thinking about moving to another brothel. I mean,¡± She gestured at the surroundings, ¡°Great ambiance, but this place is not suited to winter!¡±

    ¡°You own the place?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°We have collective ownership,¡± She said while rubbing her arms. ¡°Equal shares in the project and everything.¡±

    ¡°Nice,¡± Bert nodded as he looked around the place. ¡°Have you considered switching to a winter theme when it¡¯s this cold?¡±

    ¡°Like what?¡± The woman asked, ¡°No one wants to have sex with someone all wrapped up in clothes!¡±

    ¡°I was thinking more of a snow-bunny thing?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Rabbits?¡± The woman squinted at him, ¡°Is that some kind of fetish?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bert felt himself blushing. ¡°I meant, well,¡± He took a deep breath, ¡°Okay, furs everywhere, more fires, heavy fur, and leather to block off the gap.¡± He pointed at the archway. ¡°Then your people wear thigh-high fur boots, fur wrapping on your arms, and fur cloaks with hoods and such?¡± He thought about it. ¡°Maybe a skirt or kilt as well, something like that?¡±

    She thought about it, then held up a hand and yelled over her shoulder.

    ¡°Dave! Hey, Dave!¡±

    An oiled man slinked out of a hidden doorway, eyes burning with desire, until he saw the woman in her coat. He relaxed and summoned his own jacket, stomping over with heavy boots.

    ¡°Everything okay, Marlene?¡± He asked suspiciously.

    ¡°Yeah. Hey, listen to this,¡± She motioned for Bert to repeat what he had just said.

    He did, and then the two of them started to call others, getting third, fourth, and fifth opinions. Someone went and got the two bouncers after a while, and then a big closed sign was pounded into the snow outside.

    ¡°We have work to do,¡± Marlene said excitedly while the others bickered about design choices and where to buy the furs. ¡°What exactly did you come here to do?¡±

    ¡°No idea, really,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°Mind if I just poke around a little to see if I can find anything strange?¡±

    Marlene looked at him for a bit, then seemed to make up her mind.

    ¡°Fine, just don¡¯t knick anything, okay?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Promise,¡± Bert smiled politely.

    Bert started at the top of the remains of the temple, checking for anything that seemed quest-worthy. He found nothing besides a few alarming machines, outsized toys, and a couple of wrong turns.

    Well, in truth, he found a lot, just nothing that he cared to remember. It seemed the occupants had tried to create a room for all tastes. And some people had some disturbing tastes.

    The bed that appeared to be a giant tongue, complete with drool, was one he would not forget in a hurry¡­ as much as he would like to.

    By the time he got back down to the ground floor, the entryway had already been transformed. It was substantially warmer, even if there was still a slight chill in the air.

    ¡°Find what you were after?¡± Marlene called as she helped another woman hammer nails into the stonework to hold up another fur.

    ¡°Not really. Does this place have a cellar?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Oh. yeah.¡± She whistled. ¡°Patty, show him the cellar, will ya?¡±

    Another woman waved at him, so he followed her into another winding corridor.

    ¡°It¡¯s this way,¡± She waved him on, a bouncy hairdo and a pair of booted feet the only thing he could see other than her massive fur coat. ¡°We found it a while back and thought maybe a dungeon set, but¡­¡± She trailed off.

    ¡°Better to be somewhere with multiple exits, and someone can listen out for problems?¡± Bert guessed.

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Patty laughed. ¡°Not your first time in a brothel, is it?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Actually, it is,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°But people are people, right?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ve never been to a brothel?¡± She asked. ¡°Religious type?¡±

    ¡°Not really,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Just didn¡¯t have many where I was from.¡±

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re here now, honey,¡± She laughed. ¡°I could always add extras to this tour if you like!¡±

    ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯m with someone.¡± He smiled.

    Patty just laughed and stopped at a set of stairs revealed by some fallen masonry.

    ¡°Here we are,¡± She shivered. ¡°Cold down there. Will you be okay?¡±

    ¡°The cold doesn¡¯t bother me. Thanks for your help,¡± Bert waved as she hurried back to the relative warmth of the covered courtyard.

    The stairs themselves were rather short. It was less than a single turn until he entered a low-roofed room with pillars everywhere to support the floor above. Other than the pillars, it was completely empty.

    Bert moved forward in a crouch, running mana through his shield to make it glow to light the way. He had changed his prosthetic hand into a crossbow the moment he had started down the stairs.

    Call him paranoid, but he still wasn¡¯t sure the King was trying to kill him.

    Searching back and forth across the massive room, moving between the support pillars as he needed to, Bert looked for anything to show a change in the uniformity around him.

    He was just about halfway through his search and half convinced the King had just added this place as a joke when he saw the corroded bronze circle set into the floor.

    It wasn¡¯t in the center of the room but rather offset towards the back of the ruins. Still, it was clearly something important. The surface was covered in faded patterns that were lost beneath the corrosion.

    Bert checked the stones, pillars, and everything around the massive bronze disk but could find no way of opening it that he could activate. That it opened was not really in doubt as the design was familiar. It looked like an outsized manhole cover.

    He tried to pour a small amount of mana into it, to no real effect, so he did the only thing he could think of. He used his shield as a crowbar to lever it up and slide it aside. Once it was slid away, he sniffed carefully at the air coming from it. Anywhere closed up for a long time could easily have built up toxic things in the air. He didn¡¯t smell anything, so he took a small bit of wood from his bracer storage and used the heat rune to light it on fire.

    Then he leaned away from the hole and chucked the burning stick inside.

    No explosion, no roaring fire. The air smelled okay, but he pulled a small bundle of leaves from his belt pouch; it was one of Scruff¡¯s ideas that he was really pleased with.

    The little vine wound itself around his arm and settled in place. The leaves would droop and fade if there was too little oxygen in the air and curl up if there was any type of acid or poison in it.

    Bert sat on the edge of the hole for a few minutes, keeping an eye on the little vine. He had named it the Canary Vine, and was delighted to see the name showed even on identify. It was quite an honor to name a new species, after all.

    While he waited for the little plant to react to the air from below, Bert considered his life choices.

    They had led him here, after all. After a few minutes of consideration, Bert decided he was quite happy with his life.

    With a laugh, he dropped into the darkness below.

 Chapter 106 - Questing - Discover the Lost Temple II

    Bert found himself in an entryway of sorts. It was a singular circular room with the opening a few meters above in the center of a small dome. Looking around showed nothing but smooth walls with no apparent way out.

    His grappling hook would easily reach, but it did hint at what kind of temple this might be.

    Anyone coming in this way was not intended to leave.

    The singular exit from the room was a simple arch with no markings or adornments of any kind. He spent a few minutes looking for anything like carvings or traps and then stepped gingerly through the gap.

    Nothing tried to kill him, so he summoned one of his trusty trap sticks and started tapping his way forward with all due care and attention.

    He seemed to be in a carved, seamless passageway. It was the same size and shape as the arch he had come through, and it continued around the corner ahead of him and into the distance. He was also pretty sure it was heading down.

    ¡°Just once,¡± He muttered to himself, ¡°Could I explore something on the surface?¡±

    However, he immediately changed his mind when he looked at his prosthetic arm.

    That had happened as a result of an exploration above ground. The bloody dwarfs had booby-trapped the place, and if not for the magic of this world and his strange class, he would be the one-armed man. Bert eyed the roof suspiciously.

    If he saw so much as a single one of the weird square dwarf murals, he was out of here.

    Definitely.

    The floor continued to slope downwards, and he was just starting to wonder if he was imagining it or if it was getting steeper when he felt his foot slide out from under him.

    Windmilling his arms, Bert began to slide as both feet lost traction. He slipped forward and saw the telltale glint of moisture on the rose marble walls.

    And the floor.

    The slope got steeper as he began to slide faster.

    ¡°Ah, bollocks!¡± Bert said as he felt the wind begin to whip by him. A second later, he crashed down on his ass after bouncing off one glistening pink wall.

    Bert struggled to control his slide, trying to brace his feet against the walls as they slipped past did next to nothing; they were as slick as the floor itself. He tried to turn sideways, bracing his hands on one side and his feet on the other, which only succeeded in spinning him around to face the other way.

    And the slope was still getting steeper.

    Swearing and cursing, Bert rolled onto his shield and rose to his knees. After a few careful moves, he was at least facing the right way again. He changed his hand into an axe and tried to use it as a break, but it didn¡¯t help much.

    Giving up on that as the spiraling turns began to tighten even more, Bert changed his prosthetic into a grappling hook and waited.

    Lowering himself to keep hold of his shield with one hand and remaining on his knees, Bert cycled the tides until his exposed skin glowed enough to lighten the area around him.

    This slide couldn¡¯t go on forever, and he somehow doubted the end would be something he wanted to be a surprise.

    He was proved right a moment later when he felt more than saw himself soar out over empty air. Bert didn¡¯t hesitate, lighting his shield up and expanding the magical form to its maximum size as he dropped into the darkness.

    The glowing shield blazed in the darkness, showing a set of jagged rocks below as he plummeted into the depths.

    Charging the grappling hook with mana to increase its cutting power, he fired it at the darkness around him. There had to be walls there, even if he couldn¡¯t see them.

    He felt the grapple stick, the rope went taught, and his trajectory changed. He swung now, falling still towards the spines of rock reaching up towards him. Bert activated the turn runes on the grapple return and crossed his fingers it would be fast enough.

    Watching the jagged spines of rock approach was not fun, but at last, he felt himself stop falling down and swung forward.

    He cheered, only to see more spines reaching for him from the cavern''s wall.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Bert swore and let the grapple release a little more rope. His mana shield skipped and bumped along the top of the spikes, snapping them off as he slowed.

    He was still going too fast, so he let out more rope and slammed his shield against each spike he hit, dropping speed.

    The nearest spines on the wall seemed to rush at him, and he realized he wasn¡¯t going to make it like this.

    ¡°I fucking hate this place!¡± Bert roared as he tucked himself into a ball and pulled the grapple free.

    Bert tumbled into the gap between the nearest spines of rock, clutching his shield close. Impacts against this armor seemed to come from all sides as he fought to keep himself tightly rolled.

    A single mistake could result in having a jagged piece of rock cut off a limb or worse.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± His shoulder armor turned aside the tip of a razor-sharp shard of rock, ¡°You!¡± Something dug into the back of his heel and snapped off there; Bert felt warm blood begin to flow as his whole leg seemed to explode in pain. ¡°Dagon!¡±

    He lost his air as his whole body slammed into the floor, bouncing like a pinball between the bases of the spires of rock.

    Bert pulled the spine of jagged black rock out of his leg and cast reclaim flesh using a small carcass from his bracer storage. His head was still ringing slightly from the last impact, and he tapped his pot helm fondly.

    The cavern floor seemed to be made of the same rose-pink marble as the rest of the place, but the black spines of rock that pushed through it were everywhere.

    ¡°Bell could have flown,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°She will never let me forget that.¡±

    Not telling her would never occur to him. Secrets, even small ones, could be poison to any relationship. That went double for dating a pixie with a fondness for sharp implements.

    Leaning his back against the nearest black stone spike, Bert took a moment to eat something, as well as to have a drink of water.

    What kind of a temple was this? The quest said the Lost Temple, so it had to be a temple, at least originally. If something had happened to it, and the black spikes of stone certainly didn¡¯t look like original features, then what?

    Even without the spikes, that fall would have killed anyone. A sacrificial pit of some sort? They normally had some kind of ritual or similar involved.

    Waiting for the sacrifices to rain from the sky seemed like it would ruin the most dedicated of rituals.

    What if someone missed the circle? Not that he could see a circle or really anything of the cavern with all this black stone around.

    Bert tested his foot carefully as he stood, finding it was definitely mended, and headed towards the nearest wall.

    He kept his shield illuminated as he worked his way between the spires. It created huge, shifting shadows of the spires as he moved, which was anything but comforting, but it was better than creeping around blindly.

    Stolen story; please report.

    And he would be blind without it.

    He had not seen a spec of light since he walked through the archway far above.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t there supposed to be some kind of helpfully glowing moss or some shit?¡± he muttered as he finally saw the wall of the cavern.

    The spires jutting from the floor and wall left a reasonable amount of space, just enough to walk in, around the base of the wall, so he turned and began to walk.

    The strange thing about walking along, all alone, far below the ground in near-pitch darkness was that besides the crushing sense of loneliness and vulnerability, there was also a meditative quality to it.

    When was the last time he really got time alone to think? Pixies only did alone time when they wanted it, and there always seemed to be something to do. A new town, a bonkers gardener, a delusional family of overactors, and an other-dimensional being playing at being a King. Bert had a complex life.

    Bert found it almost peaceful as the silence was broken only by the soft sound of his footsteps.

    It would certainly be more peaceful than telling Bell he had gone to a brothel. Bert chuckled to himself at that.

    The strange thing was that as busy and eventful as his life was these days, he wasn¡¯t alone. He liked having all these people around him, counting on him, needing his help, trusting him.

    Sure, the weight of the responsibility could feel crushing at times, but it was worth it.

    All of it.

    It was even worth everything he had been through with that stalker Felicia. The more he walked, the more he thought about it, the more he couldn¡¯t wait to get out of this place and back into his crazy, magic, and lunatic life.

    He grinned in the darkness and began to jog.

    =========

    The exit, when he found it, was not exactly welcoming. A portal sat in a small recess in the wall of the cavern. It rippled with a faint pink light, like the surface of a pond. Bert walked around it a few times before poking the end of one of his trap sticks through it.

    It was still intact when he pulled it back, which he took as a good sign. Next, he wrapped the stick in his Canary Vine, poked it through the portal, and held it there for a moment, waggling it about. It was still alive, healthy, and happy-looking when he pulled it back out. Putting it back on his shoulder where he could keep an eye on it, Bert took out the corpse of a small deer-like creature that he kept for emergencies and tied a length of rope around it.

    He then heaved it through the portal as hard as he could before dragging it slowly back, jerking it occasionally.

    It came back looking uneaten and unmolested.

    Right, so he had checked for traps, bad air, poisons, and even predators.

    That was the best he could do, really.

    Well¡­.

    Bert grabbed onto the rim of the portal and gently pushed one arm through, quickly pulling it back out.

    Nothing.

    Finally, he stuck his head through to have a look before he¡­

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± A polite voice called.

    Bert screamed and yanked his head back.

    After calming himself, Bert stepped through the portal and into what looked like a waiting room in a doctor¡¯s office.

    A pointy-eared woman with delicate pink skin and wings, dark hair, and horns sat primly behind the counter at the far end of the room, safely ensconced behind a sheet of what looked like glass; she raised her eyebrows in question.

    ¡°Uh, Hi?¡± Bert tried, eyeing the blood trail and drag marks on the otherwise clean rose marble floor.

    ¡°Greetings, may I help you?¡± She asked.

    ¡°Sorry, a little confused here,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I was exploring a lost temple?¡±

    ¡°Can you offer me any more information?¡± She asked, running her finger down a page in what looked to him like a ledger.

    ¡°Not really,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I know I was told what that world was called once, but I didn¡¯t really pay attention at the time.¡±

    ¡°That was a poor choice, sir.¡± The receptionist gave him a sniffy look.

    ¡°I had recently had my head repeatedly torn off, discovered immortals, and was being stalked by one of them,¡± Bert pointed out.

    ¡°Hardly an excuse for poor attention to detail.¡± She sighed. ¡°Can you tell me anything about the temple?¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s made of rose marble, is underground, and has a pink tunnel that gets really slippery and then a massive cavern that drops you onto black spikes.¡± Bert summarised.

    The receptionist huffed.

    ¡°That is not a pink tunnel; it is the entryway to Hell,¡± She glared at him, ¡°And it does not drop you if you can fly,¡± She motioned with her wings. ¡°Have you ever considered NOT sticking yourself into every hole in the ground you come to?¡±

    ¡°Frequently,¡± Bert said, with feeling, ¡°But I was given a quest by this multidimensional entity pretending to be a King called Dagon.¡± He shrugged. ¡°He has something I need, so¡­.¡±

    ¡°Hmmm,¡± The receptionist laced her fingers together and stared at him. ¡°You certainly don¡¯t seem to have wings. How did you survive the spikes?¡±

    ¡°Grappling hook. Why?¡± He asked.

    ¡°We might have to consider upgrading to better protections in the future.¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Do you consider this to be the start of any sort of religious war, invasion, coup, or other armed attack on his realm?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said. ¡°Can I just say that Hell is not quite how I imagined.¡±

    ¡°What world are you from?¡± She asked with a dramatic sigh.

    ¡°Earth,¡± Bert said.

    The receptionist dug through a file cabinet for a moment and then consulted a thin file.

    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± She laughed, ¡°We were contracted there as prison guards for a God. It seems the locals became somewhat overwrought.¡±

    ¡°Just a little,¡± Bert admitted.

    ¡°Well, Earthling,¡± She asked, ¡°Feeling any crusader urges?¡±

    ¡°No, thanks,¡± Bert said lamely. ¡°I would like to ask a few questions, however?¡±

    She waved for him to go on.

    ¡°You are a demon?¡± He asked, feeling stupid even as he said it.

    ¡°As you would understand the term, yes,¡± She grinned, revealing sharp tips on every tooth in her mouth,

    ¡°From what you said, I assume you undertake mercenary work?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°We do, yes,¡± She nodded. ¡°It is our chief export and industry. Do you know any cross-world beings who would like to hire our services?¡±

    ¡°No, sorry,¡± Bert thought. ¡°Do you eat souls? I know it seems a weird question¡­¡± He felt a proper prat even as he said it, but you had to ask, right?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± She laughed, ¡°Souls can not be consumed. By anyone.¡±

    ¡°Good to know,¡± Bert smiled. He had to ask, right? Speaking of which¡­. ¡°Okay, this is kind of related, but¡­ is there such a thing as a sex demon, succubus, incubus, and such?¡±

    The receptionist blushed, going from a pale pink to crimson.

    ¡°Never mind!¡± Bert really wished he hadn¡¯t said anything then, ¡°Sorry!¡±

    ¡°Where do people come up with these things?¡± She fanned herself with a stack of papers.

    ¡°Uh,¡± Bert thought about it. ¡°Their priests not being allowed to have sex probably had a lot to do with it,¡± He grinned awkwardly.

    ¡°Oh,¡± She laughed, ¡°One of those worlds. That might explain it.¡±

    Bert sat in one of the comfortable chairs, pink, of course, and waited while the receptionist summoned a historian to examine the entrance and see if there was anything on file about it.

    A delicate music was playing. A classical version of Muzak if he was any judge. That strange, nothing music that is just short of enjoyable enough to drive you crazy after a while.

    A wizened old demon came in after a short wait; he walked with a cane and wore a  vaguely Asian-pacific-looking outfit that suited him well. Long white hair grew from just about everywhere except the top of his head.

    In short, he looked like Satan¡¯s grandad, who had moved to Korea for his retirement and absorbed the culture a little. Despite his advanced age, he moved quickly and had a quick wit that made Bert laugh a lot as he described his journey in the temple.

    Once they passed through the portal and back into the temple itself, the old man tapped a simple rhythm against the rose marble, which caused all the marbling to light up from within. It was like watching a sunrise, only the light never turned to a warm yellow. The pinks and pale oranges of the marbling remained while it revealed the entire cavern and even the passage far above.

    It was impressive if somewhat ruined by the spires of black rock jutting out from all angles.

    They talked for a while, and the old demon took a few readings.

    ¡°Just an old entrance we had almost forgotten about,¡± The demon said with a bored tone, ¡°Not much to this world anymore. None of the gods or goddesses like to hire outside their own followers.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Truly a pity. No one respects honest mercs anymore.¡±

    ¡°I have to ask,¡± Bert said, ¡°What do you charge?¡±

    ¡°Oh, didn¡¯t anyone tell you?¡± He shook his head, ¡°Damn, younglings never remember. We charge in mana, of course. It¡¯s good everywhere.¡± He looked at the entrance and sighed again. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t suppose there is much use for this place anymore, but we might as well leave it open, at least for now.¡± He gestured to Bert to come closer as if he was imparting a secret. ¡°We don¡¯t really bother with the places without the Fae if the Gods don¡¯t look likely to hire. Only the Fae can afford us, broken bastards that they are, with unlimited mana.¡±

    ¡°The Fae are back in this world,¡± Bert added with a grin.

    ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t suppose they need an army?¡± The old man looked hopeful.

    ¡°Not at the moment,¡± Bert said, ¡°But it¡¯s always good to know where to get one.¡±

    ¡°Could you perhaps convey our availability to the local Fae, or even better, a Lord or Lady of the courts?¡±

    ¡°You just have,¡± Bert said. ¡°I¡¯m Lord of the Court of the Travelling Lands.¡±

    The old demon looked him over with a careful eye. Then his eyes lit up, and he grabbed his hand and began to pump it up an down with joy.

    ¡°Delighted to meet you!¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Bert said, feeling himself flush slightly. ¡°We are a new Court, still growing.¡±

    ¡°I must give you a stone!¡± The old demon dug through one of his pouches with enthusiasm before pressing a deep red ruby carved into a horn shape into Bert¡¯s hands. ¡°If you ever need urgent help, just call on this. We can send up to a hundred warriors in under fifteen seconds!¡±

    ¡°No shit? Really?¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Cheers.¡±

    ¡°My pleasure, young man.¡± He preened. ¡°Imagine that, I meet a Lord on the up and up!¡± He laughed. ¡°Henrietta is just going to hate herself for leaving you waiting.¡±

    ¡°She was a great help, really.¡± Bert insisted. ¡°So, any tips on how I get out of here?¡±

 Chapter 107 - Questing - Recover the Crown Jewels

    ¡°Sure about this?¡± Bell asked him for the third time.

    ¡°Aye,¡± Gavin nodded and drew himself up. ¡°I¡¯m nae a child.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Bell sighed, and Way Way lowered the quest board down for him.

    There was only one quest left, and he put out his hand and claimed it, feeling the familiar rush of an adventure just starting to build. ¡°Recover the Jewels, that¡¯ll do me!¡± He grinned up at the pixie. ¡°I¡¯m away the noo.¡±

    ¡°Whoa there, you have to tell Slothy first.¡± Bell insisted.

    ¡°Ah, no!¡± Gavin protested. ¡°She¡¯ll just be worryin¡¯, ya ken?¡± His shoulders slumped as he saw the stern look on the mad pixie. She wasn¡¯t going to let him sneak away.

    Damn!

    ¡°Fine, fine!¡± He muttered I¡¯ll go tell ¡®er noo,¡± He strode confidently towards the corridor.

    ¡°Way Way, don¡¯t let him out until he has,¡± Bell said sweetly behind him.

    ¡°Wha¡¯ ya think I was gunnae sneak away?¡± Gavin protested. ¡°I¡¯m a grown man, nae some wean!¡±

    Bell just crossed her arms and smiled.

    Bollocks!

    Not that he was going to sneak off, not at all. It wasn¡¯t like that. He just didn¡¯t want the great beastie to worry after him. The thing acted like his Ma half the time.

    ¡°She¡¯s no me Ma,¡± Gaving grumbled as he stomped along the corridor to Slothy¡¯s place. ¡°No nearly enough hair for a start!¡±

    Climbing the stairs to the top deck, Gavin kept up a constant grumbling litany of complaints. It wasn¡¯t easy being a dwarf.

    ¡°I¡¯m away, aye!¡± He said again, backing towards the opening to the little cave Way Way had built from Slothy, ¡°You just have a good nap, aye?¡± He turned to run for it, only to feel one giant paw wrap around him, pulling him back into a furry hug. ¡°Ach, man!¡± He struggled uselessly, ¡°I¡¯m no a bloody teddy bear!¡±

    He got a huff of warm air over him and fumed silently as she finished her hug.

    When she was finished, she put him down again, pushing his gear towards him and chuffing happily.

    ¡°I can go?¡± He grinned before remembering he wasn¡¯t supposed to be asking permission. ¡°I mean, of course, I¡¯m going!¡± Gavin scrambled to gather his three axes and armor. No need for a pack, not with his snazzy new spacial storage bracers.

    He was almost at the door when the warning huff made him stop.

    ¡°Wha?¡± He looked around and saw two more things being pushed towards him.

    ¡°No! I¡¯m nae a babysitter!¡± He backed up, but it was too late. ¡°Aw, no man!¡± He tried to run, but the two things rolled up next to him and unfolded. ¡°Back ya go now, shoo!¡± He pointed his finger angrily at the one on his left, but it just reached out a furry paw and took hold of his finger.

    ¡°Aw, sorry, little man? Gel?¡± Gavin started, but a growl sounded behind him. All three froze until it died away. Two sets of little eyes narrowed as they stared at Gavin.

    He knew when he was beat.

    ¡°Fine! Ya know wha¡¯? I was gonnae take ¡®em anyway!¡± Gavin snapped grumpily. ¡°Nothin¡¯ says serious fucking adventurer than bringing their wee siblings with ¡®em!¡± He grumped as he stomped towards the exit. ¡°Well, come on ya wee bastards, we¡¯re away!¡±

    The two fluff balls rolled after him. One insisted on taking his hand while the other leaped up and hung off his back like a backpack.

    After awkwardly getting into the lovely new armor the boss man made for him while the two fluff balls stared at him without blinking, Gavin strapped on his weapons and was finally allowed out of the Waystation.

    Not that he was ever trapped, not at all! He told the beastie cause it was the right thing to do. He could have gotten out without doing it! No bother.

    That weird King was waiting to meet them, as he had been for all the others. That made it official. He was away on a quest.

    ¡°Master Dwarf, welcome!¡± The giant of a man boomed with a huge smile. ¡°I have your bard ready and waiting for you a few miles up that way.¡± He pointed one giant finger back the way the Waystation had come. ¡°Best of luck to you!¡±

    With that, he turned and walked away.

    ¡°He¡¯s a creepy big bastard,¡± Gavin said to himself as he turned to look back along the road. He did a few deep knee bends to get ready, only to notice the furball on his back had dropped off and was eating a lump of snow. ¡°Eh! Stop that, ya daftie!¡±

    Gavin blinked as the fur turned pure white, like the snow. The fluffball turned a big, smug smile on the dwarf that was slightly spoiled by it being slightly cross-eyed. The overall effect was still smug, though.

    ¡°Oh ho, smart arse, are ya?¡± Gavin said, ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯ll just call ya Daftie from now on, aye?¡± He laughed, waiting for the look of outrage.

    Instead, the little fluff ball just opened its giant mouth and yelled, ¡°Daftie!¡±

    ¡°Gods below!¡± Gavin flinched. ¡°Ye lot can talk?¡±

    ¡°Daftie!¡± It yelled again. ¡°Daftie!¡±

    ¡°Ah, bawbags,¡± Gavin sighed, ¡°That¡¯ll get old fast.¡± He saw the other one opening its mouth and put up a stern finger. ¡°Nae! Stop it!¡±

    The thing deflated and looked like it was going to cry, its small eyes filling with tears while its brother or sister wandered in circles shouting its new word.

    ¡°Baws! Sorry, little wean, dunnae cry,¡± He smiled desperately.

    ¡°Baws!¡± It squeaked in his face. ¡°Baws! Bawbag! Baws!¡±

    ¡°Away the fuck wit¡¯ ya both,¡± Gavin fumed and strode off down the road as the pair ran and rolled in circles around him, each one squeaking or shouting their new words.

    ==========

    Gavin heard the Bard playing as they approached a large tree that was growing next to the road. The leaves were long gone, but the dark wood contrasted against the snowy landscape as if someone had carved a tree shape out of the universe.

    The dwarf had not heard the sound of a fiddle since he left the dwarf halls. It was far from popular amongst the other races. It almost made him homesick.

    Almost.

    There was nothing back there but pain for him. Growing up as the youngest of thirty children of the Clan Queen had been a harrowing experience even before she was deposed. Afterward, left behind by his family as they fled, he was an outcast. The only affection he got as a lad was a slightly gentler kick as he passed. Gavin had set out to recover a great treasure from the Lost Halls of the Masters to earn himself a place.

    As he heard the strains of the fiddle floating to him through the crisp, cold air, Gavin knew in his heart he would never go back. Even if he became a great warrior or king.

    Slothy was not exactly what he had imagined when he dreamt of a family all those cold nights, but he had to admit he liked the feeling of belonging.

    If something went wrong on this quest and he never returned, he would die knowing that in a day, or two, a Giant Sloth Bear on the warpath would carve his killers apart.

    If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    Someone would miss him. Someone would care when he breathed his last.

    And until then? Well, there was always a bone-aching hug waiting for him to get home.

    So, for the first time in his life, Gavin heard the sound of a fiddle and felt a bit of warmth in his heart.

    ¡°Wotcha!¡± The woman playing the fiddle grinned down at Gavin as she slung her fiddle over her shoulder and leaped lightly to the ground. She had been sitting high up in the tree, the bare branches apparently no more of a bother to her than the cold was.

    To say she was not exactly dressed for snow was an understatement. A short tartan skirt that only barely reached her knees flapped in the air as she dropped, and Gavin averted his eyes quickly. Her top was almost as bad, a dark red leather vest that barely fit, showing more of her pale grey skin than was quite needed.

    She grinned as her bare feet landed in the deep snow alongside the road, tucking her long white hair behind one pointed ear.

    ¡°Hey! Are you the adventurer I¡¯m supposed to be waiting for?¡± She grinned, a pair of sharp canines glinting in the sunlight.

    ¡°Uh,¡± Gavin said, ¡°That¡¯ll be us, aye.¡± He was trying to process the strange woman standing before him, then just shrugged and accepted things. Living in the Waystation made you nuts, or good at adapting to the strangeness.

    ¡°Aww,¡± She leaned down, showing enough cleavage to make Gavin blush crimson as she petted the little fluff ball that was still holding his hand.

    ¡°Bawbag!¡± It screeched in her face.

    ¡°Well, hello, little Bawbag,¡± She said, patting it gently on the top of the ball of fur that served as both body and head on the strange creatures. ¡°I¡¯m Lyra, the Half-Elven.¡± She winked at Gavin, renewing his blush. ¡°Is that okay with you?¡±

    ¡°Uh, what?¡± Gavin stammered.

    ¡°Are you okay with me being a half-elf?¡± Lyra said again. ¡°I know it bothers everyone.¡±

    ¡°Oh, uh, aye, lass,¡± Gavin said, finally pulling himself together. ¡°Nae bother.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± She said, clapping her hands once and bobbing a quick curtsy, ¡°And what is your name?¡±

    ¡°Gavin, uh, of the Waystation,¡± He finished lamely.

    ¡°And your other friend?¡± Lyra pointed at the fluffball eating more snow.

    ¡°Daftie!¡± It screamed and resumed eating snow.

    ¡°Ah, fuck sake, Daftie!¡± Gavin yelled. ¡°Stop that!¡± He rushed over and tried to coral the little thing away from the deeper drifts. ¡°That cannae be good for ¡®em,¡± He explained to Lyra.

    ¡°So, where are we headed?¡± Gavin asked the Bard.

    ¡°Deep into the forest, where unknown terrors lurk and some dark thing has captured the crown jewels,¡± Lyra said in a lilting voice.

    ¡°Bawbag!¡± Bawbag screeched and started pulling Gavin off the road and into the forest.

    ¡°Ya dunnae know the way, ya crazy little bugger!¡± Gavin pulled it back, where it immediately burst into tears.

    ¡°It was actually headed the right way,¡± Lyra offered.

    ¡°Oh, well. On ya go, then,¡± Gavin huffed, and the crying immediately stopped as the little creature dragged on his arm again.

    ¡°What are they?¡± Lyra asked Gavin as they headed beneath the trees.

    ¡°Nae idea, lass,¡± Gavin sighed. ¡°No one tells me anything, ya ken?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t they friends of yours, or pets, or something?¡± She asked as she stepped lightly through the forest as if born to it.

    ¡°Sort like me brothers and sisters; I cannae tell which, though.¡± Gavin sighed.

    ¡°You don¡¯t look furry,¡± Lyra poked his hair and tried to peer down the top of his armor.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story, aye?¡± Gavin said, trying to step away without being obvious about it.

    Daftie ran ahead, and Bawbag scampered after him, letting go of Gavin¡¯s hand.

    ¡°Oy, get back here!¡± Gavin ran after them, pushing through a clump of bushes after the two idiots before they got eaten.

    ¡°Come back, ya little-¡± Gavin cut off as he saw the two furballs staring up at the massive beetle they had interrupted mid-meal.

    ¡°Oh, dear,¡± Lyra said, sliding through the bushes without a sound. ¡°That¡¯s a big one.¡±

    Gavin identified the insect, hoping it was friendly.

    Corpse Beetle Lvl 24

    Known to devour the dead, these insects are not considered dangerous until they grow larger than a cat.

    When larger, they have been known to hunt and kill children and lone travelers.

    ¡°Away!¡± Gavin yelled, drawing his axe and extending it to its full length. ¡°You get away from the weans!¡± He ran forward, causing the beetle to scuttle back a few steps.

    Its compound eyes darted around, and its long feelers twitched.

    Assessing.

    ¡°Away the now!¡± Gavin said again, waving his axe over his head threateningly.

    The beetle blurred forward, and he was sent flying backward.

    A growling noise caused everyone to pause. It was coming from the Bundle-Mores.

    The Beetle ignored them and charged at Gavin again, only to let out a screech and jerk back, two legs missing.

    Loud crunching noises came from the little mounds of fluff as they chewed, the legs waving in the air as they were rapidly consumed.

    ¡°Wha¡¯ the fuck?¡± Lyra gasped.

    ¡°Daftie! Bawbag!¡± Gavin yelled, climbing to his feet. ¡°Let¡¯s get the big bastard!¡±

    The growling started again as Gavin charged in, his axe biting deeply into the back of the beetle as it tried to dodge the blow. Two furry balls rolled forward, attaching themselves to the shell, biting and tearing with their huge mouths.

    The beetle let out a loud chitter, trying to run.

    Gavin¡¯s axe took off another leg and then finally landed a blow on the head, which fell from the carapace with a thud.

    The silence was broken by the wet crunching noises as the two Tumble-More¡¯s feasted.

    ¡°Oh, Gods,¡± Lyra looked green as the munching continued.

    ¡°Aye,¡± Gavin admitted. ¡°They¡¯re nae much for table manners, ya ken?¡± He patted Bawbag on the back of the ichor-splattered head as it swallowed the severed head whole.

    Daftie let out a huge burp, splattering the nearby trees with misted ichor as it did so.

    Lyra promptly turned away and threw up.

    ¡°Ah, go on!¡± Gavin said. ¡°Is no that bad!¡±

    Daftie began to shake a few minutes after the two of them had finished off the bug carcass. Gavin rushed over, but it seemed to be smiling and looking excited, so he sat back and waited.

    He did get a healing potion and a few blood berries out of his bracer storage, just in case.

    The shaking continued for a minute until the fur suddenly fluffed out, leaving Daftie completely still. The little creature doubled in size a second later and grew two more legs. They immediately ran around in circles, the previously slow speed now almost a blur.

    When they finally stopped and flopped onto their back, panting as they rocked back and forth, their fur had gone jet black, just like the beetle¡¯s carapace had been.

    ¡°You okay there?¡± Gavin asked.

    ¡°Daftie!¡± It yelled and immediately started to snore.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as an aye,¡± Gavin said, going to check on their Bard.

    ¡°What are they?¡± She was wide-eyed. ¡°Did you know they could do that?¡±

    ¡°The changing thing?¡± Gavin asked. ¡°Nae idea, lass.¡±

    ¡°Why aren¡¯t you freaked out?¡± She whispered to him.

    ¡°Hah!¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°This is sorta normal where I stay.¡±

    ==========

    ¡°You tried to get me killed,¡± Bert said simply as he stared at the smiling King.

    ¡°Oh, you were never in any real danger!¡± Dagon laughed.

    ¡°Not yet!¡± Bert insisted. ¡°Now I have to go tell Bell I went to a brothel!¡±

    Dagon roared with laughter.

    ¡°Low blow, Dagon,¡± Bert growled. ¡°Low blow!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯ll get over it,¡± Dagon winked. ¡°Now, on to the rewards!¡± He clapped his hands together gleefully and then tossed the orb to Bert, wrapped in a deed as with all the others, and then he did something that hurt to look at. It appeared similar to seeing someone reach through a mote of dust that was also the size of a small universe.

    Even Bert¡¯s head hurt after seeing it.

    ¡°I¡¯m sure you can find a use for this!¡± Dagon grinned, tossing over another orb. This one was smooth, almost glassy, and mist swirled inside it.

    Bert immediately identified it, not trusting the King any more than he understood him.

    Nascent Dungeon Core

    Awaiting imprint¡­

    Unique Item

    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you are planning to tell me how I use this?¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°Now, where is the fun in that?¡± Dagon roared with laughter again.

    ¡°Saw that coming,¡± Bert muttered. ¡°So, you said you would put aside the games and tell me what this is all about once I was done?¡±

    ¡°Did I?¡± Dagon smiled innocently. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem like me. Are you sure?¡±

    Bert just stared at the thing pretending to be a king.

    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± Dagon waved Bert to a chair. ¡°Do you remember the gods of this world, little lord?¡±

    ¡°Kind of hard to forget,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°I¡¯m not their greatest fan.¡±

    ¡°Met a few other things in your time, though,¡± Dagon said, ¡°This I know. Yes.¡± He leaned forward and stage whispered. ¡°A moth and a woman with red hair? Yes.¡± He chuckled darkly. ¡°But also someone else. Something else. One who made the redhead go away. Yes. I know this, yes.¡±

    ¡°Okay, and so?¡± Bert prompted, not bothering to deny what the thing already knew.

    ¡°So, why should they get all the fun?¡± Dagon laughed. ¡°War is coming to this world, little lord. And where there is war, there is me!¡±

    Bert felt his blood run cold.

    ¡°War?¡± Bert asked, expecting no answer but asking anyway. ¡°What kind of war?¡±

    ¡°The kind that will decide if this world lives or dies,¡± Dagon said with a sad smile. ¡°So I am here, and I will save what is worth saving. But this time, I do more. Yes! This time, I put a thumb on the scales, little lord. Yes! A big thumb I have.¡±

    Bert drummed his fingers on the King¡¯s desk.

    ¡°What can I do?¡± He asked finally.

    ¡°You little lord?¡± Dagon shook his head. ¡°Not much. But you, as a BIG lord? Well, we will see. Yes.¡± He winked, and Bert found himself standing in the snow outside the Waystation.

    ¡°What the fuck!¡± Bell screamed in rage.

    Looking down, Bert saw he was wearing a T-shirt, a cotton one like they had on Earth and emblazoned across it were the words ¡®I got laid at the Lost Temple!¡¯

    ¡°Fuck sake!¡± Bert growled as the King''s laughter echoed in the air, and a pixie screamed at him.

 Chapter 108 - Questing - Recover the Crown Jewels, Part Two

    ¡°So, they are really like that?¡± Lyra asked for what felt like the fifteenth time since Gavin had started to explain life aboard the Waystation to her. ¡°They just accept people?¡±

    ¡°Aye, lassie,¡± Gavin said in a slightly irritated voice. ¡°I¡¯d no say it otherwise.¡±

    ¡°And you were really adopted by a bear?¡± She asked.

    ¡°A Gaint Sloth Bear, aye,¡± Gavin said defensively. ¡°And I¡¯ll no hear a bad word against my Ma! I mean my beastie!¡± He blushed and kicked a stone, which Daftie immediately pounced on and ate. ¡°Will ya look at it? Eating rocks!¡± He waved at Daftie, who stuck out a long pink tongue and darted away. ¡°Slothy¡¯ll tan me hide if she sees that!¡±

    The pair had been walking for hours, and so far, they had been attacked three times since the bug. The first had been a small party of goblins who had run into the clearing, screaming and trying to stab everyone. The Tumble-More¡¯s had just opened their mouths and rushed forward.

    It was a short and brutal mess, but it was why both of the little fluff balls were currently a nice forestry green.

    The second attack was another giant insect, a Carnivorous Glowbug. It had not even made it across the clearing before Lyra pulled her bow across the fiddle, the sound cutting the creature apart mid-air.

    Gavin was so impressed he was too slow to stop Bawbag from eating the glowing creature. As a result, it now looked like a fuzzy Christmas light in bright green as they held onto Gavin¡¯s hand and occasionally shouted ¡®Baws!¡¯ at the forest at large.

    The third attacker they never even got to see. Something had crashed towards them, only to die screaming as the little fluffballs with teeth intercepted it behind a tree.

    ¡°Are you no cold?¡± Gavin asked as they set up camp for the night. It had been bothering him all day. He was cold, even in all his armor, and her skin was shading more towards blue than grey as the day went on.

    ¡°Honestly?¡± She asked. ¡°I¡¯m freezing,¡± Lyra shrugged. ¡°When you are a half-elf, you better look cute, not threatening. So I dress like this, and people at least don¡¯t try and kill me.¡±

    ¡°Tha¡¯s daft,¡± Gavin shook his head.

    ¡°What?¡± She rounded on him.

    ¡°Aye, daft.¡± He waved at her. ¡°Ye can¡¯t be worrying about wha¡¯ others think.¡±

    ¡°If I didn¡¯t, I¡¯d die,¡± Lyra hissed. ¡°We don¡¯t all have a Waystation to protect us.¡±

    Gavin grumbled but kept his opinions to himself. Open mouth, insert foot again. He wished Lily was here. She would know what to say.

    He pulled out his bedding roll and placed it next to the fire.

    ¡°There ya go, get some sleep in that. It¡¯ll be warm,¡± He said, trying not to look at Lyra.

    ¡°What about you?¡± She asked. ¡°I don¡¯t need charity, you know.¡±

    ¡°Isnae charity,¡± Gavin grumbled. ¡°A frozen Bard will be no help, ya ken?¡±

    ¡°Do you have one?¡± She asked, pointing to the bedding.

    ¡°Aye, of course,¡± Gavin lied.

    That ended the conversation, and Gavin kept the fire going as he sat and grumbled to himself. After a while, Daftie and Bawbag came over and cuddled up to him. They warmed him up, and with the fire, he slowly drifted off to sleep.

    Gavin woke at sunrise. He didn¡¯t have a choice, having fallen asleep leaning on Daftie, who had just woken up and wandered off, leaving Gavin to faceplant into the icy ground.

    He quickly got a fire going, and it was blazing merrily by the time the Bard woke up. She shivered as she got out of the bedding roll but refused his offer to sleep in for a while.

    ¡°We better just keep moving,¡± She huffed on her hands to warm them up. ¡°We¡¯ll warm up as we walk.¡±

    ¡°At least let''s have some scran!¡± Gavin insisted, pulling a pair of plates of eggs and bacon from his storage. They were as hot as the moment they were cooked, and the smell filled the clearing. Lyra hesitated but nodded and took a plate as the Tumble-Mores crashed into the clearing, drooling at the smell of food.

    ¡°Alright, ya little bastards! Wait! Wait!¡± He managed to get another pair of plates out and put them down on a log for the furballs to eat. ¡°No! No! Ya dunnae eat the plates! Aw, fuck, man! We coulda reused them!¡±

    Lyra laughed as Gavin fought to keep his own plate out of reach. In the end, he managed to get his food down, causing Bawbag to burst into tears immediately.

    ¡°Nae, man! Stop that!¡± Gavin patted the little fluff ball. In the end, he gave it his plate to eat, which made it happy.

