The orc army had brought along a great deal of its own coin as well, and Stel pooled those funds together in a community treasury. At some point, we would commence trading with the rest of the world, and our forces would transform from a militia into a standing army. The coin we collected from the orcs, along with the bandit loot we had salvaged, would help smooth out that transition for us.
While our people worked on their assignments, Ridge cleaned out the scorched passageway. He made a great deal of progress just by clearing out the ashes of the dead for us. With that done, Ridge began repairing the damage we had done, replacing the blocks that shattered under the intense heat and reworking the stone.
The final duty was the tending of our own dead. There was much debate over just how we would do that, and the ultimate decision had yet to be made. Some were satisfied with a simple funeral pyre, while others insisted on a permanent resting place to honor our fallen heroes.
“I have a place in mind,” I told them when they informed me of the dilemma. “We will bury our dead there tonight.”
Teams of dwarves and elves worked together repairing the damage that had been done throughout the rest of the day. Stel and Khorim had intentionally mixed them together to force our people to get used to working side by side with each other, but when darkness began to fall, all work was halted, and we turned our attention to the somber matter of laying our dead to rest.
I sent Ridge ahead of us before we marched solemnly through the valley, leaving only a handful of volunteers and a few of my traps behind to watch over the fortifications. We walked the entire length of the valley and for many of those with us, it was the first time they had seen its true majesty.
We reached the far end of the valley, and I turned the procession aside as we passed by the waterfall that cascaded down from the mountain above us. After a few more moments we came to a small glen tucked into the cliffside.
The peaceful alcove was surrounded on three sides by the sheer walls of the mountain, yet still provided an incredible view of both the valley and the towering waterfall. The dwarves among us were drawn to the majesty of the cliffside while the elves were taken in by the majestic views of the surrounding land. It was the perfect location for both of them, providing us with a resting place suitable to honor the sacrifices of all our fallen people.
Ridge had done as I asked and created resting places for our dead. Deep pockets were hollowed out of the cliffside, each bearing the dimensions suitable for a dwarven body. In the soft earth, graves had been dug out for each fallen elf as well, accommodating their custom of returning their bodies to the earth.
Friends and companions placed bodies in each of the graves and Ridge began sealing the stone around the cliffside hollows as the dwarves were laid to rest. When he finished with the last dwarven tomb, Ridge summoned the earth he had pushed aside and reverently covered the elven graves with the deep, rich soil.
“This will be our sacred place,” I said as the last grave was filled in. “A place where we will not only honor our dead, but where will remember what they died for. We have a great deal of work to do right now, but in one week’s time, we will hold a celebration in honor of our victory and in remembrance of those who lost their lives helping us achieve it.”
A murmur ran through the gathered crowd as I made my announcement. I had thought about it all through the evening and decided that after having worked so hard and suffered through so much, a celebration would be just the thing to bring all of our people together.
While the dwarves and elves worked together well enough, they seldom mixed together socially. Each group kept to its own, and I was concerned that if things continued that way, fractures might eventually drive them apart. I hoped that fighting side by side and then rejoicing together in victory might seal any fissures before they took hold.
I wasn’t only concerned with my people, but also wanted to force my own hand as well. I had already delayed too long on some business I needed to take care of myself, so before the throng could disperse, I made one final statement.
“Before you go,” I called out to the crowd, “There is one more thing you should know. I will have an important announcement to make during our celebration—news that will affect all of you. I will tell you about the future I envision for us, and how I plan to get us there. Until then, please help me repair our defenses and begin establishing our community.”
When I stopped speaking, the crowd grew silent. No hushed voices responded to my declaration. Instead the people seemed to consider my words and what they might mean quietly, each one imagining for themselves just what I might intend for them.
We wandered back through the valley in a ragged line. Instead of the orderly procession that had advanced to the funeral, small groups gathered together along the way. I was encouraged to see that these gatherings were not segregated, the dwarves and elves mixed freely with each other, sharing conversation on our way back.
“Are you going to let me in on the secret?” Venna whispered as she sidled up beside me.
“No,” I smiled back at her. “But there is another secret I’m willing to share with you when we get back to camp.”
“Why don’t you tell me now?” Venna pouted, unwilling to wait for my disclosure.
I just smiled back at her and took her hand in mine as we walked on. Venna continued to pout for a while before reluctantly giving up on the tactic. The cool night air made the walk back a pleasant one, and the increasing bonds between the people were evident as they walked alongside us.
By the time we returned to camp, I had an entirely different feeling about those who had chosen to join me here. Although I did not know all their names, I no longer considered them simply ‘dwarves’ or ‘elves’, and I even had difficulty thinking of them as ‘the people.’ They were no longer abstract concepts to me, if they ever even were. They weren’t ‘the’ people, they were my people. People I was beholden to, and not the other way around.
