BOOK 11: CHAPTER 24: MINOR SETBACK

24 – Minor Setback

Behind Fausto’s castle, through a walled-off garden lined with beautifully sculpted gargoyles, Herringbone led Victor to a locked, iron gate that closed off stone stairs leading into darkness. “The master’s speaking stone is down there, milord.”

“Speaking stone, huh?” Victor nodded, approaching the gate. He was alone with the strange man, having sent his captains and soldiers to secure the rest of the castle. He didn’t think any vampires or undead were lingering in the place. He could feel the death-attuned Energy departing the city like steam being burnt off by the sun. With the Ancient Lord dead, any remaining Bloodcloaks had to be on the run. Little did they know that Victor’s raven was already hunting for them, and his coyotes would ensure none escaped the valley.

He pulled on the gate, testing its strength, and felt a significant amount of Energy within the ancient black metal. “Was there a key?”

Herringbone nodded as he picked at a sore on his ear. “The master had a key.”

Victor reached into his pocket and pulled out the jewelry he’d taken off the vampire before immolating him. Looking with his inner eye, he confirmed that most were simple ornate jewels—beautiful to be sure, but nothing of much interest to him. He tucked those back into his pocket, then examined the two rings left in his hand. One pulsed with dark, death-tainted Energy, but the other was simpler, glowing with the rich yellow hue of unattuned Energy.

He put the Death Caster ring back into his pocket, planning to let Arona take a look when he next saw her. The other ring, he sent a touch of Energy into, and his mind opened up to a relatively small dimensional space. “Huh.” He’d expected more, but once again, he had to reflect on the nature of Fausto’s existence. He’d come to power without the System’s presence, cut off from the universe at large. Perhaps dimensional containers were rarer on Dark Ember—or, at least, they had been for Fausto in his isolated valley.

The ring held a tremendous amount of wealth in gems, though not nearly as much gold and silver as Victor would have expected. He wondered if the castle had a vault. Beyond that, he found some journals, a wardrobe of suits, cloaks, and fine, silken shirts, and many beautifully crafted swords. In a small, gold-inlaid ivory box, he also discovered more rings and several keys. Victor gave the lock on the gate another look, then picked the only key that looked like it might fit.

“Here we go,” he said, giving the key a try. It clicked with well-oiled ease, and Victor pulled the gate wide. “Anything else I should know before going down? Is the stone hard to find?”

“No, milord. Straight down into a great hall. The stone is at the center.”

Victor nodded. “Good. Go and find some soldiers and tell them I said to feed you.”

Herringbone bowed deeply, then turned and scurried off through the garden. Victor descended the stone steps. As he went, red-tinted globes of glass came to life, throwing the stairs into shades of crimson. At the bottom, just as Herringbone had said, a great stone hall opened up, illuminated by more of those red-tinted globes. In the center of the chamber stood a modest-sized System Stone, similar to the one that he and his allies had planted in the Free Marches when they’d first settled the land.

Victor strode forward, his boots clicking on the stone. The hall was cold, but he could see the furthest corners; there wasn’t anything dangerous lurking down there. When he stood before the dark obelisk, silvery runes began to shift beneath its mirror-smooth surface. “All right, let’s see what’s going on here.”

Victor reached up and placed his palm on the cool surface. Almost immediately, a System message filled his vision:

***This settlement’s only citizen has been slain. Do you intend to claim leadership?***

Victor shook his head, surprised. Fausto apparently hadn’t let any of his underlings use the stone, not even to declare themselves as citizens. He supposed it explained the stone’s size; it hadn’t been improved at all. Shrugging, he said, “Yes.”

***Congratulations! You’ve taken ownership of this Settlement Stone and are now the leader of the Frost Peak Vale settlement. This settlement spans the 3.4 million square acres that lie nestled between the mountain ranges to the north, east, south, and west. Current Population: 1. Settlement Stone level: 2.***

“Ah, dammit.” Victor groaned. In all his planning, all his schemes for killing a vampire and capturing a System Stone, he hadn’t anticipated that the stupid vampire lord wouldn’t have leveled it. He knew from experience in the Free Marches that level two was very easy to earn. So were the next couple of levels. Why had that lazy pendejo

left it at that?

