“We can’t just rush and grab slaves randomly,” Amdirlain cautioned, and Ebusuku motioned towards the passage. Bitter acid and burning pain twisted hooks inside Amdirlain as she forced back tears. Soul Sight had showed her so much of the slaves’ suffering, and the Dao’s uncaring disregard.


    Easing back along the path, they made their way through the ward. Once clear, Ebusuku teleported them away.


    They’d appeared on what looked to be a natural rock bridge, easily hundreds of metres high, arching across the middle of a giant cavern. Spots of glowing fungus about the cavern weren’t the only light source. Here and there, glowing energy spirals formed spikes from the ceiling and floor. One nearby faded away, leaving a stalagmite some eight metres tall in its place, the base far too big for her to put her arms around without cheating.


    “I had expected this Plane to be more, well, solid Earth,” muttered Amdirlain. “When Torm first brought me here, the caverns and tunnels amazed me.”


    “There are places where that’s true, and digging into them, the rock reforms continually. If you’re in a region where you feel pressure across your skin, it’s a dangerous place to try digging. Sometimes the Plane will react by filling up any gaps nearby if you dig into those regions,” explained Ebusuku.


    Mention of the dangers of digging prompted a different question from Amdirlain. “How does it not just collapse the way they’re mining? They’re just digging tiers into the cavern’s wall. Do they keep going until it collapses on the miners?”


    “From the shape of the ceiling, the cavern itself began its existence formed by the Plane. It’s an aspect of the Plane; even when partially intact, its formations stay in place. Though if a quake hits that area, the ceiling won’t stay up. It’s why the Dao transport the ore away as quick as they can.”


    “Do we-”


    “We can’t do anything other than what we can. If I hadn’t shown you that location and there was a quake tomorrow, neither of us would have known anyone died,” Ebusuku said firmly. “We’ll see how many people we can rescue. Do we need a larger staging point than this?”


    “Some of them feel broken,” admitted Amdirlain. “It could be their mental processes are too different to understand, but others of a similar appearance I was fine with.”


    A flicker of compassion and pain showed in Ebusuku’s eyes, but she nodded grimly. “Then we get the ones that seem most together first.”


    “Triage rules it is,” Amdirlain said sadly.


    “What do you mean?”


    Amdirlain had to clear the tightness from her throat before she could speak. “You said it yourself, we’re not able to rescue all of them. So we use the time and resources we have to help the most possible. Better to save a few hundred instead of a handful. It sounds unfair to those we leave but rescuing some at a time is all we can do. Use Soul Sight. I don’t want us rescuing assholes as my priority choice.”


    “It will give me a chance to practice with it,” offered Ebusuku, the sudden tightness in her lips echoing Amdirlain’s own mood.


    “Hmm, upgrades,” quipped Amdirlain, trying to force herself away from the pain.


    The confusion that flickered across Ebusuku’s face signalled her lack of comprehension.


    “Never mind, let’s focus on what we’ll do.” insisted Amdirlain. “Since we want to get them safe fast. Let’s see if we can spot a large group of one species to rescue. I’ll let you practice Analysis and Soul Sight. If they’re not assholes or basket cases, we’ll go for them first.”


    “I’d suggest only a hundred this time. We don’t have help here to protect those already rescued while we grab more,”


    “Fine, and I don’t want to involve Duskstone in case they can track them back there. Speaking of which, do you want to disguise your armour? I give you my holy permission or whatever you want to switch your amour,”


    “I like my armour though,” Ebusuku objected, giving Amdirlain a mock-hurt look as she hugged herself.


    “In that case, I’ll see about making the Dao believe its black plate instead. They might think you’re from Hell; I know what their knights look like,” teased Amdirlain, and enjoyed the smile she got from Ebusuku. “Give me a bit to get into position. Then you kill the guards; I’ll remove collars and handle transport. First lot I bring up to the chamber, I’ll rip the ward apart and bring them here. But how do they get home?”


    “Not subtle, I’d suggest they just walk out. Then we might have a chance to remove the ward’s breach cleanly. Getting them home is easy. I know how to focus a Gate Spell on an individual’s home, so that isn’t a concern,” explained Ebusuku. Striding across the stone arc, she moved to the natural bridge’s edge and scanned across the cavern floor.


    “Morgana did that to Yngvarr. It surprised him when she opened a Gate Spell in the courtyard of his house,” Amdirlain chuckled with fragile amusement. “I’ll check this side for anything lurking, then we head back? While we’re doing this, I’ll keep a mental link between us in case of emergencies.”


