Ogre Tyrant

Ogre Tyrant: Chapter 71 - Exchange and favours - Part Two

I had sent Sebet and Gric to explore the new territories taken in payment from Yi Gim and gave Hana and Jin the combined alchemy materials in addition to the newly acquired Storage Ring. I then had the manuals sent to the library to have translated copies prepared so I could review their contents for myself.

I decided to keep the most recently acquired territories isolated for the time being. My discussion with Yi Gim had convinced me that deliberately allowing a certain number of energy-rich territories to ‘grow wild’ may be in the best interests of the Cultivators amongst my subjects. Similar to Zod’s Dungeons and my Labyrinth, Territories could be set to contain beasts of a predetermined strength, serving as training for the Cultivators and a source of alchemy materials.

Of course, this meant that I would need to inspect the territories for myself and divide them accordingly.

The new territories were likely to hold far greater levels of ambient energy than those I had taken from the Divine Patriarch. This meant they would also accelerate the development of any Cultivators that remained within for at least a short period of time. However, leaving the territories locked away and giving the beasts time to grow in numbers and strength would accelerate the rate at which the ambient energy would grow.

Opting for a wait-and-see approach, for the time being at least, I decided that it was high time I confronted the pair of imprisoned Awakened within Sebet’s tower. Sebet had made assurances that, while somewhat unstable, neither man presented a credible threat to anyone besides themselves unless sufficiently provoked.

With a thought, I relocated myself to Sebet’s tower and let myself inside, ignoring the guards who were falling over themselves in their haste to formally acknowledge my presence.

Descending into the prison beneath the tower, I found the quarters of the fairy after only a few moments of searching. Whether it was a reflection of her sense of humour, or having anticipated my arrival, Sebet had painted a butterfly-winged outline of a fairy over the steel bands and wooden planks of the door.

To accommodate the human-sized door, I transformed into my human disguise. Before unbarring the door, I took a few moments to better acclimate to the drastic change in size.

Opening the door, I was somewhat surprised to find the room beyond was relatively well furnished. Less a prison and more akin to moderately priced accommodations at a reputable inn.

A young man with dark hair sat in the middle of the room. Stripped to the waist and wearing nothing else besides linen boxers, the young man sat before a painting easel fitted with a blank canvas.

Looking over his shoulder, it took me a few moments to process the image on the canvas.

Bloody hands clutched at ruptured intestines in the rain, attempting to press them back inside the stomach of a young man in a blackened bloodstained uniform, half submerged in a pool of bloody mud and water.

“It’s not finished yet...” The young man commented quietly, dabbing his brush at the blended red paint on the palette held in his left hand. “I’ll set it aside like the others when I’m done...”

I looked around the room for a second time but saw no signs of another painting.

“Was there something you...wanted...” The young man had turned to look over his shoulder and appeared confused by my presence. “Who are you?” He asked, almond-shaped eyes narrowing slightly with concern. “You aren’t supposed to be here...”

“We have met before,” I replied, “Although I don’t recall exchanging names at the time.”

“That doesn’t narrow it down pal...” The young man frowned and looked pointedly toward the door. “I can’t promise I’ll forget you were here, but the longer you stay, the more trouble you will be in,” he warned.

“I doubt it,” I replied calmly.

The young man was about to say something else but stopped. He appeared confused. “You sound familiar...”

“I would say the same, but except for the American accent, that would be a lie.” I hadn’t expected to find the fairy in human form and the change in scale had drastically changed his voice. “I’m the one who found you in that Dungeon,” I prompted, deliberately deepening my voice.

The young man’s eyes widened in surprise, “You! You’re the Aussie!”

I nodded. “I am, although I go by Tim.”

“Daniel, erm, Dan,” the young man replied hurriedly, setting aside his brush and paints. He smiled nervously and extended his right hand.

I extended my own and gave his hand a firm shake in greeting.

“I uh, thought you were taller?” Dan joked nervously, “And paler too.”

“This is just temporary,” I replied with a smirk. “This room would be uncomfortably cramped for the both of us otherwise.”

“I guess it would, hehe,” Dan scratched at the nape of his neck and began to fidget. “So, uh...Why are you here? Aren’t you some sort of bigshot?”

“I came to talk with you,” I admitted, “To see if you could be reasoned with.”

Dan seemed confused.

“Do you remember what we spoke about in the Dungeon?” I asked, guiding the conversation.

Dan nodded.

“You seem much more stable,” I observed while deliberately avoiding looking at the painting.

Dan cringed slightly in response. “I don’t think I can take credit for that...”

I shrugged. “Assigning credit wasn’t the cause for raising the subject,” I clarified. “I wanted to speak with you and gain a better understanding of your character. Judging you at your worst holds a certain degree of relevance, but mostly only if you had remained that way.”