Rather than fume and stew, Victor began planning how he’d level it quickly. This was a minor setback—nothing more. He needed more citizens—easy enough—and he’d need a large quantity of Energy beads—again, something he could manage. There were some other restrictions he’d have to go through before he could open up the world travel options, but he was confident he could make it happen relatively quickly. Nodding to himself, he turned and strode from the hall. First things first—he’d have his soldiers and all of the thralls they’d rescue become citizens.

###

Olivia climbed into the coach, careful not to snag her new dress on the steps that extended from the base of the vehicle. When she saw Edeya and Lam sitting inside, both beautifully dressed in silken gowns that complemented the color of their wings, she smiled and moved to sit on the empty seat facing them. “Good evening, ladies! Thank you again for picking me up.” She’d decided to purchase a new dress in the last minute, and so had been in Sojourn when they left.

“Well, you cut it close.” Lam winced as Edeya nudged her with her elbow.

“Don’t listen to her, Olivia. That dress is beautiful, by the way. What a good choice to buy something new!”

Olivia looked down at the silvery, silken dress, embellished by bits of delicate gauze at the shoulders. It was very figure-hugging—not at all the kind of outfit she’d ever have been brave enough to wear back on Earth, but now… Well, now things were different, weren’t they? She was an Elemental Archon and, when she made her way back to Fanwath, she’d be one of the most powerful people on an entire planet. More pertinent, though, was the fact that, with her many racial advancements, she was tall, her skin was perfect, and her hair was as lustrous as polished obsidian. Why shouldn’t she show off a little bit?

“Did I embarrass you?” Edeya leaned forward to grasp Olivia’s wrist gently.

“No! No, no—I was just thinking about how I used to dress back home. I was a scientist, and I hated to be the center of attention.”

“You look very nice,” Lam said, perhaps a little regretful of her earlier brusqueness.

“You’re both so beautiful,” Olivia gushed. “I love how your wings are always alight. Ghelli are just so graceful and…” She trailed off, blushing.

Lam looked at Edeya, and the two shared a smile before Edeya said, “Too bad Victor doesn’t have a way with words like that.”

Lam chuckled. “He might have more luck with the ladies.”

“He’s sweet!” Olivia said, feeling a silly urge to defend her “cousin” despite the fact that both of those women knew him far better than she.

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Edeya nodded, smiling. “We’re just teasing. Are you excited for the party?”

“Honestly, I’m nervous. After everything I’ve heard about the Ridonne…” She shrugged. “I’m just glad they seem to be rather distant from the ones on Fanwath.”

“So they say.” Lam clicked her tongue, shaking her head.

“You think they’re lying?”

Edeya answered for Lam. “She just doesn’t trust them. Be on your guard, but that’s good advice anytime you’re dealing with people much higher level than yourself.”

Olivia nodded. She’d reached tier five over the last couple of years, but there would be people as high as tier nine and even some steel seekers at the party. “What about Lesh?” She hoped the dragonkin would be there. They’d spent a lot of time practicing together, and he made her feel comfortable, even among the tier-nine iron rankers who came to Dar’s estate to spar with him and each other.

“He said he’d come, but he was at Darren’s, helping him work on a cultivation chamber in his new place. He’ll get his own ride.”

Olivia chuckled. She still couldn’t believe that Darren Whitehorse had become an avian, and more than that, had married a woman on Sojourn. Looking back at the time, nearly two years ago, when she’d gone to the Free Marches to ask Victor and his friends to help her and Issa politically, she’d never dreamed it would end up the way it did.

“What’s funny?” Lam asked, arching one of her delicate, downy eyebrows.

