I ended up supporting Mal and Joel back up the dark street. Boris padded happily alongside us. There were a few other people about, mainly Krysan and Wultr. They all greeted me as I passed, and it felt good to be among them in safety.

We headed to the temple of Devotion first, and I had to knock on the door with my foot.

After a short wait, Elsbeth opened up, a concerned look for us at first as she took in our shambolic ensemble. She was about to speak, but it must have dawned on her that they were just rat arsed. Composing herself she looked up and met my eyes. “Is everything Okay? Are you friends again?

“We’re a lot closer than we were. Hopefully, we can continue mending bridges.”

“That's good to hear. Perhaps you will warm to having Devotion in your town now?”

I laughed at that. “Yeah sure I will. With everything that's going on, I think we need to watch out for each other.”

“That's a big change from how you felt when you left and last time you were here.”

“If your people hadn’t tried to stop me from entering my own town, then none of that would have happened. I wouldn’t have even come to see you or Devotion. I’d set myself to being indifferent to you, though no longer antagonistic.”

She looked surprised at my words. “You’ve changed.”

“Ha. There’s the understatement of the fucking year. Do you know my Intelligence is at 65 now?”

She looked shocked by that revelation. “I would have expected you to focus more on physical ability.”

“I have a bit, mainly Constitution.”

“Then… what level are you now? If you don't mind me asking. “I can definitely guess you are above me now, but I can't get a read on your exact level. I don't have the skill yet.”

“69,” I replied.

“Incredible!” she gasped. “I knew there was something special about you.”

“Yeah. Seems everyone did. But that’s not nearly close enough. The smarter I get the more I know my levels are nowhere near enough to do what I’ll have to do in the future. But that doesn’t matter for now. What matters is that I’m glad you and Mal are here, and I hope we can get along, despite what’s happened in the past.”

“I hope so too,” she replied with what I hoped was a genuine smile.

I moved past her to deposit both Mal and Joel on the nearest benches. “You should probably encourage dipshit here to focus on Intelligence a little, too.”

“Easier said than done, I'm afraid. He is entirely focused on physical attributes to become a great warrior.”

“He'll become a much better warrior if he levels his intelligence,” I replied.

“I agree. Perhaps you can talk to him again before you leave?”

“He’d not listen to me when we were close, so he definitely won’t now. But I’ll try. Can you, er, cleanse Joel for me? I don’t actually know where he lives.” I said feeling a little embarrassed at the omission.

She let out a small laugh, “I suppose I…” she shivered and went pale. I put a hand on her shoulder to steady her. “Elsbeth, are you okay?”

It took a long moment for her to regain her composure. “Devotion. She spoke to me. Oh my. This is an uncommon occurrence.”

“What did she say?”

“For you to touch the altar again,” she said looking puzzled. “What’s going on, Clive?”

“If I had to guess, I think she's waiting for an answer on the cementing of an alliance.”

“An alliance? Why would you assume that?”

“Little convo, last time I was here. When I touched the altar.”

“I touch the altar all of the time and I don't get to speak to my goddess,” she said with understandable dismay.

“Ah, but there’s a fundamental difference isn’t there. I’m not strictly mortal anymore.” I said walking past her to the Altar.

“But followers are…”

I slapped my hand down on to the cold stone sphere as she spoke and the world came screeching to a halt.

“Hey-up, Devotion,” I said in my mind, taking in the fact that the room had paused again.

“Is that how you think you should address a God?” she replied, sounding angry.

“You don't expect any better from me, so don't go pretending you're angry,” I said back keeping my tone light.

“You're right, of course,” she replied, with only humor to be heard now. “Have you an answer to my proposition?”

“Honestly Devotion, no. I don’t know if you saw anything of what happened after I returned north but it never left me much time to really sit and think and thrash it out with Danivra and Sania. I'm still concerned with what it could mean. I worry that I'm giving you too much power over me if I agree to this.”

“You’re intelligent, Clive. You understand the Soul Mate bond affects us both equally.”

“From what I currently know, yes. The bond will treat us both equally. But you’re also right in that I’m not stupid. I know, without a shadow of doubt, that you know far more about the inner workings of these bonds than me. You will know all or most of the opportunities to exploit any loopholes and because of that I’m nervous about it.”

“You seem even more uncertain than before,” Devotion said.

“I know the difference between levels of Intelligence and if you have 1000 Intelligence it just makes it impossible to trust. You’re too clever.

