by Seth Ring
Without waiting for the Titan to answer, Mina jumped forward, summoning a small plate of ice in the air where her foot was about to land. Stepping off of the plate of ice, she began to fall down toward the side of the fortress. Another wave of her wand created a path of ice that stretched down the side of the fortress wall, ending in a little ramp. Mina’s feet touched down neatly on the icy path and she slid down and forward, gaining speed as she went. Launching herself off of the end of the ice path, she turned a neat flip in the air as she cleared the side of the fortress and began to plunge down toward the ground.
“Come on, slowpoke!”
Mina’s voice drifted up to Thorn, who just grinned and began to climb down the side of the fortress. It took him much longer to climb down since he did not want to damage the outside of the building. While he probably could have slid down the side of the wall, he was concerned that his claws would leave large gouges in the stone, so he took his time. Mina was waiting for him at the bottom of the wall, tapping her foot and pretending to look at her wrist, as if she was checking her watch.
“Hey, that was cheating!” Thorn protested lightly as he walked by.
“Gotta take any advantage I can against you,” Mina said with a wink, falling into step with him.
Traveling back to the Iron Wolf camp that they had originally been headed to, Thorn sent out a message, asking all of the officers to gather. Soon his tent was full of players and natives. Commander Del’har had fobbed off the Dwarves of the Stone Legion and arrived to stand next to Thorn’s chair. Commander Hasta had arrived as well, bringing all ten of the Iron Wolf battalion captains with him. One side of the tent had been rolled up and Maugrim lay along the opening, blocking it completely.
Ten of the top administrators from Nova Luna and the Night Walker’s Association had arrived with Jora Silverhand, the Dwarf Merchant who was running Silver Moon, the merchant wing of Nova Luna; Corvo, who was handling the valley’s overall administration; and Jorge, who was in charge of the valley’s intelligence wing while Oberlin was gone. Elder Havva had arrived as well, along with the new head disciple of the Temple of the Moon. Next to him, Peregrine, Mina, Baxby, and Seven Twisted Leaves were muttering about something. Thorn kept catching them looking at him and laughing, but they were talking too quietly for even his superior hearing to pick up their words.
“Alright, let’s bring this meeting to order.” Thorn’s deep voice quieted the tent.
Before he could continue, Commander Del’har stepped forward and saluted with a closed fist across his chest. Everyone in the tent apart from Thorn copied the gesture, saluting Thorn with a loud thump. Ignoring Thorn’s bemused expression, the Wolfkin commander stepped back and resumed his guard.
“Okay, okay. Thanks.” Quickly getting back on track, Thorn scanned the tent.
Though there were some people missing, most of the players and natives who had helped him build up the valley were all gathered here. Seeing them all look at him was equally gratifying and terrifying for Thorn. They had placed their hopes for the future in his hands and he was honored by that trust. Making a silent vow to never disappoint them, Thorn continued to speak.
“Due to the monumental efforts of the Iron Wolf battalions, the Dawn Guardians, and the Children of the Moon, the threat of the corruption spread by Mayari has been extinguished. We must be sure to offer a special thanks for Mani, the mother of the Children of the Moon, who has continued to suppress Mayari. It is only through her generous sacrifice that we were able to defeat Mayari.” Pausing, Thorn gave a small bow toward Maugrim.
“Thank you, Lord Greymane.” Maugrim’s gruff voice held the smallest tinge of sadness. “The Children of the Moon know their duty.”
“This brings us to the present. In a few short days the Iron Wolf battalions will march for war. We will march under the banner of the Ironhold Duke, Lord Carlton, to Rasyn, where we will liberate the island from the Orc army that seeks to control it. In the process we will rescue and free the Elves and drive the Orcs back to their desert homeland. But before all of that, we will make arrangements for the valley. Corvo, do you have the report ready?”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Stepping forward, Corvo saluted Thorn again and then turned to the rest of the people crowded in the tent.
