Chapter 31 (Patreon)

Flint didn’t take any prisoners. Maya had ravaged her opponents and Bjorn had crushed his opponent. The Viking man Adam disarmed had suffered grievous injuries and could’ve survived following medical treatment. However, Flint didn’t think slavers were deserving of compassion. He could find it in himself to respecting an enemy soldier. After all, in their mind, their cause was as just as his. However, anyone who dealt in anything cruel as slavery, genocide, or torture didn’t deserve compassion. He left the man by the wall to bleed out.

“Can you help me to the top of the wall, Ed?” Flint asked.

“You’ve lost a lot of blood, sir,” Ed said. “Maybe we should patch your wound first.”

“Right.” Flint wanted to check on the Vikings outside. He didn’t want any of them to get away and come back with reinforcements—he doubted they would after the loss. However, he didn’t want slavers roaming the lands. Twylip had provided him and Adam with pouches with rubbing spirits, antiseptic, clotting salve, and bandages. They were meant to provide first aid to the slaves, but he needed them more.

“Stay,” he said when Maya ascended the stairs. She tilted her head, glaring at him, and he could feel her challenge, but Flint stayed firm. “We don’t know how many of them are out there, Maya, and I can’t spare both you and Bjorn. Just wait.”

“Let me help you, sir—Flint.” Ed helped Flint take off his coat and shirt. A loud wince escaped Flint’s lips when the rubbing spirit touched the wound. It stung, and he struggled not to pull away, but Ed’s hands were firm, and he worked swiftly. “It’s not as bad as it looks. The blade got in between your ribs but didn’t bite deep.”

“Did you pick up a healing skill stone, Ed?” Flint asked, trying his best not to tap his foot or sound impatient.

“No, sir. I was in the same wagon as Lady Dyne—the healer lady. She had me help her with the wounded Colonel Smith picked up.” Ed gently applied the salves and ointments before wrapping the wound. “She didn’t survive the last beast attack,” he said before Flint could ask.

“Walk with me.” Flint used Ed’s support to scale the stairs. He peeked over the walls, hoping to see eight dead bodies. Flint guessed the slab had killed at least three by the number of limbs sticking out from under the stone. Two were dragging a third downhill. [Keen Eye] failed to find the remaining two. He couldn’t tell whether they were under the stone slab or had fled. Flint whistled. “Get them, Maya.”

Bjorn tried to follow, but Flint needed him keeping the children under control. He couldn’t afford to have them running around and getting lost in the ruins. Maya didn’t need his help. She made quick work of them. Flint called her back before the sheepdog could go hunting for the rest. He didn’t know enough about their battle prowess and refused to risk her safety. Once again, Maya paused on hearing his order. He could feel the temptation to defy his instructions bubbling up inside her. The sheepdog believed that she knew better.

“Come back now!” He barked. Maya tilted her head to the side for a moment watching his face. Then she stalked back to the gate slowly, and Adam let her in. “Go fetch Twylip and Winona, Maya. We’ll take care of matters here.”

When she glared at him, Flint let his annoyance flare through the empathic link. Both dogs whined, feeling his pent-up rage. Maya lowered her head to the ground before rolling on to her belly. Flint recognised it as a sign of submission. It annoyed him to resort to such methods. Flint preferred a familial relationship, not a master-pet one. At the same time, he had learnt enough about dogs to understand pack mentality. Everything would fall apart if he didn’t establish himself as the alpha.

Once Maya left, he helped unload the remaining wagons. “What happened, Ed?” He asked.

“It was Colonel Orwell,” Ed answered. “He was supposed to lead Captain Ironheart, a company of builders, materials and equipment to the Evergreen Fort.”

“The one in Northern Verdant Plains?”

“That’s the one.” Ed nodded. “Instead, he led us into a Viking camp near the border. We tried fighting back, but they cut down all the soldiers and axemen.”

“Bastards.” Flint exhaled loudly through clenched teeth. “What are you doing all the way here if they took you to the Northern border?”

“Beasts,” Ed answered. “The fight attracted big green cats, and the Vikings tried repelling them, but they had lost too many. We lost them for a while, and they used the opportunity to pick up more—” He glanced at the fae climbing out of the carts. “—merchandise, but the lions found us again. We lost two wagons, and Lady Dyne was on one of them. Colonel Smith and Captain Ironheart were furious since the other contained all the skill stones they had collected from all the men they killed.”

Ed sighed. His eyes filled up with tears as he diverted them to the floor. “They wanted to take us into the wastes and send us across a sea bridge. I think they intended to sell us as livestock, Flint. They didn’t care whether you’re human or fae.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Ed,” Flint said, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I really am. No one deserves to end up a slave. I’m glad to have you here, though. As long as you’re willing to work, you have a place here.”

“I’d love that, Flint!” Ed’s face lit up with a smile. “After what Colonel Smith did, I don’t think I can trust the Iron Army anymore. He wasn’t planning on deserting either! I heard Captain Ironheart and him talking. He intended to keep selling supplies to the Vikings and directing them to poorly protected settlements along the outskirts. He told them about Lea’s Slumber as a possible target. They wanted to loot you of whatever you got from your life quest, raid the village, and then use a tunnel somewhere in the mountains.”

“Thank you for sharing, Ed.” Flint spotted Twylip and Winona far uphill. They were almost at the camp. “Gather everyone. We’ll head to the Heartstone ahead.”

Getting the newly freed slaves to follow him was harder than expected. The humans fell in line with little protest, but the final two wagons’ occupants didn’t seem as willing. Flint didn’t blame them. After all, humans had ripped them from their homes, probably killed their loved ones, and then marked them with slave brands. For all they knew, a new evil had replaced the old ones. In the end, when they realised nobody was forcing them to join the others, they came willingly.