    At Ebusuku’s brisk nod, Amdirlain got busy, but it was still an hour before they finished.


    The same miners were still labouring away when they returned to the ledge, and Ebusuku smirked when Amdirlain’s fingers extended eyed-tendrils to peer over the edge.


    Amdirlain was about to ask what was amusing, but Ebusuku spoke across their mental link. “Those few Demons that gain Protean use it to mimic forms faster or create temporary weapons. Your usage is more like a Primordial’s than any Demon I’ve seen with it.”


    “I even abused Shape Shift. I had to play some weird mind games for it to allow some shapes I took,” replied Amdirlain, as she peered over the workforce.


    Ebusuku regarded her curiously. “After we’ve finished what we can here, I think I’ll want to hear your story from before the Grotto.”


    Ebusuku started scrying the complex as Amdirlain worked across those close at hand. Soul Sight revealed the mass of life, and she cut Telepathy except for Ebusuku’s link while her mind raced to take in the information it provided. Their minds had spoken of the miserable state they endured presently; initially it was hard to separate their present despair from their actions in their prior lives. Their enslavement had snatched their lives and families away, and their pain twisted like knives within her.


    Ebusuku pressed a hand gently against her shoulder, adding a physical touch to the reassurance projected through their link. “We save some now, and others later. There are a few areas with minimal guards strolling through them.”


    An image of slaves on the lowest tier repairing equipment came through the link to Amdirlain. Others showed makeshift food areas staggered along the tiers cut into the cavern’s walls with pots containing a gruel-like mush, boiling away on heated stones.


    “The repair area has the most of a single species in it. I’d hate to disrupt the food areas. It seems cruel to those left behind. I bet feeding them won’t be a priority for the Dao.”


    “That area contains more than we agreed,” Ebusuku pointed out, sending a wider image of the repair yard she’d scried.


    “Let’s see who is among them. Assholes go last,” insisted Amdirlain.


    “Your swearing focuses a lot on body elements, Amdirlain. Fuck, assholes, dickhead, you really need to expand your imagination,” teased Ebusuku.


    Despite the situation below, amusement washed in both directions through the mental link. Focused back on the task at hand, she found the area shown. The angle was awkward because of the ledge’s position, but she could make out the benches of equipment, alongside barrels for broken parts, and racks for repaired items. A sweating Dao in a smith’s hide apron stacked tool parts in racks central to the area. His looming height giving perspective to the smaller entities that surrounded him.


    If the Dao was the height of its kin, the workers were one and a half metres tall, with solid builds. Bipeds of an unvarying cobalt skin tone, their hair a short cap of jet-black, had the severity of a military cut about it. Their torso supported four arms, though each pair was very different. They used the lower set of smaller limbs jutting from just above their hip level to hold items steady; each of those limbs ended with six long fingers and two thumb-like protrusions. Their primary arms emerged from bloated shoulder joints, making Amdirlain wince at their resemblance to arthritic knuckle joints. The upper arms were engorged with muscle, with heavy knuckled hands sporting three stocky fingers and an opposable thumb each.


    Their genders were clear, but there was no allowance for it with the clothing the Dao allowed them. Males and females alike were clad only in loincloths and walked in a bobbing gait accented by a bird-like leg structure. They walked or stood on the balls of their feet, with a raised elongated ankle structure. Four sickle-shaped claws extended from toes surrounding the pads of their feet, their presence helping to maintain balance as the toes flexed.


    Their heads were broader than a Human’s and they possessed four eyes, the upper two set at a Human’s brow level. Instead of Human eye sockets was a smooth reverse-v slope that led to their nose and lower eyes. The lower eyes were on protruding pivots set on the outer slope of their cheeks. Aside from their positioning, each was Human-like but had a metallic-toned iris ranging from deep bronze to liquid silver hues. Their cheekbone supported the pivot but varied from round to angular; strangely, each of them had the same flattened boxer’s nose. Further variation showed in their mouths, making individuals easier to distinguish: generous, hard, or just in relaxed resting shapes as differing as any Human’s. Jawlines went from a pointed chin to the solid round appearance of the Norse, and everything in between.


    [Name: Tesfa Kerên


    Species: Erakk?


    Class: Fighter / Shaper / Soldier


    Level: 24 / 15 / 8


    Health: 628


    Defence: 48


    Melee Attack Power: 49


    Ranged Attack Power: 32


    Combat Skills: Blade Staff [Ad] (24), Chatkcha [Ad] (37) - Various Innate Powers - Metal Manipulations.


