“Sup, nice of you to call,” Tom opened once he touched the earring, having gotten comfortable in Apuma’s chair in the library. He had been waiting for the inquisitor to call back for hours. Sadly he had not been able to excuse himself to some hidden alcove for that long. Edita and Linkosta had needed a hand with combining their work with Tom’s design drawings. And so, he was forced to take the call in the library.

“Explain yourself,” Joelina’s voice demanded, sounding surprisingly clear and sober this time around, though not exactly calm. 

“Right fuck the pleasantries then. What happened to Harvik?”

“What do you know of Harvik?” Joelina replied in a cold, dark tone. It was clear she was none too fond of Tom poking at that particular subject.

“I asked first. What happened to Harvik?” Tom repeated, not letting her dictate the conversation. It was his best idea of how to keep her from feeding him whatever she might have prepared.

“… What have you seen?”

“Repeat last, what happened to Harvik? Frozen solid, perhaps waiting to be brought back to life?” Tom all but mocked in reply.

“You have seen the ship then, I take it? Blasted magics, years of work undone by my own hand,” Joelina cursed, seemingly not at him but at whatever greater powers that had conspired against her.

“What. Happened. To Harvik, Joelina,” Tom pressed.

“We drowned him. Freezing was too good for what he did. Glazz did her duty, as she has always done. By me, and by him,” Joelina replied after a moment’s hesitation. “He was not going to get burned, that much is for certain.”

“Got any proof? Proof you didn’t let them win? This doesn’t look particularly good now, does it? How do I know if it turned you too?”

“How dare you question my resolve! I have faced the very worst the world can offer. Worlds now! What did you see?! ANSWER ME!”

“Your dunk in the tank. The ship. The doetna. Pretty much the whole bloody thing except the fucking ending cause these stupid visions cannot give a straight goddamn answer to anything. You wanna go back north, don’t you? Why? To return to your master?”

“If you have seen it all, then you know it is dead.”

“Bitch I didn’t get the goddamn ending. I also know it can fuck with minds just fine. I don’t trust your memories. Do you?”

“With every fiber of my being,” Joelina replied, with perfect conviction in her voice as steady as the day Tom first met the woman. “I was shown our enemy, yet I cannot ever share what I have learned. Not without raising questions I cannot answer. Tom… I must know, have you told of this? To anyone?”

“Yes, if I didn’t you’d wipe me of the map for knowing, wouldn’t you? And no I’m not telling you who, for the same reason.” The uncomfortable silence that followed didn’t alleviate his fears one bit. “And you wonder why it’s hard to trust you.”

“I have done everything in my power to save our people, to do my duty. I do not care if you trust me, if anyone does. We will survive. That is our only imperative. I do not care for their rules, traditions, petty squabbles, their arrogance and their ignorance!” Joelina ranted. Tom couldn’t help but feel as if he wasn’t in fact the target of her ire, despite his rather serious accusations and revelations.

“Their?” he echoed back to her.

“Inquisitors, lords, kings, priests, sometimes it seems the very gods themselves are against us… Let me be very clear, Tom. And I do not apologize if I am to harm your sensibilities. We are at war with the enemy and with a kingdom that does not wish to be saved.”

“I get that the Inquisition doesn’t exactly agree with you, but you are gonna have to elaborate.”

“There was a vote held today by the council of inquisitors, by the council of lords, and by the conclave of the church of light.  We are not to prepare for the next great war. Increases in recruitment shall suffice. And mercenaries, handsomely paid.”

“Hang on what? You’re talking about the war that is… going on right now?”

“No, there is no war. Only troubles on the frontier,” Joelina replied darkly. 

“They pulled back the guard? I remember that, last year. They said they were abandoning the frontier. They were beaten back and now they claim it’s not even a war?”

“And in the new year, they shall bravely retake it, with bolstered numbers ready and willing. We have been ignored, Tom. There will be no opening of our vaults as discussed. And so there will be no disclosing of the project that is you. No calling of banners to raise our forces. Though I must agree, I do not know what we were to attack if we did marshal…  We carry on as planned, in secret, with too many eyes watching. I am sure you have learned to know the feeling.”

