Chapter 417: Arrivals

Chapter 417: Arrivals

Tala stood by with a mix of horror and resignation as the repercussions of her choice were realized.

She was sitting on her throne within her sanctum, unconsciously trying to regain a feeling of control as she watched the goings on with her three-fold sight and general perception of the goings on within Kit.

More than two hundred people were in the midst of the process of moving into Irondale, consisting of both individuals and families.

She was confused as to why they would want to live there, and at the same time, she completely understood.

In fact, she had really expected this, which is why shed had Irondale built to begin with but she still didnt get it

Sure, it was safe within Kit, so long as Tala could be trusted, and so long as she didnt die.

All things considered, it was likely less dangerous than Alefast would be over the next decades as it fully waned.

They also had the teleportation emergency exit set up. So in the event of disaster anyone living within Kit could flee regardless of what happened to Tala.

But even the question of safety wasnt as important when compared to the second facet of all of this.

Tala had agreed to induct any gateless into magic, once Adrill, Brandon, and Kedva all concurred that the individual had learned enoughand were of a characterto be safe and trusted with magic.

That was the overarching maybe that likely helped make up some peoples minds.

Additionally, Tala quickly learned that despite how high Master Simon and Adrill had set the rent on buildings and land within and around Irondale, it seemed that there were still substantial profits to be made by farmers and mundane crafters of various kinds.

There was even a merchant who had contracted a large section of land for warehouses.

That particular case, Tala was obligated to let him know when she planned on going to other cities, and give him at least a couple of hours in any given city that she passed through, but honestly, that wasnt very burdensome.

Alat would keep the man and his family apprised of Talas travel plans, when there were any, and so he likely stood to gain quite a bit by using her as a less dangerous caravan.

It wasnt enough to inspire Tala to make runs on her own, nor to make trips that she wouldnt have otherwise made, but it was something that would be profitable for the merchant apparently.

Im glad that I dont have to deal with it.

All told, Tala was only required to have Kit open for entry and exit for a few hours a day, so long as it was made clear when that would be, emergencies excepted.

A fun new feature was the large, cut-stone arch that had been built on an otherwise dead end road out of Irondales town squareeven if calling it a town square felt a bit pretentious to Tala at the moment.

The arch wasnt necessary, but it did give a defined place for Tala to generally put the gateway into and out of Kit.

It allowed the town to plan routes for efficiently moving through the area as quickly as needed.

Shed also had to change the exterior location, as having it on the wall in the alley beside Artia and Adrills shop had become infeasible, as funny as it was to consider the idea of having hundreds of people having to duck in and out of an alley.

Master Grediv had worked with her and one of the city planners, and together, theyd chosen a blank wall near a somewhat major crossroads.

Theyd also put up a sign that made it explicitly clear that anyone entering the gatewaywhen it was therewas putting themselves entirely under Talas authority in every way, and thus people should only enter with that understanding.

Theyd still had a few people come in and try to simply claim buildings or land, but that had only lasted about half an hour.

Thankfully no one had been hurt or even had too severe of altercations over the issue. Instead, a message had been sent Talas way.

Even then, it had still taken that long for Tala to throw them out because shed been on the other side of the city.

Aside from those few bad actors, people were mostly curious, coming in and wandering around, even doing the equivalent of nature walks through Irondale and the burgeoning surroundings.

Tala was grateful that theyd gotten the artificial sun installed on that side of the expanded space, so it wasnt just illusory light, but instead real light, providing warmth and the ability for plants to grow within the expanded space.

It also freed up energy as Kit didnt have to constantly create, enforce, and alter the illusion in real time.

Tala was keeping Irondale as a lower magic zone to keep from rebirthing people in power on accident, and that helped her with her average power issue, even if she was working to correct it as quickly as she could.

Outside of Kit, fall was in full swing, and there was a nice chilly bite to the air.

Tala, obviously, didnt need to change what she wore because of the weather, but the regular citizenry around Alefast were walking about with more or heavier layers, giving a cozy sense to the city as a whole.

* * *

Fall progressed and the first snows came and melted away.

Snow came again and stuck, and just more than one month of having folk within Irondale came and went without great incident.

Tala and Rane were walking along the wall around Alefast during one of her afternoon shifts, just talking and enjoying each others company.

Terry was curled up on her shoulder, contentedly sleeping as she and Rane chatted.

It had been a relatively uneventful afternoon, even though the number of magical attacks had been continuing to increase as a whole.

That day was not to be an exception.

Talas three-fold sight picked up the movement a moment before a large pack of wolves exited the forest nearest the wall, seeming almost to have faded out from the trees themselves. Though, now that she was specifically looking, Tala could see a large number of them further back still among the trees.