    Details: An army corporal, he was recently captured along with his company by Dao raiders. The attack overwhelmed their posting near a secondary mountain pass on their country’s border. His species possess innate gifts with the Metal Affinity, so the Dao has assigned him to speed up repairs in local mining operations. Losing his family’s armour upon capture, to him, far outweighs his current lack of control. Lack of adaption to subterranean conditions has caused an adverse reaction to the Elemental Plane’s natural pressure levels.


    Condition: Depression, Pressure Sickness (Minor)]


    Analysis’ information was enlightening, but he was too far away to use Soul Sight on accurately. Amdirlain focused on the Dao smith to look at the area through his eyes. Over two hundred Erakk? were in the area visible to him. Their duties ranged from repairs—as those Ebusuku spotted—to sorting piled ore. Streams of ore leapt from a trio of Erakk? that stood with outstretched hands at each pile, into open wagon beds. The rocks the Erakk? left behind, various breeds of sharp toothed, green-skinned goblins worked with shovels and wheelbarrows to haul out of the way.


    The repair area contained few guards because it was at the edge of a central outpost. Scores of well-armed Dao had line of sight to the workers.


    “I’ve got an idea, though it involves a bit of acting. Feel like setting a trap for the Dao?”


    Ebusuku’s answering grin said it all.


    “We’ve got some preparations to make. We’ll need to give them light sources and maybe leave some weapons up here,” stated Amdirlain and hurried on as Ebusuku eyed her. “Just in case anything attacks them while we’re freeing more.”


    Ebusuku’s suspicious look didn’t waver. “I’ve still got my old harnesses, but they’re only a loan, Amdirlain. I know them well enough I’d be able to find them even if they proved untrustworthy.”


    “Yes, I know, I give too much away. It’s your gear, your choice of what happens with it, not mine,” replied Amdirlain, raising her hands in surrender. “There is a bit of light making it up here. I’ll set the rack at the inner chamber’s far end and create some rods I can place light spells on.”


    “Make sure it’s around the corner, we don’t want attention from below yet,” insisted Ebusuku. “We need to ensure we provid minimal clues to prevent being tracked or scried.”


    “I’ll explain my plan in a moment then.”


    * * *


    The smith dumped a new stack of gears on the table and frowned at four slaves standing idly nearby. Their lower limbs clasped pickaxes they should have been repairing, but they made no move to do so. An entire workbench doing nothing drew his ire. A shouted order to face him gained no reaction, and he grabbed up a whip sitting nearby. More and more attention focused on them as the whip rose and fell. Yet despite the brutal strikes, their backs remained intact, the lack of blood increasing the ferocity of his strikes.


    Unnoticed through the area under cover of illusions, tendrils removed collars, and the former slaves were teleported away before they screamed. Once gone, the tendrils that had freed them became motionless copies of the Erakk?, the illusion in that section dropped, and the affliction spread at an increasing pace. An entire row of benches—some twenty workers—went still as Ebusuku released another illusion that hid their removal. High above the mining operation, fifty former slaves clasped at their necks where the collars had chaffed for weeks. Strange knives sitting on the stone floor drew gazes. The whispered reassurances in their minds came with a strength that stilled their fears of even its unfamiliar source. A sudden rush of instructions had them looking around for familiar faces.


    “Head down the tunnel. The rest follow close but don’t go too far. Our rescuers will follow us soon to get us home. Every eighth takes up a knife. There are more coming. Don’t crowd each other; there could be things about. Every alternate person without a weapon takes a stick from the rack. Now move out!” ordered Tesfa.


    The instructions—reissued by a familiar voice—got them into motion. “Yes, Corporal.”


    Tension escalated in the repair area as a commander arrived to investigate the disturbance. The commander was the same height as the other Dao, but he wore loose robes of fine crimson silk. His mouth tightened, and his dark gaze burned, muscles and veins grew taut under his skin when the last slave grew still.


    “Make one scream, find out how they are resisting their orders,” bellowed the commander as he strode forward. The smith set aside the whip he’d still been thrashing his chosen victim with and drew a wavey-bladed knife from his belt.


    Amdirlain’s form had spread out along the floor under the cover of the illusion. Though there were already more Dao present than planned, she waited until the commander entered the repair area to watch his ordered fun. The floor grew sudden spikes and took on a massive Venus flytrap form. Caught on the repair area’s edge, four spikes impaled the commander, burning with corrosive flames. The floor grew yet more spikes as within the circle, the equipment disappeared in a rush. Eyes widening, most didn’t have time to react. The more deliberately grown spikes had already struck. Yet it snapped shut with a wet pulping squelch. Only one Dao guard outside the trap had time to scream an alert that made any sense—too bad they were wrong.


