Well, the city was at least promising.
Heading back to the camp, alone, I wondered just how rich the veins and resource deposits this whole town had sprung up for were. It seed they'd been mining them for a few years now, but hadn't even gone more than a few hundred feet into the nearby mountain yet. For humans to be so slow in mining was not unnatural, since it had likely taken the first couple years just to set up the mine and town proper, but having so many powerful and wealthy humans move here off only a few years worth of results was… startling. It ant the vein this city was founded on was likely one of those high density ones. Where in a single mine cart they found more gold and other precious materials than you did from dozens of similar carts from other mines.
Plus it was outside any real jurisdiction. Which was why the founders, and the elite, were being so ticulous with who they allowed into the town and whatnot. It wasn't just the fact that the powerful in the city didn't want to share their wealth; they simply didn't want it stolen. If any of the local lords, such as the ones who ruled Ruvindale, tried to take over they'd kick all the current players out and replace them with their own families and nobles. They'd go so far as to slaughter people if they needed to. I'd seen it happen many tis.
But who was brave enough to try and strong-arm a place full of ex-rcenaries and knights?
That was what this town was full of. Forr soldiers and rcenaries. And not just the grunts either, there were people here that commanded thousands of others. Leaders and generals, commanders of entire rcenary bands that didn't just speak for entire armies but had the respect and recognition that ca with such power. They weren't just figureheads or sothing, but genuinely known and even to a point feared individuals. The kind that usually didn't gather all together as they were doing here…
Combine those people with wealth, the truly wealthy, such as the nobles and rchants who have set up camp here… and you got a very powerful force. One that only showed up a few tis per generation.
"I'm surprised they allowed us in," I whispered.
Usually such people didn't like outside influences… and the Church of Songs was probably the greatest influence outside of gold or a sword there was on the planet, currently.
The Church of Songs was not so slouch. Although in my perspective, from the Society's standpoint, we were few in number and barely hanging on… the truth of the matter was the exact opposite. The Church of Songs basically ruled the Nation of the Blind, and all its wealth and millions of inhabitants. It was the biggest, wealthiest, and most powerful nation on this side of the planet… and honestly was not usually one to be trifled with. Even this far north outside of its borders. And none of that included my or any of the Society's influence or power, that was simply what the human-side of the church had at its disposal.
So in theory they could have accepted the church, welcoming it even, as to try and not pick a fight it wouldn't win… but sothing told it was sothing else.
But what, I wonder? I'd only spoken to Randle for a short while, just to confirm what I had already heard and seen from Renn, but it seed we hadn't been approached yet by any of the lords of this town. Nothing beyond the original contract of purchase for the land we were using, at least.
It was a tad concerning. By all counts this town was healthy and growing rapidly. As long as the mine didn't suddenly run out of gold, or so foreign power invade and take over… this place would in the blink of an eye beco another Ruvindale. Likely larger, even. A multi-hundred thousand city, one of a handful in this whole region.
The reason I knew so, and believed it to be inevitable, was a simple fact.
This town was overflowing with gold. I'd checked the local hiring post in town; an entire guild had been built to manage it, and had found that even a simple miner at the mine got a share of the profits. Every miner shared equally one-tenth of the mine's monthly gold output. Granted that one-tenth was likely being shared by hundreds of people in a pool, it was still a mighty sum. And judging by the oddly high prices of so of the goods here, such as a simple al or drink, and how nearly everyone was paying them with a smile…
They were making more than any had before. Most of them, at least. Which was saying sothing since most of the people here were forr rcenaries. Such people usually made quite a bit more than a typical layman in today's era. It was why so many who were capable were drawn to the life, it paid well. So for them to be acting so… carelessly with their money…
It was to a point it was worrying almost.
Humans got weird when they were doing good. When everyone, or basically everyone, was flush with money and had few to no troubles… it didn't always go as happily as one might think.
"Just like in Lun," I whispered as the stone path I was on turned into a dirt one. I'd reached what was considered SilverCreek's current city-limits.
Though not properly paved, it wasn't desolate or empty. Estates were already built around , or being built, and many were the kind that were nicer than they should be. It was a little surprising to see nice brick buildings, even so brick walls and fences around the property lines already. Most didn't seem too occupied yet, based off the way few if any had any lights visible in any of their windows… not even candle light, but I knew it would only be a handful of years before this whole area beca a city-block proper. One that would be reminiscent of Ruvindale's noble district, and if it continued to expand and grow it'd eventually look like the kind of neighborhoods you'd find even in Lun.
