“Nunuk…”

“Dahlia… It has been too long.”

The two ladies stood opposed as behind Lady Deriva, her people clambered down from Yldril and with help from their friends at Bizmati started to unload what they had brought. One thing Sapphire had forgotten was the sheer number of children. This was not even all of them. Twelve in total, apparently. With only two huntresses she could see the disaster in waiting Deriva had become. They couldn’t let that come to pass. 

“You say that every year, Nunuk.”

“Of course, I would never use deceit against our friends. How was the flight?” the younger of the two ladies replied with a warm, kindhearted smile. 

“Cold, but gentle,” Lady Deriva replied, smiling as well, but without any glow in her eyes. “We took care to bundle up well before we left.”

She looked back at her fellow keep dwellers. The wounds of war were still showing from the year prior. It was a sombre sight. People running from their home, a fate Sapphire desperately hoped they would avoid. 

She had lived here for well over a decade; it truly was her home. Some of them had never known other walls than these ones. She knew the same was true of the folk from Deriva. Huxley had tended their herds since before Sapphire was born. Yet he still had to be carried from Yldril’s back. Rekui bore crutches for him, so perhaps he was on the mend. 

Being crippled for life was a horrid fate, especially on the frontier. Those around you would have to work twice as hard to care for you till the day you died. Sapphire had heard tales of folk simply departing into the wilderness one last time rather than putting their friends and family through any more hardship. At Vulcha they would simply kick you out. She was sure many others were little better.

But there were cautious smiles, kind greetings, and hugs as the dragons watched over them, willingly or not. This would be both the safest and the most dangerous place on the island. Not just Deriva, but Bizmati and what remained of Hylsdahl under one roof, facing one enemy. Young Lothal Hylsdal stood at Dakota’s side as Lady Deriva went down the line to greet them all. She stopped before the child who was now her counterpart, over a century her junior and still growing. He stood proudly, chin held high, all that was left, defiant to the end. 

“Hello Lothal…” She ran her hand down his cheek and he looked at her with a smile. 

“Greetings, it has been too long.”

“It has indeed.” She knelt before him and embraced the twelve year old boy. “Far far too long. Do they treat foreigners well here?” she jested to the young lord in exile.

“Yes, their hospitality is unrivaled,” he replied in good spirits as he returned her embrace. 

“So I have heard.” She looked back up to Dakota, who couldn’t help but pull a small smile. “You are taking good care of him then? Keeping up with his teachings?”

“Yes ma’am. He shall make a fine lord in time. Some would say he already is.”

Lady Deriva smiled, but it was a sad smile. “Someone so young should not need to rule, least of all over so little and facing so much.”

Rekui stepped up beside her grandmother. The eldest daughter of Deriva Keep, she now sported a small amount of gilding on her crown. Her mother’s crown. She looked to Dakota, her counterpart. 

“Do not worry, we can still help. We don’t need to be cared for. Ethera and I are ready to fly with you as and when you command. It is the very least we can do.” She spoke as if rehearsed, which she may very well have. Those could not be easy words for a freshly crowned queen of the hunt to utter. 

“Of course, it is appreciated, Rekui. We shall need all the good wings we can get. We must hunt as well as scout for the enemy, more so than usual. Even with a dragon to aid us, it shall be a difficult spring. And Rekui…” The older huntress placed a hand upon the younger’s shoulder. “I am so sorry for your loss. I know she was to mentor you. We shall do what we can to help you.”

“I… Thank you. Mother has taught me well. Even without Nataki, I am ready.” To Sapphire’s memory Rekui should be twenty-eight years old now, only a little younger than herself. Not unheard of as a leader of the hunt, but it was young.

Dakota tightened her grip and gave Rekui a quick jostle. “Very well, I look forward to flying with you at my side.”

“And of course we will all help as best we can,” Lady Deriva interjected. “Poor Huxley is only barely walking, but his hands work well enough. Perhaps if he can sit, he can help you as well. Everyone will do what they can. Young Gidea is always a lovely help in the kitchens and when we are cleaning.”