    “Mimic!!”


    As the cry went up, the incorporeal forms that some managed didn’t save them from Ki Infusion’s touch. Dozens of Ki charged poniards exploded through the incorporeal flesh of those Dao who had gained a gaseous form. Pulled back by the wounds, their blood joined the rest spraying out of the maw’s squeezing edges. Those guards not close enough to die saw dozens of Dao join the Erakk? consumed by the enormous mimic. A scaled, winged Demon appeared in a blast of blood lust and rage before it dove towards the command area. Its inferno engulfed the mimic behind it yet it slithered around unaffected in a typical near-mindless state, tentacles lashing out at any that came close. In the initial confusion, no one noticed exactly when the rest of the Erakk? were consumed.


    The Demon let loose scream after scream, and each sent more Dao shuddering to the floor. With every utterance, Rebuke struck harder as Ebusuku refined her Power use. Those downed didn’t live long enough to let allies know that the ‘vileness’ they’d experienced was the pain they’d savoured inflicting on others mirrored in their Souls. The mimic’s giant sea cucumber form sprouted scores of tendrils and tentacles. The limbs thrashed about, aiding its undulating movement to propel it across the stone with surprising speed; every motion caused its rough bile-green hide to ripple in a hypnotic and nauseating fashion.


    The goblins that rushed to attack on initial orders died in droves. Amdirlain gave them no mercy other than ending their misery. Tentacles wrapped in light devouring Yin eroded flesh and snuffed out life in an instant. It was a far kinder fate than the torments Soul Sight showed they’d dispensed on others. Fleeing, the Dao pulled the battlefront away and saw the thing slithering after its Master, consuming the crystalline powder of their fallen brethren. Equipment among the powdered corpses disappeared into its all-consuming mass. The casual way the Demon ignored the burning thing it had obviously unleashed unnerved them further.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Despite their valiant struggles to hold off death, their lives only added to the tally. Those turning to try ordering slaves to fight, quickly died. The thing’s tendrils speared through those that turned to give instructions, taking advantage of their distraction. Untouched by the Demon or its monster, most slaves continued their work, unaffected by the bloodshed. Eventually, Elders and Wizards came in force to secure the mine. Their arrival caused the cowardly Demon to flee with its servant back into the Abyss along with their stolen wealth.


    Chaos ravaged the mining operation by the time the pair followed the Erakk?.


    [Combat Summary:


    Goblins: 158 (x50%)


    Dao: 134 (x50%)


    Total experience gained: 397,271


    Fallen: +79,454


    Scion: +79,454


    Sora Master: + 79,454


    Psion: +79,454


    Warrior Monk: +79,454


    Ki Infusion [S](15->16)


    Protean [M](27->30)


    ]


    “Are they still okay?” asked Ebusuku.


    Hurrying along, Amdirlain nodded. “Nothing is threatening them; I’m still keeping a mental ear out. Some aren’t in good shape, so they’re not moving anywhere near our pace. The last is past the wards, and I’ve let them know we’re coming to help get them home.”


    Prompted by Amdirlain''s Wood Elf Form, Ebusuku shifted forms again, her armour shrinking to wrap itself around an ebony-skinned Wood Elf as she dispelled the illusion.


    “I’ll take the first group to the cavern, and then you can start bringing more,” instructed Ebusuku. “We can shift those that have my blades last.”


    “Really?! I thought I’d teleport them in the first group,” teased Amdirlain keeping a straight face, until a roguish smile broke loose. “Though, should we just open the Gate ahead of them?”


    “Stick with the plan. I don’t want any Dao getting lucky and following straight to their home, plus, I want to talk to them first. One slight change though; a Portal Spell to the cavern might be best since we rescued so many. Residual energy from those is easier to cleanse afterwards than a Gate between Planes,” explained Ebusuku.


    “I’m so sorry,” Amdirlain said, mimicking Pip’s cute apology.


    “You should be! Your form was disturbing. I thought I was being chased by a Primordial Elder, especially when you let your Charisma loose; I was glad Priest and Ranger boosted my Willpower,” remarked Ebusuku.


    Amdirlain gave her a confused look. “I hadn’t thought to ask what you’d taken now. But Priest and Ranger; I thought you liked Wizard and Fighter Classes?”


    A casual shrug was the only response Ebusuku gave at first, but she elaborated when Amdirlain grumbled. “I also took Arcane Blade again, and with all the Affinities I gained, Arcane Paragon. Seeing that I was going to work with you though, I figured having a stronger Willpower would be useful to stand up for myself,”


    “Stand up for yourself?!” protested Amdirlain. “You make me sound like a bully.”


