So many poor souls were stuck under Trollmann’s Abode. Fear, anger and sadness were rife among them. Spending a little time with some of the more friendly lot, we learned there are other issues.

  A younger refugee in his teens had approached Wardi, and it was a little far for me to hear. I couldn’t get away from trying to help this granny eat either…Chew with your mouth closed, you daft old coot.

  “Hey, sir, can I talk to you somewhere quiet?” A young Dornam lad. His beard is almost fully grown in; that waistline, too. He tried and got the attention of Wardi, who gladly followed him to a spot a little ways away from where the rest of the group stood.

  “What’s up, lad? It’s not often I meet a Dornam that’s not got a pint in their hand and telling me about it.” He tried to joke, but the boy held on to many worries, and humour was missing hard right now.

  “It’s Tanner.” The tones in his voice were nervous and hesitant. Wardi reached out to fist bump him, but Tanner didn’t respond.

  “I’m Wardi lad. Tell me your troubles. If I can help you out, I will.” Wardi said, trying to become sterner in his face, the lad didn’t need smiles right now.

  “That ham planet of a King, he’s been sending soldiers out to take belongings from people in nearby towns. He’s been pissing his pants after Areya’s scrap with Revitaliser Guild.” The lad was emotionally charged; he wanted to fight.

  Wardi could tell. The lad would have been progressing through the fighter pathways if he had come of age. He’s got that fire in his eyes.

  Damnit, we don’t need a reason to get sidetracked again so soon, but I don’t think we can ignore this either. The thought bothered Wardi, he felt sorry for Tanner.

  “When exactly did he start doing that? Isaac’s Shanti isn’t exactly close by compared to other towns.”

  “After his patrols ended up fighting with Gobheads in Grindo Town and Hockers Hamlet, the~” Wardi couldn’t help but interject after hearing this news. Feck, this is worse than I expected. Thoughts whirled around his head. He had to speak about it.

  “That was his doing!? We thought it was all Gobheads doing. Dritt, alright Tanner, tell me everything, don’t leave anything out.” Tanner, taken aback by Wardi’s shift in stern personality, took a moment before responding.

  “Uh, I don’t know that much to be honest. Seems one of those bigheads called Johnno has gained a shit ton of power and leading em alongside Lizbuth Duke the self-proclaimed queen of the Gobheads.” Tanner took a moment to pause, trying to think of what had happened.

  He paused before remembering other details.

  “Shit yeah, invading parties attacked both towns at the same time, two days ago maybe; the patrols managed to fend of the attack at Hockers Hamlet, but well… you probably already know Grindo is gone. But! I know some made it out, there were loads of people flying and screaming in the air.”

  Wardi suspected some of those adventurers had also been smart and kept their G&S catapults. That or they, like the group…were too broke to afford anything more reusable.

  “That’s a good sign at least. But why is the king suddenly on a bit of a mad one? That’s a big reaction from one of the quieter members of royalty, suddenly needing to be on my list of people to throw hands with.”

  “Times are changing.”

  Wardi was getting wound up past his usual upbeat yet professional self.

  “We’re in a bit of a crisis, Tanner. I promise that when things calm down, we’ll investigate it. At this moment in time, however, we have needed to hand in a request two or three days ago, and the goods won’t last if we help now. I’m sorry, bud.”

  Wardi felt awful having to drop the bombshell on Tanner. Any ounce of optimism was fading as he stepped away from Tanner.

  “But they’ve got Isaac Wardi ca~”. Ah fuck there we go he thought and turned round to the young lad.

  “Say no more, kid. Oi, we need to chat right now!” Calling out to the others generated shock, surprise and annoyance as they met him halfway.

  Horace was the first to pipe up, “YOU GOOD?” I noticed he was the most optimistic out of the group, and surprisingly, Dillee looked horrified.

  “There’s something I can’t ignore after speaking with Tanne. Isaac’s been taken to by King Blau.”

  “Oh shit, why? They’re way beyond the reach of that kingdom!” Rhua was angry and confused. Wardi filled the group in on everything he was told. There was a bit of a split in the group. What will they do?

  Stronger together, I thought and made my argument.

  “If we’re going to do anything when this shit is happening around us we got to stick together, it’s just going to bite us in the ass otherwise. I say we deal with the request first.”

  “I AGREE, we’re dipping low on funds badly HERE.” Horace piped up.

  “The castle isn’t that far, why don’t we do that first?” Said Rhua and Lucy nodded in agreement.

  “Yes, I agree. It won’t take much time away from the situation at hand if we make a detour.” She replied to Rhua.

  Damn this is getting awkward I don’t like it when we fight. I thought.

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  “Well, chaps and chappetes. From my analysis of each member of the group. May I make a rational attempt at this? We may reach a suitable agreement.” Dillee stood there, with his leafy hands behind his back, standing tall.

  “Go on.” Rhua beckoned him to speak. Dillee, having been rather quiet until now, came up with a risky but suitable solution.

  “I say, Wardi, Rhua, and Lucy should attend to the situation in the castle matters, whilst the rest of us continue this ‘request’ I hear mentioned. Horace is not someone with strong healing capabilities; he’s more than capable of aiding MC and himself should the need arise. Furthermore! I can self-heal as long as the BOF is shining down on me. He pointed at the sun and began aiming his little yellow face at it as if to say, “I’ve said what I need to.”

  “With these groupings, we have defined roles. Someone to take hits, deal hits and heal bits.”

  I did not like the way Wardi said that at all. But that was quite a good point he made, thinking to myself.

  “That’s a great idea, Dillee! Well done,” said Lucy. Her compliment made him gush, and he began to shimmy away, wanting to get back into the daylight whilst it was still there.

