Unsure of the time at Aggie’s location, Amdirlain used the Spell Waiting Message to ask her to summon Pit.
The view here is why I created the platform; maybe I should ask Malnar to build a house. If the Domain expands more, it will be on its inside before long.
Amdirlain opened Gates to let three Archons through again to help the Erakk? healers, and two others asked to assist O’Nai in gathering materials. Hours flew by in planning discussions with Archons about their preferences and classes. Others had questions about roles and duties various Norse Celestials had mentioned.
When Aggie’s response came, the subdued tone in her words wasn’t the reaction Amdirlain had expected. “Amdirlain, I’m honoured at your instruction to summon an Archon. Though can we meet somewhere rather than just sending messages back and forth?”
“I’m outside the Domain presently, where I created the vantage point of the valley. You’re welcome anytime you want to have a chat. I hope you know that,” Amdirlain quickly replied.
Because yes, I’m sure every Power has an open door policy.
Aggie wasn’t long in opening a Gate, and Amdirlain could see Stoneheart’s temple behind her. A Dwarf in the temple proper held a young child in their arms, and both peered through the Gate, their mouths slowly dropping open. The child’s excitement had Amdirlain smiling at them and she blew a kiss before Aggie shut down the Spell.
“No fair, they were cute,” pouted Amdirlain.
“Very godly of you,” teased Aggie, the light tone not matching the wariness in her gaze.
Trying to lighten the mood, Amdirlain fixed Aggie with a mock-haughty look that she held for a long moment before she playfully huffed a reply. “Blow it out your arse; I like kids.”
[Diplomacy check terminal failure - Skill purged!]
Fuck yes, one less thing to worry about.
Amdirlain’s triumphant fist pump had Aggie raising an eyebrow. “Dare I ask?”
“Just got rid of a Skill that I didn’t want,” Amdirlain answered and rose to hug Aggie.
Returning the hug, Aggie didn’t immediately release Amdirlain, but gave her a look of concern. “Your view of skills is strange, but most people try to improve their capabilities, not remove them.”
Amdirlain put her finger on Aggie’s lips as she considered how best to explain and took her time responding. “I have enough skills I need to work on developing. I’ve felt the Tongues translation used incorrect words a few times, but I wasn’t sure how they were wrong. The Skill I got rid of had me worried it would somehow influence my behaviour. I don’t want that happening in my interactions.”
“What was the Skill?” asked Aggie curiously.
“Diplomacy,” admitted Amdirlain with a shrug. “I’ve gained various lores and I’m still trying to understand all my knowledge and how to apply it. Having a Skill impact my behaviour isn’t what I want, especially if I don’t quite understand all the implications.”
“You’d prefer to come across as rude? I’m not sure I understand your preference there,” Aggie said before she sat down on a chair suitable for a human form, and Amdirlain perched on one close to it.
“I’d prefer not to have something else control the words selected to explain my views. I’d end up second-guessing myself more if I had a Skill influencing people’s view of me,” replied Amdirlain. “To me, it’s better to risk people thinking less of me than me thinking less of myself.”
Aggie blinked at Amdirlain in surprise. “You second guess yourself?”
“Is that hard to believe?” Amdirlain asked seriously.
Her brows furrowed, Aggie took a moment in replying. “You come across with absolute conviction.”
Amdirlain lent forward in her chair and clasped Aggie’s hands.
“I always try to be true to my beliefs. Yet, becoming a Power was completely unexpected. Honestly, I’m trying to do the best I can,” admitted Amdirlain, tilting her head towards the Domain. “Not letting down those who have trusted me with such responsibility weighs on me—I won’t always get things right. When that happens, or you believe I’ve taken the wrong approach, please let me know and we can talk about it. I might not agree, but I’ll consider your view—you have my word.”
Squaring her shoulders, Aggie spoke firmly. “I’d prefer you not assign me a Celestial bodyguard.”