    ¡°They are kind of amazing,¡± Lyra said shyly as Bawbag crunched up the plate with every sign of enjoyment.

    ¡°Would you believe a dozen more of these are back at the Waystation?¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°I¡¯ve no idea how they haven¡¯t eaten the place already!¡±

    They both laughed as they set out again.

    ==========

    Bert¡¯s bruises were rapidly fading as the dents in the wall fixed themselves. Bell was still fuming, but at least she had stopped trying to kick his head in.

    ¡°Were they cute?¡± Bell asked.

    ¡°More hopeless,¡± Bert said. ¡°And freezing.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t?¡± She sniffled, ¡°Promise?¡±

    ¡°Promise,¡± Bert snapped. ¡°I¡¯d never do that, Bell. Fuck sake.¡±

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you DARE take a tone with me, mister!¡± Bell snapped back. ¡°I¡¯m not the one going off to brothels!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t go to a brothel!¡± Bert growled. ¡°I went to do a quest that I WAS NOT TOLD was in a brothel!¡±

    ¡°You just happened to go on that one quest without me?¡± Bell growled. ¡°I wasn¡¯t born yesterday, Bert!¡±

    ¡°Hey,¡± Bert held up his hands, ¡°We already did this, let¡¯s not fight.¡±

    ¡°THEN DON¡¯T SNAP AT ME!¡± She roared in his face.

    Bert swallowed.

    ¡°Bell, you know I¡¯d never do that to you, right?¡± He asked, trying not to be hurt by her accusations.

    ¡°Well,¡± She shrugged and took a deep breath, ¡°No. I know you wouldn¡¯t. I just saw that thing and lost it for a second.¡± She pointed at the shredded T-shirt lying on the floor.

    ¡°One day, I¡¯ll figure out to pay Dagon back for that,¡± Bert promised. ¡°Next time, try talking to me, not just attacking, okay?¡±

    ¡°Promise,¡± Bell said with a smile, wiping her eyes and sniffing.

    It was almost a sweet moment¡­

    ¡°YOU WENT TO A BROTHEL!¡± Wendy slammed to door open, face red with rage. ¡°DAD!¡±

    ¡°Wait, wait, wait! I can explain!¡± He tried but was too slow.

    Wendy was really getting fast.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    As his head bounced off the wall, he really wished pixies had less of a hair-trigger temper.

    ==========

    ¡°Goblins,¡± Gavin sighed, ¡°Why¡¯d it hae to be goblins?¡±

    He was lying down on the top of a rock as the little green buggers scampered back and forth, chattering and screeching at each other.

    ¡°Technically, what we want is down there,¡± Lyra pointed out the small hole in the earth just off-center in the ring of crude huts and stinking cooking fires. ¡°The goblins don¡¯t seem to really pay attention to it.¡±

    ¡°Aye, we¡¯ll just stroll in then, shall we?¡± Gavin asked tartly. ¡°Oh, excuse me, Mister Goblin Stabber! Pardon me, Miss Goblin Sapper, we¡¯ll just be on our way down tha¡¯ hole there. Oh, what''s that? Oh, a dagger in me guts, so kind of¡­¡± He stopped as Lyra started to growl slightly. ¡°Ya get me point, aye?¡±

    ¡°I was just saying!¡± Lyra hissed, ¡°Maybe we can just scare them off!¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Gavin hissed back, ¡°Introduce ¡®em to your playin? Ya do play that, aye? It wasn¡¯t just the once back there, was it?¡±

    ¡°Go fuck yourself, short-arse!¡± Lyra snapped back. ¡°You¡¯re no bloody warrior! Your ¡®weans¡¯ do all your fighting for you!¡±

    ¡°Oh, height jokes, is it?¡± Gavin yelled back. ¡°Ya lanky, tone-deaf bitch!¡±

    ¡°Bawbag!¡± Bawbag yelled, joining in.

    Daftie belched hugely.

    Gavin and Lyra leaned back, slowly realizing they were supposed to be hiding.

    As one, they all turned to look over at the goblin village from their perch up on the rock.

    Two dozen pairs of red eyes were fixed on them

    ¡°Daftie!¡± Daftie yelled as loud as he could.

    All hell broke loose.

    Crude arrows broke against the strains of Lyra¡¯s fiddle as she roared, her teeth and ears growing as she played. Her hair lifted and floated in unseen winds as she played faster and faster.

    Gavin stared as she heaved in a deep breath.

    ¡°DO SOMETHING YOU LITTLE PRICK!¡± She bellowed at him.

    ¡°Oh, Aye!¡± He rolled his shoulders and grabbed two axes off his belt. His new axe was still strapped to his back, but he wouldn¡¯t sully it for goblins. The two sky-metal axes glinted in the sun as he roared and leaped clear into the village, bowling over those around him as he landed like a meteor. ¡°Come and ge¡¯ it, ya ugly bastards! Yaaaah!¡±

    While Gavin spun and hacked at the goblins as they rushed toward him, two rolling balls of fluffy unfolded into Daftie and Bawbag. Daftie was snapping his mouth closed, swallowing half a goblin with each bite as Bawbag spit great globs of phlegm at the goblins.

    ¡°Tha¡¯s it, boyo!¡± Gavin laughed, ¡°Let¡¯s ge¡¯ ¡®em a taste of it!¡±

    Through it all, the fiddle music wound between and around them, cutting arrows and even the occasional spell out of the air.

    But no one is perfect, not even a half-elven Bard. One of the shamans managed to launch a ball of crackling green fire at Gavin, who was too busy fighting to notice.

    Lyra tried to shout a warning, but Gavin was too slow.

    He turned in time to see the fireball inches from his face.

    Bawbag leaped, snapping his mouth closed around the fireball with a yelp of pain.

    ¡°Bawbag!¡± Gavin roared. ¡°No!¡±

    All the fury and anger he had held in check all those years, all that frustration at the kicks, the insults, and more, all burst as he saw his little buddy fall limply to the floor.

    Class Evolution!

    Dwarven Warrior  - to - Faeborn Beserker

    Gavin¡¯s roar split the heavens like a rolling peal of thunder as he swelled to three times his normal size, fae fire burning in his eyes as all thought stopped. The sky metal axes melted in his hands, replaced by giant axes made of Fae light.

    ¡°YOU¡¯LL NO TOUCH ME BAWBAG!¡±

    Gavin cut a path of destruction through the panicked goblins, each strike cleaving them in half as he charged toward the terrified shamans huddling on the village''s far side.

    His mind blanked in rage; Gavin never saw the shaking form of Bawbag burst into green fire as it climbed to its stubby feet. Lyra¡¯s playing hitched and flattered as the green fire burned away, replaced by the flickering fae flames burning in Gavin¡¯s eyes.

    Gavin never got to the Shamans; Bawbag shot past him, hissing and crackling as he shot forward like a bullet.

    Fae Fire exploded where he stopped, leaving nothing but charred corpses of the shamans behind.

    Lyra played haltingly as the three siblings tore the village apart.

    Gavin¡¯s rage only faded as he beat the last goblin into a paste using the dead bodies of the previous goblins.

    Collapsing to his knees and panting, Gavin looked around desperately.

    ¡°Daftie! Bawbag!¡± He called, ¡°Where are ya?¡±

    A faintly glowing ball of blue fur hid him in the chest and started to lick his face.

    ¡°Bawbag! Is that you, little¡¯un?¡± He laughed as he hugged the Tumble-More to his chest. ¡°Aww, there¡¯s a good Bawbag! I thought I¡¯d lost ya!¡± He laughed.

    A loud burp and a splattering sound drew Gavin to Daftie. He was eating his way through what passed for food supplies for goblins.

    ¡°Daftie! No!¡± Gavin pulled him away from the rancid food while Daftie whined and scrambled to get at it again. ¡°No! Back, Daftie! Back!¡±

    A soft cough from behind reminded him that Lyra was still there.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Gavin asked. ¡°They didnae get ya, did they?¡±

    ¡°Um, I¡¯m fine.¡± She said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Oh! I just evolved my class, is all,¡± Gavin said proudly. ¡°Nae bother.¡±

    Lyra gaped. ¡°Just like that?¡±

    ¡°Och, aye!¡± Gavin said as if it was nothing. Inside, he was almost dancing with joy. Not only an evolution but a Fae one! ¡°Happens all the time to us Fae types.¡±

    Lyra¡¯s look suggested she wasn¡¯t buying it but was going to let it pass.

    For now.

    Everything was a bit awkward as they cleared the goblin camp. Neither of them brought up the argument, but they both kept shooting glances at the other when they thought no one would see.

    It was a pitiful haul, goblins not being much use as far as loot went.

    Still, Gavin thought, at least they now had a safe entrance to whatever was going on below.

    They gathered around the hole, peering in suspiciously, and Gavin finally gave in.

    ¡°Sorry, I called ya tone deaf,¡± he muttered to Lyra while fiddling with his axe. ¡°I actually really like your playing.¡±

    Lyra ignored him.

    ¡°I do, really,¡± Gavin said a little louder.

    ¡°Gavin,¡± She called, and he turned to see her very close to him, her eyes fixed on his. He caught his breath as she leaned in.

    ¡°Aye?¡± He said breathlessly as she leaned over to whisper in his ear.

    ¡°GET FUCKED!¡± She roared in his ear, causing him to jerk backward and fall into the hole.

    Darkness closed around him as he fell.

    He bounced off earthen walls and rocks as he rolled and thudded down the shaft and into the earth. As he fell, a blue glow was seen out the corner of his eye, suggesting Bawbag had followed him in.

    The dwarf landed flat on his back, the breath knocked out of him, and groaned. A fluffy blue ball bounced off his stomach a moment later.

    Gavin was almost to his feet when the now much heavier Daftie landed on him, sending him back to the floor as it burped hugely.

    He groaned as he rolled away from the hole just before the half-elf touched down lightly as if lowered on a breeze.

    ¡°Okay, that was petty,¡± Lyra admitted as Gavin growled and grabbed his axe. ¡°I may have overreacted.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s nae your fault, lass,¡± Gavin said as he started to grow, fires starting to flash in his eyes. ¡°It¡¯s the height. Makes people all messed in the head.¡± He growled. ¡°Come ¡®ere and let me shorten you a tad!¡±

    ¡°Now, now!¡± Lyra smiled desperately. ¡°I will admit I should have accepted your apology! Let¡¯s not let things get out of hand!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t ye worry,¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°I¡¯ll no take things tae far. Just a little off the top!¡±

    ¡°Could you reach, Tiny?¡± She roared back before slapping a hand over her mouth.

    Gavin felt the fury rip through him again, and if it wasn¡¯t for the spiders, might have done something he would have regretted.

    So, for possibly the first time ever, the giant spider that crawled into the room was actually a welcome sight.

    Gavin roared and leaped over the half-elf, kicking aside the giant mandible that was about to snap closed on her neck.

    Lyra shrieked and kicked off, floating across the room as she began to play a slow and sickly song.

    The spider faltered, seeming to be moving in molasses as Gavin¡¯s flaming axes cut burning lines into its face. Gavin kicked off the floor, looking to slam down on the massive back of the creature, only to be flung away by one massive leg.

    He bounced off the wall and charged, screaming back towards the spider.

    It screeched, several more spiders crawling from beneath it. Each one was the size of a small car, and they moved fast despite the slowing effect Lyra was casting.

    Bawbag burst into flame and rocketed forward, a massive detonation coming as he collided with the fastest spiders. The fire spread, consuming the spiders as Bawbag pinballed between them like a demented arsonist, the occasional explosion as they were forced to stop.

    Still, the spiders came, more and more smaller ones swarming the cavern as the Queen dueled with the ever-angrier dwarf.

    Gavin slammed his axes together, the fae-light merging into a massive halberd as he sliced a leg off the queen. Fire was starting to catch on her body as they battled, the room a swirl of shadows as Bawbag continued to dart around.

    Lyra found herself pressed against the wall as the smaller spiders, each the size of a small dog, crowded around her.

    She fought to keep her elven anger in check as Daftie ate and smashed the spiders away from her.

    Gavin had saved her, even as she insulted him.

    HOW DARE HE!

    Her own anger broke through her control, and her fiddle song changed. The strings on the bow smoked as a terrible melody of fierce speed assaulted the cavern. The air shimmered as blades of light erupted from the fiddle, dicing apart the smaller spiders as Lyra began to howl the blood call of her people.

    The Queen lay dead, her spiders crisped and smoking around her. Gavin climbed his way out from the massive hole he had been forced to carve in her to bring her down finally.

    His eyes were still burning, and he was massive as he faced down the furious Bard.

    ¡°Well?¡± He asked.

    ¡°Bring it on, you little fucker!¡± She roared up at him, and Gavin charged as she began to play again.

 Chapter 109 - Awkward and Wonderful

    Gavin woke up tangled in the naked form of Lyra. He was still bleeding slightly, but he must have taken at least two healing potions at some point. He knew this because he could see the empty vials lying crushed and broken against the wall.

    Images and flashes of what had happened came back to him in fits and bursts. They had fought the spiders and then each other.

    Her music had cut and stabbed at him, but his armor, which somehow grew with him, was mostly a match for it. Deep gouges in the wall caused by his axes and her notes spoke of the violence of the battle.

    At some point, and he was unsure how, they were no longer fighting, just grappling.

    Then¡­ images and sensations flooded his mind.

    ¡°Ma¡¯s gonna kill me,¡± Gavin groaned as he tried to pull himself delicately from Lyra¡¯s sleeping form.

    ¡°What happened?¡± She groaned and looked up, seeing him crouched over her. Her eyes traveled down and then went wide. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She slapped him across the face.

    ¡°No! No!¡± Gavin backed away quickly, ¡°It isnae like that!¡±

    She sat up groggily and looked around her.

    Slowly, Gavin watched memory hit her with the same force it had hit him.

    ¡°Oh, sorry,¡± She said.

    ¡°Nae bother,¡± Gavin said awkwardly and summoned a thick blanket for her to cover herself with. ¡°Was a shock ta me as well, at first.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± She arched an eyebrow at him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to call me a monster or a harridan or something?¡±

    ¡°Uh, nae, lass. Why would I?¡± He scratched the back of his head in confusion.

    ¡°That anger, that temper,¡± She sniffed and wiped her eye with one hand. ¡°That is the Elf side of me. People always attack me if they see it.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that!¡± Gavin laughed awkwardly again. ¡°That was nothin¡¯ at all. You should see Lady Bell and the boss man go at it sometime. They leave CRATERS when they fight, ya ken?¡±

    ¡°Does it normally end in sex as well?¡± Lyra asked.

    ¡°Often, aye,¡± the dwarf laughed and slapped his leg. Gavin reddened as he realized he was standing there completely naked. ¡°Oops. Let me get me kegs on!¡± He found his armor under the sleeping Tumble-Mores and pulled it on quickly. ¡°Forget me own heed next!¡± He said, still blushing.

    ¡°Aw, fuck!¡± Lyra sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t have any clothes with me!¡± She picked forlornly at the remains of her outfit. ¡°Think there is enough of this left?¡±

    ¡°Oh, wait a min!¡± Gavin said, pulling things out of his bracer as he sorted through his things. Most of it was naturally Gavin-sized, but Bert tended to make things a little stretchy. ¡°Here, why not try on some of this?¡± He offered her some of his spare gear. The leggings looked like long shorts on Lyra, but they fit. Just. The top similarly failed to reach her middle, leaving her midriff bare.

    Gavin fussed around, trying various pieces on her until he managed to get something that worked.

    ¡°How do I look?¡± Lyra asked.

    She looked pretty good, in Gavin¡¯s estimation. She had on good, long, strong boots that covered all the way up to her leggings. Those were a little tight, but he tried to ignore how they hugged her legs. A small chainlink shirt covered the top and the bare area. It had been down to his knees when he wore it, but it fit her well. A fur cloak hung over her shoulders and covered her arms down to the leather gloves. They had cut out the fingers so she could still play. Her dark hair lying across the white fur lining was undoubtedly eye-catching.

    ¡°Well?¡± She asked, and he realized he had been staring.

    ¡°You look great!¡± He said, belatedly realizing he was a bit too loud when she blushed. ¡°And warmer, too!¡± He smiled and coughed. ¡°I hope it is okay?¡±

    ¡°A fine wedding present, thank you,¡± Lyra bowed awkwardly.

    ¡°Ah, could you run that by me again?¡± Gavin said with a frozen smile.

    ¡°Do your people not give gifts to couples?¡± Lyra asked, tuning her violin absently.

    ¡°Aye, sometimes,¡± Gavin nodded. ¡°I, uh, I remember a lot, ya ken. Certainly, I may have missed some, but, ah,¡± He floundered.

    ¡°Ah,¡± Lyra looked down, ¡°Elves. We, um, we mate for life.¡± She hurried on. ¡°I just never expected to lose control like that. I never did before!¡± She looked at Gavin as he started to sweat, the same fixed smile on his face. ¡°Are you okay?¡±

    ¡°Och, fine!¡± Gavin said mechanically. ¡°Aye, right as roses.¡±

    ¡°Oh, do you have someone?¡± She asked shyly. ¡°I know other races don¡¯t always¡­¡± She stood up. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me, just say. I won¡¯t hold you to our traditions.¡±

    Gavin gave it some thought. This was a serious decision. Not one to be made in haste or lust. Then he remembered the feeling of them together¡­.

    ¡°Married!¡± He smiled, ¡°Great!¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± She looked doubtful.

    ¡°Ya don¡¯ mind me being a dwarf?¡± Gavin checked.

    ¡°No,¡± Lyra smiled. ¡°Do you mind me being, well, me?¡±

    ¡°Nae bother,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Uh, so what do we do now?¡±

    ¡°Well, we did come here to get the jewels¡­¡± Lyra mentioned.

    ¡°Ah, fuck!¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°Slipped me mind, can ya believe it?¡± He froze and paled.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lyra asked, looking around sharply.

    ¡°I just realized,¡± Gavin said. ¡°I got married without you meeting me ma! I mean the beastie! She¡¯ll flay me!¡±

    ¡°Oh, Gods,¡± Lyra said. ¡°I have a mother-in-law, now!¡± She sat down, looking as pale as Gavin.

    ¡°Aye.¡± Gavin nodded. ¡°And she¡¯s a Gaint Sloth Bear.¡±

    ¡°How will I know if she likes me?¡± Lyra asked, her hand taking his.

    ¡°She¡¯ll no try to eat you,¡± Gavin said. ¡°Probably.¡±

    ===========

    The jewels themselves were found in the center of the now-empty spider nest. Covered in webs and hung above the pit where the queen had laid her brood, they glinted in the light from Bawbag.

    It took a fair few minutes of trying to snag them before Gavin gave up, grabbed a cheap throwing axe, and cut them down in a single throw.

    ¡°Nice shot,¡± Lyra said. She had opened up more as they worked their way through the underground lair. There was still a fair bit of post-what-did-we-do-last-night awkwardness, but they were at least of one mind about what came next.

    Lyra was coming back to the Waystation with Gavin.

    Honoring debts was important to Dwarves. It ran deep into their bones, and he had done the deed. She mated for life, so she was his wife.

    It never even occurred to him not to keep his end of the deal, even if he had never meant to make it.

    It had nothing to do with the memories of her soft skin, her growls, her nails in his skin. Nothing at all.

    If he kept telling himself that, maybe someone else would believe him.

    He didn¡¯t.

    The lass was like a drug to him. Even now, as they made their way back to the main cavern, the smell of her hair was making him smile. The more she let her guard down, the more she swore, the more he liked her.

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    Relaxed and open Lyra was a lot more fun than correct and proper Lyra.

    Even if a couple of her jokes were enough to make him blush and stumble.

    Half-Elf she may be, but she had the mouth of a dwarf on her.

    That thought brought up a few more memories, and he missed a turn, bouncing off the wall.

    ¡°Gavin?¡± Lyra called back,

    ¡°On me way!¡± He called back hurriedly.

    ¡°You better come see this!¡± Lyra called, her voice uncertain.

    ¡°You daft bugger, Daftie!¡± Gavin yelled at the furball. ¡°How are we supposed to get ya out of here now?¡±

    ¡°Daftie!¡± Daftie yelled. The creature had more than doubled in size and was now the size of a small horse.

    ¡°And how do you plan to get back up there?¡± Gavin pointed at the narrow shaft above them. ¡°Ya great fat lump!¡±

    ¡°Daftie!¡± The Tumble-More burped and leaped straight up, flowing into the shaft like putty.

    Gavin just stared as Daftie''s legs kicked and kicked, forcing it up the shaft and back out into the air.

    ¡°Baws!¡± Bawbag squeaked and shot straight up the shaft, never once touching the sides.

    ¡°Wow,¡± Lyra laughed. ¡°Inventive little feckers!¡±

    ¡°Aye,¡± Gavin laughed. ¡°Now, how do we get back up there?¡±

    ¡°Oh, easy,¡± Lyra grinned and grabbed Gavin by the shoulders. ¡°Hold on!¡± She crouched and leaped, shooting into the air.

    ¡°FUCKIN¡¯ BAWS!¡± Gavin roared in shock as she leaped up the shaft like a mountain goat, the dwarf clutched to her ample chest.

    ¡°Ta-da!¡± Lyra dropped him next to the hole as she gently came in to land as if floating.

    ¡°How¡¯d ya do that?¡± Gavin asked. ¡°You go all floaty.¡±

    ¡°Wind attunement!¡± Lyra said, pleased he had noticed.

    Daftie burped hugely.

    ¡°Not that kind of wind!¡± Gavin roared as Lyra laughed.

    ==========

    ¡°Welcome back!¡± Wendy was at the door, watching as Gavin got his reward from King Dagon.

    Gavin eyed her warily but took Lyra¡¯s hand and led her toward the ramp. He was more afraid than when he fought the spider!

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Wendy laughed, seeing his face. ¡°And who¡¯s your friend?¡±

    ¡°Ah, Wendy,¡± Gavin fidgeted with his belt, ¡°This is Lyra. She was my Bard, and well, she¡¯s kinda my wife now.¡±

    He looked up to see Wendy¡¯s grin had gone feral.

    ¡°What did you do to the poor girl?¡± Wendy asked, leaning down. ¡°I bet I know!¡±

    ¡°Wendy!¡± Gavin tried desperately.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling Slothy!¡± She said and darted inside before he could stop her.

    ¡°Oy!¡± Gavin yelled, scrambling after her. ¡°Don¡¯ you fuck dare!¡±

    ¡°Is this bad?¡± Lyra asked nervously.

    ¡°Aye!¡± Gavin made it two more steps before a roar shook the entire Waystation. ¡°Ah, fuck me!¡±

    ¡°Pretty sure I already did,¡± Lyra said, taking his hand.

    Gavin nodded, and they waited outside the Waystation.

    They did not have to wait long.

    Lyra¡¯s eyes widened, and she stiffened as Slothy burst from the side of the Waystation, blue fire wreathing her claws.

    ¡°Rose tipped hells!¡± She gasped. ¡°I thought you were kidding!¡±

    ¡°Nae, lass,¡± Gavin wilted. ¡°That¡¯s Slothy.¡±

    In less than a second, the bear was there, roaring in their faces.

    ¡°Whoa!¡± Gavin yelled, pulling Lyra behind him. ¡°Hey there! No eating me missus!¡±

    Slothy growled.

    ¡°Look, it just happened, okay?¡± Gavin protested. ¡°She¡¯s me mate now, ya ken?¡±

    Another roar.

    ¡°I couldnae exactly introduce her first; we didnae know it was gonna happen!¡± Gavin argued.

    Slothy huffed and whined.

    ¡°Oh, no! None of that guilt nonsense!¡± Gavin demanded. ¡°I¡¯m a grown dwarf, and I can marry if I want!¡±

    That was a LOUD roar.

    ¡°Of course, I¡¯d prefer it if you said yes!¡± Gavin hurried to say.

    Slothy whined again and sat back on her haunches.

    ¡°What happens now?¡± Lyra asked, clinging to his arm.

    ¡°Maybe we die?¡± Gavin offered.

    Slothy stared at them for a long, long time¡­

    She huffed once and reached out, scooping them into a hug.

    ¡°Welcome to the family!¡± Gavin gasped as his ribs creaked.

    Slothy wandered off, huffing and chuffing as she climbed back into the Waystation, which had already healed the hole in the wall.

    ¡°That was feckin¡¯ terrifying,¡± Lyra said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m glad I passed.¡±

    ¡°Tha¡¯s jus¡¯ the start,¡± Gavin sighed.

    ¡°What?¡± Lyra tensed. ¡°And who was it that ran off and told on us?¡± She growled.

    ¡°That was Wendy. Bell and the boss man¡¯s daughter. Dunnae fuck with her; she¡¯ll rip your head clean off. If her missus¡¯ plants donnae tear ya¡¯ apart first.¡±

    ¡°So who¡¯s next?¡± Lyra asked.

    ¡°That¡¯d be me,¡± A voice said from the air.

    Gavin grabbed for Lyra, but his hands passed through empty air, the Bard vanishing.

    ¡°Lily!¡± Gavin yelled. ¡°You let her go, she¡¯s a nice lass!¡±

    He kept yelling for ten minutes or so until suddenly, Lyra was back. She looked a little shaken but otherwise okay.

    ¡°Just checking,¡± Lily said smugly, popping into visibility on his shoulder. ¡°She can stay.¡±

    ¡°And she¡¯s gone again!¡± Gavin growled. ¡°Ya little cheat!¡± He yelled.

    ¡°Please don¡¯t piss off the invisible scary girl,¡± Lyra hissed in his ear. ¡°She offered me money to go away, even threatened to kill me if I hurt you.¡±

    ¡°Ooh, someone¡¯s getting too big for their boots since they turned into a pixie!¡± Gavin yelled into the air.

    All he got back was a giggle that floated past him.

    ¡°So, am I okay now?¡± Lyra asked.

    ¡°Uh, no,¡± Gavin admitted.

    ¡°What?¡± Lyra growled. ¡°Who else do I have to get to say I can stay with my own husband?¡±

    ¡°Me, for one,¡± An ice-cold voice said from behind them. Ice literally formed in the air it was so cold.

    Gavin shuffled nervously around to face Bell. He winced as he saw her in human form, ringer in hand.

    ¡°And you are?¡± Lyra demanded, her anger flaring.

    ¡°Fond of knives,¡± Bell said with a horrifying smile. ¡°Also, Lady of the Travelling Lands, and if Slothy is his Mum, I¡¯m his Grandmother.¡± Power radiated off Bell as she exerted her will on the very air.

    Lyra gasped.

    ¡°Oy!¡± Gavin snapped.

    Bell collapsed into laughter as Lyra looked terrified.

    ¡°Explain, now,¡± Bell said, the laughter gone as quickly as it came. ¡°And I just found out Bert went to a brothel, so make it good.¡±

    Gavin explained as Bawbag bounced up and down and Daftie ran in circles.

    ¡°Okay, pass!¡± Bell said eventually. ¡°She can stay. You better take a room in the staff block now you are married. Just don¡¯t forget to visit Slothy all the time!¡±

    ¡°Promise!¡± Gavin grinned.

    ¡°Good lad!¡± Bell giggled and darted into the Waystation after grabbing the orb from Gavin¡¯s hands. ¡°Well done, by the way. On the quest and the wife.¡±

    Gavin beamed, feeling on top of the world.

    ¡°Anyone else?¡± Lyra demanded a second before the ground opened up and swallowed her.

    ¡°Just Way Way!¡± Gavin yelled down into the ground. ¡°They like to say hi!¡±

    ==========

    ¡°Gavin came back from his quest married!¡± Wendy laughed as she collapsed into bed next to Scruff.

    ¡°Seriously?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°Yup, and he married a half-elf.¡±

    ¡°Figures,¡± Scruff chuckled. ¡°We have one of just about everyone else.¡±

    ¡°I ratted him out to Slothy!¡± Wendy giggled, snuggling against Scruff.

    ¡°I heard,¡± Scruff said and batted her playfully on the nose. ¡°Bad, Wendy.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t help it,¡± Wendy sighed. ¡°I¡¯m my mother¡¯s daughter.¡±

    They cuddled for a moment, both just enjoying the comfort of being together.

    ¡°Dad says there¡¯s a war coming,¡± Wendy said at last.

    ¡°I heard,¡± Scruff said, hugging her closer.

    ¡°What do we do?¡± Wendy asked.

    ¡°No idea,¡± Scruff shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just a gardener.¡±

    ¡°Well, what do you think we should do?¡± Wendy asked. ¡°As a gardener and love of my life?¡±

    ¡°As a gardener, I¡¯ll make up something special.¡± She grinned wickedly. ¡°As your love? We tease Gavin to death about his new wife, of course.¡±

    Wendy laughed and pulled Scruff in for a kiss.

    ==========

    ¡°Another town has joined us,¡± The thing that was once a man and now was something else bowed before her.

    ¡°We are almost ready,¡± Martha said with a lazy smile. ¡°A couple more,  and we will no longer need to hide.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Rose asked. ¡°I hear those guilds are pretty tough.¡±

    ¡°None could stand against us on the old continent,¡± Martha said airily. ¡°It will be no different here.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Rose sneered. ¡°Because I remember the Fae city AND the City of the Dead still going strong when we left!¡±

    A vine shot out of Martha¡¯s sleeve and slapped rose across the room.

    ¡°Faith, not facts,¡± Martha sighed. ¡°You must remember that, child.¡±

    Rose stared at the blood on her hands after she wiped her face.

    ¡°You need me!¡± Rose hissed. ¡°Don¡¯t forget that!¡±

    ¡°No, child,¡± Martha smiled. ¡°We needed you; that is not the same thing.¡±

    Strong arms grabbed Rose and dragged her away, deeper into the keep they had taken from the locals.

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± Rose yelled. ¡°You can¡¯t!¡±

    ¡°You are a traitor, child,¡± Martha¡¯s voice came from the creature dragging her away, its human face blank and dead. ¡°Why would we ever keep you around? Traitors always do it again.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t do this to me!¡± Rose kept yelling it until they threw her into the dungeon.

    She yelled it until the guards left, and the lights went out.

    Rose whispered it to herself as she started to chip away at the mortar with her knife.

    She was still whispering and screaming it as they dragged her into the pit and cut off her arms¡­

    When that happened, she screamed, her mana flowing into the scream as she did so.

    Half a continent away, three pixies all heard the scream and turned to face the direction it came from.

    The war was about to begin.

 Chapter 110 - From Bad to worse

    Rose shot out of the keep''s doors; shadows gathered around her as she blurred across the ground. She stumbled here and there; her wings fluttered occasionally as she struggled to stay upright. Her class came with a natural balance increase, but trying to stay balanced without arms was almost impossible, especially at speed.

    She heard the shouts, heard the demanding voice calling for her to be captured again, and felt true panic.

    Rose¡¯s mind just could not accept her arms were gone, and she kept trying to catch herself with them as she sprinted for the stairs to the top of the wall. The gate was out; it was closed and guarded, and she couldn¡¯t exactly fight her way out, could she?

    It was a horrible joke. The armless rogue.

    Leaping from the top of the walls, her wings blurred as she tried to slow her fall, but she landed hard and almost fell. If she fell, it was over.

    She¡¯d be caught, and then there was no hope, no escape, no running.

    Just HER.

    She ran on, jumping the small moat easily with the help of her wings, then panicking as she felt one foot threaten to slip from beneath her as she landed.

    Three hours later, Rose was still running. Her whole body ached, and her lungs screamed for air, but she couldn¡¯t risk stopping, not even for a second.

    They would be coming, and she was still within their borders.

    Weeping as she gasped along, Rose cursed the gods, the fae, her family, and everyone else. The curses felt hollow the longer she ran.

    It was a waste of breath, so she stopped, her vision swimming as she sprinted along a road.

    Her arms were gone. Properly gone. There was maybe one person on this planet who could regrow them, and he was the one person least likely to help her.

    The old instincts rose, telling her that, of course, she could talk him into it or leverage her sister¡¯s love to get it done.

    She gasped at the thought of Lily.

    Would Lily help her? Would she forgive as she had always done before? They did say she could go to them if she ever wanted to¡­ so maybe?

    Rose heard sounds behind her and ran even faster. Someone was coming, and no matter how scared she was, Rose refused to turn and look.

    Fear and pain became her world as the snow began to fall, and her world narrowed to two things.

    Running and keeping the shadows pressed against the stumps of her arms.

    The pain grew, and her mind began to drift as the first day turned into the second; blood began to pool in her boots, and more shadows had to be used to staunch the blood there as well.

    On the third day, she stumbled, rolled down the embankments, and crashed into the bushes and brambles. She wept then, her wings trapped beneath her as she stared up into the falling snow.

    There was no way to get back up, and as the night started to draw in again and the cold began to numb her body, Rose finally accepted she was going to die for the second time.

    =============

    ¡°We need to go now!¡± Wendy yelled as she scrambled out of Scruff¡¯s bed and slammed out of the cottage. ¡°Mum! Mum!¡±

    ¡°Get the Express ready!¡± A Multi-Bell appeared in a flash. ¡°You¡¯re off to get her.¡±

    ¡°Right, who¡¯s coming?¡± Wendy asked as she started to mentally tick off supplies in her head.

    ¡°Take Lily and Scruff; we don¡¯t have time to wait for anyone else. Drive straight there and then come back once you have her. DON¡¯T STOP.¡±

    Wendy nodded as Lily buzzed by on her way to the Express, pulling her armor on as she ran.

    ¡°By the time you get back, we will be ready!¡± The Multi-Bell snarled.

    ¡°For what?¡± Wendy asked as another one of the Multi-Bells held open the door for Scruff, who was fully geared already.

    ¡°Someone touched one of my people,¡± The real Bell appeared, glowing like an angry red sun, ¡°What do you think we will be ready for?¡±

    Wendy nodded, feeling her own rage starting to rise as the shock faded.

    ¡°GO!¡± Bell ordered, and the two women sprinted for the Express as if all the hounds of hell were behind them.

    The ramps dropped around the Express as Wendy pulled herself into the cab.

    Lily was pale and shaking, but she couldn¡¯t tell if it was fear or fury behind it.

    Probably both.

    ¡°You know where to go?¡± Scruff asked as she looked between the two of them.

    ¡°We can feel it,¡± Wendy said grimly as the Express rolled down the ramp and into the snowy landscape.

    The last thing she saw was her Dad, walking towards the city through the snow, the delicate blue flames of Fae fire beginning to burn around him as he slowly sped up.

    ==============

    Rose couldn¡¯t cry anymore. She¡¯d tried for hours, but she had nothing left. All she could do was hold on to her shadows as the snow built up around her.

    It was a strange feeling, waiting for death. The last time, she had barely had time to think about it, but now¡­ now she felt she understood it better.

    The thing about dying was that it was lonely. She was lonely.

    Rose didn¡¯t imagine there was much more to see on the other side than she had already seen. More than that, no one was waiting for her there.

    She had focused on one thing all her life, even her second one. Getting ahead. Getting the loot. A big score. Once she got that, Rose had planned to settle down and even raise a family.

    Maybe a crew or even her own gang.

    Now, as the snow fell onto her cheeks and she lost feeling in her legs, Rose finally got it.

    The score she had been chasing her whole life had happened, and she never even noticed.

    She remembered training with Bert, how he had encouraged her and cheered her on. He wasn¡¯t a bad sort. Wendy, always joking and taking the piss, that weird farmer, even the walking skeleton.

    Right now, she remembered the warm bed the most.

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    They hadn¡¯t turned against her or driven her out¡­ she¡¯d just left.

    Angry and jealous, she¡¯d walked away and taken as much as she could with her.

    For what? Her own place? Rose would have laughed at herself if she could, but she was far too tired for that.

    After all that, her big win was a bunch of cult nutters who cut her bloody arms off to use for parts!

    Rose found she could cry just a little bit more.

    =============

    Martha raged, her vinelike limbs tearing into her attendants like whips. They screamed and cried, but it didn¡¯t help her feel any better.

    The pale arms on the slab of stone in front of her were beginning to smell. She could see the first signs of rot starting to spread through them.

    ¡°Have the searchers found her yet?¡± Martha asked the weeping men and women around her.

    ¡°No, First One,¡± They said in perfect unison.

    ¡°Tell them to send out more teams. She must be found. Alive.¡± Martha turned away as they fled and started again.

    Pushing her mana and skills to take control of the dead flesh and incorporate it into herself. She had done this a hundred or even a thousand times before. Never had she encountered the slightest trouble.

    Stone, wood, metal, or flesh, she took ownership of it in seconds.

    But now, she was denied. The needed flesh would not answer her call, and without it, she was cut off from her forces and the blessed people on the other continent.

    The arms refused to accept her, even separated from the cursed creature.

    ¡°Damn it!¡± Martha screamed and smashed the stone table, tearing one of the recalcitrant arms to shreds as she did so.

    Even then, she failed to take ownership of even a single drop of blackened blood.

    Abandoning the attempt, she extended her spiderlike legs and climbed the tower of the keep around her until her head was level with the highest windows.

    A blindingly white landscape stretched around her as far as her eyes could see.

    ¡°Where are you, little Rose?¡± She muttered to herself as she searched for any sign. ¡°We need you, after all.¡±

    Anger flared in her again, but she pushed it aside, reaching into the minds of the searchers.

    The ability to take control of her followers was still new to her. It had almost been an accident the first time it happened. She was merely resting on top of a building as the town below was saved, the wails and screams like music to her ears. She had watched two of her people dragging a small child to the sacrificial square where they could join the People and wanted to tell it not to cry.

    She thought about how it was in her arms, even if it was carried by another, and suddenly she was there.

    Looking out of another¡¯s eyes even as she looked out her own.

    It was like a door had opened in her mind, and she simply stepped through.

    These days, there were thousands of doors, all of them held open just a crack.

    She heard them all, her people, and they, in turn, could hear her.

    Her blessed ones.

    All she needed was for the way to open to the old continent once more, and she could add so many more doors.

    That had been her plan and why she had chosen to harvest Rose. She could open the way with just a little of her flesh, of the fae power.

    It had seemed so easy!

    Her eyes were drawn back down the tower to the last remaining arm.

    ¡°Yes, yes,¡± She smiled. ¡°You must give me that power.¡± She skittered and dropped back until she crouched over the flesh, her vines spreading like wings around her as Martha pushed and pushed at the flesh.

    =============

    ¡°Dagon!¡± Bert yelled as he burst into the throne room, wreathed in blue flame. ¡°Where are you?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s not here,¡± A woman sat at a small desk off to one side and glared over the top of her glasses at Bert. ¡°What do you want?¡±

    ¡°We need his help,¡± Bert said, glaring at the woman, ¡°He¡¯s been playing stupid bloody games while people were dying.¡±

    ¡°So what?¡± The woman kept up her glare, eyes narrowing. ¡°What would you care?¡±

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Bert frowned. ¡°Have we met?¡± He focused on her at last, taking in her attire.

    ¡°No,¡± She sniffed. ¡°Come back later.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re from Earth?¡± Bert frowned, taking in her clothes, the clipboard, and the ballpoint pen she tapped irritatedly against the desk. ¡°You are, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Leave, dickhead,¡± She spat on the floor. ¡°I won¡¯t help you.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck is your problem?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Someone piss in your cornflakes?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll tell you what my problem is!¡± She snarled and flung a hand out.

    Lights swirled and moved in the room, but the flames of the fae pushed them back.

    ¡°Well?¡± Bert asked, ¡°I¡¯m fucking waiting!¡±

    ¡°Enough!¡± Dagon roared as he unfolded out of the thin air like a cutout come to life. ¡°Fiona, please control yourself.¡±

    ¡°Dagon, finally!¡± Bert rounded on the entity. ¡°Did you know this was happening?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Dagon grinned. ¡°Why do you think I was trying to help?¡±

    ¡°Help?¡± Bert laughed. ¡°Did you consider just opening that multi-dimensional yap of yours and just telling us?¡±

    Dagon paused and then started to speak, only to pause again.

    ¡°That did not actually occur to me,¡± He frowned. ¡°You must understand I do not experience time in the same way as you.¡±

    ¡°Shut up!¡± Bert goggled at the man, ¡°All these bollocking games occurred to you, but just telling us didn¡¯t?¡± He took a step forward, ¡°They cut off her arms, Dagon.¡±

    ¡°Already?¡± Dagon looked confused. ¡°That shouldn¡¯t have happened for another month!¡±

    ¡°He probably caused it,¡± Fiona spat on the floor again.

    ¡°Who¡¯s little Miss Friendly?¡± Bert asked sarcastically.

    Her ballpoint bounced off the side of his head as Dagon laughed.

    ¡°That introduction will have to wait, little lord,¡± He waved his hands as images appeared around him. ¡°I can offer no aid at this time, but I will when the time is right.¡± With another wave of his hand, Bert found himself back in the snow outside the Waystation.

    He stood there, fuming for another few seconds, wondering if the Waystation was strong enough to slam it into the damn throne room before he caught himself and made himself calm down.

    He had things to do.

    ==============

    Rose listened to the noises as they came closer. Voices talked of her, and they sounded¡­ wrong. She knew that sound. The human voice was never meant to sound like that. The People were coming.

    She tried to drag herself further into cover, tried to run, tried to die, but nothing worked anymore. She could only lay there and hope she passed before they found her.

    No matter what, she would not help them again.

    Never again.

    ¡°Tracks!¡±

    ¡°Here, covered with snow, but still here!¡±

    ¡°Hurry!¡±

    The group came closer, the voices getting louder as they approached the edge of the bushes that half hid her from view. Rose closed her eyes and waited; all they needed was the right angle and-

    ¡°Look Out!¡±

    Rose¡¯s eyes snapped open as a light played across the bushes, snowflakes glinting in the air as they fell.

    ¡°Run!¡± Fear in the voice now.

    ¡°YOU FUCKING DARE!¡± A voice roared through the night as something heavy passed, the ground rumbling.

    Screams filled the night as Rose recognized the voice.

    Wendy. It was Wendy. What was she doing here?

    Rose tried to call out. To let them know she was here. All she managed was a pathetic gasp, lost amidst the screams of the People as Wendy vented her fury on them.

    ¡°Got her!¡± Rose recognized that voice, too; feeling vines of steel wrap around her body and raise her gently, the rogue began to weep. ¡°Wendy! Lily! Get back here; she needs healing!¡±

    Rose passed out as two women ran back towards her.

    Nightmares took Rose the moment she passed out. One second, she was on the road, clasped in vines, and the next, she was back on the stone slab, watching the axes fall.

    It all seemed to happen in slow motion, the axes slowing until she could feel each layer of skin sliced through, each fiber of muscle part. The bones in her arm shattered beneath the strike, and Rose screamed.

    The scream blasted out of her, taking every drop of mana with it. She remembered the way the two butchers had been blasted away from her, their last remaining human parts shattering in the blast wave.

    Just like before, she scrambled to get off the table, to run, to get away.

    But this time, she stopped, frozen in the air as a man appeared.

    No, not a man. A god.

    ¡°Hello, Rose.¡± Death smiled at her.

    ¡°Let me go, damn you!¡± She snarled and fought, ¡°I need to run!¡±

    ¡°You already did,¡± the god laughed and snapped his fingers.

    Rose remembered everything all at once. The whole run, the way her skills failed her after the first day. Too weak to keep them running, her shadows had fled¡­ and another set took their place.

    ¡°You did that?¡± She asked.

    ¡°I owed your Lord a favor or two,¡± Death nodded as he settled himself onto the stone slab she had so recently vacated.

