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Chapter 76: I Call it the Army of the Undead
🕑 Added 2022-02-23 08:00:05 +0000 UTC“Are you two insane?”
Gideon almost didn’t register the sharp, irritated voice he heard as he began to wake up. There was a dull throbbing in his head that was slowly fading as he lifted his head. He felt something around his mouth and he tried to open his eyes.
“I told you he was coming.” Piers was still there and Gideon closed his eyes and allowed himself to relax. At least he was safe with his brother there.
“I’m not talking about you bringing him,” a woman’s voice admonished. “Why did you tie him up?”
“He was struggling,” Piers replied in his usual disinterested voice.
Gideon opened his eyes and could see the pale, off-white cloth above him pitched up with wood. It was almost glowing; it seemed to be daytime. He squinted and tried to remember what happened after he had been ‘abducted’ from the palace.
His brother had told him they were going to the delta. Gideon had a piece of cloth around his mouth and couldn’t talk, so he was only able to nod or shake his head. It hadn’t been removed. He didn’t recall falling asleep, but since they left in the afternoon and it took several hours to get to the delta by carriage, he’d likely slept through the night.
Now he was in a tent, in what appeared to be a room divided from the rest of the tent with a canvas wall. The voices were coming just behind it.
“He’s not struggling now!” The woman sounded exasperated.
“Axton. Untie him.”
A moment later, a side of the canvas wall was lifted up and tied to the side to keep it open. Axton walked in and took a knife from his boot.
“Good morning, Your Highness.” Axton greeted him calmly, as if he hadn’t been the one to put a sack over Gideon’s head.
Gideon frowned as he felt himself being pulled into a seated position and he looked around. Axton was kneeling beside him, cutting the ropes with a knife before wiggling the pieces off Gideon’s wrists. As soon as he was loose, he lifted his hands and rubbed his wrists. He looked down. They were red and hurt.
“Someone go get Dr. Cooper-Fontaine!” the woman’s voice said as he heard footsteps. “I can’t believe you tied him up. Do you know what ropes can do to your skin? What if he got blisters?”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me!” The woman sighed.
Gideon stood up from his seat quickly and swayed a bit. He frowned and held out his arms to steady himself. He took a deep breath and then began to walk towards the open flap in the wall. Axton didn’t try to stop him. Instead, he collected the broken pieces of rope.
“Piers?” Gideon lifted his hand and ducked beneath the flap to get into the next room. He stopped two steps in as he saw the woman who was with his brother.
Lady Guevera was in pants and a light blue, button-up shirt. Her dagger was strapped to her thigh and her hair was braided over one shoulder. Her arms were crossed and she was frowning. Gideon’s eyes moved to his brother. Piers was standing across from her, appearing calm.
“Since you’re here, you’ll be following your brother for the day,” Lady Guevera said. Gideon turned his attention back to her and narrowed his eyes. “He will take you around the encampment. A boat is waiting to take you to the test island and Isle du Rois.”
“I want him to attend the meeting first,” Piers said. Lady Guevera took a deep breath and Gideon waited for her to reject his brother.
“Fine.” She turned around and marched towards the entrance of the tent. “Make sure he is informed of the consequences if he shares what he hears outside this camp.”
Gideon drew his head back and frowned. What did she mean by that? He looked towards his brother and Piers met his eyes before darting away.
“There is a weekly meeting this morning for the villagers and project leads. It is to keep everyone updated on the construction status and various things happening in the encampment,” Piers said. “Breakfast will be brought in soon. Eat and then we will attend.”
Gideon continued to rub his wrists and nodded. “Is it still early?”
“A bit,” Piers said as he walked to a wooden table that had two stools around it. “Workers are required to take two days off per week, but construction happens every day, with workers alternating to keep it continuous. They’ve already started.”
“You don’t hear the thumping?” Axton asked as he walked out from the other side of the tent.
Gideon narrowed his eyes and tilted his head up. Now that he thought about it, there had been a dull thumping sound coming from somewhere, but he’d been too disoriented to pay attention. “What is that?”
“The pile drivers,” Axton said. He tossed the unusable rope into a wooden crate near the door. “They’re pounding wooden piles into the shoreline.”
“Oh....”
“Your Highness?” A familiar voice asked. “Lady Guevera called for me?”
“Come in, Dr. Cooper-Fontaine,” Piers said. The entry flap rose and Gideon sat up straight as he saw their family’s chief physician.
“Doctor, what are you doing here?”
