Mark of the Fool

Chapter 439: Consolidating Resources

And so the Fool, Chosen, Champion and Sage planned their future.

It wasnt the first time theyd talked like this, but this timeat lastthey spoke with all their secrets out in the open.

Or, at least, most of them.

Midnight had come and gone, but no ones eyelids had grown heavy. They werent yawning. They hadnt nodded off. Excitement filled the aircapped with residual anger.

As they talked, Alex noticed heat returning to Cedrics voice every now and then as tension played around his mouth. But, his body language was more relaxed, his movements less forceful. The fullness of his anger would take time to drain away, Alex thoughtand hopedbut at least, he wasnt throwing punches anymore.

At least, not at Alex.

He had something else to focus his anger on, now.

The Chosens fist slammed into his palm. I feel like a bloody wolf in a cage, he growled. Id like tbe off tthis Irtyshenan Empire ourselves and turn the place upside down til we find what Drestra saw through the Travellers portal. He nodded in the direction of the castle. But we cant leave if the Raveners pullin out all sorts o extra nasty tricks, were gonna be needed here. An besides, Merzhins already gettin kinda twitchy. I can jus hear 'im now, scoldin us fer shirkin our holy duty and all. He might even go tthe priests tcomplain.

Yeah, Hart grunted, thumbing the pommel of his sword. We dont want him or the priests looking at us too hard, especially since that invisible beast could mess us up real good if we get caught off-guard.

Thats not even what worries me the most. Drestra pointed to the earth beneath them. We can fight monsters. With Aenflynns forces and any Ravener-spawn that we control, we can build our own armies and kill our enemies, even unknown ones. But what happens if the Ravener starts overloading a dungeon core with all its power while were insidea dungeon? You heard what Baelin said, it held him off for a while.

Aye, an if two o them could put up a fight against that scary bastard, then one could likely squash us bloody flat, Cedric grunted. They could kill hundreds o soldiers too, an there wouldnt be one bloody thing we could do. All o that trainin they gave us in the capital didnt do nothin tget us ready fdis kinda shite.

Yeah, the Raveners escalating, Alex said darkly. And if I had to guess, its reacting to us taking control of its dungeon cores. I controlled one for just a second in the Travellers Cave and the Ravener sent out an entire hunting party of assassins to track me all the way to Generasi.

Aye, an that means it can get Ravener-spawn off the bloody island, Cedric said. An that aint supposed to happen.

But if it can get those clawed things off the island, why doesnt it attack the rest of the world? Drestra asked. What makes us so lucky?

Its like a predator, stalking through its territory. Theresa glowered at the horizon, as though the Ravener were hovering in that direction, just beyond sight. It treats our whole kingdom like its hunting ground.

Im not not sure about that, Theresa, Alex thought aloud. I mean, dont get me wrong, it does hunt us butif its a predator and were its preyand since our fear is what fuels dungeon coreswhy doesnt it keep following us outside of Thameland? He gestured to the west. Most of our people are right across the channel between here and the mainland: thats a hell of a lot closer than Generasi. If it could follow me, it can definitely send those clawed thingsand who knows what elseafter our people in the Empire. But it doesnt.

Predators are not ravening monsters that chase down and eat every single scrap of prey, Alex, she pointed out. Wolves dont slaughter an entire herd of deer, they hunt the weak and eat their fill.

Right, but our weak are gone, he said. All thats left in Thameland are our Heroes, priests, the army and anyone else who can fight. If its actually behaving like a wolf or a bear, then what it should be doing is chasing down everyone who leaves. Imagine how much fear itd have to feed on if it had those clawed monsters stalking the Rhinean countryside, striking from the shadows, killing our old, our weak and our young. He shook his head. Imagine how much terror a tactic like that would create? The Ravener would be drowning in power.

Bloody frightenin thought that is, Cedric was somber. But its true. If it could send monsters after you all the way t the south, then why cant it chase the rest of our people? He paused. ...Less it dont want to.

My thoughts exactly, mate! Alex nodded emphatically. Thats why I dont really think its hunting us. I think its herding us, like a sheep dog herds a flock of sheep. When our people escape to the Rhinean Empire, well, thats the same as putting sheep out to pasture, so it lets our people go.

But when you took control of the dungeon core, that was the same as a fat, juicy sheep escaping, Drestra said. So it needed to send out hunters to either kill the sheep, or bring it back.

And now more sheep are escaping, Hart jumped in, nodding to Alex and Drestra You two can control dungeon cores, and so can that Carey girl.

An when more sheep start escapin, ybring out all yer shepherds and herdin dogs, Cedric finished. Aye, it fits. Explains why its escalating. He looked at Drestra. An why youve got a big, nasty target on your back now.

Yes, the Sage said. And that brings us back to the point: if its escalating, theres no way we can leave. Well be needed here.

And thats where I think we can divide and conquer. Alex made a chopping motion in mid-air. Except in this case, its us were dividing, and our enemies were conquering.

Go on, Hart said.

Well, first of all, we have an advantage in that I can count the number of people who know Im a Hero on both hands, Alex said. Youre all likely to be watched by the church; if theyre keeping secrets, I cant imagine theyd want to risk having Uldars mightiest weapons all going rogue, especially since ones already missing.

Youre probably right, Drestras voice crackled, her eyes hardening. When I really think about it, we have priests constantly following us to supposedly give support. They let us act on our own now, but back when we were first Marked, I could hardly sneeze without a priest popping up to wipe my nose. Maybe theyre there for more than nose wiping.