Dan furrowed his brow slightly in response. “I’m being judged?...” He asked cautiously.

“Assessed would be a better word for it,” I amended. “To see whether you can be trusted to leave this tower and-”

“I don't want to leave!” Dan interrupted, backing away defensively and nearly toppling the easel in the process.

“You don’t?” I asked, caught off guard by the unexpected response.

“The Devil! She said I could stay here as long as I wanted!” Dan exclaimed with an increasingly manic tone of voice.

I took three slow and deliberate steps back toward the door. “I never intended to force you to leave. Only to determine if you could.” Seeing I had done more damage than good, I saw myself out. “If there comes a time where you change your mind, just say as much to Sebet. I’ll return then.”

Closing the door, I saw Dan sit down on the bed and bury his face in his hands. I felt a profound sense of pity for the man and decided to leave him be. PTSD treatment and rehabilitation were outside of my skill set, so I had to trust that Sebet knew what she was doing. Or rather, that her motives and methods were at least nominally in his best interests.

Leaving the prison, I used my authority to guide me to the second Awakened.

Unlike Dan, Terry had been given a considerable degree of freedom after swearing oaths of fealty and obedience to the laws. However, he was still restricted to the territory until a small number of conditions were met to my satisfaction.

Specifically, Terry needed to change his Class, increase his Willpower, and demonstrate he could control his bestial alter-ego to the point that it wouldn’t slip out of its own accord.

Wandering the training grounds beneath the shadow of Sebet’s tower, I found Terry stripped to the waist and lifting free weights apart from the other men and women training on the grounds.

After what had happened with Dan, I chose to continue observing from a distance for a while longer.

Abandoning the weights, Terry began punching and kicking a half-buried log that served as a crude alternative for a punching bag.

Without warning, his hands and fingers turned to claws and Terry began slashing at the log instead.

Despite the savagery of Terry’s attacks, the intense focus in his eyes and the strict rhythm of his strikes made it clear that he was still very much in control.

For an hour, Terry slowly rotated his position around the log, carving at its face more or less equally on each face. However, instead of striking through what remained of the core, Terry caught himself and backed away, changing his claws back into human hands once more.

Panting heavily and slick with sweat, Terry nodded grimly to himself and pushed the upper portion of the log, snapping the core and driving the broken portion safely to the ground before turning on the portion still buried at his feet. Transforming his hands into claws again, Terry knelt down, anchored them into the log and heaved. Making sure to lift with his legs and not his back, the submerged portion of the log came free seemingly without effort.

Dropping the lower half alongside its fellow, Terry sat on the log and continued panting, his long brown hair hanging wetly around his face as it absorbed his sweat.

Seeing an opportunity, I made my approach.

I had only taken a few steps before Terry lifted his head and looked directly at me from across the grounds. In and of itself, this was not particularly surprising or noteworthy. Awakened had a way of identifying one another that transcended traditional means.

His current Species, Moonsoul Lycan, had Feral Senses, which enhanced his senses to the same levels otherwise present during his transformed state. So there was also a decent chance that Terry had recognised me by sense of smell.

Closing the distance between us at a casual pace, I remained very much aware of Terry’s unblinking stare.

Unarmed and unarmoured as we both were, I suspected thoughts of violence must have entered his mind, even if they were fleeting. Emulating the physical form of a Human, I was certainly at my weakest. However, it did not make me weak. I suspected Terry knew this as well.

I conjured a bucket of water from the washroom inside of the tower and set it down on the ground between us as a gift. “Hello, Terry. Are you doing well?” I asked, taking care to watch for signs his control may slip.

Terry gratefully took up the bucket and upended it over his head and back, gulping down a few mouthfuls of the cool clean water in the process. Setting the bucket aside, Terry rose to his feet and looked me straight in the eyes, revealing intense silver-blue irises. “Doing better,” he grunted somewhat shortly before clearing his throat and taking a deep calming breath. “I am doing better, thanks for asking.”

“Have you settled on a class?” I asked curiously, not attempting to conceal my interest.

Terry slowly shook his head and cast his eyes downward in visible disappointment and frustration. “None of them have Willpower,” he complained bitterly. “Any that do, require it to begin with!”

I nodded in understanding.

I had already reviewed Terry’s Status and confirmed the state of his Willpower and the Classes he had unlocked thus far. However, his opinions and feelings on the matter were part of the test.

“But I can see your level of control has increased significantly from the effort,” I noted, giving credit where it was due.

Terry smiled briefly but quickly frowned again. “Another year and I might be able to stop it from getting out entirely...”

“That isn’t one of the conditions, Terry,” I interjected firmly.

