AbyssalRoadTrip
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Abyssal Road Trip - 120 - Exodus
🕑 Added 2021-10-01 22:13:58 +0000 UTCN’Oye glanced between O’Nai and Amdirlain after the Servant’s departure. “He looks like a green bird now.”
O’Nai frowned, and his form changed, growing back to his original height, the wings extending further as he changed, then shimmered and vanished.
“You have your memories, but you’ll need to decide what Class you want to pursue,” Amdirlain said, ushering them back through the Portal.
The Outlands’ energies were a relief after the twin strangeness she’d found in Judgement.
“Might we return to your Domain for a time, Lady Amdirlain?” O’Nai asked and gestured to N’Oye. “There are things I would share with my kin that will make the choice clearer if those within K’Lan’s care argue.”
As soon as he asked, Amdirlain moved them with a moment’s focus; the quick reaction earned a shrug exchanged between the Giants.
“Of course,” Amdirlain replied. “But please call me Amdirlain or A, without all the lady stuff.”
“We were told,” confessed O’Nai, gaze bright with amusement. “But also told to use it.”
“The Petitioners told us, but the Panthera ones think it’s disrespectful,” admitted N’Oye.
“They told you, yet they use it anyway?” grumbled Amdirlain. “Bloody wolf pups. So they think going against someone’s preference is more respectful. How does that work out?”
“Very well, Lady A,” O’Nai said, giving her a cheeky wink.
When Amdirlain burst out laughing at his mischievous look, O’Nai nudged N’Oye meaningfully and motioned to her.
“I know her intentions now. Our situation worries her. She is as honest as she seems, perhaps too much; be alert to those that would take advantage and spoil things,” O’Nai explained. “One thing she doesn’t forgive is those that harm others intentionally. Like the Clan, she prunes the poisoned fruit, but she allows them to bite to prove their nature instead of ensuring they don’t even get an attempt.”
Great, I didn’t realise they’d get that much insight into me
“What do you mean?” Amdirlain asked.
“There are some born that are born broken, and unable to be part of the Clan in any aspect. Many signs make such a nature clear: an inability to understand the pain of another, or the need for everything to be for or about them. A Clan cannot survive such members, so we prune them from the tree,” O’Nai stated. “It is hard, but we’ve learnt inaction means greater losses will come.” As he finished, O’Nai shrugged and drew fingers across his throat, and Amdirlain nodded.
It sounds like a theory I read about early human tribes killing their sociopaths, as they couldn’t support parasites.
“I’ll let you and N’Oye decide what you tell K’Lan,” offered Amdirlain. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to ensure the architect isn’t going ahead with their underground complex or a castle glorifying me. I’ll be around the Domain when you are ready to go.”
* * *
The black scales lay across rocks outside her Domain, soaking up the sunlight and Mana alike. Though remembering tales of Dragon blood killing things, she’d separated clean scales alone from Inventory. As she’d saturated them with Celestial Mana, the rough scales had shifted from their ominous tone into a delightful night sky—golden stars shining from the void. Oili had been watching the process for a few hours when Amdirlain finally stopped.
“They’re not changing in True Sight any longer,” Amdirlain explained.
“What did you have in mind for them?” Oili asked curiously and moved forward to brush a hand over a scale.
“I know someone who might have a use for them,” admitted Amdirlain. As she imagined Jaixar’s reaction to the scales, a bright smile lit her face.
“How old was the Black Dragon?” enquired Oili.
“Over a century. Have you seen Dragon scales before?” asked Amdirlain, as her gaze drifted towards the Spire’s peak.
“No, but N’Oye described the rock worm you killed,” Oili stated, nodding to the scales." It wasn’t hard to figure out what they were after his tale."
“Yeah, of course. I tagged along partly because I thought they were going for the egg of a giant worm. I’d thought they meant the sort of worm that leaves house-sized tunnels in its wake, not a Dragon. Certainly wasn’t what I had in mind,” Amdirlain replied, unsure of what she’d hoped to achieve. “I’m just glad the Black Dragon turned out to be as malicious as tales I’d heard.”
“It didn’t sound like that challenging a fight for you,” Oili observed. “Did something happen that N’Oye missed?”
“Not during the fight exactly, the Dragon’s Soul, and its actions, unsettled me. I took her Soul and the children to Judgement, she destroyed them there, and Tiamat seemed to feed off it.”
