Master of the Hoard - Chapter 14 (Patreon)

We’ll nail your next project, because nobody wants a screw up! - Unknown

Many hours were dedicated to work. Hard work, too. Even with my bulk, moving huge boulders was not an easy task and I repeatedly cursed my lack of hands. Still, the work was liberating in a way, and I reveled in building something for a change. I soon had the boulders stacked near one end of the chamber, while Creziel was working on creating a make-shift caveman's mortar.

The end result wasn't pretty and there was no comparing it to actual mortar, let alone regular Portland cement - but I felt positive that it would work. However, the work did not only produce back pains - it also gave me the biggest surprise of the day. Aelis had already told me that Talpi in general had an intuitive understanding of the workings of earth and stone. Creziel, however, managed a surprising understanding for the art of construction on top of that. As we were building the wall, he'd comment on the forces and counterforces at work, showing off a level of learning I had not expected with their lack of... well, any type of education.

Creziel looked like he enjoyed himself too. And after applying the mortar, Creziel looked less sceptical regarding its effects too. "I can feel the effect taking hold, Sire. Inside the material, I mean. It is rather difficult to explain. It is slow, almost too much so to notice, but when it hardens, there is a... pulling of sorts."

I gave him my best encouraging nod, even though I had no clue what he meant. "You can experiment with it later on. For now, we will want to get this wall built." Wall was a generous word for the uneven, ugly mess. Still, the Talpi created huge quantities of the mortar and I thought it should hold just fine until I managed to get the Clenchers housebroken.

Almost a day after we had started the work, I pulled back from where I'd pushed the last boulder in place with a grunt. Growling under my breath, I looked sideways at Creziel. The tiny Talpus had proved to be a good work companion, completely focused on the task with a zealous focus on the earth and soil. He still didn’t dare look straight at me. I did manage to get him talking in more than single sentences a few times.

“No Introduction to our world? At all? That would mean that you have nothing and no-one to guide you, Sire? How very lonely. Oh. My apologies. I didn’t realize how that would sound. I will be quiet now.”

I had my head deep inside a hole as my front claws dug into the hard dirt of the side wall. “No, please don’t. I would love to hear how it works. Especially the knowledge you inherit. What’s it like?”

The tiny critter was silent for a while, and I thought he’d retreated into his shell until his thoughts appeared, haltingly. “From what I hear, it’s different for everybody. Some of us have this vague knowledge in the back of our minds that pops up at times when we need it. Others have perfect recall, singular experiences standing out like clear gems to be watched whenever they concentrate on it. However, we all share the one theme: They are memories or experiences inherited from our forebears.”

“Oh. So that means that the usefulness of what you get depends on your forefather?”

“Wreil would agree. He has a few choice memories from his grandmother, back from when the tribe was larger. Her sole responsibility was to care for the pups.” Creziel tittered. “It’s mostly poop and feeding.”

I laughed.

Creziel was quiet. “I shouldn’t laugh. We have learned some about pup illness from Wreil. You see, we always share. Whenever somebody has a useful memory, we share it among the tribe, make sure it makes it back into circulation.” We shared a minute of companionable silence and I thought that we were done talking until he started again. “I don’t have much useful myself. A few vague hints on crafting and some unclear memories about running for my life. There is one that you may find interesting, however. From my grandfather. He had been captured and led away along with a handful of others. Up and away for days - the fear and uncertainty of it. And then, the fear was replaced by awe as he was forced into a city. A huge city, spanning his entire view, towers and buildings rising into the heights. Beautiful, wondrous sights. There, above all - she towered.”

“She?”

Creziel blinked like he’d completely forgotten about me. He looked down. “Yes. Selys. That majestic, horrible, horned form. I will never forget his emotions when he looked upon her. She must be as close to Deyra as we come.”

Following that, we’d exchanged work-related talk only. It gave me a chance to mull over what my own Introduction would look like. I mean, it sounded like it was something of a “welcome to this place, here’s how things work” mixed with a random number of memories of your ancestors. Heh. Wouldn’t that be grand? Random episodes of watching my dad leave for work, while mom just stayed silent and their differences grew larger and louder.  The thought that I’d repeated the pattern with Cait was an unwelcome intrusion. She was always berating me over what I, back then, thought were minor details, while I ran off to work to escape the tough talks. Well, at least that wasn’t going to happen again here. If I avoided the nasty topics inside the mountain, they’d be back to haunt me - and here, they often had teeth.

There was one thing I massively disliked about the Introductions, however. The fact that everybody, from top to bottom of the food chain, bought into this ‘might makes right’ routine. You would have somebody like Creziel, with an innate understanding for constructions, who would still struggle to become stronger and learn to be a better killing machine, because that was just the way things worked. It would be easy to lose myself in the implications of this, but the limitations stared me clear in the face. Sure, somewhere in my tribe might be the next fur-covered Pablo Picasso, but that wasn’t going to help me if we didn’t survive the month.