Terry looked at me in confusion, “You said-”

I struck Terry across the face with an open palm, very nearly dislocating his jaw in the process.

“Wha?!-” Terry staggered, confused but alert. He nearly managed to dodge the returning backhand but wasn’t quite fast enough and caught it on the nose.

I swept his legs out from under him and watched Terry fall to the mud before firmly planting my right foot on his sternum.

Stunned, Terry clawed at my trouser leg in an attempt to throw me off and allow him to breathe.

I removed my foot and stepped back.

Blood running down his face from his broken nose, Terry glared up at me with barely contained fury raging behind his eyes. Dragging himself to his feet, he clenched his fists and leaned in close, leaving less than a finger’s breadth between his face and my own. “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!” He roared savagely, the lurking presence of his alter ego adding a depth and danger beyond what normal men were capable of.

“Proving a point,” I replied calmly.

“What?!” Terry snarled angrily. “What point?!” He demanded, chest heaving like mighty bellows and sending bloody spittle from his mouth to spatter against my face.

“That your efforts haven’t been a waste. That I can trust you to face violence and not immediately succumb to the desires of your other self.” I made a point of looking downward at his clenched fists.

Terry did the same. However, in his agitated state, it took him several long moments to catch my meaning.

“You didn’t change,” I observed approvingly. “Even after I struck you, made a show of harming and humiliating you, you remained yourself. You remained in control.”

Terry unclenched his muddy fists and stared at his hands in shock. “I...I was in control...” He seemed to be struggling with the reality of the situation and had begun shaking his head in confusion.

“Your old Class held far more responsibility than you might think,” I explained patiently. “Combined with low impulse control and a massive amount of stress, you were a ticking time bomb. However, removing that class, giving you a goal to provide structure, and a safe environment to decompress, has allowed you to make real choices again. Choices beyond mind-melting pain and its absence...” I remembered the pain vividly and understood what it was like to have choices and options stripped down to the barest minimum.

Terry remained silent, but I could see newfound clarity taking shape behind his eyes.

Of course, I chose not to mention the fact that his hesitation may have been attributed partially to a rational part of his brain acting out of self-preservation. Strictly speaking, our confrontation may not have qualified as training, and fighting back may have literally cost his life as a result of his Oaths.

It would have undermined the core point I was making, so I erred on the side of discretion. Besides, as the aggressor, the burden and punishment extracted by the Oaths would have been on me.

Provided they applied to me in the first place...

Waiting for Terry to collect himself, I conjured a barrel of water so he would be able to clean off the worst of the mud and dirt.

Wetting my hand, I wiped off the blood from my face and chest. Such things didn’t bother me as much as they used to, but I didn’t have much else to do and decided to make the most of the opportunity.

“Now, I just need a Class. Right?” Terry asked hesitantly. “Something that will increase my Willpower. Then I’m free, right?”

“You have met my conditions already, but I would appreciate the gesture,” I replied supportively.

“Really?” Terry looked up at me in surprise. “I could leave? Right now?”

“If that’s what you want. You have sworn the Oaths and put in the effort. I’m a man of my word, and you are free to leave whenever you decide you are ready.” It wasn’t a test in so many words, but I had a task and an opportunity for Terry, provided he was willing to take it.

“There’s something you aren’t telling me...” Terry’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“The others, the Lesser Lycans the Confederates were using as shock troops. We have captured many of them, taken control over their Slave Bonds just as I did with yours,” I explained patiently. “I want to rehabilitate them, but I can’t. At least, not without your help.”

Terry scrunched his face in confusion. “Why would you need my help?” He demanded warily.

“I am just another Master, another Slaver, in their eyes. Many have been pushed too far, seen too much...Been forced to do things they cannot reconcile with...” I released a deep sigh and motioned for Terry to clean himself up. “As damaged as you are, as damaged as you believe yourself to be, somehow, I managed to reach you...” I took a few moments to gather my thoughts. “There are thousands of them, Terry. We have tried helping them, but we can’t reach them. We, I, need someone they can look up to, someone they can trust.” I stared Terry straight in the eyes. “I want you to help me save them.”

Terry baulked. “I’m no saviour!-”

“I know...” I agreed calmly. “I just...I just need you to show them that there is a way out...Show them that if they put in the work, they can rebuild their lives...”

Terry had been backing away but now he hesitated. “Why do you care?” He demanded quietly. “Why run around saving people when they don’t owe you anything?!”

“It’s how I was raised,” I replied calmly.

“Are you fucking serious?!” Terry snarled incredulously. “You’re seriously going to stand there and tell me that you do all this just because your parents told you to?! That it has nothing to do with being king and lording over-”

“Parent,” I corrected.

