Chapter 410: An Almost Empty Dungeon
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When Lord Aenflynn stepped into the mortal world, reality seemed to buckle beneath the weight of his being.
The air and earth around him shimmered and distorted like water forced into a sphere. Dead foliage breathed life again, bursting with vibrant summer blooms under his feet only to wither and die when his touch left them. His power: to Drestra’s mana senses, blazed like the sun. It felt like he’d brought part of the fey wilds into the material world with him. Or perhaps he was an enduring part of the fae wilds.
His lip curled while he took in the dead fall foliage surrounding them. “I find your mortal world quite distasteful. It’s strangely both stifling, yet barren, and I cannot imagine how you manage to live here. The fact that I am now in your reality should tell you how high my expectations are for what you have to show me.”
“May we meet them, Lord Aenflynn,” Cedric bowed his head, then looked around at the bare trees. “Where we’re goin’ s’not far. The fae gate opened near the dungeon an’ it’s jus’ a short walk from here.”
“Good, then let us move quickly, this world is too oppressive,” the fae lord said, folding his hands behind his back. A sudden pulse of mana saw him rise, hovering a few inches above the earth. Drestra watched his expression carefully; things were going according to plan this far, but the one wrinkle could be his mood.
Fae were creatures of their word, and if angered—and without warning— would not hesitate to strike out at anyone who they felt dishonoured by. And Lord Aenflynn already looked offended by the very world they walked in.
As they made their way to the dungeon, she wondered if they would be able to get the upper hand on the fae lord if he lost his patience or temper with them. As a group they’d been able to stop a greater demon, after all.
She shook her head.
‘No, Zonon-In was a monster, but she doesn’t bleed power the way Aenflynn does. He reminds me of being around Baelin: they both have a presence that feels like you’re near the power of a raging hurricane. …maybe one day, I'll be like them.’
In time, Drestra very likely would be.
But she’d have to survive today first.
“I bring you into a mirror of your childhoods captured by the majesty of my power and the fae wilds,” the fae’s tone was scornful as they moved past debris in the damaged bone-thrasher dungeon. “And you bring me to a dank cave. How charming. Hmmmm, but this is odd. You say this dungeon is nearly empty…I detect the presence of a strange mana in the air.”
Drestra slipped a hand in her bag, resting it on the dungeon core and keeping it there—out of Aenflynn’s sight—for what was coming next. She carefully probed the centre with her mana, pushing against the dark orb’s fierce resistance until she found the distinct apparatus within.
‘Like you did before,’ she thought.
“Wait…” Lord Aenflynn paused. “Something’s up ahead and it’s doing its damndest to be quiet, but of course it’s failing.” He snorted mockingly. “Did you have an ambush in store for me, young ones? Don’t lie, because I will know.”
“No,” Cedric said. “Not tryna t’ambush y’at all. But what’s up there’s got t’do with our demonstration.”
The fae lord frowned. “You’re telling the truth…interesting. I suppose I will see soon enough.”
And soon enough, they entered what had been the central chamber of the dungeon. Most of the evidence of the terrible battle that had taken place there was gone: scores of Ravener-spawn corpses had been removed and incinerated, but blackened walls scorched by fire spells, cleaved by punishing weapons and powerful magics, still remained.
“We’re here,” Drestra announced to the puzzled fae lord. “Now, Lord Aenflynn, I must ask something of you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You’re asking something of me before you do whatever it is you called me here for? Bold. And potentially ominous.”
“Aye, an’ we wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important,” Cedric said. “But we request that y’don’t share what you’re about to see here today with anyone. By your own power an’ your own honour, we hope you’ll swear t’keep everythin’ that happens from here on out between us, unless the three of us gives ya permission t’do otherwise.”
“Oho! And if I say no?” the fae asked.
“Then comin’ here woulda been a waste of your time,” Hart said. “And we wouldn’t want to waste your time, m’lord.”
“I could force you to show me whatever it is, oath or not.”
