Yet that wouldn’t change his answer.
Finn raised his eyes back up to meet the Seer’s. “You have a deal.”
Chapter 49 - Recovered
A few days had passed in-game since Finn and his companions had defeated Bilel.
He wasn’t certain what he’d expected to happen in the aftermath of the attack on the city and the confrontation with the demon. Perhaps a mutiny of the Khamsin or the guilds. Or the people revolting in the streets over their forced race change and the deaths of their loved ones – not all of those slain by the hounds had returned. Or possibly widespread looting and pillaging. Although, that latter option assumed there was anything left in the market and storefronts worth stealing…
And yet none of those outcomes had come to pass.
Instead, an eerie calm had descended over Lahab – now Sandscrit, he supposed. That peace might have been partially explained by the survivors. Many more of the residents had made it through the siege than Finn had expected, including most of the mages Bilel had strung up in the palace. The guilds had also slowly begun to move back into their guild halls, abandoning the Flagship back to the desert. Some repairs were underway, although there was precious little need for them after the city’s conversion. For their part, the residents had begun to return to their normal routine – attempting to piece their lives back together.
As Finn sat upon the flaming throne in the heart of the palace, his gaze panned out across the city. He followed the movements of those multi-colored blotches far below him – the residents of Sandscrit. His people. Although, he supposed that was a touch premature. The guilds and Khamsin hadn’t yet formally recognized him as their Emir.
Despite the calm, he just couldn’t shake the feeling that it wouldn’t last. It felt like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop – even if he couldn’t quite put his finger on what disaster would occur next. Maybe a foreign invasion? Or some sort of meteor strike?
Or maybe he was just worried. This city was now his ticket to stabilizing Rachael and his path to retrieving her from the Seer’s tent for more than a few minutes at a time. He needed it to survive – to thrive even.
“It feels weird,” Julia offered, noticing Finn’s distant gaze.
She and Kyyle sat nearby, having pulled a crude stone table from the floor of the throne room and turning the space into an impromptu meeting room. They had been reviewing the city’s status and going over messages from the guilds – a rather mundane set of administrative tasks after the last few days and weeks in-game.
The paperwork had included very few explosions or near-death experiences.
At a questioning glance from Finn, Julia waved at the city. “Peace, I mean. It feels like we’ve been pushing forward so hard and fast for so long that it’s just… jarring to come to a full stop.” She held up a scroll. “Or to be tackling silly questions like setting up a city guard. Or permitting for a market stall – who cares about that nonsense?”
“Are you actually rooting for another disaster?” Kyyle asked in an incredulous voice.
A grin pulled at Julia’s lips. “Well… maybe. A girl likes a bit of chaos,” she offered, her gaze challenging as she met Kyyle’s eyes. “Why? You not up for it?”
The earth mage let out a snort. “Suuuure. Asks the woman that couldn’t match my score…”
Julia’s eyes widened slightly, and Kyyle leaned forward. “Oh, I remember our bet.”
“I’m sure I beat you,” she retorted, although the way she glanced surreptitiously at Daniel somewhat undermined her show of confidence.
On cue, the AI piped up, “Actually, you didn’t. As requested, I kept track. Kyyle’s score was 367. Your score was only 154.”
“What?” Julia demanded, glaring at the AI now. “That has to be area of effects stuff – which totally shouldn’t count. It’s not fair if he can take out whole groups at once.”
“I don’t remember any exceptions when we made our bet,” Kyyle offered, his grin widening. “Which means you owe me that dinner.”
Julia grumbled under her breath, but as she turned away from the earth mage, Finn couldn’t help but notice a faint smile cross her face. It seemed she might be more invested in the date than she was letting on. And good for her. Maybe he was biased after fighting alongside Kyyle for so long, but he seemed like he could keep up with Julia – more so than her previous boyfriends anyway.
She had always had a penchant for the dumb, pretty ones.
“Fine,” she said finally. “Just name the time and place, and I’ll be there.”
Kyyle was smiling broadly now, but he didn’t get a chance to reply.
“Guests for the prophet,” a guard’s voice rang out.
The men and women stationed around the throne room promptly snapped to attention, their plate-clad boots clanking harshly against the stone and streamers of fire curling around their armor. Julia had taken the liberty of stationing her Infernal Guard within the palace. Armored Khamsin and their fire mage partners now patrolled the halls, guarding Finn. It seemed excessive, but she had insisted such fanfare was necessary now.
Finn had appearances to maintain, after all.
He looked up to find Aerys, Malik, and Kalisha approaching, along with another face that Finn hadn’t expected. Brutus stood with them, now clothed in much finer robes than his typical attire. The fire mage tugged uncomfortably at his collar as he inspected the throne room with a skeptical expression.
“Pull up a seat,” Finn offered as they approached, motioning at Kyyle. The earth mage took the hint, and with a few curt gestures, he expanded the stone table and a series of chairs composed entirely of sandstone rose from the ground.
The group sat down sedately, but Finn sensed tension in the air. As he switched to Mana Sight, he observed their energy swirling and colliding more erratically – light and darkness coiling through their mana in equal measure.
