Chapter 126: Book 2: Chapter 27

Chapter 27

 

Snug as a Bug was a cosy little bookstore that was surprisingly deep. Apart from the checkout desk at the front, the place was a classic arrangement of organised chaos. Shelf stacks arranged haphazardly, small tables piled with books, and comfy little armchairs ensconced in any nook and cranny that you could settle into and imbibe that old book aroma that pervaded places like this.

The owner, a bald man in his sixties with his nose in an oversized tome, waved us off distractedly and mumbled something about taking our time. I’m not sure he even registered who we were so intent was he on the book in front of him.

After a few minutes of wandering around the stacks, we came across a small vestibule area that had a table and some chairs in it. Like almost every other table in the quirky bookstore, it was piled high with an assortment of books, a mixture of hardbacks and paperbacks. There was a young man I vaguely recognised from Mackinac Island waiting for us and he asked to sit and wait for Regina’s arrival.

Just as I was beginning to lose my patience, Regina strutted into the small room, appearing from somewhere out the back. There must have been another way in that she used to meet me out of sight. She gave the three of us an appraising look-over as the young man pulled a chair out for her to sit in.

“When we are done here, I am going to Flint. I have business there,” I announced resolutely as she settled herself into the chair.

I might be willing to leave Malky in their care but not going to Flint and finding out what the fuck happened when I was so close was absolutely non-negotiable.

“I see,” Regina responded with a sardonic smile. However, there was no hint of anger in her posture at my declaration. “I commend your desire to do right by your friends, Captain Torin. But it’s a shame you didn’t meet with me first before charging into the hospital all guns blazing. Many ruffled feathers that needed smoothing.”

“I don’t care about a few penpushers whose noses are out of joint. You can’t stop us, and you will regret it if you try.”

Okay, my emotions were still running high and I kind of regretted saying that the second it left my lips. Regina was supposed to be an ally of sorts. I didn’t need Trisha’s disapproving sigh to tell me I was acting like a bull in a china shop. Shana squeezed my hand in approval, though. She did like it when I bossed the room.

Regina clacked her fingernails on the table for a few seconds as she thought over her response. There was a bit more steel in her eyes now than before I’d opened my mouth for the second time.

“I hadn’t planned on ordering anyone to stop you,” she drawled slowly. “But…if you go without my blessing it will complicate matters for you. We would be forced to visibly respond. Flint is one of the few places that is firmly under our control. We can’t allow foreign actors to simply do as they please. Actions like the withdrawal of support for your interests around Grand Rapids, for example.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, it’s the reality, Captain Carter. Now if you are quite through with the macho bullshit. We can talk this through like civilised people and find a mutually beneficial arrangement.”

“You have five minutes before we leave. Be convincing,” I practically snarled out.

Regina rolled her eyes, Trisha let out her held breath and Shana squeezed my thigh and softly purred her approval. My head may have been telling me to be more conciliatory, but my heart wouldn’t have it. A lack of snark from my imp suggested he preferred my bolshy attitude too, so I let myself off the chain a little more.

“From what I’ve seen and heard, I’m beginning to doubt the Governor’s capacity or willingness to follow through on our mutual Luca problem anyway.”

Now that riled Regina and her eyes snapped straight to Trisha, restrained fury boiling in that glare. However, Regina regained her composure in record time as you would expect from an experienced political player.

“I’m going to assume that somebody has been spreading gossip to your songbird that they shouldn’t. I think her welcome in our ranks has finally worn itself out.”

“So, it’s true then. The Governor has found a way to ditch his Ruler class and is planning on bailing out,” I challenged Regina. “That he has frozen you out of his inner circle as he sets up his escape plan.”

She took a moment to think before answering me. “That is only partially true. Yes, the Framework has offered my husband a way to leave his current class. Recent events have prompted discussions of that nature. Events I was going to bring up with you as part of these talks. But the process of changing is not an easy thing to accomplish and would be counterproductive in the extreme. My husband has seen sense and rejected pursuing it.