“You could,” Drestra said. “And you would break negotiations that we have held in good faith. We didn’t insult or attack you, so if you attack us, the dishonour that would stain you would be of your own doing.”
Cedric stiffened, looking at her in warning.
‘You’re treadin’ a little close!’ she could hear him saying.
But she was also focused on Aenflynn’s face. The fae lord stared down at her with that terrible power lurking in his gaze, his face a mask of calm.
Would it stay calm?
Or would the hurricane begin?
“Fine, then,” he said at last. “I will not be the one to spread dishonour among us, and I would hate for this trip to your…‘quaint’ little cavern to be a waste. So, in the spirit of honour, I swear upon my name and my honour not to share words, deeds or happenings regarding anything said, revealed or done in this place.”
Cedric bowed his head, and took a deep breath. “Thank you,” he said, before turning to Drestra. “Alright, the floor’s all yours.”
Her attention had shifted to a number of tunnels shrouded in darkness at the back of the cavern.
“Look over there, Lord Aenflynn.” The Sage pointed, then closed her eyes, falling into the dungeon core, pushing against its power.
Nerves gripped her. She’d only get one chance.
For the plan to work, she had to show the fae lord that their position was strong. She couldn’t afford to falter now. With these thoughts spurring her, Drestra fell deeper into the dungeon core, wrestling with its power, fighting its resistance.
Aenflynn’s eyebrows rose and his eyes narrowed on her bag. She’d expected that from him: an ancient, powerful, magical being would be able to sense something, even if he didn’t know exactly what it was, and as long as he wasn’t alarmed enough to do something rash and remained peacefully curious, it didn’t matter.
Her mana seized a section of the dungeon core’s centre, and opening her eyes, she activated the core.
It was time to give him something to look at.
Mana rushed from the dungeon core, reaching for the shadowy tunnels in the rear of the chamber. The Sage’s jaw clenched behind her veil as she worked through precise movements with her mana. The actions were still new to her so the results were clumsy and imprecise, but they were adequate, and from the back of the chamber, a heavy footstep echoed, followed by another. And another. An awkward hulking thing stumbled through the passageway, introduced by a pair of staring eyes that slowly advanced in the darkness.
It trudged squarely into the silver light shining from the fae lord’s eyes.
A Ravener-spawn.
A bone-charger.
Lord Aenflynn frowned as the creature lurched toward them. “Hm, it seems you missed one earlier. Though it appears ill, or perhaps injured from your fight with...”
His words trailed off.
The hulking monster had stopped in front of them. It watched the group for a heartbeat…then Drestra made another adjustment to the core and with a shudder of its massive form, the Ravener-spawn slowly bent its head and lowered its front legs. One arm swept below its neck while the other rose in the air. The movement was clumsy. It wasn’t fluid. But it was unmistakable.
The bone-charger was bowing.
Drestra looked at the fae lord and—for an instant—his expression slipped: a parting of his lips combined with a slackening of his jaw. He’d gaped ever so slightly.
‘We might have him,’ she thought.
A heartbeat later, his face was back to its cool, controlled expression, but now, a long finger was perched beneath his chin like he was deep in thought. “Interesting, the way you used a controlling spell to puppet this creature and have it do your bidding. But what does this have to do with me?”
“Hold that thought,” Drestra concentrated on the dungeon core, fighting through its mana and bringing another monster to life.
Soon two sets of thundering, stumbling footsteps echoed from the darkness in the back of the cavern. A pair of bone-chargers emerged. They stumbled forward with less agility than the first—controlling two was mind-bendingly difficult—but they still stopped obediently before the Heroes and fae lord and lowered themselves in a bow that mirrored the first spawn’s.
Drestra pulled her mana from the orb, taking a moment to gather herself from the exertion of controlling it.
‘There’s gotta be a better way to do this,’ she thought. ‘A way for me to only give them orders to follow.’
