Dragon Mage 071 - Setting Out (Patreon)
Content
378 days until the Arkon Shield falls
Mother,
I still canât believe it. The Trials has logged two separate incident reports in the span of only a few days. Then there is Auroraâs report, the one I told you about. Astoundingly, they all concern the same player. Itâs almost as if the hand of destinyâor dare I say, Ashara?âis reaching out to manipulate events.
If I didnât know better, I would believe the cycle has begun anew. But I do know better, and I know itâs not that. Still, Iâm not sure if what is occurring bodes anything good. Matters are spiraling out of control, and I admit I donât know the right course to steer.
Is this the opportunity weâve been waiting for, Mother? The Core has granted me administrator discretion to initiate the Awakening. Do I? And what about that other program? Do I activate it too?
Eagerly awaiting your response. âAdministrator Nexus.
I woke in the morning with my face pressed up against something unyielding. I blinked blearily and touched a tentative hand to my head. It was whole and in one piece, but given its throbbing painfully, it felt as if it shouldnât be.
Where am I?
It took far longer than it shouldâve for me to figure out the answer to that. Eventually, my eyes focused enough to recognize the hard-timbered floor on which I was resting.
Iâd passed out on the floor of my cabin.
Gingerly, I sat up, the world spinning around me. âGod, Iâm never doing that again,â I muttered.
Still, I couldnât find it in myself to regret last nightâs excess. Despite my hangover-induced fuzziness, my mind felt clearer than it had for days, less weighed down. Strange as it sounded, drinking myself into a stupor had done me some good. I began chuckling at the thought, but it quickly transformed into a hacking cough, and I had to stifle the impulse.
I grimaced. My tongue felt thick, and my throat was parched. Squinting, I looked about for something to drink and spotted a pair of sealed steel canisters, a pile of equipment, and my backpackâfull and bulging, I noted absentlyâon the nearby table.
Clambering to my feet, I staggered to the table and flipped open the lid of one of the canisters to sniff at its contents. Water. Without a second thought, I gulped down the liquid.
Feeling marginally better, I took in the cabin again. I was alone. Sunlight was streaming in through the door left lying open. The nine enchanted weapons were in the same place Iâd left them last night, but the items on the table were new.
Digging into the pile, I inspected each item in turn. They were the promised gifts from the craftersâtanned leather armor pieces and a black cloak. Still struggling to focus, I equipped the new gear before inspecting the backpackâs contents. It had been restocked with travel rations, I saw. I grinned. Melissaâs efficiency knew no bounds.
Picking up the enchanted weapons, I stumbled out of the cabin. It was time to visit the commander.
â˝â˝â˝
The village hall was swarming with military personnel when I reached it. Messengers raced in and out, and shouting officers hurried about on some errand or the other. I frowned. I was sure the flurry of activity was related to the fort somehow. Iâd expected it would be days yet before any plans were put into effect, but from the looks of it, the expeditionâs preparations were well underway.
I stepped into the building, attracting strange looks for the armful of weapons I carried, but no one stopped or questioned me. Even the two guards outside the commanderâs office did no more than appraise me with curious glances before ushering me through.
Surprisingly, the command center was quiet. Iâd anticipated finding it crammed with officers given the bustle outside, but only three people were in the room: Jolin, Marcus, and Petrov.
The large conference table drew my gaze. Dirty plates and empty cups were strewn along its edges. The planning for the expedition had gone on late into the night, I deduced.
The old lady certainly doesnât waste any time.
The abandoned dishes were the least interesting thing about the table, though. The map the commander had begun drawing yesterday had since grown more elaborate. Fine lines and shapes had been added, charting out the surrounding terrain in exquisite detail. Captivated, I drew closer. My eyes followed the riverâs meandering line upwards to the jagged notches that I was sure represented the northern mountains.
âI donât know why we didnât do this earlier,â Jolin said.
I looked up to stare at her blankly.
