Spellheart 10: Chapter 14 (Patreon)

After the meeting, it was finally time to put my plans into action. Now that I had general agreement, it was time to go from ideas to action. Ethan may have gotten the other Demigods to agree to delay, but that just meant we wouldn’t be shutting down the Planetary Defense Array right away.

Nobody said anything about climbing aboard and figuring out the controls. I imagined with the resources and experience we had available here, we had the best chance we were ever going to have of getting that thing shut down.

It also had the convenient bonus of nipping any plans the Cult of the Unblinking Eye had in the bud. I wasn’t sure what they had in mind with the Planetary Defense Array, but I was pretty sure none of their plans had ever been good for me. No, foiling their plans was my best move, and any time I bought would only make the Hearthwood more secure.

I didn’t think I could take Louis out now, even with Sam, Dean, Tivana, and Lyanva to help. Unless he visited the Hearthwood and got struck by one of those Level-Reducing Sentry Towers, that is. Soon enough, there would be as many more of those as I could manage.

As for shutting down the Planetary Defense Array, our plan was ambitious. Argona had been building space stations left and right, so getting to it wouldn’t be hard. Us Demigods didn’t even need spaceships. I hadn’t tested how long I could hold my breath, but I was pretty sure it’d be a damn long time. The same would be true of the others.

Harder would be the task of getting elven experts into position. Us Demigods could clear out any defenses aboard the Planetary Defense Array and find our way to a control room. Still, after that we’d need to bring in experts from the Elven Star Dominion. They would know how to work the controls and do what we needed.

At least, that was the general plan I gave out on the spot.

“No doubt we’ll refine this plan more later. In the meantime, I’m inviting you and anyone any of you want to bring to the Hearthwood. Come and be my guests. I’m sure it’ll be slumming it for those of you who’ve grown used to the amenities of the Primordial World. Still, I promise it’s as nice a place as you’ll find anywhere on the World of Sanctuary and Serenity.”

I gestured widely to the small crowd of gathered Demigods. Here was everyone who voiced their support for my plant to shut down the Planetary Defense Array. This was my alliance, and what an alliance it was.

Elves of high esteem and noble standing surrounded me, all nodding along as I spoke. All told, there were about a dozen Demigods. Most were of the weaker sort since they were the new friends Tivana made and whose allegiance Elara had consolidated. But we did have a few from the Elven Star Dominion who also decided to pitch in, mostly because they were Elara’s hangers-on.

There were about three more hanging on the outskirts of the crowd who I’d consider interested, but not wanting to get involved directly. After we showed some initial success, I might be able to sway them to our side, but for the time being, I would just keep them in the loop and invite them to the Hearthwood as well.

Having so many Demigods in the Heartwood would make me nervous, but that’s what the new defenses were for. Having Sam, Dean, and Queen Lyanva stay with me would also help me feel more secure.

“I’m invited as well?” Elara asked, voice full of hope.

“I wouldn’t dream of rejecting you. You’re an expert golem crafter, aren’t you? We’ll be depending on you more than anyone else here!” I ran my hand along Elara’s back comfortingly, and she trembled at my touch. I was about to pull my hand away, but she reached up and held it against her side.

“I’ll come, but only if I can bring some people with me,” said Yeminel, the scantily clad elf who wanted warmer weather. “I haven’t left my tropical villa in some time. I’ve got about a hundred Wizards and six Sorcerers I keep as attendants.”

I shrugged. “If you want, you can bring your whole villa. We don’t have an ocean, but there is a rather large lake I recently damned shut. You are welcome to park your villa there.”

“Wonderful! I will tell them to disassemble the villa and start packing right away.”

Most of the other Demigods had similar requests. Nobody reached Demigod without accumulating an entourage of some sort. Students, descendants, former teachers, servants, staff, and anything else a Demigod might need was something any elf would be eager to help with.

Tivana introduced me to her new friends again. Arien was a warrior queen from the other side of the Groveguard continent. Her nation had suffered quite a bit from the golem attacks. Before then, she’d been facing constant pressure from the nations under the sway of the Cult of the Unblinking Eye.

Her nation had been getting smaller and smaller with each passing year, and now she figured it was time to pack up and give up on rulership entirely. I suspected having her move into the Hearthwood would leave me with a permanent new roommate, but if Tivana was getting along with her, I trusted she’d behave.

“Perfect. I will move my castles in. I doubt they’ll be as useful in your territory, but they will come with a hundred thousand armed and trained elves. But... ah... do you think we could tell them there’s a royal wedding in the works? I would hate my people to think I gave up on the Moonblade nation. I’d like them to think I’m strategically combining our assets with a larger existing faction...” Arien blushed as her eyes darted between me and the ground.