    ¡°I¡¯ll let him know you helped me,¡± Rose said immediately.

    ¡°Don¡¯t bother,¡± Death smiled again, and she was struck by how warm it was. Wasn¡¯t Death supposed to be scary?

    ¡°Well, thank you,¡± Rose added lamely.

    ¡°Don¡¯t thank me just yet,¡± Death said seriously. ¡°We need to have a little chat, you and me.¡± He rose, walking towards the rogue.

    ¡°Why?¡± Rose tried to back away but was still held still by the very air around her. ¡°What about?¡±

    ¡°Oh, this and that,¡± He grinned. ¡°Mostly about the past, the present, and what may yet come to be.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t I just go back? I want to see my sister!¡± Rose wailed as he put a companionable arm around her shoulders.

    ¡°Sorry, kid,¡± Death gave her a little squeeze as the world around her began to swirl and change. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking!¡± He laughed, and they were gone.

 Chapter 111 - Time to make a change!

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to do this!¡± Rose struggled in his grip as her feet touched down in deep mud.

    ¡°Yes. You said,¡± Death noted as he pointed ahead of them. ¡°Now, look at that!¡±

    Rose turned her eyes to the scene ahead of them.

    It was a small campsite, with several people gathered around the small fire. An older couple were taking turns cooking over the flames, their white hair turning gold or orange as it caught the light. They nudged and bumped each other, occasionally bickering as each insisted they could do it better.

    A younger man, lying next to the fire on a leather bedroll, laughed at their antics as a younger pair with dark hair and matching features handed a bottle back and forth between them.

    ¡°What about them?¡± Rose asked the god. ¡°I don¡¯t recognize any of them.¡±

    ¡°Why would you?¡± Death frowned at her.

    ¡°I just assumed you meant my past?¡± Rose said.

    ¡°Why?¡± Death looked back at the group. ¡°What makes you so special?¡±

    The little half-pixie glared at his back, afraid to move in the thick mud.

    ¡°Then why am I here?¡± She asked.

    ¡°It¡¯s about lessons, Rose.¡± Death¡¯s voice had lost its warmth. ¡°Lessons you need to learn.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t you just tell me?¡± She groaned. ¡°I really want to see my sister!¡±

    ¡°I would, but you¡¯re stupid. You won¡¯t learn that way.¡± Death walked closer to the fire, circling the group as they talked and cooked.

    ¡°I¡¯m not stupid!¡± Rose shouted at the god, who just laughed at her. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡±

    ¡°How did you survive the escape?¡± Death asked with a smile.

    ¡°You helped me?¡± Rose guessed.

    ¡°And how are you alive right now?¡± His voice was cold again, his eyes glinting like steel in the firelight.

    ¡°You are keeping me alive?¡± Rose guessed with a sinking feeling.

    ¡°Correct. Try not to make me change my mind.¡± Death turned his back to her, watching the fire again.

    Rose joined him in watching the group. She didn¡¯t really have a choice, after all. It was his show, and Rose knew the next time she woke would be in the Summerlands if she complained too much.

    The group was actually nice. They were funny, with the bickering old pair, their children, and a friend they had met along the way. It was nice watching as they ate, drank, and did everyday things. A little glimpse of the kind of life she had always been denied, forever on the outside of such things.

    As the night drew on, the group all took to their bedrolls with smiles and waves of good night.

    The daughter took the first watch, waking their new friend when it was their turn to stand a watch in the early hours of the morning.

    ¡°They seem nice,¡± Rose spoke for the first time in hours as the man smoked a small pipe while shaking the sleep from his limbs. ¡°I guess I never really appreciated the normal things. Is that the lesson?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Death nodded to the man as the stranger went to find a place to empty his bladder.

    He was halfway done, his sword leaning against a tree behind him, when a knife pressed into his neck, and a woman whispered in his ear.

    ¡°There are too many of us to fight, stranger.¡± She whispered to him from beneath the dark hood of her cloak. ¡°You have a choice to make. Fight and die. Run, and live.¡± She vanished back into the shadows, her dark leather armor hiding her quickly beneath the trees.

    The man hesitated as he looked back toward the sleeping family. His eyes flicked to the sword twice, and he opened his mouth as if to shout¡­ but in the end, he chose to run into the darkness, his companions forgotten.

    The world froze as Death turned to Rose.

    ¡°Well?¡± He asked her.

    ¡°What?¡± Rose asked. ¡°He didn¡¯t really have a choice. Why should he die for someone he just met?¡±

    ¡°Then watch.¡± Death clicked his fingers, and time flowed again.

    The same woman who threatened the stranger crept from the shadows and, picking a knife from the fireside, carefully slit the throats of the sleeping family, one by one. The old woman woke when her husband managed to grab her hand as he died.

    The struggle was brief but brutal.

    As the bodies began to cool, the woman looted the camp and stole away into the night.

    ¡°Lying bitch!¡± Rose gasped. ¡°She was alone!¡± She paused. ¡°Why did she take one of their knives?¡±

    ¡°Hers was dull, a cheap fake.¡± Death grinned at her. ¡°She would not even have been able to scratch someone with the knife she had.¡±

    ¡°Okay, fine!¡± Rose said, ¡°But he had no way to know that! He made the best choice he could!¡±

    ¡°Did he?¡± Death laughed, and time blurred.

    The same man who had run from the campsite was working a forge. His hair was grey, and wrinkles marked his face. His muscles shone in the forge light as he swung his hammer, shaping a horseshoe.

    ¡°Ho the smith!¡± A woman called from outside. ¡°Ho the smith!¡±

    ¡°Out the back!¡± He yelled.

    ¡°Hey there,¡± A woman called, her voice making the man seem to hesitate as he swung the hammer. He missed the shoe, the hammer banging hard into the anvil.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± He called angrily.

    ¡°Just a traveler looking for fresh shoes for my horse, no need for trouble!¡± The woman laughed, ¡°A bit jumpy, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Rose could tell it was the same woman. She dressed better now, her armor steel banded and a delicate bow on her back. A heavy coin purse hung from a rich leather belt.

    ¡°Have we met before?¡± The smith asked, his eyes searching the woman¡¯s face.

    ¡°Careful,¡± She grinned. ¡°Your wife might not like that comment,¡± She winked.

    ¡°You said you need shoes?¡± The man asked, shaking his head as he turned away from her to kick open the crate with the finished shoes inside.

    ¡°A fresh set,¡± The woman came up behind him, peering over his shoulder. ¡°Hey, those ones look better than the rest; what gives?¡±

    ¡°Those are steel,¡± The man said proudly. ¡°The Lord ordered them special.¡±

    ¡°Hmm,¡± She squinted over his shoulder. ¡°How much did he pay?¡±

    ¡°A gold piece,¡± The man answered proudly. ¡°And more to come if he likes them.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± She jingled her coin purse loudly. ¡°I want them. Two gold coins right now.¡±

    ¡°I promised them to him today.¡± The smith picked up his hammer and started working on another shoe set.

    ¡°Well, I guess you have a choice to make,¡± The woman said archly. ¡°Two gold today, and the Lord waits a little. Or one tomorrow, and my gold is gone forever.¡±

    ¡°What did you say?¡± The smith¡¯s eyes were bulging in the firelight.

    ¡°You have a choice to make,¡± She said behind him.

    The smith spun, slamming his hammer into her skull.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    The woman dropped like a stone, but the smith just kept swinging until there was nothing but blood and shards of bone.

    ¡°So she got what was coming to her,¡± Rose rolled her eyes. ¡°I get it. Something about having my arms cut off made that point already!¡±

    Death simply clicked his fingers again.

    The man now stood on the gallows, his family weeping below him as he was asked for his last words.

    ¡°I heard her voice every night for years!¡± He yelled at the crowd. ¡°I don¡¯t care what anyone says; that was her!¡± He broke down and wept. ¡°Killed them all, she did. I went back the next day and found them. One set of tracks. I could have saved them!¡±

    The hangman pulled a lever, and the sound as his neck snapped was loud as the world faded to blackness.

    ¡°So what was the point?¡± Rose asked, her tone serious for once. ¡°He died for doing the right thing, she for doing the wrong thing. Same difference!¡±

    ¡°We aren¡¯t done,¡± Death smiled at her. ¡°Why don¡¯t we see what the other choice was?¡±

    ¡°Wait, what?¡± Rose asked, then stumbled as they arrived back at the campsite again.

    ¡°There are too many of us to fight, stranger.¡± The woman whispered to him from beneath the dark hood of her cloak. ¡°You have a choice to make. Fight and die. Run, and live.¡± She vanished again into the shadows as the stranger hesitated.

    ¡°Wait, is this real?¡± Rose asked Death.

    ¡°It is,¡± He nodded. ¡°Each choice makes two worlds. Everything that can happen must happen. Both timelines exist until the choice is made. The Gods and Goddesses can see them all.¡±

    ¡°ALARM! ATTACKERS! ALARM!¡± The stranger roared as he grabbed his sword and ran for the campfire.

    The family all erupted from their bedrolls, and each one began to cast spells for light and tracking. The old man summoned spirits from the earth that flew into the forest with wails.

    ¡°Are you hurt, son?¡± The old woman called. ¡°I can heal you if you are.¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± He gaped at them. ¡°You¡¯re mages?¡±

    ¡°Got a sighting!¡± The old man called, his eyes glowing. ¡°Just one attacker, a woman.¡±

    ¡°One?¡± The man whirled to face the forest. ¡°She claimed there was a big group.¡±

    ¡°Phantasmal Sweep!¡± The youngest called, and a line of wailing ghosts shot out into the woods.

    In no time at all, the woman sat bound and trussed next to the fire, weeping and begging for mercy.

    ¡°They were powerful?¡± Rose asked. ¡°But they died so easily.¡±

    ¡°A good lesson to remember,¡± Death nodded. ¡°But not the one you need right now.¡±

    ¡°Please!¡± The woman begged as the family gathered around. ¡°I was desperate!¡±

    The stranger argued for her to be killed, but the old timers let her talk. It was not exactly an original tale. A woman on the run from a wedding she never wanted, hungry, alone, but smart enough to try and trick. Desperate enough to kill when she had to.

    By sunrise that morning, a decision had been made, and the woman was untied but watched.

    Death clicked his fingers again, and time flowed by in a blur.

    Another smithy, the same man again working the forge. The forge was bigger, his clothes better, and he worked on steel weapons as they watched.

    ¡°Ho the smith!¡± The woman¡¯s voice made him miss his strike again.

    ¡°Helen?¡± He yelled, ¡°Is that you?¡±

    ¡°Who else, ya daft old man?¡± She laughed as she strolled around the corner. ¡°I need shoes for my horse.¡±

    ¡°Helen, for the last time.¡± He smiled at her, ¡°I¡¯m the Guild Armorer now. I don¡¯t make shoes anymore.¡±

    She pouted and whined theatrically until he laughed and pulled a set of shining silver shoes from a crate next to the forge.

    ¡°What happened to not making shoes?¡± She asked.

    ¡°I keep some around, just in case.¡± He grinned and wiped his hands on a rag as he took a break. ¡°How are they?¡±

    ¡°Not bad,¡± Helen said with a sad smile, ¡°Still missing their parents, even when grandparents themselves.¡±

    ¡°I miss them too,¡± The smith smiled back.

    ¡°Well, you have a choice to make,¡± Helen grinned. ¡°They need a good armorer.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s no choice,¡± The man laughed and grabbed his hammer. ¡°Lead the way.¡±

    The world faded again as Death turned to Rose.

    ¡°One choice to cause harm, one choice to run, and so many lives ruined.¡± He waved as ghostly shapes filled the area around them until Rose couldn¡¯t see where they ended. ¡°All these people died because of those choices, and none of the people in the story ever met them. They were merely caught in the ripples of the act.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Rose admitted.

    ¡°Choices matter!¡± Death snapped. ¡°When you make a choice that is best for you, remember that.¡±

    Rose nodded mutely.

    ¡°Good,¡± Death clapped his hands. ¡°Progress. Let¡¯s move along to the present, shall we?¡±

    =============

    ¡°Who in the hell is she?¡± Rose asked, bending over the woman as she wept. ¡°She¡¯s dressed really weird.¡±

    ¡°I believe it is called a pantsuit,¡± Death said as he gently stroked the woman¡¯s hair. ¡°Common enough where she comes from.¡±

    ¡°Where¡¯s that?¡± Rose asked, noting the fine cloth and neat stitching. ¡°It must be a pretty good place if this kind of stuff is common.¡±

    ¡°The same place as your Lord,¡± Death said mildly as he patted the woman on the back. ¡°She really hates him, by the way.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Rose asked. ¡°What did he do?¡±

    ¡°Destroyed the world,¡± Death sighed. ¡°Not directly, and not on purpose, but in a roundabout way.¡±

    ¡°Fuck,¡± Rose gasped. ¡°How?¡±

    ¡°By existing, by trying to survive, and by trying to help a lost and lonely little pixie.¡± Death chuckled. ¡°They call it the Faepocalypse if you can believe that.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s her name?¡± Rose asked.

    ¡°Fiona DeGuerre, formerly an administrative assistant, now a Mage with a specialty in dimensional magic.¡± He laid his hand gently on her side as she stilled, her breathing calming. ¡°She doesn¡¯t really blame him, of course. She¡¯s too smart for that, but it is easier than accepting it was just bad luck.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing I¡¯m missing the point again,¡± Rose slumped. ¡°I don¡¯t get the lesson.¡±

    ¡°Your Lord tried to help and caused an apocalyptic change in his own world,¡± Death sighed. ¡°Understand?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t try and help people?¡± Rose said doubtfully.

    ¡°No!¡± Death laughed. ¡°You can never avoid doing harm, even if it is by accident.¡± He shook his head. ¡°The lesson is that sometimes even the best intentions cause unseen harm.¡± He chuckled again as he stood. ¡°Don¡¯t try and help people!¡±

    ¡°Hey!¡± Rose complained.

    Death smirked at her. ¡°Come along; we have other places to go.¡±

    ¡°Can I choose where we go?¡± Rose asked, ¡°I really want to see Lily,¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Death said as the world blurred again, ¡°Whenever you want to choose where we go¡­ just raise your hand.¡±

    ¡°Prick!¡± Rose yelled at the chuckling God as the world slammed back into place around her.

    ¡°Where are we now?¡± Rose grumbled as they walked through a gloomy, mist-filled space.

    ¡°Somewhere other than where we should be,¡± Death said quietly. ¡°Someone you need to see.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Rose asked suspiciously.

    ¡°Because you are alike in many ways,¡± Death said as they came across a woman staring blankly into the darkness ahead of her. A torn, tattered cape fluttered from her shoulders as she stared ahead, seemingly lost in thought.

    Her simple clothes were stained with blood, dirt, and something dark and oil-like.

    Red hair flowed down her back and moved slightly in a breeze they could not feel.

    ¡°Is that who I think it is?¡± Rose felt herself whispering and drawing nearer to Death.

    ¡°Yes, and no.¡± Death nodded to the motionless figure. ¡°She is and is not the one you met ever so briefly in the mists.¡±

    ¡°Which is why I agreed to this farcical idea in the first place,¡± Felicia said as she turned to glare at Death.

    ¡°FUCK!¡± Rose turned to run, falling into the mist as she tripped over her own feet. Screaming as the ground rushed up at her, Rose felt herself stop as mists rose to push her back onto her feet.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to attack you,¡± Felicia sighed and rubbed her face. She looked tired, drained in some way.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t lying,¡± Death said mildly. ¡°We have a little deal, don¡¯t we, Felicia?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± She nodded. ¡°Can we hurry this up a bit? I have some things to deal with before I am ready.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Death smiled.

    ¡°Look, Rose, is it?¡± Felicia said as she bent down to look the half-pixie in the eye, ¡°Sometimes we think we want something, need something, and will do anything to get it. Sound familiar?¡±

    Rose nodded, too afraid to even speak.

    ¡°Well, Rose, when things go bad enough that we lose everything, that is when we discover what is really important.¡± She nodded to Death. ¡°He says you got close to that and that maybe, just maybe, I can help you never get those last few steps.¡±

    Rose nodded again.

    ¡°Want the truth, little rogue?¡± Felicia grinned, and Rose felt her blood run cold as Felicia whispered in her ear. ¡°There are no second chances, no going back, no getting it right next time. Done is done, and you have to live with the reality you make for yourself. Remember that.¡± Felicia patted Rose gently on the cheek and stood up again. ¡°We done?¡± She held out a hand to Death, who sighed and handed her a sword that seemed to cut the very air apart as it moved through the mist. ¡°Oh, kid?¡± Felicia looked back at Rose one last time. ¡°When you move onto something real, something that matters? It feels better. Everything feels better.¡± With that, she strode into the dark tunnel, humming to herself as she started running.

    ¡°What was that sword?¡± Rose asked Death as he smiled after the figure.

    ¡°Something that could kill an immortal,¡± Death said sadly as the world began to fade.

    ¡°Hey Mum, I¡¯m HOOMMEE!¡± Felicia¡¯s roar was the last thing she saw before they stood in darkness again.

    ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± Rose asked nervously.

    ¡°Next, Rose, we will see many possible futures,¡± Death¡¯s voice began to ring hollowly around her as he grew. ¡°You will not remember what you see when you wake, but your soul will.¡±

    Rose turned, and a world of blood and screaming slammed into place around her.

    ============

    Rose screamed as she jerked awake, fighting with everything she had to escape, to get away, her mind filled with the nightmares of a thousand lifetimes.

    ¡°Rose! Rose!¡± Lily¡¯s voice broke over her screaming. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s okay! We have you, we have you.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not Lily!¡± Rose gasped at the human woman who held her down so effortlessly. ¡°Help!¡± She thrashed around.

    ¡°Rose, honey,¡± Wendy appeared in her vision. ¡°That is Lily; she evolved; now be quiet, okay?¡±

    Rose collapsed, more out of tiredness than anything Wendy had said, but she still felt better for seeing her.

    ¡°Right, we are headed home, Rose.¡± Wendy smiled. ¡°Everything is all right now.¡±

    Rose shook her head violently.

    ¡°It¡¯s not all right!¡± She hissed, ¡°They will come for me!¡±

    Wendy grinned like a shark.

    ¡°What?¡± Rose asked as she noticed the thumps and bumps as they drove along.

    ¡°They already have!¡± Wendy laughed, ¡°What do you think all those bumps are?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve broken through!¡± Scruff called from somewhere at the front. ¡°Looks like they are falling back.

    ¡°Great!¡± Wendy said with a wink at Rose. ¡°Smooth sailing all the way back to the Waystation.¡±

 CHapter 112 - Returning Home.

    Rose gaped at the gleaming wood and metal of the Waystation as she was helped down from the cab of the Express. It would have been hard to believe it was even the same place if she couldn¡¯t feel it herself.

    Being in the Waystation had a certain feeling to it. Rose didn¡¯t have a name for it, but if she had to guess, she would call it home. The feeling of coming home.

    It was enough to start her crying again, but she bit back the tears as the strange dark-robed figures steadied her.

    She wanted to ask who they were, what they were. What had happened to the Waystation? Despite thousands of questions, she kept her mouth firmly shut.

    Her place was not to question.

    She would get a chance to ask them if they let her come back.

    As far as Rose knew, that had to be a long shot.

    Her stumps itched where they had been healed. Wendy had done her best, but the arms simply would not regrow.

    ¡°Go on in,¡± Lily waved at her, ¡°They are bound to be waiting!¡±

    ¡°Oh, I bet,¡± Wendy winked at Rose. ¡°They completely freaked out.¡±

    ¡°Och, aye!¡± Gavin said as he trotted down the ramp. ¡°They freaked, unlike you lot who rushed out of ¡®ere so calmly.¡± He stopped in front of Rose and gave her a look. ¡°Well, damn, lass.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Nae bother, they¡¯ll figure it out somehow.¡± He smiled and hurried over to the others. ¡°Need any help?¡±

    ¡°Gavin!¡± A woman strode down the ramp with a strange creature following her. ¡°I¡¯m not spending all day look¡¯ after ya bawbag!¡±

    There was a squeak, and the creature opened a massive mouth and shouted, ¡®Baws!¡¯ at a deafening level.

    ¡°Ah said I¡¯ll be right back!¡± Gavin said defensively.

    ¡°Feckin¡¯ right you will be!¡± The woman gathered the fluff-bound horror into her arms and stomped back inside. ¡°I¡¯ll tell your ma!¡±

    ¡°Ge¡¯ ta Fuck!¡± Gavin groaned. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me ma!¡±

    Rose gaped as the dwarf ran after the half-elf.

    ¡°It¡¯s a long story,¡± Lily sighed as Rose faltered. ¡°They¡¯re married. It was a whole thing.¡±

    Rose just nodded mutely as one of the robed figures gestured toward the ramp.

    Led through the halls of the Waystation by the figures, Rose had a feeling like she had when she realized she was going to die.

    This was worse, though.

    This wasn¡¯t death; it was judgment. Considering the things she had done that she had helped do, judgment was much scarier.  As she climbed the stairs to what she assumed was the new control room, Rose felt her chest tighten more and more until it felt impossible to breathe.

    Finally, they arrived at a floor and moved along a corridor filled with doors beneath a crystal roof. It was so beautiful.

    She had missed so much.

    When the figures stopped and gestured to a door, her last remaining bit of willpower broke as she saw the word written upon it.

    Rose

    She was ushered inside as she wept and helped to bed before one of the figures pointed to a black, glossy surface.

    Welcome Home! Bert and Bell are seeing the King, but they will be here once you have some rest!

    Rose stared at the words as she slowly slipped into sleep.

    ============

    Rose woke in her sister''s arms, the smell familiar even if the form wasn¡¯t. She examined her sister¡¯s sleeping face, seeing the same features written across a much larger face. It was jarring, and again, the questions rose in her mind.

    She didn¡¯t wake Lily, wanting to remember this moment, just in case.

    She lay there almost an hour until the sounds of shouting echoed up from downstairs.

    ¡°Hey, you¡¯re awake,¡± Lily yawned. ¡°Guess they¡¯re back.¡± She winced as something smashed. ¡°And still pissed off.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lily,¡± Rose said quickly before the chance was gone. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for so much, for everything!¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Lily sighed as she stood up, ¡°You always are.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s different this time,¡± Rose cried as her sister turned away. ¡°I really, really, really am sorry.¡± She sniffed. ¡°If I can, when I can, I¡¯ll prove it to you.¡±

    ¡°Okay, Rose,¡± Lily smiled at her, ¡°Okay.¡±

    Rose simply let her help her up. Lily didn¡¯t believe her, and Rose couldn¡¯t blame her.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Lily huffed, ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with, eh?¡± She smiled at Rose, the same old smile that always made her feel like everything was going to be okay.

    It didn¡¯t work, but Rose appreciated the attempt all the same.

    As they worked their way through the train, Lily told her that was what it was called; the angry voices got louder.

    Rose felt as tense as she ever had. It felt like her whole life led up to this point, and more than once, she wondered if Death was walking beside her, just like he had when he showed her the people.

    When the robed figures opened the door, the room was so full of mana that both sisters gasped.

    ¡°I¡¯ll kill them all!¡± Bell was raging, her human form flickering with pale blue fire. ¡°I¡¯ll turn them into mulch and drive the Waystation over their screaming corpses!¡±

    Bert simply stood, staring out the window as fire wreathed his form.

    ¡°How did they even get here in the first place?¡± He asked Bell, ¡°That¡¯s what I don¡¯t get.¡±

    ¡°I did it,¡± Rose said quietly.

    ¡°Ah, fuck,¡± Lily muttered next to her. ¡°Really?¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Bert sounded sad. ¡°I guess that explains it.¡±

    ¡°They already had most of the old continent,¡± Rose went on numbly. ¡°I thought they would help me get back at you all.¡±

    ¡°What for?¡± Bell snapped. ¡°What the fuck did we do to you?¡±

    ¡°Nothing,¡± Rose said simply. ¡°I was just too pissed off to realize that.¡±

    ¡°Hang on,¡± Bert looked round at her as she stopped in the center of the room. ¡°If you were helping them, then why did they do this?¡±

    Rose wanted to say it was because she refused to help more, or she fought back, or¡­ anything. Excuses lined up in her mind. Lies waiting to be told. The habit of a lifetime.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t need me anymore,¡± Rose said simply.

    ¡°Well, you¡¯re safe now,¡± Bell said, still staring down at Rose. ¡°That¡¯s enough for now.¡± She stopped for a second. ¡°Should we punish her for joining a cult? I mean, is that something you punish for?¡±

    Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°The fuck should I know?¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I never had someone run off and join a death cult before.¡±

    ¡°Ummm,¡± Rose hesitated when they both turned to her. ¡°Sorry, but they aren¡¯t a death cult. He does not approve.¡± She winced. ¡°He helped save me, and I just don¡¯t think he likes them.¡±

    ¡°Huh,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°That was nice, but I mean, we do have his kid on board, so¡­ fair?¡±

    ¡°Bell, honey,¡± Bert said shortly, ¡°Focus. We were trying to figure out if we should punish her somehow.¡±

    ¡°Meh, probably,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°But, I mean, they did cut off her arms and chase her through the snow.¡± She leaned down to Rose, who felt herself leaning back involuntarily. ¡°Did we learn anything?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t join cults and help them take over the world?¡± Rose asked carefully.

    ¡°Well done!¡± Bell clapped. ¡°That¡¯s good enough for me.¡± She blinked into a pixie and shot off out the doors. ¡°I¡¯m going to get the Bear¡¯s Fall ready.¡±

    Bert sighed, and Rose turned nervously to meet his eyes.

    ¡°I¡¯m really not cut out for this, shit,¡± Bert sighed as he sat in his chair on the bridge of the train.

    Rose simply bowed her head and waited.

    ¡°Do you know what my first class is?¡± Bert asked her.

    Rose shook her head mutely.

    ¡°Garbage Man,¡± He laughed. ¡°It was meant to be an insult, but I really embraced the idea. I pick up the things, the people others throw away.¡± He smiled sadly. ¡°I think it might be the only truly smart thing I ever did.¡± Leaning forward, he rested his head on his hands as he talked. ¡°Here¡¯s my problem. You ran off and joined a death squad. They prayed on innocents. It¡¯s horrific.¡±

    Rose just hung her head, waiting for the axe to fall.

    ¡°The thing is,¡± Bert went on. ¡°You are one of my people. In this world or the next, you are a member of my Court. My family. So here is my offer. You will give up your class. No more Rose the Rogue. No more sneaking, stealing, and killing in the shadows.¡±

    ¡°It was all I knew,¡± Rose said guiltily. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡±

    ¡°In that case, this is your punishment. No more Rogue. From now on, you are a Garbage Man. Woman. Person.¡± He trailed off lamely, and Rose felt hope in her chest.

    ¡°Really?¡± She asked. ¡°I can come back?¡±

    ¡°It won¡¯t be easy,¡± Bert warned her. ¡°And you will have to help us fight these bastards, undo what you helped to do.¡±

    ¡°I promise,¡± Rose felt the tears rolling down her cheeks.

    ¡°I won¡¯t say this is your last chance. You will mess up again, I¡¯m sure. We all do; just do me a favor?¡±

    ¡°Anything,¡± Rose would have given him everything if he asked at that moment.

    ¡°Just try to do better, yeah?¡± Bert smiled and laid a hand on her shoulder.

    You have been offered the Class:

    Garbage Man!

    Accept?

    Y/N?

    Warning: this will replace your main class!

    Rose accepted immediately, desperate to leave her old life behind. A series of skill changes flashed past, some lost, others gained. It was overwhelming and only got more so when a collection of metal and flesh was dumped at her feet.

    ¡°Close your eyes,¡± Bert instructed, ¡°Good. Now reach out with everything you have, every drop of mana, will, and everything else for your arms and cast reclaim flesh.¡±

    Rose did as she was told, her eyes tightly closed as a fire burned where her stumps used to be.

    ¡°Keep going!¡± Bert said, his hand still on her shoulder. ¡°You can do it!¡±

    She screamed as the burning increased, but she pushed with everything she had. All her determination to be a better person, a better sister, a better everything was poured into the fire.

    ¡°Keep going!¡± Lily was there now, hand on her other shoulder. ¡°Keep going, Rose!¡±

    With a scream of pain, of rage at her old self, the fire reached where her fingers used to be.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Bert whooped. ¡°Fuck, yeah! That¡¯s the ticket! Go on, girl!¡±

    Lily laughed and cheered as Rose sat there, her eyes tightly closed as the fire slowly ebbed away.

    ¡°Open your eyes, Rose!¡± Lily laughed. ¡°Open!¡±

    Rose opened her eyes, fear churning her stomach at what she would see.

    Glistening metal had grown where her arms used to be. She flexed her fingers, feeling each movement in wonder.

    ¡°I can feel it,¡± She wondered as she rubbed the tips of her fingers together, ¡°I can feel it.¡±

    ¡°Well, yeah,¡± Bert grinned down at her. ¡°Not much point if you can¡¯t feel it is there?¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Rose asked, dumbfounded at her new arms.

    ¡°No fucking idea!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°I was unconscious when mine happened.¡±

    Rose flexed her new arms again and pushed herself to her feet.

    ¡°What now?¡± She asked Bert, no¡­ her Lord, as she stared into his smiling face.

    ¡°Now?¡± Bert clapped her on the back. ¡°Now we have a welcome home dinner!¡±

    ==============

    Martha felt the beginnings of something. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was the first time she had gotten anywhere with the last arm. Hours and hours of concentration had gone into forcing her way past the flesh¡¯s defenses.

    ¡°Yes, yes!¡± She crowed. ¡°Give up your secrets for the People!¡± She laughed as sweat poured down her face.

    Who cared if they had lost the girl? Who cared if the Waystation knew they were there? She would soon have the power of the Fae for herself!

    She began to laugh as she saw it move again.

    ¡°Come to Martha!¡± She roared in triumph.

    The fingers moved, curling up, and then a single finger unfolded and flipped her off.

    ¡°What?¡± Martha gasped as pale blue flames flickered on the fingernails before the entire arm burst into bright blue flame. Anywhere the fire touched her claimed things burned away. Stone, vine, and wood all turned to powder as she scrambled to save some of the flesh.

    ¡°NO! No, no, no, no, no, no, NO!¡± Martha screamed as the last vestiges of her hope burned away. In seconds, nothing was left but ash.

    Martha screamed in rage, thrashing around with her maimed limbs as her blinding rage spread, infecting her People and sending them into berserk rages. Buildings fell, and roars echoed through the night as Martha¡¯s rage tore her followers apart.

    Hundreds died to their fellow People while the madness started.

    When it passed, Martha sat and wept in a half-destroyed keep.

    ==============

    Death and War stood on a hilltop overlooking the lands claimed by the People, smiling happily.

    ¡°Well, that worked better than expected,¡± War said with a deep laugh.

    ¡°It¡¯s only the start,¡± Death warned. ¡°And we can not intervene other than with the Fae.¡±

    ¡°Stupid rules,¡± War grunted. ¡°We are Gods! We should do as we like!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree,¡± Death smiled. ¡°But hopefully this will be enough.¡±

    ¡°Oh, look,¡± War laughed as a tower fell, crushing dozens in its fall, ¡°There goes another one.¡±

    ¡°I take no pleasure in their passing,¡± Death said.

    ¡°Liar,¡± War laughed. ¡°Think it was worth the trade?¡±

    ¡°The Watcher, you mean?¡± Death asked.

    ¡°Of course,¡± War flexed his chest, ¡°I like a woman with fire.¡±

    ¡°I think so,¡± Death sighed, and they turned away as the last buildings fell. ¡°But time will tell.¡±

    ¡°How did you do it, anyway?¡± War nudged his brother. ¡°Find a way to take her immortality?¡±

    ¡°I am not the only Death,¡± Death said serenely, ¡°One of us had to know the way.¡±

    ¡°Glad you aren¡¯t the only one,¡± War chuckled darkly. ¡°Because that pixie may well take you out when she finds out you opened the door for Felicia to come back into their lives.¡±

    ¡°She is not the same,¡± Death shrugged.

    ¡°Let us hope the pixie waits to find out!¡± War laughed again as he summoned his flame-wreathed charger.

    ¡°Every plan has weak points,¡± Death admitted. ¡°Farewell, brother.¡±

    War waived as he rode away, flames burning in the air behind him.

    ¡°Always the show-off,¡± Death sighed and stepped through a shadow.

    =============

    Rose was the first out of bed the next day, her thumping head ignored after the party last night.

    They had all gathered to welcome her home, and not one, not ONE, had said anything about what she had done. It was just welcome back, and let¡¯s party.

    She ran her metallic fingers over the things in her room.

    They had kept a place for her, even when she rejected them.

    It was a nice feeling.

    ¡°She was right, after all!¡± Rose laughed.

    ¡°Keep the FECKIN¡¯ noise down!¡± Lyra roared from next door.

    Rose winced and slipped out of her room, heading downstairs and wandering through the Waystation from top to tail. It was even more amazing than it had been before, and this time, she didn¡¯t feel that anger, that need to run.

    She had found her treasure and would guard it from now on.

    ¡°The people you care about ARE the treasure,¡± She told herself.

    ¡°You sound like a greeting card,¡± Bert chuckled from behind her.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Rose asked, trying to stand straighter.

    ¡°Just something from my old world,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Ready to get some training done?¡±

    Rose nodded eagerly and followed him to the training rooms. The Orcs began to file in one after another as Bert taught her to use her new skills and how to fight without knives.

    It was hard work, and she felt like an idiot a lot of the time, but she kept going.

    Hours later, gasping and sweating, she headed back up to her room to shower. It was a good kind of tired; she thought as the ¡®shower¡¯ washed the pain from her body.

    Once she was done, she dressed in clean clothes, which had been waiting for her. When she got out of the shower, she headed down to the Bear¡¯s Fall proper to help where she could.

    ¡°Over here!¡± Lily called as she approached the door. ¡°How did it go?¡± Her sister pulled her away from the door to the guest restaurant.

    ¡°Great!¡± Rose said honestly, ¡°I think I¡¯ll like being a Garbage Man.¡±

    ¡°Super,¡± Lily glanced back toward the door. ¡°So, before you go in there, I just wanted to warn you not to overreact.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Rose asked, forcing her instinctual suspicion down. She was not that person anymore. Never again.

    ¡°So, Bert kind of hired an army,¡± Lily ran her hand through her hair. ¡°They are a little weird.¡±

    ¡°Who am I to judge?¡± Rose nodded to her own metal arms.

    ¡°Yeah, the thing is,¡± Lily cracked the door open for Rose to see. ¡°They are weird even by our standards.¡±

    Rose peeked through the door and gasped.

    The Bear¡¯s Fall was full to bursting with red-skinned, horned, and very lively demons!

    ¡°We require drink!¡± A large figure pulled open the door and demanded loudly.

    ¡°Right away!¡± Rose swallowed and pushed past him, heading into the restaurant with a polite smile. ¡°Anyone else needs a drink?¡±

    The answer was a resounding yes.

 Chapter 113 - Splitting the Party

    Bert Hudson tapped his fingers on the table in a rapid tattoo of irritation. The cause of that irritation was, well, everything around him. Most significantly, the woman from Earth sat across the table from him and glared at him with undisguised hatred.

    She was from Earth, like him, and had been brought to this world by someone a lot more powerful, also like him. That should have been enough to give them at least some common ground to start from.

    That was, in fact, not the case.

    Over the last fractious hour, it had been made explicitly clear to him that she blamed him for the veritable apocalypse that had befallen Earth due to the return of the Fae to that world. Fiona, that was her name, was aware that he had not done it on purpose and was merely trying to survive at the time. She was also willing to admit that there was no way he, or anyone else, could have known what would happen in advance.

    She was also willing to accept that he had no control over the Fae Courts at large, for all that he had been given a Court of his own.

    Her hour-long tirade had meandered back and forth a bit and demonstrated a broad vocabulary of swear words in at least three languages, including English, French, and German.

    All of this, ALL OF THIS, as a result of Bert asking, ¡®Can I help you?¡¯ when she placed herself in front of his table as he was watching Demons having a late breakfast.

    Fiona had just wound down, and it seemed to be over this time, rather than the last time when it had turned out she was just out of breath.

    ¡°Fuck off,¡± Bert said tiredly. ¡°Just fuck off.¡±

    Her mouth opened in shock.

    ¡°Way Way, throw this person out, please,¡± Bert said and smiled as she was ejected through the nearby wall, which rolled aside for her to pass. ¡°Thanks.¡±

    Five minutes later, one of the robed forms came and held up a small black slate on which the words ¡®She¡¯s back, shall I let her in?¡¯ were scrawled.

    He nodded and watched with weary amusement as she stormed into the room with a face like thunder.

    ¡°Hello again,¡± Bert said. ¡°Want to tell me what you want this time?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll fuckin¨C¡± She started to cast a spell only to yelp as she was ejected again, this time with considerable force.

    Bert just shook his head as he watched her roll to a stop outside the Waystation. Thanks to the recent upgrades to Way Way, he could both see and sense everything for a good few meters on either side.

    No one needed improved senses to hear the scream of rage that came from just outside. Bert could see several of the demons were now showing a serious interest in the proceedings. If he was right, at least three different groups were betting on her return.

    He tracked her progress down the length of the train and back up the other side until she came to the entrance to the Bear¡¯s Fall once more. She stood there, glaring for over five minutes before she calmed down enough to enter.

    With slow, even steps, she returned to the dining hall and entered after a slight hesitation.

    ¡°Nice to see you again,¡± Bert said with a small smile.

    She didn¡¯t respond, merely taking her time as she walked with a proud tilt of her head across the floor to once again stand next to his table.

    ¡°Can I offer you a seat?¡± He asked, and the one beside her slid smoothly back to allow her to sit. ¡°Have you had breakfast, or can I get you anything?¡±

    ¡°I. Have. Eaten.¡± She forced the words out like a person lifting weights off her chest.

    ¡°Look,¡± Bert said with as much politeness as he had left, ¡°You obviously don¡¯t want to be here, so it must be important. Why not tell me so you can leave?¡±

    She stared at him, simmering so intently he half expected smoke to be coming out of her ears before deigning to speak again.

    ¡°You now hold a sufficient amount of land in this area to qualify for a noble title according to the ancient laws of this land,¡± She said through clenched teeth. ¡°As a result of which, the King has granted you the title of Baron.¡± She forced herself to go on. ¡°As such¨C¡±

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Bert said seriously. ¡°No titles, no way.¡±

    ¡°It is not voluntary!¡± Fiona snarled and then pushed her spectacles back up her nose, ¡°You agreed to the terms when you accepted the deeds to the land.¡±

    ¡°Piss off, it was wrapping paper,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°No way you are getting that one past me.¡±

    ¡°Just so, and I have already verified that the fact they were wrapping another reward does NOT affect your responsibilities.¡± She smiled now, sudden and vicious, ¡°I had the King use the deeds for that very purpose.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Bert said levelly, ¡°What responsibilities are these then?¡±

    ¡°I DEMAND that you raise a force of no less than a hundred men for the city to call on for defense.¡± She grinned, ¡°In addition, you must provide a garrison and food for the men, raise defenses on your land, and further allow trade to move freely. If this is not done by the deadline, your LIFE is forfeited.¡± She was practically foaming at the mouth as she finished. ¡°I fucking have you!¡±

    There was a moment of silence in the hall as everyone froze. They had been listening, of course.

    Then, Bert burst out laughing.

    ¡°I am VERY serious!¡± She snapped. ¡°You have two days to comply or face execution.¡±

    ¡°Dagon know you are here?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Never mind, he obviously doesn¡¯t because he has been clear he wants me alive. It would really throw a spanner in his plans if I were killed, so I doubt he would do it.¡± Bert chuckled and shook his head.

    ¡°What is so funny?¡± Fiona glowered. ¡°If he won¡¯t, there is always me!¡±

    ¡°Yeah?¡± Bert asked. ¡°You and what army?¡± He waved at the demons. ¡°I got mine; where¡¯s yours?¡±

    Fiona smiled like a tiger at a limping rabbit.

    ¡°Those were Fae contracts,¡± She said with visible glee.

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I used Fae contracts,¡± Fiona snapped. ¡°There are ways to find those things out, you know.¡±

    ¡°Bell?¡± Bert asked, knowing that Way Way would relay the request.

    ¡°What?¡± A Multi-Bell popped into existence next to him.

    ¡°The lands were given by Fae contracts. Are we bound to follow the rules on that?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Us?¡± Bell laughed. ¡°We are Lord and Lady now. We aren¡¯t bound by shit!¡± She grinned. ¡°But, uh, the other Fae like us to honor them anyway.¡± She looked at Fiona, ¡°Why? What does she want?¡±

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°A small village and a hundred armed men in two days, on pain of death,¡± Bert said.

    ¡°Really?¡± The Multi-Bell laughed. ¡°She is threatening a Fae Court?¡±

    ¡°In the name of Dagon, no less,¡± It was Bert¡¯s turn to grin like a tiger as Fiona looked shaken for the first time.

    ¡°Fuck it, do it,¡± The Multi-Bell laughed. ¡°We needed something over him anyway.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Fiona blanched. ¡°It¡¯s not possible!¡±

    ¡°Eh, it¡¯s easy enough,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Good luck with telling Dagon about this, by the way.¡±

    ¡°A hundred armed, trained warriors in two days?¡± Fiona sniffed. ¡°Not possible.¡±

    ¡°You never said they had to be human,¡± Bert noted, ¡°I¡¯ll have a force of Demons here by the end of the day.¡±

    ¡°And I suppose you¡¯ll knock up a town as well?¡± Fiona glared.

    ¡°Complete with a fort,¡± Bert noted. ¡°I¡¯ll have Dee go over those contracts as well; I needed an excuse to get the little vamp muppet out of the distillery anyway.¡±

    ==============

    Bert watched calmly from his table as Fiona stormed off. He was careful to remain relaxed and calm until she had left the Waystation entirely, then burst out of his chair and ran for the central passageway.

    This was going to be a bitch to do in two days.

    The first thing he did was head to the distillery where the wild-haired vampire Dee was sleeping on a table. He roused her and managed to avoid being disemboweled by the grumpy vamp, thanks to his new armor. It took a few minutes for him to get the facts across to her, but she nodded and agreed to look them over immediately.

    He was just rushing out the door again when he stopped and asked how her project was going.

    ¡°It¡¯s done!¡± She glowed. Not a turn of phrase, she glowed with an inner light the color of blood. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about it after we are done with this, but thank you for asking.¡±

    He congratulated her and ran off to see Scruff and Wendy. The two were, naturally, at opposite ends of the train for once. Scruff was in her fields, working on something horrendous with those succulent seeds when he got there.

    She held up one hand while she did something incredibly complicated with her mana to a succulent seed and what looked like a bloodberry seed.

    Looking directly at what she was doing was painful, like looking at an Escher-inspired knotwork that moved. He felt his eyes watering and looked away until she was done.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± She asked.

    He explained again and then asked what he had come here to ask.

    ¡°Can you get some fields and stuff up and running in a couple of days, maybe less? Food fields, I mean.¡± He paused. ¡°Ones that won¡¯t eat the people tending them?¡±

    She laughed and then paused. ¡°Who will tend them?¡±

    Bert blinked. He had not gotten that far in the planning stages yet.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it,¡± She waved him away. ¡°I do plants; you do everything else.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± He grinned and headed back up the train only to meet Wendy coming the other way with Lily and Rose trailing her.

    ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Wendy said. ¡°Way Way already told me. I assume I need to go and ravage the nearby woods and stuff for materials?¡±

    ¡°Pretty much,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°Thanks, but can I steal Rose? I have something else in mind for her.¡±

    ¡°Okay, but I get to use all my Pretties then!¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°And Tim!¡±

    ¡°Deal,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°As long as Bud says he can go.¡±

    A complicated five minutes later, the Express rolled out of the Waystation headed for the nearest forest.

    Watching Bell and Bud head into the city with Rose was a pleasant sight. Bert felt a lot of hope for Rose. She had fucked up in the worst way, but she was so different now.

    The former thief''s eyes had turned into saucers when Bell tossed her a third of the gold stash the Waystation had accrued along the way to go and buy as much old armor, weapons, and other metal items as she could get her hands on.

    Bell was off to get clothes, while Bud was going to pay the property taxes that Fiona had somehow forgotten to mention.

    Their resident vampire had found a couple of other clauses hidden as well.

    Fiona had plans upon plans, it seemed. If he had been alone, she might have succeeded. But he wasn¡¯t.

    Bert was surrounded by the most amazing people he had ever met. It still amazed him to think that he was lucky enough to have all these people in his life.

    Not that he used to be a loner, per se. He just lacked something when it came to making friends. It seemed that the problem was left behind somewhere along the way.

    He had more than friends; he had family now.

    ¡°You also have shit to do,¡± Bert reminded himself and got back to work. Time was very much of the essence here, and it seemed the land they owned was bigger than he had thought.

    Dee had been working with the orcs to map it all out, and it was deceptive. Even with the new expanded range, it would involve moving the Waystation several times before he could complete the building work.

    It turned out that their land extended off one side of the road quite a ways but stopped short of any actual water source.

    Fiona had carefully included every bit of uneven, barren, or otherwise unusable land she could in the collection. She must have been planning this for some time. At the very least, since they first arrived.

    It was kind of nice to see the trap at last.

    One of them at least.

    Dagon was certain to have schemes of his own, and it would probably be significantly worse than what Fiona had come up with.

    Bert started with the area closest to the road, flattening the land and preparing it for building. Then they moved on to the next area, waited for it to come under control, and again flattened and firmed the ground in preparation.

    The breakthrough happened when they were on their third part. Way Way asked a question that had never occurred to him.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t I just do all this while you get on with something else?¡±

    Bert blinked a few times before he remembered that Way Way could see and move on their own now. Moreover, they had done this stage together enough times that Way Way could have done it from memory easily enough.

    Still¡­.

    ¡°Are you sure?¡± Bert asked. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to think I¡¯m ignoring you.¡±

    Way Way just laughed at him, and Bert felt something he had not felt before. While in the mana tides of the Waystation, he had never felt physical sensations. He had felt something akin to the memory of one.

    This time, he felt a hug. It was physical, and as he had no body at the time, it was as if the Waystation had hugged his very soul.

    It was the single most comforting sensation he had ever experienced.

    When he emerged from the mana tides a few moments later, he felt different somehow.

    A small amount of the anxiety he had always carried was just gone. Everybody had that little bit of anxiety that never went away. It was part of life and made up of the regrets, mistakes, and worries of being alive.

    Now, a little of that was gone.

    There was more than just the feeling of peace to it. The mana seemed to flow even easier than before; he had more energy and felt like he was thinking clearer as well.

    Walking down the ramp from the Bear¡¯s Fall to welcome back the Express and show them where to unload the first set of materials, Bert felt a huge grin on his face as the Waystation began to work on the land without his help.

    ==============

    Dee did her best to walk slowly and calmly as she made her way to the city. She had asked Bert if he minded her going out to post the messages to other vampires, but he had told her it was fine.

    The curious thing was he smelled different than he did just a few hours earlier.

    She had noted it in passing, but it was sticking in her mind as she tried to keep calm.

    It wasn¡¯t the first time his smell had changed, but she didn¡¯t know what to make of it. As time went by, the essential human smell of him faded as the smell of the Fae came through more and more.

    Normally, it happened after a significant event has occurred. Like when he burned with the Fae fire in the dungeon beneath that frozen bit of nowhere. She had noticed it then, but it was to be expected when something like that was done.

    Right?

    Not much was known about the Fae, but there were rumors. Or, more accurately, there were rumors about there being rumors to hear.

    The most obvious ones stated that the Fae simply always were there. They always had been and always would be. She dismissed that idea completely.

    Races did not just exist; they came from something before them, and each race slowly moved to become something else.

    The rarest and most secret rumors talked about the precursor races that might have led to the creation of the Fae species. Those talked about unusual individuals, not the most powerful themselves, who caused change in others.

    Some even thought that those individuals led to the creation of multiple new species.

    They called them the Progenitors, and the half-formed races, like vampires, all shared a fascination with them.

    Of course, it was all a myth, but it was interesting nonetheless.

    Real progress came from chance and people taking opportunities. Like she had, with the distillery and a half-formed theory, that had paid off in a big way.

    At least, she thought it had.

    Time would tell, as she was still changing. Still, it was the most significant change she had ever heard of, and she was telling the others, just in case.

    Included in each message was a vial of her own creation, just in case others wanted to try.

    Dee had rolled the dice hard this time, and while they were still settling, something told her that her concoction was coming up all twenties.

 Chapter 114 - Splitting the Party II

    After a hectic day for the Waystationers, the sun was finally starting to set. Already, the land owned by the crew was unrecognizable. Flat and clear of everything larger than a blade of grass, with the exception of a large area of space at the furthest point from the road.

    Bert watched the orc working to use a very old method to claim the land. They were carrying a set of sky metal spears connected back to the land train with long steel cables. Turning to look behind him, he watched as the Waystation absorbed the latest batch of supplies gathered by the Express.

    Wendy and her crew had been working non-stop, and it showed. They had managed something he thought impossible.

    Time was too tired to throw fireballs at things.

    Their chosen bit of forest had apparently been home to more than one native species that objected to their forest being eaten down to the rocks on the ground.

    Lily¡¯s report had included the little armored skeleton riding a Pretty into battle while throwing fireballs like a machine gun.

    Bless.

    The little pyromaniac was currently lying flat on his back on the roof of the Express and snoring loudly while smoke rose slowly from his hands.

    ¡°Any sign yet?¡± Lily asked tiredly as she appeared out of thin air next to him.

    ¡°Wagons are heading this way,¡± Bert assured her. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯s with them.¡±

    ¡°I wish I were,¡± Lily winced at her own words. ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t trust her. I do.¡±

    ¡°But you have trusted her before, and it didn¡¯t work out well?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yes.¡± Lily slumped a little at the admission. ¡°I just feel like if I trust her now, I¡¯m being an idiot.¡±

    ¡°Look,¡± Bert said, putting an arm over the teen¡¯s shoulders, ¡°If we¡¯re wrong about her, then we are wrong. But if we are right and choose to trust her¡­ she¡¯ll never forget that we did.¡± He thought for another moment. ¡°Either way, she¡¯ll never forget it. Besides,¡± He smiled at Lily as her eyes teared up, ¡°What is our other choice? Give up on her? I don¡¯t do that.¡±

    ¡°Me either,¡± She sniffed and wiped her eyes. ¡°Thank you. I think I needed to hear that.¡±

    ¡°Want to know a secret?¡± He asked.

    Lily nodded.

    ¡°Me too!¡± He winked, and they turned to see the wagons rolling into the Waystation¡¯s land.

    ¡°I think I messed up,¡± Rose fidgeted anxiously as they walked over.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°I got carried away a little,¡± Rose said. ¡°There was this guy who wanted a bunch of places cleared out, so I said I would do it, and I hired all these people¡­¡±

    ¡°Sounds good so far,¡± Bert said encouragingly.

    ¡°Well,¡± She looked back at the wagons, ¡°I figured if we were clearing it for him¡­ we could negotiate to keep the materials cleared.¡± Rose pulled back the tarp over the first cart. ¡°He said that was fine, and I offered him a discount on the job to say thanks.¡±

    ¡°Well done, Rose!¡± Lily said happily, ¡°That was really nice of you.¡±

    ¡°How many carts are there?¡± Bert asked as more carts rolled in.

    ¡°Well, word kind of got around,¡± Rose said with a wince. ¡°And all I was thinking was that it would give us a ton of materials.¡± She let out a whistle that pierced the air and got two back in response. Another line of carts started to form next to the first one. ¡°So I hired some more people, and then I started offering people another discount to load the carts themselves¡­.¡±

    ¡°Did you run out of money to pay people with?¡± Bert guessed.

    ¡°No,¡± Rose blushed slightly. ¡°I actually have more than I left with,¡± she said, holding up two large coin purses. ¡°It¡¯s just that I may have indicated that well¡­ I might have said we would take anything. Old furniture, clothes, metal, armor, building rubble.¡± She hung her head. ¡°I think we just became the town dump.¡±

    Bert laughed happily as the two girls stared at him in shock.

    ¡°Sorry?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°We¡¯re garbage men,¡± Bert said happily. ¡°We can take all that stuff, and Rose even made money doing it!¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not mad?¡± Rose asked. ¡°This stuff is total garbage.¡±

    ¡°It is now,¡± Bert said happily. ¡°But it won¡¯t be by the time we are done!¡±

    ¡°We?¡± Rose asked worriedly.

    ¡°Oh, yes!¡± Bert said with a smug grin. ¡°You just brought yourself a HUGE amount of work!¡±

    Bell and Bud returned an hour or so later, each with a pair of carts loaded with approximately a tenth the amount Rose had brought in. They stared in shock as the anxious Rose directed her people to unload the carts into several large piles.

    Several of the wagon drivers had hung around to get a second payday working as sorters for the apprentice Garbage Man.

    ¡°I thought I had done well with getting anything at all,¡± Bud said as he watched the two dozen busy people working as sorters.

    ¡°Can we afford all this?¡± Bell asked as Bert grinned proudly at Rose.

    ¡°She came back with way more than she left with,¡± Bert said happily. ¡°We¡¯ll be able to pay this lot three times over.¡±

    ¡°Proud of yourself?¡± Bell asked with a laugh. ¡°Now you have a miniature you bringing home trash as well?¡±

    ¡°Pretty chuffed, yeah.¡± Bert chuckled.

    ¡°How much of this metal is actually going to be useful?¡± Bud asked, always the realist.

    ¡°Probably about twenty percent will be useful,¡± Bert estimated. ¡°But so much of it can be turned back into metal bars and such for use in other things. We¡¯ll have a town, a fort, and even stock for traders to use.¡±

    ¡°Are you going to need to move Way Way for a bit?¡± Bell asked thoughtfully.

    ¡°Not for at least an hour, probably a lot more,¡± Bert replied. ¡°It¡¯s going to take that long to take over the land, and then we have to build the keep.¡±

    ¡°No, is what I heard,¡± Bell said with a theatrical eye roll. ¡°I¡¯m going to set up a bit of food and stuff in case people want a meal; send the orcs to set up some tables and stuff, will you?¡±

    Bert agreed happily enough and waved over the rocs. Tru could take control of that, so he left them to it and went to get ready for the build. It was going to be a long night, but if they wanted to get fields planted and do all the other little bits and pieces by the end of the day tomorrow, then there was little choice.

    Bud was on his way back after scooping the sleeping Tim of the Express, so they walked back to the Waystation together.

    They passed Lyra and Gavin on the way in. The newlyweds were having a quiet argument as an ever-growing number of Tumble-Mores followed them.

    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Bert and Bud left them to it.

    ==============

    ¡°Can we do something a little more stylish?¡±

    Bert laughed as he dropped into the ever-growing Mana-Tides of the Waystation. To his surprise, he found himself standing on the deck of a large floating platform instead of floating above the ocean of shifting mana.

    ¡°This is new,¡± Bert commented.

    ¡°I thought it would be more comfortable for you this way,¡± Way Way¡¯s voice came from a figure draped in a cowl and robe, much like the ones in the Waystation itself. ¡°Now I have a better understanding of having a physical form other an a building. I wanted to ensure things were easier when you visited.¡±

    ¡°This is great, thanks,¡± Bert said. ¡°Very thoughtful of you.¡±

    ¡°I do try!¡± Despite the drab appearance, it was still the Way Way he knew.

    ¡°This is certainly more stylish,¡± Bert admired the deep red wood of the planks, polished to a fine shine.

    ¡°I meant with the buildings!¡± Way Way said cheerfully. ¡°We always build the same stuff. I want to learn something new!¡±

    ¡°Something stylish?¡± Bert thought. ¡°I think we can add a few touches here and there to make it look better.¡±

    ¡°No, I want something REALLY new.¡± Way Way scolded him, ¡°This is going to be a city built and controlled by the Fae; it should be special.¡±

    ¡°I think we can do that.¡± Bert nodded. Way Way was right, after all. Something special was called for. Also, it would piss off Fiona. Bonus points for that.

    A table rose out of the deck and rippled and shaped itself into a copy of the area the Waystationers now owned. The robed figure waved its hand over it, and the colors shifted and refined until the table held an exact scale model of the real thing.

    ¡°Impressive,¡± Bert said honestly. He had always had a weakness for models.

    ¡°I love being able to see as you do,¡± Way Way said. ¡°It lets me understand things better.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s make something worth looking at,¡± Bert said as he started to plan.

    What were the Fae? Bert wondered as he started to plan something awe-inspiring. They were known as creatures of nature, beings of magic and mystery. He thought of the Fae rings, of standing stones, and the burrows that were said to lead into the Fae realm.

    Circles were obviously a theme there, so he reshaped the raised area into a circle. That was a decent start, but it needed something more. He raised a ring of earth around the edge and opened a tunnel from the center to the lower ground below. That way, anyone entering had to come through an earthen tunnel, like the barrows. It also created a very defensible killing zone.

    He shaped and hardened the earth into something as strong as stone before making a smoky metal archway at each end with large doors of hard, dark wood.

    Way Way gave their approval, but they were clearly confused about what he was doing.

    Considering he was making this up as he went along, so was he.

    Moving on from the entrance, Bert raised large pillars of dark stone threaded with beams of dark steel around the edge of the plateau. It was the start of his wall. Once they were all locked in place, he raised tick wooden beams shaped to look like interlocking tree trunks and wove sky-steel mesh around them. In the name of style, he added ornate steel leaves from the mesh, each one razor-sharp. He pitied the poor bastards who tried to climb that.

    As a final touch, he shaped the earth behind the wall into a sloped rise that ended in a stone-clad path as a parapet around the wall.

    That created an eminently defensible rise that did not yet hold anything inside it.

    Moving on to the keep itself, Bert considered his options. A series of walls, all rising to a single tower as a series of fallback options, seemed to be the normal idea, but what was the fun in that?

    Another thing the Fae were known for was forests, so, what better than a tree?

    A wide base was essential but with the placement of the entrance¡­

    Bert started with three large, wide, curving ramps that all rose and arched until they met at a single point. Next, he clad the whole thing in stone, followed by a rich wood carved to look like a natural tree. With the three entrances arching over the tunnel¡¯s exit, he added murder holes, allowing those inside to slaughter anyone coming up from below.

    From there, he worked up, adding rooms in what was basically a tower made to look like a tree. To keep the natural shape, he adjusted the sizes and placement of the rooms. Once he had a decent collection of rooms, he opened exits at various levels, curving off a series of branches, each one hiding a walkway to the end of the branch where a platform was hidden in a number of branches, each of which ended in leaves of steel that formed a mech to catch projectiles fired up at it.

    By the time he was done, the whole thing looked like a fairytale version of a world tree that rose several stories above the base. It had much less space than a conventional keep, but it was more about the statement than anything else.

    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± Way Way said happily, then waved their hands, adding in everything from plumbing to beds in a single move.

    Bert gaped at it. Way Way had even added a set of hidden reservoirs for water and a storage room for food. The changes were elegant and took advantage of every spare bit of space they could without affecting the stability.

    Another wave, and they added a set of deep, strong anchors to hold the thing upright in even the worst conditions.

    ¡°That¡¯s incredible,¡± Bert said in admiration. ¡°I never would have thought of half of that stuff.¡±

    ¡°I have the advantage of actually BEING a building, not just living in one!¡± Way Way said kindly. ¡°It all just makes more sense to me.¡±

    ¡°Still, you are amazing,¡± Bert said seriously. ¡°I worry we don¡¯t acknowledge that often enough.¡±

    ¡°Thank you!¡± Way Way glowed. ¡°Now, shall we move on?¡±

    Bert looked down at the model in wonder. He and Way Way had been working on it for hours, adding and removing things, changing others, and then they just started to decorate the thing for fun.

    Why have street lights when you could have glowing mushrooms that lit up at night with energy absorbed during the day? Each house and building was built around a large tree, even the barracks itself. Instead of having a line of houses, they had a grove, and instead of a market square, they had a market circle complete with standing stones around the outside. An inner ring held market stalls of carved stone that would make a dwarf weep at the craftsmanship.

    Even the crafting shops had their own grove.

    All setup and ready to go, thanks to Ruby and her recovered materials. All they needed was the people.

    A full half of the land was taken up by farming land, complete with a cottage, barn, storage silo, fields, and grazing lands for cattle. Each field was separated by small beds ready to be planted with hedges.

    The final touch was the wall around the whole place. It was amazing that they had enough stone for it, but the stone was something they rarely used, and they cheated slightly. They made the walls large and strong¡­ and made a honeycomb inside each one of metal to strengthen the whole thing.

    Bert collapsed back into a chair that Way Way had summoned for him a couple of hours ago.

    ¡°We should get started with the actual building,¡± Bert said with a sigh. ¡°There is so much to do, and we¡¯ve just been fine-tuning this for the last couple of hours.

    ¡°I know,¡± Way Way¡¯s voice was tired as well, which he just realized was strange. ¡°I started building it all hours ago.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± Bert said. He didn¡¯t know what to say. ¡°That¡¯s new.¡±

    ¡°I have changed a lot recently,¡± Way Way agreed. ¡°I¡¯m worried I will change too quickly and lose you all.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked the nervous-looking figure. ¡°Afraid we won¡¯t be able to keep up?¡±

    ¡°NO! I just worry that¡­well¡­ I used to only do what I was told. Now, I think more, and I am doing things on my own. Is that okay?¡± Way Way asked.

    ¡°Of course it is,¡± Bert thought of the best way to put it. ¡°It¡¯s like you¡¯re growing up. That¡¯s a good thing; of course, you want to be more independent. That doesn¡¯t mean you lose us.¡±

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t?¡± Way Way asked.

    ¡°You won¡¯t lose us, I promise,¡± Bert said as soothingly as he could, ¡°Things will change as you go from what you were and are to what you will be. Relationships change, but they don¡¯t get lost. Not if you don¡¯t want them to be.¡±

    He felt another of those amazing hugs and then said goodbye and rose out of the tides. Way Way would just call him back if they needed him.

    =============

    Bert and Bell sat on the roof of the Waystation and watched the town rise around them as the sun slowly rose. Snuggled in together, they marveled as the Waystation moved to another position all on its own.

    ¡°Way Way is really changing,¡± Bell said happily.

    Bert had told her all about his conversation earlier.

    ¡°That¡¯s what is worrying them, I think.¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°They are just being silly,¡± Bell traced her fingers over the back of his metal arm. ¡°We would never leave them.¡±

    ¡°Exactly what I said,¡± Bert confirmed, feeling more and more distracted by how warm she was as she pressed against his side.

    ¡°You know when we first met, I thought there would never be a good time again,¡± Bell said. ¡°I never even imagined I¡¯d see the day Way Way could move themselves. No matter what, they will never get stuck, never be alone.¡± Her voice cracked slightly.

    ¡°Neither will you,¡± Bert reminded her. ¡°You¡¯re stuck with me now.¡± He ran his hands through her hair.

    ¡°Oh, I think I can live with that,¡± Bell giggled, and they forgot everything for a while, lost in each other''s embrace.

    It was sweet but poorly timed as they forgot they were sitting out in the open on top of the Waystation. A fact they were reminded of when a voice called out from below¡­

    ¡°FOR FUCK SAKE! GET A ROOM!¡± Wendy roared in abject disgust from below.

 Chapter 115 - Splitting the Party III

    Scruff walked lightly over the frosty ground and tried to ignore the screaming argument between Wendy and her mother. She loved the girl; she could admit that now, but would it kill her to have a single conversation without screaming her head off?

    Approaching her destination, she took a moment to look around before getting to work. The town was a thing of beauty. It really was. Scruff had been amazed enough at the things Bert and the Waystation built before, but this was the next level. Everywhere she looked was absolute beauty. Every building was built around a tree of some form, their strong stone walls shaped around and between roots and branches, with the trunk offering not just support but beauty.

    Another look, with her other senses, showed the trees themselves were doing something¡­ special.

    More and more these days, Scruff was seeing and experiencing things she had no words for. Life as an urchin had not offered many opportunities for formal education, and for the first time, she was feeling the lack of it. She wanted to know the words to describe what she saw because she was reasonably certain no one else was seeing it.

    Perhaps it was the Gardener of the Waystation Class or that she was a Plant-Fae now. All she knew was that they would have mentioned it if anyone else could see this.

    She moved closer to the nearest building and placed a hand on the exposed tree trunk at one corner. Her eyes traced the flows down into the ground, where she saw the thick, sludgy mana drawn in by the roots and watched it flow through the tree. As it moved, the mana was cleaned somehow, looking brighter and moving faster until it reached the leaves, where it was released into the air in a faint shimmer of light.

    A deep breath was all it took for her to feel the mana in the air. The entire place was already denser with mana than it had been, and the buildings had only been complete for a few hours.

    Even the ground was changing.

    The colors were brighter and deeper in the soil, and the grass was changing somehow. It kept shifting as she looked at it, seeming to be in first growth and full growth simultaneously.

    Scruff just really hoped she could tell someone about this soon; she just needed to figure out what to say.

    Refocusing herself on her job at hand, she walked on into the very center of the town to a spot she had specifically asked Bert to keep clear. That had been a tense moment, walking up to him and asking for the space without any idea how to explain why she wanted it.

    ¡°Sure, no problem,¡± Bert had said with a smile. ¡°Everything else okay for you?¡±

    She stared for a moment before remembering to answer him.

    It had been that easy.

    No demand for explanations, no telling her off for interrupting him while he was working, and no hesitation. She had asked, and he had said yes. It was a word she had known for most of her life but was still just beginning to understand.

    Trust.

    Genuine trust as well because he knew all about her. He knew where she was from, knew what kind of plants she grew, knew she had anger issues¡­ everything. Bert was also aware that she experimented.

    So, if this ended up a disaster, he would probably forgive her.

    No one else would, but he would.

    With a final sigh of anxiety, she dug a pair of tendrils into the ground and dug out a few inches of space. It was vital that it was not buried too deep. She placed the succulent seed into the hole and pushed the earth back in, patting it down carefully to keep it aligned to the surface.

    Now for the tricky bit.

    ¡°Way Way, I need to let this claim a bit of ground here. Is that okay?¡± She whispered. There was no need to shout, after all.

    The feeling of the Waystation, the feeling of being home, receded around her.

    ¡°Thanks, uh, keep an eye on this little guy for me, okay?¡± Scruff said and then pushed one thin tendril into the ground until it touched the little seed.

    She didn¡¯t activate a skill; she had lost all of those when she changed into a plant fae, something she should also tell people¡­.

    Instead, Scruff poured her mana and intent into the seed. In her mind, an image of what she wanted to happen formed. Scruff pushed that image out into the world and felt it resist.

    The seed shuddered, the life inside almost fading as she pushed.

    ¡°Grow and be strong,¡± Scruff said, her words infused with her power. Below ground, the seed flushed with power, the resistance of the world bowed to her will, and the seed began to grow.

    ===============

    Bert gaped as the center of town exploded.

    Something was pushing up from below, and it was BIG! Peering through the dust and debris, he saw Scruff backing away from the thing as it grew, her eyes wide and glowing with power.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see to it!¡± He yelled to Bell and jumped down before sprinting over to the young Fae. She didn¡¯t turn as he ran up to her, eyes fixed on the strange thing that was pushing out of the ground.

    ¡°What is this?¡± Bert yelled to her over the grinding of stones. ¡°Is this yours?¡±

    ¡°Uh, I think so?¡± Scruff shot an anxious look his way. ¡°Sorry.¡±

    He realized what was happening as the young woman went pale.

    ¡°Experiment?¡± He asked, eyeing the thick trunk that was still emerging like a timelapse of a hundred years of growth in seconds. ¡°Will it eat us?¡± It may seem like a crazy idea, but this was Scruff.

    ¡°No?¡± She said as they both stepped back a bit, and the trunk suddenly thickened.

    ¡°Sound more sure!¡± Bert said with a wince.

    ¡°No!¡± Scruff said, but still looked nervous. ¡°Probably?¡±

    ¡°EVERYONE GET BACK INSIDE THE WAYSTATION!¡± Bert yelled, pulling Scruff further away.

    Scruff looked over at him with a defiant scowl, but she didn¡¯t say anything, which was more worrying than he would like to admit. He was acutely aware of certain things held securely in the hidden bases of the Growing Cars of the land train. They were pink, they glowed, and they ate people.

    Whatever this was, it was too big to stuff into part of the Waystation. It took almost an hour for the growth to slow, and he finally got a clear look at what it was.

    ¡°What did you do to it?¡± Bert asked Scruff immediately.

    The massive succulent stalk was almost two meters across at the base, with large clusters of fans, just like before. The large fan on the top was there, too, but that was just about where the similarities ended.

    Succulents were known for many things, but they did not have bark. Especially not metallic bark. Among other things succulents did not have were branches and leaves.

    This had both.

    The sight of the thick trunk/stalk with bark that shone with metallic glints and branches that grew out from the clusters of fans before splitting again and again until they ended in clusters of broad, flat leaves was enough to make anyone stop. The thing he was more anxious about was the veins.

    They showed here and there where the bark was still growing and was clearly visible in the wide, flat fans, especially the massive one at the top with the odd-shaped holes.

    The veins were red, and they pulsed visibly as he watched. He could even feel a faint pulse against his feet when he went close to it.

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Bert had seen so many things in the last, he didn¡¯t know how long, since coming to this world, but this¡­ he just gaped up at it.

    ¡°It must be a hundred feet high,¡± He gasped, ¡°At least.¡± Bert realized he was standing in shadow and turned back to his future daughter-in-law, ¡°I¡¯m going to have to ask what this is,¡± He shrugged. ¡°Like, really?¡±

    ¡°You gave me the seeds!¡± Scruff said defiantly, ¡°Eggs, whatever they were!¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute, eggs?¡± Bert asked, feeling even more worried by the second. Scruff was acting confident, but the vines on her shoulders were twitching and twining as she fidgetted absently. ¡°Start with why they are eggs.¡±

    ¡°Well, seed-eggs?¡± Scruff said. ¡°Obviously, they are plants, but they are also more.¡±

    ¡°Can we try and be just a little clearer here?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Scruff reached a vine into her backpack, ¡°But no attacking or shouting when I do; it¡¯s shy.¡±

    Bert just blinked and then felt ice water flowing through him.

    Scruff held up a tiny succulent about the size of a small cat. The little fan was adorable; the clusters barely formed. The stalk flared at the base into a wide, thick disk, which appeared to have something like a crab growing out the bottom.

    With dreadful certainty, his eyes drifted from the miniature one in Scruff¡¯s gentle hands to the land he stood on and what he now knew was below it.

    A pulse passed through the area, and Bert felt the Waystation¡¯s influence retreating to give the new creature room.

    ¡°Talk. Fast.¡± Bert swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. He looked up when Scruff didn¡¯t answer to see her floating a few feet off the ground, eyes and skin shining with light.

    ¡°I can feel it! It¡¯s just a baby, but it wanted its creator!¡± Her words left echoes in the air.

    ¡°Scruff! Is it aggressive?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No! It will do as I command, and I will not let it hurt you.¡± Her lips broke into a crazed smile. ¡°I have created a new form of life! Part crab plant, part blood berry, part steel vine, all woven into a new form by my will!¡± She floated higher in the air. ¡°This is power!¡± She laughed, wild and almost manic with her new discovery.

    Bert tried to call her twice, but she was ignoring everything as she went on and on about the power at her hands.

    ¡°SCRUFF! PACK IT IN! NOW!¡± Bert yelled, his full power infused into every word as blue flames licked around the corners of his eyes.

    Scruff¡¯s glow flickered and died, sending her crashing to the floor as she stared at him in shock.

    ¡°I promise it won¡¯t attack anyone,¡± Scruff muttered sulkily a few minutes later.

    ¡°Great, so what the fuck was all that?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Why did you suddenly go all Bond Villain on me?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Scruff asked.

    ¡°You were monologuing about your incredible power,¡± Bert said gently. ¡°You were one step away from yelling for the mortals to bow before you.¡±

    She blushed slightly at that but just looked away.

    ¡°If you intend to start your own religion, at least have the decency to wait until we get rid of the cult I started by accident,¡± Bert said with a wince. ¡°I would really like to know what that thing is, however.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know!¡± Scruff said eventually. ¡°I don¡¯t have the words for the shit I¡¯m experiencing these days!¡± She started to weep a little. ¡°No one told me I would be doing all this stuff. How am I supposed to keep up?¡±

    Bert hugged her, letting her cry for a bit until she pushed him away.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± She muttered, obviously uncomfortable with showing weakness.

    Still.

    ¡°Upgrading Way Way might kill me,¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°What?¡± Scruff stared at him.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°Plus, I¡¯m some kind of Lord of the Fae now, and Dagon is some multi-dimensional being that is apparently counting on me to stop this world¡¯s apocalypse.¡± He wiped his eyes. ¡°Also, my home world was almost destroyed by the return of the Fae, which is kind of my fault. Not to mention, I now have a daughter, and my wife is a pixie who REALLY likes to kill.¡±

    ¡°Uh,¡± Scruff said, looking horrified, ¡°How have you not exploded with all that?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m beginning to think I might be insane,¡± Bert chuckled, ¡°All this stuff must have broken something in me, and so I can handle it¡­ somehow.¡±

    ¡°I never thought,¡± Scruff said, ¡°You always seem to know what you are doing?¡±

    ¡°I deal with what is in front of me,¡± Bert said, feeling about a thousand years old. ¡°I make a decision in the moment and really hope it is the right one.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Scruff looked horrified.

    ¡°I was no one,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°In my old life. On my world. I was just an average guy. I didn¡¯t command armies or even have any real talents.¡± He smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯m not really that smart either. What more can I do?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure if it should, but that kind of helps. Thanks.¡± Scruff said. ¡°Any tips for me with my new¡­ creation?¡±

    Bert thought for a while, trying to figure out what to say. What did one say to a person who created a new species and now had to raise it?

    ¡°I guess¡­ be you. Be kind to it and gentle, and try to make sure it knows you care. Also, try and discourage any mass murdering it might want to do if you can.¡± He looked up at the sun, seeing it was almost mid-day. ¡°Also, we need those fields. Sorry, but this is kind of a time-sensitive thing.¡±

    ==============

    Fiona stalked out of the palace, Dagon¡¯s laughter still ringing in her ears. There were few creatures in the universe she feared more or respected less than Dagon World Walker. Still, the laughter hurt.

    She had been prepared for many things. For anger, for punishment, and even for death. Fiona had not been prepared for laughter.

    The insufferable entity that had abducted her from her own world, out of boredom more than any attempt to save her life, had simply stared at her as he looked into time and laughed in her face.

    It was almost as infuriating as Mister Herbert J. Hudson. She would not call him Bert, no matter what. So what if he hadn¡¯t actually done anything other than exist? His mere existence was enough to irritate her. His mere existence had been enough to damn their home world, so it was enough to hate him for.

    She wasn¡¯t expecting him to fail, even if it made no sense for him not to fail.

    No. he would have managed it somehow. That was what the Dagon was laughing at, she was sure.

    Still, she would go and make sure.

    No one did details like her. She would find a fault somewhere.

    There was always a point of non-compliance. Always.

    She would find it and demand recompense.

    Even if Dagon wouldn¡¯t force the issue, Fiona would know she had won.

    And Bert would know that he had lost!

    ¡°Dammit!¡± Fiona swore in irritation. She had just said she would never call him that.

    She was tapping her clipboard in irritation when the woman with the red hair stepped smartly around the corner and punched her in the face.

    Fiona collapsed instantly.

    ¡°Good Evening,¡± A feminine voice called as Fiona woke to find that same red-haired woman sitting on a log a few feet away. Looking around showed nothing but a small patch of land, the fallen tree, and lots and lots of mist.

    ¡°I can still walk the mists, if only for a little while.¡± The woman explained absently, brushing a stray hair behind one ear.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Fiona pushed her spatial senses into the surroundings, finding complete nothingness a few feet away in either direction. A pocket dimension of some sort?

    ¡°My name,¡± The woman seemed about to laugh for a second, then continued. ¡°Is Felicia.¡±

    ¡°Why did you attack me?¡± Fiona demanded.

    ¡°To stop you from making a mistake,¡± Felicia grinned, the long scar on her face twisting slightly as she did. ¡°One I made not too long ago.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re her, aren¡¯t you?¡± Fiona paled as the stories of Mister Hudson¡¯s arrival flowed through her mind.

    ¡°I see you are aware of my mistake.¡± Felicia smiled bitterly. ¡°I wonder if I will ever live it down?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not like you,¡± Fiona insisted, getting to her feet and brushing dirt off her slacks. ¡°I am not stalking Mister Hudson.¡±

    Felicia laughed at her, making Fiona¡¯s teeth grind in irritation.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Felicia said. ¡°You may not have the same reasons I did, but the result will be the same.¡±

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Fiona snapped, refusing to be cowed by this psychotic woman. ¡°He will pay for what he did!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but you know it wasn¡¯t his choice or his fault.¡± Felicia sneered. ¡°Don¡¯t bullshit a bullshitter, love. You are so angry you just chose a target at random. He was handy. See how we are alike?¡±

    Fiona simply glowered at the other woman.

    ¡°Spend a lot of time thinking about him? About how you will make him pay? About him begging for forgiveness?¡± Felicia chuckled, and Fiona saw the woman who the Watcher USED to be and felt afraid.

    ¡°Look what that obsession did to me!¡± She threw back her cloak, and Fiona gasped at the skin covered in scars that showed around the clothes she wore. ¡°So I am here to give a friendly warning. Stop now and move on!¡±

    ¡°Or what?¡± Fiona asked with a sneer. ¡°What will he do to me?¡±

    ¡°Him?¡± Felicia laughed. ¡°Nothing. The poor bastard is not a violent person. He just attracts them.¡±

    ¡°Then who?¡± Fiona laughed. ¡°Think I¡¯m afraid of a pixie?¡±

    ¡°You fucking should be.¡± Felicia wasn¡¯t laughing anymore. ¡°That one? You really, really fucking should be.¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°But I wasn¡¯t referring to them.¡±

    ¡°You?¡± Fiona asked, shocked.

    ¡°I owe them a few hundred favors,¡± Felicia grinned. ¡°You¡¯re one.¡±

    ¡°Bert sent you?¡± Fiona gaped. ¡°I don¡¯t believe it!¡±

    ¡°Of course not,¡± Felicia snapped. ¡°They know nothing of it. As far as they are concerned, I am a distant memory now.¡± She stood and walked toward Fiona, who found herself unconsciously backing away. ¡°Give up now, or I will take the last of my power and drag you somewhere so far away that not even the World Walker will be able to find you.¡± She leaned in, suddenly too close. ¡°Then it will be just you and me, and I get bored easily. I¡¯ll play with you like I did him until you die. And maybe even after.¡± She grinned and stepped away. ¡°Option Two is to give up now, admit it isn¡¯t his fault, and just move on.¡± She winked at Fiona, ¡°Trust me, you think he¡¯s irritating now? Wait until you feel indebted to him for something.¡±

    ¡°Time to go, Felicia,¡± A man stepped out of the mists. Fiona knew he wasn¡¯t there a second ago. Her senses would have told her. ¡°Send her back, and we will conclude our business.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Fiona?¡± Felicia called as the mists swirled around her. ¡°Don¡¯t mention me to anyone¡­ ever.¡±

    A second later, Fiona stood in the city again, facing a mural on the side of the largest temple. A familiar face stared solemnly out at her.

    ¡°That was Death?¡± Fiona hissed as a cold wind blew through the square. ¡°Death?¡± She shivered and hurried back toward the palace.

    Fuck MIster Hudson, this was not worth it.

    She¡¯d get him some other way.

 Chapter 116 - Splitting the Party, IV

    ¡°What do you mean you aren¡¯t coming?¡± Wendy glared at Scruff as the Gardener fidgeted anxiously. ¡°You have to come with us!¡±

    ¡°I want to,¡± Scruff said tensely, ¡°But I have to keep an eye on my new creation. Do you have any idea how big it is? How much damage it could do?¡±

    ¡°Like you ever cared about that!¡± Wendy snapped. ¡°You know Dad is going to have to go fight the cult. We are going with him. All of us.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Scruff said. ¡°I want to, I do. But I have to stay here. It needs me, Wendy.¡±

    ¡°And I don¡¯t?¡± Wendy asked. Her temper was temporarily squashed by the pain of being separated from the woman she loved. It wasn¡¯t fair that she was coming second to a bloody overgrown succulent. That might not have been fair to think, but Wendy wasn¡¯t feeling very reasonable at the moment. On the contrary. The fury rose again, and she opened her mouth to say something she knew she would regret but couldn¡¯t stop herself. ¡°You¡¯re ju¨C¡±

    ¡°Neither of you is coming.¡± Bert¡¯s voice interrupted her.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Wendy whirled on her father; seeing him looking calm and relaxed made her even more furious. Plus, she could actually get angry at him.

    ¡°Neither of you are coming. Neither is Gavin, Lyla, or the orcs, for that matter. You are staying here.¡± Bert said evenly. ¡°I was going to talk to everyone later, but I don¡¯t want you two arguing over nothing.¡±

    ¡°Sick of having kids already?¡± Wendy snapped, wincing internally even as she said it.

    ¡°No!¡± Bert said, looking hurt. ¡°I just want to keep you safe.¡±

    ¡°I can take care of myself!¡± Wendy and Scruff both yelled. Wendy grinned at her girlfriend. This felt better. The two of them against someone else. She didn¡¯t like it when they argued.

    ¡°Yes, you can,¡± Bert said, suddenly looking tired. ¡°But I need someone to look after everyone else. You two are it.¡±

    Wendy opened her mouth to scream at him again but felt Scruff grab her and hold her mouth shut. RUDE!

    ¡°Let him talk, Wendy,¡± Scruff said with a grin.

    Wendy wanted to stay mad¡­ but it felt nice being held close to her like that. Wendy¡¯s mind started to wander to other things, as it always did when she got angry.

    No! Focus! She mentally slapped herself. Angry Wendy! Horny Wendy, later!

    ¡°Mmmpf!¡± She snarled through Scruff¡¯s hand.

    ¡°I know, but do you think that Gavin and Lyra can handle things on their own?¡± Bert smiled at her as she struggled.

    ¡°Why do they need to handle things?¡± Scruff asked, irritatingly calm and rational.

    ¡°You think we were given this land for fun?¡± Bert asked Scruff. ¡°I bet Dagon has a few surprises left to go. I want someone who can make the hard choices,¡± He nodded to Scruff, ¡°And someone who can kill if the need arises,¡± He nodded at Wendy.

    Rude! She was hardly an indiscriminate killer.

    ¡°Rose is staying as well since she seems to have made a bit of a splash in the local business markets.¡± Bert went on. ¡°The point is, you two will be in charge here while we are gone.¡±

    ¡°Wait?¡± Wendy wriggled free of Scruff. ¡°In charge?¡±

    ¡°I thought you might like that bit,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°You and Scruff will be the official heads of the settlement.¡±

    ¡°You should have started with that!¡± Wendy complained. ¡°At least we can actually be useful.¡±

    ¡°Scruff will handle the plants, her new friend, and the farming,¡± Bert said. ¡°Wendy, you will be in charge of dealing with any troublemakers, as well as the demon forces here.¡± He tossed her a small carved horn. ¡°You can summon a hundred demons to man this place with that. I want you to do it so they see you as their ONLY commander. You will have to pay in mana, but it¡¯s really cheap.¡±

    ¡°I get my own demons?¡± Wendy asked, snatching the horn out of the air with a grin.

    ¡°Yes, you get your own demons,¡± Bert laughed. ¡°And gods help us all.¡±

    Endy stuck her tongue out at him, her anger forgotten as she imagined herself as the head of a demonic horde. ¡°I suggest you let Rose handle the businesses and traders, but help her out if she gets stuck, okay?¡±

    It wasn¡¯t until he had already left that Wendy remembered she had been trying to argue against all this.

    On the other hand¡­ demon army!

    =================

    Bert left the girls to sort things out and headed for his next stop, telling Bud what he had planned. Bud was very attached to his orcs, so he might have a more challenging time with this one than he did with the girls. Scruff had been a lock to stay the moment she created that abyssal horror of a creature he was trying very hard to forget was beneath the Waystation right at this moment. Wendy was simply a matter of choosing the right moment to mention the demons.

    Wondering how he was doing as a father, Bert was distracted by the line of demons carrying distilling supplies. He followed the line back to the source and found a grinning vampire directing traffic from a perch in the corner of the distillery.

    ¡°Dee?¡± He called.

    ¡°Hey, Bert!¡± She waived excitedly. ¡°I thought you had forgotten about our chat!¡±

    Realizing he had, Bert winced internally and kept his mouth shut. He had never been much of a lair. He waved to the line of busy demons instead.

    ¡°Oh, yeah,¡± She blurred down to him. ¡°I¡¯m moving into the distillery here if you don¡¯t mind?¡±

    ¡°No problem,¡± Bert figured it made sense, in a way. ¡°Just don¡¯t take all the alcohol with you, okay?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not interested in alcohol,¡± Dee said with a wide smile. ¡°I made something better! Can we go somewhere to chat in private?¡±

    ¡°Sure, follow me.¡± Bert led her up to the staff-only dining area and gestured for her to take a seat. ¡°So, what¡¯s this big discovery?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Dee grinned at him, fangs showing prominently. He was sure there were less of them last time, but perhaps she had been hiding them back then?

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°Do you remember what I told you about how vampires were an imperfect race?¡± She continued. ¡°In case you forgot, we are weaker than expected, mostly because our race is an in-between one. Like we were something before and are halfway to something better, but we aren¡¯t quite there yet.¡±

    Bert nodded as it seemed the thing to do.

    ¡°Well, we have been trying to complete the shift for generations now,¡± Dee said with a hint of desperation in her voice. ¡°Several combinations of blood and magic have started smaller evolutions, but they all stopped short of a true species.¡± She took a deep breath, ¡°Well, I got a lot of Watcher blood in me, and it seemed to be doing something, so I figured I could distill the blood I had left over into a more potent version.¡±

    Bert nodded again, still wholly lost but trying gamely to keep up. He did have one question, though¡­ ¡°I thought you drank her blood?¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± Dee said proudly, ¡°But I also spat some into vials for later. It¡¯s a vampire thing.¡±

    ¡°Okay, gross. Go on,¡± Bert said with a tentative smile.

