Chapter 217: Old As Dirt

“So, yeah. I miss my phone and the internet, but this time is pretty damn cool too,” Ann sighed, finishing her story. “At least I’ve got my coffee.”

Eldest of All rumbled a laugh. “Trappings I have not heard of in an age. You truly are a woman out of time. Fortunate, you are, to have found mates able to accommodate your senses. Even if… never mind.”

Ann saw the old dragon struggling to hold back his contempt. He still wouldn’t look at Kat. She’d take it, though. Reluctant acceptance was better than outright hostility.

“Yeah, really lucky and possibly divinely arranged to an extent. Still, I’m lucky to have them,” Ann smiled, giving her girls a tight hug.

Rosalyn was still wary of the dragon, but was starting to relax a bit. Kat was doing no such thing. Her body was tense. That icy blue eye noted every move Eldest of All made. It was incredibly hot.

“So what’s an old bastard like you been up to before all the Warped stuff started? Have any mates of your own?”

“For a time, I flew. I flew and flew, only touching land when it came time to eat,” Eldest said. His voice was as soft as the stony dragon could make it, wistful and lost in a memory. “The skies were open once more, and I left the lands to the warring of men. They mattered little to me, and their newly restored magics were paltry to mine own. I was overjoyed to feel the sky once more without fear of discovery. I was now the terror in the clouds! A hundred years or more did I spend like this. I never settled in one place for long. I traversed the oceans, saw the lands, and knew the beasts beginning to return to the world. Perhaps I did interact with man now and then. One grows curious how such a cataclysm affects others.

“They were terrified of me. Rightfully so! Few had seen one of my kin even by that time,” Eldest gave a proud chuckle. “Some were peaceful, and we traded discourse. Others were hostile and threw magic at me. Others were harming the land and everything around them. I buried their cities in a cascade of stone.”

“So you are an earth dragon?” Bren asked. Ann was so used to him taking notes that she hadn’t even registered the scratching of his quill. “I thought most of your kind preferred subterranean life.”

“Most do, but when that life is forced upon you for most of your years, it becomes a cage rather than a home. A cage it was.”

“Fascinating,” Bren mumbled, taking notes. Ann hoped he was taking a few for Rosalyn since she wasn’t in any state to do so herself.

“So you went out and played Smaug for a bit? Seems fun. Also seems like you kept to yourself most of the time. How’d you wind up like this?” Ann asked, finally breaching the subject of the dragon’s malady.

“It was… hmm, about one thousand, six hundred years ago. What became known as the Warped were already a threat. We dragons had been doing our part since the first Swarm. When the flood of foul creatures poured forth from the Gods’ domains, we took to wing and slew many. I was, as far as I know, the first to show signs of corruption. There may have been others in scattered regions who also succumbed, but I am not aware of them. My scales were the first sign. I thought it was some disease causing buildup on them and making them more brittle. Then my fangs fell from my jaws, only to be replaced by these metal inadequacies. By then, I knew what I was becoming.

“I fled. I flew north and west from my clutch, making my way to the Arctic. My claws had been replaced by then, and my mind started to fail. I was a feral beast for a time. A mighty creature that dug deep into the earth and slew all who came near. By the time my mind recovered, I was so far gone that another dragon would not recognise me as such. I fell into a deep grief. It was during this time that I formed the cave you now sit in. It was meant to be my tomb. A quiet place to live out what years I had left away from others I might hurt.

“Then, well, then the first of the Malformed found me. He was changed. Warped. A mass of tumours and creatures. He dragged his body down into the cave and collapsed. I left him there for a time, unsure what to do with him. Slowly, though, he recovered and began to explore. That led him to find me, and we spoke. I learned that he, too, had somehow escaped the madness of the Taint. Neither of us could figure out why. None of our experiences matched.”

“What happened to him?” Ann asked.

“He died. Killed by a pack of Warped on the surface.”

“So what we saw was not just a territorial dispute?”

“The Warped actually fight ye?”

“Correct. While we bear their physical deformities, something causes them to see us as an enemy.”

