Chapter 241: Ok, Really Leaving This Time

Ann stretched as she left the group. They needed to split up to pick up any orders or items prepared overnight for the group. Kat and Rosalyn were with her. It wasn’t really much of a rush. If needed, they could just stay another day. Alruna had explained that these trips often took a few, so getting back to the village might not happen today.

Besides, Ann had a bet she needed to get working on. Eldest of All had challenged her, and she was going to make sure that dragon was eating his words by the time she was done. Not to mention that she wanted Waheela to get one up on the old lizard. Even if the old bitch had pushed her emotions into accepting the bet, Ann mostly agreed with her frustration at Eldest underestimating them.

It was a small push.

Yeah, but you still started manipulating my emotions without anything. You sure those bonds are still on tight?

I’ve found some wiggle room while still in these infernal chains. I can push a feeling harder than letting you know how I feel.

Not a huge fan of that. Stay out of my emotions, yeah?

Even if it were to enhance pleasure?

Shit, that did sound kinda fun. Ok, maybe that’s fine.

When we align, I will bolster your motivation and feelings to greater heights, the old wolf rumbled. Still, forgive some mischief. It is awfully boring being stuck in here.

Ann sighed. She could sympathise. Her thousands of years in the black void of her coma had nearly driven her insane. Waheela had far more stimulus, but she was still trapped in the liminal space that was Ann’s soul. Fine. I’ll be more careful about telling which is my emotion, and which is yours.

Good practise for other forces. I will have your heart ironclad before long.

Ann suddenly felt a surge of lust, then sadness, then joy, then back to normal. Waheela snickered.

Alright, I get the point. Ann clutched a chair, gasping at the sudden rush of intense feeling.

Good. Now run along, pup. Let’s see what trouble we can get into today.

“You alright, Ann? You look like you just saw a ghost!” Rosalyn’s hazel eyes were filled with concern as she looked up at Ann. She was adorable, clutching her robes nervously.

“Waheela just demonstrating she can push emotions on me now. We came to a sort of agreement about it.”

“That’s spooky. I hope I don’t run into that. I’m already a nervous wreck at the best of times, but having Xirali adding to some of that would be terrible. I know she can hear all of this, but it does scare me that she could do things.”

Kat gently patted the Druid’s head. “Dearc didn’t much, but it didn’t need to. Words did plenty. Maybe a bit more guilt, but nothin’ that wasn’t already there.”

Or the goat will be more subtle than I.

“Waheela warns she might be more subtle. Let us know if something pops up, ok?” Ann asked, gently taking one of Rosalyn’s horns and rubbing the metal band under her thumb.

“Yeah, I will. Alright, so what are we doing again? I got lost in the food because holy cow, can Gretchen make some good food. Breakfast tomorrow is gonna be great!”

Ann started toward the door. “I have a bet with a crusty lizard to settle, and it involves finding something stupidly rare. Gonna get started on finding out who might know about it.”

“A whole thing o’ Bultrite. Gods, who even knows? Kingdom already has minin’ operations in most o’ the places that we’ve found veins. It’s a miracle metal that takes best tae enchantments, but it’s the Bultrongs’ birthright. Dinnae how I feel about findin’ a couple hunks o’ the stuff fer Eldes o’ All.”

“It’s just metal. I’m sure he’s got a good reason for wanting it. Maybe he’s reinforcing the doors?” Ann suggested as they walked. She heard what she was looking for further off. The clinking of hammers on metal. A smithy.

“Special metal. They named the bloody stuff! It’s in e’ery treaty they sign that they get a share o’ the material. Our kingdom’s got entire clans that have deals an’ other alliances wit’ other clans. Grams went on about it when she was getting on.”

“Still, big dragon says he wants the metal, I think we should listen,” Rosalyn said. “Come on, it’s not like the Bultrong will know. Plus, it’s a good cause, and if we find some, we can just let someone know when we get back, right?”

“Aye. Plus it’ll help the town tae have a known vein nearby. Hope it’s not close tae the other village, though.”