Hmm, what could they want now…?
“So, first off, I love what you’ve done with the place,” Brutus observed, still staring at the flaming pillars ringing the throne room and the impressive view of the city far below. “Has a really open feel to it… although, if it rains, you’re going to be in trouble.”
Finn coughed to cover a laugh. “I’m not sure I’m too concerned about that. The last time it rained here, it took quite a bit of effort.”
His expression sobered at that. “Speaking of… how are things at the Mage Guild? Has the transition gone smoothly?”
Brutus’ smile faded. “As well as could be expected. Abbad… well, he handled a lot. I’m just now realizing how much I failed to appreciate the man.”
Finn could only nod. The librarian’s loss still stung – far worse than Finn had been expecting. He hadn’t realized how much he’d come to rely on Abbad’s stoic calm and measured advice until it was gone. Especially in times like these where the city was undergoing an enormous transition. And yet, surprisingly, Brutus had stepped up in a big way, the other mages rallying behind him with surprising vigor.
Perhaps they were all just hoping he’d be reassigned from his instructor position where he couldn’t directly torture the students or faculty.
“That actually touches on the reason for our visit,” Aerys interjected, gazing evenly at Finn as he switched back to Short-Sighted. The Khamsin woman’s face soon resolved back into focus.
Finn couldn’t quite mask the way his shoulders tensed at that statement. Perhaps this was the other shoe he’d been waiting for.
“Oh? How can I help you all?”
Aerys shared a look with the others and took a deep breath. “We’re actually here at the behest of the Khamsin and the guilds. They wished for us to speak with you directly… about the rulership of Sandscrit.”
Finn’s eyebrows rose, but he held his tongue.
In the corner of his eye, he could see Julia slowly reaching for a weapon. A curt gesture at the guards ringing the terrace warned them of a potential fight.
“Really? Do you have
to be so dramatic,” Kalisha drawled, kicking her feet up on the table, her tiny mechanid crawling up her arm and latching firmly to her shoulder. “You’re going to make him think we’re here to topple another Emir. I mean, are you trying to give these flaming bad boys around us a reason to dropkick us off this tower?”
Aerys scowled at the merchant. “A bit of decorum isn’t exactly a bad thing.”
“Just get to the point,” Kalisha replied, rolling her eyes. “While we’re still young.”
The Khamsin leader swallowed her response, glaring at the merchant before turning her attention back to Finn. “Fine. The long and short of it is that we wish for you to formally assume the mantle of Emir now that Bilel has been defeated.”
Finn could only stare back in surprise.
“Oh, don’t look at her like that,” Kalisha interjected. “Were you really expecting a different outcome? You’ve become a legend – not just to the Khamsin, but to the guildsmen. The merchants all sing your praises for the bargain you struck between the Khamsin and our guild. With fresh supplies of ore, we can greatly expand our manufacturing operations.”
She waved at Malik. “And even the fighters are on board, especially after this one claimed he saw the goddess of fire herself speak with you. It takes a lot to sway those stoic jerks, but even they have started chanting that irritating phrase every time they see you.”
Malik frowned at that comment. “They also observed you in the siege on Lahab and how you led the fight against the hellhounds at the gate. Our members honor strength and fortitude in battle. You have demonstrated both.”
“And the mages are with you,” Brutus grunted. “You showcased how much more powerful we are as a group, and they aren’t content to settle back into the old ways – not with how Bilel persecuted them and purged their mana. I think that’s why so many have supported my appointment as the new guild leader. They are looking for a change. And here I am,” he offered with a broad grin.
Finn stared at them as they lapsed into silence. Now, this was a result he truly hadn’t expected. He’d assumed that he would have to fight and cajole the guilds into working together, much less follow his directions. And yet, lo and behold, they had come knocking at his door offering to place the Emir’s mantle upon him.
But he wasn’t exactly going to say no, especially not with the “revised” bargain he’d been forced to strike with the Seer.
“Well, say something. Don’t leave us in suspense,” Brutus grunted.
Finn coughed to clear his throat. “I accept,” he said simply.
He leaned forward then. “And thank you.” He looked around the table, meeting each of their eyes. “I know you three likely had a hand in this outcome. I appreciate it.”
“Well, you can appreciate it more by formally appointing us as guild emissaries,” Kalisha shot back. “That position is going to come with a lot of lofty titles and perks.”
“Of course,” he replied, and the merchant nodded curtly, satisfied.
His eyes skimmed to Aerys. “And I’d like to extend an olive branch to the Khamsin. They’ve adopted me as one of their own, but I know some will balk at being told what to do by an outsider – especially after so long operating with their own autonomy.
“I’d like to propose that the Khamsin remain an independent fiefdom, operating in coordination with me. They will keep their lands and territories, will be permitted to freely enter Sandscrit, they will not be subject to any merchant guild trade sanctions, and they will be permitted to form their own embassy within the city.
“Is that acceptable?” Finn asked.
Aerys appeared slightly taken aback by the suggestion but quickly mastered her expression. “That… that would work well.”