“We have plenty of work for everyone, walking, flying, or neither. Tom sees to that,” Dakota replied, looking at the human, who nodded. 

“Hooo yeah, there is always more to do. And when the time comes I can say from personal experience, it will be very nice to have Quin around.”

Some heads turned towards the old healer, likely the only woman for hundreds of kilometers who could rival Nunuk at the bedside. In Tom’s understanding she was far less used to the wounds of war, but she was an excellent herbalist. 

“I fear we shall need her,” Dakota said. Turning her attention towards Yldril she eyed Luke, who was busy with the unloading rather than greeting. “How does he fare?”

“Well enough,” Lady Deriva replied, turning to look at her grandson as well. “He is brave yet still kind. I am so very proud of him.”

“You should be. It is hard to endure such hardships with your soul intact. Friends like that are worth helping. Now please, you are cold. Come inside. We have much to discuss. Rekui, bring your brother please. He must be present.”

Sapphire noted that Nunuk had been standing by, not saying anything, letting her daughter talk and not taking her eyes off her. And she smiled.

‘I guess we might soon see Essy with a golden crown then… Never thought I would see the day,’ Sapphire sighed to herself somberly as the noble families retreated towards the warmth of the grand hall. She stepped forward to help move the boxes and barrels of supplies and belongings as Luke reluctantly went with his sister. Esmeralda was talking with Uli, the old lorekeeper of Deriva. Sapphire knew the old woman was entrusted with caring for the children much of the time at Deriva. True to this, the eight young kids from Deriva were at her heels, busy greeting their counterparts as well. 

---

The weary travelers had been treated to a nice hot meal with hot tea as well. Even Yldril was given some improved rations for her trouble. She would make the trip again tomorrow to pick up the remaining stragglers and what remained of Deriva’s supplies. 

The atmosphere had been friendly but cold. Everyone was tense, even the children. The Deriva kids were cold and rattled from the journey, and the kids at the keep were playing it safe with their new friends. Esmeralda and Uli were watching over them to make sure they played nice. They had to. Things were going to get quite cramped in the library as well as the shared bedroom. Perhaps some would need to sleep elsewhere for a while. 

Once they had eaten, Lady Deriva, Luke, and Rekui were invited up to Rachuck’s bedroom by the Bizmati family. Tom was brought along as well, together with Paulin and Lothal, with Linkosta being left to keep an eye on the new arrivals.

There the situation as they best understood it was laid out: the believed threat, their planned response, the hopeful timelines for when they might expect help, and what they needed their new allies to do in order to help.

“We only have two huntresses left and three guards,” Lady Deriva said apologetically. “If we could help more, we would. I promise. But the rest are too old or too young to fight.”

“We know, you lost many. It is why you are here,” Dakota countered. “We will take what help you can give. The rest can help in our labours. But you needed to know what lies ahead.”

“It is even more grim than we thought,” the old lady replied, looking down at the map of the island. “And you are sure they will be hiding on the island? How do we find them?”

“It would be suicidal to attack a keep immediately after crossing between islands. Even darklings fear cold. And they would be stiff to the bone. If they do not have winter gear, they may use heaven oak bark to facilitate the trip. In such a case they must awake after reaching the island. It is a very dangerous maneuver, but one darklings may be willing to perform, depending on who leads them.”

“That is why we must scout for them. It will give us a warning. Maybe even a few days if they are making multiple trips. Then we may stop the hunts to sustain our stores and make our final preparations,” Rachuck added as well. “Jarix shall do much of the scouting. It stands to reason he will be the fastest flier on the island even if Ydril may go further in this weather.”

“If an enemy camp is found he may retreat quietly to report, or if he believes he has been spotted, he may attempt to thin the enemy numbers. From there, we will have to react to whatever the enemy decides. They may attack once found, or they may attempt to move and continue to gather their strength. If we are lucky they may not believe help is coming for us.”

“Maybe help gets here first? They are flying from the capital, yes?” Luke interjected hopefully. “Could they maybe fly from Bartelion? It is closer.”

