by Atlas Kane
For the first time, Cade considered trying to create a lock of some kind to keep the storage hut off limits.
Maybe we can form a council. A leader will be necessary, and that might end up being me, but we need a council as well so that a vote matters and everyone feels heard. The thoughts stirred a yawn from him, and he shook his head. What is happening to me? he teased himself. I forge allies, overthrow a city, and now think of politics.
The next day was an odd mix of business as usual and completely foreign territory. A few villagers made themselves useful at the cook fire, two even choosing cooking Occupations and doing so with gusto. The meal was delicious, but it was obvious their food would run out soon. The village ate more than Bellows now, who they’d sent off to forage on his own.
Minda met with two men and a woman who expressed interest in sharing her garden. After giving him a wink, she led the small group down to her herbs and mushrooms, and they spent the better part of the day planning on how best to expand the garden. It could no longer serve as a place to grow medicine and delicacies. The garden would need to produce a good amount of food. And Cade was sure they could pull it off, for even before they left, Minda had instructed a young man in what Occupation to choose if he were to assist her best.
Gemma approached him afterward, five more of the villagers at her back. “Cade, these people wish to hunt with me. I know you do not appreciate hunting alone, not in the deeper parts of the jungle at least, so I thought two groups of three, or when we feel it is safe enough in a few days, three groups of two. Together, we should be able to bring in larger game.”
“Great plan, Gemma. For now, you are the lead hunter.” Turning to those who’d chosen to come on the hunt, he added, “Listen to her. Okay? She has only been in this world a short while, but hunted in this part of the jungle more than you have. Gemma is also a very capable warrior. Any arguments?”
Thankfully, none were raised, and as the group left, Cade noted that instead of dissent, Gemma inspired trust and confidence in those that followed her. Girl doesn’t even know it, but she might end up becoming a leader one day.
When Cade finished looking over their stock of materials and equipment, having deposited everything but the soul weapons the previous night, he sighed and found a man who seemed trustworthy. An older man whose eyes searched those around him, a hint of worry touching his face.
“Hey there. My name’s Cade. What might I call you?”
The man appeared completely human but for the long fangs that were exposed when he answered. “I’m Vrin. Pleasure to meet. Have nice village here and a thanks for welcoming.”
The two shook hands, and Cade noted Vrin’s incredible strength. He hadn’t tried to crush Cade’s hand, rather it felt like holding something as implacable as a bar of steel.
“Do you have any plans today? If not, I may have a job for you,” Cade asked, hoping he might gauge more of the man’s motivations by how he answered.
A huge sigh of relief billowed from the man’s lungs. “No ideas for what to do. I have been worried. What is Vrin to do? I am good for killing. I am good for defending. No other skills and have no Occupation yet. What does Cade need?”
Cade smiled. The frank and open manner in which Vrin spoke eased his doubts. Nobody could be trusted implicitly, but he felt he knew what kind of man this was. “How do you feel about being a guard? I would like you to patrol the town center, helping anyone you can with whatever they need, but staying close.” Pointing to the storage shed filled with valuables, Cade added, “Staying close enough to keep an eye on this.”
Vrin sighed again, nodding his head. “This I can do. Not a problem.”
“And maybe you can find two or three more who seem at a loss for how they should help out. Ask them to join you, rotate shifts, and make sure not to harm or offend anyone else if possible.”
Vrin held up his old Silver Guard spear, his armor dented from battle but cleaned of blood. He gave Cade a salute by slamming his gauntleted hand over his chest then walked off to do his duty.
That is the kind of Joe that makes it to 1st Sergeant. Dude is duty all the way up to his teeth.
Watching the man go, Cade breathed a little easier. Delegation was the job of the day, and as he looked around, he noted that most of the new arrivals still sat around completely lost to how they should help out.
Ketzal came up to him and alleviated the problem further. “Cade, I was going to ask everyone if any want to become Beast Callers, trainers, or in any way work with animals. Then wanted to take Bellows on a little jaunt to show them how I work with him. Who knows, maybe we could find other boars or beasts to bond with.”
“That would be great. I was just worrying about what everyone would do with themselves. Go ahead and take whoever you like,” Cade said, then gave the demoness a kiss on the cheek as she left, savoring her lingering perfume.
She approached the largest group of aimless refugees and called out in a voice far more confident than would have been possible just a week ago. Another handful of people left with her shortly after, cutting down the crowd once more.
By then, Vrin had found himself a clutch of guardsmen, all of whom were talking companionably, near the storage hut. The man threw Cade a quick wink when he caught him watching. Yes, he is the right man for the job. Captain of the guard sounds about right.
Cade walked toward the remaining refugees, wracking his brain with a solution to how to occupy the rest. In an act of love or unknown compassion, Satemi met him halfway. The woman held up her hands, smiling as she did so. “Cade, I know. We must find a spear for every hand. I was thinking of gathering everyone else and starting on a few construction projects. As you can see, we will need at least a few more shelters. Also, I want to build rope ladders and the like, then take a team up the pass. If we can make it easier to climb to the bluff above us, we will have easy access to additional hunting or foraging grounds. What do you think?”