“Thanks. At our fearless leader’s request I have compiled a full report on the valley and the various organizations that make up our small kingdom. Incidentally, the valley has gotten much bigger than it was when we started this whole thing. I’ve sent the full report for you to read, but as it is nearly two hundred pages long I’ll just summarize for you. I’ll be calling on the heads of each department to give a short update just in case I miss anything. Before I report I want to say thanks to Tara and MightyPen who helped me put it together.
“First, with the growth of the valley and Earl Greymane’s holding, the number of people who have become permanent residents of the hold is still growing. We’ve leveled off from the explosive growth of the first half a year, but we are still adding people regularly. On that note, membership in the Night Walker Association continues to grow. The tie-ins we’ve developed between the association and Silver Moon have made it very attractive for new players. Jora, do you mind filling us in on what’s happening with the markets?”
“Of course.” Jora took a small step forward and saluted Thorn, just like Corvo had done. “Silver Moon has completely dominated the trade in the valley due to a variety of factors detailed in the report. A number of mines have been found in the mountains around the valley which we have been able to exploit. Our current plans for expansion include setting up more trade in the Ironhold Duchy and establishing a port along the northern coast. With the increase in the Earl’s holdings we’ve gained access to a few villages there, and we are in the process of determining which is the best for building a trading port.”
“Thank you, Jora. What Ms. Silverhand has not mentioned is that Silver Moon has a fantastic relationship and reputation with the members of the Night Walker Association, which has resulted in a powerful symbiosis. Silver Moon has been providing both repairs, goods, and missions for the Night Walker Association members, who in turn have been going out of their way to guard and patronize the Silver Moon shops. We’ve created a nice little ecosystem that will only continue to grow.”
Pausing, Corvo looked at Thorn to see if he had any questions. When Thorn shook his head, the Elf continued.
“Next up is the guild, Nova Luna. Thanks to our administrators we have been running smoothly. We are continuing to dive dungeons and recruit crafters and production class players. Moon Wolf Citadel is also running well, thanks in large part to the disciples of the Temple of the Moon who have been helping keep the peace. The guild has been continuing to dive dungeons and crusades as normal, and the latest major development is the establishment of the Iron Wolf battalions. Commander Del’har, can you give us an update on the valley’s defenses? And then, after that we’ll turn it over to Commander Hasta for an update on how the Iron Wolf army is coming.”
“Thank you, Sir Corvo.” Commander Del’har nodded to Corvo and saluted Thorn before beginning to speak to the crowd. “The valley is currently secure, thanks to the efforts of the Iron Wolf army and the Children of the Moon. The valley’s official defense force, the Dawn Guardian army is around fifteen thousand members strong, though if we are attacked we estimate that we could levy an additional fifty thousand soldiers. This does not include the disciples of the Temple of the Moon, travelers who live and operate in the valley, or the Night Walker Association.”
Stepping back to his position behind Thorn’s seat, Commander Del’har nodded to Hasta who stepped forward and saluted. Commander Hasta kept his back straight, standing at attention as he faced Thorn and spoke briskly, his tone short and clipped.
“My lord, the Iron Wolf army has been organized, and preliminary training is in progress. Since we were able to clear up Mayari earlier than anticipated, I’ve taken the liberty of deploying th
e battalions to train in the Battlefield of Flame and Shadow. We have about two days before we leave for the duke’s camp, so if you would like to join the training I think it would be appropriate. Additionally, you will need to decide if you will be operating as primary commander for the upcoming deployment.”
“Hm. What do you recommend?” Frowning, Thorn rubbed his temple. As much as he wanted to command the Iron Wolf army, being on the front lines sounded more fun, and Thorn was afraid that he would be stuck on the back lines if he took command.
“You should take the position of primary commander, my lord.” Commander Hasta’s tone was firm. “The commander of an army is responsible for morale as well as execution of strategy and tactics, and we have no figure better for morale than you.”
“Fair enough. I’ll take command. Anything else to report?”
“Yes, my lord.” Commander Hasta nodded and glanced at Maugrim. “A large number of the Iron Wolf players have begun familiarizing themselves with the Children of the Moon. There seem to be a series of quests that have the potential to create significant bonds between a player and a Child of the Moon. We are currently exploring our options there.”