Our encampnt was about a block away from here, past where any already built residences were, and as such was kind of alone at the mont. The nearest building to our land was actually not even a proper ho or business, but a large warehouse. One that as far as I could tell was rarely used at the mont. It was likely sothing built to house the materials for the future resident of that plot of land, be it a ho or a business.
I knew without a doubt that when the ti ca I left, and returned a few years later, like I always did any place I went to… this whole area would be different. Instead of fields of lush grass and trees I'd find cobblestone roads, multi-floored mansions and buildings, alleys and shops… even decorations, likely. The towns built during such economic booms usually were wasteful in their early days. Odds are this place would build statues, fancy buildings and roads and so forth… at least until the money dried up.
Because it always did.
Still, all things considered I was glad to find the place healthy and lively. I had honestly been expecting more of a squalor, or maybe a smaller town with only a few hundred residents. Instead I'd found a healthy, upbeat town that wasn't too far off in population to the town near Twin Hills, Bordu.
Although I was still unsure of those who ruled over this city, since I still didn't know yet if it was the rcenaries or the noble families who actually called the shots, I at least didn't feel like my people were in danger here. No more than they were any other human settlent, at least.
The only way this place would beco dangerous for Renn and the rest, is if the mine disappeared or so outside force tried to take it all over. Either of those things, which were both possible at any mont, could be foreseen and avoided by anyone with half a head on their shoulders… so I didn't need to worry over anyone here, at the mont.
But right now as it was, this was not a place I could bring the others to.
Berri and her family had expressed a desire to move here. As did Tundra, that young wolf girl. I'd not be comfortable bringing them, or those like them, here… at least not first without taking so rather insane precautions.
Which ant I'd need to sit with Renn and talk to her about this… amongst other things…
I sighed as I finally saw our encampnt. It was still a ways away, but the huge center tent was big enough to stand out even on the horizon. It actually didn't draw too much attention here in SilverCreek, so I'd heard by just talking to random people, because when the other rcenary groups had first arrived they too had used similar tents. It was the kind one built to allow dozens of people in comfortably. A rcenary group would use such a tent for either a ss-hall, or a eting room. We…? We used it for all of that and more.
Smiling at the fresh mory of Renn showing around the camp, particularly where she slept, I found myself… feeling very content. Happy, even.
Which was a surprise, since I'd kind of been ignored by her.
Not long after she had shown around the tent, and I had spent so ti to talk to everyone… such as Randle and rit, Renn had demanded that I take her straight to Sap. I of course had no problem with that, especially since after confirming our little camp was so isolated that there was no reason to force Sap to endure solitude out in the forest alone. So I had taken her and rit to go and pick up Sap, and Liora… who I had intentionally kept mum about to Renn. I had enjoyed surprising her with the young saint, though realized I likely made a mistake bringing her here all the sa.
Liora had wasted no ti on getting on Renn's good side. Before they'd even exchanged nas the young saint had bounded forward and proudly asked to touch her ears, without any hesitation or even any sha. The fact it had worked so well, and had made Renn basically lt for the girl made a tad annoyed.
Renn should have more pride than that…! Why was it a tiny little saint such as her got to so gleefully touch what I still to this day struggle to?
But no matter. After getting Sap and Liora we ca back to camp, and since then I'd not seen or spoken to Renn once. I had left them all in capable hands and had went to examine the town… not just to check it as I usually did any location I visited, but also to see if I could feel or find any divinity.
I hadn't, which was only partly a relief.
"The sound of the other shoe," I said as I stepped ever so slightly harder as I got closer to our camp.
I was expecting it. On guard for it… yet there didn't seem to be any sign of it.
Renn was fine. As was everyone else. And as far as I could tell Renn was her typical upbeat self… if she had any issues at all during my absence, they hadn't been important enough to even note. If anything she seed to be in such a good mood it was…
"Spoke too soon…" I mumbled as I watched Renn leave the encampnt and head my way.
Although glad to see her finally focus on , I had no choice but to admit I now felt anxious. She looked like she was hurrying, though she hadn't broken out into a run she was walking at a quick pace in my direction. Plus she did so alone, and I didn't see anyone watching her leave from the encampnt… which ant she had likely snuck away once she noticed I was returning…
How had she noticed so quickly, I wonder? There had been a slight hill in the way, blocking from sight, until just a few monts ago. Either she'd been on the lookout for at just the right mont, or her senses were getting sharper…
All the sa, even with her quick approach making worry for what was about to be said or done… I still found myself smiling.
