Chapter 66: Ch 66 – The Crossroad

Unlike the other days I spent in summer creek, today seemed far more of a slog. I spent most of the day helping Kosue finish ponchos for the goblins. It left us with little to no pelts, but at the end that probably wasn’t a bad thing. It meant we had only a handful of bundles to carry, my spare dress, and an odd assortment of items that had mostly belonged to dead elves. When we went over it I discovered that there were in fact two sets of boots in there. I discovered that I could probably have worn them earlier. Unless someone questioned me on my oversized feet it probably wouldn’t have mattered. Well, hindsight and all that.

We made a rough pouch and tied it to Devin’s belt to store our coins, few as they were. Then tried cleaning the shirts and pants. The blood however wasn’t going to be coming out at this point. Finally, it was starting to get late and Devin and I crossed over and made the trip over to Jenny’s to return various things we had borrowed and square our debt.

Jenny refused our coin but smiled as we returned her things. Mostly clothes and buckets at this point. I told her we were going to be leaving, and she nodded. She and I shared a brief hug and she bid Devin goodbye.

I decided to pay Charlene a visit as well. So we were walking to her house.

Opening the door we stepped inside to find her quite busy. She glanced up and noticed us and frowned, “Did you both need something?”

“We just wanted to say goodbye.” I explained.

“Oh…” She said setting down what she was working on. “You’re both leaving? And… and here I thought you might be staying.”

“We just finished deciding.” I admitted.

Devin nodded and added, “I also wanted to thank you for doing the second dress for so little."

Charlene smiled, “Thanks, I do think they came out rather nicely.” She looked over at me, “I really wish you could stay…”

“I honestly think you might be leaving soon too.” I pointed out.

“You… think so?” She said fidgeting at that idea.

I nodded, “I do. I guess I’ll let you get back to work.”

Charlene gave me a sad smile, “Alright.” Then walking over she gave me a simple hug, “I enjoyed our talks, and…” She glanced over to Devin, “You take care of her.”

Devin snorted, “I do what I can. But she's the one in charge here.”

Charlene giggled, and stepping back she began, “The both of you stay safe.”

“You too.” I replied as the door opened.

We all turned to find a soldier standing there, “Everyone is to gather at the crossroad. The captain needs to address everyone.”

He vanished a moment later.

Devin grunted, “We should really get moving.”

I nodded feeling a little awkward, “Goodbye.” I waved and Devin led the way out of the shop.

I followed him, but before we had barely gotten a few steps someone called out to us.

“You there.” Boomed a certain deep gravelly voice.

Oh no… Me and Devin both turned to find Dragon Smith standing there regarding us both. His eyes glanced over me, then over Devin, then back to me. Finally, he glanced around me for something… or someone else.

He glanced at my head, then his eyes narrowed. “You both have some explaining to do…” He stated firmly.

My stomach began tying itself in knots immediately.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“For one, where are your goblins?”

Wait, what!? I was clearly not a tiger kin!

“You think I don’t recognize you? Sure I noticed that your hair is different, but so is your outfit. I can’t help but noticed you’ve lost your partial blessing as well.” he ticked off casually as though all of those were all quite possible.

“Wh… what are you… saying?” Devin asked.

“Please, you’re the dead giveaway. Maybe if I’d only seen her alone I wouldn’t have noticed. But with you standing there I recognized you both immediately.” Dragon Smith stated firmly.

“We… were just leaving.” I said not sure what to say, or what to do.

“I don’t suggest it. The town is surrounded.” He continued ruining our day.

I stared at him, “Then… Your meeting?”

“That’s right.” he nodded.

I couldn’t help but noticed that slowly but surely the town was working its way towards the main crossroad. It was where the soldiers had set up logs to sit on, all situated around a now large fire.

I even noticed that Charlene had left her shop and was glancing our way. In fact, the moment our eyes met she walked over to us, “Is something wrong?” She asked.

“Indeed, these two might be spies.” The big man said with narrowed eyes.

“Are not.” I replied instantly.

“We’ll consider that after the meeting.” He said, “For now, you’re both coming with me.”

Charlene looked concerned, “Sir… what makes you think that?”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve run into them. In fact, now that I think about it, it's not the second time either is it?”

