060 part 2 of 4

Valok and Apogough walked up to the temple, then up the stairs.

Erick smiled to see them approach, saying, “Hey guys. How’s the farm been?”

Apogough started the pleasantries with, “It’s going—”

“Fantastic.” Valok launched into anger, saying, “But that asshole is trying to ruin everything. You need to never speak to him again. He is a shadowspider. He will twist your words to put you under his power. He’s been talking to our people; putting the fear of gods into their hearts, trying to make them give up on this life we’re building.”

Erick smiled softly, saying, “He backed off, though I doubt that’s the last we’ll see of him.”

Valok frowned. “Yes. Especially after you threatened a permanent [Gate].”

Apogough scrunched his face in thought, as he asked, “Can you do actually that?”

Erick shrugged. “I don’t know. Never thought to try. Never been a need and I didn’t even know if it was possible.” Erick asked, “… is it possible?”

Valok said, “Possible, though not likely.”

Apogough said, “There used to be permanent [Gate]s between the Old Dragonkin cities in the forests north of the Wyrmridge Mountains. They hail from the first years after the Sundering, before the destruction of all halves. People have tried to get them and bring them back to civilization, but they’re hundred ton metal structures; the most anyone has ever gotten is images of them, and images of all the wyrms defending them.”

“Really? I pulled that out of my ass, but they actually exist?” Erick laughed, then asked, “Maybe I should go get one? Try to remake it?”

Apogough said, “That’s walking yourself to the executioner’s block.” He looked down the road to Spur, but Caradogh and his flankers were already long gone. “Worse than that whole exchange was asking for the same.”

Erick grumbled, then groaned out, “Assassins.”

Valok joined them looking down the road to Spur, and said, “Maybe. It’s… really hard to tell. I’ve been coming to Spur for every Water Season for the last twenty years. I’ve been on the Farmer’s Council for fifteen. There’s always been some friction getting our goods to market. But it’s never been this bad. They like us dependent. Independence scares them.”

Apogough said, “A trade embargo would be bad.”

Poi stepped into the conversation, saying, “Silverite has been watching this unfold. She would like me to inform the Farmer’s Council, and you, sir, that whatever this business with Caradogh was, Spur is prepared to weather the storm and come out smelling like money. There will be no changes to any farming practices.”

Valok smiled, saying, “Good.” He nodded to Erick, before stepping down the stairs of the temple. “Back to work then. Good to see you, Erick.”

Apogough lingered in the temple, saying, “I heard about Odaali.” He added, “Tough business, that. Glad you stopped the Breach Demon.”

Erick looked out over the fields, glancing at the incani here and there. He asked, “I’m worried I won’t be seen as neutral. Have you heard anything?”

“There’s been some grumbling, sure. But there’s also a lot of relief. There’s hatred here, sure, but no one here really wants a war. Trade is getting big, and that means that a war is a huge interruption.” Apogough asked, “Want me to let you know if that changes?”

“Yes, please.” Erick said, “Oh. And what do you feed the chickens and cows? There’s a feed grain that I was thinking of creating for them that might be good. People would love it, too. It’s easier to store and harvest than wheat or rice.”

“Feed grain?” Apogough hummed, then said, “Chickens eat pretty much everything. Bugs. Greens. If you want to make a feed grain, then I won’t stop you. Not sure how much good it’ll do. There’s no shortage of food anywhere, Erick, for the animals or for us, and that’s all thanks to you.” Apogough said, “But I gotta go. Glad to see that guy didn’t ruffle you. Take care.”

Erick said, “Later.”

The tall orcol walked away, under [Weather Ward]s, back down to the fields while platinum rain fell all around.

After being alone with Poi for a minute, Erick turned to his guard, asking, “Assassins?”

Poi stared out into the rainy distance, lines of [Telepathy] flickering out of his head, saying, “We’ll keep our eyes open, as always.”

Erick said, “Thank you for looking out for me, Poi.”

“It is my honor, sir.”

– – – –

Ophiel flew high above the clouds, wings unfurled all the way, catching the easterly wind like it was a river in the sky, and he was the fastest fish in the ocean. He raced over cloud peaks, while the sandy land far, far below seemed to move at a standstill.

A caress of control fluttered through his body. He trilled out the sounds of a hundred violins before vanishing in a blip of white. Erick needed him! Time to work.

– – – –

Erick smiled as Ophiel appeared in the center of the Harvest Temple, wings unfurled and singing a song of strings, a dozen new eyes flickering open across his body to take in his surroundings.

Erick said, “You’re taking over the rain. You can get back to flying around later.”

Ophiel trilled. Erick flowed [Exalted Storm Aura] through Ophiel, briefly filling the sky with two silver storms, before he cut off his own aura.

Erick asked, “Do you want to stay in here, or float above the temple?”

Ophiel made a quizzical trill, but nothing else.

Erick wasn’t sure Ophiel was learning, or not, but Erick wanted him to do the job right, so Erick said, “You can stay inside.”

Ophiel gave another uncomprehending trill.

Erick just said, “Okay. Good boy. See you later.”

Erick left Ophiel in the temple to rain on the farms. Originally, he had planned on sticking around and creating the rain himself, but the confrontation with Caradogh reminded him: He had skills to level and HP to spend, and a mighty need for a wand of [Rejuvenation] to speed up the process. He needed to be prepared for the unknown future…

The mostly unknown future.

Assassins were pretty much assured, now. It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you!

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– – – –

Erick walked down to the end of Market Street, to shop at a store near the wall, where most of the light came not from above, but from lightwards of all colors and shapes, plastered over every shoppe entrance. Ulrick’s Unusual’s was the same, nice little shoppe as it was the last time Erick was here. Through the window, Erick saw counters of enchanted knives and shelves full of wands and rods. The door chimed as he swung it open, and strode inside.