Chapter 34: Kolas’s Stronghold

Deep under the earth, in the fires manned by Loseta’s Chosen, I lied eyes on it. Large white bones, greater than one of the great worms. They speak of it in quiet tones, not calling it by its name.

It belongs to no Worm I’ve seen, and while I know there are things in the deep that defy imagining. I am beginning to wonder if I might’ve found my prize.

The bones of a god.

• “Where Are The Gods?” A Heretical Text found in the Archmage’s Sanctum

For the first time in our few interactions, I see an expression of surprise on the Seer’s face. Complete, unbridled shock, mixed with the smallest amount of disbelief.

She turns to Keve and speaks rapidly in their language.

He simply nods, then motions towards me.

She stares at me, her eyes slowly narrowing. “What do you ask for, offering such a gift?”

I hold my hands up, “I’m not asking for much. I still want to see this place protected,” I glance over to Keve, “and I want people like you to have a safe home.”

Her large eyes look at me for a long time, then look beyond me. I suspect a skill of some kind is activating, but I don’t know what it is. My suspicion is confirmed when her tattoos glow with internal mana.

She turns to Keve again, and speak rapidly. He responds with equally as long sentences.

I wait for a few minutes, but they keep talking. I glance over to Shar, who is cleaning her feathers on my backpack. I walk over to her and sit beside her, “What are they saying?”

She pauses, listening for a second, then answers back in a low voice. “Keve is sharing his vision of a home for more nonhumans. She is worried about revealing their location to the shapeshifting monster, and the resources required for such a feat.”

That makes sense. Keve’s idea is more of a dream, and hard to implement in practice without the support of all the Vishten.

Soon enough, Seer Varia nods, then turns back to me. “We will accept your gift with gratitude.”

I smile, and gently push Shar off of my backpack. I reach inside, and pull out the Cube Of Kolas.

She walks over to me, leaning against her staff as she studies the object in my hands. I hesitate for a second, then hand it over.

“How do you activate it?” She asks, turning it over.

I stand up, and gently trace the metal of the cube as she studies it. “I suspect you have to put your mana into it. It would probably be best to do so on the surface. I’m not sure how a stronghold would handle being underground, and I’ve never heard of one that is.”

She stares at it for a long moment, then nods. “Kauror!” Her voice echoes out with a surprising amount of strength for her age.

A familiar warrior peaks his head into the tent.

She speaks to him rapidly, and with authority.
The warrior listens, then salutes before leaving the tent. His voice echoes out over the group.

Seer Varia smiles wide as she turns to us. “Get ready, Delver Leo. I’m sure this will be quite the sight for all of us.”

I grab my bag, and sling it over my shoulders. Shar hops onto the bag. I look over to Keve, and see a grin.

Seer Varia steps out of the tent, and I follow her.

Around us, warriors gather, their scarves pulled over their faces as they get into a rough circle around us.

“It’s been two years.” Varia draws my attention to her with her words. She stands there, leaning on her staff with a mixed expression on her face.

“Two years?” I ask.

She looks at me with a small smile playing at the edge of her lips. “Since this many of us have seen the surface.” She looks up at the stone ceiling, her eyes wistful, “Our people worshipped the sun once.”

The group finishes gathering, and Varia starts walking. The group of warriors walk easily around her, bows ready and swords loosened. Geode stays behind, watching over the families that will stay in the cave.

A few of the Vishten run ahead, while others drop back, watching the rear.

Varia keeps an easy pace, her staff tapping on the ground as Keve and I walk beside her. Soon enough, we pass through the barrier and enter the webs of the dead reavers.

Nothing stops us as we make our way to the surface.

A wooden bridge is set up surprisingly fast to cover the gap left by the worm, and Varia crosses it at the same pace that she’d been walking the entire time, not even glancing down.

The sound of battle reaches us as we approach the entrance, but Varia is uncaring.

A large boar-like creature is pulled to the side as the Vishten walk into the sun, their scarves pulled tight and ready for battle.

Varia steps out into the patchy snow, the sun having melted it partially. She reaches down, picking up the mush and letting it fall from her fingers. Then we walk a few feet from the entrance to the ruins.

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She turns to me with a smile, “Tell me about strongholds, Leo.”

Another fight starts in the nearby trees.

I look in the direction I know the southern stronghold to be. “I’ve never been in a stronghold, but I’ve heard things…” I think, trying to bring up all of the information I know. “They have great walls, a mana barrier extending above and below them. Anything that makes it past the walls is constantly fighting the stronghold’s enchantments.” I frown, “those enchantments can also be used against anyone the Lords decide to be an exile.” I shake my head, and try to remember anything else that might be useful to her. “The buildings in a stronghold also gain enchantments of some kind, I’m not really sure how that works.”

Varia nods, then holds the Cube Of Kolas up, “I think, you will find out soon, Delver Leo.” Her tattoos glow with white, the mana shining through her clothes as she channels her internal mana into the item.

Lines throughout the cube glow, then it unravels, falling from her hand and landing on the ground. A pulse of powerful mana moves through the forest, and the trees freeze.

There’s movement everywhere as monsters of all kind run away from the powerful mana.

Another pulse.

We step back as the cube further unfolds into a large stone circle, glowing with mana.