“Right… could maybe have run the idea past us that you were considering going public with the whole thing.”

“Is that not what you wanted all along? To ply your craft under open sky? With pride?”

“Do you?” Tom didn’t really know why he put it like that. She was right, he would have loved to be more public about what they were doing. To invite likeminded people to teach, and to spread the ideas and solutions that would bring forth a new age. But he knew well enough he could do no such thing. Not yet.

“… I have always worked in the shadows, and there I shall stay. For now. But here you are. Pulling back my veil and now you ask me if I am a traitor? On this day of all days!? I who have given everything, year after year. And make no mistake, I shall not stop. But if the world learns of what I have done, even if it was for them, then I have no hope of victory. It will be the end.”

“I uhm… Yeah it would seem like that, wouldn’t it?” Tom had to agree. He didn’t know to what extent rules had been bent or broken to get them supplies, to get them Edita. But if put together with accusations of corruption, Bizmati keep started to look an awful lot like a rogue blacksite.

“And now, gods know how many bumbling buffoons who could not keep a secret of a broken plate know my most important secrets, on the darkest of days. Tom… Let me be plain as you so wish to have it. I will do anything in my power. I will assassinate lords, bribe colonels, level towns and keeps to keep this secret. Anything you wish for, anything you can fear. You are my key. Play to my strings and I will give you anything you want. Betray me and I will stop at nothing to take vengeance for my people. Do you understand?”

“I think this has been clear for some time. But I gotta know we’re playing for the right team here. Something is coming, it’s not gonna be pretty.”

“I know yes. I fear it isn’t just coming for you.”

“I liked it better when you were plain. Do you know anything at all? I know you said last time you didn’t know. But come on now.”

“No… We cannot know, only guess. Guesses were not enough to convince the powers that govern these lands. But to you? Our best guess is that numbers lost and claimed by the dark last year were some 10,000 souls. How many slipped the enemy’s grasp in battle we do not know. But it may well be thousands. If they can move them on terrors of the night, the frontier stands little hope. Including you.”

“Thousands of what, darklings? That’s… How the fuck, there’s like 40 people in a keep like this?”

“The mines and towns attacked. They were filled to the frills with the unlucky and the condemned. Spread over the kingdom it seems like a drop in a bucket, but if they move in concert… You know what comes next.”

“I believe I can work that out, yeah… So what do we do?”

“You pray you are not first in line. You cannot leave. If you fall, you must destroy the keep and all that it holds. If you abandon it to the enemy I shall hunt you and slay you all, and not a soul among you shall see the gates of heaven. Stand your ground and I shall see you protected as best I can, but I cannot move openly. I have garnered too much attention as it is.”

“Can’t you send someone like, now? While there is time to prepare. Galaxer perhaps? I know he’s not really a soldier.”

“Dragons like him are needed elsewhere. Desperately needed. And you do not exit. Remember that.”

Tom sighed mentally in consternation. “Really? That’s all you got? The mighty inquisitor, beaten by a bit of frost and rain?”

“It has beaten our foe as well. For now. Prepare, we are coming. Besides, I hear you have a white drake of your own. Perhaps he can be of assistance.”

“I uhm, well he might be hard to get ahold of.”

“I am not stupid Tom, there are only so many young white dragons to be found on the frontier that just so happen to want nothing to do with the likes of me. If ever you see the pair of them again, you may inform them I will pay them the rider’s weight in silver for a chat. I believe that should get their attention.”

“I uhm. I’ll be sure to let them know,” Tom replied dumbly. “And thank you… For being honest.”

“I have been honest with you as often as I could afford, and even when I could not. Gods be with you, or I shall send you to hell.”

---

“Sapphire, can I have a word please?”

Saph stiffened for a moment, before turning to face the woman behind her, notes stuffed under one arm, hand having been mere inches from the door leading to the library. “Sure Jacky, what is it?”

“Have you noticed Tom acting a bit strange lately?”

“You mean stranger than usual?”

“Okay, different then,” Jacky corrected. 