“Openly hostile is an understatement,” Alruna chimed in. “They seem to hunt us whenever we are topside. It makes trips to civilisation far more dangerous than they should be.”

Eldest of All rumbled in agreement. “More came after the man. Here and there, breaking up the years of solitude. Eventually, more found their way or were brought here by those already residing in my nest. Before long, they had established a community with me at its head. Remarked something about age and wisdom, but I remained detached. Once the size grew, I could no longer ignore them. We settled the terms of their residence in my nest, and our village was founded.”

“Feck, I wonder how many got executed that might’ve been like ye?” Kat pondered.

“An insignificant portion,” Eldest of All huffed. He still didn’t look at Kat, but answered all the same. “We are a tiny exception to a terrible rule. Do not doubt your actions, for they were founded on correct beliefs.”

“Is good. Good tribe. Many problems?” Lucia asked.

“Now and then, as all cities have.”

“You heard one when we arrived,” Alruna pointed out.

“Another outburst?”

“In the residences, yes,” Alruna answered. “It is being handled. Eyes and Tarnu are more than capable.”

“Good. At least it was not near the livestock this time,” Eldest of All sighed. “Having to steal and replenish was distasteful.”

“A harsh necessity,” Alruna agreed.

“Moving past being sheep thieves, how long has this all been going?” Ann asked.

“Three hundred years for the full community, and another two for the sporadic visitors before. Six hundred and eleven since the first. It has been some time.”

“Pardon my interjection, but no one has noticed you? How have you interacted with society yet remain unknown?” Bren asked.

“That is thanks to our more concealable members,” Eldest of All nodded at Alruna. “We are able to use those with less outwardly obvious taint to go and retrieve things we can not make ourselves. Alruna and Tarnu are two of the very few we have at the moment. The townsfolk in the region see us as a reclusive and odd place, but friendly enough that they do not ask questions. Should they, no one would find this place. If they did, action would be taken to make sure their silence is assured.”

“One way or the other,” Alruna said as if she were talking about choosing shoes.

“How many ‘ave asked an’ gotten this far?” Kat asked with an edge to her voice.

“Hmm,” Eldest of All rumbled. “A scant dozen or maybe two. Some swore to their silence and have kept their word. Others refused and were eliminated. Those whom we suspected would not keep their words were tailed and dealt with as soon as their oath was broken. A shame we cannot enforce oaths as those visible to the Gods can.”

“So we’re in the same boat. See if you can trust us, or kill us?” Ann asked.

“Your Goddess has shown her favour quite clearly. I will not be restricting your presence. I would speak more with you, Daughter of the Taint and Divine, but you all must be eager to depart my presence after my outburst. Please follow Alruna. They have quarters being arranged?”

“Yes, Eldest of All,” Alruna bowed her head. “I will show them to their place.”

“Very well. Go, rest well, and we shall discuss your next steps when tensions have cooled. My deepest apologies, tiny one.”

Rosalyn gave the dragon a shaky wave, but still didn’t seem confident enough to do much more.

As soon as they were outside the doors, Kat dropped her calm facade. “I am gonna rip some scales outta that bastard fer what he did. Feckin’ piece o’ dragon jerky actin like I had any feckin’ choice in this shite is gonna rue the bloody day!”

“Why is it that anytime we meet someone connected to the gods like this, they do something insanely stupid and piss us off?” Ann groaned. “First Rowena, now this bastard. Gotta drop my dick every time to get them to back off, too. Orenous even agrees with me! I got to channel her mojo for the first time ever, and it’s for this?”

“That was quite impressive,” Bren laughed. “Seeing a dragon cowed like a pup in front of its mother was entertaining to say the least.”

“Agree with Kat. Don’t like.”

“I’ll… I’ll get over it. He was really scary, though. So big and messed up? Like, I do feel sorry for him. That’s a lot to deal with because you got Warped, then it just didn’t take. I wanna talk to him later, but not for a bit,” Rosalyn said, finally speaking.