A tingle ran up my spine at that. He knew…

“I can explain…” I replied.

“Save it.” He said gesturing with a hand towards the crossroad.

“Should we try and run?” Naan spoke to me.

I thought about when we last encountered him, “You think we even have a chance?" I replied.

There was no need for Naan to even answer that. We both knew we were insects compared to this man, it was best to put him at ease rather than alarm him.

The four of us joined the others with Dragon Smith watching me and Devin closely.

He gestured for a guard to watch us as well, and so we took a seat with Charlene who sat by me.

“He’s wrong right?” She whispered to me.

I nodded, “He is… but I can completely see why he might think what he does.” I admitted.

“This is just our luck.” Devin grumbled.

“Seems like it.” I sighed.

We waited as more people than I’d ever seen in town gathered. I recognized only a few faces. Jenny and Evan stood on one side. I noticed Charlene’s husband make his way over as well. Even Phon showed up in the back. The rest of the town I knew little of, I’d waved or gave greetings over the few days we’d been here, but for the most part that was it.

When it looked like everyone had gathered Dragon Smith cleared his throat with a deep almost violent cough. The soft whispers and murmurs died away instantly. “I’ve gathered you here because your city is besieged.” That sent a ripple of shock through the crowd, whispers broke out, but he continued, “We really only have one option, that is that we’ll need to try and cut a path for retreat north. The problem is that I doubt that you can all keep up. This means that I’m standing here, giving you rather grim news. There was one other idea, considering a certain cave we’ve already found in the city. Does anyone know of any other passageways? Something that we can take beyond the encirclement?”

While there was some chatter and whispering no one replied.

Instead of what he wanted a man I didn't recognize asked, "Can't you defend us?"

Dragon Smith replied with firmness and a deliberate tone that made his certainty known, "We retreated here for a reason, that reason hasn't changed. So does anyone know of a cave? or passageway? Anything that can take us out past their line?"

The man who had asked the question shrank down into himself, and no one else dared try again.

While I was no expert by far, I'd seen his army before, and I'd seen it now. They had lost soldiers, maybe not any large portion, but many were also wounded, I'd seen them. More than anything I could see the expressions on the men around the fire, morale was bad, though I didn't know why. At least beyond the obvious losses.

Dragon Smith glanced around and I could clearly see the resolve settle into his expression. It was the kind of face you made when you realized that tiny bit of hope just burned out.

This was ridiculous. Still, if he is with us… I raised my hand.

Dragon Smith raised an eyebrow at me, “You know something?”

“The passageway you mentioned is the one in the church right?” I said.

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He nodded, “So you are the guests staying there? Well, I already know about that cave. So unless you know another.”

“You know about half of that cave.” I pointed out.

He considered me, then glanced to the others, “So no one else?”

The moments ticked by. He took a deep breath then glanced back at me and Devin, “Fantastic…”

“We need to talk. In private.” I said more firmly.

“On that at least you are right.” He said sighing.

Charlene spoke up, “You can speak in my shop…”

“Fine.” He growled and glanced at the others, “Well, best gather what you can, we’ll be leaving one way or another this night.”

At that the people scattered with various degrees of urgency.

Dragon Smith looked at Charlene and she led us back to her shop.

We gathered around her table all standing and at some point, we’d lost our extra guard.

“Alright, I’m listening, what nonsense do you have for me?” He asked.

“There's an old dungeon in that passage. We don’t know how far it goes, but it goes for quite a way.” I began.

“Where would that be?” He inquired.

“Have you been down in the passageway?” I answered his question with my own.

“Not personally, but they told me it leads to an underground river, and that there's nothing else down there.” Dragon Smith replied.

“It's across the river.” I explained. Then after a brief pause to temper myself, I continued, “It's also where my goblins are hiding.”

“Goblins?!” Charlene squeaked.

“They are my friends.” I quickly interjected.

“Hmm… So you admit to it? What was your name again… Meryl?” He continued.

I considered, “I go by Anna now.”

“But you are the same person.” He demanded.

“Yes…” I admitted.

He seemed somewhat placated by my candid agreement, “Very well, then care to explain our last encounter.” He proceeded.