    ¡°Well, I decided since I had so much mana running around me, I could try and infuse the Watcher blood with that. It didn¡¯t work great, but it gave me an idea.¡± She looked around and whispered. ¡°Vampire blood can store huge amounts of mana. It¡¯s how we are able to move and heal like we do,¡± She winked. ¡°So! I added the refined Watcher blood to my blood, then infused it with mana and something else¡­.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert knew a prompt for audience participation when he heard one.

    ¡°Essence!¡± She laughed. ¡°No one ever thought of adding essence before. It¡¯s the impurity that we try to remove from everything. We lacked Earth essence!¡±

    ¡°I take it that worked then?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I think so!¡± Dee said happily. ¡°I¡¯ve grown two extra sets of fangs, one specifically for essence, and I stopped being weaker during the day!¡±

    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Bert said cautiously. He was wondering if perfecting an apex predator species was about to be added to his list of crimes.

    ¡°It gets better!¡± Dee said with another massive smile. ¡°I can eat food! Real food actually nourishes me now!¡±

    Bert let out a sigh of relief; he hadn¡¯t facilitated the creation of a better vampire after all.

    ¡°The best part is I am still changing!¡± Dee laughed. ¡°Who knows what I¡¯ll end up as!¡±

    And there went his good mood for the day.

    His conversation with Bud went a lot better than expected, honestly. He was a protective soul at heart, and he was more interested in keeping them safe than he was in keeping an eye on them. In short, he loved the idea. They both agreed it would be better if they could leave Tim behind as well. The little skeleton was growing in power all the time, but it was still young in their eyes.

    ¡°If we could leave him here, I would,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°Keep the little bugger as safe as possible. The thing is, I don¡¯t think he would take being separated from you well.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll have to make sure he is safe inside the Waystation during any fighting,¡± Bud said sadly. ¡°He won¡¯t like that.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, but with any luck, he will have a long time to get over it,¡± Bert said. ¡°Wendy isn¡¯t thrilled either, come to that.¡±

    The two unexpected fathers experienced a moment of shared worry and pain that left them both feeling a little better. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was something.

    The day wore one, with more than one awkward conversation as he told everyone what he was planning. No one was entirely happy with the situation, and none of them seemed to guess that he wasn¡¯t either. Sure, it was his idea, but that didn¡¯t mean he liked it. Everyone knew you never split the party.

    Still, it was the best idea he could come up with on short notice, which all of this was. By far, the worst conversation was with Lily and Rose.

    The two sisters were still not quite as close as they had been. Both felt a little awkward around the other. It was understandable, of course. Lily felt like she couldn¡¯t quite trust Rose, having been burned too many times before, while Rose worked her ass off to prove she was not that person anymore and suffered pain whenever her sister didn¡¯t acknowledge that.

    Bert could understand how they both felt. He had been the one to let others down when he was younger, and they had never quite gotten over it. In the end, the relationships had fallen apart, leaving them all worse off. Bert was doing his best to make sure that didn¡¯t happen, but he wasn¡¯t a shrink. He had the emotional intelligence to try, but not enough to know what exactly he should be doing.

    Bell had argued for keeping them together, no matter what, that would help. Bert had argued that time apart would let them both heal. It was one argument he won, but Bell had made him doubt the decision even more than he already did.

    There was also the fact that they needed Lily with them. Her abilities could turn the tide of a battle.

    One thing that increasingly became clear as the day came to a close was that leadership sucked ALL THE ASS!

    As the sun set, Bert made his way to the palace to let Dagon know they would be leaving in the morning. First thing. Walking there, he had to pass through the new town they had built over the last days. It was already teeming with people, which came as a shock. There were even human guards, all wearing a crude badge showing a broken dagger. His stat-enhanced hearing allowed him to pick up scraps of conversation as he passed. The badge wearers were called The Reclaimed. It seemed they had started off as protection on the jobs Rose organized and had somehow turned into a police force, with her as sheriff.

    Whatever she had done, it worked as the houses were filling up quickly, with the shops already showing signs of habitation, and several crafting quarter placements were lit even now.

    Why couldn¡¯t he have just been doing this the whole time? Bert wondered what it would be like, just building people places to live and starting towns. It took him less than a minute to realize that would technically make him a colonizer, and the history of that activity was¡­ not good.

    He would probably do less damage as a warlord.

    In short, Bert arrived at the palace in a bit of a mood, not looking forward to a certain woman¡¯s attitude. The giant doors to the throne room opened ¨Con their own as always¨C when he approached, and he saw the familiar figure staring over the top of her glasses in the otherwise empty room.

    ¡°We finished the town,¡± Bert told her. ¡°Is Dagon around?¡±

    ¡°KING Dagon. You should refer to him as King Dagon,¡± Fiona snapped back.

    ¡°Not my king,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°He is not here at the moment,¡± Fiona sniffed. ¡°I can give him a message.¡±

    ¡°We are leaving in the morning,¡± Bert said calmly. ¡°Let him know we are going to deal with those cult people now before it gets out of hand.¡±

    ¡°Abandoning your lands already?¡± Fiona smirked. ¡°I thought you would last longer than that.¡±

    ¡°We are leaving people to run it,¡± Bert said coldly. ¡°As well as the armed forces required to hold it.¡±

    ¡°Wait!¡± She laughed. ¡°You are leaving people here and going with only part of your forces to face the ever-growing threat of the cult?¡± She grinned. ¡°That is suicide!¡±

    ¡°Sorry to disappoint you, but it isn¡¯t.¡± Bert let himself smile dangerously. ¡°We are the Fae.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll keep my fingers crossed,¡± Fiona said nastily. ¡°Best of luck!¡±

    He paused at the door and turned back to Fiona.

    ¡°You know I have to come back just to piss you off, right?¡± He smirked and left her glowering at his back.

    ==============

    Martha looked over her forces and felt distain tainting her mind. The People did not have disdain. They did not have lesser beings, only ones on the road to a greater perfection. That was the way of The People.

    She forced her emotions under control and gave her people a beatific smile. Their blessed mother was here to lead them, to inspire them, and to show them the way.

    ¡°My beloved ones!¡± She called to them, ¡°We have come far and suffered much. None of our troubles can be laid at our own feet, for we have only come to help and to free those too blind to see the truth,¡± She waited out the cheering. ¡°We have always been a perfect beacon in the night. Unfortunately, beacons attract monsters as easily as they attract the lost. One such as that made their way into our presence and our hearts. Rose, the Defiler, came to destroy us!¡± She acknowledged the howls and hoots of anger. ¡°She failed, my blessed ones, and now we must purge this evil from the world!¡±

    The crowd roared and stomped feet of wood, stone, earth, and occasionally flesh. They were worked into a rage and an exultant froth now. It was as it should be. Martha took a deep breath and went on¡­.

    ¡°The noble Fae, cursed with the chains of humanity from which we have freed ourselves, is even now at her mercy! His kindness and love knows no bounds, and he will surely fall prey to this defiling whore! We shall be his salvation, as we are to this world as a whole. We shall tear the defiler to pieces and free all of the Fae from their fleshy prisons! So says the Mother!¡±

    ¡°So says the Mother!¡± They chanted back at her. With a nod, she sent them out. Half would go to the nearest town and save those within.

    The other half would go into the earth and forests, making their way speedily to where Rose hid and waited for death.

    The People would have their revenge, and it would be worth it.

    All of it, just to hear Rose scream and beg before she was killed.

 Chapter 117 - Splitting the Party, V

    Bell sniffled as the Waystation drove away from the new Fae town. Bert felt it as well, his eyes fixed on the small screen showing the receding forms that stood on top of the Express and waived. Every now and again, Bell would reach out and clutch his hand for a moment before starting to sniffle again.

    ¡°Well, this sucks,¡± Bert said after a few minutes. ¡°Who¡¯s stupid idea was this again?¡±

    Bud cracked up first, and suddenly, they were all laughing, albeit sadly. It had been a while since all three of them were up in the control room together without anyone else. It would almost be nice if it weren¡¯t for the worry for those they left behind.

    When Bell recovered, it was sudden, as was the way with Pixies.

    ¡°Why are we going so slow?¡± She complained suddenly. ¡°We got places to go, people to murder!¡±

    The other two just looked at her.

    ¡°What?¡± She asked hotly, ¡°Should we just weep all the way there?¡±

    ¡°Good point,¡± Bert said with a smile. ¡°We got a war to fight here; we need to at least try and turn up with a bounce in our step.¡±

    ¡°Way Way, full speed ahead!¡± Bell cheered, and the Waystation started to move faster, accelerating until the world blurred by. ¡°That¡¯s more like it!¡±

    ¡°The Fae are going to war!¡± Bud cheered.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go show them what happens when you attack one of ours!¡± Bert chuckled darkly.

    ¡°Sorry, is this a bad time?¡± A voice called from the door.

    All three of them spun to see a dirt-covered Gardener in the doorway. He was yawning and stretching as he scratched at his beard. A dirt trail led back down the corridor behind him, and three of the robed forms were industriously sweeping it up. He blinked sleepily at them and smiled sheepishly.

    ¡°Bernhardt?¡± Bert frowned. ¡°What are you doing here? Didn¡¯t you stay behind at the village?¡±

    ¡°We passed through a village?¡± The old man frowned. ¡°I¡¯m sure I would have noticed.¡±

    ¡°Bernhardt, how long have you been asleep for?¡± Bert asked gently.

    ¡°Oh, just a nap,¡± The man smiled happily. ¡°A week or so.¡±

    Silence reigned as the assembled stared open-mouthed at the man. Eventually, Bert forced himself to blink and gently explain what was happening to the Gardener. Mentally, he was already figuring out the easiest way to get the old timer back to their new village and out of trouble.

    ¡°What?¡± Bernhardt laughed. ¡°I¡¯m fine here, thank you.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s going to be dangerous,¡± Bell said, in a tone that suggested it should be obvious. ¡°Plus, you¡¯re really old.¡±

    ¡°Young Lady!¡± Bernhardt insisted. ¡°I will be quite fine, thank you.¡±

    ¡°If you are sure,¡± Bert shrugged.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell protested.

    ¡°His choice,¡± Bert said defensively.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Bell said with a massive roll of the eyes. ¡°When he is torn to pieces, don¡¯t blame me!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand what a man of my years brings to the table, my dear.¡± Bernhardt beamed at her. ¡°But you will! Now, I must prepare! Yes!¡±

    He bustled off down the corridor, all energy all of a sudden.

    ¡°He might surprise us?¡± Bert tried.

    ¡°He¡¯s a corpse,¡± Bud agreed with Bell.

    They watched the landscape blurring past for a while, chatting and trying to stay relaxed. It was tense, no matter what they pretended. But it helped to pretend this was just a chore they had to get out of the way before they could return to having fun.

    As the time passed, the chatter started to die off. It officially ended when Bud stood and nodded to them. He was off to get armored and supplied. Then Bud would go and convince Slothy to get her own armor on.

    Things were getting real very quickly as they approached enemy territory. It would take another few hours, but they were rapidly approaching areas where they might come under attack.

    Bert Felt Bell¡¯s fingers intertwining with his.

    ¡°Bert, if you die, I will be so pissed at you,¡± She said quietly. ¡°And I promise to turn Wendy into a complete bitch before I bring you back.¡±

    ¡°I love you too, Bell,¡± Bert smiled at her. ¡°If you die, I¡¯m gonna make Wendy into a Fairy.¡±

    ¡°NOT EVEN AS A JOKE!¡± Bell slapped him.

    Bert just grinned at her as she scowled furiously at him. It didn¡¯t take long for the rage to turn to something else, and they prepared for war in their own unique way.

    =============

    Wendy marched up and down the assembled ranks of demons with a serious look on her face that was slightly spoiled by the occasional massive smile.

    ¡°Listen up!¡± She roared and felt a tingle as a hundred pairs of eyes focused on her. ¡°We are going to hold this place come what may! In the meantime, I expect you to train, spar, and compete!¡± She grinned as the questioning looks came over their faces. ¡°Since we have no one to fight right now, I intend to hold a contest! Who¡¯s the best fighter here?¡±

    Everyone looked at each other, a few hands raised, their owners glaring at each other.

    ¡°Precisely!¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°So, we shall hold fights. The last one standing at the end wins!¡± She clapped her hands. ¡°Separate into your specialties. Archers with archers, warriors with warriors, and so on. Those are your brackets. One-on-one fights until one winner is left in each bracket! Those winners will be my elite team.¡± She was pleased to get a few cheers for that one. ¡°There is also an open bracket where anyone can enter to fight all challengers.¡± Another cheer. ¡°Dismissed!¡± She roared, and they hurried off to prepare.

    ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit much?¡± Scruff asked from one side. The Gardener had simply watched as Wendy did her thing from a perch of vines.

    ¡°The lady with the giant plant monster said what?¡± Wendy grinned smugly.

    ¡°What?¡± Scruff frowned.

    ¡°I rest my case!¡± Wendy glowed.

    ¡°What case?¡± Scruff shook her head, ¡°Never mind.¡±

    While Wendy was thoroughly confusing Scruff, Rose was actually at work. She had claimed a smaller crafting building for her own, already feeling that was a bit presumptuous, only for everyone to demand she move into the town hall and set up there. It was something of a whirlwind, and she still felt a little light-headed and dizzy from it all. Of course, it could also be the lack of sleep. She had already been up for a day and a night; now, another day was beginning, and she was busier than ever.

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    It wasn¡¯t just the crafting that she was working hard to improve at; it was the constant interruptions. Every ten minutes, someone needed her to sign, decide, or refuse something. As far as Rose was concerned, she was barely keeping her head above water here. In her own opinion, a life of crime should have prepared her for anything, yet someone always had some questions she had never even considered before.

    It had started with the houses. A lot of people seemed to want to live here, and she kind of got that. It was the most beautiful place she had ever seen, after all. So someone asked who was allowed to live here, and suddenly, that was her decision. Her first thoughts had been ¡®everybody,¡¯ but that had almost caused a riot. It turns out that everyone pretty much hates everyone else and doesn¡¯t want them as neighbors. Her next idea was a lottery, but even she could see that would fill the place with the rich and no one to work the place.

    In the end, she went with something that occurred to her out of a desperate desire to keep people away long enough to give her a chance to think. She had said that anyone who wanted to live there could apply; if accepted, they would have to swear loyalty to the Court of the Wandering Lands. Rose had been sure that would keep everyone away for a bit.

    She was nearly buried in the damn applications.

    ¡°Hey, Rose?¡± Wendy stuck her head around the door. ¡°That Fiona cow is coming over. Can you deal with her? I¡¯m getting all the demons to fight for me!¡±

    ¡°Are you sure you want me to deal with it?¡± Rose asked, yawning hugely.

    ¡°Please, I¡¯ll just gut the bitch if she looks at me funny.¡±

    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll see to it.¡± Rose nodded, almost falling asleep as she did so.

    ¡°Thanks, then get some sleep. Tell anyone that wants help to come see me; that should keep them away for a few hours.¡± Wendy gave her a one-armed hug and dashed out the door again.

    ¡°Good morning,¡± Fiona said, looking around her with well-disguised wonder as she was ushered into the office Rose had been encouraged to use. It was bigger than any house she had ever had, and it seemed wasted on her. ¡°I thought it would be polite to come say hello.¡± She flashed an officious smile. ¡°One administrator to another.¡±

    Rose felt a glow of happiness. It was nice to be acknowledged rather than accused. Typically, people like Fiona would either sneer or scream at her. This warm reception was a new and welcome change.

    Rose sat straighter in her chair and waved to one of the plush chairs facing her desk. ¡°How can I help you?¡±

    ¡°I thought I might be able to help you,¡± Fiona said dryly. ¡°That idiot man has run off and left you in the lurch, as it were.¡±

    ¡°Pardon?¡± Rose frowned.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been a marvel, really,¡± Fiona beamed at Rose, ¡°But let¡¯s be honest, here. Bert has just run off and left you holding the bag. Barely more than a child, and he leaves you to run a whole town. It¡¯s typical of the man, dickhead that he is.¡±

    Rose felt a vein start to pulse in her forehead.

    ¡°I know he left others, but really?¡± Fiona laughed, ¡°One is playing with demons, and the other is some kind of insane farmer. Clod for brains, I¡¯m sure.¡± Fiona flashed another smile.  ¡°So, I thought I¡¯d bring over this little contract.¡± She placed it reverentially on the desk in front of Rose. ¡°Just a quick signature, and I will take over running things for you while you learn what you are doing.¡± She held out a pen to Rose. ¡°This is just like a quill, only it doesn¡¯t need refilling. You can write, can¡¯t you?¡±

    Rose rubbed her eyes a few times and was startled to see Fiona still there. She had been sure this was all a nightmare. Fiona was still waving the pen at her encouragingly.

    ¡°Do you like my arms?¡± Rose asked, baring the gleaming metal for Fiona to see.

    ¡°Sure, they are great, now¡­ about that signature?¡±

    ¡°My arms were a gift, you know,¡± Rose said sleepily. ¡°From Lord Hudson.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to use that name here,¡± Fiona said. ¡°He isn¡¯t here.¡±

    ¡°Lord Hudson, who earned that title as far as I am concerned, gave me a new class as well. Do you know what my old class was?¡±

    ¡°I can guess,¡± Fiona sniffed. ¡°If that man is enough to impress you.¡±

    ¡°I was a rogue,¡± Rose grinned. ¡°A trained killer who excelled in her craft.¡± That was pushing it, but who was to know? ¡°The point is, I don¡¯t have the class, but I still have the experience.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Fiona glowered.

    ¡°I excelled at killing stuck-up, snobby, miserable, vinegar-faced bitches like you.¡± Rose grinned. ¡°Be very glad Lord Hudson convinced me to try my hand at something new. Good-bye.¡±

    Fiona looked ready to explode for a second but stalked away instead, throwing the pen over her shoulder in a fit of pique. Rose sighed, collected the pen thing for later study, and went to bed.

    Everything would be better after a bit of sleep.

    While Fiona stalked back to the city with calls of ¡®Bye, Bitch!¡¯ from Wendy ringing in her ears, the people of the new village, now nicknamed Rose Briar by the locals, got on with settling into their new home.

    Rose¡¯s policy, so hastily made in panic, had led to the most curious collection of citizens. Several bemused, formerly homeless workers now found themselves with lodging in the type of house they had never even dreamed of. Next door to them was the disowned son of a noble family who was happily moving in with the man he had given everything for. Across the street, a woman was busy setting up a practice area to study the city itself. She had studied the stories of the Fae all her life and had been first in line to swear the oath.

    The same kind of scenes were playing out across the new village. The lost, forgotten, and abandoned wandered around with stunned looks as they tried to figure out how their lives had changed so much overnight. In the fields, a group of former guards, merchants, and one delighted scholar were learning to tend fields and grow the strange crops within. Scruff led them all through a series of basics and then turned them loose on a set of practice fields she had left fallow for this exact reason.

    No village was perfect, of course. A few bad apples were in every batch, and several of them chanced their arm at the wrong moment. Some had snuck in with the idea of robbing the place, only to find a well-protected citizenship who all seemed to be getting along. Still, they tried, and when caught, they were dragged before who ever was currently answering questions. A couple of hours earlier, they might have been at the mercy of Rose, who had more than enough to go around these days.

    Instead, they were faced with an irritated Wendy. Along with the cheering crowds, they learned that ¡®throw them over the walls¡¯ was a command demons took literally.

    To be fair, several of them even survived.

    ==============

    Bert rolled his shoulders, feeling his armor settle a little more comfortably on his frame as he walked up to join the others. Bell was to his left, swinging her Ringer in anticipation, while on his right, Bud was sitting astride the armored Slothy.

    ¡°Lily?¡± He called.

    ¡°Up here,¡± She called from above.

    ¡°Okay, everyone, let¡¯s get this done.¡± He grinned, letting his knotwork flare as the others did the same. Ahead of them were the closed gates of a town flying the tattered flag of The People. This was the first town they had come to, and it was a small one. With any luck, it wouldn¡¯t have too many inside it. ¡°Honey, you want to knock?¡± He asked Bell.

    ¡°Delighted!¡± She snarled, whirling Ringer like a hammer thrower and sending it slamming into the gates, which exploded into shards of wood. He charged in after it, his shield glowing with mana. The first step through the gateway showed groaning figures, some laying still, green-tinted blood seeping from mortal wounds. He sprayed the area with bolts as fast as he could. Several of the survivors stopped moving just as a loud crash came from ahead of him. A collection of misshapen figures rounded the corner and charged. A mana blast from his shield knocked them off step, and his axe began a grim harvest just as Bell arrived in a storm of knives to retrieve her Ringer. They fought back to back, allowing themselves to be surrounded as they quickly cut down the lowest leveled and moved on to the real challenges. They were just starting to feel the pressure when a loud crash came from the next street over, and the wall tilted alarmingly.

    ¡°Slothy, dammit!¡± Bud yelled. ¡°I meant to charge through the gate, not the bloody wall!¡±

    Screaming started, and soon, the misshapen hulks were in full retreat. Before it was over, there were almost a hundred half human-shaped corpses scattered around the town. A careful search of the town led them to the survivors, huddled in cages next to a bloody circle scattered with discarded parts.

    Bert eyed the miserable souls sadly. They would need a lot of help to get over the trauma they had suffered. Most had been rendered mute with shock and horror, merely squeezing his hand or nodding their thanks while tears ran down their faces.

    ¡°We have to go,¡± Bell pulled him away. ¡°There are more towns like this; we have to get to them before no one is left.¡±

    Bert nodded and turned away, feeling like he was abandoning these people even if he knew Bell was right.

    Dagon was leaning against the Waystation when they got back, picking his teeth with a shard of the gates. He nodded to Bert and the others and gestured to the town they had just left.

    ¡°Nice work!¡± He laughed. ¡°Best be on your way now. I¡¯ve got people coming to help those who remain.¡±

    ¡°More people for your city?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°No, just people.¡± Dagon grinned. ¡°My city needs people to trade with, after all.¡±

    That put Bert¡¯s mind at rest, at least a little bit. It didn¡¯t help Bell, as it turned out. She was always sharper than him.

    ¡°How long ago did they start heading this way?¡± She asked, eyes narrowed.

    ¡°Oh, not too long,¡± Dagon said with a smile. ¡°A year or two.¡±

    ¡°Uh huh,¡± Bell said. ¡°Almost could have prevented all this.¡±

    ¡°Not something I am allowed to do,¡± Dagon kept his grin. ¡°Not telling why. Not to a pixie. Not to a Fae.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll still find out,¡± Bud said stiffly. ¡°If you could have done more.¡±

    ¡°Ha! Yes! Do that!¡± Dagon faded away, leaving them looking at a distant caravan heading their way.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Bert said to the others. ¡°Let¡¯s keep going.¡±

 Chapter 118 - Splitting the Party, VI

    Martha pulled herself up to the top of the tower and punched a hole in it. Her vines ripped and dug at the stones until she could force herself through the hole and emerge into the gently falling snow. None of this should be happening¡­ none of it. Everything had been going so well.

    WHY WAS IT GOING WRONG?

    She wished she still had two hands. Wringing one hand against a collection of bark and green plant flesh just wasn¡¯t the same. It wasn¡¯t even her hand. When she thought about it there was very little her left. Original Martha was just a memory now, and it was fading more every day. Smoke billowed into the sky in the distance. Even as she watched, another cloud began to rise over another town. It was all going wrong.

    It had all happened so fast. Four days ago, the first town fell, and Martha had been shocked at how fast it was. Still, it was only an outlying town, with only the weakest of her units. Then, the next one fell within hours. A desperate look through the eyes of a fleeing survivor had revealed why. The Waystation, if that is what it was, had changed. A gleaming line of metal and polished wood topped with gleaming crystal moved faster than a coach and horses across the landscape like the approach of a new age. Those eyes had been closed by the wheels of the thing as it ran them over.

    Martha had hesitated then. Perhaps this was not such a sure thing after all. Her mind had locked onto the image of Bert as she had known him, of the Waystation as it had been explained to her. She knew she was more powerful now¡­ but assumed they were still the same.

    She had been wrong.

    Had Rose known all along? Martha doubted it, but either way, it was almost over now. Desperate times called for desperate measures. A glint of metal on the horizon. They were headed here now, and she was out of time.

    Out of choices.

    ¡°My people!¡± Martha called, all eyes turning to her. ¡°Now is the time to make our greatest stand! Now is the time of our victory!¡±

    The idiots cheered, oblivious in their devotion to her. They would all die, every last one of them.

    ¡°Take heart, brave souls!¡± She called down to them. ¡°Fight to your last, and know I am preparing something to make our enemies bow before us!¡± Her eyes flicked to the horizon. Definite glints of metal now. There wasn¡¯t much time. ¡°Defend this tower at all costs! They must not enter until I am ready!¡±

    Martha scuttled back through the hole, confident they would hold with everything they had: fools, but useful fools.

    She wept through her own eyes for the last time. It was a terrible thing she was being forced to do, but they had left her no choice.

    Martha barricaded the door, collapsed the stairs, and moved to hand in a chrysalis of vines in one corner. Every second counted.

    With her preparations complete, Martha opened the door in her mind and forced herself through it¡­.

    Martha opened her new eyes in the darkness below ground. The diggers bore through the earth and stone with an unyielding pace ahead of her. She took a moment to examine her new body. It was female, at least the parts that were left. Mostly stone, she was heavier than she was used to. Still, it was a body. With deep breaths, she prepared for the final step.

    As the others streamed by, almost at their destination now, Martha closed her eyes and found the consciousness within. It was pushed aside by her own, but still there. She wrapped her will around it and squeezed until it popped. She was alone in the body now. With one final effort of will, she slammed the door in her mind shut behind her.

    Something inside her tore, something painful, but it only lasted a moment. A gasp of pain, nothing more, and she smiled in the dark, moving back into the throng forcing their way through the dense clay.

    They had taken her People from her, and they had taken her old body from her, so Martha would take their children from them.

    ==============

    ¡°Is that a bloody human trebuchet?¡± Bert asked as he pointed out the lumbering figure with one giant arm peeking over the walls of the keep ahead of them.

    ¡°Human might be pushing it,¡± Bell said with a grin.

    A giant rock arched over the walls, flying clear of them by several meters before digging into the ground in an explosion of dirt.

    ¡°Accuracy could use a bit of fine-tuning,¡± Bud laughed.

    ¡°Those walls look pretty strong,¡± Bert admitted as they made their way down the winding approach, dodging the occasional rock as they rained from the sky. ¡°We¡¯ll have to go over.¡±

    There was an amused chuff from Slothy.

    ¡°No!¡± Bert insisted. ¡°Over. You¡¯ll hurt yourself on those gates.¡±

    Slothy whined a little but eventually chuffed a reluctant agreement. They broke into a jog as the rocks started to zero in.

    ¡°Let¡¯s go to the left, take a wall, and move from there,¡± Bert pointed. ¡°No need to try and fight them all at once.¡±

    ¡°And I can cover your climb,¡± Bell nodded. ¡°Good plan.¡±

    They stopped briefly as the gates opened and a flood of figures poured out. There were few recognizably human shapes amongst them. As The People formed into ordered lines, the group looked at each other in surprise.

    ¡°Uh, they are going to fight like an actual army?¡± Bell asked. ¡°That¡¯s new.¡±

    ¡°They never had the numbers before,¡± Bud said, sounding worried.

    ¡°Clever buggers, too,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°Let us get all the way down here before they reveal themselves.¡±

    ¡°Too late to go back now and get those demons,¡± Bud said grimly. ¡°They could chase us down before we got back to the Waystation.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Bell said with a grin. ¡°You didn¡¯t think it would be easy to win a war, did you?¡±

    ¡°Well, I kind of hoped,¡± Bert admitted.

    The lines ahead of them were something out of a nightmare. The front row was vine-wrapped with long spikes that jutted from each arm. Stone braced their legs as they prepared to absorb a charge. Behind them waited a line of heavier soldiers with stone shields replacing one arm entirely and wicked-looking clubs made of twisted vines and stone or metal shards. On and on it sent until the back lines made up of grotesque people with swollen backs bristling with stone spikes and smaller versions of the human trebuchet.

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    ¡°No holding back this time, I guess,¡± Bell grinned nervously at Bert.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Bert nodded. ¡°No holding back anymore. Use everything you have.¡±

    Bud nodded, and Slothy growled. He looked at each of them, one after another, holding their eyes for a moment. ¡°My family,¡± He said with a grin. ¡°My family now and forever.¡±

    Bell grinned back at him as knives began to slide from her storage and start to orbit around her. Bud limbered up, pulling his bowstring a touch tighter while checking the straps holding him to Slothy, who was growling like a pissed-off buzzsaw.

    ¡°When you¡¯re ready?¡± Bert asked Bell. ¡°Would you like to do the honors?¡±

    ¡°Delighted!¡± Bell took a step forward as she began to glow red. ¡°FOR THE GARBAGE MAN!¡±

    They charged as one, feet flying over the ground toward the enemy lines as the glowing knotwork on their bodies began to shine and pulse with a fierce light.

    Bell veered off first, leaping through the air to the left and diving into the front lines. SLothy broke to the right as Bud began to blur, a hailstorm of glowing arrows being unleashed as Slothy bowled over the front lines to be trampled beneath her as she tore into enemies that were already bristled with arrows.

    Bert put his head down and activated shield charge, firing off a mana burst through his shield as he hit the first defenders.

    The enemies disappeared into a haze of blood and bits with the combined power.

    Pouring mana into his axe until a glowing blue mana copy grew three times the original size, he laid into the enemies around him without even a thought of mercy.

    Bert lost track of time as the enemy came at him ceaselessly, their numbers feeling endless as minutes turned into hours, and the numbers never stopped coming. Twice, he had been forced to move just to avoid the dead tripping him as he fought with axe and shield, both glowing with power. Ducking under a slashing sword, he cut up, severing the arm from the torso, only for the thing to grab an arm from a fallen friend and attach it like some demented Mister Potato Head.

    The sheer amount of damage they had to inflict on the cultists to get them to fall was staggering. He slammed it back with his shield and severed its spine with a powered slash across the chest. Even then, he saw it starting to rebuild until he leaped forward and smashed its head with his footed feet.

    The battle got grimmer as time went on. He caught glimpses of the others fighting every now and then as one of the bodies surrounding him fell. The last he had seen, Bell was standing in the center of a killing field as her knives spun like a hurricane. Anything that pushed through got her Ringer in the face before it could clear the knives. Bud was off Slothy¡¯s back now, fighting with a sword and dagger, his bow slung over his back as he calmly diced anything too slow to run.

    Slothy was their battering ram, charging through the lines before throwing herself on the giants at the back. All four sets of claws made short work of even the largest of the enemy, but any who survived would be back before long.

    It was a battle of attrition, and for the first time, Bert was worried they would not be able to outlast the enemy.

    Their two great strengths were their endless mana and his healing. Now, they fought an enemy who, by numbers alone, could overwhelm their mana spending. No matter how much he had, he could only SPEND so much at once. As for his healing? They could match him in that. Every attack that didn¡¯t kill vanished in seconds.

    To make matter worse, these were people, they were adapting to his tactics quickly. He was seeing more and more that had long-range weapons, or worse, pikes.

    Bert began to sweat and pant as he fought harder.

    Time was running out.

    Bert was being pushed back, moving away as the press ahead of him stuck with whips and elongated weapons. His shield glowed and grew as he braced his feet, feeling them slide over the ground as night finally fell.

    Bell and the others faced the same problem, and before the sunset, they found themselves fighting side-by-side once more. None of them joked or called out insults. Even Bell was quiet as she focused. Only three knives were still flying, the others lost along the way.

    Bert started to call a retreat when a loud, gurgling horn was sounded on the walls, and the ground behind them erupted as more of the People climbed from secret tunnels. It was a perfectly timed trap, and once more, the group was surrounded with no way out.

    ¡°Cant¡­keep¡­this¡­up¡­much¡­longer,¡± Bell panted at him.

    Bert just nodded, in the same condition. His arms were aching, and he had forced so much mana through his system that he felt¡­ baked. All of them were bleeding, healed, and half healed wounds opening as they moved.

    ¡°I¡¯ll try and clear us a path!¡± Bert called and prepared to shield charge with everything he had left.

    ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you!¡± Bell protested angrily. ¡°We go down together or¨C¡±

    A horn blew long and loud as the light played over the keep behind them. Bert winced, wondering what fresh hell this was. A second later, he realized it wasn¡¯t a horn. It was a whistle. A train whistle.

    Moments later, the night exploded as fireballs began to rain down.

    ===============

    Belandra Michaels didn¡¯t want to be here. He never even wanted to join The People. Not that they asked, but if they did, he would have said no. Who wanted to be a thing, anyway? Waking up as one after they had taken his town was awful, but the voice in his head insisted it was right.

    He had no idea why they had even brought him to the new continent. He had been so anxious as he crossed through the portal that he had to be pushed by those behind. Still, the leader seemed to like him for some reason.

    When they insisted he replaced more of his body, he would have liked to say no¡­ but they were all looking at him expectantly.

    So he agreed and lost his legs. Later they wanted part of his chest, and everyone was proud of him. The next thing he knew, they had brought him new things to absorb, and before he knew it, he was bigger than the others.

    It only got worse from there.

    They had him use his huge, long arm to throw big rocks at walls in other towns, and then they saved the people inside.

    Deep inside, Belandra thought that it was all wrong. But the mind of the leader seemed more important than his own; besides¡­ everyone told him it was the right thing.

    They had to be right, didn¡¯t they? How could so many people be wrong?

    When the leader, their perfect mother, had told them to fight and to win, in her name Belan had been fired up to fight in her name, but then¡­ it was only three people and a bear.

    How was it right to fight three people and a bear with a whole army?

    The longer it had gone on, the worse he felt.

    The People were going to win; of course they were. They always did.

    That was why he never mentioned the fourth person to anyone. She was pretty and was hidden most of the time, but he saw her. No one else was paying attention to her, so Belan let her fly away when he saw her heading back.

    At least one person would escape.

    He was deliberately missing. Belan hoped no one noticed, but he intentionally threw his rocks too far. If he hit the four fighting people, it would make him feel like a bully, and Belan hated bullies. It was well he was looking for a clear space to put his next rock when he saw it, even if he thought it must be a weird dream at first.

    On the hill that led down to the keep was a light, and it was getting closer and closer. It was also getting bigger. Belan activated his improved sight and zoomed in on what he was seeing. His giant arm trembled in fear.

    Charging down the hillside was a giant wood and metal snake. Its eyes blazed light, and a small skeleton stood on the nose, laughing as it held two of the biggest fireballs Belan had ever seen. Standing on the top of the head of the thing was the woman he had let go.

    Her eyes blazed with light as she cast some spell, and the night turned to day as the lights found him.

    All the mental controls of the The People vanished as Belan started to back away, panic flooding his system. He opened his mouth to shout a warning but was much too late. The snake thing crashed head-on into the lines of his people, and screams filled the night as they were crushed. He saw one last glimpse of the skeleton as it threw fireballs so fast he could barely see, and then Belan turned and ran. He ran right through the back walls and tumbled to the rocks far, far below.

    Smashed and dying on those rocks, Belan knew he could reform himself with a thought¡­ but closed his eyes instead.

    He didn¡¯t like this world anymore. Maybe he would get to try another one in his next life?

    =============

    Bert and the others were frozen with shock as the Waystation plowed into the enemy, bodies, and bits flying in all directions as it continued on and on. Over half the enemy forces. A second later, the ramp to the Bear¡¯s Fall fell, and the Demons erupted into a fight. They quickly fought their way over to Bert and the others, getting them time to take a brief breather before the gates to the keep opened again, large shapes lumbering out into the night.

    ¡°Protect the Waystation!¡± Bert called and led the charge to protect Way Way. They were going to be too slow; the first lumbering shaped pulled back huge fists to begin hammering on the train when the form of Bernhardt clambered onto the top of the train. He raised his hands, green energy screaming from them in a torrent. Scruff¡¯s fields came alive, and plant met plant in combat, with the old Gardener cackling madly as he waved his hands like the conductor of a hellish orchestra.

    ¡°Form up in front of the Waystation!¡± Bert roared. ¡°Push into the keep!¡±

 Chapter 119 - Not this again!

    Bert slammed aside the grasping tentacles and buried his axe in the thing¡¯s face. It squealed briefly, but a burst of mana through the axe took care of it for good. Spinning to Bell, Bert opened his mouth to warn her about a strike from behind her when he found himself frozen in place.

    Panic flared in him as he stared at a world frozen mid-battle. Only his eyes were free to move. As he scanned for the source of the spell, or whatever it was keeping everyone frozen, Bert was able to see Slothy; her claws dug deep into a massive monstrosity as Bud stood on her shoulders, an arrow drawn back and about to fire into the thing¡¯s twisted visage.

    Something was very wrong here, and worse than anything else, he didn¡¯t seem able to break free. No matter how much mana he cycled through the tides, he was completely and utterly frozen.

    ¡°Mister Hudson,¡± A man-shaped hole in the world nodded to him. ¡°It seems like only a few minutes since we last spoke.¡±

    Bert grimaced internally. He remembered this¡­thing. It was not a man. It was not even anything he could classify, really. But it was familiar. He had spoken with this thing just once. An office made of shaped blackness and the end of his troubles with Felicia. None of that explained this¡­.

    ¡°My kind is famous for our lack of interest; did you know that?¡± The man shifted shape slightly, and a distinguished-looking man in a completely black suit emerged from the change. He was bald and indeed hairless. Not even an eyelash marked his skin. The skin was the same black as his suit, as were the eyes and even the teeth. It was extremely disturbing. ¡°We don¡¯t take an interest, not in individuals, ever. Imagine my surprise then when I have to deal with you not once but twice?¡± The man in black walked calmly between the frozen fighters, occasionally gently pushing a blade or spell out of his path with a single finger. ¡°It has engendered something in me that I thought long behind me, Mister Hudson; I am curious.¡± He circled Bert, a slow and careful examination from all sides. ¡°To be entirely frank with you, I don¡¯t see it.¡±

    Bert tried to speak but found it impossible. Every muscle in his body was locked down.

    ¡°Why do I need to intervene in your life, not once, but twice?¡± The man in black said with a weary sigh. ¡°There are whole worlds where I have never needed to even know their name. Entire civilizations have risen and fallen without my ever having to notice, yet you, Mister Hudson, I have to see twice in a single year?¡± He arrived back in front of Bert and clasped his hands behind his back. ¡°Do you have any idea when that last happened, Mister Hudson?¡±

    Again, Bert tried to speak.

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think you have anything worthwhile to say,¡± The man in black said with a mournful shake of his head. ¡°I prefer you like this, quiet, controlled.¡± He grinned slightly, ¡°Walk with me, will you?¡± He turned and walked away.

    Bert felt himself moving in a lurching step along behind like a puppet controlled by an incompetent puppeteer. They walked through the center of the battle, passing underneath the frozen tentacles of the attacking behemoths and the still razor vines striking from the Waystation. The man in black stopped and held one hand on the Waystation for a moment, his brows raising in surprise.

    ¡°This is almost awake; I would have assumed that was impossible, yet¡­¡± He glanced over his shoulder again and scowled briefly. ¡°Many impossible things are happening at the moment.¡± He moved on, stopping occasionally to examine one of the cultists or Slothy before leading the way into the keep and pushing open the door to the tower. A massive amount of rubble had been piled on the other side, but it moved away with a casual flick of his fingers as if it was made of paper.

    ¡°This lifeform has departed its body,¡± the man in black stared up at the ball of dried vine, stone, and metal that had once been Martha''s. ¡°It slipped from its own body and took possession of another. Possession is not unusual, but for one to do it while still alive is almost unheard of.¡±

    Bert barely heard the man; his eyes fixed on a message written in blood on the wall opposite the remains of Martha¡­

    By the time you see this, I will have taken my revenge on your offspring.

    The man in black noted his lack of attention and looked at the writing. ¡°Oh, I see. Revenge. Such a messy and wasteful emotion, don¡¯t you think? She hasn¡¯t made it there yet, of course. I tell you this merely because I require your attention, Mister Hudson. It is important that we understand one another,¡± He smiled another tiny smile, ¡°As much as one such as yourself could understand something like me, anyway.¡±

    Bert glared at the man in black, forced to be silent.

    ¡°Ahh, I see there is resistance to the idea,¡± The man in black sighed. ¡°How about this¡­ listen to what I have to say, and I promise none of your people will be harmed while we talk.¡±

    Bert tried to nod, immobile as he had been since the man appeared, but somehow, the thing knew.

    ¡°Splendid. I shall release you now, but be aware that any attempt to attack me will not only be pointless, but I shall take punitive action against everyone you care about.¡± He clicked his fingers, and Bert collapsed to the ground.

    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Bert spat. ¡°But I will remember you threatened my family.¡±

    ¡°See that you do,¡± the man in black said, looking pleased with himself. ¡°Tell me, Mister Hudson, what did you hope to accomplish here?¡±

    ¡°Martha was killing people; I came to stop that,¡± Bert said simply.

    ¡°Why would you care? You created her, after all.¡± The man asked.

    ¡°I tried to help her; all the rest is on her,¡± Bert said angrily. ¡°But I still had to stop it.¡±

    ¡°Yes, you did,¡± The man in black nodded. ¡°Cleaning up your own mistakes is an admirable trait.¡± He stepped forward, uncomfortably close suddenly. ¡°What did you do that made her into this?¡±

    Bert explained the story of Martha and her condition when he found her. He told the man in black about the village and how he had tried to help again, only to realize something was very wrong. He didn¡¯t hide his part in all of it; simply told the truth, warts and all.

    ¡°What else could I have done?¡± Bert asked when he finished.

    ¡°Kill her, obviously,¡± The man in black shook his head.

    ¡°There was no way to know what she would become,¡± Bert knew he sounded defensive, and he was. He had only wanted to help, after all. Still, a part of all of this suffering was on him; he felt that.

    ¡°So you did not intend this,¡± The man in black nodded. ¡°I often wondered, but how does a species so blind to the future ever manage to act?¡±

    ¡°We just do,¡± Bert said angrily. ¡°What other option is there? We try and make the best choice we can. That¡¯s all.¡±

    ¡°Is it?¡± The man in black cocked his head to one side. ¡°The rest of your species are a nameless mass to me, but I have to meet you not once but twice.¡±

    ¡°Why are you even here now?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Is this all another of Felicia¡¯s plots?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t know about her?¡± The man in black frowned. ¡°Ahh, I forgot you are so limited. Come with me.¡±

    Bert found himself standing in the center of a vast and strange city, fires burning all around. The man in black walked ahead, and Bert followed, seeing no other option.

    The buildings were all strange; some were giant trees, others seemed to be crystals, and there were even a few stone towers. There were frozen figures here as well. Some were insect-like, others human or humanoid at least. There didn¡¯t seem to be any rhyme or reason for how they looked. In fact, he barely saw two that seemed to come from the same species. The only thing they had in common was that they were fighting.

    As they passed through the frozen city, they came to a temple of a size that Bert had never even thought of. It stretched into the clouds, and the steps alone stretched on for miles. The man in black led him up the steps and past the battle lines before circling back and pointing.