    “Bully no, well, perhaps to that Steward, but you’re determined enough to get yourself in all sorts of trouble,” teased Ebusuku.


    Amdirlain sighed dramatically. “Alright, to that I plead guilty.”


    “Though I actually took them so I could properly represent you, not just use my power,” Ebusuku said, patting Amdirlain’s shoulder before giving her arm a hard poke. “Didn’t I say we should rescue only a hundred?”


    “I’m aware of that, but Analysis says they’re all from the same world, heck outpost even, and suffering,” countered Amdirlain.


    “That reminds me, Analysis didn’t tell the home world of those goblins. Did you get it? Because I’d like to wipe them out from what I saw in Soul Sight,” growled Ebusuku. “I expect such behaviour from Demons, not Mortals with Souls.”


    “I’ve got its name. Their Souls were as sickening as Gnarls, though sadly some Humans can be just as bad,” responded Amdirlain. The foulness of their memories prompted her to change the subject. “Is a dead Dao turning into crystal powder normal?”


    “Yes,” Ebusuku replied. “Oh, two things: the Dao will respond faster next time, and you’re still using brute force.”


    “Not completely brute force,” retorted Amdirlain as she passed across a rolled parchment.


    Ebusuku stored it away without checking it, but looked at her sharply. “What is it?”


    Giving her a cheeky smile, Amdirlain answered smugly. “I took the map of their operations when I destroyed the command building.”


    “Yes, because consuming the lot was subtle,” chided Ebusuku, and Amdirlain didn’t have a response.


    They paused momentarily, passing the wards, Ebusuku’s modifications came undone in a rush. After Ebusuku cleaned the lingering energies, they teleported to get ahead of the column. Their wait wasn’t long, as the minds weren’t far from the pseudo chamber they’d chosen.


    The lead scout was clutching a dagger in a grip that had her cobalt skin lightening towards cerulean. The joints in her side arms twisted painfully, but despite the lines of tension in the lower limbs, she kept her hands covering her buxom chest. Every breath she took carried a crackling within it, and bubbling noises erupted as she gasped hard, startled by their presence. Pain mingled with curiosity in her amber gaze.


    “I’d like to speak with Corporal Tesfa. Or is there someone senior?” enquired Amdirlain, glad for the Tongues Power twisting the words into their native language. “We’d like to assist in getting you all to safety.”


    Her companion moved to slip up beside her, his whispered words barely breathed but still clear to Amdirlain’s hearing. “Harêfe, fall back.”


    The only sign she heard at all was Harêfe stepping forward to block her companion’s interference.


    “I heard your warning in my mind, else I’d be needing to ask questions. There have been whispers of seniors, but the news is uncertain,” replied the column’s lead scout, the tension in her muscles relaxing slightly.


    The moment they responded, it tempted Amdirlain to spend a knowledge point to learn her language but she held off. A glimmer of memories she’d seen in Soul sight prompted a question. “Are Shapers your seniors?”


    “Yes, we had a circle visiting from the King. Did you get them out?”


    The scout’s breathing sounded worse and Amdirlain tossed up helping her now or waiting.


    “I rescued the ones near the ore piles if you can remember seeing them. Was that all of them?” Amdirlain asked,


    “I believe those were the only ones still alive,” Harêfe got out. The scout strained to take breaths that whistled tightly in her throat. “Thank you for getting us out. Please, if you can, get them home alive.”


    “We’ll look to get you all home alive. The Shapers will probably be towards the rear of the column. I believe Corporal Tesfa was the only Shaper in the repair area.”


    “He isn’t a true Shaper, he isn’t a scholar of the gift,” objected Harêfe’s companion.


    The sound of clawed footsteps hurrying became clear to Harêfe, and the tension in her form relaxed further though her claws still twitched against the stone.


    “Corporal Tesfa is nearly here with some others. I’m going to help your breathing,” said Amdirlain. The wall filled with Life Mana following her words had Harêfe blinking rapidly at the golden-green energy about her.


    “Where does this light come from? Is this glow what you meant?” asked Harêfe.


    “It’s a Spell that should help you breathe a little easier,” Amdirlain said, noting the word didn’t twist into their language but stayed in Celestial.


    Harêfe took a few breaths, the muscles in her neck and shoulders relaxing further with each one. When Harêfe’s companion tried to draw her from the energy, she pulled away and, turning towards him, stabbed the fingers of her free hand at her own chest. Her thought made its meaning clear: she was under her own orders, not his.