“Yeah, it’d be a problem if miners showed up, wouldn’t it?” Ann laughed. “I think Eldest would be even angrier than he was at you.”

The blacksmith was a simple building. Wooden walls housed a shut in space, while a roof covered an outdoor forge. A man and woman were working at the searing construction. Both were intensely muscular, but the man’s muscles were literally chiselled, since he was made of stone. Neither reacted as the trio approached. With one final swing, the woman moved the piece of metal into the forge, allowing it to reheat.

The man made a grinding noise with several clicks as his mouth moved.

“Yeah, we can take a break. I am sweaty,” the woman laughed. “More impurities in this batch. Taking a lot longer to work out.”

The Grrn nodded, his joints only making the whisper of stone on stone as he set his tools aside. That’s when he noticed the three and waved, then beckoned them over.

“Hm? Oh, customers?” the woman asked, following the man’s line of sight. “Fetching beautiful ones at that. Not many people around here taller than me!”

It was true, once she stood up, the woman was definitely taller than Kat, but maybe a couple of inches shorter than Ann. Her deep chocolate brown skin glistened as she held out a hand. “Name’s Minnie. This here’s my partner. You can call him Tarvis, but his real name is,” Minnie made a grinding noise in the back of her throat that approximated the Grrn’s speech. “Takes a lot of practice to get the vibrations right, so no worries.”

Tarvis waved, then made a few gestures, pointing to himself, then making a welcoming motion.

“Ye look so normal. Can you not talk?” Kat asked.

Tarvis opened his mouth and showed an opening with no tongue.

“Ah, that’d do it. ‘Pologies.”

Minnie pulled off her gloves and started stripping out of her heavy apron and long sleeves. Ann was glad she saw Kat and Rosalyn staring, because she was too. “So, what can we help you with?”

“Y-“ Ann caught herself. Gods, she wanted to hit on this woman. The thought of being crushed between her and Kat had her loins throbbing. “Yeah. We’ve got a request from a friend. He wants us to find a couple nodes of Bultrite, and I’m not a damn quitter, so I’ve come up here looking for it. Figure we might as well start with a blacksmith in the area.”

Minnie scrunched up her face. The way her button nose crinkled was way too cute. Still, Tarvis might be her husband, for all Ann knew. Best not to.

“Can’t say I know a spot, but I do have a mining Path. How I met Tarvy. He’s the smith; I’m better at evaluating the quality of metals. Makes for a fine pair. So, what’s in it for me if we’re helping you out?”

Again, Ann had to catch herself from offering a tumble in exchange. She looked at Kat, who seemed to be trying to restrain herself as well.

“Well, we can offer you whatever we don’t use or need,” Rosalyn said, since both of her girlfriends were stunlocked. “We only need two as big as Ann’s head. That’s kinda big, but I dunno how big all of this stuff gets. I like creatures and living things. You’re really pretty by the way. Do you want to come with us when we do? We can offer other things, as well.”

Minnie blushed slightly. “That’s a bit forward of you.”

“I mean, she’s not wrong,” Kat sputtered. “We can offer protection, help wit’ gettin’ things to and from the mine, or wherever, and yeah, other stuff.”

“Excuse me for a sec,” Ann said, grabbing Kat’s arm and pulling her away while Rosalyn started asking how Minnie and Tarvis met. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “Hey, you really hitting on her, or are you being nice?”

“Feck, I think I’m hittin’ on ‘er.”

“Are you… are you cool with that? Cause I can get a lot more persuasive here if you’re fine with it.”

Kat paused in the middle of forming a word. Her eyes showed the conflict she was going through. That beautiful blue eyes, so full of confusion, then steeled itself. “Aye. I gotta try tae figure this out. Orenous keeps hintin’ at it, an’ if the damned Goddess o’ Love is nudgin’ I’d be a damn fool tae ignore it. Just, maybe a one-night thing wit’ this one?”

“Yeah. Don’t have to make this recurring at all. I can tell Rosalyn’s into her, too. Checked with my skill.”

“Damn useful thing. Alright, go get ‘er.”