The old man seemed to smile with amusement. “I am currently overseeing the onsite medical facilities here on weekends.”
“Dr. Cooper-Fontaine likes to fish,” Piers said. The doctor let out a laugh and took a seat at the table. He put his bag on the floor beside him and motioned for Gideon to sit. “Show him your wrists.”
Gideon took a seat and held out his arms. The doctor let out a slight hiss and shook his head. He looked towards Piers and Axton and gave him a disapproving look. “You two should know better.”
“It’s not their fault,” Gideon said, leaning forward. “I was the one who was struggling.”
The doctor chuckled. “Still so protective of your brother, I see.” Gideon felt his cheeks redden as Dr. Cooper-Fontaine took out a metal tin and unscrewed it. He rubbed some ointment on Gideon’s wrists before closing the tin. “Don’t get it wet. Let the ointment be absorbed and any swelling should be down by lunch. The redness will be gone by tonight.”
“Thank you, Dr. Cooper-Fontaine,” Piers gave him a curt nod before the old man gathered his things and told them that if they needed him, he’d be fishing by Turtle Run Cove.
Shortly after he left, two knights appeared with trays of food. Axton was relegated to eating from his plate as he stood while Piers sat across from Gideon to eat.
“Has this been tested?” Gideon asked. Piers nodded.
“Two food testers are assigned here, though they only work when Piers is present or if Training Commander Reystrom is not here to prepare Tori’s food,” Axton said.
Gideon looked up from his eggs with confusion. “A training commander cooks her food?”
“Training Commander Reystrom is Tori’s nanny,” Piers said, in a calm voice. “You will hear them call her Nanny Rey. She is also teaching Lady Agafonova, Mr. Martin, and Ewan the dagger.”
Gideon didn’t pay much attention to Lady Guevera and her little friends’ personal lives. He hardly saw them and he planned to keep it that way.
After breakfast, he followed Piers and Axton, as well as being flanked by six knights, to a large tent in their ‘quadrant’. The tent was several large ones put together and there were rows of tables and chairs with an aisle down the middle.
“This is one of the communal dining halls,” Axton said. “The village was initially camped close to the water, but it’s too wet and there are rising tides, so they were moved further inland. The current encampment is styled after a traditional military camp that is on the march. There are multiple communal spaces to eat, bathe, and use the toilets. Family groups are clustered together.”
“One quadrant is separated from the village and is slightly closer to the water; that is where workers and staff live with their own communal spaces,” Piers said.
“I see...” Gideon nodded and followed them down the aisle. At the table closest to where there was a small stage and a podium, as well as a large map of the islands hanging from the rafters behind it, were Lady Guevera and her friends.
As they waited for the meeting to begin, they were looking over a map with intense looks.
“So, it’s not the same map as the one you were using when you led your cousins?” Mr. Connor was asking as he looked at the map between them.
“It’s not. This is a new adventure,” Lady Guevera said. “I do a lot of battle for the others. They are a marquis family, after all. Yours has more treasure hunting.”
A murmur of approval went through the group.
Behind Gideon, Axton stepped forward and let out a little cough. “Ewan,” he said. “Are you ready?”
Mr. Connor looked up and immediately rose to his feet. He bowed his head towards Axton. “Yes, Master. I’m ready.” He had a wooden sword and a helmet under one arm.
“All right. Come on. Two rounds around the camp, then drills, and another round before footwork.” Axton clapped his hands. “Before lunch. Let’s go.”
He took Mr. Connor’s helmet and sword before the younger man rushed out of the tent. Axton looked back at the table. He seemed to eye the map and drew his lips inward. He looked towards Lady Guevera.
“Tori....”
She turned her head away with a frown. Axton let out a heavy breath and walked out. Gideon’s brows rose. Was Lady Guevera upset with Axton?
“All right, everyone! Please take your seats!” A gray-haired man took the podium and Gideon sat across the aisle from Lady Guevera and her friends. He looked to his left. Piers was seated next to him with their knights. His brother put some wax in one of his ears to lessen the noise.
“Pay attention,” Piers said in a firm voice. Gideon nodded and turned his eyes to the podium. He didn’t know what to expect.
But he didn’t expect a strict schedule covering various aspects of construction, the camp, and plans for their Spring Festival event. Several men and women spoke, covering the status of their various teams and focuses, while Lady Guevera stood up towards the end to inform the villagers and project leads on things they were working on, giving praises, and complementing everyone’s hard work, before asking if there were any questions.