She gestured to the table. âThe map,â she explained. âWe should have carved one out long ago.â Her lips turned down. âAttempting to chart the terrain is painful without paper, but we shouldnât have let that stop us.â
âItâs not like we had any need before this,â Marcus protested. âThe scouts started ranging further out only recently.â
The commander waved a weary hand. âI know, Marcus, and I meant no criticism by it. Itâs only, there is so much still to doâŚâ
Sheâs tired, I thought, studying the deep shadows under her eyes. My gaze darted to Marcus and Petrov, taking in their reddened eyes and unkempt faces. Both men were just as exhausted. âWere you three here all night?â I asked.
The commander nodded. âWeâve completed the preparations for the expedition,â she said with a satisfied smile. âIt will set out within the hour.â
I gaped at her.
Both Petrov and Marcus chuckled at my expression while Jolin took in my appearance. âIt looks like youâve had a busy night yourself,â she said. âFound the tavern, did you?â
My face reddened. While Iâd been out carousing, the commander and her people had been slaving through the night. Idiot! What had I been thinking? âIâmââ
The old lady raised her hand, palm out. âStop right there, young man.â
Responding automatically to the tone of command in her voice, I closed my mouth with a snap.
âDonât think to apologize,â Jolin said. âIt was about time you blew off some steam.â She eyed me shrewdly. âI take it youâre feeling better?â
I was unsurprised she read me so well. She seemed to have that knack. What did leave me nonplussed, though, was the lack of condemnation in her tone.
The old lady smiled. âDonât look so shocked. Soldiers, perhaps more than anyone else, understand the need for downtime. No one, not even you, can give one hundred percent all the time. We, each of us, must take the time to recharge.â
She scrutinized me again. âYouâve been holding too tightly to your burdens, Jamie. Such crushing responsibilities canât be borne for long. Not without cost. After all, youâre only human. If you donât take the time to remind yourself of what that means, if you donât celebrate life, if you deal only in death and nothing else, then sooner or later, despair and grief will break you.â Jolin held my gaze. âBetter to bend than break under the weight. Do you understand?â
I nodded wordlessly.
âGood, then thatâs settled.â The commander paused. âThere are some matters regarding the expedition that I wanted to discuss with you. But before we get to that, can you tell me what are your plans?â
âAnd if you donât mind,â Marcus interjected, his tone plaintive, âplease, explain just what the hell youâre doing hauling around all that. The suspense is killing me!â
I glanced down at the weapons in my arms. Iâd clean forgotten about them. A smile stole onto my face as I laid the armaments on the table. âWell, I wasnât wholly unproductive yesterday,â I murmured. âI made these.â
Petrov snorted. âNo, you didnât. Thatâs Antonâs handiwork. I recognize it.â
I grinned at the bearded giant. âWell, perhaps âmadeâ was the wrong word. Say rather, I improved them.â
Marcusâ eyes widened. âYouâve enchanted the blades!â he exclaimed.
Smiling, I nodded.
The scout captain eyed the weapons spread out on the table hungrily. âHow do they work?â
âPick one up,â I encouraged. âYouâll understand easier that way.â
Marcus wasted no time complying while Jolin and Petrov followed more cautiously. Reaching across the table, the officers hefted a weapon apiece, and their eyes went blank as they read the Trials alerts their actions prompted. Watching through my magesight, I observed the exact instant the three fed spirit into the enchantments. Energy soaked into the weaponsâ spiritforms, and the magic in them flared to life a moment later.
âItâs beautiful,â Marcus breathed, studying the crackling energy running along the longsword he held aloft. Petrov appeared equally fascinated by the flaming warhammer he bore.
The commander, though, was frowning. âWhat did you need to make these?â she asked, setting the weapon sheâd handled back down on the table. âOnly the elemental fragments?â
I nodded, puzzled by her response. âEssentially, yes. I had to learn a new Discipline too, butââ
âHow many fragments did each weapon require?â Jolin asked.
