by TJ Reynolds
The Hintari had bled this day, and making a good impression on their soon-to-be rulers might go a long way.
Partway down the list, Ban saw a new entry that surprised him. Hrothman was available as a base minion.
Well, that answers my questions about the mysterious race, Ban thought. They are most certainly not human. Perhaps like elves or dwarves, then.
That had Ban thinking whether or not he could summon an elf minion someday. From all reports, the elves were a fair folk, and dwarves might make for sturdy shock troops.
Focus, Bancroft! he chastised himself. You’ll not finish at this rate.
Ban selected the Hrothman and combined it with a standard daldrim.
Even without customizing the mixture, the amalgamation had a nearly pleasing appearance. Still, the tufts of blue hair and heavy brow leant by the daldrim weren’t helping.
Ban spent a few minutes customizing his ambassador champion.
He made the creature a little taller than Kai. Men respected strength, and knowing that his mouthpiece would stand tall among even the Hintari would be helpful.
Then Ban selected mostly daldrim skin, so that the fur of the Hrothmen disappeared entirely. Most of the blue skin did as well, which was a pity. Still, a few patches of skin on the cheeks, neck, and shoulders appeared blue, which had a rather exotic appeal.
Finally, Ban made the champion’s face mostly Hrothmen.
The champion didn’t exactly look human when he was done. But it was handsome to an extent. Intimidating still without being monstrous.
It was perfect.
When he thought of which name might suit best, he decided to go with Bancroft. Why confuse everyone? They are meeting my champion, so I’ll use my name.
He dressed his champion in red linen trousers and a cobalt-blue doublet. Ban summoned a leather vest to go over the top and matching leather boots, both black and sleek.
Excellent, Ban thought as he inserted his consciousness inside the champion and started walking up out of his core room.
The chasm outside had the same casual beauty it always did. The spray of the waterfall lit up gold in the sunset, and the dangling plants above were alive with birdsongs.
Ban remembered something Rhona had told him after fleeing Hastings. She’d said that beauty had a strange persistence to it. No matter what atrocity occurred that day, somewhere in the world beauty would spring up like wildflowers.
Ban now knew this to be true.
He entered the base of the tower and found Kai and Rhona standing opposite the dining table from two young humans wearing brilliant if simple plate mail.
The guests were of the same age, a man and a woman. When they turned to Ban, he noted they must be related—he’d never seen two humans so similar in appearance.
“Well met,” Ban said in a surprisingly sonorous voice. “My name is Bancroft.”
Both bowed, but the man spoke first. “I am Gael. This is my sister Ganna. We’ve been so excited to meet you.”
Ban shook Gael’s hand and then Ganna’s.
The woman smiled and added, “Amazing how strong a resistance was made. You are adept at the art of war, Bancroft.”
He sighed, but, not wanting to be rude, thanked the woman for her compliment. “If I am being honest,” Ban said after, “I do prefer less brutal art forms. Crafting, for instance, is a passion I much prefer.”
Ganna’s face became solemn. “We are pleased to hear that. I want nothing more than to hear all about your latest projects, but there’s a more important matter to attend to first.”
Ban smiled politely but dreaded what was to come next.
Sure enough, Gael took over and broached the awkward subject. “Hintar has many long-standing traditions regarding Earth Cores. One such seems pertinent. When an invading force attacks an Earth Core without justification, tradition holds that the fallen should be fed to the dungeon. This helps the dungeon replenish any lost resources as well as offer some atonement.”
Perhaps sensing Ban’s reluctance, Ganna said, “That is, if you are comfortable doing so. Otherwise, we can burn the bodies.”
Ban considered the two options and found the concept of filling the air with scorched Hintari less desirable.
“I will absorb the bodies under one condition.”
Gael nodded. “Name it, Earth Core, and it shall be done.”
Ban glanced to Kai briefly. “Two, actually. The first is that I won’t have any bodies tossed into the chasm. All are within my area of influence, so all can be quickly and easily absorbed.
“The second is that the two of you join us for dinner tonight. What do you say?”