Amdirlain tilted her head as she considered Aggie’s unwavering expression. “If that’s your preference that’s fine, and I won’t. Please share why you feel that way?”
“You’ve done more than I can ever repay. You keep doing things for me, and I don’t feel like I’ve earned them. Even the Prestige Class felt like it was because of your achievements rather than my own,” revealed Aggie, the firmness of her earlier words evaporating. “You rescued me and then gave me so much, I feel like I’ve not achieved enough to repay you. I often feel someone is going to realise I don’t deserve any of it, and everything is going to fall apart.”
“You have nothing to repay; just choose a path in life you enjoy and be kind to yourself. As for that achievement,” said Amdirlain softly, reassuringly squeezing her hands. “Given is very much the wrong word. If your Prestige Class was from me, than why don’t I have a hundred High Priests?”
Aggie stared down at her hands and grimaced. “I’ve had chances they didn’t.”
The hunched set of Aggie’s shoulders hit Amdirlain like a blow to the gut. Amdirlain cupped Aggie’s face to bring their gazes together, her voice soft with emotion. “You asked for chances that I would have given anyone else that asked. You were the one brave enough to take that step. Don’t judge yourself this way, please. I’m sorry we didn’t talk about this earlier, as I would have told you this immediately. All I’ve given you is opportunity Aggie; you’re the one that put in all the hard work to make the most of it.”
“You escorted Eivor and me through killing those Gnarls,” argued Aggie. Her wavering voice twisted a knot of pain inside Amdirlain, where she’d long ago learnt to block her own.
“Yes, I helped you get some early levels with the Gnarls, but it still wasn’t a given. You both cast the spells, and dealt the blows that ended the monsters, and could have asked to stop at any time, but you kept going. The early levels are the easy part, you got three classes over level eighty to get offered that opportunity I ‘gave you’. The hardest levels were entirely your own work, and that earned the Prestige Class,” countered Amdirlain.
Aggie’s protest got cut short, her expression forewarning Amdirlain.
“No,” interrupted Amdirlain gently. “You can’t talk down about what you achieved. I won’t let you downplay your hard work. Plus, there is something you should know,”
“What?’ asked Aggie, her posture still tense.
“I didn’t volunteer Pit to be your bodyguard; he asked to be assigned to the role,” corrected Amdirlain, and releasing Aggie’s cheeks, she softly booped her nose. “Seriously, can you see me ordering anyone around? Telling them to go fuck themselves, yes; giving them an order, no way. The Archons are making their own choices about where they’d like to help. I should have just told you Pit requested to help as your bodyguard, it wasn’t even on my to-do list.”
“What?!” exclaimed Aggie, her eyes going wide. “But why would he want that?”
“I only know what he told me. You’ll need to talk to him, and you can turn him down if you’re not satisfied,” Amdirlain said, with a wave in the direction of the training grounds. “You can decide if you give him the job or not, I messed up by being cheeky.”
“Very well, I’ll do that,” acknowledged Aggie, after long moments deep in thought. “Though might I ask, why are you up here outside your Domain?”
“I like the view of the valley from here,” explained Amdirlain, pointing out along the untouched stretches of the valley floor.
“Is that the only reason?” asked Aggie, with a suspicious look.
Amdirlain huffed and gave a mumbled reply, prompting Aggie to motion her to repeat herself. “Ebusuku and Farhad are bonking like bunnies, celebrating some fighting. It’s safer up here than down there, being able to sense it.”
Aggie’s giggles earned her an unimpressed look from Amdirlain before she playfully grumbled. “I’m glad someone’s amused.”
“Being diplomatic at some point might not hurt,” suggested Aggie wryly.
Amdirlain wrinkled her nose and vigorously shook her head. “But why? I’ll let you folks be diplomatic. Then if someone’s annoying you, you can be honest and tell them they’d be better off being nice to you than trying to talk to me. I’ll just give them a verbal smack in the ear; if I don’t kick their butt.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Aggie said. The raggedness still in her voice prompted Amdirlain to give her another hug.