Finn nodded. He could understand Aerys’ surprise. With the way many of her people worshipped him, he could have asked for more… far more. But he wasn’t thinking about the mainstream Khamsin. His thoughts were directed at Eldawin. And at Thorn. The Order was still a problem – and a big one. Finn hadn’t forgotten their threats. However, this action would help to undermine their power among the Khamsin and any rhetoric they used to recruit new members. It was easy to balk at the leadership of an outsider, but much more difficult to get their backs up about taking orders from their own.
Malik spoke up then, the quiet fighter drawing the attention of the group. “If I may… what now?” he asked. “I know you spoke with the goddess. But what are your plans moving forward?”
Finn grimaced. “The Seer indicated that there are gate pieces scattered throughout this continent. She has tasked me with reclaiming them,” he explained.
Although, he conveniently left out the part about Rachael, as well as the rather large reserve cost that had been imposed on his mana well. He’d checked that pillar sitting just behind his throne after everything had settled, and he’d discovered two interesting items.
First, the well passively collected mana over time. Second, he’d been forced to direct nearly all the energy toward Rachael, sustaining and stabilizing her newfound body. While the mana well interface indicated that Finn could likely improve and upgrade other aspects of the city, that would have to wait, at least until he could find a way to grow its energy generation.
Rachael came first. He couldn’t be certain how much mana she would need, but his priority was to stabilize her – followed closely by finding a way to increase the mana the well collected. The more mana he could accumulate, the faster Rachael would recover. And if the battle with Bilel and the conversion of the city had taught him anything, it was that following the Seer’s guidance reaped a ton of mana.
So, for now, his goal was to recover these gate pieces.
“Do we know where these pieces are located?” Kalisha asked, leaning forward and eyes gleaming with curiosity. “Or what they might do?”
“Not exactly,” Finn grunted. Of course, the Seer had been vague on those details.
He sighed. “But she did indicate that we may not be alone in hunting for them.”
His daughter picked up where he’d left off. “I’ve been researching the other travelers. Just like Finn here, it seems several of our kind have emerged as avatars of the various gods. A man named Alexion rules over the Crystal Reach and appears to be allied with the goddess of light.” She paused, a distasteful grimace tugging at her lips. “Although, he seems more interested in announcing his exploits and reveling in acclaim than actually doing anything of his own. I’m not certain I see him as much of a threat.”
A frown creased her lips then, and she leaned forward. “More problematic might be this Twilight Throne. It is ruled by a man… well, a teenager, I suppose. His name is Jason.”
“A kid poses a threat to us?” Aerys asked, skepticism dripping from her voice.
Julia just shook her head. “This isn’t any normal kid.” She waved at the city below them. “It took thousands of us working together to conquer Lahab.”
“I recall,” Aerys retorted in a dry voice.
Julia met her eyes evenly. “Well, as best I can tell, Jason took out his city by himself within the first week or two of entering this world.”
A stunned silence suddenly hung across the throne room.
“You can’t be serious,” Kalisha replied, shaking her head.
“I am,” Julia said. “And then he managed to thwart an army gathered by Alexion shortly afterward, with far fewer numbers, equipment, or training.”
She looked at the members of their council. “He’s a threat. And a big one. And there will likely be others over time. We still have yet to see any evidence of the avatars for the water, air, and earth gods. And we have to assume the possibility of alliances forming.”
As he observed the dour reactions of Aerys and the guild emissaries, Finn spoke up, “In short, we need to prepare. Grow our strength and numbers. Train our troops. And start sending scouts into the world to begin teasing out the location of these gate pieces. That is what I would ask of you for now.”
They
all nodded, content with that answer.
“Well, in that case, we should get back to work,” Brutus declared, rising from his seat, the others following his lead. He turned his eyes back to Finn. “If you should need our assistance, do not hesitate to call on us. We are all still in your debt.”
And then, as one, they beat their fists to their chest.
“Najmat Alhidad,” they murmured.
Finn mimicked the gesture, and the group departed. Upon their departure, the Infernal Guard snapped back into position, creating a secure perimeter around the terrace.
“If anything, you downplayed Jason’s threat,” Kyyle said, glancing at Julia. “I watched those videos…” He trailed off, a shudder rocking his body. “They were gruesome.”
Julia was nodding. “And they point to another problem,” she said.
Finn glanced at her with an inquiring expression.
“These videos that the travelers keep posting… they’re an issue. That’s how we had a sense of the protections ringing Lahab before we attacked. And while Jason has been circumspect with the use of his abilities, even the videos about him and the Twilight Throne provide useful strategic information. They offer a rough sense of his abilities, those of his companions, insight into his strategies and how he thinks, the layout and position of vital infrastructure within his city… You name it…”
“Okay, but what exactly are you suggesting?” Finn asked.
Julia sighed. “That we may also need to be proactive in suppressing information about ourselves and our city.”
“Are you suggesting what I think you are?”
“If you’re thinking I plan to hack into a bunch of forums and streaming platforms to delete content… then, yeah, you are,” Julia replied with a small smile.
“I don’t feel like I have to point out just how illegal that is—”
Awaken Online: Inferno (Tarot #3) Page 59