And now that weve been good little Heroes for over a year, they let us have our run of the land, Hart added, giving an amused snort. The look on their faces if we all just pulled an Alex and ran off, Id pay solid gold to see that.

Oi, dont even joke about that, Cedric said firmly. Lotta peopled die if we did.

Oh no, look out, Cedrics mad. He just might punch me! The Champion held up his hands.

The Chosens face turned beet red. Not funny, mate.

Funny to me, Hart rumbled, then looked back at Alex. But I see your point. We can only go so many places since the priests dont want us too far from their sight, but they dont know enough to have any interest in you.

Yeah, which means I can look into things outside of Thameland, he said. Though, Ive got to admit, progress has been slow because of that. But! Im hoping that Baelin and my little trip down to the lower planes can give us some clues. I really believe the Traveller is a key in all this. If not the key, then at least a piece of the puzzle.

At the very least, I want to know why a Saint of Uldar would build a secret temple in the earth near her hometown and not have one single image of Uldar in it. And why would she have a portal that slams shut as soon as a Hero comes near it? Drestra said.

Yeah, me too, Alex said. And thats what Im hoping we figure out in the hells.

I cant believe youre goin to the hells before ygo tan empire right here in our world. Cedric shook his head. Youre completely bloody crazy, yknow that dont cha?

Well, Ive got Baelin to give me a ride down to the hells, and we know where were going, Alex said. As for the empiretheres no way I can think of exploring it without learning some kind of long-range teleportation spell. Even then, its going to be rough, with how theyre gating out outsiders and all.

I still think its bloody madness that ythink goin to the hells is an easier thing tdo.

The worlds upside down, Im just trying to react to it, Alex shrugged. But while Im literally going to hell, you can go places I cant. This is completely up to you, of course, but if I were you, Id start considering a little burglary.

Whore we burgling? Hart asked.

The cathedral in Ussex would by my suggestion, Alex said. We need answers, and we need them sooner than later. If the Raveners escalating, then we need solid ways to counter it. We need to solve this mystery.

Cool. Im up for that, Hart said. I can be sneaky-like when I want to be. Ill be like a shadow. Steal some books. Snap some necks. Itll be fun.

Aye, but weve got to think about Merzhin, though, Cedric pointed out. Ach, I feel for im. He looked at Theresa and Alex. You two should see im; hes our age, aye, but he juslooks like hes so much younger. I keep thinkin that hes like a little kid, one thats too fond o Uldar.

Hmmmm, can you get him on our side? Alex suggested. Drestra was saying how powerful he is and wed have an easier time investigating the church if we had the Saint willing to work with us.

The three other Heroes looked at each other dubiously.

Dont think thats gonna work, Hart said. We mentioned this a bit before, but hes a fanatic among fanatics. Likeyou ever see those guys standing by the roadside on a rock, claiming that the end of the worlds coming and only their deity can stop it?

Cant say that I have, Theresa said.

Me neither, Alex added. But Alrics a small town and religions not super prevalent in Generasi, so Ill take your word for it.

Anyway, Hart said. So, Merzhins like one of them, except he was raised to be one of them. Hes all in.

Okay Alex frowned. That description reminded him of Carey, but shed started questioning what theyd been told after learning they could control dungeon cores. Maybe this Merzhin could turn a corner too. What if we started with some honesty? How would he react if he knew I was the Fool and was helping out?

Hart, Drestra and Cedric burst out laughing.

You want to end up in chains? the Sage asked. Because thats how you end up in chains.

Claygon emitted a mental growl through their link.

It cant be that bad, can it? Alex asked.

Look, ya told me an I punched ya. What dyou think hed do?

Yeahokay, Alex acknowledged. But what if we told him everything? About controlling the dungeon cores, about their connection to Uldar, all of it. How would he react?

Drestra frowned. I dont know. He might explain it away, he might have a meltdownbut either way, hed tell every priest with ears, and then theyd know we know. And I dont know about you, but Im not ready for that fight.

Speak for yourself, Hart chuckled. Id meet em in the light with my bow or in the dark with a knife. They want a fight? Ill give them their last.

Were strong, tbe sure, but wed be branded traitors, then well have all o Thameland after us. I dont want nothin tdo with slaughterin my fellow country folk, Hart.

If they come at us to cage or kill us, then I have no problem killing them, Drestra fired back.

Youre awfully cold blooded, at times, Cedric said.

And your blood runs too hot at times.

The Chosen frowned.

I think youre both right, Alex said. Weve got to defend ourselves, if it comes to it: obviously there are people who want this conspiracy to remain. But Id rather we kill people who want to kill and oppress us, rather than somepoor bastards that dont know any better. Thats why, if you find out more about whats going on with the church, we could really narrow down who we need to talk to and whose heads we need to crack. And

He looked at Drestra. You talked about not being ready for that fight?

Im not. Im trying to break through to fourth-level spells, she said. I cant handle the Ravener and ancient conspirators all at once.

Well. Alex leaned forward. Maybe I can help with thatlisten. Ive learned a lot at that school of mine. A lot about fighting. A lot about magic. Maybe I can talk to Baelin and we can see about a littletraining for all of you. I mean, look what I managed to do for myself in the last year.

He grinned wickedly.

Imagine what we could do for all of you.