    ¡°Is that Felicia?¡± Bert asked. ¡°What the hell is she doing now?¡±

    ¡°I believe the term in your world would be civil war?¡± The man in black offered. ¡°She is attempting to overthrow the First Generation and end the Watcher¡¯s immortality.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You.¡± The man in black said simply. ¡°To a greater or lesser extent anyway.¡±

    ¡°No way you can blame this on me!¡± Bert yelled, ¡°That woman has nothing to do with me! You saw to that, remember?¡±

    ¡°I could hardly forget,¡± The man in black frowned. ¡°Still, you must see the pattern?¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Immortals coming and fucking with my life? Yeah, I noticed that as well.¡±

    ¡°Quite so,¡± The man in black turned away. ¡°Follow.¡±

    Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Bert said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to do anything about this?¡± He pointed to the fighting. ¡°They are under your power, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°Not anymore,¡± The man in black said. ¡°Felicia and her followers are mortal now. Their affairs are their own.¡±

    ¡°Where the hell are we now?¡± Bert asked as he looked around at the shining golden towers.

    ¡°The deities of your adopted world are not immune from your influence,¡± The man in black said with clear irritation. ¡°See?¡±

    Bert grumbled to himself as he was led toward a group of three frozen gods. Death, War, and another he didn¡¯t know. They were talking, that was all.

    ¡°So, what is this about?¡± Bert asked. ¡°They are talking, aren¡¯t they?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they are,¡± The man in black said, ¡°And do you recognize this one?¡± He pointed to the third god, a thin man with a gaunt look and plain clothes.

    ¡°No,¡± Bert said simply.

    ¡°This, Mister Hudson, is a new God.¡± The man in black said with anger in his voice. ¡°They call him the Reclaimer. Note his arm.¡±

    Bert looked closer and saw the man had an arm just like this.

    ¡°Huh?¡± Bert said. ¡°Looks like this isn¡¯t unique after all.¡±

    ¡°Wrong,¡± The man in black said. ¡°This god, Mister Hudson, was formed after people began to worship YOU!¡±

    ¡°Bullshit!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°Who would worship me?¡±

    ¡°You wander around and collect the forgotten people and expect others like them to NOT notice that? That stories would not spread?¡± The man in black shook his head. ¡°In a few years, I imagine this God would become defunct, absorbed into you, and you would be forcibly ascended to Godhood.¡± He saw Bert¡¯s gaping mouth and reached out, snapping it closed. ¡°Was this not your plan?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Bert laughed. It was such a ridiculous idea that he couldn¡¯t quite take it seriously. ¡°I just helped people that needed it. That¡¯s not godhood; that¡¯s just not being an asshole.¡±

    ¡°So you do not claim this as your plan?¡± The man in black asked again.

    ¡°No, for fuck sake,¡± Bert snapped. ¡°No one becomes a god just from helping people.¡±

    ¡°A pattern continues,¡± The man in black huffed and yanked them again to another place with barely a hint of warning.

    ¡°Okay, now this is somewhere I recognize,¡± Bert said, ¡°My daughter is here.¡± The familiar surroundings of Rose Briar were a welcome sight. With any luck, he could warn Wendy somehow.

    ¡°See these?¡± The man in black pointed to some demons who were apparently fighting in some kind of mock battle, ¡°Why are they even here?¡±

    ¡°I found their temple, or whatever,¡± Bert huffed. ¡°But you can¡¯t put that on me; that was all Dagon¡¯s doing.¡±

    ¡°Who?¡± The man in black spun and grabbed Bert. ¡°How do you know that name?¡±

    ¡°Hello, Brother!¡± Dagon laughed as he stepped out of the air, ¡°It is a surprise to see me here, yes!¡±

    ¡°Wait, brother?¡± Bert snapped. ¡°Dagon, what the fuck?¡±

    ¡°I told you I would come when you needed me! Yes!¡± Dagon roared with laughter. ¡°Here I am!¡±

    ===============

    Bert found himself sitting at a table in the palace. On one side was the Man in Black, and on the other was Dagon.

    ¡°What have you done, Brother?¡± The Man in Black shook his head sadly.

    ¡°What I had to, Brother! Yes!¡± Dagon grinned.

    ¡°Why him?¡± The Man in Black gestured to Bert.

    ¡°He is the core of it, yes!¡± Dagon winked at Bert. ¡°One of mine, I think!¡±

    ¡°No, he is one of mine,¡± The Man in Black said solemnly. ¡°At least partly.¡±

    ¡°What the fuck are you two talking about?¡± Bert demanded. ¡°And who or what the hell are you?¡±

    ¡°We can not both claim him,¡± The Man in Black said with a frown. ¡°It is impossible.¡±

    ¡°Then we should let him decide. Yes!¡± Dagon grinned across the table.

    ¡°He is not smart enough to choose,¡± The Man in Black said thoughtfully.

    ¡°Fuck you too!¡± Bert said through gritted teeth.

    Dagon just laughed.

    ¡°We fight then?¡± Dagon asked his brother.

    ¡°Over one being?¡± The Man in Black asked.

    ¡°Over this one,¡± Dagon grinned. ¡°YES!¡±

    ¡°Hello? You two can hear me, right?¡± Bert waved his hands in between the two.

    ¡°You have had time to influence him,¡± The Man in Black sighed. ¡°It is not even.¡±

    ¡°It never is,¡± Dagon said with another booming laugh.

    ¡°Very well, but I must explain things,¡± The Man in Black snapped.

    ¡°Agreed!¡± Dagon laughed.

    ¡°What the hell are you two on about?¡± Bert was considering actually getting on the table at this point. It had been a long time since he was completely ignored.

    It was just as irritating as he remembered.

    ¡°Listen, and I will explain,¡± The Man in Black sighed and waved his hands. ¡°I will use pictures to aid in understanding.¡±

    ¡°Prick,¡± Bert muttered as images began to form on the table, and the Man in Black began his tale.

    A long time ago, the great tree was the center of all things. It was not the beginning of things. If there even was a beginning, nothing alive now knew how it began.

    But as far as Bert was concerned, the tree was as good a beginning as any. It was the first form of order in the vast collection of universes and worlds. From it, all the things known to be had come. Establishing order was the first task, and it was created as the embodiment of order.

    Order went into the universes of the tree and made everything function as it should. Nothing changed, varied, or strayed from its path under his watchful gaze. It should have been a paradise, yet life began to fade from the worlds and, as such, from the tree.

    The Caretaker was made to tend the tree and keep it healthy, yet life still began to flee as Order choked out all variation. Thus, the tree acted again. Order needed a balancing force. Chaos was thus created and sent into the universes.

    Chaos and Order soon came to blows, and war raged. Yet again, life was lost, and the tree began to die.

    The Caretaker drew Order and Chaos back to the tree, and peace was agreed upon. After a thousand years of haggling, the rules for Order and Chaos to both exist were laid down, and peace reigned. Life began to flourish again, and the tree grew, the Caretaker placing seeds of new life forms into the worlds as it saw fit.

    And so it was until a new event caused the balance to shift. The event was difficult to watch, as it involved his head being ripped from his body. Order seemed to enjoy that part, letting it play twice before moving on¡­

    ¡°Since you were transported to your new world, there have been ripples from it that destabilize the delicate balance we have. New species were created, the Fae returning to the worlds they had left long ago. Demon forces on a dying world, the Watcher civil war, and more!¡± Order was almost shouting now in his agitation. ¡°It can not continue! You must learn to control yourself!¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m mortal, sort of; how am I even in your power?¡± Bert asked archly.

    ¡°You will return from the Summerlands if killed. We know that, and with that, your ripples will start again and again. I can not have it!¡± Order slammed his fist on the table.

    ¡°Those are not ripples!¡± Dagon, also known as Chaos, grinned. ¡°That is the chaotic soul at work! Yes!¡± He stood and thumped the table as well. ¡°He is my kind and will spread chaos amongst your ordered worlds! All will be change; all will be new!¡± He roared with laughter. ¡°It will be joyous!¡±

    ¡°It will be death and fire, and¡­ and¡­.¡± Order collapsed in his chair. ¡°He must choose Order. He must choose me! I will guide him into perfect balance!¡±

    ¡°Whoa,¡± Bert held out his hands to both of them, ¡°I have to choose?¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Chaos grinned. ¡°You are just mortal enough to have the choice!¡± He grinned at Order.

    ¡°He is right, Mister Hudson,¡± Order slumped. ¡°The choice is yours, although there is no possible way for you to know enough to choose right.¡±

    ¡°I agree,¡± Bert nodded, feeling a surge of glee at their stunned faces. ¡°So I choose neither of you.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t do that!¡± Chaos roared.

    ¡°You just said I could.¡± Bert pointed out.

    ¡°You choose neither of us?¡± Order frowned. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because you¡¯re right,¡± Bert said firmly. ¡°I don¡¯t know enough to choose one or the other, so I choose neither. I¡¯ll take option number three.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± Dagon roared. ¡°After all I invested in you?¡±

    ¡°Get fucked, Dagon,¡± Bert grinned. ¡°I never trusted you anyway.¡±

    Chaos leaped for him, only to freeze in place, eyes going wide as a powerful presence flooded the room. Even Order looked frozen.

    ¡°Then you have chosen,¡± A voice shook the room. ¡°If you are not for them, you are for me, the Caretaker.¡±

    ¡°Uh,¡± Bert tried to think of what to say.

    ¡°You are not where I planted you,¡± The voice said calmly. ¡°A transplanted species can often cause problems.¡±

    ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Bert protested as everything faded away around him.

    ¡°Your family, your friends, all you have affected, I will bring back with you, have no fear.¡±

    ¡°Wait, back where?¡± Bert protested feebly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to go anywhere!¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care, Bert,¡± The voice said with absolute detachment. ¡°The infection will be excised.¡±

    The light around him grew blinding as he felt the ground under his feet again.

    ===============

    ¡°What did you do!¡± Bell accused the moment the light faded.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t do it!¡± Bert growled. ¡°It was some immortal shit again!¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t just say that every time!¡± Bell grumped.

    Bert blinked his eyes, seeing Bell, Bud, and Slothy all giving him accusing glares.

    They were on the bridge of the Waystation as it plowed through empty white space. He could see what looked like Rose Briar, complete with giant crab monster underneath flying next to them.

    Before he could process everything, the whiteness parted, and the Waystation plowed through a building and slid to a stop¡­on a tarmac road.

    ¡°Where the hells are we?¡± Bell dashed for the exit, Bert and the others following along behind.

    They piled out of the Waystation, and Bert found himself looking at a bungalow, slightly overgrown and untended but very familiar nonetheless.

    ¡°Fuck me, I¡¯m back.¡± Bert groaned.

    ¡°What?¡± Bell asked. ¡°Where are we?¡±

    ¡°Bell, everyone, welcome to Earth,¡± Bert said, his mind spinning.

    ¡°What did you do!¡± Bell accused again.

    Bert was filling everyone in when a massive crunch sounded, and a tremor passed through the street.

    Bert turned and looked up into the massive eyes of a nightmare crab-like creature topped with a disk of earth. A vine lowered, and Wendy slid down it and landed with a little bounce.

    ¡°Dad! Dad!¡± She ran over to him. ¡°This is Earth, right?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± He sighed and sat on the curb.

    ¡°What did you do?¡± Wendy asked, hands on her hips.

    ¡°It wasn¡¯t me!¡± Bert snapped.

    How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice? The line ran round and round in his head as he looked up at his stunned family.

    Thanks for reading The Waystation Volume 4!

    The story will continue in Volume 5:

    The Express! The continuing adventures of Scruff and Wendy

    Or¡­

    Adventure with Sloth and Bow: The Bud Chronicles

    Or¡­

    Growing Pain: How a Gardener took over the world

    Or¡­

    Bert & Bell: Hotel Hell

    Stay tuned!

 Volume 5 starts next week!

    Hey all,

    After a long wait, I am pleased to announce that The Waystation Volume 5 will start next week!

    With Bert and the crew now transported back to Earth, there is much to explore that should be familiar.... should be.

    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    So many things have changed in the time he has been gone, not to mention all the things his return will set in motion.

    With others being transported to Earth along with him, including some he may not be happy to see again, the future of not just the Waystation but the entire planet is up in the air.

    Where are the Fae?

    Where did all the humans go?

    It is the start of an entirely new story arc that will take them beyond anything they ever expected, with new enemies, old friends, unfortunate choices, and a psychotic pixie with a knife fetish.

    What more can you ask for?

 Vol5 Chapter 1 - Welcome Home

    Chapter One

    Welcome Home

    ¡°What a shit-hole, no offense,¡± Bell poked around the bungalow Bert had once shared with Gwen with every sign of distaste. ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡± She asked as she pointed across the moldy room at what remained of his desk.

    ¡°Laptop computer,¡± Bert said with a smile. ¡°It was how I played games and that kind of thing. Like the screens Way-Way has, but connected to a really big network of other screens.¡±

    ¡°No wonder you were suicidal,¡± Bell said as she flopped onto what remained of the couch, raising a massive cloud of dust in the process. ¡°How did people stand this?¡±

    ¡°Nothing tried to eat us every other day,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°You get comfortable. Also, it used to look a lot nicer than this.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, I doubt that,¡± Bell said with a sigh.

    Bert smiled as he poked through his old things. It was weird, but it almost felt like he was picking through someone else¡¯s things rather than his own. A lot had changed in the surprisingly short time he had been gone.

    He had changed. The world had changed.

    Also, it seemed to have ended, and Bert felt uncomfortable that he might be to blame for that. He had caught the Fae''s attention, and they said they were coming here.

    His last conversations on the topic had suggested that things were not going well, but from the small part of Earth he had seen so far, that was a massive understatement. Admittedly, that was currently just his old street, and they had searched for a good dozen houses, but the initial reports were not looking good.

    Abandoned places had a look, but more than that, a certain feel. His time in the other world had undoubtedly given him the chance to explore a few of those places, so he knew what they felt like. This street, with its half-fallen-down houses and empty windows covered in grime, felt just like those empty cities and forgotten fortresses they had searched.

    Still, it had once been home, and that had to count for something.

    Or did it?

    ¡°Fuck it,¡± Bert smiled at Bell, ¡°Let¡¯s get the Waystation to eat it all.¡±

    ¡°Yes!¡± Bell jumped up and led him out of the bungalow with her arm through his.

    ¡°That town you said was a couple of miles from here?¡± Bud said as he came back from his scouting with Slothy and the orcs. ¡°It¡¯s not there.¡±

    ¡°Fallen down?¡± Bert frowned as he watched the street of houses slowly vanishing into the ground as Way-Way absorbed them.

    ¡°Not there, not there,¡± Bud shook his head, ¡°Like, nothing was ever built there. We found some forest, a decent-sized stream, and not much else. No ruins, no holes in the ground, nothing.¡±

    ¡°It''s the same in every direction,¡± Tru-Nal nodded. ¡°This strange road?¡± She tapped her booted foot against the blacktop. ¡°It vanishes into the grass at the end of this set of buildings.¡±

    It was not as surprising as it might have been. There were more than a few hints that things had changed on Earth, like the mountains he could see in the distance. The midlands¨Cthe part of England he had lived in¨Chad many lovely geographical features to enjoy, but mountains were not one of them. Let alone what appeared to be a whole mountain range worth of them. Spiky-looking buggers as well.

    ¡°Did you see any people?¡± Bert asked hopefully.

    They just shook their heads sadly.

    Bert tried to think past the repeated shocks of the last few hours. He was back on Earth but was completely changed. His people were all here, even those who had signed up with Rose to work in the new city. If there were any humans around here, they would be lying low and avoiding coming over to say hi. Not that he was surprised by that. The giant metal land-train plowing through the only remaining buildings in the area was a bad first impression. That was before you considered the other thing that had arrived with them. Nothing like a village full of demons and aliens with strange walls to make people hesitate to come over and welcome the new neighbors, and that was before you considered the fact it was on the back of an unholy amalgamation of plant and crab with a massive succulent mast ending in a weird sail.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Bell asked, finally bothering to join the conversation. Her initial interest in his old place had quickly faded, and the irrepressible pixie was already getting bored. For a lady who had spent decades in a clearing in the middle of a forgotten forest, she sure didn¡¯t like to stay in one place any longer than they had to.

    ¡°I honestly have no idea,¡± Bert admitted. ¡°Family meeting?¡±

    ¡°Oh, good,¡± Bell said sarcastically. ¡°Those always go so well.¡±

    ========

    There was a time when family meetings took place around a table in a barn¡ªa nice barn, to be sure, but still a barn. The family had grown a little since then. Part of the reason for that was the fact that Bert and Bell, thanks to a magical accident, now had a daughter called Wendy, but the greater reason was that Bert picked up the lost and abandoned people like a child brings home stray animals. The analogy certainly fit when they all gathered in the private dining area of the Waystation. Scruff, the possibly evil farmer-turned-plant- fae, was leaning so far back in her chair that she had to use a pair of tendrils to stop the chair from falling over. Wendy, their half-pixie daughter, ignored the chairs entirely and sat on the edge of the table and threw food at the invisible former half-pixie Lily as she dodged and summoned illusions to throw off her aim. The only other Garbage Man in existence, Rose, was Lily¡¯s estranged sister, who refused to sit, standing stiffly next to a chair and trying to disappear into the background as much as possible. The task was next to impossible, given the two metallic arms that had replaced the ones she lost, but she sure gave it a shot.

    Bud had his chair pushed back, his skeletal form looking downright fatherly as he bounced the small gnork skeleton, his adopted minion/kid Tim, while it laughed manically and tried to set fire to the table surreptitiously. Now, there are very few tables in the galaxy that can include Bud and Tim and not have them be the strangest ones present, but in this group, they were simply too normal-looking. Their immediate neighbors were a perfect example, featuring the nervous-looking Gavin and his half-elven wife of barely a few days acquaintance. The two were being orbited by strange furred creatures shouting obscenities. Amid shouts of ¡®Bawbag!¡¯ and ¡®Baws!¡¯ they did their best to look innocent, especially since a third was running around the room shouting ¡®Fuck!¡¯ repeatedly.

    Compared to all that, the psychotic pixie Bert called his wife was practically mundane.

    Despite the gently escalating mayhem, there were some serious issues to deal with, hence the meeting.

    Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

    ¡°Shut! Up!¡± Bell bellowed at window-shattering volumes, a thing she did with amazing regularity. Everyone at least turned to look at her and Bert, which was a start.

    ¡°Okay, thanks, everyone. Uh, Welcome to Earth, I guess.¡± He grinned. ¡°This is not exactly the place I remember, but it at least used to be where I came from. I called you all here because we have a few problems to sort you.¡±

    ¡°A few?¡± Wendy stretched. ¡°Do we all need to be here? I have a small army of demons to keep entertained.¡±

    ¡°Last I checked, they were entertaining you,¡± Scruff grinned. ¡°How are the games going, by the way?¡±

    ¡°Good!¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°I think the high jump was a mistake, given that the town is several stories off the ground, but I¡¯m sure his legs will grow back.¡±

    ¡°Focus,¡± Bert said with a sigh. ¡°Yes, we all need to be here. Or do you not want to know the plans?¡±

    ¡°I know our plans,¡± Wendy said quietly, which made Bell glare suspiciously at her.

    ¡°Okay, now.¡± Bert tried to get things back on track. ¡°First problem: we have an army of demons here and in the village. They are probably trapped here until they find an access point for their realm.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll take them,¡± Wendy and Scruff said in perfect unison, which wasn¡¯t suspicious at all.

    ¡°Okay, if you are sure,¡± They nodded, and Bert went on, ¡°Next problem, we have apparently abducted Bernhardt. He is still planted in Scruff¡¯s fields and refusing to move, despite the whole being dragged to another world thing.¡±

    ¡°Why not let him take over my fields?¡± Scruff asked. ¡°Then, I could focus on the village and my new plant.¡±

    ¡°Skipping over the ridiculous level of understatement that is referring to that thing as just a new plant, that¡¯s fine if you are okay with it,¡± Bert nodded but shared a look with Bell. There was definitely more than the usual scheming going on with those two.

    ¡°How nice of you both,¡± Bell said with sarcasm dripping off each syllable.

    ¡°Next, we have our biggest issue,¡± Bert hurried on while mother and daughter glared at each other, ¡°Reed, Lowes, and Death¡¯s daughter were apparently transported here along with us.¡±

    ¡°Are they pissed?¡± Bud asked. ¡°I know they kind of worship that world¡¯s Death.¡±

    ¡°No, which is fucking weird,¡± Bert replied. ¡°I have a feeling they might have known something like this was going to happen.¡±

    ¡°Gods and Immortals,¡± Bud shook his head, ¡°They never stop fucking with us.¡±

    ¡°Lot of good it¡¯s done them so far,¡± Bell giggled to a chorus of cheers.

    ¡°All done?¡± Wendy jumped off the table.

    ¡°Not even close,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°Next problem. What are you two up to?¡±

    Wendy and Scruff both tried their best to look innocent, instantly confirming they were guilty.

    ¡°Fine!¡± Wendy growled. ¡°We were just going to take a little walk.¡±

    ¡°A little walk?¡± Bert asked before a sudden flash of inspiration hit him. ¡°And how far were you thinking of going?¡±

    ¡°Not too far,¡± Wendy said immediately. ¡°Just a few hundred miles or so?¡±

    ¡°A few hundred miles?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Taking a certain village with you?¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Wendy admitted.

    ¡°And an army of demons,¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°Not just the demons,¡± Wendy wheedled. ¡°People too, oh, and Rose.¡±

    ¡°Me?¡± Rose jumped a little.

    ¡°Yeah, well.¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°I love running the demons, but there is no fucking way I am running a town.¡± She winked. ¡°I promise it will be fun.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Fae-balls!¡± Bell said suddenly, ¡°You¡¯re going to conquer everything you see, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Not conquer,¡± Wendy protested. ¡°Just visit.¡±

    ¡°With an army of demons,¡± Bert noted again. He felt it was important to reiterate this point.

    ¡°Visit thoroughly?¡± Wendy tried.

    Bert looked over at Scruff, who was fidgeting nervously. As someone who routinely did whatever would make his love happy, he recognized the type. It was one of many reasons that Scruff was a perfect fit for Wendy. Wendy was very much like her mother. Bell could often come off as a little selfish, but that was just a first impression. Everything Bell did, she did for those around her. Most especially for the Waystation itself. Unfortunately, neither Wendy nor Bell had quite gotten the idea that killing people was wrong. People were simply there. If you fucked with their people, expect only what little mercy Bert and Scruff could convince them to give you.

    ¡°How thoroughly?¡± Bert asked Scruff.

    ¡°We won¡¯t attack anyone who doesn¡¯t attack us first, I promise,¡± Scruff grumbled.

    Bert and Bell shared a look.

    ¡°Fine,¡± They both said at the same time.

    ¡°But you all better be careful. We want everyone back, and you have to come and visit often,¡± Bert added.

    ¡°Agreed!¡± Wendy smiled and rubbed her hands together. ¡°This is going to be so much fun.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure this is a good idea?¡± Bud whispered to Bert.

    ¡°I already triggered the apocalypse for Earth; how much worse could they possibly make it?¡± Bert whispered back.

    The decision completely derailed any attempts to devise a plan for the future, as everyone gathered around Wnedy and Scruff with advice, congratulations, or simply to ask to come along. Sitting back and watching, Bert and Bell simply hoped they would be okay. Experience told them they would be able to tell if anything really bad happened, but that didn¡¯t mean they would be in time to change it.

    If one thing made them feel better, it was the sheer amount of firepower, or in this case, demon power, they were taking with them. Add that to the fact that neither of them was exactly weak and the walking nightmare they were traveling on, and¡­ yeah, they¡¯d be fine. Earth might not be, but they would.

    ========

    Things got very busy for a while. Scruff helpfully constructed a living bridge of plants to get the demons off the Waystation and onto¡­ the thing.

    Calling it the thing, the crab monster or the village didn¡¯t quite fit. It had to have a name, after all. Bert pointed this out to Scruff, who went quiet for a while before simply shrugging and declaring it was ¡®The Bower.¡¯ It was a nice name, but he felt it lacked a certain aspect¡ªspecifically, the nightmare crab-shaped plant creature that it actually was.

    His opinion on the matter was, it turned out, unwelcome.

    A little over a day after the meeting, Bert, Bell, Bud, and the others all gathered on top of the Waystation to watch The Bower walk off into the unknown with a full complement of demons and a very happy pair of Fae waving from the walls.

    Rose did not wave; she simply nodded once and walked back into the village to get to work.

    ¡°Did you say goodbye?¡± Bert asked Lily.

    ¡°I did, but it was really awkward,¡± Lily said with a sigh. ¡°She is still hurt that I don¡¯t quite trust her anymore.¡±

    ¡°You said goodbye; that¡¯s what matters,¡± Bert said, putting an arm around the young Fae. ¡°A little time apart to let old wounds heal might even be good for the pair of you.¡±

    ¡°I hope so,¡± Lily said morosely.

    ¡°You never did say what the plan was,¡± Bell said. ¡°Please say it isn¡¯t staying here.¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t staying here,¡± Bert confirmed.

    He had been thinking about what to do since the disastrous family meeting and, at first, had no idea what to do. He didn¡¯t belong in this world anymore. Sure, he came from here, but the old adage was true. You can never go home again.

    Too much had changed while he was away, and it wasn¡¯t just the guilt of accidentally triggering the return of the Fae that made him feel that way. This world was one he had never really fit into. No matter what, he had a place where he fit now. The Waystation and his crazy, slightly murder-happy family. So, what would he do?

    At first, he had planned to explore this world just as he had the one before. But so much had changed here that it might as well be a new place¡ªa new, old place. There were bound to be wonders and terrors to find in this world now, and more than a few people who needed a Waystation as shelter from the world outside.

    Then he remembered the good times, few as they were, that he had here. That gave him the idea that he could tour the place and show his new family everything he used to love. It was an attractive idea, showing Bud and Bell the movies and TV shows he grew up on, that kind of thing.

    In the end, it was sort of all of that, plus his natural curiosity.

    This world should have been teeming with people¡ªhumans and Fae¡ªyet he hadn¡¯t seen or heard anyone. That meant something had happened that he had no knowledge of. It was a mystery, and Bert loved mysteries.

    So he had a plan.

    The world was wrecked? He¡¯d just put it back together.

    There was a mystery in all this? He¡¯d just have to solve it.

    In short, it was time to take his people out into the wilderness of this new version of Earth, figure out where everything had gone wrong, and put it back together again. If nothing else, it would be fun. Sure, some people might object, but they sure as hell better hope they had more than old-school weapons to object with¡­ because he knew that he did.

    If all else failed, he had a pixie with a knife fetish and a truly horrifying number of knives.

 Vol5 Chapter 2 - New Arrivals

    Chapter Two

    New Arrivals

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Martha asked the woman before her. Something had happened to Martha, but she wasn¡¯t sure exactly what it was. One moment, she was in the multitude of her people, and the next, she was standing in a small stand of strange trees with no idea what had happened to her in between.

    Her people, the connection to them? Gone.

    The doors in her head? Gone.

    And this world felt¡­wrong. Different from the one she knew.

    Even the trees she had just walked out of looked different from any she had known before. She had knelt and felt the dirt beneath her, finding it weak and thin in a way she had never known. She had been lost, adrift in confusion, for a few moments before she saw it.

    Through the densely packed trees with their strange, needle-shaped foliage, Martha saw the giant beast move in the distance. It was massive, a creature the size she had only heard of in legends so many years ago. She had seen it before, just a few minutes ago¡­ in a different world.

    It must have been him who did this. A desperate attempt to save his children with that filthy pixie. Yet, it would seem that he had failed.

    ¡°I see you,¡± she whispered to herself as she moved through the trees in pursuit. Weak as she was, all she needed was people¡ªa few to start with, just like she had before. In no time, she would be able to rebuild her forces, and then¡­ and then!

    She had been grinning when she came out from under the cover of the trees, her new body looking almost human when she saw the hooded woman with a strange sword resting over her shoulders. Initially, she had been delighted. A new follower. A fresh recruit, and maybe even a better body than the one she used right now.

    Then, she felt the strangeness of the woman.

    It was like an energy radiating off her, and it was familiar to Martha. She had felt it from her own body and those of her followers often enough.

    Killing Intent.

    It was as clear as the red hair spilling through the stained hood, covering the stranger''s head and leaving the face as nothing but shadows.

    ¡°Who are you?¡± Martha demanded again.

    ¡°Me?¡± Felicia grinned like a shark. ¡°I¡¯m the bad guy.¡±

    Martha didn¡¯t have time to run or even raise her hands to block the strike before the sword cleaved her head from her neck.

    Felicia smiled to herself as she caught the falling head and swung it by the hair into the hard-packed ground until nothing but bloody hair hung from her fingers.

    Dipping a hand inside her cloak, Felicia brought out a lighter and flicked it open. She took a deep breath, and a stream of mist flowed out of her mouth, igniting the flame from the lighter and enveloping Martha¡¯s remains in fire.

    She continued until nothing but dust remained against the blackened soil.

    Her eyes turned to the distant shape of The Bower as it stalked its slow way across this new world.

    She smiled fondly at the sight.

    So much to see in this new world, and she got to do it without any distractions or rules to follow.

    ¡°What a delightful world this could be,¡± Felicia laughed to herself. ¡°If only they had listened to me.¡± Crying and laughing simultaneously, she walked off after the distant village, occasionally stopping to talk to herself a little.

    A girl could get lonely, after all.

    ==========

    Many things changed once the brothers Order and Chaos decided to get involved in the life of one Mr. Bert J. Hudson. Such fundamental powers should never focus their attention on the life of one. They were intended to interfere only at a level where whole galaxies would be affected.

    They were, in short, inexperienced with such fine work. As such, it is no surprise that they fucked everything up quite so badly, and the One Who Tends The Tree had to get involved.

    In short, it was a patch job. As is the case with all patch jobs, it was messy and poorly done and only intended as a short-term fix until something much more permanent could be worked out. These kinds of emergency fixes are always going to have a fallout, and it is vital to keep in mind that attention to detail was not a specialty of any of the Great Ones.

    Many lives were altered in the fraction of a second it took them to act.

    Martha''s willing and not-so-willing followers, for example, found themselves suddenly bereft of the classes and powers that had bound them to her will; many were suddenly standing, their bodies restored, in the middle of a territory they had terrorized, unarmed and armored; they died quickly. Some were more fortunate, finding themselves in the villages of those who also returned to their original state. They were able to rebuild what they had once lost in relative safety.

    While in a city of the undead, the only other Waystation in existence was suddenly transported through the mists and deposited in a remote part of Earth, complete with the land beneath it, the customers inside, and a certain extremely pissed-off Lich-Lord named Percy.

    His only comment was, ¡®Bert!¡¯

    It was a reasonable assumption, after all.

    In the realm of the Watchers, a Moth-Man named Larry sat on the steps of the closest thing the First Generation had to a government and wept at the death of the Watchers. Not a single Immortal had been spared. He, himself, could already feel the march of time. His endless existence suddenly had an endpoint somewhere out there, rushing toward him with every passing second. His niece had gotten her wish, something forever broken. His race, as it was, forever changed in a manner he could not understand. Stunned and traumatized people wandered around him, staring at their own bodies in horror, while others held the corpses of friends and family, weeping at a loss they could not have understood mere days before.

    A race destroyed by the rage of a single young woman who would not bow her head to the old ways. Who wanted more.

    The moment it was done, his niece and her people scattered to the winds. His last glimpse of her showed him something impossible as she vanished into the mists.

    She had a class.

    Felicia (34)

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Mistwalker

    It was impossible, and yet it was.

    In a realm that belonged to the Gods and Goddesses of all worlds, a young Death climbed the steps to visit the first of his kind.

    The Death of Deaths.

    The End of All Things.

    The Heat Death of the Universe.

    The Reaper of Souls

    Before the greatest of all Deaths, this young Death fell to his knees and made a plea. For even a Death may know the power of Love.

    The greatest of all Deaths nodded once, and a portal opened to a world that held his daughter in a strange living vehicle.

    A step through the portal, and a God became a man.

    Benedict Hudson

    Reaper (150)

    On and on, the dominoes of a single bad decision rolled across the universes of the One Tree.

    The Lords and Ladies met in urgent conclave in the land of the Fae. The topic was the newest of their number. The endless Fae were feeling something they had forgotten they could feel.

    Fear.

    The wars of the Fae were legend. What would this new Court do when they learned what had been done? War almost started that night as the Courts argued and bickered, but it was avoided, at least for now.

    ========

    ¡°How did it go?¡± Benedict, a former Death, now a Reaper, asked Felicia as she caught up with him. He, too, followed The Bower.

    ¡°Easier than I expected,¡± Felicia smiled at him. ¡° Without her people, she was just a woman.¡±

    Felicia was not the same woman she once was; she knew that. It was reasonable to assume she was somewhat insane, at least. Her obsession with Bert had been a mistake that took her a long time to admit, but it was all for the best. Really.

    If she hadn¡¯t been obsessed, Felicia would never have realized all she had. It had taken love to open her eyes¡ªa love unrequited, it was true, but a love nonetheless¡ªa love for the ages, a love out of legend.

    ¡°You¡¯re doing it again,¡± Benedict commented idly.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± Felicia flushed, embarrassed she still got pulled down the same old thought patterns that had made her so wrong in the past.

    Now, she was much clearer. Bert would never love her. Ever. It was sad, but it was nonetheless a fact. So many things she could have done differently. She should have been smart. Been a friend first, a help, not a demanding bitch.

    Still, done was done.

    Of course, that didn¡¯t mean she had to be apart from him. That would just make everything she suffered pointless. So, she had to change. Felicia had to change the story.

    ¡°I¡¯m the bad guy,¡± Felicia said idly to Benedict.

    ¡°I know, you said,¡± Benedict smiled. You don¡¯t have to be.¡±

    ¡°It works for me,¡± Felicia shrugged.

    This would be a better story anyway. Much better. The villain of the piece was the real partner to the hero anyway. One could not exist without the other; everyone knew that. So, she would start as a villain. Not to him, or his, but to everyone who dared to threaten them. The villain who saved his people.

    That villain got to be a part of their lives, and eventually a friend, then family, then she¨C

    ¡°Stop it,¡± Benedict said with a sigh.

    ¡°You can¡¯t read my mind,¡± Felicia snapped.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have to,¡± Benedict laughed. ¡°Your face is clue enough. Every time you think about getting him in the end, you have this certain smile on your face.¡±

    ¡°Triumphant?¡± Felicia asked.

    ¡°More deranged,¡± he laughed at her offended expression.

    ¡°You can die here, you know,¡± Felicia warned him sweetly.

    ¡°So can you, doll,¡± Benedict changed for a second, a second figure taking his place, black cloth and bone in the bright sunshine. ¡°Try it.¡±

    ¡°Maybe later,¡± Felicia huffed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go see your daughter or something.¡±

    ¡°He protects mine, so I protect his,¡± Benedict shrugged as if it was obvious.

    ¡°They don¡¯t need you; they have me,¡± Felicia pointed out.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see if this new you lasts first, shall we?¡± Benedict said, not unkindly.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Felicia whispered. ¡°I don¡¯t really want to be alone.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Benedict said with a smile. ¡°I know.¡±

    =========

    A new reward appeared in a dungeon deep underground and staffed by undead Fae. It was a silver orb. Other than that, it wasn¡¯t very remarkable, but still, it was not there, and then it was.

    That may seem like something that happens all the time in dungeons, but the opposite was supposed to be the case with this dungeon. The Lich in charge of it, Daracktain, was the meticulous sort and would have no amateur approaches in his small realm. The loot table was to remain fixed, or how would people learn of the wonders of his abode and be tempted to visit?

    The keeper of the loot brought it to him for his inspection.

    ¡°It appeared?¡± Daracktain asked. ¡°Where there twinkly lights and a small chiming sound?¡±

    ¡°None!¡± The fairy, simply called Keeper, chirped worriedly. ¡°I even checked the spells. Anything from the loot table should appear with both chimes and twinkly lights. Lots!¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Daracktain drummed his skeletal fingers on the arm of his great stone chair with wonderful skull and bone motifs as he thought. ¡°The one who found it?¡±

    ¡°I had them killed, of course,¡± Keeper said indignantly.

    ¡°I shall check my designs then,¡± Daracktain sighed. ¡°The orb must be fighting back.¡±

    Keeper nodded and fluttered off, leaving the orb with its boss.

    Daracktain brought up his spell displays and checked all of his circles thoroughly. The dungeon orb should be fully suppressed by his will after all this time, but the strange orb suggested at least a little struggle was left in it after all.

    His project was, in his humble opinion, a public service. Did anyone even appreciate how difficult it was to be undead as a Fae? Their entire nature pulled them to the Summerlands at death. He had spent years practicing before finally managing to pull it off. Admittedly, it had not worked quite as expected. There was, after all, a Daracktain in the Summerlands right now.

    They had talked, and both decided they were the original. The other was obviously mistaken.

    Obviously, both were a hundred percent sure of that.

    Therefore, Daracktain the Fae-Lich had started the project that he had longed to complete.

    Ever since he was a young Fae, grinding dungeons to level on many worlds, it had bugged him how loose and unorganized they were. Some had rooms linked with tunnels, some were challenges, and some were even like small, self-contained worlds of their own.

    Messy.

    As far as he could ascertain, the loot he got from a dungeon could change from one run to the next without rhyme or reason. He once spent over a hundred years running the exact same dungeon over and over to build a complete list of its loot table, only to have the entire dungeon change over seventy years into the study.

    Disorganization grated at him. The study of said dungeons was the starting point for his designs for a new system¡ªa better system. He had intended for the fae to adopt the ¡®Daracktain Standardized Dungeon Plan,¡¯ yet they had refused him. Apparently, his fellows failed to see the advantages offered by a reliable, repeatable dungeon experience. So, he created a mobile, synthetic dungeon as a demonstration piece. Naturally the orb was weak, little more than a power source, but he felt it offered a good demonstration. His people disagreed, saying they could simply make a training area, as that was what he had done. It wasn¡¯t real. It wasn¡¯t a dungeon.

    So, for his next demonstration, he and his people moved into a dungeon and spent a good few years refining the spells to control it. When it was almost ready¡­ they ran out of mana. The Fae, the source of mana in the multiverse, was unable to live in a dungeon for more than a few years. Something about the pocket dimensions the orbs created slowly eroded their ability.

    That was when he came up with the Undead Fae hypothesis. Undead did not need to create mana; instead, they fed on that around them. An Undead Fae should, therefore, not need to generate it to live.

    Now, after centuries of trying, he was on the very cusp of completing his work, only to hear his own people, the Fae, had abandoned large areas of the planet, and worse.

    It was ridiculous, irritatingly badly timed, and also an opportunity. With them gone, the local Fae Touched had started to venture wider and discovered his customized dungeon. Everything had been going swimmingly, with his strictly tailored encounters and formal, classic layout.

    Then this.

    What had changed?

    Examining the orb minutely showed something else quite worrying. The orb itself was not created by the dungeon, yet it dropped here?

    Or did it merely appear here?

    The spells on it were incredibly complex, not to mention detailed, and used a type of magescript and runework he had never seen before.

    ¡°Do we close the entrance?¡± Keeper returned, ¡°Only we have a new party approaching.¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± Daracktain waved his hand. ¡°Let them come; I think this was merely a lucky aberration.¡±

    Keeper nodded and flew away.

    Daracktain summoned a fresh roll of paper and began to jot down some notes.

    ¡°What a wonderful puzzle you are,¡± He said, stroking the silver orb with one gentle finger. ¡°I do hope there are more of you.¡±

 Vol5 -Chapter 3 -Moving Out

    Chapter 3

    Moving Out

    The Waystation rolled out only a day or two after the Bowery had disappeared into the distance. The departure of the others had left the place feeling empty, and Bell was not taking it very well. She kept looking off into the direction they had gone and frowning.

    That would be followed by a brief bout of anger, typically at Bert, before she flew off and mothered the hell out of Lily, who was starting to seem a little jumpy with all the extra attention. Lily excelled at her skills in hiding, illusion, and deception because they suited her personality. Most of all, Lily wanted to be left alone and only to engage with others in her own way, at her choice of time.

    In short, she was a textbook introvert. The resonance between her skills and her nature where why she was able to punch so far above her weight when it came to mind magic.

    Now, like many introverts before her, Lily was being subjected to the merciless onslaught of an extrovert trying to ¡®bring them out of themselves,¡¯ whether they wanted it or not. The whole thing was destined to end badly, of course.

    Bert, being more of an introvert himself most of his life, was well aware of the special kind of hell that Lily was going through, but he was also, he could admit, a bit of a bastard.

    As such, he watched Bell buzz off again to bother Lily with a faint smile. The idea of all that extra attention being focused on him was¡­ not what he needed right now. Adjusting to having a kid had been tough for him, but the adjustment to having a kid who was off gods only knew where was pretty much killing him.

    It was why the Waystation had finally moved out from the spot they had entered this world.

    Anything was better than just sitting there and staring toward that faint pull he and Bell both felt from their family members on the Bowery.

    To say things had changed around here was a massive understatement. The rolling fields and patchwork farmland of England were more of a memory these days than a reality as the urban sprawl continued to expand and threw up subdivisions and new neighborhoods.

    That had all seemingly been undone, and more besides. He could still recognize a few landmarks in the small hills and valleys, but they were much larger, further apart, and much less occupied than they were when Bert left on his ill-fated hike that morning long ago.

    Technically, the whole area had been on the edge of a national forest, but when he left, you were hard-pressed to see a tree anywhere in sight. It was a running joke between Bert and his ex-wife Gwen for many years that there were more shops in the first than trees. Now, a large, thick, and vibrant forest was visible in the distance. The trees were large enough to have been growing for fifty years at least, which was as impossible as the extra land that had seemingly been inserted between every patch of ground he actually recognized.

    He nudged Way Way to turn toward the distant forest and sat back again, lost in thought.

    In many ways, what he was seeing on Earth mirrored how he himself had changed. All the old bits were still there, but there was a lot more new stuff in between the bits of who he used to be. It had only really settled onto him after Wendy and Scruff left, but returning to this place was¡­ jarring.

    On the morning he left Earth, Bert would have defined himself as a widower, a patient and kind but tired man. A man, in short, looking to die as soon as possible. In between, well, his plan had been to just muddle along with as little interaction with the outside world as possible.

    Now? Bert would say that first and foremost, he was the Caretaker of the Waystation, Bell¡¯s Husband, Wendy¡¯s father, Lord of the Court of the Travelling Lands, and he had plans.

    His quiet and rather dull future had been replaced with a surprising amount of almost being murdered, eaten alive, attacked, pursued, and things in that vein. In the process, Bert discovered his ex was a massive cow, and the pixie that kept trying to murder him was, surprisingly, the love of his life, while he made friends and built himself a brand new family all at the same time. All of that was the good stuff. Weird to say, considering how much nearly dying had been involved, but true.

    The more difficult part was taking a good look at himself and realizing that when it came down to it, Bert was not necessarily a good guy in all this. That may have seemed very dramatic, but something about being blamed for an apocalypse made a man take a look at himself.

    And the judgment he came to? Well, it wasn¡¯t great.

    ¡®I did my best to help people¡¯ just didn¡¯t hit the same when you might well have hastened the end of two worlds. Earth was, at least mostly, not his direct fault. Bert had merely been trying to improve himself and survive at the time. It wasn¡¯t like he could have known that his home planet was a lost tribe of the Fae. I mean, come on. As for his adopted home? Well, that was a bit more complicated. He might have destroyed a couple of towns or three. Okay, so including the war against the cult, it was closer to ten. Alright, maybe eleven if you include that one time¡­ yeah, it wasn¡¯t great. The cult excuse didn¡¯t even hold up since he had accidentally started the cult himself and then maybe helped it flourish just a little. Oh, and he helped the City of the Undead¡­ and maybe started a Fae settlement in an abandoned city.