“Most days, I can’t believe anyone has faith in me. I feel like a fake, but I’ll keep trying to be worthy.” Amdirlain whispered. “Will you try to believe in yourself? I trust and respect you; you’re a brave woman who I admire.”
“I will Amdirlain, I will,” Aggie sobbed softly as her grip on her emotion broke, and Amdirlain just held her.
“I’m always here for you. If you need to talk, just let me know, and I’ll make time,” vowed Amdirlain, and she held Aggie enfolded in a comforting embrace, and kissed her forehead while she cried.
* * *
Watching Aggie start towards the Domain, Amdirlain considered a matter she’d delayed.
“Erwarth, when you have some spare time, I have someone for you to meet.”
As soon as she released the Spell, Amdirlain sighed and forced herself to acknowledge the accumulated tension in keeping Ebusuku’s situation from them. The moment she’d committed with the message, bands of stress she hadn’t realised were present, relaxed within her, drawing her attention with their easing.
“We’re just trying to set up some faction fighting between the Dao. I’ll be a half cycle or more. There’s no news on the missing, but we’ve just sent some Elves back to their home. You might even get another world’s inhabitants praying to you. The courts aren’t there, enjoy.”
Groaning at the amusement in Erwarth’s reply, Amdirlain rubbed her face before she sent out another message.
“Torm, if it’s alright with your boss, could you arrange someone to look into the situation with the Elves? I’d like to know about them. I’ve sent three Archons to help at the castle; they’re going to conduct scouting on the Thri-Kreen.”
She took Sidero’s advice and started working on something for herself with the immediate items handled. Creating paper and a pencil, she started trying to draw. Instead of being satisfied with only a very rough outline, she focused on actually getting it looking right, and after the first dozen failed attempts—finally got a message.
[Drawing Unlocked!
Drawing (1)]
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Stacks of botched attempts—and a bunch of Skill notifications later—she finally had a rough drawing of the house she wanted to be positioned at the outlook. The frequency of the Skill increases made her worry about what else was changing unnoticed.
Though I guess my crazy level of Quickness explains my hand-eye coordination improvement—I never expected to draw anything but crap.
Teleport carried her to the cliff face Malnar had selected for the craft hall, where work had already started. One crew was busy marking out the ground floor entryway and windows; another was putting scaffolding together, while Malnar and her helper set out benches on a raised platform directed towards the worksite. The energy of the Domain wasn’t conveying continued celebrations—even muffled—as she breathed a sigh of relief.
Almost as bad as coming home to find Rach hadn’t closed her door properly in their rush for the bed.
Amdirlain took the platform stairs three at a time and noted tools being unpacked. “I thought you’d be stone shaping the hall, Malnar.”
“There’s not a rush for the crafting hall. I thought we’d carve it out properly and get to know the stone while we set it up,” Malnar remarked, pinning some plans out on display boards. “We could teach you some stone cutting if you’d like. It’s good quality granite; I could construct some nice ramparts with it.”
“What is your fascination with defensive works?” asked Amdirlain, finally giving in to temptation to ask.
“There is always someone planning to get someone else. Better to have defences prepared than have nothing when you need them,” Malnar replied. “Your Domain’s protections are fine, but what happens if you let the wrong person in the door, and they turn on you while you’re away? How would you feel if your Petitioners suffered because they had no safe places to retreat?”
Amdirlain winced and wondered how long Malnar had held that winning hand. “I hadn’t thought of that. I just figured I would keep the Petitioners safe inside the boundary. How about you build some places in an open area of the Domain. I’d like them setup so we can use them for practicing teamwork—taking over fortifications and rooms safely. They can serve as a fallback position for Petitioners.”
Malnar smiled broadly, “Yes! I knew I’d get you to come around.”