“She is a Primordial and not safe to speak of,” Oili replied cautiously. “However, perhaps what you believe and perceived, and what happened, are not the same. Even if they were, you saved them from being twisted by the Abyss.”
“I’m not sure that’s comforting, but I’ll try to look at it that way, though I doubt I’ll find it that easy. Gnarls were easy to kill. Their Souls are these bloated distorted things that sicken me. The Dragons’ Souls were different, sharp, dark, cruel, but not fouled, though to me they certainly felt malicious and evil,” observed Amdirlain.
“The material is so hard you could have pieces stitched onto a hide jerkin or larger ones crafted into shields,” suggested Oili as she stepped away from the scale.
Amdirlain looked back at her as she changed the subject, and seeing the Celestial’s discomfort, let the matter drop. Moving to Oili’s side, she laid a hand gently on her upper arm to get her attention.
“My apologies,” offered Amdirlain, and at Oili’s nod moved to store the scales. “I’m not a crafter. I’ll leave their use up to experts. Are O’Nai and N’Oye looking for me?”
“Not that I know of,” Oili answered. “I believe O’Nai is talking to some patrol leaders. They were deep in discussion about potential settlement areas and recent troubles we’ve faced.”
“Maybe I should take him somewhere to gain experience so he’ll be able to fight better,” Amdirlain considered.
“We’ll sort that out for him, Lady Amdirlain, as we are with Solveiga,” Oili declared, eager to be of help.
“Best not to rush him away too quickly. I’m sure K’Lan is going to want to speak to him once she gets here, regardless of what N’Oye tells her,” cautioned Amdirlain.
“Of course, Lady Amdirlain,” said Oili.
“How many times do I have to insist that Amdirlain is fine?” Amdirlain protested, her look of frustration clear as she put her hands on her hips.
“We have our orders from Lord Týr to ensure we’re properly respectful to you for your hospitality,” explained Oili and good-naturedly laughed when Amdirlain rolled her eyes.
“In that case, isn’t the proper respect to obey the rules of the household?” Amdirlain asked. “My house, my rules, next person who calls me Lady Amdirlain, is going to be doing what dirty work I can find for them. I’ll let you spread that news.”
“Since you insist, Lady Amdirlain,” conceded Oili grudgingly.
“What did I just say?” Amdirlain grumbled as she frowned at Oili.
“We’re not standing in your Domain your ladyship,” countered Oili. “We’re simply near it.”
“Lawyers!” exclaimed Amdirlain and shooed Oili away.
* * *
The trip back to the Clan had been simple with the Gate spell setting them in Ûbuthan. After that, a quick teleport positioned them outside the sealed door before anything could hassle them. When N’Oye had opened the entrance to the holding, the Ancestors Amdirlain could see eagerly motioned her to enter.
“It seems they’re happy for me to come in,” stated Amdirlain and gave the Ancestors a nod of acknowledgement before she entered.
“That is good. It means that there isn’t an argument within the Clan about the course,” N’Oye commented. “Let’s find K’Lan, and the Clan’s elders. See what approach the community will take after I pass on O’Nai’s messages.”
“Do they take sides in arguments?” asked Amdirlain, glad for another confirmation they weren’t just bound to the Shaman’s will.
“If the council isn’t in agreement, sometimes they look to influence things,” revealed N’Oye. “Though often they’ll leave it for the living to choose the path ahead. Only those who cause unneeded disagreements feel the coolness of the Ancestors.”
“While getting out of the Abyss seems a valuable aim, I had expected leaving all they’ve known to be unsettling,” said Amdirlain, as he sealed the doorway.
“Such feelings will come once the initial excitement wears off,” N’Oye replied and motioned her towards the first guard post.
As they ventured through the holding, even those busy packing greeted them excitedly.
“Seems K’Lan was certain you’d bring good news,” commented N’Oye, as he nodded to another busy group.
“I would have figured out something to get you to safety,” stated Amdirlain and mentally crossed fingers they’d face minimal issues.
“How can you be so sure?” shouted K’cai as they entered the Ancestors’ Chamber.
The outburst caused Amdirlain to lower her hand from the greeting she’d been about to give. K’Lan was carefully packing a cupboard into a chest larger than Amdirlain, though she still noticed their entry with her gaze directed at the young Giantess standing between them.
“A,” said K’Lan, glancing towards the pair only to be cut off.
“Don’t just ignore me,” K’cai interjected. “I’m a Shaman. You can’t just say you won’t train me.”
“K’cai!” K’Lan rebuked, fixing the young Giantess with a stern look. “A is the one to thank for your life.”