Alruna let out a shaky breath and slumped against the door. “I… I was expecting something to happen, but not this. I do not know how you… Gods, you made a major gamble. I thought you all were dead for certain. If he had not controlled himself, you most certainly would have been.”

“Feck, I’m surprised he didn’t get angrier when Ann started glowin’. Figured a Warped would be extra pissed at that.”

“Thank you for the moment to recover. Shall I show you to your spots? It is rough, but so are most things here.” With practised calm, Alruna’s shoes clicked as she walked them out of the manor.

“Guys!” Eyes cried out, waving from nearby. “Oh my gosh, I was so scared! Eldest of All sounded pissed! You all look mostly alright, though, so I guess it worked out. Wanna go see the town?”

“Eyes, was the disturbance taken care of?” Alruna asked.

“Oh, yeah. Bones was having an episode. You know how he gets. Tarnu beat him down enough that he calmed down. Teeth helped out, too. Stripes was getting people to help set up the stalls again. Abigail is getting your potion station to help Bones. He’s bleeding pretty bad, even with regenerating.”

Alruna nodded and followed the eerily tall deer woman.

Rosalyn was still holding Ann and Kat’s hands, but her grip had relaxed significantly. By the time they made their way to a set of collapsed structures, she was walking on her own again.

Various Warped people were huddled around a couple of others. To the side, a woman with sunken eyes and claws as long as her arms was directing a few others. She bore multicoloured stripes down the length of her body in a lurid pattern similar to the Seed’s barriers. She had to be Stripes.

“Make way, mostly normal people coming through,” Alruna shouted. Everyone backed off, clearing a path for the Daughter of Worms to pass through.

Growls and other sounds of discontent filled the air as the seven made their way to the middle of the pack. Alruna kept a hand on her hammer, apparently ready for any kind of outburst.

The man on the ground was obviously Bones. Obvious because he had way more than anyone should. His arms were covered in knobbly structures, and his chest was a forest of exposed ribs. Even his jaw had extra spurs pushing through the skin. It was an uncomfortable-looking existence, made worse by the fact that half of them were broken. His rich brown skin was covered in welts and bruises from his fight with Tarnu, including a very swollen eye.

“Bones, you back?” Alruna asked.

“Yes. I’m back.” The man had a lisp that cut into the impact of his deep tone. “Lost myself for a bit there. Saw them all around and just… I had to fight.”

Alruna knelt by the man, giving him a once-over. “Tarnu really took it to you. Must have been bad. Did you feel yourself slipping?”

“A bit, yeah. Tried to shout away people, but shouts don’t mix well with us.”

“No,” Alruna sighed. “Looks like your regeneration is kicking in, but Bren here can heal you if you want.”

“The human? Sure. Keep your distance, though, friend. The instinct to strike is strong in my bones, and there are a lot of them.” Bones chuckled weakly at his terrible joke.

Bren did what he could from a respectful distance. Wounds closed, and bruises faded. Some of the broken bones re-knit, but he couldn’t do much for the fully snapped off ones.

“That is the best I have,” Bren said, standing up.

“Hey, better than Alruna’s nasty potions.”

“I do not have the proper herbs to make them taste better. You know this,” Alruna grumbled.

“Aye, I’m giving you shit. Thanks, Bren. I’d shake your hand, but I’d rip it off.”

“All of you are like this?” Ann asked.

“Bones is one of the worst,” Eyes piped up. “I’m around normal, and Alruna’s one of the calmest. Well, until the worms act up. Really, I’d just kinda keep a distance from us while you’re here. We can talk and see you just fine, but once you’re in range, it’s irresistible.”

“Like ye just hurt who e’r ye can?” Kat asked.

“No, no, that’s only when you start to lose yourself.”

“Eyes is right,” Bones said. “I’m a bad case. Wouldn’t be surprised if I succumb soon.”

“Bones, we don’t talk like that,” Alruna chided him. “You might have many years ahead of you. Positive thinking.”

“Stow the nice words for just a minute, Alruna. They’re new, and they need to know what we’re dealing with. We all heard Eldest of All raging. If they got the old boulder that angry and are still here, they’re important.”