“Oh no no no, you’re not getting out of this,” Ann giggled, grabbing Kat by the hood and dragging her along. She would have loved to grab her ear, but they were still keeping her Vulhardrin cover up.

Minnie looked up at their return.

“So, Minnie,” Ann called. “Gotta ask, you and Tarvis a thing? You’re cute together.”

“Hm? Oh, nah. This boulder’s a good friend, and can drink me under the table, but I’m a bit fleshy for his tastes. Likes ‘em firmer.”

Tarvis grinned widely, pearly teeth on display, and knocked against his forearm, then laughed with a sound of a mill grinding grain.

“Well, then yeah, we can definitely offer other stuff,” Ann purred. She took a couple of steps forward, invading Minnie’s personal space with ease. “You’ve got some incredible muscles. Wonder what they feel like?”

Minnie gulped, but didn’t respond. Her eyes were a beautiful amber yellow.

Ann leaned in to whisper. “My girlfriend was thinking about rewarding you for your efforts, should you help.”

“I… money. Ore.” Minnie choked out.

Ann took her hands and traced them up the woman’s arms as she stepped daintily around the smith. When she got behind, she fell forward onto the woman’s back, draping her arms down her front. Minnie was frozen, not daring to move. Ann could hear her heart racing.

“Sure you wouldn’t like… other rewards?” She licked Minnie’s ear gently. The tensing, the hitch of the reath, and the complete absence of resistance spurred her on. “They’re both with me, by the way. You’d have all three of us to do whatever,” Ann’s fingers traced over Minnie’s chiseled stomach, “you,” up over her breasts, “like.” She finished the suggestion but squeezing the woman. It was a ridiculous display, but apparently Ann was hot enough to get away with it. Minnie was a complete mess. Her breath was shaky, and her hands were moving around like she wasn’t sure what to do with them.

“Right, Kat?” Ann winked at her brunette lover. The woman’s singular eye was hungry.

“Aye. Since Ann’s makin’ it obvious, we could offer ye a tumble. I’d love tae see what we could do wit’ the two of us workin’ on one o’ them.”

“I…” Minnie’s voice was a squeak, far higher than her normal tone. “I think we can work something out.”

Ann’s arms vanished from around her neck as she gracefully slid over to Kat, draping herself just like she’d done with Minnie. “Good, then we have a deal. It will be a reward, though, darling. We know nothing about how to find ore, so that’ll be on you.”

Minnie shook her head and slapped her cheek, getting herself to focus. “Gotcha. I’ll get to work, reach out to some others out here that know their stuff. I’ll find your ore, and we’ll all be rich, damnit.”

Tarvis gave Minnie a worried look, but when the miner gave him a nod and a solid thumbs up, he shrugged and nodded back. Then he slapped her ass.

“Atta girl,” Ann cheered, one fist in the air. “We’ll be in the area. Should be back, hell if I know, but I’ll try for a couple of weeks. Check in with you here?”

Minnie laughed a genuinely happy laugh. “This is where I live. Kinda the only place you’ll find me. Yeah, I’ll figure that out. You all get to keep me safe, then keep me happy. Filch on this, and I’ll send Tarvis after you.”

To reinforce the point, Tarvis ground his knuckles together. The sound was horrifying.

“We’re good on our word!” Rosalyn squeaked.

“Then I’ll see you all in a couple weeks. Alright, Tarvy. That metal should be hot enough. Let’s get back to work.”

They all walked away to the sound of ringing hammers behind them.

Not long after, Ann waved goodbye to a sleepy Beth. The young woman had taken the challenge of a durable doll that was still pretty happily. She’d stayed up late, and their morning pick up meant she needed a nap, but was happy with her work. The doll was made of canvas and reinforced with heavy stitching. She hadn’t had time to dye anything, but had given Ann some vials of the stuff so Abigail could do her own dyes later.

“Alrighty, that’s all I’ve got to pick up. You get everything, Alruna?” Ann padded up to the group gathering around the sledge.