The thought was both frightening and comforting to me at the same time. Assuming the mantle of leadership was one of the pivotal steps in the journey ahead of me, and while I knew it was necessary, the responsibility that was involved was incredibly intimidating. I would be accountable for every life and every death that occurred under my command, and if I was to succeed, I needed to become far more comfortable with that idea than I was at the moment.
My companions and I had split off from the main group of travelers during the journey towards the barracks and the temporary camp that had been established for them, and I set aside the weighty thoughts when we finally reached our campsite. As my people walked off in the distance, my companions sat down around our campsite while Broda rekindled the fire.
“Khorim,” I began as they settled in. “I’m going to count on you to scrounge up enough ale and spirits to make our celebration memorable.”
“I can do that,” he replied with a twinkle in his eye. “I managed to make friends with a brewer that came with us. I’ll make sure he has enough stockpiled for our needs.”
“Stel, do we have provisions for an appropriate feast?” I asked him.
“Mostly, yes,” he replied. “There is plenty of game, and I will see if we can get some fresh fish from the lake as well. We may not have much in the way of sweets, but there will be plenty enough food for everyone.”
“Music?” I asked of my companions.
“You’re in luck,” Tási responded. “There are musicians among both groups. We will have entertainment that suits everyone.”
“Is there anything I’m forgetting?” I asked them.
“Yes,” Venna quickly chimed in. “You’ve forgotten to let your closest friends in on your secret announcement.”
“Venna,” I chastised her. “It wouldn’t exactly be a secret announcement if I told you now would it?”
She pouted again for show and the rest of my companions grumbled their various objections. Despite their protests, I held firm and refused to disclose my intentions to
them. In truth, I wasn’t completely certain just what I was going to reveal. While I did have a rough idea of what I intended to say, just how far and just how much I was going to disclose was still the subject of much internal debate for me.
When it was clear that no further explanation would be forthcoming, our discussion turned to planning for the days ahead. With Ridge’s help, we would have much of the repair work done quickly, as the only matters that would take some time were the construction of the new drawbridge and portcullis. Such things could not be rushed, however, and we were resigned to simply letting them take however long Dellon and Hilgreth needed to do the work adequately.
The main issue left was how to best use Ridge’s talents once he finished making his repairs. The plans called for more barracks and both an armory and headquarters building among the fortifications. While the barracks would be useful for the elves, most of them would prefer to take up residence in the valley. Ilvain would be eager to begin construction on those homes and farms, and we decided to set him lose on that project as soon as possible.
In the end, the consensus was to build the barracks, then the armory and headquarters. The living space was paramount for the well-being of my people, and the facilities were necessary for both the large cache of weapons and equipment we now possessed and as a safe storage location for all our valuable items.
With our immediate future planned out for us, our conversation turned to more casual banter. Venna and Tási surprised me with the news that Madren and Clorid had become an item. Their joint resurrection had apparently created a bond between the two, and they had been nearly inseparable ever since.
The tale Khorim shared involved his brewer friend’s first attempt to set up his still after arriving here. Apparently, he had missed securing a bolt or two, and the device nearly exploded when the pressure inside it had built up. Fortunately, no one was injured, but the smell of alcohol still permeated the room his friend had taken over for his operation.
Broda yawned and rubbed at her eyes as Khorim finished telling his story. Her reaction wasn’t because the tale was boring, but was a reflection of the stressful and exhausting day we’d endured. We all took her response as a signal to call an end to the evening and began retiring to our separate tents for the night. But before Venna could leave, I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her towards my own tent.
“I’ll send her back to you in a few moments, Stel,” I explained to him as I dragged his wife away.
Stel simply nodded at me and smiled, knowing the special bond that the two of us shared. Tási hesitated outside for a moment, thinking I wanted a moment alone with Venna. Instead, I pulled her along as well and brought the both of them inside with me as I entered the tent.
As the two women uneasily sat down beside me, I silently told Bane to give us some privacy. The Rhastoren sent me his acknowledgement and slithered outside as I turned to face Tási.
“It’s not time to deal with your issue just yet,” I told her bluntly. “But it is time to let Venna know about it, and what we will need from her when we do.”
Tási, swallowed hard as she realized just why I had gathered the two of them together. With a quick nod, she acknowledged what I had said and began to explain the situation to a very confused Venna.
“There is something hiding inside me,” Tási revealed to her. “A presence I cannot explain. It was left to me by my mother, but I don’t know what it is. Dreya has brought it out of me and it has responded to her. We think she can reveal it fully but are concerned about the consequences of doing so. We... I need your help. I need you to be there when we bring it out in case something goes wrong.”
“I am certain there is no danger,” I added when I saw the look of concern on Venna’s face. “I have received a quest urging me to uncover Tási’s secret, much like I once received a quest encouraging me to help you,” I reminded her. “Those quests have never led me to do anything harmful to myself.”