“What?!” Terry lost his momentum as he tried to take in what I had said.

“Parent, singular,” I elaborated. “My mum raised me on her own.”

“How does that make any difference!” Terry demanded.

“Because she wasn’t much older than I am now when she found a half-starved and deathly dehydrated infant abandoned in the garbage and decided to take on a responsibility the infant's own mother had refused...” I tried my best to keep my voice steady but couldn’t quite manage it. “I exist because my mother chose to make her life more difficult. Because she decided to change another person’s life for the better.”

Terry averted his eyes. “I...I didn’t...” He muttered stiffly through his clenched jaw.

“I’m not asking for your pity, Terry. I just want you to think things over before making your decision,” I explained quietly. “Our actions have consequences, and so does our choice of inaction.” I turned to leave.

“Wait...” Terry hissed reluctantly. “I’m not the right person for this...You know that...”

“Maybe,” I agreed. “But we won’t know for certain if you won’t try.”

Terry remained silent.

“I would have preferred you volunteered before offering the reward,” I admitted with a sigh. “However, if it helps you make up your mind, so be it.”

“Reward?” Terry commented suspiciously.

“To give you the best chance of reaching those in most urgent need of your help, I will give you the means to Evolve further and provide a title to unlock a Class that will adapt and change alongside you.” Looking over my shoulder, I was gratified to see an expression of stunned confusion on Terry’s face. “Each Species has a leadership caste and Evolution that makes them the literal default leaders of their Species. If we are lucky, you will unlock such an Evolution for yourself.”

“What? Why? I’m not a leader-” Terry protested.

“I know...” I admitted. “But the Evolution carries benefits that will compensate for it. Trust me.”

Terry shook his head. “You’re assuming I can even unlock the damned thing in the first place,” he countered.

“Terry...You remember what I said about the Labyrinths, what they want us to do?” I prompted.

Terry nodded.

“The Abilities of the leadership caste Evolutions multiply the destructive potential of an Awakened with each subject of their Species the Awakened can gather. The destructive potential is completely insane...” I slowly shook my head and sighed. “Now tell me that doesn’t sound like something the Labyrinths wouldn’t try to rig as a desired outcome?”

Terry flinched but quickly rallied. “You’re the only one who keeps banging on about the Labyrinths,” he countered. “For all I know, you could have lied about everything!”

“That’s true,” I agreed impassively. “I could also be wrong,” I pressed, surprising Terry further. “But what do you have to lose?”

Terry remained silent.

“I’m not going to lie to you Terry,” I promised. “Because the adaptive Classes take on parts of the other Classes you have previously unlocked. There is a chance that -”

“Those other Abilities will come back...” Terry interjected dryly, shifting uncomfortably and still refusing to meet my gaze.

I nodded.

A long silence passed between us and Terry appeared to arrive at a decision.

“I’ll do it...” Terry agreed, his voice laden with reluctance, hesitation and a not-inconsiderable amount of fear.

I had become increasingly worried that he would refuse. So Terry’s response came as quite a welcome surprise.

Sparing a few moments to allow Terry to clean himself up, I relocated the both of us into the swamp.

“At this point, it’s seen as something of a tradition,” I explained, offering Terry a large Taming Collar.

“You’re joking...” Terry insisted, eyeing the nearby partially submerged log that wasn’t really a log.

I shook my head. “Children have done this,” I added, stretching the truth somewhat.

“No way...” Terry scoffed. “Kids have really wrestled crocs and gators?!”

“Wrestled and tamed,” I corrected. “Yeah, they have. It’s actually far safer than you think. So long as you don’t take unnecessary risks-”

Terry gave me a deadpan stare.

“Just wait for it to leave the water first, and remember that the jaw muscles are far weaker at opening than they are at closing,” I warned, giving the same advice I gave everyone else.

“This feels so needlessly dangerous...” Terry complained, shaking himself to limber up.

“It is,” I agreed. “Which is why it's considered something of a right of passage amongst the teens and young adults.”

“Fuck me...” Terry cursed, taking several steps back as the Swamp Lurker began clawing its way up the bank.

“If you want, I could immobilise it for you?” I offered.

Terry said nothing and continued watching the Swamp Lurker as it ever so slowly stalked closer. “You said kids do this? You weren’t lying?” He asked nervously.

“When we visit Sanctuary proper, you will struggle to find a teen over three feet in height without some form of pet,” I replied honestly. “With the Goblins and Kobolds, it’s closer to a hundred percent.” I used my hand to roughly represent the height of said individuals.

“Fuuuuuck...” Terry groaned and lowered himself into a tackling stance.