The young leaders smiled, their matching golden eyes twinkling. “Consider it done,” Ganna said at last.
Then Gael and Ganna Surtir excused themselves and left the keep on official business.
When Ban was alone with Kai and Rhona, he flashed his eyebrows at them. Bowing dramatically, he stood up boldly and asked, “How do I look? Regal? Sophisticated?”
“Yes and yes,” Rhona replied. “Handsome as well. What is this champion’s name?”
“Just Bancroft. Nothing silly or dramatic.”
Kai crossed the room and pulled Ban’s champion into a hug. The young man held him for a long moment before thumping his back and pulling away. “It’s nice to have something less creepy,” Kai explained. “I’ve wanted to do that for some time, Ban, but Greg was…”
“Off-putting?” Ban suggested.
The three shared a laugh.
A heavy silence followed. Kai chewed his lip, and then asked in a whisper, “How is he? Any better?”
Rhona looked to Ban as well, arms folded and face suddenly drawn.
Ban shook his head. “I’ll look in again, I promise. But he hadn’t woken when last I checked.”
Kai and Rhona both nodded. They were rightfully worried. Ever since Jakodi appeared back inside the tower, he had been unconscious. Ban had found the old man crumpled to the floor, leaning against the dais in his core room.
After the surrender, Ban had asked Kotsi to carry the old man back upstairs to his room.
With little to do but wait, Ban’s friends excused themselves. They bathed in their rooms and then departed on business of their own.
While they did so, Ban walked over to Jakodi’s room and opened the door.
Ban had wanted to give the wizard a luxurious compartment on the floor above, but Jakodi refused. Instead, he’d simply taken a corner of Kai’s room, and Ban had sealed it off and furnished it modestly according to Jakodi’s specifications.
The old man lay unmoved. His face was peaceful but pale. All the luster had left his skin, and he was barely breathing.
“I hope I get one last chance to speak with you,” Ban said. “We all do.”
He pulled the blankets up a little higher and then left the wizard to his rest.
Back inside the dining room, Ban left his champion’s body and allowed his awareness to drift up through the keep, all the way to the battlefield.
Stacked in morbid rows were hundreds of bodies. No, more than hundreds, Ban corrected himself.
He took in their wounds and the expressions on their pale faces. Ban spent nearly an hour doing so, for he didn’t want to take this task lightly.
Then, as the sun fell beneath the horizon and preparations for the dinner party begged for his attention, Ban absorbed the fallen.
He took in their weapons and armor, too, as well as the rivers of blood they’d spilled.
Ban scoured the battlefield and absorbed everything that wasn’t pleasing to the eye, and when he was done, he replenished the green turf as well.
Where the bodies had been lined up, Ban summoned nine trees and fed their roots pure ether so that they sprung up tall and healthy.
Feeling as if some degree of order had been restored, Ban returned to his champion’s body.
Then, with a party to plan and little other recourse, Ban opened his borrowed mouth and shouted, “Caw!
Caw, come at once! We have guests coming!”
25
Reconsidering the Nest
Kai
Anatoth curled his long tail around Freya.
Kai had long since healed the green dragon’s wounds, but she’d been near death by the time the Hintari had surrendered.
And that proximity to death must have helped clear up the Azure dragon’s feelings about Freya.
Dragons, apparently, grew up much quicker than humans. They were born with a small fraction of their ancestors’ wisdom. After a brief but aggressive hatchling stage, they could theoretically mate.
Custom held that they would wait until they’d ascended high enough to form their own Earth Core. Doing so at too low an ascension would only result in a weakly dungeon, so most were patient.
Anatoth nuzzled Freya closer, then glanced up. Thank you, Elder Dragon Kai. You have taught us many things, and your wisdom kept us all alive.
I am no longer the Elder Dragon, Anatoth. I’ll accept your thanks, however, but this will be the last time you dress me as such.
Calreem stirred in his nest. How old is Atros? And is it true he’s really a Bale Dragon? And that spell he used… that was real bale fire?