At the end of our work, the emotions stemming from him were less awkward and afraid than before. "That should do it, Creziel. I just gained enough mana to start the creation of a Stone Door. When it’s done, we can finally lock the Clenchers inside."

Creziel frowned at our barricade. "This mortar hasn't hardened yet, however."

"No, and it will take several weeks until it does completely. However, in a day and a half or so, it should've hardened enough that we can keep them inside, as long as I keep them weakened."

He nodded. "If you say so. Can we let them wait for another day or two, perhaps? I don’t feel too sure about the sturdiness."

I shook my head. "No. I don't want to keep the Clenchers trapped, only to discover that we've crushed their feet or legs. Better to keep them weakened but released. I'll just have to spend some more energy to handle them in the start."

The Talpus nodded and let a paw float over the surface of the mortar, completely absorbed. "I... I’m not certain about this, but… it feels like I can help the process along without too much effort?"

"By all means. Start on a small area, and if you believe it works as intended, feel free to proceed. I would like you all to be able to feel safe again soon." I was just about to leave, when my eyes fell on a discarded piece of rock among the rubble on the floor. It was dusky, with different colors portrayed in layers, from a deep black to a light gray. Sprinkles of bright stars throughout the rock made it look like it sparkled. I recognized the material. “Hey, Creziel. I want you to spread the word - I’ve decided on a name. I want to be called Onyx.”

Ignoring the confusion emanating from the small apprentice, I took my leave of the area and walked back to my throne room. On a whim, I swerved left, walking to the Talpi's living chambers. My only break the day before was when I'd finally gained enough mana to create a Habitat. I kept an eye on the timer after selecting the Habitat and walked by, waiting, when the construction was finally done.

Even with the Habitat constructed, the room was still the same half-abandoned room that had been cleared of all detritus and dust and filled with haphazard piles of whatever belongings the Talpi had. Whatever issues they had, it seemed that theft was not one - everybody simply dropped their stuff wherever they wanted to. While there was no real difference to the naked eye, the sensation from the Habitat was tangible. The air smelled cleaner, less musky, and simply crossing the thresholds of the room met you with a recuperating effect, like a gentle mist wafting down on you.

Aelis was placed in a corner on a couple of leather skins - a rare luxury. Her keeper was standing up to meet me, eyes widening at the sight of me. "Are you alright, dragon?"

I considered how I must look after a day or more of handling rocks, and dirt and huffed. If only they were done moving that underground stream already. "Yes. It's just dirt. I need to wash my scales. How is she?"

"I was going to see you soon. She actually woke up a while back and I told her what you instructed me to." He seemed nervous, but I couldn't really see why.

"Good." I'd told the Talpus that if she were to wake up I wanted her to invest every single point she had gained into Toughness. I was feeling a lot better about her recuperating already, but everything would help. I looked at the resting Talpus and I could see some definite improvement. Her fur was less matted with sweat and her breathing was less staggered. Even her smell was more... healthy, for lack of a better word.

"She told me to forget about it."

"I - what?" My neck curved around to stare at the tiny, offending creature. Did he not know- With a deep breath and tangible effort, I reined in my temper and asked civilly. "Why would she do that?"

"She just said one thing before she fell unconscious again. 'Not wasting these points.' I am sorry, Sire."

I huffed, staring daggers at Aelis’ recumbent form. "I'll take it up with her, then - if she makes it. Keep cleaning her wound regularly."

With that, I left, focused on one thing alone - rest. I was pretty sure I'd pulled a muscle or two during the arduous labor. At the very least, I was uncomfortably aware of pains and aches in some muscles I'd never even owned before. I had a crick around two thirds up my neck where I'd used it to nudge a boulder into place and it felt... indescribably weird. I really wanted a warm bath and a couch to lie on. For now, I'd have to settle on some food and rest, then maybe find a spring or something to clean up at some point. Come to think of it, the layer of grime probably covered blood and worse from the battle with the Clenchers. Disgusting. Cait would have a field day with this, explaining exactly how abhorrent I looked. I mean, once she got past the screaming.

I found my, now usual, spot inside my room and curled up, like a particularly spiky pooch. The heavy toil and constant necessity to focus should've been enough that I conked asleep immediately, but it wasn't. Instead, I was left with an annoying nervous energy and I tried to occupy my mind and lull it to sleep.