“I’ll bait it for you,” I volunteered, moving forward with a confidence that surprised even myself. I had done as much as a hundred times or more, often for small children and going so far as to physically clamp the jaws shut on their behalf.

“I uh, I guess this is the sort of thing you Aussies do all the time, eh?” Terry observed nervously while trailing a couple of steps behind me and to the right.

“Oh hell no!” I replied, glancing at Terry from the corner of my eye while keeping an eye on the Swamp Lurker. “People who do that sort of thing are crazy! Saltwater crocs are fucking dangerous!”

Terry nearly tripped on a root but managed to catch himself.

“Don’t give me that look,” I demanded. “Danger is relative. Things are different in this world!” I leapt forward, provoking the Swamp Lurker into a lunge aimed at my left arm before hurriedly turning to the side.

The Swamp Lurker’s jaws clacked harmlessly closed and it whipped its head to the side as fast as it was able to make sure I stayed within its sights.

“I’d do it now!” I suggested, unable to stop myself from smiling as I nodded toward the hissing jaws of the Swamp Lurker.

Terry took a firm grip on his rope and grimaced.

I waved my hand through the danger zone, provoking the Swamp Lurker into snapping again and keeping its attention focused solely on me.

Terry leapt forward, slamming bodily onto the back of the Swamp Lurker, winding himself in the process. However, he persevered and grappled the Swamp Lurker’s mouth shut and fumbled the noose over its snout and lower jaw. In a frenzy of adrenaline, Terry frantically wrapped the rope around its jaws until he nearly ran out of rope and lost his handhold.

“Forget the rope!” I called out in warning. “Get the collar on!”

Terry was nearly thrown off the Swamp Lurker’s back as it began to thrash in earnest.

Stepping in, I took hold of the loosening ropes and slammed the Swamp Lurker’s head into the mud. Still, in my Human form, it was an odd experience to merely stun the Beast instead of killing it outright. “The collar!” I repeated, lifting the Swamp Lurker’s head and preparing to slam it again if Terry wasn’t fast enough.

More frantic than before, Terry somehow managed to slip one end of the collar under the Swamp Lurker’s Head. After fumbling with the straps for a few moments, he managed to slip the tongue through the buckle and snap it shut.

All at once, it was over.

“Chil-dren-do-this?” Terry panted breathlessly, rolling off the Tamed Swamp Lurker and into the recently mixed mud beside it.

“They do,” I grinned. “But they practise on the Tamed ones first.”

“You-fuck-ker!” Terry swore with a manic grin on his face.

I pulled the rope off of the Swamp Lurker’s jaws and then helped Terry to his feet.

“Now what?” Terry wheezed, rubbing at his chest and wincing painfully.

“If you don’t want to keep him,” I motioned to the Swamp Lurker off-handedly, “You can always sell it or give it away to one of the hunter families.”

“What?” Terry looked confused. “You mean, after all that, I should just give it away?” He demanded incredulously.

“Do you want a pet croc?” I asked sceptically. “You haven’t even sorted out your new living arrangements yet, and they need a fair amount of space.”

“I...well...no...” Terry looked down at the obedient Swamp Lurker and frowned. “It’s just...After all that...Giving it away...it feels weird...”

I shrugged. “You get used to it.”

Terry grunted noncommittally.

Walking back toward Sanctuary, I pointed out the different families of hunters moving about the swamplands.

“Why are they staring at us like that?” Terry asked nervously.

“Not many Humans are allowed near Sanctuary, and fewer still are allowed inside,” I replied.

“But we aren’t human...” Terry challenged, “Not really.”

“They don’t know that,” I countered. “But it’s fine, one of the Daemons will let us in.”

“Demons?” Terry looked concerned for all of three seconds before shrugging it off. “There’s a Devil, so why not demons?” He muttered to himself. “Next you’re gonna tell me there are angels too,” he snorted derisively.

I said nothing.

“You’re joking...” Terry gasped incredulously. “Are you fucking serious right now?!”

I nodded. “Orphiel and Ophelia. Technically, they are Fallen Angels, but there are regular Angels out there somewhere.”

“Fucking hell...” Terry swore.

“Does that mean...you know?” Terry glanced uncomfortably toward the sky.

“What?” I asked, uncertain what he was talking about.

“Is God real?” Terry whispered with a paranoid glint in his eye.

“Honestly? I don’t know,” I replied indifferently. “If God does exist, I haven’t seen any evidence of it. But this could just as easily be a forest for the trees kind of situation, you know?”

Terry took a few moments to think it over and nodded.

Approaching the checkpoint, Terry and I took our place in line behind the traders and visiting dignitaries.

“Couldn’t we just skip the line?” Terry whispered.

“We could,” I agreed offhandedly. “But you wouldn’t get the full experience otherwise.”