âOne,â I replied. âUnfortunately, I broke a crystal during my experiments, which is why there are only nine weapons here.â
The commander, however, wasnât listening to me anymore. Sheâd closed her eyes and appeared lost in thought.
I glanced at Marcus. He shrugged, equally mystified by the old ladyâs behavior.
âTell me, Jamie,â the commander said at last, âif we enter the Primal Keep again, what creatures will we encounter?â
I stared at her blankly for a moment, struck by the oddness of her question. Why is sheâ I made the connection, and my eyes widened. âThe same as the first time,â I breathed. âElementals and worms, which meansââ
âWe can farm the dungeon for more fragments!â Marcus exclaimed, catching on.
The commander smiled. âExactly, gentlemen. Exactly.â
â˝â˝â˝
The next few minutes passed in furious debate. Both Marcus and I believed the fortâs positioning should be reconsidered. But despite every argument we put forth to locate the structure at the green dungeon, Jolin was adamant our original plan was still the best course.
As much potential as the elemental weapons had, the commander argued that the Primal Keep was not a location the orcs would prioritize securing. It was, after all, only a rank one dungeon, and having never entered the dungeon, the orcs had no way of knowing of the valuable resource it contained. Then, too, there was the fact that Iâd already cleared the dungeon. Once the orcs figured out the first bonus run had already been claimed, they would have no reason to guard the Primal Keep.
I could find no fault with Jolinâs reasoning, but I wasnât sure I agreed with her strategy anymore. Now that we knew how to craft enchanted weapons, to my mind, not securing our only source of the fragments was risky. Still, it was not for nothing that the old lady was the villageâs leader, and I bowed to her judgment in the end.
After the discussion winded down, Jolin turned to Marcus and Petrov. âYou two better get going. Theyâll be waiting for you.â She gestured to the enchanted weapons. âAnd take four of these with you.â The old lady glanced at me to see if I had any objection to this.
I shook my head. âGo ahead. They are for the village to use as you see fit.â
âThank you,â Jolin murmured. She turned back to the two officers. âRemember your orders.â
Petrov and Marcus saluted. âYes, maâam,â they said in unison and withdrew from the room.
My eyes tracked them to the door, wondering where they were going in such a hurry.
âMarcus is leading the expedition,â the commander said.
âHe is?â I asked in surprise. The scout captain didnât have any field command experience and seemed an odd choice for such a critical mission.
Jolin smiled, reading the direction of my thoughts once more. âThere is no one better. Marcus understands more of the Trialsâ workings than any of my other officers, except perhaps you and Lance. I trust him to get the fortâs founding correct.â
I nodded in understanding.
âPetrov will serve as his second in command,â Jolin added. âAnd Marcus will also have a strong contingent of spearmen under his command. The convoy will be well protected.â She paused, studying me. âItâs actually what I wanted to talk to you about.â
âMaâam?â I asked, looking at her questioningly.
âYou havenât told me your plans yet, Jamie. Where will you go next?â
âThe red dungeon,â I replied instantly, not needing to dwell much upon my answer.
âI thought so,â Jolin said, smiling. âIn that case, will you accompany the expedition? I will rest easier knowing you are with them.â
âOf course,â I said without hesitation. I had planned on spending another day in the village crafting spells before setting out myself. Still, Iâd already completed all my critical tasks and foresaw no problems with hastening my departure. âI better get going then,â I said, turning around.