    Shit¡­ this didn¡¯t look great, did it?

    The worst part? He didn¡¯t regret any of it. The fallout from it? Sure. What he did at the time? Not at all.

    Old conversations had also come back to haunt him. He had told Scruff it was completely fine that Wendy liked to kill people; just try not to get caught. And¡­ he¡¯d told Wendy the same thing. He found Bell¡¯s obvious blood lust cute as a button, not to mention sexy as hell at times. His best friend, the man he considered a brother, was a walking skeleton. Slothy had come home one day with a pet dwarf. And¡­ he¡¯d been fine with that.

    Hell, the former street kid turned farmer turned plant fae grew things that were very nearly war crimes, and he was actually delighted.

    In short, his actions, words, and choices did not precisely paint him as the good guy.

    Bert was willing to admit he had made mistakes, but at the end of the day, he was who he was, and choosing his people over others was just who he was. Something had changed in him when he lost Gwen. That feeling of loneliness and grief had broken something deep inside him, and it had healed in a very different form. His people, his family, they were what mattered.

    The seeds of that approach had been there all his life. It was in how he chose to be with Gwen, even when people told him she wasn¡¯t a good fit for him, and how he had always insisted on doing things his own way, even if it was the wrong choice.

    That feeling of loss was all it needed to grow and take over a whole part of his psyche.

    When he finally got a person to care about again, in this case, Bell, it was obvious she was psychotic and definitely dangerous, but he just hadn¡¯t cared. He had someone again. It had all kind of snowballed from there.

    Bert had told people he met that he wasn¡¯t the good guy, that they were idiots to expect him to act like one, even while he acted like one. It was funny if you thought about it.

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    The bit that made it true was that he would cut a bloody path to any of his in trouble and never once look back and regret it.

    No, Bert wasn¡¯t the good guy. He wasn¡¯t the bad guy, either.

    He was, in the end, just looking after his family, whatever it took.

    ¡°Way Way, tell Bell we have animals ahead,¡± Bert called as he stood and stretched. ¡°Time for a little hunting.¡±

    ===============

    ¡°Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!¡± Bert laughed as he stood before the approaching predators. There was no chance he would ever get the chance to say that line again, so it was worth the slightly horrified look Bell gave him.

    The lions were closing fast, staying low to the ground despite the golden fur almost glowing against the rich green of the grass. That coloring would have been great in the savannah, where the dry grasses made it camouflage, but all it did here was make them look slightly menacing.

    The pair of tigers was running to one side, apparently planning to flank them once the lionesses engaged, while the four bears at the back roared and rumbled forward. Each animal was almost twice the size they normally were, which really made the tigers look terrifying. The predatory glint in their unblinking eyes flicked all the primal terror sensors in the human hindbrain.

    It''s a good thing he wasn¡¯t strictly human anymore.

    The solitary male lion was a giant of a creature, and it stood proudly behind its strange pack and waited.

    ¡°Lion, Tiger, Bear,¡± Bert pointed to each one as he and Bell started to calmly walk toward the charging creatures. ¡°The line I said was a quote from a movie.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t care,¡± Bell grinned as she flicked her size-changing hammer staff, Ringer, and made it grow to suit her human form. The pixie¡¯s ability to shift to human size was something he would never stop finding a marvel. ¡°All mine.¡± She called, suddenly accelerating toward the approaching lions.

    ¡°No chance!¡± Bert laughed and leaped with all his system-powered might, the mana tides beginning to cycle through his system immediately.

    He had a bit of tension to work out, just like her.

    Bert flew over her head, his prosthetic arm changing into an axe as he summoned his shield.

    Bell screamed in outrage as he landed, his axe slamming into the head of a charging lion and splitting it in half.

    Bell blurred past him, Ringer humming through the air as she claimed her own first kill before flicking the blood from Ringer in his direction as she gestured, summoning a pair of knives from her pouch, starting them rotating around her.

    Bert winked and used a Shield Charge to cut off another lioness, angling the shield just enough that the blood splatter caught Bell in the shoulder.

    ¡°Oh, you want to play?¡± Bell grinned as she began to dance between the lion¡¯s attacks with no sign of worry. ¡°How about this?¡± She moved Ringer in a blur, catching a lioness under the chin and sending the head flying in his direction as the now headless body collapsed.

    Bert ducked while laughing, only to catch another severed head on his shield.

    The animals were simply too low a level to have any challenge for them.

    ¡°Hold up,¡± Bert called, kicking one away from him as the bears finally began to close in. ¡°I¡¯ll take the bears; you take the cats. No weapons allowed.¡±

    ¡°Deal!¡± Bell said immediately, Ringer vanishing in an arc that ended with it hanging from her belt, the size of a charm. With a grin, she dragged one nail down her arm, drawing blood.

    The scent drove all the cats, lions, and tigers alike to focus on her. They started to circle as they looked for an opening. Bell took a combat stance, bouncing from one foot to the other.

    ¡°Here, kitty, kitty, kitty,¡± She blurred forward, fists a blur as she battered the nearest lioness before a kick sent it flying.

    Bert smiled and turned away, rolling his shoulders as he unsummoned his shield and his prosthetic hand returned to its normal shape.

    Bert walked forward as the four bears arrived. He felt the tides ebbing and surging inside him and gently let them go. It had been a long time since he tested himself without the ever-present tides to do most of the work for him.

    The lead bear was a shaggy brown one, its shoulders level with his own. The moment he entered its range, it swiped a massive paw at him. The claws on the thing were almost six inches long, but it wouldn¡¯t help.

    Bert ducked effortlessly under the swipe and darted forward, launching a left hook that caught the bear on the side of the jaw, dazing it. Bert shifted his weight and launched a powerful set of jabs, each cracking into the bear¡¯s skull like hammers, before finishing it off with an uppercut that snapped the creature¡¯s spine.

    ¡°Next!¡± Bert laughed as he hopped back.

    The following two bears closed, bumping each other aside in their haste to claim his life. Bert ducked and dodged, throwing punches when he could while trying to keep one move ahead of the enraged beasts.

    One of the bears pushed too far, opening its shoulder to an attack, and Bert leaped on the opening, a quick one-two combo that dislocated the shoulder, causing the bear to collapse on the suddenly agonizing limb. He kicked the neck with his full power, snapping the spine in an instant, and turned to face its twin.

    The last bear was closing now, and he wanted to face it one-on-one, so Bert didn¡¯t hold back; the fight was over before the bear knew its partner was dead.

    That left the one that had caught his attention from the start. Unlike the other animals, this one had a few clear signs of the magic that had changed them all. The bear itself looked massive, but what really told the tale was the silvery fur, which Bert had immediately recognized as something like steel.

    The bear¡¯s eyes glowed red as it stood before him, lips curling up as it growled. Teeth like jagged crystals showed beneath the lips.

    Bert smiled. ¡°Come and ¡®ave a go if you think you¡¯re hard enough!¡±

    The bear opened its mouth to roar at him, so he darted forward, punching it on the bottom jaw and snapping the mouth closed.

    A piece of tongue fell to the ground as the entire silver-coated bear began to glow red and grow in size. The paw that hit him sent Bert sprawling, and he rolled away from the bear before it could pounce on him. The move proved wise as the creature slammed down a second later, the powerful impact causing an eruption of dirt and soil as Bert got to his feet again.

    He continued to trade blows with the enraged bear, noting how its strength and size grew the longer it fought. Twice more, he was sent flying, the final time by almost ten meters before he charged back into the fight.

    Slowly, he whittled it down as his attacks began to stack up, even through the steel fur it used as armor. The final swipe was barely more than a token effort, and Bert ended it with a leap that ended with a double-handed overhead blow that crushed the skull at last.

    Gasping and winded, Bert sat down, leaned back against the sliver fur, and patted it fondly.

    Looking around, he was able to find Bell, who was sitting astride a struggling tiger. She held the tiger down effortlessly as it scrabbled and yowled. She was humming as she stroked the fur with long, loving strokes.

    ¡°Having fun?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Mine,¡± Bell said simply as she booped the frantic animal on the top of the head while it tried to bite her arm off.

    ¡°Still the big guy to go,¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°You do it,¡± Bell waved a hand at him. ¡°I¡¯m petting my new kitty.¡±

    Bert turned and stared over the field of dead animals into two huge eyes filled with hatred. The Lion stood almost two stories tall, with a wide golden mane that seemed to glow with power as it threw back its head and roared a long, loud challenge.

    ¡°You¡¯re gonna wish you hadn¡¯t done that,¡± Bert sighed as an answering roar came from the stationary Waystation behind them.

    Bert had been preventing any of the animals from roaring for a good reason. They had their own giant ball of claws and fur by the name of Slothy. The normally gentle and loving Giant Sloth Bear did not react well to anyone roaring a challenge.

    A point that was proved when she came roaring over the top of the Waystation, A haze of mana rising from her fur. With each step she took, Slothy grew in size until she was the same size as her challenger. The pride leader roared again and swiped a glowing paw at Slothy, raking her shoulder.

    Slothy didn¡¯t even flinch.

    It roared again and swiped again, claws raking her fur and face.

    Slothy growled as a single drop of blood glistened on her fur.

    The pride leader was too proud to run, but Bert saw him cower a little as Slothy reared back and swiped with one paw. The paw left a glowing arc in the air in the shape of glowing claws.

    The impact sent the pride leader into the dirt, the head rendered to nothing more than a bloody pulp.

    Slothy turned and kicked a contemptuous back paw, sending the body flying deep into the forest, and shrank back to her standard size before lumbering back toward the Waystation.

    She stopped next to the tiger, the terrified creature freezing in terror as Slothy growled.

    ¡°Mine,¡± Bell said happily.

    Slothy nuzzled Bell and walked on.

    The tiger stopped struggling and lay there, shaking.

 Vol5 - Chapter 4 - The Forest

    Chapter 4

    The Forest

    ¡°There is just no way that lions, tigers, or bears should be anywhere near the UK,¡± Bert insisted again.

    ¡°Well, then how come they were,¡± Bell insisted from her perch on the head of her new pet. The poor thing was still too scared of Slothy to even think of misbehaving. ¡°Are you sure they weren¡¯t always here, and you just never noticed?¡±

    ¡°Yes, Bell,¡± Bert said through gritted teeth. ¡°People tend to notice lions and tigers running around.¡±

    ¡°But no bears?¡± Bell pounced. ¡°See, they were definitely here.¡±

    ¡°No, they weren¡¯t,¡± Bert sighed. ¡°They were not native to this island.¡±

    ¡°So the Fae must have brought them,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t blame them; Tiggy is just adorable.¡± She stroked the tiger with a warm smile.

    ¡°But why are they just running around?¡± Bert muttered. ¡°That can¡¯t be safe for low-level people.¡±

    ¡°Leveling opportunity?¡± Bell offered before sighing. ¡°Also, let¡¯s be honest. The Fae might have just done it for fun.¡±

    ¡°I thought they wanted to make friends with people. Letting wild animals go in the area must not have won them many fans.¡± Bert tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. ¡°I¡¯m not getting a good feel about all this.¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± Bell admitted. ¡°It¡¯s not looking great for the Fae reunion, is it?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Bert said with a half smile. ¡°It makes sense. I know I¡¯ve never had a family reunion without it being a complete nightmare.¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± Bell said, ¡°Imagine that, but half the relatives are all ridiculously more powerful. It must have been like that.¡±

    ¡°Like I said,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°I don''t get the feeling things are going very well here.¡±

    Entering the forest slowed them down a little as the complicated collection system on the front of the Waystation was a little less destructive than it had been in the old days. Still, it worked.

    Watching trees that he actually recognized the type of getting harvested was kind of a novel experience for him. It had always been the trees on some alien world getting turned into pulp before. Bert smiled as he realized here he was, a Fae lord in their Travelling Court, worrying if this would contribute to the Climate Change issue.

    Hell, did that even exist anymore? Did the Fae fix it, or just make things worse?

    So many questions, and so far, not a human around to answer them. Still, he was reasonably sure that their direction would take them to where the nearby town was supposed to be. Maybe it was still there, just a little further away than it used to be.

    That was what he was hoping for, anyway.

    In the meantime, he went and checked in with Bud and Tim, who wanted to go hunting. Bud was practically bouncing with the idea of hunting in this forest, so Bert came up with a plan.

    ¡°Hey, why don¡¯t you head out with Slothy and Tim? Have a family hunting trip for a couple of days?¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°You know what?¡± Bud nodded. ¡°I think that sounds great.¡± Bud grinned as well, and no one grinned like a skull with a strange, stretchy bone structure that no one was quite sure was normal, even for an undead of his level.

    ¡°If we get to the other side of the forest before you, we¡¯ll hang out and wait,¡± Bert said as he slapped Bud on the back. ¡°It¡¯ll be good for you guys to get out and about.¡±

    ¡°What about if you are attacked?¡± Bud asked, ever the loyal guardian.

    ¡°Judging from those animals?¡± Bert grinned. ¡°We¡¯ll be fine.¡±

    So, they stopped briefly while the little family of three got unloaded and headed off to explore a little.

    ¡°One question,¡± Bert said to Bell as they waved the three off. ¡°What the hell is with the sandwiches?¡±

    ¡°They need to take sandwiches,¡± Bell insisted. ¡°They are going camping.¡±

    ¡°Hun, none of them eat,¡± Bert added. ¡°Except Slothy, and she doesn¡¯t do sandwiches.¡±

    ¡°Not the point,¡± Bell shrugged. ¡°You go traveling; you take sandwiches.¡±

    ¡°Fair enough,¡± Bert said, knowing he would never win this one.

    ================

    While the Waystation crawled through the trees, leaving a wide, clear path of smooth, packed earth behind it, Bert had plenty of time to do something he had been putting off for a while.

    Reed and Lowes were a lovely couple. They were also a pair of assassins who were devoted followers of their world¡¯s God of Death. They hadn¡¯t been out of their rooms since the whole party got dragged back to Earth, and there was another person in their little group of rooms.

    Death¡¯s daughter.

    Accidentally abducting two of Death¡¯s worshipers and his child was a genuinely awkward situation, but at least it was one Bert was innocent of causing.

    Now, he just had to hope they felt the same way.

    Bert was just about to knock when the door flew open, and a figure wrapped itself around his legs.

    ¡°Uncy Blert!¡± He saw little blond curls and a pretty dress, but the kid was a toddler, at least. Way too old to be the child he was expecting. Also¡­ Uncy?

    ¡°Uh, Hi!¡± Bert said, doing his best not to sound as lost as he was. ¡°How are you, little one?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m good!¡± A cherubic face looked up at him. ¡°I¡¯m playing with a bunny!¡±

    ¡°Master Hudson,¡± Reed appeared in the doorway, ¡°Would you like to come it?¡±

    ¡°Yeah, Hey Reed. I thought a little chat was in order.¡± Bert smiled as he gently unwrapped the child, who seemed to reapply the hug faster than he could actually remove her.

    ¡°I want to show Uncy Blert my bunny!¡± she told Reed. And it was definitely telling, not asking.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure that is a good idea, precious,¡± Lowes¡¯ voice carried from inside the room.

    ¡°I¡¯m showing BUNNY!¡± She snapped, black smoke drifting from her eyes.

    ¡°Ugh, fine!¡± Reed waved Bert inside.

    Reed and Lowes occupied custom compartments with Death¡¯s daughter. The Waystation had done that of their own accord, but Bert had no complaints. While the other compartments were clearly traveling quarters, this place was a home. It had its own living room, dining room, bathrooms, and a pair of bedrooms. Everything inside looked like it had come from a home and garden issue from the fifties, which was so weird he wasn¡¯t going into it. It was surprisingly colorful, given the occupants.

    The table was currently set for tea, with five cups: two for Reed and Lowes, one for Death¡¯s daughter, and the other two for¡­?

    ¡°Are we expecting others?¡± Bert asked.

    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°No, silly, Uncy Blert!¡± the toddler laughed. ¡°Just you and bunny.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know Way Way let you know I was coming,¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°They didn¡¯t,¡± Lowes said and gestured to the toddler.

    ¡°So, I just came to say¨C¡± Bert stopped as a mass of bleeding meat was shoved in his face.

    ¡°Meet bunny!¡± The toddler shook the mass of bone and meat in his face.

    ¡°Hello, Bunny,¡± Bert said automatically.

    ¡°Call me Bun!¡± It said as the shaped meat opened two eyes and gave him a goofy grin.

    ¡°Fuckin¡¯ Hell!¡± Bert leaped out of the chair while the toddler fell over laughing.

    ¡°No!¡± Lowes snapped. ¡°We told you not to do that!¡±

    ¡°I do what I want!¡± The toddler snapped, leaking darkness from their eyes and mouth while she glared.

    ¡°Young Lady!¡± Reed said quietly. ¡°Do we need to tell your daddy you were bad?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± She snapped and grumpily climbed into her chair. ¡°I¡¯ll be good.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, darling girl,¡± Lowes said and smiled.

    ¡°So, is bunny alive?¡± Bert whispered to him.

    ¡°On and off,¡± Lowes said. ¡°She¡¯s not quite strong enough to raise him permanently¡­ yet.¡±

    ¡°Oh, right.¡± Bert sat down again. ¡°Still, nice trick.¡±

    ¡°On that subject,¡± Reed added. ¡°Can we avoid swearing in her company, please?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Bert flushed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    ¡°Now that Uncy Blert is here, do I get my name?¡± she asked, picking up her cup with both hands.

    ¡°Pardon?¡± Bert asked, lost again.

    Bert focused on the child again, still getting no first name. The last name was, however, filled in.

    ¡ª Hudson

    God-Child

    Demi-Reaper

    Calamity

    ¡°I have two questions,¡± Bert said quietly.

    ¡°She wouldn¡¯t let us give her a name until you were here,¡± Reed said quickly. ¡°As for the Hudson thing¡­ I think it has to do with her father.¡±

    Her father was very much what Bert had come here to talk about, but things had gotten out of hand so quickly that he hadn¡¯t had much of a chance yet.  Since the topic was suddenly brought up, he seized onto it.

    ¡°About that,¡± Bert interrupted. ¡°I am sorry you were all yanked back here with me. If there had been any choice at all, I would have left you all in your home world. I just wasn¡¯t given a choice.¡±

    ¡°We know,¡± Reed said and patted his hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    ¡°Our Lord told us something like this could happen,¡± Lowes added.

    ¡°But to cut a child off from her father,¡± Bert sighed.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay, Uncy Blert,¡± The toddler hugged his leg. ¡°Daddy¡¯s here now. No be sad!¡±

    Everyone froze.

    ¡°Your dad¡¯s here, on Earth?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°Yeah!¡± She giggled. ¡°And he¡¯s got a friend. She¡¯s a girl!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s nice,¡± Reed said, sweating slightly. ¡°Is your dad happy?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s Daddy Ben now.¡± She concentrated. ¡°Ben-the-dick Hudson.¡± She beamed.

    ¡°Benedict?¡± Bert tried.

    ¡°That¡¯s what I said,¡± the girl nodded. ¡°So, now I want my name!¡±

    ¡°We have a lovely name for you,¡± Reed offered.

    ¡°No!¡± Her voice shook the windows this time. ¡°Uncy! Blert! Daddy said!¡±

    All eyes turned to him.

    Bell arrived a few minutes later to fetch Bert. Something had been visible ahead of them, and she wanted him up front to tell her what it was. She arrived just in time to meet Camila Hudson, her new niece.

    She was an immediate and massive fan of ¡®Uncy Blert,¡¯ at least until Camila waved goodbye to ¡®Uncy Blert¡¯ and ¡®Aunty Bell-End.¡¯

    =============

    The trees slowly thinned ahead of the Waystation, and Bert and a fuming Bell got a clearer view of what she had spotted. It was, without a doubt, a streetlight. The red and yellow were lit, while the green was smashed. A tree branch had grown clean through it. A few scattered pieces of overgrown and cracked roadway surrounded it.

    That was only the aperitif, as it were, as they got closer and saw an entire town marooned there, in the middle of the forest. If the amount of growth was anything to go by, whatever had happened to expand this planet was done a good amount of time in the past. Almost immediately after the Fae arrived was his guess.

    Trim trees and shrubs had forced their way up through the roadway and the pavements while moss was growing freely on the walls of the shops lining the street.

    The streetlights were leaning at odd angles, but there was clearly power somehow. Every light in the place was on, even the ones in the shop windows.

    The Waystation rolled to a stop, and Bert and Bell got out, listening to the silence that reigned over the empty town main street. Through the trees on either side, they could see overgrown gardens and houses from the streets surrounding the town. Nothing was moving in the empty main street.

    ¡°Well,¡± Bell asked. ¡°Are we exploring it or flattening it?¡±

    ¡°There are other options,¡± Bert said with a smile.

    ¡°No, there aren¡¯t.¡± Bell smiled back. ¡°Come on, take me shopping!¡±

    ¡°The shops are shut,¡± Bert noted.

    ¡°Not for long!¡± She twirled Ringer in her hand.

    Bert decided she had a point, so he asked Lily to tell Gavin and Lyra to watch the Waystation while the three of them went into the town.

    Lily, who had gotten used to Bert always knowing where she was, even when she was entirely sure that she was hidden, huffed and complied.

    ¡°He-lll-ooo!¡± Bert yelled as they stepped onto the first bit of unbroken tarmac. ¡°We aren¡¯t here to attack anyone!¡±

    ¡°Yeah, and if they believe people who say that, they¡¯re all already dead,¡± Bell laughed.

    ¡°She has a point,¡± Lily added from overhead.

    ¡°Uh-uh,¡± Bell said. ¡°No talking from the shadows, young lady!¡± She said. ¡°Come down here and walk like the rest of us.¡±

    ¡°Do I have to?¡± Lily whispered.

    ¡°There is no one around,¡± Bert said. ¡°As soon as you see someone, you can vanish.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Lily faded into view as a pixie before popping into human size. The teen was still small, but she gripped her spear in a way that left no chance of her being mistaken for an easy target.

    Bert led them over to the store on the corner closest to them. It was a newsagent, one of those that has a thousand stores, all of them identical. Technically, it was a newsagent, but it also sold overpriced snacks and drinks and whatever book was popular enough to sell while still being cheap enough that the company could buy it at a discount.

    The discount was not passed on to the customer because, well, fuck them, I guess? It seemed to be the opinion of most companies when he left, but maybe things changed afterward¡­ but he doubted it.

    He twisted the door handle, breaking the cheap metal easily, and pushed the door open before Bell could smash it in.

    ¡°Spoilsport,¡± She muttered.

    ¡°It leaves more intact for Way Way,¡± Bert countered, shamelessly striking at her weak point.

    She glared, aware of what he was doing, but nodded.

    Inside the store, the shelves were covered in dust, and a few things had started to lose the battle with the mold starting to grow down the walls from where the roof was apparently leaking. Bell started to look through the magazines, cooing at the pictures as she discovered the world of tattoo art, and Bert began to desperately hope at least a few had survived, or he was never going to hear the end of it.

    Lily seemed more interested in the motorbike magazines, which was a surprise, but it just went to show that one should not judge a book by its cover. As for Bert, he went straight for the newspapers, hoping to find something that explained a little what had happened.

    Peace talks a trap!

    The latest gathering called by the invading forces of the Fae ended before they could even start, with a massive spell consuming a large number of the delegates.

    It is not known which side was responsible at this time, but the governments of the Freedom Alliance called it an obvious Fae trap. While many hoped to see the wars finally end, it is reported that the Fae are planning to increase their attacks.

    Bert put it aside and looked through the other papers. He was not surprised some of the headlines were a little strange, but he hoped for some idea of what had emptied large areas of the countryside.

    Fae temptress seduces Pope!

    Bert didn¡¯t even bother to scan that one, moving on.

    Half Fae and the Future of Earth

    ¡°The recent reports of half-fae children being born to human parents have caused much worry among all right-minded elements of the population. The idea that these half-breeds are naturally occurring is, of course, ridiculous. The only advice I can give to people in this situation is this¡­ kill the changeling and mourn your real child. It was stolen by the Fae.¡±  - Arch Bishop of Canterbury on recent events.

    Bert ripped that one in half.

    Courts courting disaster?

    The rumors of infighting within the Fae were strengthened today when a reporter witnessed an argument between the Lord of the Summer Court and an unknown Fae. The argument was apparently heated, and spells were thrown before the two were calmed down.

    The subject of this argument? The future of the Courts on Earth.

    Bert threw the paper aside, resting his hands on the counter, as he tried to clear his head and determine whether any of that was actually helpful.

    It wasn¡¯t just that the reports and papers all assumed you already knew what had happened before the latest story; it was that the newspapers themselves were difficult to trust.

    The idea of the newspaper or any other journalist as a tireless pursuer of the truth was well and truly dead, even before magic and the Fae, so it was difficult to imagine that it had improved while an actual invasion and war were happening.

    By the time Bert took that fateful stroll, the newspapers had abandoned even the pretext of impartiality. The lure of preaching to the choir, of telling people what they wanted to hear, and of focusing on your own demographic had started slow but expanded fast.

    It certainly helped to retain readers when you only echoed their own views back to them, regardless of the facts. In time, naturally, that led to stories being twisted until the facts no longer mattered.

    Bert turned back to the others, seeing them eagerly filling bags with books, magazines, and everything else they could.

    ¡°Come on,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°Let¡¯s see what else this place has to offer.¡±

 Vol5 Chapter 5 - Townies

    Chapter Five

    Townies

    Lily¡¯s feet hovered a few inches above the ground as she drifted gently down the street, her head buried in the comic. It was her third one in the scant block between the newsagents and here. The pages blurred as she read, then she reread it, and then she stopped and examined several panels individually.

    Walking had been too much to focus on, apparently, so she just hovered.

    ¡°One moment!¡± She called and dashed back to the newsagent, coming out with three full bags of comics. ¡°Can I go back to the Waystation?¡±

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bert said with a smile, watching the teen vanish as she faded into the background.

    ¡°What did she find?¡± Bell asked, immediately curious.

    ¡°They are called comic books,¡± Bert told her with a smirk. ¡°They are drawings of stories and that. You¡¯ll love them.¡±

    ¡°In the meantime,¡± Bell scanned the area, ¡°What else here is good?¡±

    ¡°Honestly?¡± Bert checked the rest of the place out, remembering where things were. ¡°Not a huge amount.¡±

    The truth was that the average English high street did not have a lot to recommend these days, especially to the average interdimensional traveler. You had a choice of coffee shops and tea rooms in some old-fashioned places, but other than that? A couple of takeouts that were useless without anyone actually running them, a market area that was closed, some charity shops¡­, and maybe a small branch of a bank?

    If you were really lucky, there would be an optician!

    This town offered a couple of chain coffee shops, shuttered takeout places, and two opticians. The only thing he could remember that Bell would be interested in was the tattoo shop, and he was deeply uneasy about introducing the somewhat impulsive pixie to the idea of a tattoo gun.

    Wandering down the still and slightly broken-down high street definitely gave him the post-apocalyptic vibe. To escape the thoughts, Bert made a very hasty mistake and took Bell into the tattoo shop¡­

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be a baby,¡± Bell giggled, ¡°There isn¡¯t even any ink in it!¡±

    ¡°But there is a shit load of needles!¡± Bert insisted as he rubbed his painful chest. ¡°And you aren¡¯t supposed to have one in each hand either!¡±

    Something Bert had discovered to his regret was that a pixie like Bell was more than capable of supplying the damn guns with enough mana to make the power supply and compressed air completely unnecessary.

    What had possessed him to point out the most painful areas of the body to be tattooed on was beyond him. He put it down to temporary insanity.

    ¡°I want to try it in other places!¡± Bell said with a wide smile. ¡°I bet there are places that hurt more.¡±

    ¡°No! Bad Pixie!¡± Bert yelped as she dove at him, laughing as the tattoo guns buzzed in her hands. In case anyone is wondering what a pair of tattoo guns feels like behind your ear, Bert would say it is ¡®highly unpleasant¡¯ he would also use terms like ¡®burning fire of a thousand suns¡¯ and ¡®fucking pixie,¡¯ but only if Bell was out of earshot.

    He only managed to get Bell out of the shop by placing every bottle of ink, gun, and book in the place into his bracer storage. Still, she refused to relinquish one of the guns, keeping it in her hand and a grin on her face as it buzzed occasionally.

    Somehow, Bert was forced to wonder if he had just unleashed something worse than the apocalypse, given the far-away look in her eyes and sleepy smile.

    He was distracted as they stepped out of the door by the large club that smashed him in the face.

    It still hurt less than the tattoo gun.

    Burt caught the next blow on his arm before kicking his attacker away. It bounced down the roadway away from him, but it was far from alone.

    ¡°Ooh, playtime!¡± Bell smiled as Ringer leaped into her hand.

    The road in both directions was packed with large, misshapen creatures. Bert saw a couple more emerging from a sewer cover as the group grunted and slapped their stone clubs against the floor. The whole scene was made even more surreal by the clothes the creatures wore. Perhaps it was how used Bert had gotten to leather and plate armor looks, but the sight of seven-foot tall, misshapen, Cromagnon-looking creatures with thick upper bodies, long arms, and short, stubby legs did not match well with the tracksuits, trainers, and caps worn at strange angles.

    One of the creatures ambled forward, heavy belly sticking out from beneath his stained t-shirt.

    ¡°Alright, mates?¡± He nodded to Bert and Bell. ¡°Me and the boys recon you owe us a little somefing for the trouble, ya?¡±

    ¡°Is that right?¡± Bert said as he scanned the crowd, not seeing anyone to worry him.

    ¡°Listen, bruv!¡± the leader jabbed a finger over his shoulder. ¡°You gotta pay to play, get it?¡±

    ¡°Nah, man,¡± Bert chuckled. ¡°We don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Oh, is that right? Well, how about me and the boys¨C¡±

    Whatever he was going to say next died with him. A pair of knives had sprouted from his eyes like magic.

    Bert took the opportunity to leap into the middle of the crowd, laying about with fist and shield as he sent bodies tumbling. One thing that had become obvious was that people here if these were people, had not exactly been pushing their levels much since whatever happened happened.

    Either that or he had been in even more shit than they had. In the end, it didn¡¯t make much difference. Compared to pissed-off bears, trained warriors, mages, and worse¡­ the return to Earth had left him feeling very overpowered.

    They scattered, crawling into the sewers and drains as if they were made of Play-Doh.

    Unlike places like London, Edinburgh, etc., little English towns did not have sewers to speak of. Not ones you could even crawl through, let alone live in. How they managed to squeeze into them was beyond him. Some magic was obviously at work, but he didn¡¯t know the trick to it.

    He tried to figure out how they did it, poking at the drains and such without much luck, while Bell knelt on one that had been a bit slow to run. She was humming happily to herself as she filled the tattoo gun. The design ideas book was floating in front of her, and flicking through options.

    ¡°I¡¯m going to need to ask him some questions when you are done,¡± Bert offered.

    ¡°I¡¯m just going to practice a bit,¡± Bell said happily while the seven-foot tall figure tried fruitlessly to drag itself out from under her knee. ¡°I won¡¯t take more than an hour or two, promise.¡±

    ¡°It might be easier if he was unconscious,¡± Bert offered helpfully.

    ¡°Yeah, but if he doesn¡¯t scream¡­ what¡¯s the point?¡± Bell said with a beatific smile.

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s my queue to leave,¡± Bert mumbled.

    ¡°Get off me, ya fuckin¡¯ cow!¡± the victim struggled.

    Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°A little tip?¡± Bert offered as Bell slapped the back of his head hard enough to mash his nose against the floor. ¡°Insults are just gonna make it worse.¡±

    ¡°Mate, get your bird!¡± He glared at Bert. ¡°Or when we catch her¨C¡±

    Bert grabbed his face in a grip very much like steel.

    ¡°Tip number two. Threaten any of the people I care about, and I will strip the meat from your bones with a fucking spoon!¡± Bert snarled. ¡°You attacked us, remember?¡±

    ¡°Why a spoon?¡± Bell asked when Bert stood up, wiping the drool off his hand.

    ¡°It¡¯d hurt more.¡± Bert grinned.

    ¡°No, it wouldn¡¯t,¡± Bell shook her head. ¡°Rookie mistake. It just makes it take longer. What you want to do is use a super sharp knife, but cut reeeaaallly slow. That way, they suffer, and you don¡¯t get sore arms.¡±

    Bert blinked a couple of times and turned away, deciding he would never ask the question of why she knew that. As for her test subject starting to scream as the buzzing noise started?

    They attacked a pair of lone travelers.

    Fuck ¡®em.

    ===============

    Daractain emerged from his study of the orb for the first time in days. Not even the first layer of the complex spell had opened itself to him yet, but it was a very definite start.

    To a fae who had spent several lifetimes in the pursuit of the secrets of the universe, that orb was the ultimate gift but also the most humbling moment of his many years. To think he had considered himself a man of learning, let alone an expert!

    Such arrogance. That little orb held more knowledge in a single inch of its surface than he had amassed in his entire search. He had been an ant, picking at a crumb and thinking it knew what a cake was. He still was, but now he was aware just how much he didn¡¯t know. They said that true wisdom was knowing just how much you did not yet know, and for the first time, Daractain believed the saying was correct.

    ¡°He¡¯s doing it again!¡± A small mushroom with a hooked cap was quivering in rage as he pointed at a small viewing orb held in one diminutive hand.

    Daractain was proud of his mushroom squad. It was a brilliant invention of his, even if it was an early one.

    The problem with running a dungeon was the need for mobs inside. Honestly, Daractain would rather do away with the whole idea. It would be so much simpler to have the entrants merely wait quietly until they could be tested for physical limits, cerebral flexibility, and pain tolerance. Follow that with a nice written exam, with extra points for the essay question.

    That would honestly be a much better way than all this messy stuff involving the murdering of dungeon denizens. Did these adventurers have any idea how difficult it was to get blood off cave walls? Did they even once consider that someone had to come and put all their entrails in a bucket and carry it out to the silage pit at the far end of the dungeon?

    He solved this problem early in his career by creating a persistent consciousness and pairing it with a fast-growing, easily disposable body type. From that first mushroom soldier with a short sword and shield, Daractain had created variations.

    The first variation was a spear thrower, the second a mage, and then he created a healing variant. All had been great until he created the poisonous mushroom soldier. It had been a simple design. Poison was created in the cap, rolled down to the brim, and then gathered in lumps and thrown by the soldier.

    So simple, reliable, and fun for all the party.

    But from the off the little mushroom had been different. They¨C mushroom soldiers are genderless ¨Cwere just a touch¡­ emotional?

    Whatever the term was, the little mushroom had refused to fight at first, so Daractain had told them to think of it as a performance. A play of sorts. He even took the time to share some memories of plays he had seen with the little mushroom. For inspiration.

    Now, looking into the little orb at the scene playing out in the dungeon¡¯s third encounter room, Daractain cringed at the evidence of his mistake.

    ¡°You¡¯ll never take me alive, Delvers!¡± The poison mushroom spun through the air, flinging gobs of poison at seeming random. ¡°None may catch the one and only Poison King!¡±

    The party in the encounter nearly lost their tank to the distraction; the quick actions of their mage in summoning a shield was all that saved him.

    ¡°Rise! Rise! Rise, my faithful followers! Throw yourself onto their blades!¡± Poison cackled as he posed in front of a sconce, letting the light throw his shadow across the encounter.

    One of the other mushrooms threw a dagger at Poison, but he caught it.

    ¡°Thank you, minion!¡± Poison brandished the weapon. ¡°Now go forth and die in my name!¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s it!¡± Shield Mushroom abandoned the fight and lunged at Poison.

    ¡°Oi!¡± Poison tried to run as the others closed on him. ¡°No breaking character!¡±

    The clustered mushroom beat, stabbed, burned, and kicked  Poison to death.

    Just as they turned back to the astonished adventurers, a single bruised and bloody hand rose from the pile of mush.

    ¡°Look for my return¡­ in the east!¡±

    ¡°This is weird,¡± The party healer said. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    ¡°It has to be a trap, right?¡± Their archer hesitated.

    ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s bail,¡± Their warrior called. ¡°I heard there is another dungeon a few miles south of the old town.¡±

    ¡°Wait, he¡¯s just a little weirdo; ignore him!¡± Shield Mushroom called.

    ¡°Oh, gods, it¡¯s talking to us. RUN!¡± The party scrambled out.

    The orb shattered in Daractain¡¯s hand.

    Poison hung his little mushroom-cap-covered head and sniffled.

    ¡°Wasn¡¯t MY fault.¡±

    ¡°You were overacting again,¡± Daractain said severely. ¡°We have spoken about this before.¡±

    ¡°They refuse to stick to the script!¡± Poison sniffed and flicked some poison into the corner.

    ¡°What script?¡± Daractain frowned. ¡°We don¡¯t have a mage script in that room, do we?¡±

    ¡°No, my script,¡± A pile of stained and blotchy paper was summoned by the little mushroom soldier and thrust up above its head. ¡°Worked hard on it.¡±

    Daractain had to summon a magnifier to read the scrawled writing. Despite being about the size of a child, Poison¡¯s writing was small enough that an ant could have written it. The whole script was almost forty pages long and featured a complex and branching story that adapted to the actions and abilities of the party they were fighting.

    It was basically the story of an unnamed Mushroom soldier who was on their first day as a member of the dungeon¡¯s mushroom mobs, only to discover that the evil Poison King was planning to overthrow the dungeon orb as the first step to taking over the world.

    Over the course of the dungeon, the little noobie mushroom fights valiantly until he can take no more, siding with the invading party to stop the threat of the evil Poison King before dying valiantly to save a vulnerable party member.

    Daractain idly corrected some spelling mistakes as he read it over again and then stared hard at little Poison.

    ¡°Have you got other scripts?¡± Daractain asked eventually.

    ¡°One or two,¡± Poison said guiltily.

    ¡°Give them here,¡± Daractain held out one demanding hand.

    Poison put three other scripts in his hand.

    ¡°All of them,¡± Daractain said coldly.

    Poison put two more in the waiting hand.

    ¡°Poison!¡± Daractain snapped.

    Five more were added to the pile.

    ¡°If I have to ask again!¡± Daractain ground his teeth.

    Poison put a full thirty scripts on the tottering pile.

    ¡°Very good,¡± Daractain made them disappear. ¡°We will start with the first one you gave me. I will read the others tonight. I may have notes.¡±

    Poison¡¯s large, gooey eyes stared up at Daractain with hope. ¡°We do script?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Daractain sighed. ¡°It is rather good, but I will create this new member first. I will issue orders accordingly.¡±

    Poison began to dance in place, happy little tears falling from his eyes.

    ¡°Decorum, please.¡± Daractain sniffed as he turned away.

    ================

    Tayla Morrigan stroked the cocoons that held her two children and waited for the others to finish getting ready to go. Ultimately, she knew they couldn¡¯t stay here, but there wasn¡¯t anywhere else to go, was there?

    The only reason she was willing to go to the dungeon in the first place was that a cure-all potion was supposed to be one of the final rewards. If they got one of those, at least she could get one of her children out of whatever spell this was before anything too bad happened to it.

    She really wanted two. Having to choose which of her children to save was not something she was looking forward to, but this was her only hope.

    Sam ducked into the tent, his hand resting anxiously on the butt of his pistol where it sat in the leather holster. He never took his hand off that thing these days, not since his brother was killed before he could pull it one night.

    They had never even seen what it was that got him. Her husband had been dead five days before she was found, dragging the two heavy cocoons behind her by the group. At that stage, there were ten people. Enough to look like safety after barely surviving the attack herself.

    Dan had woken her when he screamed and started to fight the thing on top of him. She would never forget the sight of her husband struggling and fighting under what seemed like a giant grasshopper, its back legs glinting with steel blades as they fought.

    Her husband died holding it in place while she stabbed it over and over again.

    In the aftermath, Tayla had stumbled out of the tent, following the drag marks from where her son and daughter had slept, and into the forest. Something had creaked above her, and then she was slashing with the knife. All she remembered was flashes of the knife and darkness. Then, she saw them.

    Her children curled into fetal positions as the cocoons hardened around them.

    These days, she could not even see inside anymore.

    ¡°Time to go,¡± Sam nodded to her and lifted the two stiff forms as if they weighed nothing, placing them on each shoulder as she picked up the hunting rifle and followed him out of the simple tent.

    Chloe and Dennis were waiting outside for them.

    ¡°We¡¯ll get this done,¡± Chloe said grimly, ¡°Then we¡¯ll take those kids of yours and find somewhere to set up and wait.¡±

    Dennis looked away, his expression showing his doubts, but said nothing.

 Vol5 Chapter 6 - Dungeon Interior - The Play Begins

    Chapter Six

    Dungeon Interior - The Play Begins.

    ¡°Switch out weapons,¡± Dennis called as they filed into the dungeon. Sam placed the cocoons on the ground to one side and opened his pack, pulling out a wicked-looking crossbow and two bundles of bolts. Dennis unstrapped the riot shield from his back and untied the hammer from his leg.

    ¡°Are you sure we can¡¯t use our guns?¡± Tayla asked for the fifth time since they left camp in the early morning hours.

    ¡°Try it,¡± Chloe gestured to the rifle Tayla was holding, which clicked dully when she pulled the trigger. ¡°See?¡±

    ¡°How does that make sense?¡± Tayla ground her teeth.

    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to make sense,¡± Dennis replied gruffly. ¡°It just is. Now, everyone tighten up; it will have set the challenge for six people.¡± His eyes flicked to the two cocooned forms. ¡°We only have four, so this is going to be dangerous.¡±

    Chloe nodded mutely as she snapped together a series of metal rods, creating a rough-looking staff that she started to swing through the air in increasingly complex patterns. A pale green smoke was left behind, forming an image of a bird soaring into the air. She jabbed the staff forward, the smoke rushing toward the party and entering their nose and mouth.

    Soaring Hawk Buff applied.

    All stats +10%

    ¡°I¡¯ll lead,¡± Dennis said simply. ¡°Sam will handle ranged enemies; Chloe will keep us alive.¡± His eyes focused on Tayla last, ¡°Try and help if you can.¡±

    Tayla nodded and drew her only weapons. A carving knife and a cleaver. What a bloody joke.

    A lifetime of cooking, and all it got her was the class of Chef and not a single combat or survival talent to go with it. Not even Fire Resistant was helpful, which the burn scars on her hands showed pretty clearly.

    They moved out of the Safe Room with Tayla just behind Dennis, where he could protect her the most. The rough stone walls closed around them as they crept as soundlessly as possible toward the first encounter room.

    The local dungeon was becoming quite popular, with more than a few travelers having mentioned visiting it with one group or another. The survivors in this part of England were so scattered and spread out that anything that drew them together was a good thing. The dungeon could have done that, but it was rumored to lack a real challenge and, therefore, much of a reward.

    A nomadic lifestyle had become the default, with no one daring to shelter in one place unless SHE came and demanded tribute, but in Tayla''s opinion, it had caused more deaths than it saved.

    What all that traveling did allow was the sharing of information, so they had a good idea of the layout of the dungeon and what they might face within. It was divided into five rooms, with corridors between them that were rarely guarded. They would fight different groups of mushroom enemies and then descend to the second level, doing it all over again. Once you cleared room ten, a voice would offer tips to improve and leave behind a chest with items inside.