“Like if I practised on a tamed croc first?” Terry asked, narrowing his eyes and glaring accusingly.

I nodded, taking no offence and accepting no guilt.

Terry frowned. “Why does it matter?”

I gathered my thoughts and seriously considered the question. “I want you to appreciate what I have built,” I replied evenly. “Appreciate why things are the way they are.”

“And wrestling a giant crocodile is meant to help with that?’ Terry asked uncertainly.

“A little,” I agreed. “Most of the monsters within Sanctuary are tribals. Hunting and gathering what they need from the environment was a way of life for them.”

“Was?” Terry interjected.

“Progress marches on,” I replied. “To increase their quality of life, and avert a handful of disasters in the making, I had to introduce them to certain aspects of modern civilization.”

“And by modern you mean,” Terry paused and gave me a conspicuous look, “Modern.”

“Mhm,” I nodded, deliberately ignoring the people ahead of and behind us.

The key to hiding in plain sight, or so I had learned, was to act as if nothing strange was transpiring in the first place.

“Sanctuary has schools, a hospital, and an impressive library donated largely by the Asrusians,” I explained with a small measure of pride. “And yet, families continue to hunt, just as they always have.”

Terry was about to say something in reply, perhaps even ask another question. However, he quickly fell silent.

Following his gaze toward the checkpoint, it quickly became obvious why.

Easily five times the size of the nearest wagons and with shimmering amber scales, Dar watched the procession pass him by with intense focus. Two pairs of reptilian eyes glared intensely at everything that moved, while a third pair were set upon Terry and myself.

I let Terry stew a little before choosing to explain things. “That’s Dar, one of the Daemons I was talking about.”

Wide-eyed, Terry didn’t seem able to stop himself from staring. “He’s fucking huge...”

I nodded in agreement. “About half Ushu’s size now, I think. Although Dar’s definitely heavier.”

“Ushu? Is that another demon?” Terry asked distractedly.

“Hehe, no,” I chuckled, unable to stop myself. “Ushu’s a Dragon.”

Terry very nearly tripped over his own feet. “You’re serious?!”

I nodded, smiling to myself.

“And we will get to see it?!” Terry whispered excitedly.

“Almost certainly,” I confirmed. “If you play your cards right, you might be able to convince Dhizi or Copper to give you a ride.”

“Dhizi? Cooper?” Terry looked at a loss again.

“Dhizi’s a...Wyvern?” I scratched at my chin and realised I hadn't checked her Status in quite a while. “Anyway, Cooper is Ushu’s daughter, and far cheaper to bribe into offering rides.”

Terry was still mulling things over when it was our turn at the checkpoint.

I conjured a roasted Swamp Lurker and dropped it in front of Dar. “A snack to help tide you over,” I chuckled, rubbing his scaly jaw as he curled his long tongue around the Swamp Lurker and swallowed it whole.

“PRO-CEDE,” Dar chuffed happily, slowly waving and undulating his long crocodilian tail.

“I’ll see you later,” I promised, giving his jaw a good thump and earning a meaty rumbling hiss of happiness in return.

With Dar having the final say over who could pass through the checkpoint, the guards let us through without challenge. Although I was fairly certain one of the younger Human guards recognised my Human alter ego.

“That thing was acting like a giant puppy...” Terry whispered incredulously.

“His name is Dar,” I insisted, shooting Terry a warning glare. “And yeah, he kinda is. Most of the Daemons are like that underneath it all. They're just kids really.”

“You're joking!” Terry demanded.

“Nope,” I shook my head determinedly. “Monster kids mature differently to people. It’s weird to deal with sometimes.”

“That’s what’s weird to deal with?” Terry commented incredulously. “Not, say, the fact that guy is like a hundred times your size?!”

“Eh,” I waved Terry off dismissively. “The whole size thing isn’t as big a deal as you may think. Besides, smaller Daemons can be just as dangerous...” I felt an involuntary shudder as I thought of Ril.

Meeting another Daemon at the second checkpoint, we passed into Sanctuary proper.

“That one was...different...” Terry commented distractedly.

“Senn?” I nodded in agreement, “She tends to know what she wants and won’t apologise for it. Not much of a team player, but she has an independent streak. Which has its advantages.”

Terry was going to say something else but became distracted as a group of Elves passed us by on their way to the orchards.

“Were those elves?!” Terry hissed, eyes wide with awe and a hint of lust.

“They are,” I replied calmly. “You didn’t see many kinds of humanoid monsters until now?”

Terry hesitated for a moment and then shook his head. “Nothing that looked so human, just...what's the word? Mostly human, you know?”

“Like the Gnolls?” I nodded toward a small pack of female Gnolls on their way to the merchant district to sell their wares.