The only way Drestra could control the Ravener-spawn for now was by feeling about in the dungeon core and using its inner apparatuses to ‘direct’ the creatures. It was difficult, slow, and trying, and she felt there had to be a better, more efficient way to get the monsters to follow her commands.
She’d make do for the time being since she’d had very little time to practise.
Her attention turned to Aenflynn as he studied the creatures, his silver eyes pulsing with light.
“More than one. Interesting. A fine show you’ve put on for me, my dear, but I still do not see what this has to do with our deal.”
“It’s simple,” Drestra gestured to the monsters. “You said you wanted mortal children to raise as soldiers in exchange for fae warriors you provide to fight alongside us. These creatures will be ready for your army. They’re Ravener-spawn, so no training necessary.”
“They do not even move properly,” Lord Aenflynn chuckled.
“They will,” Drestra said. “And they are all mortal, and all aged under five winters.”
Lord Aenflynn shot her a startled look, then burst out laughing. The cavern rumbled with the weight of the fae lord’s superior tone as rock rose and fell like rough waters. She noticed that his canines looked unusually sharp.
The three Heroes stepped closer to each other.
“Ah, mortal humour, how amusing,” Aenflynn said. “You’ve matched my requirements at the most basic level…and all I see here are three monsters, not the four hundred you promised.”
“Hold that thought,” the Sage poured her power back into the orb.
She felt around.
There was enough mana inside of it for maybe one final demonstration.
Drestra cautiously reached for the centre of the core, triggering another apparatus. A greater wave of power exploded from the dungeon core, lighting up the air, seeping into nearby stone. Rock shimmered, an enormous cocoon with a moist appearance rose from the cavern floor. The core’s mana increased, swelling the casing to bursting, squelching sounds oozed from inside. And then…
A soggy tearing noise followed, and a bone-charger slipped to the cave floor, ready for Drestra to quickly seize control of it, and with a final pulse of her will, the newborn bowed.
Lord Aenflynn watched closely, but wordlessly. So Drestra spoke first. “As you can see, it’ll take time, but you will have the promised creatures to fight for you. And besides, what’s time to you? As you said, you have all the time in the world.”
A twitch of amusement touched the fae’s face as he clapped loudly. “Well done! Well done!” His voice was strangely casual. “You’ve found an interesting little trick…but I’m afraid it is no more than that; an interesting trick. I do believe I will deny your counter-proposal and request the three hundred mortal children I have asked for. As usual, I will give you one moon to think on it. I look forward to our next meeting.”
Drestra, Hart and Cedric looked at each other.
The two young men nodded.
The Sage was still, looking up at the fae lord, her golden eyes meeting his glowing silver ones.
“That’s a shame,” she said. “In that case, this will be our final goodbye. We won’t be meeting again.”
He paused. “I beg your pardon?”
“It’s been a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Aenflynn.” She lowered her head. “Since that is your position, negotiations are over. Sorry we couldn’t work things out.”
And now the final stage of the Heroes’ plan was in play.
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When Lord Aenflynn stepped into the mortal world, reality seemed to buckle beneath the weight of his being.
The air and earth around him shimmered and distorted like water forced into a sphere. Dead foliage breathed life again, bursting with vibrant summer blooms under his feet only to wither and die when his touch left them. His power: to Drestra’s mana senses, blazed like the sun. It felt like he’d brought part of the fey wilds into the material world with him. Or perhaps he was an enduring part of the fae wilds.
His lip curled while he took in the dead fall foliage surrounding them. “I find your mortal world quite distasteful. It’s strangely both stifling, yet barren, and I cannot imagine how you manage to live here. The fact that I am now in your reality should tell you how high my expectations are for what you have to show me.”
“May we meet them, Lord Aenflynn,” Cedric bowed his head, then looked around at the bare trees. “Where we’re goin’ s’not far. The fae gate opened near the dungeon an’ it’s jus’ a short walk from here.”
“Good, then let us move quickly, this world is too oppressive,” the fae lord said, folding his hands behind his back. A sudden pulse of mana saw him rise, hovering a few inches above the earth. Drestra watched his expression carefully; things were going according to plan this far, but the one wrinkle could be his mood.