“You mean with the Christmas thing? Or, just everything that’s happening right now? Everyone is rather upset, you know. I’m sure he is under a lot of stress.” Sapphire definitely did not wish to have this conversation right now. She had enough deception for a week trying to lie to Paulin. Doing it to an old friend… 

“Yes, I don’t think he is taking it very well. Not getting to work on the things he wants to… He doesn’t even sit down and read anymore?”

“He’s stopped reading?” Many things Sapphire could believe, but she knew that one wasn’t true. 

“Not at night. We used to read before I fell asleep. I tried teaching him to read draconic. He mostly just read what the book he was working on said and tried to explain whatever it was. I mean I learned a little but… he feels upset. Not angry but. Sad and yeah. Stressed out, like you said.”

Sapphire almost felt relieved Jacky wasn’t even suspecting what had really happened. At least not the reason for Tom’s more recent erratic behaviour. And she felt like such a bitch not helping Jacky put it together for herself. Instead, she played into it.

“Can you blame him? Everyone is, kinda why we’re all running around like headless chickens. Speaking of, why are you here? Shouldn’t you be in the smithy?”

Jacky was dirtied with soot and char, so she clearly had been down there today. And there was no way Apuma was letting her in the library looking like that. 

“I should. I needed something to drink. It is hard work. Have you seen Edita and Tom? Tink says he really needs her help. And to be honest, we could use his.”

“She is inside. She and Linkosta are working together on some enchantment thingy. I don’t know where Tom is,” Sapphire lied. She knew full well. “Should I let him know you are looking if I see him? He might swing by.”

“Sure, I suppose that is fine… I wonder if he’s up at the room looking through things. He does sometimes like being alone with his thoughts.”

“Or maybe Rachuck is nipping at his heels again to know how progress is going. Or when we can do more training or construct defenses.”

“Man. I am fucking sick of having to scoot past half-assembled barcades already. And they are still making more.”

“Yup, they have started cutting up timbers too. You know the ones we brought back with Jarix and Yldril? For the factory.”

“So that’s why I heard the chainsaw run… wait who’s using the chainsaw?”

“Rachuck. And whoever can keep their tail warm enough to help him for a bit at a time.”

“Maybe Tom is down there then. I’ll go check. Thanks Saph.” With a look of genuine appreciation, Jacky turned on her heel and made for the stairs leading down. Sapphire left staring after her, a rock in her stomach.

‘Damn you, Tom.’

---

“Ahr he awakens. Welcome back, Tom,” the kind and warm voice of Apuma greeted Tom as he sat back up. Glancing around the library, Sapphire had come back and was watching him intently from the study desk alongside Linkosta. Only Edita seemed unphased, still scratching away with the chalk on the blackboard, perfectly absorbed in her work. “Was it Joelina?”

That got the artificer’s attention as well, chalk scratching to a halt mid-motion as all eyes were now on Tom. He tried to not give away the rollercoaster he had just been on. He hadn’t really gotten what he wanted other than assurances that they were on the same team. And that Harvik was dead.

“It uhm… Yeah, she had some more questions, you know how it works.”

“Ahr I see. Did she have any good news from the capital?”

“I… Not really.”

The old man’s warm demeanor did cool a touch as Edita stepped up, chalk still in hand.

“Did she say anything about me?” the artificer questioned, tone anxious. “Why did she contact you? Is it about the book? Does she even know about the book? Wait, have we kept it from her? No we-”

“She didn’t ask about you, she… sheeee… She’s got a lot on her mind right now. I am sure Paulin would let her know if she feels it is needed.”  

“Yes, yes of course. What did she want? Did she need anything?”

“Oh she just wanted answers to a few questions. Like I said, the whole ‘What is this strange thing Tom?’ ‘Oh that’s a dog. They are great.’ ”

Edita nodded, headtilt giving away that she didn’t understand anything that was going on. Her nervous disposition didn’t change, so Tom elected to at least try to calm her nerves a little once again. 

“I am sure she doesn’t even mind the book. We are working hard and we’re gonna spill some milk here and there. All she cares about is her weapons and her war. You are very important to her in that puzzle. Who cares for a misstep or two?”