“We do not know. But someone is coming. The war at large may decide who is sent and when. But we must expect the darklings to arrive first. Their night terrors and vargulfs are warm blooded. They are no white dragons, but they can make the journey before any red or black may manage,” Rachuck replied, dashing the young captain’s spirits. 

“There is always luck, but we must prepare for the worst,” Dakota added, on a slightly brighter note. “You never know when the sun shines, but be ready for the rain.”

“And boy are we gonna make it rain on those fuckers. We need steady, experienced hands for delicate work. The fireworks we let loose at your place got nothing on what we have planned here. We are going to bomb that camp if ever we get the chance. And it ain’t just gonna be grenades.”

“Tom has been very busy, yes. As you may have seen, most of us have been armed… exotically.”

“The long sticks you all have, metal tubes. They are what Tom has, right? The same thing?” Luke questioned with hope in his voice. Tom had done quite the number on the enemy during the battle of Deriva Keep. It was important to note that their new weapons were not equal to his own equipment though, and their training most certainly wasn’t.

“Close, they are all quite simple single shot weapons. And we don’t have enough for everyone, and you have not been taught how to use them. We do have some very advanced bows for you, and plenty of crossbows. We thought that might be smarter.”

“I’ll look at the bows,” Rekui said reluctantly. “I would rather not have one of those things near me. Battle is loud already.”

“True that,” Tom agreed, looking to Rachuck and Dakota. “Anything else?”

“Yes, right, of course,” Rachuck replied, clearing his throat. “Our armories are open to you. Swords, shields, lances, anything you want. We have more than we could use in many lifetimes. Take anything you desire.”

Luke couldn’t help but throw a glance at the blade hanging at his side. Even Tom could tell it had seen better days. “Thank you, sir. I believe we will make use of that offer.”

“We want you armed to the teeth, and one more thing. We have come into the possession of an enchanted dagger. A fine piece of work gifted to us by the Inquisition,” the captain said, holding up a very small glass vial filled with a bright yet deep blue liquid. “We would like to hold a sample of your blood. If given, the knife will be able to find anyone who may be lost during the fighting. We know it is an unorthodox request.”

“I suppose… It is not that different from testing for purity by knife blade,” the Lady replied with evident skepticism.

“Should it be preferred, at least draw from the huntresses or any who intend on leaving the keep for the foreseeable future. We have already done so for our own.”

“If you were going to betray us, it would not make a shred of difference. Very well,” Rekui answered before Luke or Lady Deriva got another word in. “You won’t find any black in our veins.” 

---

As Tom and the various nobles had absconded to discuss what lay ahead for them all, the mood in the grand hall didn’t change overtly. Everyone was kind and smiling, but tense. The future was uncertain, this year more than ever. Around the tables, conversation was flowing. Questions about what was going on abounded, though often the answers did not paint a very nice picture for anyone save Bizmati.

Of course there were always those devoid of the tact to limit one’s questions in regards to someone’s horrific past. 

“Oh no, freezing to death is much preferred. I once witnessed a young acolyte being burned alive,”  Edita said, perhaps hoping to reassure Ethera that the death of her friend had been painless. Sapphire honestly wasn’t sure. “She screamed for several minutes, though it must be said the Grand Artificer was quite adamant that the soul left long before it stopped. It was simply her body convulsing in response to the magical flows tearing her apart. I hope she died very swiftly. She had only recently commenced her formal training.”

The people at the table stared at the artificer wordlessly as Edita started to realize perhaps she had said something wrong, a worried expression growing on her face. “Do not worry, it was her own fault. The open terminals were clearly labeled.”

Sapphire was just about to speak up in hopes of defusing the situation when Pho decided to open her mouth.

“But like, you said you started before you could walk, right? Sitting on the floor sorting screws. I remember that, I know you did.”

“Oh yes, of course,” the artificer answered promptly, happy she had not entirely killed conversation at the table.

“So that means-”

“Let’s perhaps not discuss those who are no longer with us,” Sapphire interjected, giving Pho a stern look. “Dwelling on the departed won’t help those still with us.”