“Yeah, like them,” Terry agreed.

“Anthropomorphic,” I replied. “It means having human characteristics.”

“Right...besides the others, all I remember fighting are monsters like that,” Terry commented quietly. “Them and ordinary people...” Darkness passed behind his eyes but gradually disappeared.

We passed a small lake that was set aside for communal leisure, allowing Terry to witness a broad cross-section of Sanctuary’s monstrous population.

One of the Goblin teens approached us directly. “Can have?” She asked sweetly, pointing to the Swamp Lurker and flashing a smile that held an alarming higher ratio of tooth than it did smile.

Confused and uncertain about what to do, Terry looked to me for help.

I shrugged. “If you don’t want him, now’s the chance to pass it along.”

The Goblin girl’s smile widened. “Yes, Teek take!” She agreed animatedly.

Still uncertain, Terry hesitated.

The Goblin warily glanced over her shoulder and back at her friends who were watching proceedings with avid interest. “Teek give thing!” She offered, pulling a small iron spinning top from a large single pocket that covered her stomach. The Goblin, Teek, critically assessed Terry’s reaction for signs of interest before replacing the spinning top in the pocket and fishing out another item.

This repeated several times before Terry accepted a Swamp Lurker tooth necklace.

After coaching Terry through the transfer process, we both watched as Teek giddily rode her newly acquired pet back toward her friends. Once the Swamp Lurker reached the water, they began taking turns, three at a time, riding the Swamp Lurker around the lake.

“Did I just get ripped off?” Terry asked, dubiously inspecting his newly acquired necklace.

“Given you didn’t pay for the taming collar in the first place?” I qualified. “No, I’d say you’re definitely ahead overall.”

“That’s...not what I meant...” Terry muttered, flushing slightly with embarrassment. “I mean, it just feels like I sold the family cow for a handful of magic beans...”

I shrugged. “It’s all relative,” I insisted. “If you tried to sell the croc on the open market, I think you would quickly discover that the collar I provided was worth considerably more than the Beast himself.”

“You’re joking,” Terry seemed at a loss. “How could that collar be worth more than that giant murder machine?”

“Because it’s magic, and because it contains the Manastone from a much stronger monster,” I replied matter of factly.

“Why didn’t you tell me that sooner?!” Terry demanded.

“Because you needed to learn the lesson at some point, and at least this was low stakes compared to what may come later,” I chastised him, refusing to feel guilty over it. “Technically, all you have done is trade something of mine for a neat keepsake.”

“Assuming we ignore the whole life or death croc wrestling in the swamp...” Terry replied, deadpan.

“You’re making it out to be a much bigger deal than it was,” I sighed. “At worst, you might have dislocated one of your arms before I could step in.”

“You’re being serious right now?” He demanded incredulously.

“I am,” I agreed neutrally. “Again, I will remind you that things are different here. Wrestling and Taming Swamp Lurkers is not the life or death struggle you are making it out to be.”

Terry scowled. “You’re telling me, that if you had a kid-”

“I do,” I interjected.

“What?” Terry looked confused.

“I do have a kid,” I repeated. “Two actually, twins.”

Terry stared at me for several moments before seeming to regain a grip on his earlier momentum. “Right, well, you’re saying you would be totally okay with one of your kids wrestling one of those crocs out in the swamp?!”

“I would,” I replied calmly.

“Bullshit!” Terry swore.

“I think you might understand why once you have met them,” I cautioned.

Terry’s scowl deepened. “Fuck...” His anger ebbed and I could only guess that he realised how poor a comparison he had unintentionally made.

Even though he was not to know for certain, Terry had to have guessed at how large Pete and Suzy would have to be, given they were my children. I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face and remind him of this conversation after we entered The Grove and realised just how much damage Suzy could do to a wild Swamp Lurker without even realising it.

***** Lash ~ Tim’s Interdimensional Plane ~ Sanctuary *****

Hosting a small gathering had been Tim’s idea, but Lash was finding that she was enjoying herself far more than she had originally expected.

“He utterly adores you, you know?” Jacque, the pale-skinned and auburn-haired mate of the Asrusian Regent commented with a sigh. “You and your kids.”

Lash smiled, appreciating the unasked-for compliment.

“And what huge monsters they are!” Jacque chuckled, waving past the table of food and drinks and toward the children playing hide and find in a small fortress nearby. “They look about as big as Tim when I first met him!”

“Really?” Lash took a moment to think back and found herself nodding in agreement. It made her happy knowing that Pete and Suzy wouldn’t be found wanting for potential mates once they matured.

“Hehe, that’s what I like about you,” Jacque chuckled, downing another fermented juiced fruit drink. “Everything’s so simple and uncomplicated. You appreciate things for what they are!”