By my parents she looked good. She was of course hiding her ears and tail here, even though the camp was isolated it wasn't so far away from the town that she could risk doing anything but. Plus I'd been told that they occasionally got visitors, such as rcenaries coming to pray and confess to Randle.
I slowed my pace as I stepped off the road and waited for Renn to reach . Usually I'd keep walking, as to et her in the middle, but the fact she was hurrying a little told she wanted to speak to in private… so I didn't want to go any closer to our encampnt than needed. A few of the mbers there, such as rit and Sap, had the kind of hearing that if we were too close our words would carry on the wind and be picked up by them.
Plus I'd really like to spend so ti alone with her, even if but for a mont.
This book's true ho is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
She slowed as she got near and gave the smile only I ever got. A happy, but calm smile. The kind soone could only genuinely wear when utterly content in life. One that told my earlier worry had not been as justified. Maybe she just wanted a mont alone and…
"Vim, I'm upset!" she said, though with a grin, as she ca to a stop a couple steps from .
My eye twitched, since I kind of had been hoping she'd just run up into my arms… "How can I cure you of such an ailnt?" I asked.
Renn's grin twitched, as if to mimic my eye doing so a mont ago, and I noted her hat shifted ever so slightly. In a way that told she hadn't pinned it down, her ears had likely fluttered in the way they did when I said such odd things and had moved it ever so slightly. "Why'd you say it all formally like that?" she asked.
"I've been traveling with a very educated little girl; she's rubbed off on . What's wrong, Renn? Your smile makes question the validity of your statent," I asked.
Her smile tried to hide itself, but all Renn accomplish was make herself look even cuter as she gave a glare. "Who gave you permission to leave without ?" she asked.
I frowned at her as I crossed my arms. "You were enthralled by your… friends," I said. I'd almost said family, and even though it was probably how she saw them… in theory only Sap was a family mber. For her at least… For now, at least.
"So…? There were things I wanted to talk about," she said, crossing her own arms as she raised her chin at .
She of course was not actually upset with . Even an idiot could see that… but at the sa ti, there was a hint of legitimacy in her anger. I could see it in her eyes. Though if she was upset with for having left without inviting her to see the town, or upset at herself for not being able to choose between her own desires and wants I couldn't tell.
"Hm… well, I'd invite you to eat dinner in town… but I think both of us would get in trouble if we did that," I said.
Renn's hat shifted again as she finally lost her smile and frowned for the first ti since this afternoon when I had startled her by the river. "Yes… I'd turn you down if you offered, and I think a few people would be upset with you too. Randle wants to talk to you, he asked to make sure you didn't leave town before you got a chance to talk privately," she said.
I nodded. I had expected it… and honestly expected far more than just a request from Randle. People usually had a request or two even on a good day, let alone those at a brand new location… "That's actually sothing I wanted to talk to you about," I said gently.
This ti I heard her pants shift as her tail squird beneath them. "What…? Don't tell you have to leave already…?" Renn's frown turned into a real one, a deep and furrowed one that made my heart feel anxious. She suddenly looked as if I'd just told her that her tail was ugly.
"No…! No. I actually hope to stick around for a bit… I saw your work so far, the foundation of it, I think I'll help you build at least a building or two before leaving again," I said quickly. By my parents for a mont there she looked as if I'd just broken her heart!
Renn blinked a few tis and then gave a toothy grin. "Oh, good…!"
Yes… it was… I didn't hide the breath of relief as I nodded. "So... What are you really upset about?" I asked.
Her smile twitched as this ti both her pants and her hat shifted and she actually leered at and leaned back a bit. "Is… is it that easy to tell?" she asked worriedly.
"You pried yourself away from not just all your friends, and Sap who is basically a family mber, but also a young saint who I have no doubt has been waiting her whole life to see you… just to co talk to little old . I know you love Renn, but I also know what you love more than anything and you'd not step away from it just to talk to a few hours earlier than you usually would," I said.
I had expected Renn to give a lovely smile… since I'd just blatantly spoken, and proven, just how well I knew her… yet instead I found her face shifting into one of sadness. Her whole deanor changed before my eyes, and I knew if they weren't hidden her ears and tail would be drooping right now.