[Name: K’cai
Race: Jungle Giant
Class: Shaman
Level: 5 / 5
Health: 230
Magic: 25
Mana: 55
Melee Attack Power: 26
Combat Skills: Spear [Ap] (5), Dagger [Ap] (1)
Details: K’cai, youngest Shaman of the Blood Tear Clan, is recovering from prolonged Demonic possession.
Condition: Spirit Flawed - Moderate (Permanent), Palnaóq - Addiction (Stage: Onset)
]
Analysis
[Spirit Flawed:
Either innately or because of Soul injuries, those with this condition cannot provide a coherent resistance to possession. ]
“What sort of name is A?” spat K’cai, her face twisting in anger as she turned. “Doesn’t she have a known lineage?”
K’Lan grabbed her shoulder and looked at Amdirlain apologetically.
“She’s in pain, K’Lan. Her -,” Amdirlain stated only for K’cai to spin away.
“She’s younger than me; how could a child have helped?” asked K’cai, as Amdirlain shielded herself from the chaotic maelstrom of her thoughts.
“K’cai you-“
“Aren’t being listened to!” K’cai shouted, her escalating rage causing the muscles in her neck to stand out. The injuries in her Soul looking as if she’d made hardly any recovery.
“She can’t even see me properly, K’Lan,” Amdirlain warned, as K’cai spun back, wordlessly shouting to drown out Amdirlain’s interruption. When K’Lan swiped a cloth across her neck, K’cai staggered and sagged into her mother’s arms a moment later.
“My apologies,” K’Lan said, gently cradling her daughter as she settled them to the ground. “She seemed fine when she woke up, but her mood shifted recently. She’ll sleep for now, but if I move her too much, she’ll wake.”
“What did you give her?”
“Just something to help her rest for now,” K’Lan stated, sitting and resting her daughter’s head on her lap. “I’m worried I’ve had her drugged too long on Palnaóq already. Those that hunger for it will have such mood swings. I hope your journey was successful?”
“Very, so many strange things,” N’Oye said as he moved into the chamber. “Trees the size of us, and a sky that doesn’t burn the skin.”
N’Oye sat near K’cai, and Amdirlain stood back to avoid crowding them, while she listened to him explain what he’d seen and O’Nai’s messages.
“When will you open the Gate?” K’Lan asked after she got over the news of O’Nai’s changed state.
“Whenever your Clan is ready, I’ll be able to open it right outside my home,” Amdirlain said. “There are other valleys nearby if you prefer something not right next to me. Would you be able to have someone provide me directions to other Clans?”
“It’s been a long time since the Clan have spoken to them. An older Scout would be the best person to give directions; I’ll introduce you to a few,” K’Lan said, visibly pausing before she continued. “Will you require us all to swear to you?”
“No one has to swear to me,” Amdirlain assured her. “I regret the situation at Judgement and hope O’Nai doesn’t regret doing so.”
N’Oye laughed and waved Amdirlain away. “Sworn to you or not, he wouldn’t have given such support without merit.”
“We’ll pack as quickly as we can. Once everything is ready, we’ll leave and see where we settle once we have a feel for the area,” stated K’Lan.
* * *
When the pillar to which they’d bound Ancestors crossed the Gate’s threshold, it pulled them along. K’Lan was the last Clan member to step through the Gate and she carried the Clan’s original pillar. In the Outlands, the Ancestors who hadn’t been visible to all the Clan stood manifested, mingling with the living. Despite their physical appearance, Amdirlain could still see a phantasmal link between them and the pillars, but only K’Lan seemed to notice the connection.
As she let the Gate close, N’Oye already had good news.
“Scouts have spread out with guides as planned; they will report back on locations the patrol leaders suggested,” N’Oye stated, motion towards the lip Amdirlain had first entered the valley. “One of the walking Panthera is seeing to K’cai.”
“Will you allow me to swear to you, A?” K’Lan asked, and Amdirlain shook her head, the Shaman’s reluctance clear.
“Settle your Clan and decide if that’s what you want—not what you feel obliged to do,” Amdirlain said gently. “N’Oye knows the patrol leaders, and O’Nai will see you get whatever help you need settling in. There are things I have to progress—seeking the other Clans among them. Your Clan needs to make its own choices, and if I stay around, some might feel I pressured.”
* * *
Planar Shift had delivered her back to Ûbuthan in a single hop, but it needed a lot of work.