“Oh, yeah,” Pho answered, apparently seeing the problem and deciding to help Sapphire lighten the mood just a touch. “Like that Huxley guy, he’s tough. I don’t even know how you learn to walk again. Is it like a healing thing?”

“Quin has been working on him extensively, yes. She is very skilled. He owes her not only his life, but also the ability to be there for his children.”

“Oh yeah, you guys have a lot of kids running around. Gotta secure the future generations, am I right? They look healthy. Let me tell you, they don’t all look like that in the big city. Hux’s misses did a good job there.”

“Huxley lost his wife a few weeks after the battle. She did not wake in the morning. We don’t know why it happened,” Ethera replied in a somber tone, wiping the smile clean off Phospheno’s face as her ears pinned to the back of her head. 

“I’m sorry.”

“Most likely internal damage,” Edita offered. “Bleeding, or it could have been an infection.”

“Quin can fix any infection I have ever heard of… But she still does not know what happened. And Huxley will never be the same again. Even when he can walk again. At least they were together and happy on their last night. It is more than many got.”

Sapphire looked at her mug of lukewarm tea and sighed. “Anyone else want something stiffer? We have ale at least.” Getting up, she looked down the table to gauge how many might agree with her. 

“I would love some,” Ethera replied with a slow nod. “Another thing we have to take from you. For what it is worth, we are very, very sorry.”

“Oi, that’s like, not okay,” Pho spoke up again, shaking her head. “We got it like light, and they’re darklings. It’s our whole job to kill those fuckers, right? We help each other do our job. It’s even in the oath we said.”

“Yes, we are supposed to keep the island clean. We failed, you did your part.”

“Well only cause of the hairless guy. Okay maybe Nunuk was part of it too. She’s like big into swords and fighting. Do you know what we say in racing?”

“Why I am not surprised you are a racer… What do you say?” Ethera asked without much enthusiasm.

“You lose when you give up,” Sapphire answered for the younger racer. “And we got no plans to do that. We’ll cut them to shreds and throw them back to their masters by the dragonload.”

“If we can scrape what’s left of them off the walls,” Pho added with a chuckle, finally getting a few smiles from down the table.

“Every one of us, we take ten of them.” 

“I think at least thirty would be possible,” Edita added. “They have never faced defenses like these. Many will fall before they ever make it to the doorhandles.”

“Tell me Edita, you just say what you mean, right?” Ethera asked, looking at the artificer. It was clear the huntress had caught onto the fact Edita had never meant any insult before. She was just a strange woman. 

“What do you mean?” Edita questioned, tilting her head.

“You’re some kind of scribe or something, yeah? Book smart.”

“I do enjoy books, yes,” Edita confirmed with a nod.

“So you do numbers well,” Ethera pressed on, leaning her elbows on the table. 

“Yes. I am very proficient in the field of mathematics, yes.”

“And you think we can take thirty of them each? If that’s true, can we win? Can we get those fucking bastards who destroyed my home, killed my friends, and tried to burn my future?” There was something savage in the huntress’s expression. She did not just want to do her duty or protect herself. She wanted vengeance. And she probably didn’t care what she had to do to get it.

Edita blinked for a moment then nodded. “Of course, engineers favor conservative calculations.”

Ethera smiled before she leaned back in the chair. “Then we will just have to prove it. We gotta make a lot of aces to pull that off.”

“Tom got his first ace by accident. We’ll be fine,” Sapphire noted with bemusement. “Ale, how many? Hands up.”

The table all raised their hands, what few that hesitated soon joining the consensus. “I’ll be right back.”

---

They had gone through plans for both the battle and preparations for it well into the night. When the tableside lamps had burned out for the second time and Tom had to use his flashlight so they could see the maps they finally concluded they were as ready as they could manage. In the morning Yldril would fetch those who remained at Deriva, and the following day patrolling would begin. 

The guard would be training with their new additions. The huntresses would forage what they could, straying far and wide in search of the enemy whilst Jarix searched the further flung parts of the island as weather permitted. 

Tom would be busy rigging as much as he could as quickly as possible. The plan called for bombs for the dragons despite them not existing yet, so something would need to be invented. And the grenades would need to be produced as quickly as possible.