“I have not been frozen out either. Admittedly, Raven has grown more obstinate and…rash of late and will only listen to or report to her father, which could give that impression. My continued support for you has been a primary factor in making that worse, by the way. The fact remains that Richard listens to me, he always has, and he always will. And Raven heeds her father.”

I mulled over what Regina said. It could be true. Trisha had admitted that her source was anonymous and that what they had told her was unverified. They could be taking a few truths and weaving a more complex conspiracy of unproven conjecture around them. We all saw plenty of that on the internet pre-Framework. Regina was a smart operator, used to being privy to her duplicitous husband’s bullshit and ought to know the difference.

But could she be overestimating how much control she has over the Governor? In the old world, it was likely true, but things had changed significantly. So had the people. With a sinking feeling, I realised that Trisha was right. I would need to keep her here to uncover more. If there was something rotten in the Michigan State faction I would need to know before it could bite me in the ass.

“Fine, I’ll take your word for it. What is it that you want so as not to make a fuss about us going to Flint and finding out what happened to my friend?”

“A little favour is all,” Regina said mimicking what I demanded from her for an earlier deal. “I’ll even tell you what it is upfront. A consideration I was not afforded if you recall.”

I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms. “I’m all ears.”

<Oooh, something’s brewing, I can feel it. The Framework is practically buzzing. Shit’s about to get significant> Quixbix buzzed in my head before Regina could speak. My relaxed posture stiffened, and Shana leaned forward intently having heard my imp.

“With the exception of St Ignace, the small town on the other side of the bridge over the Straits of Mackinac, to date, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan has been silent. Even after Richard got to Lansing and reached out to the towns up there,” Regina started.

“That’s not too surprising,” Shana interrupted. “There is a whole lot of wilderness up north. Hardly any people. There must be a heck of a lot of monsters.”

I nodded in agreement. I’d not known a lot about the Upper Peninsula before, but we’d taken an interest since its coast was close to my islands. The lack of people at my disposal and the need to establish the Shattered Storm on my archipelago had discouraged any potential exploration of the landmass, though.

“There were only about 300,000 residents,” Regina confirmed. “Far fewer now we believe. We have recently discovered the reason for the silence. A few survivors from a small town deeper into the peninsula managed to make it to St. Ignace a few days ago. Escapees really. What they had to say was so disturbing it was initially disbelieved. Then the following day, a talking humanoid goat beast…I suppose you could call it a herald, who approached the town with a message.

“It claimed all the land of the Upper Peninsula for some god that it called Carnax and calmly informed them that the rest of the state was next. Once it had finished its gloating slash warning, the entire peninsula was severed from Richard’s class and it dropped a few grades as a result. This lent considerable credibility to the tales told by those few survivors.”

Before Regina had even finished Quixbix was intoning as he does in my head.

<Quest Culling the Cloven-Hoofed 3 completed successfully. 6,800 XP awarded.>

 That quest had been to locate where the spawning crystals for the Hooved Horde were. It would appear we now had an answer. The Michigan Upper Peninsula. I could also see that the next quest in the chain was available for me to review but Regina was still talking, and I suppressed my curiosity for now.

“I haven’t heard anything about this,” Trisha said in surprise.

“It is a new development and based on what they told us we decided to keep this information need to know. You didn’t need to know…until now. Frankly, I’m a bit relieved to learn our organisation isn’t completely porous, and we’ve been able to keep some things from you,” she snarked.

Trisha blushed from embarrassment, but Regina’s earlier heat had evaporated. Her critique stemmed from resignation, not anger.

“Those few survivors were all older teens. Apparently, too young to be collared but old enough to make a successful escape. These beastmen seem to operate in a manner we haven’t encountered before from the monsters that plague us. They have enslaved the populace and are forcing them to work or sacrificing them on hideous altars dedicated to their foul god.