[Planar Shift (Self) [B](9->10)]
She hadn’t ended up somewhere she recognise—just among lots of trees—but teleported easily back to the lake. The instructions N’Oye had provided guided her quickly to her target just over a week after she’d first come to the Plane. While the image Lorrella shared did match the tree, it hadn’t done it justice. Other plants’ alien awarenesses were only fleeting things compared to the eternal hunger the tree projected. It snatched a bird from the air when the tentacles around a bloom forced another to lean forward. Though forcibly repositioned, the second bloom’s tentacles were just within striking distance of the doomed avian.
The Krillnix trees stood over twenty metres tall with a wide canopy, its thick central trunk split into multiple arcing branches broader than Amdirlain’s wingspan, each ending in a nest of blooms. After a moment to consider her starting point, her body shifted into a spinning serrated disc and sent herself hurling through the air with Flight. The blooms’ extremities cascaded away with every pass, the tentacles varied in length from just over a metre to nearly five.
Once she’d determined their regeneration speed, Amdirlain burned a swath of them away from the tree and hovered before a bloom shorn of tentacles in the kill zone’s centre. Eyes peeled for evidence of regrowth, she tossed a fist-sized hunk of dripping dragon meat into the flower’s bell. Dragon flesh or not, the fluid within had no issue, hissing and frothing to send a spray upwards against the flower’s throat. She waited till the pollen thoroughly dried before she gathered the material into containers and went again.
Once the last glass jar filled, she moved on to the next test, and when the tentacle she made hit the fluid, she removed her vocal cords. The acid invoked a pain worse than the acid damage inflicted by the Dragon’s breath weapon as the first notification showed itself. While it had taken a Babu Demon minutes to inflict almost no harm—the Krillnix bloom’s acid ignited flesh. Nerves exploded with agony that seared its way up the tentacle; even after she removed nerve endings, the pain chewed at her. It wasn’t until the sixth notification that a resistance increase occurred despite the damage it inflicted.
[Health: -1,449
Resistance: Acid [I] (9->10)]
The other blooms regrew as it consumed health until regrown tentacles reached towards her. Amdirlain separated herself from her extended limb—even as the fluid frothed higher—and she teleported. Acid stronger than Shêrgîonth’s breath weapon and without Energy Drain’s counter—the pain had pressed against her mental defences. The resistance changes hadn’t occurred with every notification, and each time only represented minor damage reductions. By the time she’d healed, the blooms had regrown and now sat wreathed in longer tentacles.
The bloom she’d used was a bloated mass among the tree’s regrowth. When the surrounding area was clear, she found dried pollen caked along its throat and stored it in freshly made jars. While her health had recharged, the flower was far slower to restore its acid level, destroying it as well Amdirlain picked another branch’s bloom to use before beginning again.
[Health: -1,391
Resistance: Acid [I] (12->13)
Pain Tolerance [J](40)->[Ad](1)]
* * *
As her circuit around the tree continued, branches and blooms grew thicker with every pass despite the damage she inflicted. As her endured damage decreased, the notifications of improvements took longer and longer to appear.
[Health: -130
Resistance: Acid [I] (59->60)
]
[Achievement: (Not yet) Pushing up the Daisies.
Condition: Lose over six million health in a single day without dying (must exceed twenty times maximum health)
Reward: Endurance +5, Willpower +5
Reward: Safeword suggestion: Petal?
]
[Health: -127
Resistance: Acid [I] (60->61)
]
As the notification came, a tentacle grabbed her leg—and the show ended. As it yanked her towards the bloom amid the aching pain Amdirlain activated Ki Aura, the tentacle and the attached bloom burst into ash.
All this fun, and I’ve still not gained greater resistance.
The blooms were the only thing that grew as the tree she’d picked had grown from twenty-five to over thirty meters during the process. Where its larger blooms came in reach of those from other trees, they wrestled and twisted each other apart. Walls of fire trimmed them all away before Amdirlain teleported to the trunk’s base and harvested the sap. Amdirlain tossed the nearly melted tap aside when she secured the last steel jar as another notification appeared.
[Inventory [Ad] (10->11)]
I’ve not seen you increase in a while.
After a moment of contemplating the tree’s growth, Amdirlain turned it to ash. After a quick stop to pick up the copper and silver nuggets still in Shêrgîonth’s lair, Planar Shift carried her away.