“I lied when I said that Devin had been captured. He wasn’t, it was me that was captured. Because I was caught, he joined forces with my goblin friends to save me from the elvish city.” I said hoping that he could understand why I’d lied.

He considered my words, "Quite the story..." But rather than press me for details, or try to poke holes in it, he took a different approach. Dragon Smith turned his eyes to Devin, “So how did you escape your restraint?”

Devin glanced over at me.

“Don’t look at her. Answer me.” Dragon Smith pressed, the threat clear in his voice.

Devin deflated, “The dungeon…. It removed your magic.”

“A dungeon…” He said glancing between us, “Then you are a dungeon’s pet? What sort of demon are you?”

“I’m a succubus.” I replied.

“Ah, that explains… the incident.” Dragon Smith growled. “But… how under the divinities are you walking around in broad daylight?” He asked.

“I’m not made of mana. I’m a flesh and blood woman.” I stated.

“And what of the dungeon?” Dragon Smith queried.

“I am… the dungeon.” I replied, not sure how to broach this reasonably.

He just narrowed his eyes at me, “Nonsense.”

He glanced up as I heard Naan reach out to him, “She is being truthful. While we were once separate entities, we are no longer.”

Dragon Smith growled, “Get out of my head… foul thing.”

“Don’t think that your side is all that great! One of your men tried to kill just for fleeing during the attack.” I said feeling frustrated that he was looking down on us.

He gave me a level stare, “You were escaping prisoners. You expect me to punish someone for trying to stop you?”

“So you told him to watch the north side of your camp and kill anyone that fled?” I pressed, full well knowing the answer.

“No…” He admitted.

“He told us he was working with the elves.” I added.

“What's your point?” He asked, clearly not really caring about this in the slightest.

“I’m just…” I’d already explained that hadn’t I? Then again did it matter? I was just angry that he thought were at fault here. We survived! Still, there was no point beyond telling him what happened. I had to try to convince him that we were on his side. We’d killed that man, would that actually help our case?

Devin interjected, “I think she's just trying to tell you that we discovered a traitor among your men, and dealt with him.”

Devin! I already thought of that, it's not going to help!

“You expect to win my favor by telling me that you killed a man that I had no idea was working with my enemy?”

Devin stared back mouth slightly open now realizing the problem.

I lept in, “No. I just wanted to tell you it happened. His intention was to help the elves by killing anyone who fled from the fight. He also wanted to keep me for himself. Not that I expect you to believe me.” I gave up this line of reasoning.

“Then what?” Dragon Smith continued pressing.

I took a breath, “I guess since you don’t care about that, we might as well get back on topic. There is a problem with that old dungeon I mentioned.” I continued from where I left off.

“It's not that I don’t care, it's that I don’t have any reason to trust you. But yes, let's stop wasting time.” Dragon Smith pressed.

“It's full of dangerous plants that will attack people.” I replied.

He considered that really weighing it for a moment, “How many?” He asked.

“I don’t know. We tried exploring it, but when we realized how dangerous it was, we retreated.” I explained.

“How do I know you aren't trying to get me to walk into a trap?” Dragon Smith asked.

“I don’t know. It wasn’t ever my intention to work against you. It's just… I’ve only acted out of self-preservation.” I explained.

A long pause was left hanging between us until he continued, “Do you know where the dungeon’s exit is?” He asked.

“I don’t. But it doesn't matter. Once we are far enough, as long as we can clear out the plants somewhere, somehow, we can make our own exit.” I explained.

Dragon Smith stroked his beard considering my words. “The problem is, how do I know I can trust you? Even if I want to… you could very well be working for this dungeon, and using this as an excuse to feed my men and everyone in this town to it.”

That sent a shiver down my spine. Did he really think I was capable of doing something so horrible? Then again, if I’d made a contract maybe it wouldn’t even be up to me? I guess I couldn’t fault him for it. Rather I suppose that as the solution wasn’t it? “We can make a contract.” I offered.

He spat back, “I’ll not be your servant.”

“No… not that kind of contract. An agreement, one we’ll both be privy to and expected to uphold.” I explained.

He considered that more carefully, and so we began making offers.

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