As he spoke, Kaiden looked up to find said worm was still lingering at the edge of the labyrinth and eying them with a look that went beyond malice. It wouldn’t cross the trench and come after them, right? It’s probably not allowed to leave the labyrinth…
Kaiden didn’t hang around to find out. He helped Zelda up, then led her and the big man back inside. Thorne was waiting for them, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed.
“Not bad, kid.” She gave Zelda a nod. “Pretty damned impressive, if I’m being honest.”
Zelda blushed at the compliment, seeming not to know what to do with all the praise.
“Just doing my part,” she said. “Group effort and all.”
Titus slapped her on the back.
“Group effort nothing. That was all you.”
“You guys helped,” Zelda said. “I couldn’t have done it otherwise.”
“I could be wrong, but something tells me you’d have found a way,” Kaiden said, then looked up to find Odditor waiting for them. His arms were crossed and there was a lopsided smirk on his face.
“I believe this is yours?” Zelda held out the flag. Whenstone stepped up and took it.
“The antes, please,” Odditor said, holding out a hand.
Whenstone produced them. A tiny brass padlock – the piece of Bernstein’s database – and a folded piece of paper – the visual representation of the login details and security questions for Zelda’s account. Odditor closed his hand around them and in one smooth movement tossed them over to Zelda. Knowing Odditor, he’d probably hoped she’d snatch them out of the air dramatically. Instead she looked too shocked to move and the padlock bounced off her armor while the paper floated to the ground.
Kaiden dove down to grab the antes.
“You know, somehow I didn’t think you’d actually give them up,” Zelda finally said, her eyes wide as she watched Kaiden straighten, the padlock and paper in hand.
Odditor laughed at that. A laugh from deep in his stomach that set his whole frame to shaking. When he’d finished, he wiped what Kaiden was sure was an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye and smirked.
I don’t like the look of that, Kaiden thought to himself, then began preparing his arguments. Zelda had beaten the labyrinth, but all Odditor had promised them for it was the antes and a conversation. He hadn’t agreed to pledge his support. No. They still needed to win him over, and that was going to take foolproof logic and sound arguments. Except, was it? What sort of argument persuaded Odditor? The dude wasn’t exactly like everyone else.
Kaiden paused at that thought.
How do we do this? I guess just give it our best. Convince him of the worthiness of the cause.
Kaiden sucked down a breath, then began.
“Odditor, now that we’ve won your attention, if you just hear us out I’m sure you’ll see the worthi—”
“Oh, do, do be quiet. I don’t need your arguments, and more so, I never wanted them.” Odditor cut him off. “What I needed was to know, to know you meant business. You see, Bernstein always talked of fixing things. Of fixing the world beyond Nova. A noble cause, I have to admit.” He paused dramatically, drawing out the moment. Letting them hang on his every word and imagine what he was going to say next. “And one I happen, happen to agree with. The problem is, saying one thing and being prepared to do it are entirely different matters. You all say you want to take up Bernstein’s cause. That’s, that’s easy to say. What I wanted to see, what I needed to see, was that you were willing to make the necessary sacrifices. That you were, were willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in this little... endeavor.”
“This was a test?” Zelda asked “You had me risk everything on a test?”
“It wouldn’t have been a very good test if nothing was at stake,” Odditor said, and now he looked all too pleased with himself. “And the good news is, you passed. Beat my labyrinth too, which, truly, that’s… that’s something. Not even Bernstein managed that.” Odditor paused for a moment, thinking. “You know, I’m sure my labyrinth is already itching for a rematch. Maybe you’ll give it another go sometime, once this whole thing is over?” Zelda’s expression provided a clear enough answer to that question. Odditor frowned, as if pouting, but kept speaking. “We’ll discuss that later. For now, though, you have proven, proven your commitment. Bernstein was my preferred partner in this undertaking, but you four…” He looked at each of them in turn. “Well, you’ll do, I suppose.”
Well, isn’t that flattering? Thanks.
Odditor gestured to Whenstone. “Give them the terms.”
The big turenoid cleared his throat – which did nothing to make his deep, coarse voice any easier to understand – and began to speak.
“Odditor stands ready to bring the full might of his forces in Nova Online to bear in support of your cause. I have prepared a document listing in detail the size and strength of these forces. Rest assured, they include no less than one dreadnought, eight large player-staffed guilds, three NPC factions, and, of course, the menagerie.” As if on cue, several screeches and growls erupted from the now-still labyrinth in front of them.
Holy crap. Eight guilds? Three entire NPC factions? That was... an insane amount of strength for one man to control. And now it was available to support their attack? Kaiden could barely process the information. Maximus had been one thing, but this? This was so much more.
Whenstone continued with the terms as dryly as he might read the instructions to assemble a cabinet.
“A minimum period of twenty-four hours will be required to muster these forces. They will, of course, only accept orders from Odditor. All commands to them must be relayed to him and vetted first. If he agrees with the orders, then they