There were a few, but afterwards, the meeting was adjourned. The entire meeting moved quickly and had a large amount of information shared.
Lady Guevera walked out followed by a group of people Gideon recognized as those who presented earlier. Miss Agafonova left with a group of villagers, discussing something about commissions. Mr. Skuldsen was speaking about ‘test dishes’ and Mr. Zisos had walked out with a priest and a few younger men and women.
Gideon saw his brother stand from the corner of his eye and rose with him. “Now what?”
“We’re going to go to the test island,” Piers said. Gideon nodded.
They walked down the wooden walkway towards one of three docks and got into a boat with two of the knights while the other four followed in a second boat.
“Good day, Your Highnesses,” a middle-aged man greeted them warmly. “My lady has instructed us to take you to the test island and then to Isle du Rois on the way back.”
“Thank you, Mr. Vargova ,” Piers said. “Proceed.”
They sailed for most of the way, but when they got closer to an island, they switched to oars. A middle-aged woman was waiting for them at the test island. Her rosy cheeks were flushed as she smiled and greeted them.
Gideon followed her around the island, which was considered a model of what they were to expect for most living quarters. The solid ground that was paved with stone, the neat buildings with the shared courtyards and private docks to put their boats. There were shared wells, open areas by the docks to prepare fish and other harvests from the water. There were even wooden benches that faced out and lamp posts with crystals along the walkways so that residents could take walks and rest in the evenings.
There were potted plants that he was told were for warding off mosquitos. What stunned him was that this island was small, but completed in a few months and overseen by Université professors and professionals in respective fields.
“Several professors and students from Université treat the delta as their test and research site. They’re able to work on actual projects to gain experience. You will find that some of the amenities that are standard here outclass basic amenities in Horizon,” Piers said.
The woman showed them her modest house. It was small, but it was clean and organized. What impressed him the most was the cooking area. There was no fire. No wood. Just two carnelian plates mounted on stone.
“These are cooking plates Tori and Instructor Ignatius developed,” Piers told him. “They are standard not only in these houses, but are used in the communal kitchens. With these, villagers don’t have to go collect wood and can use their time elsewhere.”
The woman also showed him the cooling and heating devices, also developed by Lady Guevera and Instructor Ignatius. As they left the island, Gideon shifted awkwardly on the boat. The test island was already more than he expected.
“Is this where all her money has been going?” he asked as he looked across at his brother.
“There is more. She is also paying to send educated individuals to the big cities to learn medicine, law, and bookkeeping, amongst other things,” Piers said. “She has arranged with other nobles to create a sponsorship program that will require individuals to work under a noble for two years after their studies are complete for experience. Then, they can return here to help their village.”
Gideon swallowed hard.
At the largest island, Lady Guevera was waiting for them. Lunch had been brought with her and they sat in the outline of the incomplete main plaza, under a tent that was set up. Lady Guevera pointed out where government buildings, schools, and the Belcoy Church would be set up as they ate lunch with Mr. Zisos and Brother Cassius.
After lunch, Gideon was brought around by one of the project leads; a professor at Université who was very enthusiastic. Everywhere Gideon looked, there was construction. Villagers assisted where they could and all workers had break periods to eat and relieve themselves. There was a small kitchen set up to feed the workers on the island.
None of this could be cheap. Gideon approached the tent after circling the area with the professor and saw his brother and Lady Guevera standing and talking. As he approached, he could hear them.
“...said maize may be suitable for portions inland. We’re also looking at durum wheat and rapeseed.”
“What is rapeseed?” his brother asked.
“It’s a plant that has seeds that can be harvested and pressed for cooking oil. Olive trees won’t grow in such a wet environment.”
“I see. Will the resources from Zhu be able to show you how?” his brother asked. Lady Guevera didn’t seem fazed.
“I hope so, but if they are unable to, as we’ve only asked for assistance in planting and growing crops, I believe I can figure it out. We do already have the technology to cold press olive oil. My main concern would be how to harvest the seeds from the plant to press. However, this would be a new industry that can support some of the villagers,” Lady Guevera said. “That is my main goal.”
“You are already doing much.”
Gideon watched the small smile on his brother’s face as Piers looked at Lady Guevera. Gideon lowered his eyes. His brother sounded so proud of Lady Guevera and he didn’t want to admit it, but he understood why.
He’d never spent that much time around her and watching her speak in front of the villagers and staff in a manner that was more fitting to address the Chamber was surprising and unsettling.
