DT4 - Chapter 21

DT4 - Chapter 21

As one of the strongest Shapers in the city, Gero was confident in her own strength, confident in her speed and the strength of her swords. Yet anyone who could manhandle Paskal, killing him like a dog, could likely do the same to her. She had experienced the overwhelming sense of pressure the giant had exuded, and felt as if she was starting to get a handle on his style of operation. Truth be told, it was one that suited her, calm and gentle on the surface, ruthless and brutal underneath.

The one thing she still hadn't wrapped her mind around, however, was what she would actually be doing as a Chosen. The last thing she wanted to do was get dragged into some terrible fight that she couldn't win just to get out of a small power struggle with the other gangs. Heading up to her room, she took out the mask and looked at it for a moment before resolutely putting it on. Almost immediately, she heard the sound of the giant's voice rumble in her mind.

"Tonight."

After that, there was nothing but silence, and with a sigh, Gero took off the mask. In the inn, Garrett had grown momentarily distracted, his gaze blanking for a brief second before he shook his head and returned to the subject at hand, his gaze sweeping across the gathered leaders of the Klein family.

"Excuse me, I didn't mean to get distracted. As I said, we will soon see the Ebony Alliance bringing goods through our territory, just as they used to. We won't be charging them a toll, and we should just be able to ignore their carts."

Seeing Coleridge lift his hand, Garrett gestured for him to speak.

"Meaning no disrespect, Mr. Klein, but doesn't an arrangement like that mean we've lost?"

Coleridge and his mercenary group, Cleaver's Edge, had stuck around after the fight against the undead. By this point, they had pretty much integrated into the gang. Judging from the way he asked the question, it was clear that Coleridge had already begun to see himself as a member of the Klein family. This suited Garrett just fine.

"It might appear that way on the surface," Garrett said, "but it won't be without its advantages. First, by establishing their route through our territory, the Ebony Association will be forced to defend us if it's ever threatened. Additionally, though we're still in negotiations, we'll likely get a discount on any materials that we buy directly from the Ebony Association. The same will be true for the people, and more importantly, the shops, who fall under the Klein family. Getting preferential access to monster materials will be wonderful for business. Just these two points alone are worth more than any fee that the Ebony Association might have paid.

Coleridge sat back in his seat, his arms crossed over his chest, nodding happily.

"Most important, however," Garrett said, "we'll have an ally on the Council of Ten Seats."

After he finished explaining how he wanted the leaders of the gang to take the information to their subordinates, Garrett dismissed the group and returned to his room. He still had a few hours before it was time to pull Gero into the dream and hear her answer, but he didn't have time to rest. Instead, he closed his eyes and took control of Isabelle, sending her deep into the bowels of the earth to meet with Delrisa.

Even though they were on the same side, the vampire had a healthy fear of Isabelle. After all, her main abilities revolved around physical attacks, which Isabelle was completely immune to. Furthermore, having been chased for almost an entire night by the Dire Spirit and her strange artifacts, Delrisa couldn't help but shiver whenever she saw Isabelle's long flowing hair.

"Greetings, Guardian," Delrisa said, putting on her best smile. She bowed to Isabelle.

"Don't do that," Garrett replied bluntly through Isabelle. "It makes you look creepy."

Delrisa wanted to retort, but before she could, a strand of Isabelle's hair unrolled, revealing a gleaming staff.

"This is the Staff of Bones," she said, "though you probably already know that. It's being given to you for a specific purpose. This as well," another strand of hair unrolled, revealing the slightly angry-looking lost library of the Necromancer.

The skull on the front of the book glared at Isabelle, its jaws opening as if it wanted to bite down on her hair, but a calm look from the Dire Spirit made it think twice, and with a rattle, it flew up into the air to examine Delrisa.

"There's a specific task for you, one that will require time and a lot of experimentation. The Staff and the Grimoire should help."

Though it appeared on the surface that the Klein family had lost out, becoming a subordinate to the larger Grave Walker gang, Gero couldn't help but see the similarities with her own situation. Even though the Klein family seemed to have come out on the bottom, the reality was that they had just gained a second powerful supporter, one that wasn't public like the Grave Walkers. In the midst of her fear of the giant sitting on the throne observing her, Gero couldn't help but feel a faint hint of admiration. This was playing the game of power on a different level.

Quickly, she bowed, "Of course, my lord."

If the giant noticed the change in the way she addressed him, he didn't make a point of it, and instead simply waved his hand, causing a large scroll to unroll in the air. It was a map, showing the swamp outside of the city.

"There is a significant value in the swamp, and it is here that I wish for you to focus your attention. However, your gang will no longer just be gathering materials. Instead, we need to fully explore this place, understanding each path, what is safe and what is not, understanding where the monsters live, and where large groups of people can move unhindered. If there are supernatural oddities, I need to know about them. And if there are major threats, you will be sent to eliminate them. You'll have complete access to the markets, and the Klein family and Grave Walkers will both guard any materials you send into the city.

Additionally, you're to begin recruiting, gathering more adventurers as you push out further into the swamp.

My lord, the expense of such an endeavor

Will be borne in part by you, and supplemented through other channels. It will not be long before some of my other forces begin to move out to support you, but it is imperative that you provide the main thrust of the effort. That way, at least on the surface, our progress will seem reasonable. Our goal is within two years, to not only have mapped the entire swamp, but to control it, giving us an open path wherever we desire to go."

The giant's words seemed to carry a pointed energy, and Gero found herself staring at the large dot representing Port Reverie on the other side of the swamp, not daring to think about what her mysterious new lord was planning. Gero simply bowed.

"Continue to operate as you see fit," the giant said. "I have no desire to control what you do. Just remember that you are not alone. You have allies. The Klein family, the Grave Walkers, and many other hidden forces. Protect them, and they will protect you. If there is a need, I will summon you. Until then, use your best wisdom to carry out the exploration of the swamp. If you have need, or there is something that you don't know how to deal with, see the leader of the Klein family."

"My lord, is there a way for me to contact him without going in person?"

"There is," the giant replied, lifting his hand. "I will introduce it to you now."

As he snapped his fingers, the hall shifted, seeming to break into a million pieces and reform in the same instant, leaving Gero with a chaotic feeling in her heart. The giant was gone, the throne sitting empty. But Garrett and Cynen, as well as a few others, had all appeared in the various chairs scattered around the room. Cynen was the first to stand, and then each of the others, excluding Garrett, stood as well, bowing slightly in Gero's direction.

"Welcome," they said, their voices echoing around the hall in unison.

As everybody sat back down, Garrett cleared his throat.

"This is the hall of the dreamer," he said, "a special area connected to Dreamer's Rest. If you ever wish to discuss something in private with another one of the Dreamer on the Throne's supporters, this is where you can do it. You can access it through your mask, simply by sleeping."

"I see, thank you. You mentioned something about Dreamer's Rest. What is that?"

"It would be easier to just show you. Geller, would you mind?"

A figure lounging in one of the chairs across from Garrett stood up and nodded. He wore a simple white mask, and his clothing was strange. Still, Gero didn't dare underestimate him, as he moved with the calm certainty that she had only ever encountered in those absolutely sure of their strength.

"If you didn't catch it, my name's Geller," he said. "If you come with me, I'd be happy to show you around."