    There was always at least one potion, usually three. Always a cure-all, but sometimes three.

    Dennis held up his hand, and they stopped, getting low and moving slowly until they could clearly hear the voices.

    Peaking over Dennis¡¯ shoulder, Tayla saw a mushroom with a large cap, about four and a half feet tall, and holding a sword and shield in pale arms. It had a large face but no feet at all that she could see.

    It was talking to a smaller mushroom that stood as tall as its three feet of height would allow, holding a small round shield and a sword the size of a dagger.

    ¡°Welcome to the squad, Newb. I¡¯m Shield; I lead our little group.¡± It smiled anxiously at the little mushroom.

    ¡°Here to help!¡± the squeaky voice was kind of cute.

    ¡°Don¡¯t be too keen, lad,¡± Shield warned. ¡°We may grow back when we die, but that doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s fun to get killed.¡±

    ¡°I understand, sir,¡± Newb responded.

    ¡°Get ready,¡± Dennis whispered to the others. ¡°Sam, get that Shield as soon as I charge.¡±

    Sam nodded.

    Tayla frowned as Dennis leaped forward, holding up a riot shield in front of him, and rushed into the room.

    ¡°INTRUDERS!¡± Shield wailed as two more bounced into the room.

    Sam¡¯s bolt bounced off the shield the mushroom held before Dennis sent it flying with a kick.

    The fight was short, even with the additional mobs, but Tayla and others noticed the little Newb trying to save the initial Shield Mushroom. It kind of made her heart ache to see it trying so hard. She assumed the others felt the same, as no one seemed to take the little bugger out.

    Just as Dennis closed on the Shield mushroom again, a figure in the shadowy corridor beyond caught the little newb¡¯s eye.

    ¡°Poison King! Help us!¡± Newb called.

    ¡°Do your job, Newb!¡± A screeching voice called back. ¡°Or I¡¯ll see to it that your root is severed, and you will never grow back!¡±

    The little mushroom turned back to the room, facing the party, little arms shaking.

    ¡°B-B-back off!¡± It yelled anxiously. ¡°I-I-I¡¯ll¡­¡±

    ¡°Jesus, somebody get that thing!¡± Dennis yelled. ¡°It¡¯s a bloody dungeon mob!¡±

    ¡°I think it¡¯s just scared.¡± Chloe reached for it.

    Newb swung its sword, catching her in the back of the hand and drawing blood.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Chloe slapped it away reflexively, and it spun in the air before coming to a stop. ¡°Oh, fuck!¡± Chloe flinched back. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to.¡±

    ¡°Ice cold, Chloe,¡± Sam shook his head. ¡°Slapped the little dude to death.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to!¡± Chloe protested.

    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ just¡­ a¡­ mob!¡± Dennis said, trying not to laugh.

    Chloe was still grumbling to herself and shooting guilty looks at the corpse as they filed out of the room and into the corridor beyond.

    The second encounter was a lot different. The mobs knew they were in the dungeon now, and it showed. They faced a grim-faced Shield flanked by a pair of narrow, taller mushrooms that held spears in their pencil-thin arms. A similar group hurried out of the far corridor as they arrived, with a third beginning to grow on the far side of the room. The sprouting mushrooms seemed like a stop-motion animation, but it certainly encouraged the group to hurry.

    While Dennis and the others fought, Tayla saw a familiar figure bounce out of the tunnel, falling over as it tried to pull the little sword too quickly.

    ¡°Look! He¡¯s back!¡± Chloe yelled happily, almost taking a spear to one shoulder as a result.

    ¡°Ah!¡± The little Newb mushroom flinched as it saw her before hiding behind the other mushrooms.

    Chloe looked horrified.

    ¡°Now!¡± Shield yelled, and the two remaining Shield mushrooms worked together to throw Dennis¡¯ shield aside long enough for one of the spear throwers to bury one in his leg.

    Dennis hissed as he yanked it out while Chloe spun, summoning that same smoke and sending it snaking along the floor where it climbed up Dennis¡¯ leg and poured into the wound, healing it.

    The damage vanished completely as Sam nailed the second shield bearer with a trio of bolts.

    Denis moved again, sending a spear-wielding mushroom sprawling as he charged after Shield. Tayla leaped forward and swung her knife and cleaver, chopping it into pieces.

    ¡°Fuck!¡± Chloe yelled. ¡°That was some hit.¡±

    Tayla frowned at the knives in her hands before she realized it. ¡°They are mushrooms¡­ my skills see them as ingredients!¡±

    Chloe yelled out as Newb bounced over the dead Shield and launched himself through the air at Dennis.

    ¡°Murderer!¡± He yelled, digging his little sword into Dennis¡¯ shoulder and twisting.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    Denis grabbed it, flinching when it screamed in pain. He dropped it hurriedly.

    ¡°What the hell is with this mob?¡± He asked. ¡°They don¡¯t feel pain!¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t we?¡± Newb coughed pitifully. ¡°Did you ever ask?¡±

    ¡°I¨C¡± Dennis looked horrified.

    ¡°Don¡¯t let me suffer, please?¡± His tearful eyes turned to Tayla. ¡°It hurts¡­ so much.¡±

    Tayla struck once, and the pieces rolled away.

    ¡°Fuck this,¡± Chloe laughed nervously. ¡°Is this place messing with my head or what?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Dennis said with a frown. ¡°I think something is different with that one. When we see it next¡­ I don¡¯t know. Disarm it and tie it up?¡±

    They moved on, the next encounter being mercifully free of the Newb mushroom, but they did meet a new type. It flung poison at them while yelling about serving the Poison King. Even when Sam nailed it with a bolt, the bloody thing tried to fling one last bit of poison before it died.

    ¡°Did you see how the others avoided this one?¡± Dennis asked as they took a quick break to drink some water before moving on. ¡°I think the poisonous ones are part of a different group.¡±

    ¡°What about this Poison King?¡± Chloe asked. ¡°Boss version of this thing?¡±

    ¡°Probably,¡± Sam shrugged. ¡°As far as I know, they normally don¡¯t tell you what to expect in dungeons, so your guess is as good as mine.¡±

    Chloe groaned when she saw the little Newb sitting front and center of the line of mushrooms waiting for them in the fourth room. He had a determined look on his face, even if he did seem to pale a little at the sight of the party.

    Tayla might have just imagined that, however, it was a mushroom at the end of the day. Pale kind of went with the description.

    The numbers were increasing rapidly now, with more of the poisonous ones lurking at the back. One thing that Tayla figured out was that the ones she thought of as original were all a different color than the rest. Shield had a red and white cap, compared to green and white on the others. Newb was a pale red with only a few white spots, while the spear-wielding pair were gold, the others having a paler color. The newest mob was a thin one with two caps, one pink, the other purple. They held a staff and seemed to heal the others.

    Before she could see much more than that, a blob of poison struck her shoulder, and the world seemed to swim as a burning pain began to spread.

    All she heard was the screeching laugh of a poisonous mushroom.

    By the time the healing from Chloe roused her, it was almost over.

    Sam was holding Newb still while Dennis finished off a pair of Spears.

    ¡°Let me go, you cowards! Newb roared.

    ¡°Calm down,¡± Sam said calmly. ¡°We just want to talk!¡±

    ¡°Never!¡± A screech came from the shadows, and a large glob of poison arced across the room, catching Newb full in his little face. He writhed and screamed before hanging limp and dead in Sam¡¯s grip.

    ¡°What the fuck is going on?¡± Dennis snapped.

    Their arrival at the final encounter room on the first floor was even weirder.

    A ring of poisonous mushrooms and spear wielders were surrounding a few Shields and Newb, along with one Healer. The group listened as they approached the entrance.

    ¡°Give it up and serve the Poison King, fools!¡± This one had a much deeper green poison dripping from the cap, which was a darker grey. ¡°There is no other choice!¡±

    ¡°We all serve the Core!¡± Newb shouted defiantly.

    The ring of enemies laughed.

    ¡°May you be wiser in your next growth!¡± The one Tayla thought was Poison gestured, and the poison flingers and spear throwers raised their weapons.

    ¡°Save the lad!¡± Shield roared, and a massive fight broke out.

    The party had to move back from the tunnel to avoid the flying spears and poison, only hearing the sounds of battle.

    Eventually, it went silent¡­ except for a gentle weeping.

    Dennis and the others picked their way over the fallen and dead to find a weeping Newb holding a sliced-off portion of Shield¡¯s cap in his trembling hands.

    He turned teary eyes to the party and held it up for them.

    ¡°He died to save me. See?¡±

    No one spoke for a moment.

    ¡°What is happening in this dungeon?¡± Dennis asked again.

    ¡°If I tell you, can you help?¡± Newb looked into their faces, searching for hope.

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Chloe said softly. ¡°If we can.¡±

    ¡°Do you know how dungeons work?¡± Newb asked them.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Dennis said, crouching in front of the crying Newb, who sniffed through his little button nose and wiped his eyes.

    ¡°Well,¡± Newb looked lost for a second but carried on suddenly, ¡°The core is the one who makes us¡­ us?¡± It nodded to itself. ¡°Right. Right. So, the evil Poison was powerful, but they wanted more, so they killed the root of Archer and Rogue, taking their food for themselves. That meant that the first, the um original one¡­¡± It trailed off, looking lost again.

    ¡°The ones with the most color in their caps?¡± Tayla asked.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Newb sighed with relief. ¡°It grew larger than all the others. Even larger than Shield! He called himself the Poison King, and now he is trying to take over the whole dungeon!¡±

    ¡°Dungeon!¡± A screeching laugh echoed through the shadowy corridors. ¡°You think too small, little one! I shall take over the world!¡±

    ¡°Fuck, that¡¯s creepy,¡± Sam shivered.

    ¡°Enough, rookie,¡± Shield¡¯s deep voice echoed through the darkness next. ¡°It is over. He has our roots now. We serve, or we die.¡±

    Newb hung his head.

    ¡°When you finish the dungeon, look behind the large stone on the left wall,¡± he whispered. ¡°If you want to kill him and save the dungeon¡­ that is where he is. Where the roots are.¡±

    ¡°We need cure-all potions,¡± Dennis said, trying not to move his lips as he drew his hammer back. ¡°Can you get them?¡±

    ¡°We only have five left,¡± Newb said. ¡°I¡¯ll have them waiting as soon as I regrow.¡±

    Dennis brought the hammer down, and the group silently moved on to the stairs, ready to descend to the next level.

    ==============

    They saw Newb again in the second encounter on the floor. He did as he was told by the screeching shadows, but he nodded to Tayla as he died on her knife.

    No one spoke; they just trudged on to the next encounter, each of them sharing a simmering anger as they got closer to their real enemy.

    The Poison King.

    None of them spoke of their deal with little Newb, but it was the only way to save her children, so Tayla would have gone on alone if she had to. No one suggested turning back, even when the numbers got out of hand, and Chloe was dancing throughout the fights to keep them alive.

    In the fourth room, things went south in a bad way. It seemed they would be forced back by the mushrooms, but Newb gave a signal to Shield, and the mushrooms seemed to stumble and fall while the glob of poison arcing through the air to the exhausted Chloe was intercepted with a mighty leap by Newb.

    The horrific substance splattered across his cap and back as he bounced off Chloe, having left nothing but a scratch with his fake attack.

    He lay dead at her feet as she danced on, angry tears in her eyes.

    When the last mushroom fell, Dennis turned to Chloe and motioned her not to say anything. Tayla looked around the room, seeing the shadowy figure in the corridor, watching and listening.

    The group entered the final encounter with murder in their hearts. Dennis roared and lay about him with his hammer, crushing as many enemies with his shield as Tayla covered his back. Sam was firing as fast as he could reload, but Chloe was the real game changer. She screamed like a pissed-off banshee, and the energy from her staff gained a sharp red edge that tore apart anything too slow to move.

    It ended up being a very short fight, especially when Newb slipped into their lines and began to finish off any injured mushrooms that still clung to life.

    The last mob died, and a door opened, showing a set of stairs to the surface and the reward room.

    Dennis nodded to Newb, and he led them to a large boulder sitting against the far wall. A hidden passage behind wound deeper into the earth, and the party followed it, Newb perched grimly on Sam¡¯s shoulder.

    A few minutes later, they all crouched at the entrance to a large cavern.

    Looking around, Tayla saw the tiny growing forms of the mushrooms they had fought as they grew. Beyond that, a single, giant mushroom sat in the middle of a ring of glowing moss.

    Newb pointed, and the group sprinted for the large form, Dennis keeping his large Riot Shield raised to block any attack.

    A rumbling laugh sounded as they cleared the last of the rocks and faced the Poison King in his own lair.

    ¡°Foolish, foolish little one,¡± the Poison King said as it raised its agile arms that it used to fling the poison that dripped in thick clumps from the large, black cap above it. ¡°My ascendancy almost complete. You should have followed me into the world!¡±

    ¡°You are a traitor,¡± Newb said grimly. ¡°Traitors must die.¡±

    ¡°Well, if you insist!¡± The nine-foot-tall mushroom struck, and they all winced, but when the dust cleared, the only thing hit was a patch of moss, which was now dying.

    ¡°No!¡± Newb yelled.

    ¡°Yes!¡± Poison King laughed. ¡°Your root is dead, and you will surely follow!¡±

    The fight began in earnest, and Tayla found herself carving large chunks from the mushroom as Dennis worked to block its powerful blows.

    As it was driven back, it let out a hiss, and spear-wielding mushrooms sprouted around the cavern, only to be attacked by massed Shields that fought while chanting Newb¡¯s name.

    Class Evolution!

    Chef - Battle Chef!

    New Skill: Julienne!

    Dice your target, be it ingredient or foe, into a thousand pieces in a whirlwind of blades!

    Tayla didn¡¯t hesitate, activating the skill and seeing the world slow to a crawl as her hands and arms blurred, bright glowing slashes covering the form of the Poison King before everything snapped back into real-time all at once.

    The giant mushroom exploded into pieces, sending poison flying in all directions.

    Dennis staggered back, a large glob of the flying liquid heading right for him, and fell on his back.

    ¡°Nooooo!¡± Newb threw himself in the way, once more taking the brunt of the attack.

    The group rushed to the fallen mushroom as he rolled lifelessly from Dennis¡¯ chest.

    ¡°Fuck, fuck, fuck,¡± Chloe panicked and tried to heal the little mob, but the green smoke just dissipated as it touched him.

    ¡°No!¡± Dennis slammed his riot shield into the floor over and over. ¡°Fuck!¡±

    Tayla just stared, stunned, until a figure hopped weakly out of the shadows.

    The group roused and turned to face the new threat, only for Shield to raise his hand and speak.

    ¡°Stop!¡± Shield called, his voice choked with emotion, ¡°We may still save him.¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Chloe demanded.

    ¡°It is a way all our own,¡± Shield nodded as mushrooms came forward and lifted the fallen Newb above them and began to chant as they took it deeper into the shadows. ¡°We owe a great debt to one young mushroom and to you.¡± He waved one tired arm, and one of the Healers came forward, dragging a pouch. ¡°He said you needed these. He told me¡­ just in case he didn¡¯t make it.¡± Shield turned aside as if hiding his tears. ¡°Please, go. The rest of your rewards await above.¡±

    ¡°Can we help?¡± Tanya asked as the figures marched off into the dark.

    ¡°You have. Now go. This is dungeon business.¡± Shield did not turn around.

    Tayla opened the pouch and saw five Cure All potions.

    =============

    Daractain applauded as his mushroom squad appeared in front of him.

    ¡°Marvellous! Simply marvellous!¡±

    ¡°You really liked it?¡± Poison asked shyly.

    ¡°It was perfect,¡± he gestured to the viewing portal where the Party was leaving with tears in their eyes, ¡°They will never forget this dungeon run. Never!¡±

    Poison beamed.

    ¡°How did I do?¡± Newb fidgeted nervously. ¡°I forgot the explanation at one point!¡±

    ¡°You were great, kid!¡± Poison beamed. ¡°You all were.¡±

    ¡°I think I should get to be the hero!¡± Shield protested.

    ¡°Wait till you see the next story!¡± Poison said. ¡°I call it The Shield of Love!¡±

    ¡°Oooh,¡± the squad clustered around the excited Poison as Daractain idly toyed with the orb.

    The orb was important, of course, but even undead Daractain was still a Fae, and the Fae loved a good story above all else.

 Vol5 Chapter 7 - Side quests and Safe rooms.

    Chapter 7

    Side Quests and Safe rooms.

    The settlements of men were few and far between in the lands of the Queen of Beasts, with the ones that did exist preferring a more nomadic existence to stay a step ahead of her herds and packs.

    One of the few exceptions to this rule was a small hamlet almost entirely settled by a large and extremely violent bandit gang. Unlike their more passive and kind neighbors, they had thrived in the cut-throat world that Earth had become since the arrival of magic into the world of men.

    It is often the most violent, most unfit for civilization that survives in the first few days, weeks, and years that follow the return of magic and the system that comes along with it. They are simply closer to the lifestyle by nature of their own choices. As things crumble and punishments and laws falter, they are free to act as they have always wanted to.

    Much was the case with this group, who had spread their violence and evil about as much as possible, recruiting those of like minds willing to bend the knee to the gang¡¯s leaders. They stole everything they wanted, killed, enslaved, and much worse besides. Indeed, it was a heady time for them and others like them in those early days.

    Their willingness to kill gave them a boost in leveling speed, while their thievery allowed them to stay healthy by simply taking what they wanted from others without ever having to ration things in order that others could survive as well.

    Heady days, indeed.

    None of this was a surprise; after all, the movies and stories of Earth are full of post-apocalyptic situations where, no matter the details of said apocalypse, it is always the other humans who pose the greatest threat. It was such a common cliche that many people never even noticed the problem with it.

    The problem was one that the bandits had been discovering for themselves over the last few months. Preying on others is only an effective strategy for an extremely limited time. Once the nearby and vulnerable had been killed, looted, or forced to flee, what was their plan?

    The answer is, of course, that they never had one.

    The heady days were gone for the group; with no one left to rob and kill, everything was becoming scarce, while the violent tendencies that had been so quickly sated were now naturally turning on their neighbors and gang mates. What those couple of months without fresh victims also meant, when paired with exclusively having preyed on other, weaker humans, was that the animal life was now much too strong for them, as were the roving bands of survivors.

    So they all felt pretty tired, hungry, and angry when the two strangers pushed open the door of the Pub they had taken over, sitting alone on the top of a hill when the rest of whatever city, town, or village it had once belonged to was whisked away.

    They were also pretty drunk, but to be honest, they would have acted much the same if they had been sober, so that wasn¡¯t much of an explanation or excuse for the stupidity that followed.

    A clever man, a careful man, or a wise man would have taken a second to Identify the man and woman who walked so casually into their midst, but the leader of this band of ruffians was none of those things.

    His gang had seen him cower as the giant crab creature had walked by earlier in the day, so he felt like he needed to make a point.

    An example, so to speak.

    He really should have taken a second, but alas¡­

    ¡°Oi! You better be willing to share that bitch, coming in my place like that!¡± He leered at the red-haired woman. ¡°Shit, she¡¯s all scarred up; well, we ain¡¯t picky, are we lads?¡±

    ¡°Say that again,¡± Felicia said, her lips stretching into a wide smile. ¡°And I¡¯ll show you what your entrails taste like.¡±

    The gang members all stood, grabbing their weapons and looking menacing.

    ¡°Let¡¯s teach this bit¡ª¡± The man didn¡¯t have time to even finish the word before Felicia¡¯s sword disemboweled him; the following scream soon choked off as she made good on her threat, shoving handfuls of his own guts into his mouth until the dropped, twitching to the floor.

    The second in command reacted on instinct, swinging his machete at her neck, only to feel it slam to a stop as the smiling man behind Felicia stepped forward and caught his arm like it was nothing.

    ¡°Now, now,¡± Benedict said calmly before someone smashed a bottle over the back of his head, which he barely even seemed to notice.

    ¡°Shit, run!¡± Someone at the back yelled.

    ¡°Do we let them go?¡± Felicia asked.

    ¡°Honestly, I suspect they are not to be trusted,¡± Benedict looked around the rapidly emptying room. ¡°Do as you like; I¡¯m going to get a drink.¡±

    The first two bandits to run made it almost to the bottom of the hill before a swirl of mist left the redhead, her clothes coated in blood, standing in front of their headlong flight.

    A second later, it became a headless flight while Felicia walked calmly back up the hill, humming softly to herself. Benedict had carefully cleaned the blood off a pair of barstools and was washing a second glass, having rescued a whisky bottle from the chaos when she came back into the blood-drenched public house.

    ¡°Just a quick drink, you said,¡± Benedict said with a raised eyebrow.

    ¡°Oh, please,¡± Felicia smiled. ¡°They deserved it.¡±

    ¡°You knew they would react like that,¡± Benedict accused.

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t?¡± Felicia frowned. ¡°There are bodies nailed to the wall outside.¡±

    ¡°Is that unusual?¡± Benedict asked honestly.

    ¡°Well, obviously,¡± Felicia took the offered drink and sat on one clean barstool. ¡°You didn¡¯t find it strange or threatening?¡±

    ¡°I was a Death,¡± Benedict noted. ¡°In my experience, decoration with dead bodies is a fairly common practice.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t give me that,¡± Felicia snapped. ¡°You saw plenty of other places, not just tombs and shit.¡±

    ¡°Would you believe I never really paid attention to the decor?¡± Benedict asked.

    ¡°Not for a second, Bennie.¡± Felicia gave a slow smile. ¡°You wanted to kill them too.¡±

    ¡°As a Death, I was forbidden from interfering,¡± Benedict drained his glass. ¡°I am not bound from acting anymore.¡±

    ¡°Then why let me do all the killing?¡± Felicia asked.

    ¡°Your level is somewhat embarrassing,¡± Benedict admitted. ¡°You need the exp more than I do.¡±

    ¡°Fuck you,¡± Felicia growled. ¡°I didn¡¯t convert from being a fucking God.¡±

    ¡°No, thank you,¡± Benedict said seriously. ¡°I know where you¡¯ve been.¡±

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    ===============

    Lily floated back toward the town, hoping to find some more comics to read. They were a revelation to the young pixie. The colors, the stories, all of it. If she had only known about these things in her old world¡­

    Still, it was not something she could change, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t enjoy them going forward. It had opened up a whole new set of ideas for her mirages, illusions, and mind controls. The sheer imagination in some of them was boggling. Bert had promised that if they found a larger city, there would be more, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t at least look around. Surely, some of these houses held more of the treasures.

    In her opinion, they must do.

    Who wouldn¡¯t want to positively fill their houses until they burst with art like that? In her world, art was just boring paintings and carvings, but here! Art that told stories! Some of them even had people in them with art on their skin. It was amazing, and she had learned about plays that happened on a flat screen, which she already had Way Way working on¡­

    The first house she came to had a strong stench of death, but she entered anyway, floating invisibly near the ceiling to avoid the large spiders scuttling back and forth across the walls and floor. Four figures of various sizes were webbed into the corners, but the people inside were long dead, so she ignored them and drifted silently up the stairs, searching through the infested rooms.

    There was nothing¡­ which was disappointing.

    Drifting out an upper window, she stopped for a second, worried she might have missed something in the cupboard, and turned back.

    Now, facing the other side of the house from which she had approached, she saw the graffiti sprayed all over the back of the house. It was hardly artistic, which made her angry, but when she read the words, she felt her eyes widen.

    FUCK THE FAE!

    KILL THEM ALL!

    FUCK THE QUEEN OF BEASTS!

    BOB WAS HERE!

    Nancy¡¯s a slag!

    Billy has a tiny dick!

    FUCK THE FAE!

    It was a symbol on one far corner, half buried by the other symbols, that caught her eye. It was a symbol used by the Half-Fae, their own secret language, to show the way to a place they could hide.

    If there were half-fae here, Lily intended to find them.

    She stopped floating and converted to pixie form, shooting off in the direction of the sign, seeing more of them carved on trees and a few spray-painted amongst other graffiti here and there.

    Finally, she found it. The symbol for a hidden door.

    Lily pulled it open carefully; they tended to load traps and spells to catch the unwary and found a tunnel vanishing beneath the shed it was hidden in. It was the work of seconds to fly down it and discover the hidden room beneath.

    The moment she saw it, Lily swallowed hard and headed out to find Bert and Bell.

    ==============

    Bert had to crawl through the tunnel to access the hidden room of the Half-Fae, but he trusted Lily to know what he needed to see and what she could merely tell him about. The young pixie was clearly disturbed when she came and found him, even ignoring the nearly completely tattooed man who was now lying patiently while Bell practiced her new hobby.

    Emerging from the roughly dug tunnel and into the room beyond, the first thing to surprise him was that it was an actual room, not a cavern or cave.

    There were wooden walls, roofs, and floors, even a few pieces covered in wallpaper or paint, while threadbare rugs and old bits of carpet covered the floor.

    The furniture was all child-sized, but whether that was related to the size of the average half-fae or more about the available space in the tunnel that offered access, he could not even guess.

    Lily emerged from the tunnel and silently led to to an area of the far wall, which she was able to pass through quite easily, and, when he questioned her, did not even see. It was something like a last line of defense, with only the half-fae who were born that way being able to see through it.

    It was telling that they had a defense against the Fae, not just other people, which was a damning statement about the Fae, even if he didn¡¯t already know how badly they treated the half-fae.

    Beyond the illusory wall, he saw two corpses, both long dead to the point there was little left but bones with scraps of cloth, but it was the walls above these corpses that really drew his attention.

    There were stacks and stacks of magazines, newspapers, and printouts. Each one was carefully marked, with the shelves they sat on marked with days, months, and years. The organization was amazing, and it spoke of not just a neat mind but an obsessive one.

    One of the walls was clear of shelves, instead showing pictures of places and events that had happened, joined with pieces of string. Most of the pictures were crossed out, with the remaining being faded and dusty to the point of being completely obscured.

    ¡°What is all this?¡± Bert asked Lily, who was sitting quietly on a small, comfy chair in the corner.

    ¡°The repository,¡± Lily said softly. ¡°We aren¡¯t supposed to talk about it to real Fae.¡±

    ¡°Half-fae are real fae,¡± Bert said absently, ¡°What can you tell me about it?¡±

    ¡°Everything,¡± Lily said, wiping her eyes a bit. ¡°I don¡¯t think the rules apply to you.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°You know what I thought when I saw the half-fae markings?¡± Lily asked. ¡°I can find them, and they can join the court.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, if they are decent enough, the more the merrier,¡± Bert shrugged. ¡°Keeping the half-fae out of courts is stupid.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s why the rule doesn¡¯t apply,¡± Lily laughed a little before taking a deep breath.

    ¡°The Repository is the half-fae version of record keeping,¡± Lily said, her voice starting off shakily before it steadied as she continued, ¡°We don¡¯t exactly advertise our presence on worlds, so we can¡¯t communicate long distance like other races do. Instead, we have these safe zones spread all over the place, with markings hidden to bring any traveling half-fae to them if they need somewhere safe to stay.¡±

    ¡°Right, like hobo sign,¡± Bert nodded.

    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°A series of symbols used by homeless people who travel from place to place to signify if somewhere is safe, likely to give food, stuff like that,¡± Bert explained.

    ¡°Same thing,¡± Lily nodded. ¡°Well, once that half-fae gets here, the place could be empty. If that is the case, how are they supposed to know where to go for help, places to avoid, where other half-fae might be or have been sighted, that kind of thing?¡±

    ¡°The Repository,¡± Bert guessed.

    ¡°Exactly.¡± Lily nodded and gestured to the first and lowest shelf. ¡°The half-fae who builds the safe house adds their name and why they did it as the first piece of paper to be placed on the shelf, and then they begin to keep a record of anything that happens that might interest the half-fae: local events, people to avoid, friendly areas, places to feed if you¡¯re that kind of half-fae, and so on.¡±

    ¡°Is it always this detailed?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°At the start, no,¡± Lily laughed. ¡°But once the Repository gets big enough, it kind of calls a half-fae that is suitable to it.¡±

    ¡°A caretaker?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°I guess you could call it that,¡± Lily frowned. ¡°We normally say librarian or record keeper, but they do tend to the place as well.¡±

    ¡°And it calls a half-fae to it?¡± Bert asked, his mind spinning. ¡°Are they always like this? With the wood and that?¡±

    ¡°Most of them start off as just a dug-out hole, while the wood and stuff just kind of builds up over time.¡± Lily frowned. ¡°Why are you smiling?¡±

    ¡°Lily,¡± Bert smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a gathering place that attracts a half-fae when it gets enough attention and care, then it starts to grow and change.¡±

    ¡°So?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Lily, these places, they are like half-fae Waystations!¡± Bert laughed. ¡°They just have the caretaker and fae in a single creature instead of two.¡±

    Lily gaped around the room.

    ¡°Proof positive that half-fae are fae,¡± Bert noted. ¡°And, I suspect, another part of the original Waystation long lost to time.¡±

    ¡°Is there any way to know for sure?¡± Lily asked.

    ¡°Say your name,¡± Bell said simply, making them both jump. She was decidedly sneaky when she wanted to be. ¡°Your real name.¡± She nodded to Bert.

    ¡°Greetings, Waystation,¡± Bert said, formally bowing. ¡°Caretaker Hudson, at your service!¡±

    The walls shivered and began to shine with a soft light as Lily squeaked and flew over next to Bell.

    ¡°That¡¯s his real name?¡± Lily whispered.

    ¡°It¡¯s who he is,¡± Bell beamed at him. ¡°Someone who cares for those in need of shelter.¡±

    The shine shifted and flowed until it gathered around the two dead bodies.

    ¡°Bell?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°It misses them,¡± Bell said simply.

    ¡°What can we do?¡± Bert asked.

    ¡°We could claim it,¡± Bell offered with a shrug. ¡°Make it part of our own Waystation.¡±

    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Way Way be upset?¡± Bert asked. ¡°Like having a new kid?¡±

    Bell just laughed.

    ¡°Just asking,¡± Bert muttered.

    ¡°Waystation, you are young and alone. Would you care to join ours and travel on into the future?¡± Bell called out firmly.

    The glow moved again, gathering around Bert¡¯s feet.

    ¡°I accept?¡± Bert tried and then gasped as something passed through him before vanishing along the link to the Waystation.

    The room immediately began to collapse.

    ¡°Oops?¡± Bell offered. ¡°Run for it!¡±

    Bert looked at the wall of information about to be buried and sighed.

    It was too important to leave behind.

    ¡°Reclaim Knowledge!¡± He called and then fled.

 Vol5 Chapter 8 - What happened on Earth

    Chapter 8

    What happened on Earth

    THE SU(Rest of title Obscured) - UK Newspaper - Date Obscured

    Mysterious Lights Descend on London

    Widely reported instances of strange light, noises, and visions have been reported by this newspaper as being part of a more significant attempt by Russia to attack our upcoming national election, but events overnight in London have us wondering¡­ Has our water supply been contaminated with psychedelic drugs by some foreign power?

    While many videos and clips shared on X(Formerly Twitter) and Youtube appear to show strange Men and Women riding down from the sky and landing on a London Street have been shared online, we here at the *** refuse to give such ridiculous claims any credence at all. It is all an obvious and transparent Deep Fake, and we will not rest until we have shown this nefarious plot for what it is.

    THE DAILY MA(Obscured) - UK scandal rag - Date Obscured.

    Chaos grips Britain!

    Today, we bring you a stunning exclusive with the very first person to meet the new visitors flooding into Britain and other countries around the world from the very skies themselves.

    Dave Murphy (34, Essex, UK) was the very first human to meet the new arrivals when the first of them touched down on a street in London, UK. He recounted the experience to one of our Veteran reporters from his hospital bed, where he is recovering bravely from the grievous wounds he sustained at the hands of his attacker.

    ¡°So, I was just mindin¡¯ my own business, yeah?¡± Dave told us, ¡°When this big bugger comes down right in the middle of the street on a bloody horse! Now, I know London is a bit mental, right? But this bloke was off his nut! He comes trotting over wearing a bloody dress and some kind of cosplay shi*t and says I¡¯m his bloody long-lost cousin. Can you believe that?¡±

    Our reporter was forced to leave the room shortly as a giant rat had emerged from the sewers down in the basement, and he bravely assisted in the defence of the hospital (photos on page 11). Dave survived, and we reconnected with him a couple of days later following the now infamous Night of the Moths.

    ¡°So, as I were sayin¡¯. This nutter is claiming to be my family, and we got some funny buggers in our lot, but we ain¡¯t takin¡¯ the rap from some silly fu¡ê¡êer we just met wiv a horse and all that. So I tells ¡®im to jog on, innit?¡± Dave said, ¡°I mean, we are labor all the way, no chance we gettin¡¯ lip from some posh git on a horse. Well, he gets all aggro, jumpin¡¯ off ¡®is nag and given¡¯ it the big I am.¡± At this point, it was clear that Dave was still angry at his treatment at the hands of the invader, and there were several words we have felt it necessary to leave out, ¡°Anyway, so¡¯s I nut the prat and next thing you know ¡®is bird has bloody slapped me across the street. I fu¡ê¡êing flew I can tell you. I reckon she was one of ¡®em transformers, ya know?¡±

    So there we have it, good readers, conclusive proof that this latest group to invade Britain¡¯s shores is little more than the latest wave of aggressive and criminal immigrants that have been flooding Britain for years. We approached the office of the Mayor of London for comment but were told the Mayor was eaten by his house cat, Oscar, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

    Our thoughts and prayers are obviously with his friends and family at this difficult time.

    The Birmingham Mail - UK Local paper - Date torn off.

    Leveling Made Easy!

    Read on for ten tips and tricks for leveling your new class in the most relaxed and danger-free ways, according to the extensive testing done at our very own university!

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Repetition is not your friend!</li>

    </ul>

    The testing we have done shows that while a single task may reward you greatly a single time, any repeats of the same task have greatly diminishing rewards. Our Top Tip: Complete any task at most 3 times.

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">The risk is manageable!</li>

    </ul>

    Everyone knows that increased danger gives better rewards, but is it worth it? Our testing suggests not. Sure, killing a high-level Rat or House Cat will be a big reward, but so would three low-level ones!

    Our Top Tip: Check your local markets for the newly discovered high-level and low-risk targets. A single kill on the harmless lvl 15 herbivorous flower is a lot safer bet than even a level 5 rat. It can¡¯t hurt you!

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Two¡¯s company, three¡¯s a waste of exp!</li>

    </ul>

    The university tested teams of up to TEN members to see what the effect on shared experience was, and the results are in. While killing with a friend is definitely faster than solo, any more than two of you and the drop in individual rewards is just too much to make it worth the effort. So, unless you have a target-rich environment, grab your bestie and get out there!

    Our Top Tip: Everyone is chasing those Healer classes, but let them pass you buy and get yourself a Tank! The damage you don¡¯t take doesn¡¯t need to be healed!

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Fight like a Brit!</li>

    </ul>

    While our American cousins struggle to adapt to the system¡¯s hatred of firearms and their inability to scale, you and your family need to fight in the age-old British methods, with knives, swords, and good old-fashioned head-butt if needs be!

    Our Top Tip: Reach is your friend. Strap a butcher knife to an old broom handle and keep your targets from ever getting in a hit!

    <ul>

    <li style="font-weight: 400">Cast on! Cast off</li>

    </ul>

    The mystery of spell¡­.

    THE (Missing)N - UK Newspaper - Fae-Day plus six months

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Not Fae-king it!

    The government has officially lost its mind this week, with the first official Fae settlement given the nod of approval from the ever-useless Number 10 Downing Street.

    The settlement, laughingly called an Embassy of the Summer Court, is closer to an actual city, just outside of London. We went in to have a look around, but we were at great personal risk. Everything was faked, with the tree-grown houses and idyllic streets full of merry people being something that was clearly inspired by the latest movies. Personally, the idea of these people being anything close to real did not even begin to enter our minds.

    At least, not at first. Imagine our surprise to see a pair of them arguing and starting to fight. Here we go, I thought; the facade is cracking.

    Nope, they kicked the crap out of each other like a couple of lads on a night out gone wrong before being dragged off to jail while the others jeered.

    It was at that point that we had to wonder¡­ Are the Fae British?

    Instead of heading back, we hung around, getting plastered with the Fae, and I have to say it was the best night out I¡¯ve had in a long time. More than anything, it was a very familiar scene as we all stumbled back to someone¡¯s house the next morning to sleep it off. The houses might be made of trees, but those Fae party like true Londoners. Our colleagues up in Scotland report similar scenes up in the north as well, with more than a few scuffles breaking out between the Aberdeen locals and the Court of Autumn, with nothing worse than a usual night out reported as a result.

    Hunting, drinking, fighting, and proud of where they come from?

    I don¡¯t know about you out there, but that sounds pretty damn British to me!

    The Guard(torn off) - UK Newspaper - FDay +7 months.

    Tensions erupt at the Great Grove!

    The Welsh Parliment yesterday voted in favor of a motion to declare the Fae persona non grata on their land, citing ancient warnings in Welsh Folk Tales.

    While the move has sparked widespread derision in certain circles, the world at large is paying more attention to the reaction of the Fae, who have promptly withdrawn from Welsh borders without so much as a formal complaint.

    It has led others to ask if we really have to put up with the new arrivals.

    The fact that the Fae seem willing to leave makes us wonder, what old tales of the Welsh do they fear?

    While it is possible they simply respected the wishes of the Welsh parliament, many are asking if there is something they do not want others to ask about. Perhaps that prompt withdrawal was to prevent open discussion of Welsh worries?

    If that is the case, the ruse has failed spectacularly. The sale of books and similar containing Welsh Folk tales has skyrocketed, and people around the world are asking if it was wise to really accept the help of the Fae when the magic returned to Earth.

    Russia has already tabled a similar debate, as have many other countries, while the Fae Courts met at their capital city, The Great Grove, in a closed session from which many raised voices were heard.

    With much more still to unfold, will we learn to see the Fae as something more sinister than the saviors with ever such good-looking men and women that they have so far seemed?

    Soul Suckers! The truth about the Fae! - Pamphlet posted to everyone in the UK by person or persons unknown.

    They come for your sons, your daughters, your wives, your husbands, and then they come for your very soul!

    Awaken true sons and daughters of England!

    The Pope, The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and Christian leaders around the world formally declared in a combined statement that the Fae were nothing more or less than the Demons of HELL. The END TIMES are upon us, and the truth has been shown to us all.

    We have all seen the Whore of Babylon, in the guise of the fae temptresses, seduce away our loved sons and husbands, fathers and uncles while we fight to resist the fae defilers coming to steal the chastity and morals of our wives and daughters.

    They promise everlasting life, eternal health, and more pleasures than we could ever have dreamed of, all while they drain our souls, twisting them away from the love of the ONE TRUE GOD!

    While our politicians suckle at SATAN¡¯S TEAT, we must rise against the threat ourselves as a new CRUSADE begins.

    KILL THE FAE ON SIGHT!

    RETURN TO GOD!

    FIGHT FOR YOUR SOUL!

    FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY!

    UNKNOWN - Excerpt from unknown newspaper - unknown date

    Ireland Lost Beneath The Waves

    In the latest ¡®retaliatory¡¯ attacks by the Fae, the entire Irish landmass was submerged beneath the waves, with the loss of millions of lives. The official report from the Court of Summer lists the island as ¡®Moved offshore¡¯, but there is no confirmation of life. Spotters on the coast reported the island there one moment and gone the next, with the sea rushing into the gap.

    The UK WARTIME ADMINISTRATION has listed the island as lost in the war with the Fae, and the population is listed as KIA. The Fae forces currently pushed north of Hadrian¡¯s wall, are expected to attempt to retake parts of northern England in the coming days following the failed nuclear strike by the RUSSIAN PEOPLES ARMY in Siberia. The weapon is confirmed to have hit the Fae base, but there was no detonation. This follows similar failures in China and the land formerly known as America.

    Following the collapse of Washington D.C., the land was feared lost, but recent contacts in South America suggest that the Texan and Mexican forces have united. Both forces contain large numbers of the very powerful and rare ARMORED COWBOY class, and they are expected to make rapid progress in an attempt to join up with the NYC Irregulars.

    PEACE TALKS! - Unknown - Unknown

    The Fae Courts sue for Peace.

    Disaster in the peace talks today when the Fae delegates attempted to prove their claim of the Summerlands for all when they brought out the dead relatives of the representatives of the Mexican-American Alliance and the UKWA delegates.

    Despite protestations of them being real and several attempts to calm things down, several of the supposed relatives were killed by the representatives, leading to talks being called off!

    A statement from the Courts of the Fae is to be released shortly.

    The Courts Await You In The Summerlands! - leaflet that rained from the sky worldwide.

    The Lords and Ladies of the Summer and Winter courts have voted to abandon Earth immediately. All Fae have been ordered to remove themselves from the planet within the next solar day.

    We came in Peace, but you did not want us here. We have tried to reason with you, and you have refused us multiple times. The planet is yours, as it always has been. We are leaving, and much joy in your ¡®victory¡¯ is all we hope for you!

    We will simply see you again in the Summerlands, where, with the evidence in front of you, we hope you will be more reasonable!

    The Lady of the Court of Winter Leaves You A Parting Gift! - note found nailed to every tree in the world. - Date unknown.

    Dear Humans,

    You have insulted, killed, and refused me and my people since your insane old men decided we must be a threat to your souls, which are identical to ours, by the way. As such, I respect the decision of the cowardly and soft-hearted Lords and Ladies of the other Courts.

    You refused to share your lands with us, claiming there was no room, so I shall leave you with more of it! In two days'' time, Earth will increase in size five times.

    Best of luck, and I hope you die painfully before coming begging on your FUCKING KNEES for my benevolent forgiveness.

    I have also refused to allow the Fae who have returned to us from your bastard race to return to the Summerlands with us, so I leave you in their tender care.

    Fuck the lot of you,

    Lady of Autumn.

    All Fae are to return to the Den! - Leaflet handed out in the Midlands, Former UK, to all travelers on entry

    All Fae left behind in the Midlands are to present themselves to the Queen of Beasts immediately upon entering her lands.

    All Half-Fae are to be killed on sight if within the Queen¡¯s Borders.

    All Humans are to be considered free game, to be hunted as the visiting or occupant Fae desire.

    Remember your Place in my lands!

    By the Order of the Queen of Beasts, Gwen Hudson, Lady in Exile of the Court of Travelling Lands.

    The scraps of knowledge settled into Bert¡¯s brain slowly as he fled the rapidly collapsing tunnel, with the final note arriving in his brain just as he was standing up and dusting his hands off.

    ¡°Ah, for fucks¡¯ sake!¡± Bert growled. ¡°This is all I need!¡±

 The Waystation VOL 5 - Update

    Hey all,

    Just a quick note to say that the updates are going to be a little sporadic for a while. While this story is very near and dear to my heart---as my first ever written work---it is currently not exactly performing well on here, with very few views per chapter or on Amazon in terms of sales.

    As such, I have decided to shift focus onto something else for a while. That doesn''t mean the book will remain unfinished, not at all. It just means that this will be more of a passion project going forward.

    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    As for how often to expect updates on Volume 5?

    They will come in batches whenever I get the time. As I have decided to make this the final volume in the story, there are a lot of stories to tell and a lot of threads to tie up. Expect the finished volume to be quite sizable.

    For those of you who have been reading since the start, thank you for reading, and I hope you will stick around until the end of the story!

    Thanks again for your understanding!

    C.J.