Alexander called out, “It is time for you all to take your oaths as citizens. Prince Kai will speak the oath to you, and you will repeat it back to him. Are you all ready? If you wish to back out, now is the time. There will be no penalty. You will simply be returned home.”
He waited fifteen seconds, and heard no requests to leave. Nodding to Kai, he stepped back.
The dragon stepped forward, and in a deep, ground-rumbling voice said, “Your oaths shall be sworn on your lives. Bound to your souls. Violation of your oaths will cause you to be incapacitated until you can be judged for your violation. A judgement of guilt means death. One last time, any who do not wish to utter the oaths, stand aside now.”
Still, none of them moved.
“Very well. Repeat this oath. ‘On my life, I swear my loyalty to Dire Keep, and my obedience to its masters, the leaders of the Greystone Guild.”
He made some simple hand gestures as he spoke, and a blue aura extended from him, encompassing all those who stood in the lines. It also reached into the obsidian dragon’s head above the doorway.
As one, they spoke the oath. A few fumbled with the words, but managed to follow the lead of the others.
Then Kai walked down the lines, touching each of the volunteers on the shoulder, and speaking a word. As he did, a black dragon icon appeared above the head of each one, then faded away.
It took less than ten minutes from start to finish.
“Thank you, all. You are now citizens of Dire Keep! I officially welcome you, and give you my own oath that Greystone will do everything possible to protect you, and help you thrive in your new homes!”
An enormous gong sounded throughout the keep, and there was a swirl of light around the tower. The keep had gained a level!
There was a resounding cheer. As the group began to disperse to head back to their duties, Alexander opened guild chat.
“Beatrix, Benny, Dirk, Lugs, and Helga, would the five of you please man the walls for a few minutes so the guards can come down and take their oaths? Thank you.”
As those five moved to relieve the guards, and the dwarves made their way down, Alexander stepped inside to speak to Jeeves.
“How are we doing, Jeeves. I saw you gained a level.”
“Yes, master. I am currently compiling the personal achievements of all the new citizens. This will take me a few minutes. I am confident that another increase in level is imminent.”
“Very good, Jeeves. There will be more citizens added shortly, and another group this evening. We’ll have your population over 100 in no time.”
The guards gathered around Kai and took a knee. They repeated the oath, and were bound to the keep like the others. Again, the dragon head above the door glowed. The guards were released to return to their posts. So far, 94 volunteers had become citizens. With the five founding members as owners, that put them at 99. When the group came back from scouting, the volunteers in that group would put them over 100.
Alexander felt a tug on his pants leg. Looking down, he saw Fibble looking back up at him. The little goblin had been hiding behind Sasha and Jules, ‘protecting’ them from the dragon.
“Fibble want swear oath, too. Be part of big clan. Bigger clan stronger,” he said. Alexander smiled at the goblin, and looked to Fitz, who just shrugged.
“Fibble, you must swear your oath to the dragon. Can you do that?” he asked.
Fibble looked terrified. “Dragon not eat? Good dragon?” he nearly whimpered.
Sasha knelt down and put an arm around him. “Very good dragon. Friend. Its okay, Fibble. I’m right here.”
The little goblin nodded his head. Then he turned to Kai, and bowed. “Fibble protect friends. Protect home. Even protect good dragon. Swear on life!”
Kai smiled without showing his teeth, for the benefit of the little green warrior. He touched Fibble on the head. “I cannot imagine a sincerer oath.” A black dragon icon appeared over Fibble’s head.
Just then, the gong sounded again, twice this time. The light display around the tower was more spectacular than before. The keep had gained two more levels.
Everybody clapped and cheered, and Fibble beamed at the attention, thinking it was all for him. “Fibble make big magic!” he cheered.
Lugs lifted the small goblin up, and tossed him in the air. The goblin screamed, until Lugs caught him, then did it again. Figuring out it was a game, the scream turned into cries of, “Higher!” After half a dozen tosses, Lugs set the little goblin on his shoulder. Fibble seemed content to ride there for a while.
“It’s time to make another supply run,” Alexander said. Lola and her grandfather began rounding up citizens to bring the wagons back to the portal for the next load. Hopefully they’d be able to bring the rest of their supplies through this time.
When everyone was gathered, Fitz opened the portal, and the empty wagons moved through. As they arrived at the manor, folks immediately began to load them with stacks of supplies and furniture, some of which had arrived since they left. There were three already full wagons waiting to be taken through.
The dwarven merchants, Thagin and Drellin, were waiting for them, along with Jenkins and his squad. The merchants handed Silverbeard his list. “We were able to get everything ye listed, and more,” Drellin said.
“We put a dent in yer wallet!” Thagin added, grinning.
Jenkins stepped forward to report. “All secure in the compound, sir. Two individuals tried to enter uninvited during the day. Both were teleported to the prison and are being questioned. Captain Redmond said to tell you the mages caught a warlock and two warriors this morning with the meat trap. One guard was killed in the fight.” At this, he lowered his head.