Lady Guevera not only provided the bulk of the money, but she also assisted in many aspects with planning, sourcing, buying, as well as overseeing the housing and industry for the villagers. Her words were almost law in the delta and he’d never seen so many adults treat a teenager as if she were a seasoned leader before.
He always thought there was a gap between them and today only made that gap more evident. Except, it was she who was outperforming him.
He hadn’t even finalized his plans for the hospital and she was in the midst of building a city.
“Gideon.” Piers called out to him and he lifted his head. Piers looked at him and then turned and began to walk towards the dock. “Let’s go. We will tour the encampment.”
He nodded and followed after his brother. He looked over his shoulder. “Will Lady Tori not be joining us?”
“She will be going to Anahata island.”
“What is Anahata island?” Gideon asked.
“Where she works.” His brother did not seem intent on telling him anymore and they sat in silence as they were taken back to shore.
Gideon could already see the outline of a shoreline promenade taking form as two pile drivers slammed wooden logs into shore. In the center of the strip, large blocks of stone were being moved and put into place. He could only imagine that the shore would look similar to the walkway around the test island when it was done, though judging from the space, it would be much more elaborate.
He followed Piers around the encampment with their knights. People stopped to greet them and Piers acknowledged them with a nod of his head. A few times, they caught sight of one of his schoolmates, each engrossed in their project or, in Mr. Connor’s case, training under Axton.
“Why did Sir Nassaun decide to train Mr. Connor?” Gideon couldn’t help the bitterness in his voice. Axton was one of their knights; shouldn’t he have offered to train Fabian. Who else would be a better instructor?
“I recommended him,” Piers said. “Ewan has the qualities we look for in imperial knights. Humble, loyal, willing to learn and do what he feels is right. Master and Axton feel that way, as well.”
Gideon frowned and tore his eyes away from where Mr. Connor was being corrected by Axton. “Fabian needed instructors, too.”
“Does he believe he will not be accepted into La Garda?” his brother asked.
“He wants be accepted with his own merit and to be a fitting knight for me,” Gideon said. “Instructors for students of his caliber are limited. It took some time to find one.”
“You found him one?”
“One of Lady Hart’s associates was able to find one. I am willing to pay for Fabian’s sake,” Gideon said.
His brother’s face was unreadable. Piers looked towards the supply yard in the distance and Gideon followed his gaze. “Is Sir von Dorn’s instructor suitable?”
Gideon couldn't help but be a bit surprised at his brother’s sudden interest, but he nodded. “Yes. Fabian says he’s learning much in terms of technique and strategy.” He paused and thought for a moment. “Is Sir Nassaun teaching Mr. Connor strategy, as well?”
“I don’t know,” Piers said. “I am not Ewan’s master.”
“Did...did your master teach you?” Gideon asked, carefully. He couldn’t remember much of when his brother was learning swordsmanship. All he knew was that his brother was very skilled.
“Master had someone else assist me. Someone who knew more than him,” Piers said.
Gideon looked surprised. “Who was it?”
“Romulo de Bettencourt,” Piers said. Gideon opened his mouth to ask who that was, only to have his brother cut him off. “You may ask Sir von Dorn if he has heard of him.”
Gideon nodded.
As it was winter, the sun set sooner and he found himself back in his brother’s tent, eating dinner. He would stay in the back room while Piers took a cot in the front room.
“Piers.” Axton came in. “The village project leads have invited Tori and the others to the dining hall tent to make an announcement.”
Gideon looked at his brother and Piers furrowed his brows. Without a word, Piers lowered his utensil onto his half-eaten food and stood. He put his napkin on the table and walked out with Axton. Gideon rushed to follow them.
They went back to the large dining hall where they had the meeting and it was bustling. He took in a sharp breath and looked towards his brother. Piers seemed to tense. He drew his head back and hesitated to step forward.
“Your Highness!” They heard a voice and looked to the side. Mr. Skuldsen waved at them. “There is a place for you here!” He motioned to a table set aside in the corner of the tent, where Lady Guevera and her friends were seated.
Axton helped Piers go along the back of the tent and then down the side to get to the table. Gideon followed, but didn’t join them. He stood a few steps away, by the tent wall.
“Thank you everyone for coming!” A man stood at the podium and drew everyone’s attention. “As this weekend will be Lady Guevera’s last weekend here before she leaves for the winter, we have called her here tonight to announce the name of the village.”
Gideon turned towards the table and saw Lady Guevera sit up straight, with a look of surprise and confusion on her face.