Kai chuckled and stretched his wings. I will speak with him tonight. In fact, I will ask if he can spend some time with each of you tomorrow.
The flapping of leathery wings and a stirring in the air told Kai the young dragons might not have to wait so long.
Atros landed on one of the empty roosts and folded his wings. I am three hundred and nineteen years old, hatchling. Would you believe it if I told you that is considered young for an Elder Dragon?
Hazel sat up, the sleep vanishing from her glazed eyes in an instant. Calreem shuffled to the edge of his nest, staring in wonder at the aged dragon.
And yes, I am a Bale dragon who can use bale fire. It can be quite effective in the right circumstance. Though I have heard much about each of you as well. The Elder Dragon turned to another. Anatoth, the Azure dragons are among the strongest of our kind. I look forward to seeing you cast Winter’s Wrath.
Anatoth’s scales bristled with pride, but he remained curled up around Freya. Thank you… Elder Dragon Atros. I must say, however, that Freya is the fiercest among us.
A Mireen? Atros asked rhetorically. Of course she is. Nasty fighters who will slay their foes even if it costs them their lives. We are lucky to have Freya on the Council of Dragons.
This, more than anything, seemed to win over Anatoth’s loyalty.
Then Atros turned to Hazel and Calreem. Kai informed me that you two are wise for your age. Are there any other questions you wish to ask, either of you?
Hazel dipped her head, her golden eyes wide. What was the Sunken Keep like when it was first made?
Calreem spoke up at the same time. What is Arba like? And where were the Surtir hiding all these years?
Atros chuckled.
He had a gruff and wheezing laugh, much like an old man who’d lived three hundred years and was as large as a barn.
Atros turned his crimson eyes to Kai. You are wanted below, Kai. The Fundamental Dragon has many duties. It is my job to govern the dragons, but you must play ambassador.
Kai sighed but knew the old beast was right. Very well. Thank you, Atros, for everything. Glancing to Calreem and Hazel, he gave two commands. Be respectful, and don’t keep Atros too long. I’m sure he is as tired as everyone else.
Opening his wings, Kai fell from the roost and landed on the bedrock below.
He transformed and covered his body with his cloak. Entering the base of the keep, he spotted Rhona sitting with the two leaders of the Surtir family. They were twins, apparently, brother and sister who’d grown up together in hiding.
Kai nodded to the guests and begged for five minutes to prepare for the meal.
Once Kai had dressed, he stepped out into the dining room and grinned, smelling mushroom gravy and roast meat.
Ban, your daldrim have done well, Kai said with his mind. I hope you pay them accordingly.
Pay? Ban scoffed immediately. They are lucky we didn’t toss them in the river when we found them in the first place… but yes, they’ve truly outdone themselves.
Kai walked to the table and Rhona and the Surtirs stood up. He waved his hands immediately. “Please, no need for that. We’re all guests in Ban’s dungeon.”
Gael and Ganna sat back down when Kai did, and Rhona pressed her hand to her mouth, hiding a shy smile.
The twin rulers had doffed their armor and instead wore fine robes, sashes tied about their waists.
Rhona had her normal attire on, but she’d washed up, and for once, her red hair hung down over her shoulders. The subtle difference stood out to Kai, and he found his eyes drawn to her fiery locks.
“So,” Kai began, “I’m so glad we have a chance to—“
“Dinner is served!” a shrill voice called out, interrupting him. “Braised venison and mushroom sauce, lords and ladies!”
Kai glanced down at the daldrim cooks who’d shuffled into the room. They pushed a platter of food onto the table and, quicker than rabbits, scurried off.
Ganna chuckled, and Kai shook his head.
“I’m happy you could dine with us,” Kai said. “Sorry for the intrusion.”
The Surtir heiress chuckled. “No need. The little creatures are quite diverting to watch.”
Kai breathed a little easier. Perhaps this dinner wouldn’t be so hard to endure after all. “The daldrim were once minions here long ago, and when Ban and I arrived, they’d turned wild.”