Edita nodded again, her eyes glazed over, like she wasn’t even there. “Of course, I will be done in a moment.” She spun around and hurried back to the blackboard where she resumed her calculations right away. Some parts of the new enchantment hadn’t worked first try. They were designing a new enchantment, not just replicating one, so some teething issues were expected. Or so Tom had been told. 

He could hardly blame them, programming with whatever the magic runes and likewise meant rather than ones and zeroes seemed hard enough to him. And when you had to etch every line of magic code into something and go through days worth of process just to try and compile it.

It would take a few days to do, but then their new gun should be ready for action, or at least a quick demonstration. Same went for their rifles, though without Jarix there would be no ammunition to test fire them with.

It did trouble him a little that they were making multiple rifles before they had even managed to proof the prototype, but time was short and Jarix was sleepy.

‘One day, one day you’ll learn those damn hieroglyphs.’

“You said there was no good news from the capital, was there some bad?” Apuma questioned cautiously. Of course he wanted to know, but he likely feared what answer Tom would give him.

“There was a vote. She is bloody furious and I don’t blame her. The kingdom has decided not to go to a war footing. They are carrying on as usual. Just with some more funds for recruiting and hiring mercenaries to bolster the numbers.

“Oh I see.” Apuma seemed less upset about it than Tom would have thought.

“That’s pretty bad… no?”

“For us? Perhaps. But for many others it is hope.”

“What do you mean? The frontier has been left out to dry.”

“Yes, but if the king flies to war, not only do you lose what assistance the Royal Guard may provide, you lose most of what you yourself can muster. I remember being left here with Nunuk and many of our huntresses gone. Rachuck never liked it, nor did I. It is best to wait till they start to gather in some place.”

“Well they had all winter to gather, and I’m not a general, but I think there is an alright chance we are where they might be headed.”

“Well they can’t move in winter any more than we can. They must go to ground wherever they can brave the cold,” Sapphire added with a shrug. 

“And they do still need food and shelter.” 

“So… fuck me. Fine. At least it might mean it’s not all of them coming. If it were, we’d be fucking gone.”

“And they are not known for working together either, that is most important. They squabble as much as the rest of us. I am sure whatever is coming our way is hardly ready for what you all are creating,” Apuma recounted, trying to cheer them up. “No one could be ready for what is in store for them here.”

Tom chuckled halfheartedly. He knew it would mostly be bluster with Apuma. He didn’t understand half of what was going on. But he cared. “Fingers crossed ey? We will certainly give them a fright if not a fight.”

“By blessed technology they shall be vanquished,” Edita said, chalk scratching across the board. Taking a step back, she checked over her work, hand trembling for a moment. “By steam, by fire, and by glowing rune we blaze the way.”

‘She is going to need some rest at some point.’

---

“Saaaaaaphiiiireeee. Why isn’t Jarix helping?” Holdey complained as soon as she had sat down next to Esmeralda. She and the children were spending some time being productive down here in the grand hall sitting by the children’s table. Fireplaces and torches kept them warm and helped them see as best you could this time of year.

“He is still sleeping dear, but it shouldn’t be that much longer,” Esmeralda reassured, tone betraying she had been asked that question many times already.

“That is good! We have almost run out of the brastings!” Kiran proclaimed as he inspected the freshly sewn belt that was to be loaded.

“I thought they were casings?” Turinia pondered aloud, uncaring of Kiran’s bluster as she fiddled with one of the empty casings that lay strewn across the table. 

“No, they are brass. Brasting,” Kiran proclaimed, with utmost certainty, putting his head right down to inspect one of the holes in the belt to see if it was up to their rigorous standards.

“I think it is a round,” Worpock added. The older child was responsible for using the lever on the little press that assembled the ammunition. “I heard Tom say that before.”

“No it is a cylinder, look.” Turinia held up her casing, but Worpock just shook his head.

“Cylinders are round. Like a circle or a ball.”

“But a circle isn’t a ball?”