“Just Darren. He was such a terrible ass when I first met him. I mean, for years, he made life difficult for Issa back in First Landing. He’s changed so much!”

Lam nodded. “He’s been through a lot, and I think having Lesh as a role model has been very good for him.”

Olivia smiled, her eyes unfocusing as she pictured the many interactions she’d seen between Darren and Lesh. “Many people I know back home could benefit from spending some time with Lesh.”

They chatted about other things—small talk, really—but Olivia’s mind drifted as she contemplated how much things had changed since she and the other humans first arrived on Fanwath. Mostly, it was the expansion of her point of view when she’d first traveled to Sojourn that had her thoughts drifting. She’d thought the petty politics of First Landing to be so critical, but they were nothing in the grand scheme of things.

She’d learned of a world where islands as big as North America floated through the sky, orbiting a globe of ice. She’d learned of entire planets ruled by the undead. She could take out her notebook and list a thousand such things, wonders she’d never imagined possible. The point was, she no longer thought the petty politics of home—First Landing—or the academy, or even the capital and the Ridonne, were anything to spend too much time dwelling on.

Of course, that brought to mind Issa and the hard work she’d done making First Landing the success it was. It truly was becoming a wonderful city where people were free and treated as such, regardless of their species. Still, it was hard to believe that people, even Issa and Morgan, bless his heart, were spending so much of their time and effort on a place so small.

“Hello? Olivia?”

Olivia blinked, chuckling as she realized Edeya had been trying to get her attention. “Sorry, Deya.”

Lam pointed to the window near the front of the coach. “We’re pulling up to the estate.”

“Oh! That went fast.”

Edeya nodded, scooting forward. “The property isn’t far from the city.”

When the coach came to a halt, Olivia heard the driver move from his cabin, and then he opened the door, extending a hand to help Edeya, Lam, and then Olivia out. When she stepped onto the porcelain-tiled walkway, Olivia looked up to see a beautiful sprawling estate nestled among flowering fruit trees. It wasn’t as exotic a location as Dar’s lake house, but it was most definitely a lovely setting.

The tile pathway led up to a high, arched, hammered-silver awning, where fireflies, huge and swollen, swam lazily through the air, shedding their soft amber light on the open front door. A small man, whom Olivia recognized as one of the goat-like Cadwali from Fanwath, stood by the door, taking guests’ coats and hats. Lam led the way up the steps, and the Cadwali doorman bowed as he waved the three of them through.

Olivia had spent enough time in Sojourn that opulent homes had ceased to make much of an impression on her; still, she admired the fine furnishings and elegant décor of the estate as they followed the other party-goers down the central hall and out onto an expansive rear deck. The wood was stained a soft honey-brown, and it was built in such a way as to encompass dozens of tall, well-pruned fruit trees.

The scent of the blossoms was intoxicating, and it blended with delicate stringed-instrument music that echoed from further into the grove, putting Olivia into a very relaxed state of mind. Edeya waved over another Cadwalli carrying a silver tray laden with delicate fluted glasses. She and Lam both took one of the glasses, careful not to slosh the fizzy blue liquid. Seeing that, Olivia, of course, felt obliged to try one too.

She’d just taken a sip when a rich, tenor voice behind her said, “Ah, ladies! You accepted my invitation! I’m thrilled!”

She turned to see a huge, red-gold man whose physical characteristics reminded her of an overgrown, horn-adorned Shadeni. He was dressed in black silk—shirt and pants—and his fingers, horns, and ears were bedecked with glittering, jewel-studded rings.

“Warin-dak,” Lam said, inclining her head.

“Lam, Edeya, and…” he looked pointedly at Olivia. “Who’s this vision?”

“This is Olivia Bennet,” Edeya said, moving closer and taking Olivia’s elbow. “She’s a good friend.”

“Fascinating! You must have a potent elemental affinity to effect such a halo!”

