Chapter Two-Hundred Thirty-Eight

Chapter Two-Hundred Thirty-Eight

Lechula

As far as Lechula is concerned, the surface dwellers can keep the place. Its bright, its cold, the sky is terrifying, and even if that massive void up there wont swallow you up, itll still cook you medium rare if given the chance!

The healing salve helps, but she still has no intention of leaving the cave until she stops being as red as one of the Redcaps hats. Merrik seems to have avoided the worst of the sunburn, as the surfacers call it, so hes taken to slipping outside occasionally, but even he is mostly staying inside until night.

The sun really did do a number on you, Lechula. Even your temperament is inflamed, he teases as he returns with dinner. The reddened pale dwarf would grump at him, but its just not the same without crossing her arms, and that would involve far too much of her skin touching anything besides air. Still, hes not wrong about how sour her mood is right now.

I think I had a better time recovering from the Harbinger speaking to me, she sighs and leans back against the blessedly cool cave wall. She would say the caves wouldnt betray her, but a cave-in is why she and Merrik are here. The pale elf nods as he sits beside her, taking a moment to enjoy the cool cave all as well. Just because he didnt get it as bad doesnt mean hes not also suffering.

The spear was a lot more painful, but at least it was just in one spot. Im not certain which Id prefer. Lechula grunts in sympathy. Shed much rather a spear in the shoulder than this, but probably because shes trained to take a spear wound. This sunburn

Do you think the surface folk could win just by retreating and letting the sun cook the Maws forces? she asks in a weak joke. Merrik at least chuckles, making her feel a little better.

I actually asked a similar question to the healers. While the sunburns can get even worse than what you got, theyre mostly painful, not incapacitating. In a long campaign, the Maws forces would lose a lot of morale, but it wouldnt be enough to actually stop them. And I dont know if the denizens would be affected at all.

Lechula sighs and rests her head against the wall, trying not to think about her burning skin, nor about the idea of the Maws denizens attacking the surface without fear of the sun overhead. Thankfully, the scent of the meal Merrik brought is a good distraction from things shed rather not think about. Whatd you get? she asks, nodding at the wooden boxes.

He hands her one as he explains. Mushroom bread, with a venison and vegetable stew. I saw some of the dwellers loading everything onto the bread to make messy sandwiches, but I think Im going to eat it as it is.

Lechula tests the meal with her fork, and takes a small bite of the bread, letting the flavors mingle. Its not the most balanced profile, but its definitely edible. I dont think I want to make that much of a mess. And having some of the stew drip out onto my arm right now would probably hurt a lot, she agrees, and soon the two settle into a nice quiet meal.

They both seem to be hungrier than they thought, or the stew was tastier than initially expected, because by the end, they both use the last of their bread to mop up the final bit of thickened liquid. They set the boxes aside after finishing. Theres plenty of time to return them. For now, they both want to relax and not move too much, so as to not anger the sunburn.

Before long, though, a small spiderkin peers into the cave, and smiles as she sees the two. Ah, youre the two from below, yeah? she asks as she walks in like she owns the cave. From the light armor and odd spear, Lechula can tell shes one of the fighters, but the way she carries herself makes her suspect shes one of the better ones.

Merrik gives her a curious look at that. Are they really so close to a dungeon? Even though he kills some of them?

Vernew grins wide at that. They sure are! Probably because He doesnt kill them. Almost a year now, and still no delver deaths. Well, except a few scythemaws, but those dont count.

Still, only a year. Thats not especially long, argues Merrik, and Lechula pipes up.

That seems like a pretty long streak to me. Accidents happen. Even after he got chastised for it, a few people have still died in the Harbingers training. What was his record for no deaths before? she asks Vernew, earning an even wider grin.

He only has the one record. Hes never killed a delver since he started, not quite a year ago.

Lechula looks confused at that, and Merrik processes it quicker than she can. Hes not even a year old?! Thats not even remotely possible! How can a dungeon not even a year old have an ally, an enclave, and over a dozen scions?!

Vernew just looks smug as she settles onto her rock. He has two enclaves, as well as a protege and a vassal, too. Lord Thedeim isnt any ordinary sanctuary. I dont know how He does half the things He does, but He does them just the same. Ive met the local inspector from the Dungeoneers, and even he doesnt know how the Weaver does it. He just fills out the paperwork.

How often does he demand sacrifices? asks Lechula, trying to wrap her head around how any dungeon could afford that kind of insane growth.

Sacrifices? echos Vernew, looking confused for a moment, then furious, before she takes a deep breath and continues. The Weaver of Threads doesnt need nor want sacrifices. He grows like He does because He does things differently. Her rigid demeanor softens as her anger truly subsides, and she meets the eyes of both her and Merrik. Look, I know most enclaves worship their dungeon. High Priestess Aranya even said so, and Ive talked to the High Priest of Hullbreak, too. But The Weaver Hes more than that. Its more than the fact He made us. He cares for us. He cares for practically everyone! Thats why He doesnt just kill delvers! Thats why He didnt want any of us to come join this fight! But we want to help Him, even though some of us probably wont be coming back from this. Hes always trying to help so we want to help, too.

Lechula and Merrik both stare at her for several long seconds, each trying to process what the spiderkin woman just said. He really didnt tell you to come fight? asks Lechula in shock, and Vernews snort helps cut through her confusion.

He even asked us to stay out of it. When we insisted, he started making us things, to try to keep us safe. Vernew looks at her spear, smiling at the strange head on it.

Can can you explain more? asks Lechula.

Its a lot different than the Maw, thats for certain, follows up Merrik. He demands sacrifices, demands we fight

Vernew nods at that. Yeah, I can help you try to understand Him a bit better. Im not exactly Aranya, but I do my best. Heh, thats the closest to anything He demands of us: our best. So where to begin