I rested a hand on her shoulder. “I know exactly what you’re worried about. Don’t worry. I have plenty of wildernesses under my control. If you want to populate a vassal state for me, I’ll help you get started.”

Arien bowed graciously. “I see why so many praise the wise and generous Patriarch of the Hearthwood Clan. Do this for me, and I will be at your service.”

Lyssandra was another of Tivana’s new friends. She’d made a name for herself several centuries ago and had been disappointed that I hadn’t heard of her. Apparently, she was worried the legends she’d forged in her youth were starting to fade, and it was a bit of a sore spot.

She’d come to the Hearthwood with us, though, ending many years of adventure in the Primordial World. She’d delved into more ruins from the Elven Star Dominion than any other elf from the modern era, so she’d be a massive boon.

“I have a modest faction I would like to bring as well,” Lyssandra added. “Not a kingdom or a palace, but I was teaching a few Sorcerers some tips and tricks in the hopes that one of them might break through to Demigod someday. No luck yet, but there’s about a dozen of them all told.”

I nodded to her. “Easily taken care of. You’re welcome to bring them.”

Another was Melaris. Unlike the others, she was from the Elven Star Dominion, but she seemed a bit more interested in restoring the prosperity of the old than the rest of her peers. She was only an Early Demigod, but I knew how strong the elves of the Elven Star Dominion were compared to their modern counterparts. I expected her to be tough enough to give Sam, Dean, or perhaps even me a run for our money.

“I have a guild of adventurers,” Melaris said. “I can not leave them unattended. May I establish a temporary base in this Hearthwood of yours?”

I nodded. “Yes, of course.” I turned to all of them. “Just remember to tell all of your followers to follow the laws of the Hearthwood and to be civil. We have a diverse meritocracy with plenty of opportunity for all those with the will to seize it. So long as they act with that in mind, I foresee no issues.”

“So long as I can lounge sexily on the beach, I won’t cause any problems.” Yeminel smiled at me.

Arien, Lyssandra, and Melaris nodded at my words. With that, we agreed.

As soon as this event was over, we’d all go to the Hearthwood together and prepare to put an end to these Golden Ages once and for all.

***

The rest of the event passed in a flash. With the heavy topics of conversation taken care of, the remainder of the event was socializing.

It was pretty clear that the debate had divided us into a few distinct groups. There was my group that planned to deactivate the Planetary Defense Array. There was Louis and Ethan’s group, who were all aligned with the Cult of the Unblinking Eye. And a sizable neutral faction wanted little to do with either of us.

I had hoped to win over a few more members of the neutral faction over the next few days, but Louis went around making threats, which nipped any budding new friendships before they could begin.

We packed what things we had while our new allies sent the last of their messages and made arrangements to join us. I had insisted on us traveling all together. Ethan was subtle, but Louis was not so much. His open threats had been enough to make me worry, especially for Arien, who lived near him.

“They might try to stir up trouble, but all together, we’re a powerful force,” I told them all as a reminder to stick together.

“What if they attack us while we’re staying in the Hearthwood with you?” Yeminel asked.

I chuckled darkly. “I dare them to try. I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve that they won’t see coming.”

Louis attacking me in the Hearthwood would be a dream come true. If he disappeared, the rest of the Cult would be much easier to deal with. Ethan seemed far more willing to compromise, so if he wound up in charge, many of the issues I had with the Cult would swiftly disappear.

But somehow, I didn’t think it would be quite that easy.

“I’m sure your Hearthwood is a fortress to withstand any threat. And if it isn’t, it shall be by the time my forces join yours.” Arien promised.

Lyssandra wore a thin-lipped smile. “I can hear the pride in your voice when you talk of this city of yours, Patriarch Theo. I didn’t think much of it at first, but the more I hear you talk, the more I look forward to seeing it.”

“And if it didn’t have nice beaches before, it will by the time I’m done with it!” Yeminel thrust her manicured nails in the air and placed one hand on her hip.

“I think I’m more eager to see the Hearthwood than any of you,” Elara said. She spoke nothing more, but the twinkle in her eye told me she’d been waiting for this for a long time.

I could have taken us straight back home through a Pocket World Passage, but I wasn’t sure if I was willing to reveal that card so openly. Maybe after I’d spent a bit more time with my new allies. Besides, it would be worth taking a trip through the Primordial World. After all, we had some expert teachers and crafters to recruit, and having a few additional Demigods would go a long way to getting eyes on our little project.

If that failed, we’d have to start kidnapping experts. But that came with its own can of worms.

Plan settled, all of us departed, returning the way we came as we flew over the utopian version of the World of Sanctuary and Serenity we’d called home these last few days.

Behind us, I caught Louis and Ethan both watching us carefully. I didn’t like the look in their eyes.