Olivia sighed, wishing she’d made the effort to restrain her fiery aura. It was a side effect of her Elemental Archon class—well, that and her unusually high affinities. She’d decided to leave it be on purpose. After all, she was in Sojourn and was hardly the only person walking around with magical… aspects to their appearance. Look at Lam and Edeya’s wings!

Rather than let her irritation show, she inclined her head and smiled delicately, ignoring the implied question. “A pleasure. Warin-dak, was it? You must be our Ridonne host.”

“I am! Though, don’t let my brother or my cousins hear me making that claim. They’ll try to steal some of the credit.” He glanced past Olivia, and his smile broadened. “Speaking of cousins, there’s my sweet Vessa-dak and her guest. I’d love to introduce you all—they’re an interesting pair.”

Olivia turned and immediately saw the couple to whom Warin referred. The woman was undeniably a Ridonne. Her skin was far more crimson than Warin’s—the only gold Olivia could see was in her eyes. They sparkled in the light, reflecting the glow of the overhead lamps. She was tall and powerful-looking with great, black-feathered wings rising above her shoulders. Her outfit—what little there was of it—was more eye-catching than her physical appearance. She wore a pale, lavender, slip-like dress that barely stretched far enough down her thighs to obscure her matching lavender undergarments.

The man beside her was striking. He was tall, almost human-like in appearance, though his sharp teeth, hawk-like eyes, and gorgeous white-feathered wings set him apart from the people of Earth. He wore slender, straight-legged black slacks under a turquoise shirt, fastened with square, pearlescent buttons.

Warin waved them over. “Vessa! Thoargh! Come, I’d like you to meet some people. They hail from Fanwath!”

###

Victor watched the procession of soldiers and Riverbend citizens walking into and out of the underground chamber where Fausto had placed his City Stone. He hated the location and was already devising plans to excavate the chamber and create an amphitheater-like area where people could more easily access it. He’d put a road through the rear gate of the castle, or if not a road, at least a lane where several people could walk at once. That way, when he began transporting troops and supplies from Ruhn and Fanwath, he wouldn’t have such a bottleneck.

As soon as everyone in the city joined the ranks of his settlement, he ought to be able to start upgrading the stone. He’d have to do certain projects in a particular order, but he didn’t think it would be too difficult to level it to the point where he could unlock world travel. Back when he’d been helping Rellia upgrade the stone in the Free Marches, a million beads had been a fortune to him. Now, he had a hundred times that amount on his person, along with a considerable fortune in precious metals and gems.

He could unlock a System auction house relatively early and, using that, convert some of his physical wealth into beads if needed. He didn’t think it would be necessary. Rellia and her allies had pitched in close to ten million beads, and Victor had secured another couple of million—he was pretty sure that was all he’d need to get world travel going. Of course, some of the projects he’d have to purchase, such as the observatory, would cost more money and take some time, but not all that much—a few weeks at most, if his memory proved accurate.

“Tasya,” he said, getting the captain’s attention. She’d been monitoring the line of future citizens.

She looked up sharply. “Yes, milord?”

“I’d like some help cleaning out some rooms for myself here in this castle.”

“Of course! I’ll get a detail—”

“Hold on, there’s more. Once I’ve got some rooms, I’m going to consume a powerful natural treasure that might make me unavailable for a few days. I’m putting you in charge here while I’m busy.”

She stood up even straighter—if that was possible—and saluted. “I’m honored, milord.”

“In the meantime, send some riders back to Brighton. Spread the word that Riverbend has been liberated and that we need every citizen of the valley to make their way here to declare their citizenship at the System Stone.” Victor nodded to the stairs leading down to the underground stone.

“Of course!”

“Get our non-combat personnel moved up here. This will be our base of operations for a while.”

“And, milord, if we’re attacked while you’re indisposed?”

“My totems will be patrolling, and I’ll put my bear outside my chambers.” Victor chuckled, shaking his head. “I guess, if something comes to the castle that you can’t defeat, run to him and hope he’s in a fighting mood.”