“I am aware that the name was to be voted upon when you return, once the top five were selected,” the man said, appearing to give Lady Guevera an apologetic look. “However, the village representatives have decided to select the name that you have suggested, my lady.”
Lady Guevera seemed to take in a sharp breath and her eyes glistened over. She drew her lips in and gave the man a look of disbelief.
“Are you certain?” she asked. “This is your village, Mr. Sima.”
The man nodded and smiled. “And you are our village’s patron, my lady. We have voted to name our village, which encompasses the shoreline and the islands of the delta - Viclya; after you and Lady Agafonova.”
A sharp gasp came from Miss Agafonova. She turned her head sharply to Lady Guevera and had tears in her eyes. “You named it after me?” Lady Guevera looked at her with tears rimming her own eyes, moved by the villagers and likely her friend, and she nodded.
“Vic is for the islands and Lya is for the shore.” Lady Guevera reached up as she put her hands on either side of Miss Agafonova’s face. The two pressed their foreheads together. “They’re best friends.”
Miss Agafonova let out a half-cry of laughter. “Best Friends!”
Many of the villagers clapped, and Lady Guevera and Miss Agafonova thanked them.
Gideon squinted at the two young women, then turned to his brother. Piers had a slight smile on his face.
“Once more,” Mr. Skuldsen said as he let out a heavy sigh. “We’re here, too.”
Lady Guevera laughed and pulled away from Miss Agafonova, though they looped arms. “On our first day of school, Ilyana defied the class. She came to sit with me in the back, knowing what position that would put her in,” Lady Guevera told them. “She had to put up with rumors and whispers, glares and warnings. She stuck by me no matter what others said. No matter what I said. She had such determination and loyalty; I wanted to name the village to reflect that.”
Lady Agafonova was crying and wiping at her eyes. Mr. Zisos chuckled and handed her a handkerchief. The two roommates then stood up and went to thank Mr. Sima and various other villagers.
“Viclya is a nice name,” Mr. Connor said with a nod. “It sounds happy and lovely.”
Mr. Skuldsen had a smile despite his earlier protest. “No one sticks to Tori like Ilyana.” He paused and several eyes turned towards Piers and almost looked at him with pity.
Piers raised a brow. The corners of his lips tugged up. “Why do you look like that? I helped her with the name.”
Tori adjusted her desk so that it was clean and she could lay out the map. Her friends were getting ready and they planned to play dungeon crawl before they went to sleep for the night. As she put the chairs around the desk, there was a quiet knock on the doorframe of her tent.
“Come in!”
“Tori?”
Her head snapped up and she turned around. Axton stood by the flap as it closed, appearing hesitant.
She narrowed her eyes. “What do you want? Do you want to play?”
Axton shook his head. “I know you’re still mad at me and I don’t think I can apologize enough.”
Tori crossed her arms over her chest. “Do you know why what you said was so hurtful?”
Axton took a deep breath.
“You care about what people close to you think. What I said implied that I didn't trust you. I let my worry cloud my judgment, and I didn’t stop to think about you. I never should’ve thought that you’d hurt us, especially not Piers.” He closed his eyes and lowered his head. “You don’t have to forgive me-”
“I don’t plan to.” She answered quickly and he looked up. She was defiant.
He let out a small, bittersweet laugh and nodded. “That’s fine. I brought this on myself. Piers hasn’t forgiven me for some things either.”
“He doesn’t like to get dirty,” Tori told him.
Axton seemed to give her a hopeful smile. “I just want you to talk to me again.”
“You misunderstood me and my intentions. This happens to be a very sore spot for me for reasons I will not get into.” Her voice was firm and rising. This was not the time or place to tell him that she'd lost people she cared deeply about because they didn't feel or believe she loved them enough. That she would hurt them despite all her efforts showing otherwise. She knew what he was going to say at 'don't treat him so well' and her blood ran cold. Tori swallowed hard. "Like most people, I have my limits on what can be said to and expected from me. I don't want your apology or your reasons defending yourself for thinking and saying what you did. I want you to know you hurt me, whether you meant to or not, and never do it again."
Axton shut his eyes and clenched his teeth. "I'm sorry - no....I understand."
Tori took a deep breath and released it. She had to remind herself that he was only twenty and didn't know what she did. Sometimes, she forgot that they were so young. It didn't make what he said acceptable, but she could mitigate her anger. She wanted him to understand what he did so it wouldn't be repeated. That was what experience taught her: make your boundaries clear. She just didn't think she'd need to do so that soon.