“The survivors tell us that there are large numbers in this beast army. I’ve already given orders to evacuate St. Ignace and collapse the bridge, which should contain them on the Upper Peninsula in the short term. However, the survivors have reported that the prisoners are being forced to explore and map something these monsters called the ‘Warrens’ which they have opened in the heart of the Seney National Wildlife Refuge. It’s supposed to be an interdimensional underground pathway that connects different places. Some kind of magic is involved, of course, and it’s incredibly dangerous if you leave the mapped and safe passages. 

“The information is second-hand. None of the youngsters who made it to us had been inside themselves. According to those who had, the Beastmen are looking for a route to somewhere specific but haven’t found it yet. The only exits so far discovered have come out elsewhere on the Peninsula or in Canada. It is only a matter of time until they find one that will allow them to invade the rest of the state.

“I’ve prepared a missive with everything we know about the situation for you,” she finished, and her aide stepped forward and produced a manilla folder with a stack of papers in it from their inventory and offered it to our group. Trisha accepted it on our behalf and started leafing through the pages.

<No prizes for guessing the Horde’s priority is to find a way to get to Stormblade Harbour> Quixbix chirped.

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I had no choice but to agree. We’d kept what had happened between us and the Hooved Horde quiet. All those who had any inkling were part of the Shattered Storm. This was obviously what Quixbix meant by shit getting significant. I wasn’t about to volunteer what I knew, though.

“Thanks for the information, Regina. Although I’m not sure how this has anything to do with us or what I want to do in Flint?”

“It’s simple really. We have very little presence in the northern half of the state, and we are already moving people southwards. With what is happening in Detroit and Grand Rapids we don’t exactly have the people to spare to launch a mission to seize this gateway into the Warrens. And even if we did, we have no easy way to get them there, but you do.”

Then it dawned on me what it was Regina was demanding in exchange for not breaking ties with us over Flint.

“This is what you call a little favour?” I seethed with incredulity. “Have you lost your bloody mind!”

Sure, it was in my best interests to bring a halt to whatever the Hooved Horde were up to, but Regina didn’t know that.

She shrugged her shoulders at my outburst. “You can always say no,” she replied nonchalantly. “Do as you will. We’d likely be forced to come to an understanding with the Brotherhood of the Lion’s Claw, though. We’d need those soldiers currently harrying his flanks to launch a mission of our own. Especially if someone we once thought could be relied upon had abused our trust to trespass in our territory.”

Then she smiled sweetly and gazed at me with hooded eyes.

Bloody Nora! The brass balls on this woman. Playing chicken with the fate of the state on the line.

But I was partially at fault here as well. By throwing my weight around and openly displaying my emotions I’d spoon-fed Regina the leverage she needed to try and coerce my help. She now knew how important going to Flint was to me and was using it ruthlessly to corral me into acting on her behalf.

<I think you should read through your quest, Torin> Quixbix advised, piercing the maelstrom of my seething mind.

 

*** Culling the Cloven-Hoofed 4 (Fx3)

You have unearthed the whereabouts of the Hooved Horde. Including the location of their nearest bastion to your fledgling faction. Evidence suggests the Horde, with the assistance of their patron god, have prematurely opened a portal into the interdimensional warren network. Conquer this bastion and re-dedicate the portal to the Shattered Goddess.

Success: Portal re-dedicated.

Rewards: 16,500 XP and future quests in the chain. The Shattered Portal will be relocated to your territory and a moratorium imposed on the Hooved Horde preventing them from establishing a new gateway into the Warrens on Earth for 100 years.

A new quest chain that will reward you with maps for the Warrens network. The reward for the first quest in this chain will include the route to the territories claimed by your rival Luca Gattosi.

Failure: If this quest goes incomplete the rest of this quest chain will remain locked and unavailable. ***

 

Quixbix was right. Reading through the quest cooled my ire instantly. All of a sudden, unbeknownst to Regina, the foundations of this exchange had shifted in my favour. Heading to the Upper Peninsula and battling the Hooved Horde was now something I would be doing anyway.