Fae were creatures of their word, and if angered—and without warning— would not hesitate to strike out at anyone who they felt dishonoured by. And Lord Aenflynn already looked offended by the very world they walked in.
As they made their way to the dungeon, she wondered if they would be able to get the upper hand on the fae lord if he lost his patience or temper with them. As a group they’d been able to stop a greater demon, after all.
She shook her head.
‘No, Zonon-In was a monster, but she doesn’t bleed power the way Aenflynn does. He reminds me of being around Baelin: they both have a presence that feels like you’re near the power of a raging hurricane. …maybe one day, I'll be like them.’
In time, Drestra very likely would be.
But she’d have to survive today first.
“I bring you into a mirror of your childhoods captured by the majesty of my power and the fae wilds,” the fae’s tone was scornful as they moved past debris in the damaged bone-thrasher dungeon. “And you bring me to a dank cave. How charming. Hmmmm, but this is odd. You say this dungeon is nearly empty…I detect the presence of a strange mana in the air.”
Drestra slipped a hand in her bag, resting it on the dungeon core and keeping it there—out of Aenflynn’s sight—for what was coming next. She carefully probed the centre with her mana, pushing against the dark orb’s fierce resistance until she found the distinct apparatus within.
‘Like you did before,’ she thought.
“Wait…” Lord Aenflynn paused. “Something’s up ahead and it’s doing its damndest to be quiet, but of course it’s failing.” He snorted mockingly. “Did you have an ambush in store for me, young ones? Don’t lie, because I will know.”
“No,” Cedric said. “Not tryna t’ambush y’at all. But what’s up there’s got t’do with our demonstration.”
The fae lord frowned. “You’re telling the truth…interesting. I suppose I will see soon enough.”
And soon enough, they entered what had been the central chamber of the dungeon. Most of the evidence of the terrible battle that had taken place there was gone: scores of Ravener-spawn corpses had been removed and incinerated, but blackened walls scorched by fire spells, cleaved by punishing weapons and powerful magics, still remained.
“We’re here,” Drestra announced to the puzzled fae lord. “Now, Lord Aenflynn, I must ask something of you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You’re asking something of me before you do whatever it is you called me here for? Bold. And potentially ominous.”
“Aye, an’ we wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important,” Cedric said. “But we request that y’don’t share what you’re about to see here today with anyone. By your own power an’ your own honour, we hope you’ll swear t’keep everythin’ that happens from here on out between us, unless the three of us gives ya permission t’do otherwise.”
“Oho! And if I say no?” the fae asked.
“Then comin’ here woulda been a waste of your time,” Hart said. “And we wouldn’t want to waste your time, m’lord.”
“I could force you to show me whatever it is, oath or not.”
“You could,” Drestra said. “And you would break negotiations that we have held in good faith. We didn’t insult or attack you, so if you attack us, the dishonour that would stain you would be of your own doing.”
Cedric stiffened, looking at her in warning.
‘You’re treadin’ a little close!’ she could hear him saying.
But she was also focused on Aenflynn’s face. The fae lord stared down at her with that terrible power lurking in his gaze, his face a mask of calm.
Would it stay calm?
Or would the hurricane begin?
“Fine, then,” he said at last. “I will not be the one to spread dishonour among us, and I would hate for this trip to your…‘quaint’ little cavern to be a waste. So, in the spirit of honour, I swear upon my name and my honour not to share words, deeds or happenings regarding anything said, revealed or done in this place.”
Cedric bowed his head, and took a deep breath. “Thank you,” he said, before turning to Drestra. “Alright, the floor’s all yours.”
Her attention had shifted to a number of tunnels shrouded in darkness at the back of the cavern.
“Look over there, Lord Aenflynn.” The Sage pointed, then closed her eyes, falling into the dungeon core, pushing against its power.
Nerves gripped her. She’d only get one chance.
