A few heads nodded and, not wanting to stifle the spirits entirely, I mentioned another source of hope. “Besides, the people of the North are strong of will. We have forty-eight knights of Benham still drilling. They have been outfitted in stolen ratkin armor and wield their swords, but they do so with surprising skill.” This news made a few look up from their pondering, even Dandre’s haunted face seemed to lighten. “And Tumsley says that the Chishri spider kin will march with us as well, though the Unfey spiders will stand against them. Many of them have already fallen in this war, though, so I would count the Chishri at an advantage.”
Silence fell in the room again, and I took another bite of my apple. Heads turned and someone laughed. It was Madi who made the obvious joke. “Jesus, gunsinger. Now I’m hungry.”
“Yes, and I think we all are,” Dandre said. “Let’s call it a day. We can meet again in the morning and make our final decisions.” She stood, and everyone gathered took it as a formal dismissal.
Harnoth lifted up his head and spoke in a commanding voice. “I would stay and continue to weld the fabric of this new alliance for days or weeks to come, but our people are rebuilding. There is much work to do in our caves if we are to emerge in force and aid you. I will be leaving but have posted a lieutenant behind as well as two young warriors. They will not complain as they assist the rebuilding of this town. With their help, no doubt, much of the work can be accomplished in short order. Even this favor must be short-lived, though. I have given orders that they return in ten days’ time. I hope that is a sufficient gesture of our commitment to the alliance.”
“It is, Harnoth, and we already owe you our lives,” Dandre said. “Though your troops came on the brink of disaster, we were able to save the town and most of the inhabitants, including the Elder, Quinn.” Corell and Wardeen gave their thanks as well.
As the great wyvern turned to leave, a measure of comfort relieved my sour mood. Even a single wyvern could harvest and drag all the wood necessary to rebuild what had been lost in the fire and battle.
Hana walked up to me when the room had mostly cleared. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?” I nodded and finished the apple in one final bite, tucking the core in my mouth as well. “Wow, you could probably ask for another if you’re that hungry. Anyway, I just wanted to say goodbye. Madi and I are going to log out again, leave this world for a time. We will be back to help fight against the Rat King, but we can’t stay here forever.”
“I know. I understand. Thanks for saying goodbye, and yes, I am leaving. I only have one more thing to do, and it pains me.” Even now I felt the weight of my task pull down on my bones. It was a burden only I could bear, but perhaps I was being dramatic. No doubt, it would also bring me great joy. “And I believe I’ve dragged my boots long enough.”
Hana scrunched up her face, studying mine. “Well. I hope to see you again soon. I will return but have no idea what errand the council will send me on after. And you?”
“I will travel south. I want to go home for a time, but after that, I will be making calls upon the lords and ladies of the court. They will no doubt wish me gone, but I have ways to charm those who are otherwise unwilling.”
She nodded, rubbing her hands together for a time. Then she darted in like a minnow and hugged me. A laugh escaped me, and I hugged her back. Hana was such an odd girl. Fierce and loyal, frightened and shy.
The Berserker came in next and crushed me against her. “It was fun, Alice. Can’t wait to kill stuff with you again. Take care, and remember, if you’re ever scared, just think of me.”
Madi stepped back. Though her words were barbed with friendly antagonism, I could see the truth in her eyes. She was, as always, as frightened as the rest of us and lonely to boot.
“I will do that,” I said. “Safe travels to the both of you.”
Then I watched as the two adventurers walked over to their companions, gave them both a lengthy farewell full of ear scratching and whispered promises, before fading away into thin air.
Even after I’d seen the act done dozens of times, it still unnerved me. What world did we live in where others could so casually appear and disappear? What world did they live in? And what joined the two? Questions I pushed away, more pebbles on a beach of unanswerable queries.
I sighed, turning and walking up the scorched incline toward Corell’s home. Much of the forest was still burning, and the town of Taelman’s Pond would not be fair for years to come, at least not here where the barrier wall had burned so brightly. I spotted the home through the blackened skeletons of unlucky trees. How the house itself had survived was beyond anyone, but it was a boon that the town desperately needed. After losing nearly a third of the houses, space would be tight until construction efforts could catch