“Indeed. Orders have been made, supplies have been picked up, a chisel has been procured.” Her voice rattled with frustration when she said chisel. It almost sounded like a rattlesnake. “Everything else, though, has been dutifully taken down by the postmaster and artisans throughout.”

Tarnu yawned, already in the sledge. Alruna would be taking the first haul again. “Worms, you’ve gotta stop getting angry about her breaking chisels. She works damn hard with them.”

“Yet, should she take better care of her implements, they would last her longer.”

“Don’t know how much longer something being used to split stone can last. She had the last one for a month. Not like we’re buying Bultrite chisels or anything.”

“No. We are not. Still, ugh, it is no matter. I made a healthy profit selling healing salves and warmth potions. There shall be plenty of money to complete payments on our next trip, and some left over. From what I’ve heard, a nearby village was attacked by Warped and needed aid. Well, shall we depart?”

A round of nods was dutifully recorded by the woman’s masked gaze, and they piled in. Alruna took it slow getting out of the village, grinding their rails across the dirt and stone street.

“Hey! One sec you all,” a voice called from a small hut next to the gate. A man and woman exited the building, carrying spears. They were both fairly attractive, with the woman sporting an athletically sleek build and the man with good muscle on him. Her long chestnut hair complemented his bright blonde well, too. “Sorry, know it’s not our shift yet. Just gotta relay some info we got from the night shift,” the man said, approaching the sledge casually. As they walked, Ann recognised their body shapes. They were the two guards from the other day who had propositioned her.

Alruna hauled them to a stop. “News? I pray it is fortunate news.”

“Weren’t it so, but nope,” the woman sighed. “We’ve got trouble somewhere in the area. A Warped tried to get in last night. Couldn’t manage it, and we ran it off, but it didn’t look too bothered. Night watch said it was strange, though. Like it wasn’t really trying.”

Ann’s hackles rose. “What did it look like?”

“Dunno. It was dark, and the thing seemed to move in a cloud of smoke. They said they heard clattering, though. Like sticks or something.”

“Bones.”

“Yeah, that could be it too. Anyway, they were saying it would approach a section of the wall and push against it, then back off. Sometimes it charged to ram it, and shook the thing pretty bad, but there was no damage to be found on first light. Avoided the spikes entirely, too. Strange.”

“Thank ye fer the information,” Kat spoke up before Ann could say anything else. “Keep an eye out. Some narsty things in those woods. Might be gettin’ narstier.”

“Swarm is due,” the man nodded grimly. “If your village needs shelter, we’re here for you. Just come on by.”

“Will do, lovebirds. Now don’t go making too much of a stink in that hut. Sex doesn’t wash out too easy from wood,” Tarnu teased.

To their credit, neither of the guards blushed. “Nah, we’ve got a system. Have a good trip! Illdall keep your path safe.”

“Orenous keep you two fucking,” Tarnu waved back with a grin.

Alruna pushed forward after that, guiding them out of the gate and into the wilderness. It was a few minutes before Ann felt comfortable speaking.

“It’s following us. No doubts about it, now.”

Bren’s face was dead serious. “Indeed. This time, it could have tracked us by scent or trail alone. The strange behaviour continues.”

“Yeah. Testing the walls? It was absolutely testing the wall. Warped don’t do that. They usually try to climb or crush their way through until they succeed or die. It has the means to do both, from what I’ve seen. It could fly if it had working wings, too.” Rosalyn paused, thinking. “It was watching us yesterday. It’s clearly after us, but why is it not doing much of anything? It was probably using that black smoke Ann got attacked with to cover its form last night, but why? Why would it want to hide what it is?”

“Bothers. Smart. Hide changes?” Lucia suggested.

Kat flinched. “Shite, ye think it’s changed again?”

Ann clenched her fists. This thing was increasingly weird. “Guard didn’t mention anything about something dragging in the snow. It might have taken the wings off.”

“Or fixed them.”

“Nae, didn’t regenerate last time.”

“Mind filling me in on all of this? You seem to know this Warped,” Tarnu cut in. “If something smart’s after you five, that’s our business too. You know, seeing as you’re staying with us.”