But it was a plan. Tom felt it was the right plan as well. They would at least try to bleed the enemy before they made it to the keep. From there they must rely on the enemy not being willing to destroy their home on account of what lies within. His biggest fear would be how they were to handle the enemy retreat should they win. Then there was no reason not to burn the keep down. Kulinger was going with Yldril in the morn to quickly determine if the roof on Deriva may last through spring. If not, some emergency repairs may be in order, were it to collapse completely the damage might be substantial. But his more pressing duty was the big buckets for the dragons to play fire fighter. 

It all weighed on Tom’s mind as he made for the workshops. The rest were heading for bed, but he still had a bit of time to work with for the day. And he had a bit of design work to do on just how one turned a footlocker into an anti-infantry weapon. 

As he passed down the corridor towards the workshop, he was met with the hobbling form of Huxley, limping down the corridor on his crutches, taking Tom rather by surprise.

“Oh, hi there,” he said as the older male dragonette moved to the side a little to let the human past. 

“Hello,” the herder replied before coming to a stop as Tom passed by. “Tom?”

“Yup,” Tom replied, coming to a stop and turning to face the cripled dragonette. 

The pair stood there watching each other for a moment, as words apparently betrayed the older gentleman. “I… Can I just say, thank you?”

“Of course, but you don’t have to. We’ve been over this a dozen times by now I think.”

“For more than that… Where are you going?” the dragonette questioned, to Tom’s confusion.

“Uhm, the workshop. Making bombs. Got some unwelcome folk heading this way and all that.”

“Of course… Could you remember one thing? For an old coot such as myself.”

“You’re not that old, but sure. What is it?” Tom halfway expected a request for a wheelchair or something like that. 

“I get to sleep in a warm bed tonight. We had fresh meat for dinner, sweetened tea, and ale besides. Never in my many years have I had such comforts waiting for me. Whatever happens, please, be careful. You will make the world a better place just by being there. I know it is cynical of me. But there isn’t anything here worth losing you for. You must survive.”

Tom looked at the man, not sure how to respond to that, electing on humor as the sides of his mouth curled up a little. “It’s what I was sent to do after all. Can’t go around disappointing people now, can I?”

“Tom, I am very serious. You must survive. We will stand for you. Not just for you, but for everyone. If we lose you the world will be a darker place. Please, do your very best to be safe.”

“Well I sure plan on trying to. But warm beds and frozen foods ain’t gonna cut it. Gotta be better to make the world better. So we fight for what’s worth fighting for. I’m not gonna ask others to do what I’m not willing to. Gonna be the other way around.”

“The warrior’s creed, then. Into the sky, to victory or die.” The old man seemed saddened by the insinuation. 

“I suppose so. But I don’t do much flying.” He gave the man’s shoulder a squeeze. “It’ll be fine. We got literal gods screaming at us. They gotta be on our side if they can be bothered to do that.”

“I cannot say I have ever truly known the favor of the gods to be on my side. I was starting to fear they may have abandoned us all together.”

“Not many big temples out here. I’m sure they would pay attention when the tall spires start coming down.”

“Shush, we do not wish to lose their favor on simple disrespect.”

Tom chuckled and stepped back, letting go again. “If they are willing to help me, then they best know what they are getting in for. Now why are you out here at this hour? It’s very late, and you should be in bed.”

“Healer’s orders, I have to walk as much as I can then go lay down to rest. It supposedly should make things go faster.” The old man chuckled, waving one crutch about. “Not fast enough if you ask me.”

“The road to recovery is a long one. For what it’s worth, from what I know she’s right. Throw in some stretches and trying to move everything you can think of and you’ll be running in no time.”

“I will keep it in mind. Now quickly, you have more important things to do than talk to an old cripple. Shoo, get to your bomb making. Just don’t blow the floors out from under us.”

“I’ll give it a go.” Tom chuckled as the herder started to hobble off back towards the infirmary.

‘Save the world, make the world a better place, try not to die in the process… no pressure Tom, gonna be a picnic.’