Alexander put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Jenkins. I’m hoping that giving them Dire Keep as a target will put an end to the fighting in Stormforge.” All the soldiers nodded in agreement.
“Aye. Thank you, sir.” The soon-to-be sergeant replied. “Also, the captain mentioned he has more folks who’d like to go. If you’re interested, sir.
“Did he say where he’d be?” Alexander was intrigued.
“Aye, sir. He’s at the palace,” Jenkins reported.
Alexander turned to Silverbeard. “I need to go to the palace. Load up here, and if I’m not back, go ahead and return without me. I’ll catch up.”
He left for the palace at jog. Reaching the outer gate, he received salutes from the guards on duty. They waved him though, and he continued through the inner gate. He found Captain Redmond in the courtyard, talking to some soldiers. Alexander waited patiently at a distance while he finished his conversation.
When the captain waved him over, he said, “Jenkins told me you lost a guard this morning. I’m sorry.”
The captain nodded in acceptance. “He was a good lad. New to the guard. Probably shouldn’t have been there, but he was eager. His brother is a guard, too. The lad wanted to be just like him.”
Somehow that made Alexander feel worse. “Were you able to capture the dung-snufflers?” he asked.
“Dung-snufflers?” The captain laughed at him.
Alexander hung his head. “Mrs. O’Malley, rubbing off on me,” he explained.
“Well, then yes. We captured three dung-snufflers. A warlock who cast the poison spell into the meat, and two warriors acting as his escort. They were apparently part of the other group we fought yesterday, and just hadn’t been in the building when we attacked. There may still be others, as well. I’ve had the mages set a trap in the basement of that building, where the rogue escaped into the sewers. As well as several random traps throughout the sewer system. Nobody with good intentions should be down there anyway. The mage’s guild is also beefing up magical protections around the city. They’re taking this personally. And I think they’re just happy to have something interesting to do.”
“Glad to hear it. Maybe between the big shiny target I’m painting on myself, and making it harder for them to move around here, they’ll leave the city a
lone,” Alexander said.
“Jenkins also said you wanted to speak with me about more volunteers?”
“Aye. One in particular. One of the king’s own. A… specialist, if you get my meaning.”
“Ah. I see. The king is worried about Edward?” Alexander asked. Trying to think of any other reason the king would want to send a spy to the keep.
“Worried about all of you. As am I,” the captain said.
“Well, this specialist is certainly welcome. I’ve nothing to hide from the king. Will he take the oath?” Alexander asked.
“Yes, she will. With the provision that once her services are no longer needed, she’ll be released from the oath to return here.”
“Fine by me. But Jenkins made it sound like more than one person was coming?”
“Yes. I’ve got six more guards who have volunteered. All good men. Also, old Lars, the fisherman. Used to run a fishing boat, but couldn’t keep up in his old age. So now he fishes from the shore. Sings to the fish. Catches more than anybody. It’s the damnedest thing. He heard about you taking volunteers too late. He’d been out fishing. I’ll vouch for him. Been here since my dad was small. Told him and the others to be at your gate at noon.”
“Sounds just fine. Thank you. And you have a couple prisoners who tried to sneak into the compound?”
“One prisoner. Two got teleported. One was a boy working for one of the furniture merchants. He didn’t know about the wards and just ran right in. We let him go. He said the merchant was looking to sell you more beds, by the way. The other was a man says he was looking for his wife. We’re still questioning him.”
“We had a few women volunteers. What is his wife’s name?” Alexander asked.
“Mattie. Man claims she was kidnapped and dragged into the compound.”
“HA! The very dung-snuffler himself!” Alexander bent over laughing. When he caught his breath, he told the captain Mattie’s story. And Mrs. O’Malley’s opinion of the man. Which caused the captain to laugh, too.
“You can release him, if you like. Tell him his wife is divorcing him by day’s end. And that he’s not welcome at Dire Keep. Actually, hold on a minute. Let me see if there’s anything she needs from her house before he’s loose.”
Alexander called out in guild chat. “Anybody able to get to Mattie in the kitchen, quickly?”
Sasha replied. “I’m in the kitchen now. Helping with lunch. What’s up?”
“Mattie’s husband got caught sneaking in the compound. Captain’s holding him. Ask her if she wants him held so she can retrieve things from her house or anything.”
There was a delay, during which he assumed Sasha was speaking to Mattie.
“She says there’s nothing she needs back there. And asks if there’s any chance the guards would break his arms?”
“HA! I’ll ask. Thanks.”
Looking at the captain, he said, “Mattie respectfully requests that her husband fall down and break both arms.” He grinned. “Failing that, there’s nothing she needs from her home, so you can let him go as you wish.”
“There are more than a few guards who would be happy to oblige. The man truly IS a dung-snuffler.” The captain grinned.
Alexander headed back to the compound. The last of the wagons was being loaded. Finding Lola, he said, “There are eight more volunteers coming at noon. I’ll stay here and bring them over when they arrive. Do me a favor? Mark a box to the left of the portal as you face the wall. Ten-foot square. Tell everyone to keep that area clear for incoming teleports. Thank you.”