For the plan to work, she had to show the fae lord that their position was strong. She couldn’t afford to falter now. With these thoughts spurring her, Drestra fell deeper into the dungeon core, wrestling with its power, fighting its resistance.
Aenflynn’s eyebrows rose and his eyes narrowed on her bag. She’d expected that from him: an ancient, powerful, magical being would be able to sense something, even if he didn’t know exactly what it was, and as long as he wasn’t alarmed enough to do something rash and remained peacefully curious, it didn’t matter.
Her mana seized a section of the dungeon core’s centre, and opening her eyes, she activated the core.
It was time to give him something to look at.
Mana rushed from the dungeon core, reaching for the shadowy tunnels in the rear of the chamber. The Sage’s jaw clenched behind her veil as she worked through precise movements with her mana. The actions were still new to her so the results were clumsy and imprecise, but they were adequate, and from the back of the chamber, a heavy footstep echoed, followed by another. And another. An awkward hulking thing stumbled through the passageway, introduced by a pair of staring eyes that slowly advanced in the darkness.
It trudged squarely into the silver light shining from the fae lord’s eyes.
A Ravener-spawn.
A bone-charger.
Lord Aenflynn frowned as the creature lurched toward them. “Hm, it seems you missed one earlier. Though it appears ill, or perhaps injured from your fight with...”
His words trailed off.
The hulking monster had stopped in front of them. It watched the group for a heartbeat…then Drestra made another adjustment to the core and with a shudder of its massive form, the Ravener-spawn slowly bent its head and lowered its front legs. One arm swept below its neck while the other rose in the air. The movement was clumsy. It wasn’t fluid. But it was unmistakable.
The bone-charger was bowing.
Drestra looked at the fae lord and—for an instant—his expression slipped: a parting of his lips combined with a slackening of his jaw. He’d gaped ever so slightly.
‘We might have him,’ she thought.
A heartbeat later, his face was back to its cool, controlled expression, but now, a long finger was perched beneath his chin like he was deep in thought. “Interesting, the way you used a controlling spell to puppet this creature and have it do your bidding. But what does this have to do with me?”
“Hold that thought,” Drestra concentrated on the dungeon core, fighting through its mana and bringing another monster to life.
Soon two sets of thundering, stumbling footsteps echoed from the darkness in the back of the cavern. A pair of bone-chargers emerged. They stumbled forward with less agility than the first—controlling two was mind-bendingly difficult—but they still stopped obediently before the Heroes and fae lord and lowered themselves in a bow that mirrored the first spawn’s.
Drestra pulled her mana from the orb, taking a moment to gather herself from the exertion of controlling it.
‘There’s gotta be a better way to do this,’ she thought. ‘A way for me to only give them orders to follow.’
The only way Drestra could control the Ravener-spawn for now was by feeling about in the dungeon core and using its inner apparatuses to ‘direct’ the creatures. It was difficult, slow, and trying, and she felt there had to be a better, more efficient way to get the monsters to follow her commands.
She’d make do for the time being since she’d had very little time to practise.
Her attention turned to Aenflynn as he studied the creatures, his silver eyes pulsing with light.
“More than one. Interesting. A fine show you’ve put on for me, my dear, but I still do not see what this has to do with our deal.”
“It’s simple,” Drestra gestured to the monsters. “You said you wanted mortal children to raise as soldiers in exchange for fae warriors you provide to fight alongside us. These creatures will be ready for your army. They’re Ravener-spawn, so no training necessary.”
“They do not even move properly,” Lord Aenflynn chuckled.
“They will,” Drestra said. “And they are all mortal, and all aged under five winters.”
Lord Aenflynn shot her a startled look, then burst out laughing. The cavern rumbled with the weight of the fae lord’s superior tone as rock rose and fell like rough waters. She noticed that his canines looked unusually sharp.
The three Heroes stepped closer to each other.
“Ah, mortal humour, how amusing,” Aenflynn said. “You’ve matched my requirements at the most basic level…and all I see here are three monsters, not the four hundred you promised.”