Regina might have come in here with the intention of holding me to ransom, but Michigan’s need for the Shattered Storm to intercede on their behalf remained. There was a limit to how much hardball she could play. Time to eke out as much advantage as I could from this shift in events.

“Fine,” I growled after half a minute of stewed silence. “But I expect a damn sight more than just your blessing to visit Flint. Trisha gets to stay with you for starters,” I said, and started counting things off on my fingers. “And you will share all the details on how your husband can ditch his class because I don’t share your faith that he isn’t planning on doing a runner and leaving me high and dry.

“No blowback at all for what we do in Flint. And I do mean anything. Somebody did that to Malky and I plan to fuck them up good and proper in return.”

“Hmmm, Flint is currently running in a semi-autonomous state as they lack an empowered representative. The local mayor proved hysterical and had to be removed. The election for his replacement has not taken place yet.”

“An election in the sodding apocalypse. Really?” I snorted

“Democracy is the cornerstone of our identity as Americans,” Regina retorted.

“Not a Yank, remember,” I said and pointed at myself. She rolled her eyes at that. “Fine, what is your best offer given the situation.”

“The Flint podium is set to Law Abiding. I’m not changing the laws for you. That is far too risky. If you are seen to be breaking laws, then the podium will take the appropriate response. The writ I’d need to issue you anyway ought to be enough to get the local guard to back off or ignore any system-issued quests. And I can prevent any ramifications spreading to the rest of the state. If that is acceptable.”

“That will have to do, I suppose.”

“The we are agreed,” Regina nodded and held her hand out for me to shake on it.

“I’m not done,” I warned her instead f taking her outstretched palm. “Any land I take from the beasts during this operation is mine. We won’t be returning any, and you will formally cede any claim to it. If you want any of the Upper Peninsula back, you’re gonna’ have to damn well do it yourselves.”

Regina was far less eager to accept that demand, but she wasn’t the only one who could bluff. Ultimately, the land was something they had already lost, and she had effectively told me they couldn’t take it back themselves. When she nodded, I went on.

“This is a big operation which will require a heck of a lot of bodies. Bodies I don’t have, you will allow my press officer,” I gestured to Trisha once more. “To run a recruitment drive on the Shattered Storm’s behalf with full access to the Michigan State communication network.”

Regina ground her teeth and then looked at me shrewdly. “It can only be directed at those not already committed to the Michigan State military.”

I’d expected as much, but it would seem my negotiation skill was working it’s magic just to get her to agree to that at all. No doubt she believed they had already scraped the barrel clean of willing volunteers. But I suspected there was another layer who might be more amenable to the lawless nature of the Shattered Storm ripe for the plucking.

“Understood. Finally, you will be paying full market value for the return of any enslaved citizens we rescue. Although if you don’t care for that I’ll be happy to keep them and offer them my alternative.”

Regina sat back and mulled over my list of extras. For a split second, despite her earlier acquiescence. I thought she might refuse the deal once she had assessed it as a whole. My fears went unrealised. “Done. Is this an agreement between friends or do you require a pact?”

“Pact,” I answered without hesitation.

I liked Regina and trusted her to do what she thought was best for her people. That was also the problem. Should screwing over the Shattered Storm become what was best for Michigan State I had few doubts on the choice she would make.

“Very well,” she assented.

Five minutes later Shana and I left Snug as a Bug by the front entrance while Trisha went out the back with Regina.

After the pact was drawn up and agreed I spent a little time discussing with Trisha what to put in out promotional material. Emphasising the lack of regulations and the opportunity for enrichment would be key. Trisha understood what I was getting at immediately and promised to write something that would tap into the frontier spirit of the 19^th Century gold and land rushes. The Darkwyrlds was essentially the Wild West reborn in a different guise. Appealing to the same instincts that captivated the people then should serve us well.

Shana and I grabbed a few musty books from the shelves as we went and left a couple of gold coins on the bookworm owner’s desk as we left. He barely even noticed.

Ten minutes after that, Marena’s Mercy had set sail heading deeper inland using the river network.

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