Alexander raised a table and bench in the front courtyard near the main house, so he could work and keep the gate in view. He had roughly two hours before noon. Pulling out the block of obsidian from his bag, he began to break off small pieces, roughly a half inch square. Into each one he cast the ‘Undying’ spell, and a single charge of healing light, before setting it down. When he’d made about sixty of them, he decided to take a break. An idea had struck him. Walking over to the smithy, where the dwarven masters were all busily crafting, he called to Master Ironhammer.
“What can I do fer ye, Alexander?” the master asked.
Alexander showed him one of the small enchanted blocks. “I need some advice. And maybe some help. What can you quickly provide a hundred and fifty of, that we could use to secure these to a person. Be it chain, bracelet, pin, or whatever. Brick will be shaping these into small dragons, the symbol of our guild, and Dire Keep. And what will it cost me?”
The dwarf looked thoughtful for a moment. Reaching into his bag, he brought out a simple metal bracelet. “Apprentices make these during training. Nothing fancy, but sturdy. They make ‘em by the dozen. I could have ye hundred fifty of these in an hour if ye open the portal.”
Then he pulled out a very simple metal necklace. “These be apprentice work, too. Take maybe till noon tomorrow for hundred fifty.”
Lastly, he pulled out a simple pin, not much different than a safety pin. On steroids. “I think this be your best bet. Hundreds of these layin’ around in the smithy. Ye can have ‘em for free. But I have proposal for ye.”
“I’m listening,” Alexander said.
“We have three masters and four journeymen here now that have the shaping skill. If ye’ll give us each one o’ them stones, that be fifteen total, we’ll shape em fer ye, and mount them pins in the back. Seven o’ us can do a hundred fifty in an hour.”
“Deal!” Alexander smiled. He gave the first sixty stones to the master. “I’ll go make the rest.”
Sitting back down at his table, Alexander began to crank out stone after stone. His mana got low after another thirty, so he drank a mana potion, and ate some fruit he’d snagged at breakfast. Then he got back to work. Master Ironhammer sent an apprentice to pick up more stones when he’d reached a hundred and twenty total. The young dwarf exchanged forty-five pins for sixty stones. The dwarves had taken their share off the top. Alexander smiled, and kept working. He managed another forty before both his mana and stamina were low. That should be enough. Here were less than a hundred and thirty citizens, counting the new ones he was waiting on, at the keep.
Taking a rest, he picked up one of the finished pins. The dragon looked just like the one above the smithy’s door. That was perfect! Turning it over to look at the back, he saw the back side of the pin was embedded right into the stone. It would make a nice, sturdy clasp. His intent was to have them all turned into necklaces, but this would do to get his people protected today.
There was a shout at the gate, and Alexander saw a wagon with dwarves standing outside. He disabled the wards, and waved them in. As Thea had promised, the miners had arrived. He welcomed them in, then laughed as they ignored him and went straight for the dragon forge. He went back to his table.
The apprentice came back with sixty more pins, and took the last forty stones. Confirming the math, he smiled. With a hundred and forty-five pins, he’d have some extras for new recruits. Sliding the finished pins in his bag, he sat and relaxed as his mana and stamina recharged. He contemplated expansion plans for the wall surrounding the keep. They needed to have some secure farmland. Rather than try to move the existing walls, it made more sense to build a smaller second wall that circled the first. Maybe… two hundred yards out? The current wall curved in an arc about three thousand feet long. Some quick math in his head… that would be between forty and fifty acres of land between the walls. That should provide enough space for crops to be planted, and livestock to be pastured. He’d talk it over with the farmers.
With the lake and the creek close by, they could easily irrigate. Maybe even add a moat outside the wall! He’d always wanted a castle with a moat. He’d even tried to talk his parents into adding one when they built Olympus. His mom had been willing. But the engineers had said words like ‘groundwater seepage’ and ‘fried servers’ and the dream died.
A call from the gate brought Alexander out of his reverie. His volunteers had arrived. He turned off the wards and waved them insid
e. Once they’d cleared the inner ward, he reactivated them.
He recognized a few of the guards from around the palace. The old man was obviously the fisherman, Lars. The woman was much younger than he’d expected for a trained spy. He realized the captain hadn’t said her name.
“Welcome. I’m Alexander. Please come inside.” He led them into the house and through the lounge to the dining room. When they’d all taken seats, he said, “Before I get to know each of you a bit, I want to make sure you’re clear on a few things. First, Dire Keep is a dangerous place. Likely a war zone within the next few days. We’ll be fighting servants of some dark being they think is a god. There’s a decent chance you’ll be killed.” He paused for effect.
“Second, you’ll have to take an oath of loyalty, and swear to serve the keep, and Greystone. This is a life oath, enforced with dragon magic. Betrayal means death.” Hearing no comments, he continued.
The Greystone Chronicles Book Two: The Dire Lands Page 21