“Could you prepare some plans with this as a guide?” Amdirlain asked, and handed over her drawing. “The rooms are noted on the back. Ground floor is just an open plan space for a library. I’d like wide windows positioned to give a proper view of the valley’s floor from where I have the vantage point at present,”
“You want a house outside your Domain?” Malnar asked in surprise.
“Who says it will stay outside for long?” pointed out Amdirlain. “Even if it does, I could use it for guests and keep them outside if they come for a visit,” explained Amdirlain, and Malnar nodded thoughtfully.
“Do you want any sleeping quarters on the second floor?” enquired Malnar, getting out parchment and a grease pen.
“Not everyone visiting is a Petitioner or Celestial so that would be a good idea,” agreed Amdirlain.
* * *
Ebusuku found her still watching Malnar’s crew setting up the scaffolding and marking out their initial cutting points for the multi-level crafting halls. Dwarves floating around on stone discs as they marked the upper levels had been an amusing sight to see.
“Gosh, you’ve been a while,” teased Amdirlain. “Is Farhad still alive?”
“He likes a challenge,” retorted Ebusuku light-heartedly.
When Ebusuku came closer to the platform, Amdirlain turned towards her properly and smiled. “Care to meet with Erwarth and the others?”
“That would be good,” agreed Ebusuku. “That way, if you go quiet for whatever reason, we can still exchange information.”
“They’re looking to cause some in-fighting among the Dao at present. Should we spar in the meantime?”
“Looking to get tossed around, are you?” Ebusuku asked.
Amdirlain shrugged and rose from her seat. “Life is always hitting me for six. I need to push my skills. Figured we could meet up with Erwarth in the Elemental Plane of Earth soon.”
“That reminds me, I’ve given O’Nai the list of initial materials to work towards on that Plane and details of where to search for them. He and his volunteers will base out of Duskstone since the Hound Archons can’t Planar Shift alone. You can expect a regular message from them via the Oath link, so not just O’Nai gets practice with it.”
“Did you and Farhad find some interesting fights?” enquired Amdirlain, as they got clear of the platform and squared off.
The amused smile from Ebusuku didn’t match the focused look in her eyes. “A few entities from the Negative Energy Plane, including a Demon transformed by it into an Undead. That was new; I’d read about them but never fought one.”
* * *
Elemental Plane of Earth
Though Amdirlain was in her Wood Elf shape, Ebusuku had taken full Solar form, with a serious expression on her face. Amdirlain was certain she’d only assumed it to stir them up, so held her peace. A Solar with wings half-furled wasn’t something any Succubus would walk towards normally, but the Lóm? didn’t hesitate to approach through the Gate Amdirlain had opened to meet up.
Only when the Gate shut behind Erwarth did Ebusuku remove her helm and transformed into a figure far closer to her original shape. Even without the crest of horns, her appearance caused several Lóm?s'' gazes to narrow.
“Your Solar looks familiar, Amdirlain. Would you introduce us?” asked Erwarth, speaking over the sudden murmur.
Amdirlain gave her a smile that matched Ebusuku for mischief. “Erwarth, this is Ebusuku. I believe you might have met Erwarth previously with a different name, Ebusuku.”
“First night,” breathed N?r, while others shifted their balance to leap away.
“Balnérith’s binding of your Progenitor was her doing alone,” Erwarth said immediately, causing the others to freeze in place.
“Do you think after taking service with Amdirlain, I’m looking for vengeance on others serving her?” asked Ebusuku and her serious expression disappeared into a smile as if she’d gotten whatever she’d sought.
“Family can draw strange reactions from anyone. I’m not sure Demons or Celestials are exempt,” countered Erwarth cautiously.
“I’m not looking to extract anything from you,” Ebusuku said merrily. As much as the words, her tone drained the sudden tension from the gathering.
“We’ve only met in passing previously. Balnérith’s favoured handled the arrangements with the irregular associates of the Order. They did not trust us with co-ordinating their instructions,” Erwarth explained, returning her attention to Amdirlain. “Still, I’d heard her name related to operations that they handled. The assignments of Sister and irregulars never hit the same locations.”