    Tesfa appeared around the bend and didn’t hesitate in moving to pass the other Erakk?. When he stepped into the energy next to Harêfe the sensation of it had a flicker of appreciation crossing his face. He wasn’t carrying a weapon, but there was no visible tension about him. “You are our rescuers?”


    “Yes,” confirmed Amdirlain quickly. “We’d like to help you get home. We’ll open a path to safety, and then take you home via a Gate.”


    “Is this like the hole in the rock the red ones dragged us through?” asked Tesfa, and Amdirlain felt Ebusuku reviewing the image in his mind.


    “The brown and black colours within the opening show it’s a natural Gate to this Plane. What we’ll use is similar, but you won’t appear in the caves they dragged you through,” replied Ebusuku.


    “We are free, but without knowledge of the path home. You got many, perhaps all left alive, free; and lent us weapons. I believe we’re in your hands,” Tesfa declared. “Would you gift me with your name?”


    “Amdirlain, and Ebusuku,” Amdirlain replied, as Ebusuku cast the Portal Spell.


    “I thank you for your gift. It would honour me if you called me Tesfa. I’m a Corporal in our King’s army,” replied Tesfa, and Amdirlain could see Harêfe biting her lip to avoid interrupting.


    “Thank you for your gift also, Tesfa.”


    The Portal opened and a shimmering in the air showed a cavern beyond. Harêfe stepped forward, only dragging her feet slightly as she left the energy field behind, but her companion’s lower eyes flicked between the Portal and the Corporal. Corporal Tesfa simply clicked his fingers sharply and gestured toward it, but Ebusuku beat him through the Portal. Waiting with Amdirlain, Tesfa repeated the clicks at any sign of hesitation from new arrivals to step through.


    Are you waiting for an invitation?


    It was only when the first Shaper appeared around the bend that he motioned differently. The two sets of limbs interlocked fingers across his chest and abdomen. Even listening as she was, Amdirlain wasn’t sure she caught the depth of the meaning, but it was clearly a sign of respect.


    The expressions of those on the tail-end of the column were lined with fatigue. As Tesfa moved, Ebusuku interrupted him by stepping back through the Portal.


    “I’ll close this off and meet you back after I cleanse the trail,” said Ebusuku. Her words spoken in the Erakk?’s tongue had Tesfa nodding in understanding.


    Amdirlain stepped through ahead of him, and when Tesfa followed, the Portal closed. The escapees sat along the rock bridge, many having given into the fatigue caused by their captivity; some escapees looked half asleep.


    “Corporal Tesfa, I grabbed things from the Dao and though I know they won’t make up for the losses your people suffered, I’d like you to have them. The rings and some items have useful enchantments on them,” said Amdirlain, aware that the word for enchantments, like spells before it, stayed in Celestial.


    “What is the word you said?” asked Tesfa, his mouth tightening in a fashion Amdirlain took as a frown.


    “Don’t you have magic?” asked Amdirlain, confused by Metal Affinity shown in their profiles.


    “Magic and Seers are both nothing but sleight of hand and trickery, better to trust in Shaper crafted steel,” Tesfa declared.


    “We rescued you using magic. Both getting you away from the Dao, and also bringing you here,” reminded Amdirlain.


    Tesfa gave a strange four-armed gesture, flicking his hands open and shrugging. “You might call this power magic here, but it is nothing our home possesses. This is a strange place. It feels like deep in a mine shaft where it is hard to breathe. Are we under the Mother’s skin?”


    “No, you’re in a realm of spirits, you could say. It’s a place reached by magic, or at least magic as I know it. Perhaps in your world it’s not understood properly; too many others doing trickery and giving it a bad name,” suggested Amdirlain, wondering what they considered Shapers based on Analysis’ information.


    “The Senior Shaper might be the best one to speak about this matter. I’m not a scholar. Would you gift me with permission to share your name?” asked Tesfa, his tone becoming more formal.


    “Please feel free.”


    Tesfa folded his hands in the same fashion as he’d done to each Shaper. “Thank you for the name-gift. I’ll gift them with your name and ask if they’ll speak to you on the matter.”


    With a nod, he moved to where the Shapers had sat down and returned after a few minutes of conversation. “The Senior Shaper has asked me to gift you his name and invite you to speak. His name is Vāriyāka, though he has no house to share.”


    “Thank you Tesfa, I’d be honoured to speak with Senior Shaper Vāriyāka,” replied Amdirlain, catching some formalities from his mind.