"Renn…?" I asked worriedly. Had what I said hurt her sohow…? I had not ant any ill-will behind the words, and I had thought she knew more than well enough to know that. I actually adored the fact she was friendly with so many, varied, people. It brought great joy and pride to know my wife was capable of being so loved, and loving so strongly others. It made feel…
"I'm okay… I just… I know you didn't an anything by it, but I just felt terrible. You're right, Vim… I do prioritize others over you sotis, I'm sorry."
"Renn I hadn't ant that…" I said quickly before she could continue, she had been about to.
She nodded gently at . "I know. I know. I… to be honest Vim, there's a lot we need to talk about… so much of it is so important too, so yes… I shouldn't be ignoring you. I should have pulled you aside right away and… I didn't…" Renn spoke calmly, but I could hear and see her emotions plainly. She was looking downward, as if at my feet, and had gone to twirling her fingers together… as she did I noted one of her longer and thicker braids of hair slide off her shoulder and around behind her. I studied the thick braid, and wondered why she was letting her hair get so long. The last ti I'd seen it this long had been when I had first seen her, way back when she had joined the Society in Ruvindale…
"All's well, Renn. I hadn't ant that statent to bother you… After all this ti you should know full well how much I enjoy the way you cherish your relationships with those we call friends," I said.
Renn again nodded, and this ti did so with a smile. "I know… And here we are wasting our precious monts, again," she said as her smile turned into a smirk.
"Stop wasting them then."
She reached up and scratched at her nose as she tried to hide her smirk. "Putting on the spot here…" she mumbled as she scratched her nose.
"So what's the plan with the cot…?" I asked.
Renn startled, as I figured she would. Her eyes went wide as her hat shifted so much it nearly revealed a tuft of her left ear, and she began to panic. "Wha…! Wait…!" she imdiately realized what I ant, and groaned as she reached up to adjust her hat. "You're right…! It's too small for both of us…!" she said as she realized it.
I nodded with a smirk. Now she looked angry and flustered for a better reason. When she had showed her tent earlier, I had noticed her cot was just a one person bed. Sothing made with wood as to not have to sleep on the ground. Not too surprising, at all, considering their current living arrangents… but that ant we'd not really be able to sleep together. At least not in the sa bed. It was just too flimsy and small for , let alone both of us at once.
Renn seed rather bothered by this revelation, since she couldn't seem to get her hat back on straight. My smirk grew as I stepped forward and reached up and grabbed the hat. I settled it for her, making sure to not bother her ears as I did. "Honestly, as much as it upsets to say… I would like to ask a favor, concerning the whole sleeping arrangent thing," I said.
"Yes, I'm more than happy to sleep on the ground. It's what we do when traveling half the ti anyway, I'll just lay against you more than usual," she said before I could explain.
I frowned a bit as I leaned back away from her so I could study her serious expression. That hadn't been her teasing or joking, not even flirting, she was being serious.
"I see… well, I was going to suggest sothing a tad different," I said.
"Hm…?"
"Liora," I said.
For a tiny mont Renn's face contorted into annoyance… and then as she understood my aning she cald down and nodded. "You want her to sleep with . To keep her safe," she said without any hesitation.
I nodded, glad she understood. "Yes. It's not that I don't trust anyone else… Such as rit and even Randle, but Randle… well…"
"Is down an arm, yes," Renn nodded, understanding perfectly.
"And rit doesn't like sleeping with people. She also… doesn't care much for saints. Though she'd never not protect the girl just because of her past grievances, I don't want to make her uncomfortable when…" I went to explain why I'd not ask rit as well, and Renn happily smiled and patted on the chest to stop .
"Say no more, Vim. Yes. I'll happily keep her close. Plus rit's tent is next to mine, and she's always tagging along with everywhere, so she'll basically be protecting the girl too," Renn said, interrupting .
I smiled at my lovely wife who so readily agreed to sothing that most would either find utterly unappealing… or terribly frightening.
Most people didn't want anything to do with saints, let alone be responsible for their well-being. To say no least to one who was basically just a child.
"Thank you… That doesn't an I can't sleep in your tent still, with you, but I'll probably just rest when you two aren't in there."
"You're starting to make think you found her on purpose, just for this," Renn said with a smirk.
"Please," I scoffed at the idea.
She giggled at and nodded. "I forgive you. Either way. In exchange though… while you're here, please give so ti. I… really do have things I want to talk about, Vim," she said, and did so a little quietly.