Gael nodded excitedly. “Wonderful you decided to keep them. The daldrim were amalgamations the previous Earth Core created long ago. Amazing they thrived for so many years!”
Ban’s champion gasped. “I should have known! So, Atros must be familiar with the creatures.”
“He is,” Ganna said. “Atros has been around far longer than the daldrim, of course, but he remembers their creation well. If I remember correctly, they are part cave goblin and part stone nymph.”
Kai had never seen a goblin, but now that he thought of it, the daldrim did have a bit of a resemblance to Ban’s slime nymphs, though with less exaggerated features.
“Fascinating!” Ban said. “I know it seems beastly, but I used a Hrothmen design to come up with my current champion. They were honorable warriors that deserved a far better fate, if you ask me.”
Gael scowled and looked down at his lap. The sudden, seething rage surprised Kai.
The man’s sister apologized for him and explained, “The Hrothmen are a noble race. For the last ten years, they’ve been cut off from Hintar and have grown desperate. The nobles only agreed to trade with them after the Hrothmen started sending some of their warriors to serve in the army.”
“Just another matter we’ll need to put right,” Gael said firmly. “Excuse me. Tonight wasn’t meant to be political.”
Kai shrugged. “Not sure if that’s possible. I can understand your sentiments, Gael… Sorry, using your first name feels awkward. What is your title?”
Both twins reacted at once, Gael shaking his head and his sister waving Kai’s question off with her hands.
They laughed, and then Ganna answered for them. “We grew up away from the pomp and posturing of the court. Technically, we are both Lord and Lady of House Surtir. Hintar has not held a monarch for centuries.”
“For now, though,” Gael added, “please call us by our names, else we’ll insist on calling you Fundamental Dragon.”
Kai chuckled. “Fair enough.” Changing the subject, he said, “You know, I had no idea the daldrim were originally amalgamations. Ban can normally only use normal minion designs when creating new amalgamations.”
Ban cleared his throat. “If you don’t mind, I’ve been thinking about this as well. I think after an amalgamation goes wild, so to speak, it becomes a creature in and of itself. In fact, even the kobolds might have once been amalgamations themselves long ago.”
“There are a few tomes you might find interesting back in Heathglen,” Gael said. “The estate that gave us sanctuary all these years, that is. Lord Heathglen has an impressive library of less-than-common knowledge.”
With Kai’s curiosity piqued, he nearly pried before Rhona cut in. “Sorry, but are there any books on cultivation? Anything at all about the orders of monks who once served Brintosh?”
Ganna smiled and nodded. “A few, yes. You’re all welcome to come by and study all you want, once matters are settled in Arba.”
The topic of political unrest in Hintar threw the mood off course yet again.
Ganna apologized, and Kai excused her.
The table sat in silence for a time before Kai had the grand idea of dishing out the food.
He stood and handed portions of venison to all, and the group began to eat.
After a few minutes, Ban spoke up once more. “I don’t want to pry, but I simply must bring it up. Kai and I have restored several Earth Cores by now. Some, however, were beyond saving. I wonder… what became of the Earth Core who built the Sunken Keep?”
Gael and Ganna shared a look.
Their golden eyes betrayed little emotion.
Gael nodded to his sister, and she answered for them. “Her name is Tirale. She yet lives. In fact, that is part of the reason we wished to speak with you, Bancroft.”
Gael took over when his sister paused. “Tirale sacrificed much in abandoning her home. She lived here a hundred years, after all… She hopes someday she might return.”
Kai’s brows rose, and Ban’s mouth dropped open.
The champion blinked rapidly and spat out a reply. “Live here with me? I have thought of how such an arrangement might work out. We would have to share resources, but would it even be possible? I’ve never heard of two Earth Cores sharing a dungeon.”
Rhona gave Ban a sympathetic smile.
Not wanting his friend to feel ashamed, Kai reached out and cupped Ban’s shoulder. “I think they mean, would we be willing to leave the Sunken Keep.” Kai looked to the twins. “Did I understand that correctly?”