He nodded, relief sweeping through him. “Perfect. I was worried we’d have too many sitting around and not feeling welcome or useful. I think you should hold off on the shelters though.” Cade summoned one of the Mana Shards they’d recovered from Tanrial and smiled. “I think I might see what can be done at the Town Interface. I’m hoping to improve things as quickly as possible.”
Satemi squeezed his shoulders, a glint in her eyes. “Okay, wait a minute though. I am going to get these started on a basic task, then we can get going.”
“I don’t mind—” Cade began but Satemi’s laugh cut him off.
“Come now, Cade. You think I’m gonna wait here and let you have fun by yourself? Besides, you might need the advice of the town builder.”
The woman ran off and called everyone together to hear her words. Five minutes later and everyone was busy making cordage or carving points into the end of short poles. An old man had come forward, admitting his Occupation was Carpenter. Easily taking a leadership role, the man waved at them as they strode off, heading to the cave that held the Town Interface.
Walking through the thicket, already showing signs of having been thinned, Cade discussed the idea of finding lumber elsewhere. They might even construct something that would allow Bellows to drag timber from deeper in the jungle. Their own little grove would be gone in months or sooner if they didn’t look elsewhere to fill the need. Even firewood alone could diminish their stores.
“Those bloody apes will be a problem as well,” Satemi mentioned as they approached the entrance to the cave.
“I know. I don’t exactly want to start our new civilization with a massacre, but we need to be able to send out smaller groups without them being harassed. Who knows though? Maybe Ketzal can speak with them. They may even be as reasonable as the Kotani.”
Satemi shook her head. Then she pointed out the exact same worrying thoughts he was having. “Then why did the Kotani Ma attack them? I don’t know, Cade. The Earthen Apes have a different feel about them. I think they hate us.”
“You m
ay very well be right,” Cade admitted before the two fell into silence as they entered the tunnel.
For a brief moment, Cade stared at the entrance to the dungeon. More adventure was waiting for them, and a way to level up their citizens in an efficient way. If the warriors of Camp Casmeer went about killing every animal in the jungle, the hunting would become scarce and they’d need to travel farther and farther each day. This place, though, if used wisely, could help them prepare for whatever grief was inevitably coming their way.
He shared a look with Satemi, and he saw she too felt the urge to delve deeper, to explore. They laughed quietly together, and the woman nodded at the golden pillar near them.
Wordlessly, Cade agreed and walked closer to the Interface. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. The first thing he did was charge the Interface with two dozen Mana Shards. With a bit of juice to work with, he spoke to Micah.
After a minute of dickering around, Cade asked the demon a question he should have asked when he first interacted with the Interface. Micah, he spoke in his mind, can we interact through an auditory exchange? Can I just talk to you out loud and use the Interface that way?
Of course, Interface Controller Caderick Shelby Clarke. Simply give the command ‘Auditory Communication Allowed’ and we can speak plainly.
Cade sighed, opened his eyes after giving the short command, then gave it a shot. “Can you hear me, Micah?”
“Yes. What are your commands?”
Looking to Satemi, he began with more questions. “What kinds of buildings can we construct that function as sleeping quarters?”
“The following structures are available: Hovel, Hut, Sturdy Hut, Cabin, Simple House, Extended House, Advanced House—”
Cade cut off the demon’s robotic voice, stifling a laugh. “Sorry, Micah. How about this. What structures are available that comfortably sleep ten people?”
The demon answered, relaying a much shorter list of shelter types. “Long House, Great Tent, and Small Apartments all fit such specifications. Each has a differing morale bonus, however, and each a differing mana cost.”
With Satemi’s help, Cade made a few decisions about housing, and then to his delight and infinite relief, found there was also an option for a Warehouse, a building that could be locked and safely store all of the village’s valuables. Not needing everyone to act honestly was a great way to make sure they stayed that way.
They had a limited supply of Mana Shards, and the structures were costly. So rather than scour every possibility and harbor regrets later, the two decided to keep most of their stores of mana for a rainy day. But three more improvements were important enough to justify their immediate expense.
The first that had both Satemi and Cade excited was an upgraded fire pit. Its structure name was called Gathering Stoves. The title threw them off for a moment until Micah explained what it meant. The Gathering Stoves were five small stoves linked together in a ring. A hole in the side allowed for a team of cooks to enter within and manipulate the fires burning inside each of them. The domes that covered each stove had a small hole in the back to allow added fuel and an influx of air. And each opened up in the front, so that food could be placed within or removed. They were called “Gathering” Stoves because the ring of fire created a heating source large enough for a crowd of fifty people to enjoy comfortably. It was an excellent way to bring the new town members together each night.
Finally, they decided to construct a Town Hall, a long, rectangular building that allowed a maximum of one hundred people to enter. Considering the Kotani Apes, and the lockmen, Cade wanted to be certain they would have room to grow.