    Vāriyāka nodded politely when Amdirlain came close enough to converse easily and didn’t waste a moment. “The Shaper council studied magic long ago. They determined it was lying and trickery. Though I’ll admit I do not understand how you opened the doorway between the passage and here. Nor how the ‘Dao’ as you called them brought us to this place. Wherever we are, it is not something I understand. You said to Tesfa it was a place of spirits.”


    [Name: Vāriyāka


    Species: Erakk?


    Class: Shaper / Sage


    Level: 56 / 53


    Health: 981


    Defence: 22


    Magic: 76


    Mana: 8,960


    Melee Attack Power: 39


    Combat Skills: Staff [Ad](3) - Affinity: Metal - Spell Lists: Metal Lore, Metal Shaping, Metal Law, Metal Manipulation, Solid Destruction.


    Details: A Senior Shaper in the King’s service, Vāriyāka’s talent was determined in the orphanage. His circle was present at the outpost to repair its gate and renew the fortifications in the pass when the Dao attacked. They captured most of his circle in the first night’s assault, or during the next day, but several died trying to drive the Dao away.


    ]


    “That’s perhaps the easiest way to look at it. If you’ve no magic, might I ask how you perform your Shaping?” asked Amdirlain.


    “It is not magic, of that I’m sure. However, that is not a question one just asks, Amdirlain,” replied Vāriyāka. “I have no authority to share such information with one not a student among the circles.”


    “Perhaps I can show you how I’d make a metal object, and you can say if it appears the same?” suggested Amdirlain. “Appearance-wise, no details or explanations are required about the differences, I assure you.”


    Vāriyāka conferred quickly with five more of the Shapers sitting close at hand. “That is acceptable, as we’re not providing any secrets of the circle. None of our neighbours have Shapers. The armour, weapons, and fortifications we make give our nation an advantage in its defence.”


    Amdirlain nodded towards a spot on the cavern floor illuminated by glowing fungus. The Spell she released created a wall of steel stretching twelve metres long, and some two high.


    “Is the wall permanent or temporary?” asked Vāriyāka.


    “Temporary, it will fade in a half hour. I could make it permanent, but I didn’t want to leave that sort of marker.”


    Vāriyāka had brightened at Amdirlain’s initial words, but stilled as she continued, and replied with a low voice. “That feat is possible for a new Master Shaper. This is your magic?”


    “Yes, it is,” Amdirlain said, and cast another spell to create a block of steel within Vāriyāka’s reach.


    Vāriyāka’s focus fixed on it, and in True Sight Amdirlain saw a detection spell flick between him and the block. “This is steel, but it is cleaner than we refine.”


    “The shaping you do is what I call magic. Perhaps the issue is that what others claimed to be magic, and your council studied, was indeed trickery. I’m using magic to speak your language, but it only has access to words you possess,” Amdirlain said, and raised a hand as Vāriyāka’s mouth tightened in frustration. “To me, magic is shaping energy, through forms or patterns, to enact an effect. Metal is one type of energy I can use in that casting.”


    “Shaping does something similar,” admitted Vāriyāka. “Though admitting that perhaps exceeds my authority to say.”


    Amdirlain gestured to the block. “That steel is permanent, so if you’re not exhausted, perhaps you could use it to equip others. I’ll start working on clothes, but I’d like to provide you with some equipment at least, before we send you home. It might not be an issue, but I’d prefer to be prepared.”


    Vāriyāka exchanged quick gestures with the other Shapers and finally nodded to Amdirlain. “Between us, we can make chatkcha for many; though we’ve not material to make harnesses to carry them safely.”


    “Could you visualise what your normal apparel and the harness look like, please?” Catching the image of clothing from Tesfa, she put a hand on his shoulder and a set of clothing formed around him. Amdirlain carefully willed it to detach in sections so that he’d be able to remove them later without need of a knife.


    A chatkcha was a disc with a trio of wavy blades jutting out from it at equal distance around its edge. Their design allowed an Erakk? to grip the ridges around the central disc to wield or throw them. After seeing the first made, it was obvious why they needed harnesses to carry them safely.


    Glancing over gathered groups, she spotted Harêfe and some other females crouched with their backs to other escapees, and most males were busy looking in any other direction. Moving to Harêfe, she called her name, and when the Erakk? looked at her, put a hand gently on her shoulder. Forming a tunic with inbuilt support, and pants around her, the way her eyes widened was worth the health cost of separating herself from it. Though the process was fast, she’d only clothed fourteen before Ebusuku returned to the cavern.


    “Lady Amdirlain, are you spending yourself for others again?” Ebusuku said, and Amdirlain blinked at her suddenly formal tone.


    “They need help,” replied Amdirlain primly, wondering what the heck was going on.