“All right. I’m tired of being mad at you.” He whipped his head up and looked at her with wide eyes. “And I miss you. No one else pats my head like you do.”
A moment later she was picked up and swung around in his arms. “I will pat your head as much as you like,” Axton said as he squeezed her tight. "And I will consider the weight of my words going forward." She felt him nuzzle her head. "But, Tori...I really am sorry for hurting you."
She allowed herself to be smothered and her muffled voice against his chest spoke up.
“Just stop bothering me when I'm trying to be alone in the supply yard."
Axton smiled and seemed to pick her up once more. "Only if it isn't an emergency."
“What are you two doing?” A voice asked from the entrance. Tori let herself be limp in Axton’s arms as he swung her around like a child with a stuffed animal. Henrik waved a notebook in the air. “We have a game to play, Sir Nassaun.”
“Please release our dungeon master, Master,” Ewan said as he came in after him carrying a tray with some glass jugs of fruit juice.
Ilyana walked in with cups while Constantine carried another tray with several little wooden plates stacked and some bowls with various snacks. Axton laughed and released Tori. She straightened her clothes and went to get her notebook with her game plan.
“Mr. Martin is going to be very disappointed that he’s not here tonight,” Constantine said, chuckling as Henrik moved a smaller table closer to the desk so they could put their snacks on it. “It’s much more fun when everyone is together.”
“We’re going to call him, at least,” Tori said. She stood by the desk and looked at Axton. She motioned to one of the chairs. “Are you going to sit or what?”
A wide smile filled his face as he seemed to notice that there had always been an extra chair for him at the table. “Don’t eat all the fried fry cakes, I’m going to get my sheet.” He swept out of the tent and Ilyana looked at Tori with a slight hopeful smile.
“Did you make up?”
“I still have a grudge,” Tori said as she took a seat at the far end of the desk. “We’ll see how his fighter enjoys the undead.”
“Tori, do you have the freezing charms?” Ewan asked.
“Ewan, it’s cold outside. Do you still want to freeze the fruit juice? It was frozen when it was stored and they left it out to unfreeze just for us.” Ilyana asked, exasperated. Ewan nodded earnestly.
“It is warm in Lady Guevera’s tent.” Constantine said as he unfolded his character sheet. “And we do heat up as we play.”
“Call Albert Martin,” Tori said as she held out her comcry. The lights pulsed a bit before it became solid. “Albert, are you there?” Tori placed her open comcry on the table as it glowed.
“Yes, but-”
“Hello, Lady Tori! How are you?”
“Madam Martin?” Tori drew her head back as she heard the old woman’s familiar, perky voice.
“Yes, I’m going to listen in tonight. Albert tried to explain what this was to me and he’s not doing a very good job.”
“Grandma, please....” Albert said with a heavy sigh.
“All right, I can give you a brief explanation while we wait for Axton and get settled in,” Tori said. Ilyana piled a small plate with some fried cheeseballs and chicken strips, then slid it over to her.
In the midst of explaining, she had noticed two other people had followed Axton. Piers looked a bit annoyed and kept looking at his brother, who seemed to be paying attention to what she was saying.
“And that’s it?” Madam Martin asked, surprised. “That’s the game?”
“Yes,” Tori said. “We just pretend to be fictional characters with powers and strengths traversing a fantasy world.” It felt so strange to say considering who and where she was.
“I am very interested in your characters’...classes,” Madam Martin said. “Albert, what are you?”
“Rogue.”
“Let’s see...Ilyana is a sorceress, Ewan is a barbarian, Mr. Zisos is a cleric, Henrik finally succumbed to the game and is a bard-”
Ilyana, Ewan, and Albert all let out muffled snorts and Henrik shot them a glare. “I like music.”
Tori sighed. “Axton is a fighter and when I play, I am a warlock, though I usually am the dungeon master and lead the game. Tonight, we will be starting a new story since Henrik is joining us for the first time.”
“Boo....” Ewan and Albert said at the same time. Henrik rolled his eyes.
“I call it Army of the Undead,” Tori said. “A young lord becomes a necromancer to try to resurrect his family, but accidentally raises the dead. Our heroes must go through a valley of death to get to a fortress in the mountains to defeat the necromancer. On the way, they will encounter various challenges and fight different enemies, some of whom are other adventurers trying to defeat the necromancer.”
“For glory?” Gideon spoke up suddenly and several of them turned towards him. Ilyana shot him a glare and Gideon shuffled back awkwardly.