  “Let’s rest up for the night at least. It’s been a slog and a half lately, and I can't be dealing with Chevallier's foot again.” Rhua looked down at her footwear, and I had to agree, I enjoy not having my sense of smell kicked in by the smell of her foot cheese.

  “We should stay in the underpass, but much further in. If it comes to it, the chances of us escaping are much higher that way.” Said Lucy.

  Thanks to its automatic assembly, the tent was quickly assembled. Sitting down to eat again was bloody marvellous, though if I may say so. We ate overly cheesy tatoe. There’s only a need for cheese…and more of it. The type that tingles when you take a bite. The others felt the same, or at least they better had because I put my heart and soul into making this…from a packet I got from Eccles Ville Daley-Arn centre. They were chatting in between taking large mouthfuls of the creamy tatoe delight. Didn’t look like they spat any out as I stared at them to make sure.

  As the time passed and the night set in, it seemed the nights were difficult for Dillee to manage, as he rested his head on my leg, whilst sitting on the floor. He became less energised and seemed to be a mix of tired and withdrawn. I could swear that I was feeling great, though, as he occasionally puffed out some yellow vapour from his widdle yellow petalled face.

  “When was the last time we did a split?” I asked the group.

  “Was it not the time we did that request in New Stonks City? Down in the Tusen Atolls? Said Lucy, leaning against her upright arm to think.

  “YEAH! And Rhua took on the BEACON FISH whilst you three WENT OVER, to Witches Falls.” Damn that was a while back indeed.

  “It was the first time we tried to do two requests. We failed our side miserably, even with Lucy. It was impossible without Rhua with us.” Said Wardi, Rhua was grateful to hear it.

  “I appreciate you saying that, but we are a team. Everyone plays their part.” She replied

  “Nah, bud. You and Lucy have carried us through a DRITTLOAD of bad situations. There is no way we would still be here with both of you, me especially, I will admit that.” Lucy cracked a smile, and Rhua smirked.

  “Calm down before I blush, ya git,” Rhua responded with a grin. I’m counting that as a win.

  “He’s quite different at night,” Wardi said, nodding towards Dillee.

  “Aye, still can’t believe he just popped into existence like that though,”

  “Neither can I, Sir.” Said Dillee, somewhat awake to the world again, stretching his firm to floppy appendages.

  “Grateful nonetheless, though. I’d still be but a potted nothing. Spending my days awaiting a pruning or eating, depending on the individual who entered the greenhouse. Simply basking, under the glory of eternal luminosity”.

  We all howled at such a poetic statement, Dillee failed to see what was so funny.

  “I say, why are you all laughing? Do my words not resonate among ye?” Rhua walked over to Dillee and ruffled his leaves as she walked inside the tent.

  “I’ve forgiven you after your initial antics, you’re starting to grow on me, little buddy.” Rhua’s words touched his heart.

  “Thank you for the kind words, Madam Seisyll. Pleasant dreams. Same to you all.” He returned to sleeping, and I thought it was best to take him inside the tent. I whispered goodnight and took him inside, placing him in my bunk. Sleep well, bud. I thought. And eventually fell asleep on the floor.

  ***

  “Damn you Maelos, you dare lay your hands on me after everything...”

  Phahl, are you alright, sir? The lowly technician responded to his spontaneous talking aloud to himself after quickly entering the room.

  “Yes, girl, I am fine. Just an unexpected turn of events is all,”

  The technician nodded and turned back around to face their workstation. They informed Phahl about the recent events happening down on Maliterr.

  “Sir, we’ve relocated her highness's displeasure. He’s currently in the Trollman Abode. Would you like me to inform the Seven?”

  Phahl thought for a second. Mulling over what he just experienced. How was he able to do that? His power is on par with those in my circle of lesser gods. Could he be one himself? His thoughts raced around his mind. It scared him.

  All fear the seven, but never has Phahl feared those outside of it…til now.

  “Sir? I am not sure how to proceed, please give-“

  “Oh, hush, will you, girl!” Phahl shouted. Telekinetic powers lifted the girl, throwing her into the door on the far side of the room. “Get to your quarters immediately, you do not speak or do anything without my permission until further notice, Technician F.”

  Phahl shivered. No longer was he just afraid of the seven; now he had to contend with someone outside of the realm that had the capability to harm him. He needed to make a change to his plan. Angry at the sudden attack made on him by Maelos. A seed of doubt in his mind caused him to hesitate to contact Serilia.

  Phahl was breaking in his own mind, until a hand was placed on his shoulder. By a face he had long forgotten.. A grin formed on his face.

  Kaiser be praised! It has been so long since you graced me with your presence, Zayagor! Phahl whispered with excitement.

  “Tis been a moment, hasn’t it, Phahl, how fares the fight?”

  Glorious your grace, the colony plans have begun and are progressing well. There is the matter of Maelos, however…he is becoming unstable, I fear. Attacking members of the sacred order with blind rage.

  “I am aware. I will convene with Kaiser soon. For now, I must return to Scion; my business is being interfered with by those upstairs, thanks to Maelos and his lust for power.”

  The man with the mensus scar disappeared, returning to the war-torn world far away.

  Motivated by the encounter with one such as he. Phahl, reinvigorated and clear-headed, was able to proceed.

  “Serilia, your grace, I bring news regarding the disappointing one.”

  MARVELLOUS TO HEAR PHAHL, WHAT OF HIM? - I DO HOPE HE IS SUFFERING NICELY.

  We have been able to find him. Is there anything you’d like me to do?

  “Just inform me when he and his lot enter another one of those dungeons again.”