They were both tempted to finalize their decisions and improve Camp Casmeer with a single command. But the thought of the new villagers running away screaming as buildings emerged from the sky or shimmered into existence from thin air seemed foolish. Cade sent Satemi back to make sure everyone was well away from the town’s center before he began.
As he waited for her to warn off the villagers, he called on his oldest friend here in Antinium. “Pablo! How are things, man?”
“Caderick! Why didn’t you call me sooner? There is much to discuss!”
The demon’s flustered state was expected. They’d blown up half of Tanrial and surely fallout would follow. “I know. We’ve been busy though, buddy. Fought a war, won, now a bit of remodeling.”
“But… but Tanrial is destroyed! I can see within the city again, and it is a mess. The entire area is poisoned with toxic levels of mana. It is as if the city is constantly under the brooding clouds of an ether storm! Don’t you understand what that means?”
Cade sighed, shaking his head. “We didn’t have much control of that, Pablo. Vormer did something very strange to the portal. I think we did well by blowing it all up. I assume the mana poisoning will cause mutations though? So we might expect some strange creatures in the future.”
“Exactly my point,” Pablo finished. The demon looked around, eyes blinking away his bout of anxiety. “I’m sorry. I also wanted to congratulate you. Well done in defeating Vormer. The man was a terror.”
“At the end, he wasn’t a man at all,” Cade said, then asked Pablo two more pressing questions. “I need to you to tell me when Satemi has cleared the village. We are going to invest some Mana Shards into improvements. Then, I was hoping you might come to our feast tonight. We not only have no proper storyteller, but only a handful of musicians left the city alive.”
The demon scoffed at such an invitation, making sure to explain, at length, how his role as demon helper was an ancient and honorable position. He was neither a servant, nor an instrument to be picked up and coaxed to make music. Yet after Cade met his reply with endless compassion, Pablo agreed to make a small donation of entertainment. When he flickered out of view to check on Satemi’s progress, Cade noted the trace of a smile on his face.
In a few minutes, the demon returned, giving Cade the go ahead. Initiating the improvements, including the most important one neither Satemi or he had to consider, he left the cave behind.
Cade jogged, hoping to catch a glimpse of the transformation. But though he would find out later that the buildings had formed within mere seconds, he was there to see the shimmering wall of blue energy as it descended over Camp Casmeer.
The dome was a most welcome sight. Perhaps not infallible, but the best protection any of them could hope for. His only immediate worry now was whether or not the group of people who lived under the dome’s protection alongside those he cared for could be trusted to keep the peace.
29
Feast, and Life Most Abundant
It was nice seeing the women in his life branching out socially. Polde huddled next to Minda, her bright feathers shivering a moment in anticipation. The two had become good friends after Minda told the rogue of their fight. Apparently, learning that an Herbalist had defeated her with a series of stealthy knife attacks had impressed the woman. Cade had already heard snippets of the fledgling love forming between Polde and Sholl. True, the man had departed his previous life, one where he was bound to his partner by physiology and love, but this was a new world and a new life for them all. Love, especially at such a critical time in their town’s history, was more important than ever.
Satemi stood along the back wall, leaning against the wooden planks of the Town Hall. She stood beside Ronden, the huge elite Cade had brought down with a bomb and a blast from his weapon.
Cade had found the man generous of heart and quick to laugh. He shared the same grim and often dirty humor that Satemi preferred, and though Cade had grown much taller and stronger since being Kotani Touched, Ronden had already teased him several times. The last was directed at his manhood, predictably, and he’d said aloud, “Don’t worry, little Cade, it isn’t the size of the boulder but how it tumbles.”
Those standing within earshot grew quiet, unsure how Cade would take the joke. But he eased their tensions by responding with one of his own. “If you come at a woman like
a boulder, there’s no wonder they keep falling asleep beneath you. I recommend a more lively approach.”
Everyone laughed, Ronden loudest of all.
Watching the two now, he smiled when he saw Satemi land a precise elbow in the man’s ribs, pointing to some other fool who was unwittingly serving as the source of their humor.
Ketzal was transforming into a social butterfly. Everyone seemed devoted to her and attracted to her at once. Cade could understand the sentiment. She was intoxicating to be around and treated everyone with the same unerring kindness.
It was Pablo who called for silence though, something he said was strange, but given the circumstances, he would agree to. “Quiet! Quiet down, everyone! We have an important matter to handle before the feast is begun.” When the last of the coughs and guffaws died down, the demon continued. “I have been asked to serve as temporary Archon of Camp Casmeer. We will first see who is to be elected as candidates to serve as head of our community, then a vote. Whoever gains the most votes, becomes Archon. The five below will become the Council of Five. The Council will have equal representation to the Archon, but only if all five vote unanimously. In such a case of disagreement, a vote from the town itself will be called upon to support either side. In all common matters, the Archon will decide what is best, but the Council shall manage the formation and management of guilds and the township’s resources. In matters of war, both the Archon and Council shall work together. Understood?”