Halfway to the door, I paused and swung back around. âWhy donât you want us to establish the fort near the Primal Keep? I canât help feeling that there is something youâre not telling us.â
âThere is another consideration,â Jolin allowed. âOne I havenât voiced in case it led to fear spreading.â She eyed me for a moment before going on. âWe canât risk losing the settlement core before using it.â
I frowned. âWhy would weââ I broke off. âThe orcs,â I said. âYouâre worried about the orcs.â
Jolin nodded. âYour sighting places them in the north, somewhere near the Primal Dungeon itself and in numbers that at best makes the outcome of any conflict questionable.â She sighed. âI fear if I send the expedition north, it will be ambushed before it reaches its destination.â
I bit my lip, thinking the matter through. âThe forest is a safer location,â I agreed. âBut how can you be certain the orcs arenât there too?â
âI canât,â Jolin said, âwhich is why Petrov and two hundred soldiers are accompanying the expedition.â She paused. âAnd you too.â
I inclined my head. âWeâll get it done, maâam,â I said. âYou can count on us.â
â˝â˝â˝
After leaving the commander, I made my way to the craft hall to say my goodbyes to Anton. I found him passed out in his room. If anything, Anton appeared worse off than me from our exploits last night. Taking pity on the smith, I decided not to wake him and left a message with Jeremy instead.
Worried that I might miss the expeditionâs departure, I hurried through the village, detouring only to retrieve my backpack from my cabin before heading to Sierraâs east gate. I neednât have worried, though. When I reached the gate, the convoyâs long column of men, women, and supplies was still passing through the palisade.
Slowing my steps, I made my way to the front of the line, passing sleds packed high with cut timbers and tools, laughing and joking squads of spearmen, and chatting carpenters and masons. Morale is high, I thought. All told, the expedition numbered just over four hundred, half of them fighters.
âMarcus!â I called as I reached the head of the column. The blonde captain turned around. Petrov and a squad of soldiers were at his side.
âJamie, what are you doing here?â Marcus asked, surprise flickering across his face. His gaze drifted from my staff and cloak to the pack on my shoulders. âYouâve decided to accompany us?â
âYeah, I was heading in this direction anyway,â I said, not mentioning that it was at the commanderâs behest that I was here. âYou donât mind?â
âOf course not,â he replied. âWeâre glad to have you.â He gestured towards the distant tree line. âThe scouts were just about to head out to survey our route.â
I glanced at the ten patiently waiting figures, all lightly armored and carrying longbows. Amongst them were two familiar redheadsâLaura and Cassandra. I waved at the pair but didnât interrupt as Marcus gave the scouts their orders.
While Marcus spoke, Petrov stepped closer to me. âThe old lady sent you?â he asked.
I peered up at the big captain, surprised by the question. Petrov didnât usually say much. âShe did,â I replied.
The bearded giantâs jaw worked. âThen she must be worried,â he muttered, more to himself than to me. He didnât say anything further. Dropping his hand to the warhammer slung on his hip, the battle captain scanned the nearby forest suspiciously.
Petrov was carrying one of the enchanted weapons, I noted. I glanced at Marcus. He wore another, a longsword. Idly, I wondered which of the expeditionâs fighters had been given the other two magical blades.
Marcus finished with the scouts, and they raced away, sprinting towards the trees while the column followed more slowly on their heels.
âHow long will it take us to reach the dungeon?â I asked as Marcus rejoined us.
The scout captain eyed the expeditionâs heavily laden sleds. âAt the rate weâre moving, weâll probably only reach there sometime tomorrow.â
I frowned. âSo we will have to camp overnight in the forest?â
Marcus grimaced. âYeah. It canât be helped, but donât worry, weâve planned for it.â He pointed to the spearmen and archers dispersed amongst the convoy. âThatâs why theyâre here. Two hundred soldiers will be more than enough to keep us safe at night.â
With an effort, I refrained from frowning again as I glanced back at the snaking column. I wasnât convinced Marcus was right. Four hundred men, women, and goods on the move made a helluva din, and in the forest at night, we were sure to attract attention. Recalling the phase hounds, I repressed a shudder. If a pack of the beasts beset us, we were sure to take casualties.
âAll the same, Marcus,â I murmured, âwe best be our guard, or the forest will make us rue it.â