“Hold that thought,” the Sage poured her power back into the orb.
She felt around.
There was enough mana inside of it for maybe one final demonstration.
Drestra cautiously reached for the centre of the core, triggering another apparatus. A greater wave of power exploded from the dungeon core, lighting up the air, seeping into nearby stone. Rock shimmered, an enormous cocoon with a moist appearance rose from the cavern floor. The core’s mana increased, swelling the casing to bursting, squelching sounds oozed from inside. And then…
A soggy tearing noise followed, and a bone-charger slipped to the cave floor, ready for Drestra to quickly seize control of it, and with a final pulse of her will, the newborn bowed.
Lord Aenflynn watched closely, but wordlessly. So Drestra spoke first. “As you can see, it’ll take time, but you will have the promised creatures to fight for you. And besides, what’s time to you? As you said, you have all the time in the world.”
A twitch of amusement touched the fae’s face as he clapped loudly. “Well done! Well done!” His voice was strangely casual. “You’ve found an interesting little trick…but I’m afraid it is no more than that; an interesting trick. I do believe I will deny your counter-proposal and request the three hundred mortal children I have asked for. As usual, I will give you one moon to think on it. I look forward to our next meeting.”
Drestra, Hart and Cedric looked at each other.
The two young men nodded.
The Sage was still, looking up at the fae lord, her golden eyes meeting his glowing silver ones.
“That’s a shame,” she said. “In that case, this will be our final goodbye. We won’t be meeting again.”
He paused. “I beg your pardon?”
“It’s been a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Aenflynn.” She lowered her head. “Since that is your position, negotiations are over. Sorry we couldn’t work things out.”
And now the final stage of the Heroes’ plan was in play.
When Lord Aenflynn stepped into the mortal world, reality seemed to buckle beneath the weight of his being.The air and earth around him shimmered and distorted like water forced into a sphere. Dead foliage breathed life again, bursting with vibrant summer blooms under his feet only to wither and die when his touch left them. His power: to Drestra's mana senses, blazed like the sun. It felt like he'd brought part of the fey wilds into the material world with him. Or perhaps he was an enduring part of the fae wilds.His lip curled while he took in the dead fall foliage surrounding them. I find your mortal world quite distasteful. It's strangely both stifling, yet barren, and I cannot imagine how you manage to live here. The fact that I am now in your reality should tell you how high my expectations are for what you have to show me.May we meet them, Lord Aenflynn, Cedric bowed his head, then looked around at the bare trees. Where we're goin' s'not far. The fae gate opened near the dungeon an' it's jus' a short walk from here.Good, then let us move quickly, this world is too oppressive, the fae lord said, folding his hands behind his back. A sudden pulse of mana saw him rise, hovering a few inches above the earth. Drestra watched his expression carefully; things were going according to plan this far, but the one wrinkle could be his mood.Fae were creatures of their word, and if angeredand without warning would not hesitate to strike out at anyone who they felt dishonoured by. And Lord Aenflynn already looked offended by the very world they walked in.As they made their way to the dungeon, she wondered if they would be able to get the upper hand on the fae lord if he lost his patience or temper with them. As a group they'd been able to stop a greater demon, after all.She shook her head.No, Zonon-In was a monster, but she doesn't bleed power the way Aenflynn does. He reminds me of being around Baelin: they both have a presence that feels like you're near the power of a raging hurricane. maybe one day, I'll be like them.'In time, Drestra very likely would be.But she'd have to survive today first.I bring you into a mirror of your childhoods captured by the majesty of my power and the fae wilds, the fae's tone was scornful as they moved past debris in the damaged bone-thrasher dungeon. And you bring me to a dank cave. How charming. Hmmmm, but this is odd. You say this dungeon is nearly emptyI detect the presence of a strange mana in the air.Drestra slipped a hand in her bag, resting it on the dungeon core and keeping it thereout of Aenflynn's sightfor what was coming next. She carefully probed the centre with her mana, pushing against the dark orb's fierce