“It’s a brasting! Now bring them here. We have to load the belt,” Kiran interrupted, having no time for such petty squabbles as what shape it was or what it was called.

“They are still empty, Kiran. Wait your turn.”

“Then whose turn is it?”

Sapphire felt a hand clutch hers and Holdey looked on at what was going on. “I think Kiran will be mad if Jarix doesn’t wake up soon. We already loaded the belt twice.”

“Why did you do that?” Sapphire questioned, throwing Esmeralda a puzzled look.

The older huntress leaned in and whispered. “We didn’t push the bullets down hard enough the first time. And the second time we didn’t have enough powder for the last few ones. Radexi did the measuring you see.”

“Oh… isn’t that a good thing? You got more of the stuff in there?”

“Apparently not. Tom said we had to try again from the beginning.”

“I see. When will it be ready? Tom wants to know how much we have for our two new machineguns.”

“Oh it won’t take them long.” Esmeralda looked at the now thoroughly squabbling kids. “They have gotten rather good at it by now. Even if I do the measuring.”

Holdey tugged on Sapphire’s hand again, a bit more this time. Pointing at the other kids who were now trying to determine if the casing was in fact a cylindrical ball or a balildric cylinder. 

“I know I know, it is fine Holdey, they are just talking.” She tried to reassure the not so little child, even as Kiran started raising his voice further. 

“I think it is a box.”

Sapphire smiled warmly then pointed to a small wooden box sitting down by the end of the table. “No no, that is a box. What is that for actually?”

“Oh, Kullinger made those. They are for storing the smaller ones, for Tom’s rifles. You have seen those, right?” Esmeralda clarified.

“Oh I see, uhm. Yes there were some in the workshop. So you are making two kinds now?”

“Soon yes, we do not have any casings yet. Tom also wanted us to save some powder for some bombs he was busy working with. Hopefully better than the last ones he made. There isn’t much left though.”

“Those were damn scary. I’m sure they will be well worth having.”

“For us and whoever it was thrown at. I still remember when Jacky threw the first one. By the gods.”

“You do not want to drop one that is for certain. And when it is spent we have to take stock. I know he already has Unkai and Heron going through everything to try and get it all in order. It is incredible how much stuff we have managed to cram into this place. There won’t be any space leftover for furs to sell next year,” Sapphire joked, letting out a sigh. “Is Ray still working on the silks?”

“Oh yes, we are very nearly there. Though we have not done the embroidery yet. That will take a very long time.”

“We might want to have someone do that for us. We’re a bit busy.” Sapphire looked to the table where the discussion had now turned to if brass was a metal or an instrument.

“It’s good to see they are taking it well.”

“They are just happy they get to help as well. It is a terrible feeling to sit and watch while others take care of it for you.”

“I think Herron disagrees with you there. You can smell it out in the hallway when you walk past his room.”

“We all have our ways of dealing with things. Some smarter than others. I am sure he shall do his part if the time comes.”

“Like Apuma said. We have got quite the surprise in store for them. Whoever they might be. Darklings, brigands, traitors. Even the bugs better think twice.”

“If we find them up here then something has gone mightily wrong indeed. Could you imagine that? Beetles the size of oxen flying around felling trees as a snack? If Apuma is to be believed.”

“Still better than bees I think. But knowing our luck I bet you it’s some fucker who got away last year coming back for another attempt.”

“Or someone who sent them. Whoever it is, the gods do not approve of them, light or dark.”

“What makes you say that?” Sapphire questioned, furrowing her brow.

“We did not get any warning of darklings last year, now did we? Even with all that happened.”

“Certainly not like this… At least we took our vengeance. And we will be adding to the tally if they ever dare show themselves here again.”

Esmeralda’s mood did not improve, throwing a mournful glance at Holdey, then to Turinia. She was handily ignoring the argument around her, trying to stack the empty shell casings without them rolling away. 

A tug on her hand prompted Sapphire to look down once more. “Yeees, what is it Holdey?”

“What does the darkling say?”

She looked a touch puzzled at the kid before yielding to the question. “I don’t know, what does the darkling say?”

“KAbooooom.”