Venna nodded reluctantly, acknowledging my words before responding.
“What would you have me do?”
“I need you to be there for me,” Tási replied to her. “Dreya thinks she can handle everything, but I need you to be there just in case something goes wrong.”
Venna reached out and took Tási’s hand, squeezing it gently as she looked her in the eyes.
“I will be there for both of you,” Venna replied solemnly.
Tási sighed loudly in relief at Venna’s promise. Her expression did not pass unnoticed, and Venna commented on it almost immediately.
“You’re truly scared about this, aren’t you?” Venna asked as she stared at Tási with concern.
“Terrified is the word I would use,” Tási admitted. “I have no idea what my mother left inside me, and despite Dreya’s assurances, I can’t help feeling that it will come between us.”
Her honest disclosure took me by surprise. I hadn’t expected her to confess her thoughts so completely when I brought the two of them together for the discussion. Venna’s response was equally curious.
“We won’t let that happen, Tási,” Venna assured her. “Whatever may happen, I’m sure it won’t affect the two of you.”
Venna’s comforting words seemed to ease Tási’s fears, and the two sat silently for a moment contemplating what had just passed between them. They had been close friends and then bitter rivals before, and now seemed to settle firmly into some new role.
They had come together after their conflict to conspire with each other, ostensibly for my benefit. I had always doubted the sincerity of their alliance, as it seemed to be one of convenience or necessity rather than one based on any lasting bond, but now the two of them had come together in reality, Venna freely offering her support when she realized that Tási was in need of it. I was both comforted and uneasy with their alliance, knowing that the two of them were more than capable of undermining me if they decided it was in my interests to do so. A shiver went up my spine as I contemplated their scheming, and I had to banish the thought before I became completely unnerved by the prospect.
Before they could begin plotting my destruction right in front of me, I pulled Venna outside. Once we were in the cool night air, I managed to relax a little and took Venna’s hand in mine while we stared at the stars together.
“Good night, Venna,” I finally said to her after a few long moments had passed.
“Good night, Dreya,” she smiled back at me in return.
Before I let her go, I reached up and caressed her cheek softly. Her smooth skin was like silk beneath my fingertips and I had to forcefully hold back the impulses that threatened to flood into me from her.
“When?” She whispered to me softly as I pulled my hand away.
“Soon,” I replied, not needing her to clarify just what she wanted from me.
Venna turned and walked back to her tent slowly, and I watched her until she finally vanished inside the canvas walls she shared with Stel. With a sigh, I returned to my own shelter, joining Tási and Bane inside.
Tási was already lying under the covers, and Bane appeared to be patiently waiting for me to settle in as well so that he could curl up on top of me. I piled my weapons and armor in the far corner of the tent before practically swaddling myself in a pile of blankets. Once Tási wormed her way next to me, Bane curled himself up comfortably and I pulled up my UI and began scrolling through the messages as he purred atop my chest.
Sintári Quest, Control, Advancing – You have discovered the ability to apply your inherent virtues to your actions. This is a rare and powerful talent; use it wisely. For uncovering this hidden ability, you have been rewarded with 10,360 XP.
Experience gained – You have gained 1200 XP.
You have gained a level! – You have earned sufficient experience to advance to level 28.
You have gained three Attribute points. Two of your points have been automatically assigned to WIS and CHA. You may assign the remaining point to any other Attribute as you see fit.
I had given some thought to the distribution of my Attribute points. With one point consistently going into my Charisma, and how critical my Strength had become, I seemed almost destined have two of my precious three points placed there at every level. Scattering the remaining point among my four other Attributes would leave them woefully behind, but my talents and Abilities seemed to be dictating my course for me. With really no other viable option, I placed the single point in Strength and the messages continued again.
Experience gained – You have gained 1200 XP.
Experience gained – You have gained 1200 XP.
Experience gained – You have gained 200 XP.
. . .
Experience gained – You have gained 200 XP.
Commander’s Bonus – You have earned party credit for every kill made under your command or the direct command of one of your party members.
Experience gained – You have gained 73 XP.
. . .
Experience gained – You have gained 73 XP.
You have gained a level! – You have earned sufficient experience to advance to level 29.
You have gained three Attribute points. Two of your points have been automatically assigned to INT and CHA. You may assign the remaining point to any other Attribute as you see fit.
With the Commander’s Bonus converting what used to be single XP rewards into party kill credit, I easily made another level. Even while I was assigning my point to Strength, the rough math I did in my head told me that I should expect at least one more level from the battle. When the window closed and the messages scrolled on once more, I eagerly anticipated the next level-up menu.
Experience gained – You have gained 73 XP.
Second Skin Omnibus Page 105