“For the necromancer's hoard,” Tori said, looking at him strangely. Why are you here? She looked at Piers, who gave her a slight shrug. Tori let out a heavy breath. “If you want to observe, please bring in a chair and have a seat. If everyone is ready, roll the dice to see who goes first.”
Gideon rushed outside of her tent and returned seconds later with a stool. Tori pursed her lips. It was going to be a longer night than she thought.
Comments
Thorlol
Only that it wasnt an observation. He pretty much told her that she should stop spending time with Piers and to not treat him so well. He also told her that she doesnt understand him. Thats patronizing and belittleing. I dont see her being mad at him as bullshit or it being irrational. Pretending it never happend is pretty much the only way to go if you cant forgive someone, or you cut ties completly. Either way, the friendship will never be as close as before.
Markus
Only Axton did not insult her. She reacted irrationally to an observation by a concerned friend. Which no one has a problem with. We complain about the other characters not calling out her bullshit. That would have been an excellent way to grow her and Axton's character. Instead of what happened? Axton apologizes for her being irrational and everyone pretends it never happened?
Lady Serin
Thank you for the chapter Aila
Christopher Thomas
“I push Gideon into the wall” - Piers “I’m not even playing!” - Gideon
Gil
@Meredith My problem with it isn't her mental age, I am aware people can be imature at any age. My problem is that she appears to have a dramatic character shift in the space of like, 2 paragraphs, and then keeps it up, showing it's not just a one-off knee-jerk reaction.
Thorlol
Damn, the moment Tori reacts like a normal human being because one of her friends overstepped his boundaries and insulted her, people go crazy. Axton said something that reminded her of a great deal of pain in her past and she reacted, so what? Even though he doesnt know about her past doest change the fact that what he implied was disrespectful and hurtful. She has the right to be angry.
Cyclic Addict Recovering
eh, my parents are twice my age and sometimes people get old w/o learning how to untoxify themselves. heck take a look at any /r/justno* type subreddits. for mother-in-laws, for parents, ... the list goes on
Max Lopo
If she keeps reminding people that she is 15 when talking about her potential relationship with Piers, she REALLY shouldn't be angry when Piers's best friend is worried that a 15 years old girl doesn't have the social chops and the experience to safely navigate a relationship with a borderline autistic, ptsd textbook case, social anxiety suffering human train wreck. On any serious level. RIGHTFULLY SO. Now, from a reader perspective, we definitely have more information at hand, to the point that an emotional outburst in the moment could be justified. Especially considering potential past experiences. But after that? It looks ALIEN. The girl we got to know is smart and introspective. Patient to the point of self-harm, in a direct competition with Buddah. The girl that against reason keeps her pout and refuses to see the facts is in striding contrast with anything we have seen to this point. It is weird. As in "always says she is happy and she is found dead in her apartment with her 10 cats eating her corpse and a suspicious collection of nooses in all her drawers" weird. Or "Gideon" weird. Same level of insanity.
Markus
This was not the time or place to tell him that she'd lost people she cared deeply about because they didn't feel or believe she loved them enough. That she would hurt them despite all her efforts showing otherwise. She knew what he was going to say at 'don't treat him so well' and her blood ran cold. Wait, wait, wait. She has already lost several friendships in the past because of her overly friendly behaviour and is about to do it again. And the first thing she does when someone points it out to her is throw a tantrum? Can someone please tell her to her face not to behave like a little brat?
The Lost Pages
Oddly enough I would have felt better with this whole Axton thing if it was excused away as the ghost of Victoria or something...
The Lost Pages
You are not alone in feeling that.
The Lost Pages
Yup. In a way I'm thankful for the lessons learned here as I'm writing my own stories. I'm fascinated by the number of people who reacted to the Axton bit in a bad way. Also Aili's explanations I read were insightful though ultimately didn't resolve my issue. Different mindset I suppose. Odd as this probably sounds, I'm a man who loves a good slow burn romance. Somewhere along the way I feel like it swapped to slow burn and no romance. Add the Axton bit on top of it and I'm just left wanting. In the end though, that's ok. This story isn't being written for me. And Aili has her (his?) own intentions for where this story will go. I respect that.
mightguyishot
Just say your upset Tori is a person with agency. It's almost as if she she have thoughts n feelings of her own 🤔 ANYWAYSSSSSS don't let the door hit you on your way out👋
focus2x
Haha I think you've seen me the comments before @C B. It was interesting going from "flawed characters are interesting" to " If the payoff is simply 'and Axton learnt his lesson not to question the main character', I will be sorely disappointed" to "goddamn it".