It was a weird and frightening place, this world I now found myself in. Even so, I found that I didn't hate it. Quite the opposite, in fact. I wanted to dive in, make the most of the situation and figure out exactly how everything worked. It was a mixture of wonder at this huge new world I found and a feeling that this might actually be a huge opportunity for an old geezer like myself to come out on top and make a difference. I didn't know what the world had in store for me, but I did know that I had some tools that no ravening monster would possess. The only thing that really disturbed me here was how easy it was for me to let go and lose myself inside this world and this body I found myself occupying. If I wanted to end up in a world worth living in, I’d have to remain human - at least on the inside. Heh.

Perhaps my personality was at the core of the issue here. I was not one to lose myself in philosophical questions, or might-have-beens. Rather, I preferred action and a hands-on approach at any given moment. In this world? That was exactly what was required. Throw a silver-tongued politician in here, and he'd be food for the monsters in no time - no, one needed to get to work and there was no limit to what needed to be done. I just needed to find some way to ensure that I didn't go all Jurassic Park along the way and turn into a bloodthirsty, slavering beast, which would be all too easy. So far, it appeared to me that the Talpi were the perfect comrades-in-arms for that - they had enough brains and knowledge to keep me grounded. Also, with them, I could act like myself, and discuss problems instead of just growling demands. I'd make a piss-poor dictator.

Lost in my thoughts, I almost didn't notice their approach. Talpi are insanely silent when they want to be and these were definitely doing their best to sneak. They must have thought that I had dozed off - with good reason. My internal monologue had gone on for a good amount of time now while I rested my body, curled up as I was. Still, their emotions were loud - and murderous intent is not an emotion that I could ignore.

I started uncurling to rise from my position. This rapid motion ruined whatever nasty plans my attackers had thought up. In short succession, numerous stabs of pain flared up along my body, and an involuntary hiss escaped me. Regardless of the pain, however, I kept my focus and released a Deafening Roar.

Staggering to my feet, I managed the first look of my assailants. They were Talpi - five of them. Four lay on the ground, stunned from the roar, while the last one staggered in my direction, spear at the ready. In my pain, I didn't recognize any of them, but shuffled back to spot any other attackers. My bloodthirst told me to jump them right away, rend and flay until there was nothing left. I caught hold of it and pushed it way down while I released a Weakening Fog. I craned my head, making sure that the fog spread over every single opponent and the effect was immediate. Within seconds, they all flopped bonelessly on the floor, unable to move, except for one, who slammed to his paws and knees, unable to remain standing.

Only then did I allow myself to look at my wounds. My upper neck was bleeding slightly from three separate places, while a deep ache on my lower body told me where an attack had bounced off of my scales. I was still at near maximum health, however, and the bleeding was already slowing down. With a whine, I dislodged a final spear that was dangling sloppily, stuck near the base of my tail - and then promptly ignored my wounds, thinking about my situation.

My instincts were on hold right now. The voice that was telling me to slaughter every single one was manageable right now and I needed to handle this right. If the Talpi had really decided they wanted to off me, they'd all be here right now, shamans and all, not a paltry five of them. This meant, I might have a few minutes before anybody noticed what was going on. Hobbling over near the downed attackers, I took a better look at them. Wait - I did recognize some of them. Those three were the ones who had looked mighty unhappy with the idea of turning in all those items yesterday. Oooh - and the spears? They had actually stolen the spearheads that Arthor had created? Cocky bastards. The thoughts from them were almost incoherent - a mass jumble of fear, rage and disappointment. I addressed the one who remained sentient. He was the one who had seemed the most nervous the day before. "So you meant to kill me? Take my belongings and stay in the cave for good?"

With an effort, he lifted his head to meet my gaze. There was no fire in his eyes, only a sliver of hope. Hope for survival, perhaps? "We did. Preenith argued that you are courting danger. Expanding too quickly, gathering Clenchers in our midst. This... it seemed like the best chance of survival for us."

I grunted. I had seen my share of movies, played a bunch of games, especially back when they had more content than pixels. I knew how this was supposed to go. I would grant them clemency and they would show remorse. Some might even be moved by my gesture of goodwill - but that frothing bastard back there, he and a bunch of others were sure to go for my neck again - and next time there would be more people with bigger guns - erm, spears. Except this was not Earth. This was a darker place. More brutal and merciless - if I allowed it to be.

I positioned myself between the group of Talpi, and took in the sight of them. Their scrawny bodies, hardly large enough to even lift the spears they had wielded. Their decidedly harmless, even comical, faces as they lay prone. Then I address them. "There are probably many ways to handle this situation, but it boils down to this: let you live or not? I know what the way of this world is - rule of the strongest. That is not my answer, though. I want a different path. However, as far as you’re concerned..." I softly closed my claws around one of the prone Talpi, making sure that I wouldn’t accidentally crush him and started dragging him towards the throne room "you might not like the alternative."

Half a minute later, the four limp Talpi were arrayed in front of my throne with the fifth resting with his back against the throne. I let out a reverberating roar, alerting everybody nearby.