Before Lash could acknowledge the compliment, the Werrian Queen, Katia, imposed herself into the conversation. “I quite agree. The children of the Tyrant and Tyrantess are so full of vigour! If my own children were not so old, I would perhaps dare to propose a match!”

“She means she would try to marry them off,” Jacque explained, helping herself to a wedge of cheese. “Which is a little strange, given the way monsters were treated in the empire. Wouldn’t you say?” She directed the last toward the Queen.

“Not at all,” Katia replied with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “It is only natural to learn from one’s mistakes and move forward.”

“Hrm...Is it?” Jacque challenged casually.

“It is,” Katia insisted and then turned to Lash. “Now that the subject has been raised. If I may be so bold, may I ask what the Tyrant’s intentions are regarding the wild Ogres recruited from the Hurst Labyrinth?”

“Bloody hell,” Jacque swore, “That’s about as subtle as a brick through a window. If you are going to ask for something just ask. You might pull one over on Lash because she doesn’t know all the tricks yet-"Jacque turned and looked up at Lash, “-No offence intended, I think you're great!” She turned back to Queen Katia and pointed an accusatory finger at her chest. “But do you really think Tim won’t hear about it? And if you think something like this could be manoeuvred without him or one of his Daemons looking in on it, I have a bridge I want to offload for cheap!”

“What does she want?” Lash asked guardedly, trusting in the intentions of Tim’s friend and former companion.

“She wants to marry off some war widows to the wild Ogres,” Jacque replied candidly. “Thinks it will make Tim, and to a lesser extent, you, think more fondly of them for it. Like they are doing you a favour, and that the shared ancestry of the next generation will win them some political points.”

“Just like the Asrusians with the Orcs?” Queen Katia interjected eyes narrowed at Jacque and hard like iron.

Jacque scowled right back. “You think just because I warm the Regent’s bed that I will defend the decisions of his bannermen?” She downed another cup of fermented juiced fruit. “You’re damned right I will! But I’m not gonna pretend it’s all out of the goodness of their hearts either. Tim wouldn’t trust me if I went around telling convenient half-truths all the time. Especially given how angry he gets when he learns he’s been lied to! Far better to go with an ugly truth and state your case!”

Lash nodded in agreement. If there was one thing Tim hated, it was being lied to.

There was a great deal that he had shown he could forgive, given enough time. But being lied to wasn’t one of them.

Queen Katia pursed her lips and took a deep breath to calm herself. Smiling again, she looked up at Lash. “I will readily admit, there is a component of self-interest-”

Jacque rolled her eyes.

“-However, it is the intention of the King that such an effort will assist in integrating the Semenovian people more firmly under the Tyrant’s rule. Prejudices will no doubt take generations to resolve themselves, but bold action now may save a considerable degree of time later. “Queen Katia paused and took a deep breath as if preparing herself for battle. “As I am sure the Tyrantess is aware, my people lost many menfolk to the ravages of the Liche and its undead hordes. Leaving widows who now struggle to support themselves and their families. Your ways, your culture, is different to ours. Motherhood and the home are cherished roles for our women, and they are ill-prepared to face wild Beasts to feed themselves and their families.”

Jacque grimaced, “She has a point there...” She acknowledged with visible reluctance. “Werrians are a pretty traditional lot, to begin with, and Semenovians are even more so.”

Queen Katia was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected support but quickly rallied. “My husband, the King, has drafted a petition requesting resettlement of willing monsters within our lands, wild or otherwise.”

“It will be absolutely fucked for biodiversity,” Jacque commented with a sigh, “But it’s not a bad idea otherwise. And Tim’s been dithering over what to do with the wild ones for ages.”

Lash nodded in agreement. Military service had just been a measure to buy himself time. There was no actual plan on what to do with the wild monsters and the Thralls once their service ended. Just a vague idea of letting them go and find their own way.

“I will talk to Tim,” Lash decided. Seeing no downside to discussing the matter. Tim would agree or he wouldn’t.

“My thanks, Tyrantess!” Queen Katia pulled at the sides of her long dress and bowed in the strange way that most of the human women did.

A small grey-skinned child with ghost-white hair peeked out from beneath the table.

Without even looking, Jacque knocked an apple off of the table and into his waiting hands. “Being so small, it really does feel like he’s cheating,” she chuckled, glancing toward Pete, Suzy and Eg who were still searching the small fortress.

The grey-skinned child waved shyly at Lash and she waved back. He really was a cute little thing, but certainly frail by comparison. She couldn’t begrudge him making the most of his limited advantage.

Not when the other children were easily three or more times his size and ten times his weight.