System Break

Carney walked up the street with three men following her. One was dark haired and middle aged while the other two were older. They all bore wounds from the battle and were heavily bandaged. One had his entire chest encased with brown and red bandages while the dark haired man had his head wrapped like a mummy. The oldest walked with a limp and a cane.

Her red hair flowed behind her it was long enough to reach her lower back. It complimented her freckles and green eyes which shone with determination. The former kitchen maid walked with confidence and led the men to the manor where we had setup camp.

Carney walked around the oval table to stand behind me as I sipped some cool water from a glass. My wooden antler mask sat on the table between us as the three sat opposite as Carney directed. 

"Sit there. Do you want water?" she asked.

They stared at my mask and then up at me. Carney sighed and fetched a pitcher of water and glasses for them. Kysandre took a seat at the head of the table while Gisael was on the roof.

"This is Kysandre," Carney said, "She is from Dawnharbour."

"I would represent the fisherfolk, not Dawnharbour."

"What's the fisherfolk doing all the way up here?" the old man with a cane asked.

"Saving your ass," I said. 

"The mayor is dead," the middle aged man said. "We should discuss what we're going to do in the coming days and weeks."

His grasp of the matter at hand surprised me and I smiled. "Yes. We have stuff to do and can't wait around here forever."

"This is the duke's territory," the middle-aged man said.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Argus," he said. "I am the miller."

"He imports and sells salt too," Carney added. "He's a trader and miller."

Argus shrugged, "If I send flour south we have to fill the wagons with something coming north. But this was before I lost all my wagons. Now I'm just a miller."

"This is the duke's territory," I said. "Now I know why he wanted to sign a treaty with us to protect the farms." I waited and the air filled with a pregnant silence. "Because he can't defend it himself. I wasn't going to visit the fort until we had the treaty but when I saw the army of ferals descending upon you - I came. What would have happened if we didn't come?"

The eldest said, "We'd certainly be dead. We aren't idiots. But does that mean we should be your slaves? I'd rather be dead."

"Whoa." I held out my hands. "No one said anything like that. We're here discussing in good faith."

"Calm down Tezza," Argus said. "Just listen and ask questions. No need to jump to conclusions."

The old man slouched in his chair.

Argus met my gaze. "We've been through a lot. We're lucky so many survived. But yes, right now we're defenceless and need your help. What do you want?"

"It's up to you really," I said. "If you want I can make this part of the forests domain and you'd come under our protection. Or you can continue with the Duke of Salastria or there's a third option." I looked at Kysandre.

"Our scouts," she began but what she really meant was Demon Bird flew from the lake and followed the river where it met the great southern river and then the eastern sea. "Have informed us that this lake is connected to the great southern river system. The fisherfolk could settle here and connect you to many places including Loctris  Dawnharbour using our ships."

The three men looked at each other then Argus spoke. "You mean we could trade using boats instead of overland?"

She nodded. "But Salastria has no river connection."

"Who cares," the old man said.

"Are the seas filled with monsters?" Argus asked.

Kysandre shook her head. "No, only fish, sharks, whales and the like. The most dangerous thing at sea is a storm."

Argus shifted in his seat. "If we were to invite the fisherfolk to settle here we still have many problems." He fiddled with his glass of water and took a sip. "We still need protection and the Duke will not relinquish his claim. He will send a new mayor north and collect taxes from us."

He sighed. "We don't wish to be in the centre of a war with the duke, many people have family in Salastria."

"Leave the duke to me," I said. 

Argus shook his head. "No, you owe us no allegiance. We're just a fort that you can add to your kingdom."

"He just saved your lives," Carney said loudly, and I held out a palm for her to remain quiet. 

"He has a point. My heart is with the forest, this is just a place to me. Svartalfar hate Orks with every fibre of our being, we would kill them on the plains if we met them there. They just happened to be here."

Argus nodded. "Thank you for your honesty. But we do owe you a debt a gratitude. Most people in the fort have a story or two of you fighting to protect us. We'd have to be blind and dumb to be ignorant." 

He paused and thought for a long time. "Is there a way we can come under your protection without causing a break with Salastria?"

I looked at Kysandre. She was young but lived here all her life. She smiled at me and nodded.

"I will stay and send word south. I'm not much but I can afford some protection. We can negotiate with the duke and leave you out of it. Surely he will want a working outpost and not a dead one. Some of my people will come and they can settle, expand the docks and open up the trade routes."

I tapped the table. "We have a treaty, but I think the duke is naïve to the dangers that exist up here. We will negotiate with him as well and possibly invite an adventurer's guild up here to settle. One of the good ones. If you're not part of our domain the forest can't protect the fort, farms and all of our lands as well."

"Why is it different?" Carney asked.

"Because the land core can provide protection. The bears are from our land core and if this area was part of our domain it would feed the core with qi. That qi can be used to protect the land. If you're not part of our domain, you're not feeding our core and I cannot allow this fort and nearby farms to become a drain on our core."

Their eyes widened and mouths opened. "This is the realm of dukes," Argus said. "We did not know."

"Does our duke take and not give back?" the oldest man said.

I nodded. "I have noticed this with southern dukes." I looked at Kysandre. "That take what they have for granted."

Carney spat. "A good leader serves the people."

I laughed.

"Do you intend to take the manor?" Argus asked.

"No," Kysandre said. "But if you could give us a home on the lake. That is all we need."

Argus looked at me. I shrugged. "Carney can decide." I looked at Carney. "You need a warehouse, somewhere to live and do business."

"We counted the survivors this morning," Argus said. "There are many empty homes, widows and widowers. Of the five hundred souls less than two hundred survived."

The mood turned solemn. That was a lot of dead for a small community and I could not imagine how they dealt with it.

Argus stood. "I will give the news. There is at least some hope. How long will you be staying?" He directed the last question at me.

"Not long. I have to go south."

He looked towards the two elders and then Kysandre. "The skies have never been this dark."

With short farewells the locals left us with that observation to chew on.