“I believe we should share names to make messages easier in case Lady Amdirlain goes for another jaunt without letting us know,” Ebusuku said.
Ebusuku stated her own name, and after Erwarth, the others took their turn in doing likewise.
“Might we know what happened?” asked Erwarth. “Since Ebusuku—it seems—also didn’t expect you to be out of touch.”
“I gained World Step a little while ago,” Amdirlain said, and at Erwarth’s frown continued on quickly. “I travelled from an uninhabited world around one sun to an overrun world called Cemna. Apparently, the distance between them was too far, given it was my first use of the Power.”
“World Step! Between worlds on your first use of it,” groaned Erwarth. “You’re supposed to train with it moving between locations on the same world. When you can get between them precisely, train between planets around the same sun.”
“Oops,” said Amdirlain helplessly, and Ebusuku started laughing.
Analysis didn’t make it sound like something it could be used in place of Teleport, guess it’s only going to work if you’re teleporting around the world.
“What have you been up to with the Dao?” continued Amdirlain, “You mentioned faction fighting?”
“There is always political positioning occurring within Dao society, normally with blades involved. We’ve left traces behind that should have the compound’s owners blaming a close rival for the destruction. Also, we’ve begun scouting a few other locations we plan to handle similarly,” offered Erwarth. “We can provide the details if you’d like.”
“I’d be interested in hearing more,” acknowledged Ebusuku, and Amdirlain settled down to listen.
* * *
The discussion covered Dao families and factions, and while meaningful to Ebusuku, had quickly lost Amdirlain. This was especially true when five different generations of the same family belonged to different ones, and the planning started on causing factions and families to self-destruct.
“I think I’ll need to study the Dao,” Amdirlain said after reappearing in her Domain.
“They are a complex society, but even with the trouble that we plan to cause them, they’ll reform. Dao are used to political factions fracturing only to reappear under new overseers.”
“While we can keep them focused on each other, they aren’t spending as much effort taking slaves,” argued Amdirlain.
“Hopefully,” countered Ebusuku.
The Domain’s aura told her Aggie was no longer present, but Pit was still near the archery range, and Amdirlain gave a wave to Ebusuku before she teleported away.
She held off speaking until after Pit had lowered his bow to notch another arrow.
“How did the discussion go?” asked Amdirlain, and smiled when Pit spun about and stopped himself from drawing back the arrow.
“Amdirlain, you are worse than Echo,” grumbled Pit, his glare unabated.
Patting him on the shoulder, Amdirlain looked past him to the arrow-peppered target. “Why worse?”
“You’re far quieter than he is,” Pit replied. He mussed her hair and froze in mid-motion. “Sorry.”
“For what?” asked Amdirlain, with an eyebrow raised in curiosity. “If getting my hair mussed worried me, do you think I couldn’t have moved in time or just stopped you?”
“Point, but you’re not like the others. I’m not sure about being so familiar,” admitted Pit.
“My older brother and dad frequently used to muss my hair when I was young. Your height in full form makes you the same relative height,” replied Amdirlain. “You’re all used to being family; hopefully the rest of us will eventually feel like family.”
“We’re used to including new arrivals,” assured Pit. “though, this time, we’re the new arrivals,”
Amdirlain gave his shoulder a poke with a grin. “Yeah, buster, you’re in my playground now; I expect much laughter. You got me? Though, seriously, the discussion with Aggie, what’s the verdict?”
“She’ll be in Stoneheart for another two weeks but will summon me before she leaves,” replied Pit. “Presently, she’s planning to travel west and visit communities along the way to the Wood Elf lands helping where she can.”
“She’s right near the Sunset Elves, so she’s going to the Wood Elves instead?” questioned Amdirlain.