Alruna opened her mouth like she wanted to object, but closed it again, letting Bones continue.

“So, yeah. Not all of us last. Alruna and Eyes should be fine for their lives, but guys like me are closer to the feral Warped than man.” As he spoke, Ann saw him click his bones. It seemed to be a tic he was unaware of. “We risk going all the way. Fuck, it’s terrifying thinking about it. Keeps me up at night.”

“Not sleeping will only make it worse. Do you need something to help you sleep?” Alruna spoke up again.

“Yeah. That’d be nice, Worms. ‘Preciate it. But yeah, normalish people. This is what you’re getting into. We call this the Village of the Accursed for a reason. None of us can escape what we are.”

A girl came running up. She was what used to be an Inlon, but meshed with several pieces of metal. Her rebar leg clanked as she hobbled over to them. One of her ears was missing, an eye had a huge nail piercing it, and the way her smock moved told Ann there was more underneath. “I got you the potion! Oh! New friends?” Her voice was soft, quiet, and painfully innocent. “Hello. I’m Abigail.” She curtsied clumsily.

“Abigail, how old are you?” Rosalyn asked, getting on one knee to speak with her.

“I’m twelve,” the girl beamed. “Gonna be thirteen this year.”

Ann’s heart clenched. So young. Still a little kid and dealing with all of this. Her body already mutilated by the taint and cast out of society. Her happy demeanour was all the more heartbreaking because of her situation. She should be in school, playing with other kids or learning from a craftsman. She should have parents who love and look after her. But no, she was here in a cave surrounded by other outcasts who had no choice but to hide and survive.

Ann clenched her teeth, calming herself. “That’s great!” she forced herself to say in a cheerful tone. “Got anything planned for your birthday?”

“Hmm, no, not really. Might go try to ride one of the sheep, though! That might be fun!”

“Tell you what. I’m gonna see what I can do to make that better, ok?” Ann said. “What do you like?”

“Well, not much down here, but I liked dolls before… before…” her little face fell. A sniffle was wiped away by a tiny green hand.

“Hey, ok. So you liked dolls. What kind of dolls?” Ann asked, grabbing her attention from the sad thoughts.

“I like ones with pretty dresses! The big floofy kinds with lots of ribbons and flowers, and the little coat! Soft ones are the best! Can snuggle them real good.”

“I had a dress like that!” Rosalyn giggled. “It had a real big skirt that looked like a thundercloud. I felt like a gosh darned princess!”

“Whoa! That’s so neat!” Abigail looked up at Rosalyn with pure wonder. “Did you bring it?”

“No. It’s not something that does well on the road.”

“I remember it pretty well. I’ll try to draw it for you, ok?” Ann offered.

“Okay! Thank you, miss, and miss!” Abigail clapped with joy.

“I’m Ann. If you want to call me like a lot of these people do, call me Wolf.”

“And I’m Rosalyn.”

“Rosylon. Roslynn.”

“Rosalyn,” Rosalyn repeated slowly, coaching the little girl along.

“Ro-sa-lyn. Oh! Ok, got it. Thanks, Miss Ann and Miss Rosalyn!”

“Abigail, why don’t you go back to the One with Fur and see if he needs any help?” Alruna suggested.

“Ok, Miss Worms! He always needs help picking things up. Bye new friends!”

Ann waved as she watched the girl hobble off. As soon as she was out of sight, her face darkened. “I hate this.”

Mumbles of agreement came from the Warped around her.

“So fucking young.”

“Aye. It doesn’t care who it affects,” Kat said gently. “Come on. Anger isn’t gonna do us any good. We gotta rest an’ see what we can do.”

Ann knew Kat was right, but that anger boiled even as she put the lid on it.

“Now, everyone, back to your duties or recreation,” Alruna clapped her gloved hands. “Friends, come with me, and we can get you settled.”

The group dispersed quickly to whatever it was they did.

Ann cast one look back the way Abigail had gone. She was getting her that doll. She turned and followed Alruna toward the waterfall.