* * *
Something had partly cleaned the exterior of Lorrella’s shop since Amdirlain had last seen it. The spiked heads were now skulls, and only tattered entrail remnants remained. The shop’s interior was quiet as she stepped inside and found it empty, though the wards didn’t stop her feeling when Lorrella’s mind noticed her presence.
“You were gone a while, duckie,” Lorrella said as she came from the backroom, an excited bounce in her step straining the apron she wore.
“I flew too high in the canopy and completely missed the Krillnix,” Amdirlain explained. “Wasn’t until I returned to the lake and searched low and in a different direction that I found them.”
“Oh well, didn’t think about that. Right, lay your harvest out,” requested Lorrella, as the shop door locked without a motion from her.
Not commenting, Amdirlain stacked the glass and steel containers filled with pollen and sap respectively onto the table. When the last of her made containers filled hit the table, Lorrella looked at her and whistled appreciatively.
“What did you feed the trees, a host of critters?” asked a delighted Lorrella.
“I have my ways,” replied Amdirlain. “Let me know how much you want. I’ll trade the rest to Master Saman, but you get the first pick.”
“Oh, that’s very sweet of you. What’s it going to cost me to keep getting the first pick of the harvest?”
“Could you provide information on the best opponents to develop resistances against?” asked Amdirlain, hoping to avoid dealing with a knowledge Demon.
“What were you looking to improve?”
The aura sheathing Lêdhins came to mind at that question.
“Electricity,”
“Well, outside the Quasi-Elemental Plane, because you’d want greater resistance before venturing there,” said Lorrella thoughtfully. “I’d suggest a few mountain ranges in Gehenna; you could find nests of Behir, fun to play dodge against their lightning breath weapon. Or swamp lights—baby will o wisp, really—in Kapùcterv. They use a lightning bolt to stun the unwary, but you can ride them out with decent health. Otherwise, go hunting Pale Riders in the fog clouds of Jinamizi. There are many very active and large war zones there presently, and Pale Riders often make an appearance to feed the aftermaths of battles.”
“Otherwise get a Wizard to hit me with Lightning spells a lot?” asked Amdirlain
“Combat, or where there is actual danger, works best to increase resistance. The more danger, the better the increases,” attested Lorrella.
It might be why the blooms took so long.
“How much will you pay me for the lot?” asked Amdirlain, motioning to the containers she’d left untouched on the table.
“You don’t want to keep any for Master Saman?” asked a puzzled Lorrella.
“Not this time around,” said Amdirlain, and Lorrella began stacking coins on the counter. Once she had finished setting out coins, the goods on the table disappeared. “What did you want me harvesting for you next on that list?”
“Where did you plan to go next?” Lorrella asked.
“I might try my luck hunting in Jinamizi,” admitted Amdirlain.
Hunting in war zones will probably have something throwing lightning around.
“How about Flame Wraith’s essence from their list? You can hunt them there if you can handle incorporeal foes,” Lorrella said, raising her eyebrows at Amdirlain’s smile. “Well then, you’ll find them in the volcanic regions on that Plane. Now you’ll need to take oil with you—the powder they leave behind won’t burn when fully submerged in oil. I’ve plenty of types in stock that will do the trick. For my part of the deal, I want eyeballs and stingers from Manticores, plenty of those beauties on that Plane. Though they don’t always live within the volcanic regions, variants often make their nests in the mountains. Two Demon Lords who have armies in the Plane have regiments of Manticore riders.”
“That certainly would make it easier to find your materials then,” declared Amdirlain, which earned a delighted laugh from Lorrella. “The Portal to Jinamizi connects close to the mercenary hub. All the Demon Lords fighting in the region use it as a location to find hirelings and haggle backstabbing deals. I’ll sell you that information for having the first pick again.”
“First pick of the material I get your advice about,” countered Amdirlain.
“Fine,” pouted Lorrella. “There is a depression in the Plane of Portals, four leagues in the opposite direction to Ûbuthan, once there angle an eighth turn left, travel five leagues looking...”
Amdirlain mentally noted her directions, even as she considered what a Demonic war zone would look like.
* * *
[Planar Shift (Self) [B](10->11)]
When the Elemental Plane of Earth manifested around her, Amdirlain almost breathed a sigh of relief. Precognition’s warning sent her across the cavern’s ledge she’d appeared on. A teleport shifted her just out of the eruption of earth and debris. The fist—extended from the ledge—pulled back from a pulverised wall section as the rock ledge morphed itself upwards into the upper torso of a humanoid form. The figure’s lower half seemed to blur into the stone beneath it as if an extension of the granite it had erupted from.