“Aggie already had some plans in place to visit some Adventurers’ Guild locations. Setting up the Stoneheart temple wasn’t what she’d gone there to undertake,” replied Pit. “She’d only been intending to talk to Clan Gildenshield; instead, she dedicated a temple there and in Duskstone and stayed to teach.”
Amdirlain nodded and mentally noted to ask Aggie if she needed anything to help make up for the lost time. “Oh, Duskstone as well? Oops, I just wandered in there and out again. Never mind, what did you say to convince her to agree? She wasn’t sure about having a Celestial bodyguard.”
“She didn’t mention that, though she seemed tense, unlike her visit the other week. She wanted to talk about why I wanted to accompany her. Not sure if my rambling made sense, but I told her I want to be helping the living and ensure her safety so she can help others in ways I can’t,” explained Pit.
“That’s a good reason. That means you have two weeks. Want to get some bow practice in against Elementals?” asked Amdirlain and she quickly explained. “I need to push up my various resistances, and you’re immune to electricity. Care to accompany me taking on entities from the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Lightning? You can improve your skills training when Aggie is in town, but levelling might be slow in civilised places.”
“I’d like that, thank you,” answered Pit. “When did you plan to do that?”
Amdirlain clapped her hands together. “Right now, let’s move out. Get your stuff together, and we’re going.”
“I’ll need arrows, the magic in this bow doesn’t make any,” Pit pointed out.
“Bring lots of spares. I don’t want to lose time jumping back and forth,” instructed Amdirlain light-heartedly. “Meet me at my vantage point; we’ll go from there.”
Maybe I should learn the bowyer skills? I doubt I’d make perfect arrows; not sure anyone would notice off-balance clothing.
Pit grabbed up the half-empty quiver and fetched the arrows from the target.
“Ebusuku, I’m going to take Pit along while I do Resistance training. He’s got two weeks to get levelled before he’ll go bodyguard Aggie. Please oversee the work in Cemna, move along, clearing out places randomly along the coastline—or even other countries—in case of retaliation attempts.”
* * *
Pit peered uneasily through the Gate Amdirlain had opened outside the Domain towards a distant storm front. “There is only air and clouds. Won’t I fall?”
She’d aimed the Gate at the edge of the Quasi-Elemental Plane, and kilometres away through empty air were the greyish-black storm clouds of its leading edge.
“In both the Elemental Plane of Air and the Quasi-Elemental Plane of Lightning, just focus on the direction you want to move or hold steady. Without any focus, a random direction becomes your down, and that’s dangerous. Unless you control it once you start falling, your speed will keep increasing until your path intersects with something.”
Pit gave her a relieved smile. “Then you’d get to stop?”
“It would depend on how fast you were falling. If you’d been speeding up a while, you’d just go splat,” Amdirlain replied, and somehow under his fur, Pit looked to be going green.
Pit glanced at the ground beneath his feet and then at the open-air again. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”
Amdirlain waved out through the Gate and tried to keep a straight face. “It’s just like a Spell that allows flight. Just focus on which direction you want to move, and you’ll be fine. Alright, just treat it like Limbo on the way back to Cemna.”
“But with Limbo, I couldn’t see so far ahead of me,” grumbled Pit.
“You’ll be fine. Look,” encouraged Amdirlain, and she stepped through the Gate and stayed motionless in the open air. She motioned for Pit to take her hand and left it extended while emotions warred on his face. “After you’re through, I’ll put the Flight Spell on you.”
Pit reached through the Gate with a disbelieving grumble to clasp her forearm and stepped through quickly. His grip on Amdirlain’s forearm tightened as he struggled to keep from falling.
“Just focus on staying next to me; the Plane responds to your intent,” repeated Amdirlain, and she held him in position. “You don’t even need a Spell to fly, but it will improve how quickly you can move about.”
It took a few minutes, but once he was comfortable, Amdirlain closed the Gate and started with increasing speed towards the clouds. Only once he had the essential control down did she add the Flight Spell, not letting him know she hadn’t cast it previously.