    “Indeed, and you can’t resist giving them hope. Shall I open a Gate so they can get home?”


    Amdirlain eyes narrowed suspiciously at Ebusuku, having caught sudden thoughts about her among the Erakk?, and discovering exactly why Ebusuku had gone through the Portal in advance.


    “If you would, but I wanted to restore some equipment to them first. They don’t have any concept of mana other than metal shaping,” said Amdirlain. Releasing the normal equipment she had taken from the Dao, she set it down separate from a far smaller stack of magical items. “Shaper Vāriyāka, this equipment won’t fit your people, but re-purposing the materials might provide some restitution for your lost possessions. This smaller pile is items with energy in them as we discussed, so I’ll explain what each does for you.”


    By the time she’d finished speaking, Ebusuku formed an oval of light with a paved road visible beyond. Groups of Erakk?, visible on the other side, leapt away from its opening.


    “Just as well a Gate won’t open inside someone.” Amdirlain said mentally to Ebusuku. “Exactly how many of my symbols did you give out? And where did you get them from?”


    Ebusuku’s expression didn’t give a hint to those around them as she mentally replied. “I made them. For me, it takes only a little effort. I even told them of your tenets. Are you saying I shouldn’t have?”


    Amdirlain kept her face composed at the smugness in Ebusuku’s mental voice. “Please don’t call me Lady Amdirlain again, only Amdirlain.”


    “They are a formal people; that I could tell from their minds even with my Telepathy,” Ebusuku pointed out. “You need to meet at their level if they’re to feel any connection or understanding with you. You insist others meet your rules in your home, and that’s fine, but here is neutral ground, so compromise.”


    “That looks to be the King’s city,” Vāriyāka started moving and stepped through. The onlookers stepped back as he motioned them away with quick words. The Shaper didn’t stay, though, but re-joined them and urged those hesitating to move. Other Shapers gave orders, arranging items to be taken through, and shooing off any who urged them to go first. Tesfa and some others kept the line orderly, with only a few words, and the occasional shoulder pat, needed among the suddenly jubilant crowd.


    “Ladies, if you come past me, I’ll supply enough clothing for modesty before you pass through the Gate home,” Amdirlain said.


    Amdirlain put a hand on the first lady’s shoulder and enfolded her in a knee-length split-sided smock, secured by a mid-riff sash to allow for their extra arms. A broad smile lit the lady’s face, as she gave Amdirlain the same folded hands gesture that Tesfa had used.


    Vāriyāka approached Amdirlain but spoke to her over his shoulder, carefully keeping his back to the ladies she was clothing. Though she noted the eyes directed towards her back were both closed for discretion.


    Amdirlain''s lips twitched, but she kept her voice relaxed, the similarity to her fleeing Ebusuku and Farhad clear in her mind. “You came back Vāriyāka?”


    “I wanted to ensure it was safe and give orders for help to gather. All the city’s herb women will be needed for the breathing issues I’ve heard and even how I feel.”


    “You’ve none with healing abilities?” asked Amdirlain, wincing at the thought of the breathing issues she’d heard among them.


    Vāriyāka jerked his head above in a fearful head shake. “Such is an unclean topic. Shamans and some spirit speakers possess such, though few civilised people care to pay their blood prices,”


    “Lady Amdirlain asks no such price,” Ebusuku said, and energy washed over those close at hand, True Sight showing a silvery-gold Blessing settle into flesh. “Things have been rushed, but that will ease the burden on your healers. I’ll see to using Remove Disease on those I can before they leave. I’ve also some greater Blessings that I can give.”


    Vāriyāka’s first breath was clear, and he snapped his head around to face Ebusuku. “You both look strange to my eyes. But what power was that?” asked Vāriyāka, his words so soft they were barely a whisper.


    “I’m a servant of Lady Amdirlain, though she prefers not to use her title. Her stating it directly to Mortals affects them, but she is the Lady of the Accursed, Freedom, Hope, and New Beginnings,” Ebusuku declared, and Amdirlain was glad Ebusuku saying the title didn’t pack the same punch.


    “Ebusuku, I wasn’t planning to interfere with their world,” Amdirlain said, straining to keep her tone light.


    “They should know who rescued them,” argued Ebusuku, and Amdirlain sensed the amusement from her mind. “Come, Vāriyāka, I’ll help the others and then tell you what the mana items we collected can do. We’ll leave Amdirlain to her efforts to clothe the ladies. Before you leave, I’m sure Amdirlain will be happy to assist you to expand beyond your control of metal.”


    And I thought Sidero was bossy!