resistance until she found the distinct apparatus within.Like you did before,' she thought.Wait Lord Aenflynn paused. Something's up ahead and it's doing its damndest to be quiet, but of course it's failing. He snorted mockingly. Did you have an ambush in store for me, young ones? Don't lie, because I will know.No, Cedric said. Not tryna t'ambush y'at all. But what's up there's got t'do with our demonstration.The fae lord frowned. You're telling the truthinteresting. I suppose I will see soon enough.And soon enough, they entered what had been the central chamber of the dungeon. Most of the evidence of the terrible battle that had taken place there was gone: scores of Ravener-spawn corpses had been removed and incinerated, but blackened walls scorched by fire spells, cleaved by punishing weapons and powerful magics, still remained.We're here, Drestra announced to the puzzled fae lord. Now, Lord Aenflynn, I must ask something of you.He raised his eyebrows. You're asking something of me before you do whatever it is you called me here for? Bold. And potentially ominous.Aye, an' we wouldn't ask if it weren't important, Cedric said. But we request that y'don't share what you're about to see here today with anyone. By your own power an' your own honour, we hope you'll swear t'keep everythin' that happens from here on out between us, unless the three of us gives ya permission t'do otherwise.Oho! And if I say no? the fae asked.Then comin' here woulda been a waste of your time, Hart said. And we wouldn't want to waste your time, m'lord.I could force you to show me whatever it is, oath or not.You could, Drestra said. And you would break negotiations that we have held in good faith. We didn't insult or attack you, so if you attack us, the dishonour that would stain you would be of your own doing.Cedric stiffened, looking at her in warning.You're treadin' a little close!' she could hear him saying.But she was also focused on Aenflynn's face. The fae lord stared down at her with that terrible power lurking in his gaze, his face a mask of calm.Would it stay calm?Or would the hurricane begin?Fine, then, he said at last. I will not be the one to spread dishonour among us, and I would hate for this trip to yourquaint' little cavern to be a waste. So, in the spirit of honour, I swear upon my name and my honour not to share words, deeds or happenings regarding anything said, revealed or done in this place.Cedric bowed his head, and took a deep breath. Thank you, he said, before turning to Drestra. Alright, the floor's all yours.Her attention had shifted to a number of tunnels shrouded in darkness at the back of the cavern.Look over there, Lord Aenflynn. The Sage pointed, then closed her eyes, falling into the dungeon core, pushing against its power.Nerves gripped her. She'd only get one chance.For the plan to work, she had to show the fae lord that their position was strong. She couldn't afford to falter now. With these thoughts spurring her, Drestra fell deeper into the dungeon core, wrestling with its power, fighting its resistance.Aenflynn's eyebrows rose and his eyes narrowed on her bag. She'd expected that from him: an ancient, powerful, magical being would be able to sense something, even if he didn't know exactly what it was, and as long as he wasn't alarmed enough to do something rash and remained peacefully curious, it didn't matter.Her mana seized a section of the dungeon core's centre, and opening her eyes, she activated the core.It was time to give him something to look at.Mana rushed from the dungeon core, reaching for the shadowy tunnels in the rear of the chamber. The Sage's jaw clenched behind her veil as she worked through precise movements with her mana. The actions were still new to her so the results were clumsy and imprecise, but they were adequate, and from the back of the chamber, a heavy footstep echoed, followed by another. And another. An awkward hulking thing stumbled through the passageway, introduced by a pair of staring eyes that slowly advanced in the darkness.It trudged squarely into the silver light shining from the fae lord's eyes.A Ravener-spawn.A bone-charger.Lord Aenflynn frowned as the creature lurched toward them. Hm, it seems you missed one earlier. Though it appears ill, or perhaps injured from your fight with...His words trailed off.The hulking monster had stopped in front of them. It watched the group for a heartbeatthen Drestra made another adjustment to the core and with a shudder of its massive form, the Ravener-spawn slowly bent its head and lowered its front legs. One arm swept below its neck while the other rose in the