The largest of the lupines put caravan wagons to shame with its sleek size, standing easily twenty feet from paw to front shoulder.

The smallest was still nearly ten times the mass of a normal wolf or dog, approaching horse-sized.

A collective silence fell over the walls as the nearby guards took in the sudden appearance of nearly two hundred wolves.

Terry lifted his head, his feathers raising slightly as his eyes widened in evident surprise.

Tala looked to Rane in confusion.

The wolf leader laughed once again. Anatalis will be gratified that I found the young human who intrigued him, and you have advanced since your rampage as well. Truly, you are a wolf at heart.

Terry had stood up on her shoulder, talons secured into her elk leathers for good purchase.

The avian looked at Tala, then toward the wolves, then back to Tala. Finally, he shook himself and trilled, the sound much greater than it had any right to be.

Silence once again filled the area.

The wolf leaders voice rolled into that silence. You claim the rights of a flockmate? To fight at her side?

Terry trilled his assent.

You are not bonded. The wolf didnt say this as if it were an objection, simply a statement of fact.

Terry let out a few chirps in response.

Ahh, yes. I see. Threads of existence tie you, even if not bonds of the soul. She turned to the russet wolf.

That much smaller wolf spoke for the first time, sounding like an excited teen, barely holding back his jubilation even as his projected voice was easily sent to all who were nearby. I will fight her with any she cares to bring.

Rane shifted, but before he could do anything else, the wolf leader spoke. One. You may bring onethe terror bird or none.

Rane slumped just slightly as he grimaced, denied once again.

Terry squawked his readiness. Tala glanced at the terror bird, the magically wonderful murder-bird, her friend. Are you sure?

He looked back and responded with a soft coo. Tala somehow understood it as How could I not?

She smiled and nodded, turning back to look down on the wolves. We will face you.

Without further delay, she stepped from the walltop and dropped, landing with a minor boom on the ground before the wall.

My understanding is that inscriptions are not allowed, is that so? Tala clarified.

Nothing unbound to you is allowed. Your clothing is bound, so shedding your false fur is not required. I have brought a gift of Anatalis, which will render your inscriptions inert for the term of the fight. With your permission, I will enact it now so that you may acclimate before the clash begins.

Tala nodded, even as she strode away from where she had landed.

She didnt know the source of the powers that rolled over her as if her iron, aura, and resistance werent there, but her magic was suddenly much weaker, only her natural magics remaining.

No, not weaker, less directed? Less stable.

-This rusting bleh.-

Im sorry, Alat. Tala knew that Alat would be fine, but without Talas mental inscriptionsas well as lacking the specific inscriptions for Alatthe alternate interface was severely restricted.

Tala moved, feeling her range of movement and the power of her less enhanced body.

Still more than a hundred yards away, the wolf stood ready, having come forward as she did.

He was larger than her, and she could tell that he outweighed her both magically and physically.

You have pre prepared attacks on your back. The wolf leader pointed out.

Tala did, indeed, have eight siege orbs in four sets in a holster on her belt. Is that forbidden?

It is.

Let her keep them. The sireling snarled eagerly.

No.

Tala just shrugged, taking them out of the elk leather created pouch and tossing them back toward the wall where they landed in a puff of snow. What of these?

She held up her tungsten rod and balls, along with her defensive discs. The wolf leader gave a contemplative growl. They are bound to you at their core. They will be allowed.

Tala nodded her acknowledgement, and let them go, moving them to her battle positions by the effort of her will.

The six discs moved, floating in a somewhat random orbit around her; the tungsten rod hovered across the back of her neck, barely an inch from touching her; and the balls moved to float just beside each shoulder.

Are you ready? The question seemed to shake the nearby forests, causing the trees there to shiver and their branches to shed their burden of snow.

To the death? Tala asked, yet again trying to clarify.

Yes.

The russet wolf interjected again. I will accept your surrender, human. You need not fear.

The wolf leader growled even deeper, and the sirelings fur stood on end, even as his head dipped in belated respect. Though impertinent, he does speak truly. We know your death is not like ours.

Understood. Tala nodded once.

The wolves howled again, once more not obscuring the leaders voice, Are you ready?

Terry suddenly grew in size until his shoulders were of a height with the sirelings, his neck holding his head higher still.

He trilled toward the sky in a way that seemed to be a direct challenge to the wolves howls.

Tala felt herself grin even as she enacted her last preparations.

Iron and white steel flowed over her, layering her hex-based, ablative armor around her body. She even gave a little hop at the end in order to allow it to cover the bottoms of her feet.

Then, with an act of will and magiclikely very similar to the wolves own manner of speechshe sent her voice outward, Ready.