“Oh, that’s right. Hold on.” Opening his interface, Thorn shared the three quests for gaining reputation with the Children of the Moon that he had been alerted about with Hasta. “Are these the quests?”
“Yes! With these we should be able to speed up the process, my lord. With your permission, I’ll call the battalions back from the Battlefield of Flame and Shadow to assist with completing these quests.”
“Maugrim, do you have any issues with that?” Thorn looked at the giant wolf lying outside the tent.
“No, we are always interested in strong allies,” Maugrim replied in a calm voice, his rapidly wagging tail betraying his hidden excitement.
“You have my permission. Let me know if you need any help.” Suppressing his smile, Thorn nodded toward Hasta.
“Thank you, my lord.” Saluting again, Hasta stepped back into the crowd.
“That about sums up my report.” Corvo checked over his notes again. “Which just leaves the arrangements for the valley while we go to Rasyn. The short version is that everyone will continue to be responsible for what they are responsible for now. The valley’s council will continue to oversee the valley, the admin team from Nova Luna will keep doing what they do. Jora will keep running Silver Moon, Commander Del’har and Elder Havva will be responsible for the defense of Moon Wolf Citadel and the valley. The only real question is what do you want to do with the Stone Legion?”
Rubbing his temples, Thorn sighed. Most of the people in the tent had no idea what Corvo was talking about so Thorn gave a brief explanation.
“The remnants of Courdum, the Stone King’s army, the Stone Legion, have arrived and declared me the new Stone King. It is a long story, so don’t ask. They’re pretty strong, but I’m not sure about them. Something in my gut is telling me that they are not being entirely honest with me. Either they are seeking refuge with us to protect them from someone or something, or they have an agenda in coming to the valley to pledge their undying loyalty.
“I’ve noticed at least two attempts by the Legion Commander of the Stone Legion to begin isolating me from my subjects and retainers which is strange. In light of that I have assigned them the job of protecting the throne room. While I am gone they are to be treated as my guards, but I don’t want anyone getting too involved with them. At least until I know what they are actually after. Corvo, did you get the office cleared out?”
“Yup, I’ve moved everything of importance to the other offices, or into my inventory. From now on our intelligence network will operate remotely.”
“Good.” Thorn’s gaze swept over everyone in the tent. “I’ve asked Corvo to empty the offices behind the throne room. From now on, all administration will take place in Nova Luna’s admin offices. If you have questions or documents to pass, use the system or someone with access to it. All non-travelers should connect with their nearest administrative traveler to make things easier. Until we figure out what is going on with the Stone Legion I don’t want anyone talking about business around them.”
“Why are we bothering?” Mina’s voice drifted out of the crowd as she pushed her way to the front. Seeing the withering stares being sent her way, she quickly added, “uh, my lord.”
“You mean with the Stone Legion?”
“Yeah. If they are so much trouble, wouldn’t it be better to just kick them out of the valley?”
“Sure, that could be easy, but they bring too many advantages. They grant us access to a special class that will be helpful in expanding our army in the future. They also are the key to what might be a world quest.”
Hearing the gasp from the rest of the tent, Mina just rolled her eyes.
“Of course they are. Alright. Just let me know if you want them taken down. Always happy to prove my supremacy in my height bracket.”
“Thank you, Mina. Thank you, everyone. Without your hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, there is no way we would ever have made it to this point. I’ve requested for a feast to be prepared at the fortress to celebrate our victory over Mayari and her cult. We’ll be eating at six.”
After dismissing the meeting, Thorn returned to the fortress to rest until the banquet. He had been going nearly non-stop for the last week and, despite his near unlimited endurance, was mentally exhausted. After a few hours of sleep, he woke and dressed for the banquet, joining the rest of the guild officers and valley administrators in one of the fortress’ large dining rooms.
“Hey, boss! Or should I call you Earl Greymane?” Jorge sidled up next to Thorn with a wide grin on his face and a drink in his hand.
