When the gang all joined us I immediately put them to work. I had Grim set up a field kitchen. He didn’t have any recipes yet that gave any buffs but he could cook fast and in bulk, so I had him supply all the villages meals. They brought enough food for about a week by itself, with all the hunting and gathering we were doing we could stretch that to about a month.

I asked Bernard Vex and Grog to take Rodriguez and any other fox-kin that wanted a profession back to Storm cove. Eurydice offered to also go with them to pick up more supplies. I gave her what I had left of my gold and asked her to pick up more gear for the skeletons while she was there. 30 extra short swords and shields. I also asked if she could pick up the rest of my armor from Merryn while she was there as well.

I had a group of ten skeletons go that way as well and start clearing a road heading back to Storm Cove. It would take a few weeks but the skeletons could work night and day and the felled trees would be helpful.

I checked back in with Horace who was taking a rest on a chair outside his hut. “I hope you don’t mind me giving out orders, I just want to get this place as safe as possible.”

Horace got a smile on his face. “Not at all.” Then leaning in he whispered. “I don’t like being a chief anyways. Just nobody else wanted the job and they gave it to me as I was the eldest.”

He then leaned back. “We came here from our old home continent called Afura. It got hit hard during the war. We had been cut off for so long. It was far to the north and the mostly frozen wasteland the only places that had food were fishing villages along the coast. As soon as the war was over some of the tribes decided they wanted away from that place. So we came here about 5 years ago. Storm Cove was way too busy for us so we decided to make a new settlement out here amongst the trees. And until the raid a week ago it was very peaceful. We even sent word back home and more tribes will be following soon.”

It started to drizzle a bit so he motioned me inside and made us some tea. “It’s a good thing that you came by as I wanted to discuss something with you. I heard from your companions that you are a Lord class. With the skeletons, I thought you were a necromancer?”

“I'm a NecroLord. I can summon permanent undead units. So it’s more of a hybrid class. Why are you asking?”

“Some of the other village elders and I have been talking. With more of our brethren coming soon we need a safe place. I think you can help us do that. I have seen how you are with the kids. Anyone that can help kids forget their trauma and put a smile on their face as fast as you have done is a good man. Not to mention the fact that you raced out after them without even asking about a reward like so many other adventurers would have done.”

“To save kids, I wouldn’t take a reward even if you had offered it to me at the time. Children are our future. Saving them is the reward.”

“That answer is the reason I and the village elders have decided to ask you to become our Lord. You have a much better head on your shoulders, and have done more to organize this village in a week than I have done in the 5 years we have been here.”

“I have no idea why you are willing to put faith into someone you have only just met a week ago. It has been only about two months since I became an adventurer.” I didn’t think that I was ready for the responsibility yet, so I tried to figure out a way to get out from under it gracefully.

“Why don't we do this. Once the group Rodriguez went with comes back, I will take my party north towards the river and figure out where the goblins were coming from. With the palisade and setting up lookouts, you should be safe if anything happens while we are away. At that time I want the whole village to vote on this and weigh in on the decision. I don’t want to be responsible for anyone who doesn’t want me to be. I will be back in a week, maybe two depending on what we find. We can continue this conversation then.” And I held out my hand.

Horace took it and shook it “It’s a deal. This only confirms it even more in my mind that you are the right man for the job.”

With that, I got a couple of carts ready for the group and made my way over to have a word with Dwalin. He was busy using his stone-shape ability to form the foundations of one of the houses that were being rebuilt. We had been so busy the last couple of days that we hadn’t had a chance to properly talk.

“Do you have some time Mister Stoneshaper?” I asked as I walked up to him.

“For you always, but if you call me mister Stoneshaper again I will let you sink into some stone and leave you there the rest of the day.” And he chuckled a bit. “The person who sacrificed himself for my girls gets to call me Dwalin. What can I do for you boy?”

I first told him about my conversation with Horace to which he replied. “From what I have heard from Grim on my way up here, and the few days I’ve observed you so far, they could do a lot worse. You seem to have the beginnings of a great leader. As long as you don’t let it get to your head. I can see the hero-worship in the eyes of those kids and their parents. I think when you come back here they will have all voted in favor.”

“I am not sure if I am ready for that though.”

To which Dwalin replied “Take it from me. I have rebuilt 5 towns and about two dozen villages. And I have helped build Storm Cove and Maiden’s Rest from the ground up. Nobody is completely ready to take charge. Those who say that they are lying to themselves. Accepting that you are not ready, asking for advice when needed, and then making up your own mind. That’s what makes a great leader.”

He then nodded over to where his daughters and Aura were helping Grim set up things for lunch. “You have a great group of friends to help you. Lean on them.”

“Thanks for the advice, I have a lot to think about. A couple of things before I leave you to it. Will you and your team join us up north. We need to figure out where those goblins are coming from and I would feel safer with you and your party along.”

“Of course, anything to spend a bit more time with my girls.”

“Lastly could you teach me and Damian the beginnings of architecture, especially those subjects that deal with fortifications and castles?”

“Sure, we will have tons of time out in the field. I have some books in my bag of holding that you can borrow to read while we are resting. One last tip. I have noticed you have kept your distance a bit from your friends since they got here. I don’t know if it is because you were busy or avoiding them on purpose but you guys need to talk.” Nodding back at the group again. “Grim is fine, but the girls are pissed, even though they know why you sent them away.”

I thanked Dwalin for his time. I then walked over to where the group was and knowing how busy everyone would be during the day I asked if we could talk that evening. After they all nodded, I spent the next hour helping to serve lunch for most of the village on big tables that were set out for it.

After lunch, I got mobbed by the kids that I had rescued and they asked me to tell them another story. So I gathered up Tobias again, and with all of the village's kids in tow I sat down in the middle of the square using him as a back pillow. Tobias didn’t care and lived the attention. Seeing this Ethel and the cubs all walked over as well and it turned into a bit of a petting zoo before everything calmed down. I then spent the next couple of hours telling story after story that I remembered my dad telling me.

Dinner was then rung in by the skeleton Drummer boy who was quickly becoming the mascot of the village kids. They formed up behind him playing at soldiers and he marched them off to the dinner tables.

Grim outdid himself as usual, and after dinner, him, me, and the girls made our way over to the side of the village to have our talk.