“That is understandable, but you do realize that lying isn't part of the essence of who I am?”

“All I really know is that I don't know enough, and it is a huge risk that doesn't seem to give me any particular benefit.”

“I understand your reservations. You realize having close allies on Onnekus will help you if and when you ascend?”

“I can’t see any reason for me to want to go to Onnekus,” I replied, and she laughed.

“I forget how little you must know. You can’t Ascend unless you claim your place on Onnekus. Once there, you will be… somewhat vulnerable to direct attacks from the other gods until you get your defenses in order.”

“What you’re talking about sounds both really worrying and interesting as hell. Look, Devotion, I need to think about it, but I’ll promise you an answer soon and I’m edging towards yes. Okay?”

“It will have to do I suppose,” she said, but I still detected humor from her. “You are a resilient soul, Clive. Good luck on your journey.”

With that, she was gone. I was a little surprised she didn’t push the issue further and I was also bemused that she’d potentially just given me another one of the ten stages of godhood.

“…bonded to their gods, are they not?” Elsbeth said. Continuing her earlier question as she moved back into action.

“Er, yeah sure,” I replied trying to let my mind catch up with events. “Honestly, I don’t know Elsbeth. The reasons of gods are beyond me.”

She sighed, and walked back down the central aisle with me to the two sleeping beauties. She focused on Joel first and put her hands on his shoulders.

He came awake with a jerk moments later. “Ah, er, Ah! Thanks Elsbeth. Must have had a few too many,” he said looking down at the snoring drooling Mal.

“You’re welcome Joel. Thank you for making peace with Mal. Both of you. As you probably both already know, he is incredibly stubborn, but he does miss you both dearly and he is eternally hard on himself for leaving you both in the forest.”

“Water under the bridge,” I replied, petting Boris on the head, and giving him an ear rub, which he leaned into despite his burgeoning intelligence. “Tell him I’ll catch up with him tomorrow, before I leave.”

She offered a courteous nod, and I left the temple of Devotion with Joel.

Outside, Joel and I parted ways and I flew up to the roof. Shouting out to warn the two guards on duty, as I moved up. “Hey guys, sorry if I surprised you.”

“Watched you walking up. Had a feeling you’d take the easy route,” one of them said to which the two Wultr guards laughed.

Making my way down stairs, I was looking forward to bed. Removing the clothes and folding them carefully I jumped in between the thick sheets and the plump mattress and reveled in the comfort.

Once settled, I focused on Sania. I could tell immediately that she was asleep, as was Danivra. I tried Grigor last, and found he was awake and alert.

“Pull guard duty dude?” I asked suddenly, hoping to surprise him. While I felt the very briefest of flares of panic, he composed himself immediately.

“Lord Clive, a surprise to hear from you. Well, Sania’s asleep so, unfortunately for you, here I am reporting in.”

I felt humor through the bond. “Is there anything wrong? Anything you need?”

“Nah, just saying hello really. I think It’s because I feel bad that I’m well fed and lying in a bed, when I know the conditions you’re all in.”

“You have my sympathy Lord Clive. I know how hard it must be for you to be in such a predicament, but it is for the greater good.”

“Is that sarcasm I sense, Grigor?” I laughed.

Grigor did not. “There was no sarcasm intended. I meant every word as I said it, Lord Clive. You are a protector, from the first moment I met you to the last time I saw you. I know that being away from those you care about when we are in peril would be agonizing. Comfort is a poor balm.”

“Yeah,” I said wistfully. “You get it Grigor. Thanks man, I’m glad I spoke to you. Will you tell Sania when she wakes that I popped my head in?”

“I will let her know you spoke with me, if that is your meaning.”

“Yup, it is. Cheers, pal. See you tomorrow with a load of food, hopefully.”

“I look forward to it. Goodnight, Lord Clive.”

With that done, I raised my fist to my temple and sent myself off to sleep.

The next morning, Joel and Lierin met me in the castle hall on the ground floor.

After a rather spectacular breakfast of beef strips, eggs, and bread, they took me to the restaurant. Like he had said, it was just an empty shell, though we talked about kitchen placement for the services to be run in. Obviously, services in the arse end of Falritas consisted of waste pipes and water. Once we’d settled on a kitchen location, we discussed seats and Lierin excitedly broached colors with me.

“I like reds, greens some dark browns too, maybe,” I said, beginning to feel stupid. What started as quite relaxing soon became frustrating as my mind wandered back to the others in the north.

