Daniel lay with his wife for a time as she went over what she’d uncovered, be it the farmstead, the criminal documents, or the items they’d gained.
It was a lot. He wasn’t sure about the conversion mechanic. There were a lot of unknowns, and the possibility of danger. It wasn’t like the elves or beastfolk had much of a choice. They already thought they were dead, which was not a good headspace to make decisions in.
The only other option he could think of was having Carl shelter them. And that was without a doubt the worst option. He thought they’d probably be better off braving the monster-filled wilderness or human patrols.
But he’d give them the choice.
Daniel stood on a wagon box in the gray before dawn. Since falling, he never felt more numb than standing before these souls, looking at him for a verdict he couldn’t make. But he could give them paths to choose.
“Those are your options. You probably think I’m crazy, talking to dead birds or an invisible wife. But once you finish discussing it, I’ll open the gate. You’ll only have thirty minutes before it closes, and you must decide. I won’t be able to open it up until tomorrow, and I don’t know what time is like inside.”
Nobody said anything as he got down. He walked up the road until he couldn’t hear them and sat on a milestone to stare at the card. Thirty-eight people had to decide their fates.
Carl fluttered down to land on his shoulder.
“I’m shocked you gave me as an option. You’ve opened me up to so many possibilities, friend. And that farmstead is quite ominous. The questions swirling around my core are tantalizing. The things a Dungeon Core could do. I’ve been working on a conversion project for centuries, and you just pop one out of nowhere? So curious.”
“There are risks in everything. When we’re done here, are you still planning on eating me as I try to reach my wing fragments?”
The bird’s head tilted to the side, red eyes shining.
“You know, Dan, new ideas are floating in that make me wonder if there’s another way. Why would I want to consume something that gives me the one thing I’ve been searching for?”
Daniel lifted his gaze to the many dead eyes surrounding him atop trees and wagons.
“Best be careful. You’re sounding more human by the conversation.”
“I learned to let go when I was younger. It’s how I survived. Emotion felt like swimming far into the ocean, and trying to stay afloat until my lungs would cough up water and sand would coat my bones.”
A somber sound came from the chatter of birds as Daniel looked at the throng of slaves.
“I thought maybe I should open the drawer I shut, burn the pages and write poems with the ash on the floor… Or pour out the ink into the sink and watch it drain from the shore.”
Daniel leaned forward and rested his chin on his bridged fingers, causing the bird to flutter to the ground.
“What do you want, Carl? That you long for the most?”
“A lot. At least, at the start. But I don’t want to love anymore. I thought I’d chosen this design. Did I choose this path? I don’t remember anymore.”
The bird looked up at him.
“Though now love is the one thing I’ve been searching for… It’s the one thing that I miss the most. I look in the mirror, seeing a thousand undead faces, hoping maybe I’ll find myself tonight. I am so lonely. Am I afraid to be alone?”
A silence stretched between them as Daniel pondered the Dungeon Core’s questions.
He breathed out a long sigh and showed him the smallest smile.
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“The terrible thing, Carl, is I can’t tell if you’re honest or not. Is this a brilliant pivot and point of attack, or a true cry for something that you lost? The scary part is that both options are dangerous to me… Because how can you let something so valuable slip away?”
Daniel saw that the groups had finished, and the three women representing each race came to meet him. Julia and Alys were off to the side, not taking part but listening. Carl’s words followed him as he went to meet them.
“I couldn’t tell you if I were sincere or not, friend. And I’m working on a solution to that problem… Clara is going to scream. But I giggle just thinking about her defeated face when she realizes she is beaten.”
The elf spoke first. She was the boldest of the slaves.
“We will go. All nineteen elves. There is no choice. We aren’t exactly thrilled to share space with beastfolk or humans. Especially women. But we are beggars at your feet. We cannot even understand their droll. I do not know how we are supposed to cooperate. Land and unknown effects in a spiritual realm are far from the worst outcome we envisioned for ourselves.”
“One problem at a time,” Daniel returned. “And a rather pragmatic explanation. I can try to argue that there are options, but I won’t insult you. You made your choice. Are you the same elves as those north of here?”
Her refined features creased with disgust.
“The boreal brutes of the north? That is insulting. We are from the southeastern isles, taken as slaves and traded by the Dark Elven Sea Trade. Do we look all pale and snow-like as those snow-loving hulks?”
Daniel cupped his chin.
“Blunt. Others could be intimidated by it. You’re taller than the beastfolk or humans. I don’t think you’re trying to be rude or mean. Probably culture. Maybe work on your delivery? It’s how you sound speaking to them. Even your other elven sisters seem intimidated by you. If this is going to work, harmony needs to be established.”
The elf blinked.
“Not all of them are from my isles. I can see what you mean… I shall work on it.”
He smiled and nodded, noticing various shades on the elves and other feature differences.
It seems they can all speak general elvish, but their cultures are very different. The Dark Elven Sea Trade must go wide.
Renna’s ears were flat against her skull as he spoke with the elf. Her tail stopped moving when he looked at her, showing an encouraging smile.
“There are twelve of us, Master. But… the children. Four of them. Will they survive this transition you speak of? They are not the strongest after the journey.”
“I don’t know, Renna. I know this sounds scary, traveling to a place none of us really understand, nor its effects on you. It could strengthen them. It could be too much. I will provide you with everything I can while inside. It’s new to me as well.”
Renna’s eyes closed, and a quiver ran from the tip of her ears to the tip of her tail.
“Thank you,” she blurted out.
“For what?”
“For not saying it would be fine. For giving us a choice. For treating us… Like we’re human.”
“Human…” Daniel thought for a second, looking to the women. “All of you are equal in this land. It may not be easy. It may take time to adjust. But I can’t have you isolating yourselves. We’ll deal with the language barrier. What about you?”
The human woman quaked when he looked down at her. She was thinner than the elves or beastfolk, with four teeth left, a knuckle that had healed crooked, and hobbled rather than walked.
“Four, sir,” she mumbled. “Three said they’d go back with Alys. She said there is help at the temple. We won’t say a word about what you did! We swear.”
Daniel nodded and reached out his hand to squeeze hers.
“I’m just a stranger who could be a friend. There’s hope. I’ll help you.”
Her chest fluttered, and she clutched his hand to her head.
“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”
Her name was Ilva, and she was one of the four.
He took the three apart from the others. He gave each of them a horse, a handful of copper to see them through, and a story. A version of what happened here that wasn’t a lie and not the full truth. Most of which they didn’t have the full account of anyway.
With food and supplies needed for the three-day trip, they went with Julia and Alys. He’d helped them prepare a carriage to return with, carrying Asper and the heads of the slavers. Daniel had been the one to do the dirty work.
Alys talked with him about wanting to take Edmund’s corpse back. He advised her not to for Julia’s sake. He’d bury him out here. She accepted that since Edmund had killed Asper.
She looked at him for a long moment with a hollow and lost expression. He reached out a hand for her to squeeze, faking a smile.
“You really are kind.”
“I’ll be behind you soon enough. See you soon. I have a lot to do in the city.”
“Okay…”
Seeing her off, he returned to the nervous crowd and tossed the card to the ground.
[⟡ Ground #1: Farmstead &&]
The light came out of the ground in a line and went up past the height of the wagons. The scent of rain and greenery flowed out with the tingle of something deep within his bones.
He was the first to enter the portal.