Gil
Honestly the whole Tori Axton thing feels played up for drama. It happened with basically no buildup, took 3 chapters to resolve, seemed to not have a huge impact on the overall narrative, and had both characters break character. I don't think of Tori as imature and toxic but that's how she's coming off. If she realizes its a sore point, it would be more in her character to make that clear, and only not forgive if they keep pushing hard. Edit: Just to add a little more: After reading some other comments, I can believe that Tori could act this way, but I haven't been sold on it by the author. I am also not sold that Axton would just crumple like paper. These two things are very possible, but it just hasn't been supported by the text a whole lot leading up to it, or even around it.
The Lost Pages
Thanks Aila Aurie for the enjoyment you've shared with me. You are an incredibly talented author. And I hope you do well when they inevitably get published.
The Lost Pages
I mentioned this in a reply to focus2x but feel it deserves its own place. My issue here with the whole "character flaw" is that it is retroactively explained. There is no buildup to her explosion with Axton. Nothing in her character up till now says she will hold grudges out of spite just to punish someone for a perceived slight. And the way she doesn't actually forgive him just feels abusive to me. Anyhow this is just my 2 cents which is worth less than nothing I know. I will be taking a break as I no longer enjoy the story. Part of it is this. Another part is the hard-core shift to Tori being aromantic. This no longer has the same feeling as it did when I first started reading.
Eric
I think it's good to add this character flaw to Tori, being difficult to forgive a close friend who accidently wronged you, even after they repented. Tori so far has pretty much been can-do-no-wrong morally, so this humanizes her a little bit.
Nikola
How is clearing stating a boundary, how much it hurt and asking to not pass said boundary bad? Tori even mentioned how what Axton said was a trigger of hers. Not to mention that an apology stops being a apology that moment you add a but, it's only and/or justification to it. It has the effect of either passing the blame to the person being apologized to or simply refusing responsibility for their actions entirely.
abowden
god no
focus2x
It was a bit generic to keep calling it "the delta" - but I'm also not going to pretend that I think "Viclya" is a good name.
Arthur Van der Poorten
Can you explain how this is raising red flags for you and which ones? Because I can understand the feeling of not caring whether the other person meant to hurt you or not, words, even if not meant to hurt have effects.
Eric
I think it would be funny if Gideon is able to get his head on straight and, eventually, marry Tori. 😆
focus2x
Thanks for the chapter! I'm not sure if this the place to leave feedback, so I won't go into details here, but this chapter was honestly a bit tough - mostly because it demonstrates some of the issues I had with this story so clearly. I don't want to be too harsh, especially for a novel made available for free, so I will simply ask a question or 2. Wouldn't it be more interesting and satisfying for the reader if the main character overcame or resolved some character flaw? Wouldn't the story be more exciting (and coherent!) if Tori achieved that naming scheme *after* having solved some conflict? Wouldn't some of the characters seem more real if they seemed more give AND take? I'd leave more specific feedback but I suspect it can't be appreciated in this format. Anyways, I'll leave it there, with my thanks for this chapter.
abowden
Or rather, he will mention it to Alessa, who will mention it to cowman... Who will then steal it. Again. A surprise she hasn't started selling it already tbh, it would make sense to get ahead of cowman.
Brian P.
Yeah, I was surprised he didn’t have much internal reaction to Tori’s speil around her first days at school, given he was a large part of why they were so hard.
Empty Shelf
"I don't want your apology or your reasons defending yourself for thinking and saying what you did. I want you to know you hurt me, whether you meant to or not, and never do it again." Dangit, this is what I was worried about. This resolution with Axton is incredibly off-putting. I won't call Tori's behavior 'toxic' only because this is supposedly an isolated incident driven by some past trauma, but her attitude is raising red flags (along with flares and warning claxons).
Amit Gupta
Oh no! Gideon is going to steal Dungeons and Dragons from Tori! Noooooooo!!!!!
Brian P.
I’m shocked you’re not commenting on the town being named after what’s effectively a shipping name for Ilyana and Tori.
Ktoffel Genshin
Thanks for the chapter! Nice to see Gideon get some character development...
Emma1997
Thankyou the chapter! Will say that Gideon’s POV doesn’t have much of his opinions in it - would be interesting to get more of his viewpoint rather than just acknowledging she’s doing well at the village building
Sierra Saldierna
Ah a name for her village!
Summercat
Wow, that quest. Well. Wow... Tweaking the nose of the game much, Tori?