“Boss is fine.” Thorn patted Jorge on the shoulder happily, causing the Shadow Assassin to nearly spill his drink.
“Whoa there, big guy. Don’t waste the wine.”
“I heard you have been going to town on Ragnarok.”
“Hah, you heard right.” Jorge flashed a wicked grin and downed his glass, his eyes drifting toward the large golden-armored Dwarf who was standing near Thorn. “Who’s the fat guy?”
“Oh, let me introduce you. Jorge, meet Legion Commander Kavalas. Kavalas, this is one of our chief intelligence officers, Jorge.”
“You are his majesty’s shadow?” Kavalas was only a foot or so taller than Jorge, but he still managed to look down his nose at the Shadow Assassin, his dislike thick in his voice.
“Nah, only a piece of it.” Jorge’s eyes narrowed, his grin growing wider. “I dunno if you’ve seen the boss in the sun but it would take five of me to be his shadow. Probably only two of you, though. Haha.”
Without waiting for the Legion Commander to respond, Jorge slapped Thorn on the back and lifted his glass.
“Time for some more wine to wash the vomit out of my mouth.”
Bristling, Kavalas was about to step forward when a quiet cough drifted into his ear, freezing him in place. Without looking at him, Thorn spoke quietly as they watched Jorge walk away.
“So far, you are not engendering my good feelings, Legion Commander. If you wish to serve, I’ll take you in gladly. If you wish to rule, you will quickly find yourself on the wrong end of a blade. I’m not sure who you believe yourself to be, but as far as I am concerned, the Stone Legion is at the very bottom of the list of my retainers, so if you don’t want to get stomped back down, don’t try and lift yourself above your place.”
Across the room, Mina and Corvo were standing together, when Corvo saw Jorge’s exchange with Kavalas. Chuckling, the Avatar of Huginn took a sip from his wine glass.
“Uh oh, scary Thorn is coming out.”
“What? Where?” Looking around, Mina’s eyes were wide.
“Something wrong?”
“Uh, no, no. I just hate scary Thorn.” Mina shivered slightly.
“Well, as I’ve always said, better a scary Thorn on our side than a scary Thorn on the other side.” Corvo spoke flip
pantly, selecting an hors d'oeuvre from a passing tray.
“Have you always said that?” Giggling, Mina glanced up at the tall Elf. “How come I have not heard that before?”
“Oh, I only started saying it since he started getting scary. Which, now that I think about it, has been as long as I’ve known him. Have I ever mentioned how we met? He walked into my jail cell, ripped a metal bed right out of a stone wall, and then bent it like a piece of string. Terrifying I tell you, terrifying. Luckily, yours truly is a quick thinker, otherwise I might have followed in that poor bed’s metaphorical footsteps. Let me escort you to your seat and tell you about it.”
Offering his arm to Mina, Corvo escorted her to the table, keeping her giggling the whole way. Across the room, Thorn left Legion Commander Kavalas standing by himself as he made his way to his seat at the head of the massive table. Waving for everyone to find their seats, Thorn smiled and sat down, lifting his cup as everyone found their seats.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Today we celebrate our victory. For generations a curse has held these lands, and the people in them, in its corrupt grasp. That evil was vanquished completely today. Never again shall that curse plague the Wolfkin. Mayari has been cast down, though our victory has not come without cost. For as long as we remember our victory, we will remember our benefactor, Mani. In a few days we will march forth and the world will learn of our might, but tonight, I lift my glass to salute you. To victory!”
“To victory!”
Draining his glass dry as the shouts and cheers sounded around him, Thorn slammed his cup on the table and pushed back his chair, rising to his feet as the servers brought in tray after tray of food.
“Come, eat, enjoy the feast.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Squinting his eyes against the rays of the sun that was peeking over the horizon, Thorn crouched behind a large copse near Duke Carlton’s camp. The duke had gathered his forces at the northwest side of a large lake that lay to the east outside the duke’s stronghold, Stormwatch.