“Right, so we met the abomination o’ cursed flesh a few months ago,” Kat began, catching Tarnu up to what they knew about the monster.

The old bear bug sat quietly, listening carefully. “Hm. Yeah, that’s different for sure. We’ve known plenty of smart Warped that are almost human, but not quite. They all have that urge to kill you. Hells, we do, too. It had a perfect opportunity yesterday to get us, having to run from the Snow Crabs, but it didn’t. I agree. That thing’s scouting you. No clue what for, though.”

“Tae kill us, right?”

Ann nodded. “Waheela is pretty sure about that.”

“It right about a lot?” Tarnu asked.

“Usually, when it comes to senses, and hunting, and being hungry. She’s something of a wolf, so it’s well within her nature.”

I am wolf and more.

I know. I’m trying to make it easier to understand.

A low grumble. Proceed.

“Grumpy wolf says she’s more than a wolf, but like Dearc, it’s a matter of perspective. Anyway, yeah, I trust her. At least, at this point I do. Sure didn’t a few weeks ago.”

Tarnu sighed, lying back against the side of the sledge as they glided and bounced across the snow. “So what do we do about this beast? If it doesn’t want to be found, it’s not going to get close to us. If we’re heading back to town, then we don’t want it finding out where we are, or going.”

“Right,” nodded Bren. “Traps may work, but it did not bother us while camping last time. I would say that after its first failure with Annita distracting it, the creature has become more wary. If it saw Rosalyn’s display of thunderous might, that may deter it even further.”

“That’s good, right? I mean, it being scared of us means it’ll leave us alone.” Ann looked hopefully between her friends’ faces, trying to gauge their reactions. No one seemed to agree.

“If it’s a smart one, then nae. It’ll just lurk. It also changed between the first time we saw it an’ last week. Seems tae collect pieces an’ get stronger.”

“Not to mention the skulls. I have a theory, but I can’t confirm it until I actually see the thing in action. Ann, you said each had different magic, right?”

Ann nodded, confirming Rosalyn’s statement.

“What if the skulls are things that had magic? They gave it their power when it attached them?”

“Eh, I don’t think a baby skull is going to have dark magic clouds,” Ann argued. “I think it might just be a coincidence.”

“Got magic somewhere. Didn’t have. Skulls good idea. Maybe organ? Brain?” Lucia suggested. “Or just eat. Absorb then. Could be. Hm. Legs work normal?”

Ann nodded. “If by normal you don’t mean tripping all over each other, yeah.”

“Then attached to something, good control, used to body. Maybe that why special. Can add pieces easy. Grow. Prune maybe? No dragging, no wing. If gone, it tore off. Optimising.”

“Which is a frightening thought in itself,” Tarnu whistled. “If this thing is changing to put up more of a challenge, then we have no clue what it’s going to have next time you run into it.”

Kat groaned, running her leather glove over her forehead scale pattern. “That’s the problem, aye. I say we just cover our tracks as best we can, an’ let the damned beast come at us when it decides. Huntin’ it ain’t gonna do us much good if it’s not territorial.”

Rosalyn was writing in her journal, noting theories and ideas. “I think we’re past confirming that. It’s hundreds of miles from where you first met it and Ann. Nothing territorial would make such a migration.”

“And the thing pushing it is probably this Warped Goddess thing, so it might have divine help finding us.”

Bren slumped back, leaning against Lucia’s shoulder, his red robes rumpling against her leathers. “I am inclined to agree with Katlyn at this juncture. Short of baiting it out with one of us, we do not have a means to confront it. Even if we were to bait it, I have doubts it would fall for such an obvious trick when we move together constantly. It would not be logical.”

A predator’s instincts would warn it of prey too easily offered. If it has any animalistic urges, then that plan will fail.

“Waheela agrees. Prey that is too easy would spook it.”

“Well, we’re going to have to figure out something. Otherwise we’re going to be living with that on our tails, and I don’t like that either,” Rosalyn grumbled.

No one had anything else to add. The sledge fell into a contemplative silence as they all thought about how to deal with their stalker monster.