Even though Flint’s side still burned, and he felt welts forming on his body, he still had plenty of energy to spare. Once at the Heartstone, he picked an almost collapsed arch and channelled [Totem of Healing]. The humans gasped at the sudden light show, but the fae didn’t react. He hoped they’d feel better before long and summoned Bjorn closer for a boost.

The snowdog didn’t seem to mind. Bjorn had made new friends among the children and a trio of wolfhounds. Ed told him there were more dogs, but the Vikings had killed and eaten them the night before. Colonel Smith knew of Flint’s affinity for canines and wanted to reduce possible risks. Now, the hounds stuck close to Bjorn. Even though bloodhounds were considered big dogs, he dwarfed them now. Even though Bjorn didn’t have any investment in the [Mind Sector], he understood Flint’s intention.

[Soul Link] alleviated most of the discomfort. Flint ensured not to drain him too much, though. He no longer had a weapon, and Adam appeared exhausted. If things took a turn for the worst, Bjorn was now their only defence.

Twylip and Winona arrived not long after, carrying baskets of fruit. Flint hadn’t planned it with them but was glad for it. Everyone that had missed out on the porridge rushed to grab an apple on a pair—fae included. They brightened up, digging into the food. The children gravitated towards Maya as she followed the women to the Heartstone square. Unlike Bjorn, she avoided them and came straight to Flint’s side. He was glad for it. Maya loved children, and her focus on him highlighted her understanding of her mistake earlier. A beta shouldn’t challenge its alpha.

Flint waited until everyone had finished eating and somewhat relaxed before finding an elevated spot and addressing the crowd. “In case any of you were confused or unsure, we aren’t a part of the Iron Army. I worked as a builder for them not long ago but have now taken on the responsibility of repairing these grounds and the fort above us.” A wave of whispers passed through the square. Once they had died down, Flint continued. “You’re free now. Slavery is outlawed in the Iron Lands, and I couldn’t bear to see my former commanding officers resorting to something so vile.”

“Where can we go?” A voice in the crowd asked.

“That’s up to you,” Flint answered. “As far as I know, there are no towns or villages around these parts, but if you take the South-Western road through the Verdant Plains, you’ll find yourself at Hammercrest. It’s a crafting town and has a new Iron Army settlement near it.”

“Through the plains?” Someone whispered within the human huddle. Several nervous pairs of eyes glanced at one another.

“Alternatively, you can stay here.” Flint raised his voice, not just focusing on the human group but the fae in the back too. “However, if you do, you’ll need to swear a blood oath to me through the Heartstone and this land that you’ll work to serve its interests and never betray it. Otherwise, I’ll provide you with a couple of carts and horses to ride out of here. It shouldn’t take you more than a fortnite to get there.”

“He’s a classer!” The whispers were louder and more animated now. The Heartstone only allowed individual with classes to request such oaths. He guessed it was to keep people from running away with gifted skill stones.

“What about us?” A young puck asked. The brand on his chest looked particularly fresh, and the shaved skin around it was still inflamed from the tattoo needle. “We’ll be killed on sight if an Iron soldier so much as sees us near a human settlement.”

“I do not know the way to your homelands. I’ve never been there. However, the offer is the same.” A couple of protests sounded among the humans, but Flint ignored them. “Anyone that wants to stay here will need to swear a blood oath to me and this land. Your purpose will become helping me restore this fort and its grounds, helping it and the people within it flourish. It doesn’t matter whether you’re human or fae. I’ll expect you to get along and work together. If a human or fae army shows up at our doorstep, you’ll need to help me defend the walls against both, regardless of where your fealties used to lie.”

Silence fell upon the square. Not a soul spoke for the longest time. Humans and fae glanced at each other, and Flint could feel the latter’s uncertainty. So, he continued, hoping to win them over.

“I do not have the means to pay you with much more than food and shelter. However, anything you produce in surplus that the community doesn’t need, you can barter and perhaps eventually sell to the village behind the fort. I will invest whatever resources my life quest gives me to ensure everyone here has better, safer lies. That’s the best that I can offer.”

Twylip stepped forward and addressed the crowd. “Flint Woodson hasn’t known me for long. However, I provided services he and these grounds desperately needed. So, he had me swear a similar oath and gave me a second-tier skill stone to aid this land better. As long as I remain faithful to him and the Sleeping Fort, it is mine. The products I created with his gift are mine to sell, too, and I’m using a portion of my earnings to procure materials. It’s what we’ll do here. Everyone contributes what’s necessary and a bit more if they want. That’s the price of shelter and protection.”

Flint was relieved when Twylip weaved through the crowd and approached the young puck who had spoken up. “I am an alchemist and will personally look into removing these brands from your skin,” she said. “Flint risked his life against a superior force to free you. He doesn’t care whether you’re human or fae. All he wants is peace and a safe place to live away from the war. If enemies show up at his gates, Flint will probably risk his life again to get rid of them while keeping civilians like me out of the way. I’m willing to dedicate my life to help such a man pursue such a cause.”

“I don’t expect everyone to follow the same path as Twylip,” Flint told the crowd. “However, I need to ensure that you won’t betray me when a better option comes along. It pains me to do so, but people who chose to leave will need to swear a minor oath to me too if they want access to the cart and horse. What you’ve just learned and seen here must stay a secret. The Sleeping Fort is a haven and not a part of the war. I intend to keep it that way.” He paused, reaching out to Maya for emotional support. The dozens of unfamiliar eyes on Flint made him uncomfortable. She responded to him through the empathic link while gently licking his hand. “Any takers?”

It came as no surprise when Ed stepped up. Flint smiled at him, pressed his hand to the Heartstone and recited the proposed oath. Ed echoed it, completing the process. The young puck stepped up next, followed by all the orphaned children.