I was happy to leave the building in the end and get on with tasks related to helping us when I went back. Leaving Joel and Lierin to go and do their own thing, which admittedly involved sorting food and its transport out for my return trip, I went to see Zeine. I was intrigued to check on his progress on the bow staves. If they were half as good as I expected, then they’d be a huge bonus in the fight against the Paladins with Aerial capabilities.

I headed down the broad cobbled road lined by trees and houses on each side as if the town had been here for years. With the change in scenery, it felt as though it took much longer to get to the stream, which now had the road running straight over to the other side where it ended in front of a very busy building. At least fifty people were out front. Puzzled by its appearance practically inside the Fensalfar area I moved closer to inspect. To my surprise it was a fresh fruit and vegetable counter, with four Fensalfar working happily behind the piles of ripe produce.

I smiled and nodded at the harmony everyone seemed to be working in. It was a heart-warming moment. Satisfied with my investigations, I continued on into the forest. Again, I was blown away by the sights and sounds. Everything was lush and notably warmer. The trees were inundated with the homes of the Fensalfar.

The forest above and below was surprisingly quiet, and I saw only one Fensalfar as I moved through their place. The reason why was soon revealed as I reached the pool and the central tree that I’d always found Zeine at. It was surrounded by all of the Fensalfar we had as far as I could tell. Both the pool and the tree seemed to be much bigger than I remembered.

They all stood in the pool approximately fifty of them with their eyes closed and palms flat against the tree. An unusual branch grew above each of them as they focused. I stood and watched in silent amazement as the branches grew. So slowly to my eyes, but extraordinarily fast for a tree branch.

I sensed Solla before he arrived, despite him moving silently. I was fairly sure he was trying to sneak up on me, the dodgy bastard. Easier said than done with my much-improved Perception.

“Amazing is it not?” he asked suddenly.

“It is,” I replied. “Are those the bow staves they’re growing?”

“They are,” he said simply, and fell silent for a moment. I was happy for that. We’d moved past his initial arseholliness, but I still didn’t like him.

“How is my sister?” he asked finally when he realized I wasn’t going to say anything more.

“Stuck in a sieged fort with a hundred Fensalfar using twigs as bows and over two thousand starving Dokalfar and Drengalfar.”

“She is well herself, though.”

“She is.”

“This takes a lot of energy from us and the heart tree to do this, you know.”

“Yeah, I bet it does.”

“I don’t think you realize what a huge thing it is you ask of us to do this.”

“Probably not, but then I don’t think you realize what a huge prick you are.”

He blustered for a moment, fell silent for a further moment, then chuckled softly. “Probably not. Would you believe me if I told you I missed these little conversations with you Lord Clive.”

“Nope.”

He laughed again. “Well I do. You remind me that as bad as I have it dealing with you, our true enemies have it far worse.”

I smiled at that. “There could well be truth in your words. Do you know how long they’ll be? I have the Dokalfar to see as well, then I have to check on all of my followers.”

“A few hours yet. I will tell my father you came to pester him and hurry him up when he finishes.”

“I bet you will, Solla. It was good to see them working. Tell him I’ll meet him up at the castle when they’re done.”

I didn’t wait for a reply and instead went in search of the Dokalfar. As I crossed the stream once more I realized I wasn’t sure where the Dokalfar lived. With the town not being so big yet, I opted for wandering until I saw a Dokalfar. It took around five minutes heading deeper into the town proper. There were only around eight streets intersecting each other southward and four to the north, but once I got into them, I felt like I was in a different world.

I could have been in one of the small Malatian towns now, albeit with a much more eclectic mix of people. Brushing the self-consciousness aside, I waved to all those I passed who. A Krysan, exiting a three-story building that was no bigger than the two-story buildings on either side, shouted over.

“My Lord! Good luck on your trip back. Our thoughts will be with you as you attempt to safely return.”

“Thanks, Gedeax,” I replied, reading his Identifier for his name. He beamed happily that I knew it, and I felt a pang of guilt at the deception. I also mused that I wouldn’t be visiting him and his family for tea any time soon judging by the size of their front door.

It only took a few more minutes before I saw a Dokalfar. A tired looking woman outside a single story building much longer than the others with multiple chimneys and smoke coming from them all.

Again taking her name from her identifier I addressed her. “Hey, Kanala. Have you seen Hek anywhere?”

Her eyes widened at my approach. “Yes, my lord. Inside. I will fetch him for you.”