I focused on her eyes, and the way they had softened a little… and I wondered just what it was that was biting at the tip of her tail. A part of hoped it wasn't too serious, since she hadn't brought it up yet… but…
There was sothing telling that her lack of saying it, here and now, was not because it wasn't important enough… but rather because she was scared to say it. Hesitant. As if… what? Afraid of what I'd hear?
"Well… if it's any consolation, I too have sothing very important to talk about. But you're going to have to give ti to build up my courage to say it," I said.
Renn happily nodded at . "I'm used to that, Vim. Take your ti."
No… I can't. Couldn't. Even if I wanted to.
For a small mont nothing was said between us… and I wondered why I didn't feel more anxious. I should, I knew I should be. I an…
I blinked and realized I'd not breathed in so ti. Not since I'd just spoken. I took in a small breath, which made her eye's narrow a little… as she expectantly waited for to say sothing. Yet I didn't. Because I was afraid to.
Because the mont I said it aloud… I needed to say more than just those words.
I couldn't just tell her that I had t another god. I couldn't just tell her I had killed him, either.
I needed to tell her the truth. I owed it to her.
The whole truth.
The saddest part wasn't even that her life was in danger. But…
Hey Renn, love of my life; I was willing to sacrifice you. I chose my anger and vengeance over your life. Without any real hesitation, is that okay with you?
I looked away from Renn's gentle gaze and looked around the world for a mont. To both distract from my own disgusting self and to make sure all was well.
It was. There was now a little bit of smoke coming from our encampnt, but it was obviously just for cooking. It was nearing dinner ti.
How was it I could face literal gods without flinching yet couldn't just say a few words when it mattered…?
"So…? How was the town?"
I blinked and looked back down at my wife, and found her patiently smiling at . Like usual… she was the one who had made a move first. To pardon . To give ti. To accept , and all my failures.
Shifting ever so slightly, I nodded in thanks to her. "It's a nice town, Renn. I'm still concerned over a few things, but so far so good. I think as long as nothing too odd happens, you and the rest will be safe here for so ti to co," I said.
She nodded. "Yes. That's been everyone else's… ah! Actually there is sothing concerning, another thing I should have brought up a lot sooner!" she said as she suddenly rembered sothing.
"This is… different than the other stuff you need to speak to about…?" I asked worriedly.
She nodded quickly, and turned and pointed at the encampnt. "Let's go back. I have a heart for you."
My eyes narrowed as I frowned at her. "Excuse …?" Was this her odd attempt at a joke?
"Soone nad Rivonne ca and gave it to . She gave a box with a heart in it, and told to tell you the mont you got here to go see her. She's supposedly one of the ruling lords of the town," Renn said, speaking quickly as she did.
Rivonne…?
Renn grabbed my wrist and went to tugging to join her. I did so, while scrounging through my thoughts and mories in search of the na.
It sounded familiar, but I didn't rember it… and the familiarity I felt might just be because I knew I should know the na, and thus expected myself to do so. Yet I didn't. Rivonne didn't ring any bells at all.
"Rivonne…?" I asked as we headed for the camp.
"Yeah. A noblewoman. Not much older than , I an… how I look, you know? Randle and a few others have inquired about her in town and she's one of the three main families that started the mine. She's from so powerful noble family from the Nation of the Blind, though her family line hasn't lived there for so ti I guess," Renn began to tell all she seemingly knew of this Rivonne… and I still couldn't rember the na at all.
"If they're from there, shouldn't Randle know who they are?" I asked. Randle might not be a part of the church proper anymore, but he had basically been running the church for the last few hundred years. And unlike most he was very, very, particular about knowing anything and everything about the nation the Church of Songs led. If this Rivonne was from the Nation of the Blind, even if just her ancestry, then Randle really should know all about her.
"He doesn't. But he said that was likely her first na, not her last na and he really only knows the last nas of the nobles and royals anymore in Telmik. This way, rit buried it in the tent Sap's using," Renn said as we entered the encampnt.
Right… that made sense. And rit had buried it…? I'll need to thank her later for keeping it a distance from Renn, I'd not said anything yet but she had already fully absorbed the heart I'd given her in Lun. If she spent too long near another right now there was a chance she'd absorb it too.
As we headed for one of the tents Renn slowed a bit as she turned to give an odd grin. One that made brace myself, since I knew sothing terrifying was about to co from her pretty lips.
"While I dig it up, you can tell all about Fressi and why she's going around telling people she's going to steal you from !"
Reviews
All reviews (0)