air. The movement was clumsy. It wasn't fluid. But it was unmistakable.The bone-charger was bowing.Drestra looked at the fae lord andfor an instanthis expression slipped: a parting of his lips combined with a slackening of his jaw. He'd gaped ever so slightly.We might have him,' she thought.A heartbeat later, his face was back to its cool, controlled expression, but now, a long finger was perched beneath his chin like he was deep in thought. Interesting, the way you used a controlling spell to puppet this creature and have it do your bidding. But what does this have to do with me?Hold that thought, Drestra concentrated on the dungeon core, fighting through its mana and bringing another monster to life.Soon two sets of thundering, stumbling footsteps echoed from the darkness in the back of the cavern. A pair of bone-chargers emerged. They stumbled forward with less agility than the firstcontrolling two was mind-bendingly difficultbut they still stopped obediently before the Heroes and fae lord and lowered themselves in a bow that mirrored the first spawn's.Drestra pulled her mana from the orb, taking a moment to gather herself from the exertion of controlling it.There's gotta be a better way to do this,' she thought. A way for me to only give them orders to follow.'The only way Drestra could control the Ravener-spawn for now was by feeling about in the dungeon core and using its inner apparatuses to direct' the creatures. It was difficult, slow, and trying, and she felt there had to be a better, more efficient way to get the monsters to follow her commands.She'd make do for the time being since she'd had very little time to practise.Her attention turned to Aenflynn as he studied the creatures, his silver eyes pulsing with light.More than one. Interesting. A fine show you've put on for me, my dear, but I still do not see what this has to do with our deal.It's simple, Drestra gestured to the monsters. You said you wanted mortal children to raise as soldiers in exchange for fae warriors you provide to fight alongside us. These creatures will be ready for your army. They're Ravener-spawn, so no training necessary.They do not even move properly, Lord Aenflynn chuckled.They will, Drestra said. And they are all mortal, and all aged under five winters.Lord Aenflynn shot her a startled look, then burst out laughing. The cavern rumbled with the weight of the fae lord's superior tone as rock rose and fell like rough waters. She noticed that his canines looked unusually sharp.The three Heroes stepped closer to each other.Ah, mortal humour, how amusing, Aenflynn said. You've matched my requirements at the most basic leveland all I see here are three monsters, not the four hundred you promised.Hold that thought, the Sage poured her power back into the orb.She felt around.There was enough mana inside of it for maybe one final demonstration.Drestra cautiously reached for the centre of the core, triggering another apparatus. A greater wave of power exploded from the dungeon core, lighting up the air, seeping into nearby stone. Rock shimmered, an enormous cocoon with a moist appearance rose from the cavern floor. The core's mana increased, swelling the casing to bursting, squelching sounds oozed from inside. And thenA soggy tearing noise followed, and a bone-charger slipped to the cave floor, ready for Drestra to quickly seize control of it, and with a final pulse of her will, the newborn bowed.Lord Aenflynn watched closely, but wordlessly. So Drestra spoke first. As you can see, it'll take time, but you will have the promised creatures to fight for you. And besides, what's time to you? As you said, you have all the time in the world.A twitch of amusement touched the fae's face as he clapped loudly. Well done! Well done! His voice was strangely casual. You've found an interesting little trickbut I'm afraid it is no more than that; an interesting trick. I do believe I will deny your counter-proposal and request the three hundred mortal children I have asked for. As usual, I will give you one moon to think on it. I look forward to our next meeting.Drestra, Hart and Cedric looked at each other.The two young men nodded.The Sage was still, looking up at the fae lord, her golden eyes meeting his glowing silver ones.That's a shame, she said. In that case, this will be our final goodbye. We won't be meeting again.He paused. I beg your pardon?It's been a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Aenflynn. She lowered her head. Since that is your position, negotiations are over. Sorry we couldn't work things out.And now the final stage of the Heroes' plan was in play.