[Species: Greater Elemental, Earth
Level: 170
Health: 9,860
Mana: 1,870
Defence: 589
Melee Attack Power: 683
Ranged Attack Power: 490
Combat Skills: Grab [M] (18), Engulf [M] (24), Smash [M] (22), Throw [Ad](34); Innate Spell Forms - Various Earth Effects
Details: An Elemental can require five hundred or more years of accumulated energy to reach this size. An Elemental consuming other Elementals can get this size faster, but if they consume different types, their aspect can become twisted.]
The spell was a Lightning Bolt, but the Decay Amdirlain infused it with made the cavern’s air stagnant in the instant the blast lashed out. There was a glimmer of gemstones within the Elemental’s granite depths before they also crumbled to dust.
[Combat Summary:
Greater Elemental, Earth x1
Total experience gained: 15,260
Fallen: +3,052
Scion: +3,052
Sora Master: +3,052
Psion: +3,052
Warrior Monk: +3,052]
Oops! I won’t mention those gemstones to Jaixar.
After long minutes of silence in the cavern as Amdirlain waited to see if anything else would attack, she laid out the copper and bronze bars, along with the assorted nuggets. The material spread across the ledge, she kept watch on it with True Sight as she lay a wall of Celestial Mana across it. While she waited, she set the spare attributes points into Willpower before selecting her Wood Elf form and settling down to meditate.
* * *
Her entry into Duskstone had started as a repeat of last time until asking if Jaixar had registered their partnership stopped the Dwarf’s interrogation. The large chamber was empty except for the pair at the desk. The desk sergeant was a new Dwarf, but a tired Natsal sitting beside them breathed a relieved sigh when Amdirlain stepped through the doorway. Analysis gave her the other Dwarf’s name, Linsam Stonecleave, though her statistics weren’t far off from the other sergeant Amdirlain had met. The entry inquiries didn’t even get a reaction from either, as Amdirlain only mentioned delivering copper, silver, and bronze to Jaixar.
“The High Crafter would also like to speak with you,” Natsal stated.
“Why does her Holiness want to see a non-Dwarf?” asked Linsam, the female sergeant’s tone a match to Kirlac Axebeard’s.
“I’m just following her instructions to the letter this time,” declared Natsal.
“That’s fine, she can want whatever, but I want to stop off at a guard post first to read the Code,” Amdirlain stated, and Natsal blinked at her in surprise.
“I’ll wait with you. I can send a messenger from there,” Natsal offered and rose from her desk.
“You’re just hoping she’ll let you off double shifts,” teased Linsam gruffly.
“Doubtful, she told me when those would end,” refuted Natsal. “A crafter should value precision in all forms, and punishments are of fair weight.”
When Natsal rose from her seat, the wall lifted, and she led the way. Another Dwarf switched to take her position, and when the wall re-sealed did they start forward past the hoist’s pillars into Duskstone proper.
“Double shifts?”
“The High Crafter rightly decided I had my eyes blinded by precious materials and was distracted from duty. Double shifts will last another twenty-four days so I can remember to put my work first,” answered Natsal and gestured towards a heavy door not far ahead. “The duty office has a copy of the Code. Can you read Khuzdul?”
“Yes, I’ve picked it up along the way,” Amdirlain replied as she headed for the office with Natsal in tow. “Why the relieved sigh, by the way?”
“The High Crafter said if I had offended you enough that you didn’t return, the punishment would double,” explained Natsal.
“I’ve got things that have been waiting for over a decade for me to finish. They shouldn’t be in a rush to figure out what I won’t do,” cautioned Amdirlain. “Why did she think you offended me?”
“My punishment was for staying to watch Master Norrax work instead of leaving with you. Since you opted not to sell to him, I should have done the same, given they were your goods. Plus, I didn’t get your coins to you before you left,” said Natsal.
“If the coins bothered me, I would have found you,” Amdirlain said as she pushed open the door. The interior of the guard post was straightforward and practical. They’d stationed another pair of Dwarves at a counter off to one side, and through a set of double doors, a large room had a contingent of guards busy checking equipment.
“Do you have a copy of the Code on hand that Lady Amdirlain might read?” Natsal asked. “And I need to send a message to the High Crafter.”
One Dwarf thumped a thick tome down on the counter, while the other gave a piercing whistle that prompted a Dwarf to come running from the other room.
Hoisted on my own petard, the High Crafter told her to call me Lady Amdirlain and I’m in her hometown.
