Tad found Nuala in Samphire's wagon. She was in there with Bellauna, who was busy working at the enchanter's table.

"Nuala, would you have time for a walk? I'd like to show you how the spiral silk is made," asked Tad after entering the Wagon. Lamruil was over to the side, adjusting flights for his multiple stacks of arrows around where he sat cross-legged on the floor.

Nuala placed an unfinished garment on her seamstress table and stood to leave. Lamruil also stood, shouldering his bow.

The three of them made it down to the lower cavern and stepped out onto the stairway, landing at the top. Nuala gave a small gasp of surprise at seeing the many glowing twenty feet tall mushrooms in the giant cavern below. Many of them were draped in strands of the temple guardian's silken trap threads.

She spoke in a shaky soft voice, halting and disbelieving, "The silk is from here? "

Tad nodded. He was also impressed with the view from here. The rows of growing mushrooms appeared to be clean now. All the remaining filth from the gretchics had been removed or used in the planting beds. Tad could also see several new beds of the healing mushrooms.

"I ask that you tell no one outside the valley about this. I do not have the people to post guards here to keep Chok'seh from hurting anyone. " Tad could sense the creature high above them watching. He sent out a soulmancy call to it. The dark blue and black wind sock spider came down from above on a single strand of thick thread.

"This is Chok'seh," said Tad pointing to the giant creature that was now suspended in front of them, making it look effortless to hold its bulk there.

Tad projected to the Temple guardian, "Chok'seh, I'd like you to meet Nuala. I'd also like your permission to harvest some of these long strands of silk you have created below. " He paused to let the creature respond. He was certain the guardian would agree to this since Gweleth wanted him to use the strands to make silk to make her people and make his new city stronger.

The projected voice from Chok'seh was odd in Tad's mind. It wasn't magic particularly. It was some sort of ability. Gweleth had enhanced this creature, and that was one of the things she had gifted it. It moved its mandibles, sniffing the air. The creature had two sets of these which were used to grind its food before consuming it. It wasn't a spider in that very obvious way.

"I will let her gather some of the strands, only near the front. She must leave the ones near the gretchic holes, and the gate to the waterfalls, " said Chok'seh.

Tad nodded, "Thank you. How are those holes? Are any more gretchics coming in here? "

"Not many dare to enter now. I will need to start venturing into the valley to find food for my brood," said Chok'seh.

Tad nodded, brood? "Well, if it comes to that, let me know, and I'll work out a way for you to open the gate. "

Tad turned back to Nuala, "Chok'seh, the Temple Guardian, has agreed to let you harvest the strands near the stairs here. Do not take the ones near the far gate or near the walls where the holes emerge. "

Tad turned back to Chok'seh, "Thank you again. "

The huge creature didn't respond and climbed back up its strand to disappear into the darkness above. Tad was hoping this brood wasn't going to be an issue. A hundred tiny hungry versions of that creature were going to be hard to feed. Unless, of course, they didn't mind undead in the valley. Then, Tad had a suspicion. Didn't Chok'seh eat half of that undead naga they had killed? More thoughts for later, clearly, the goddess was up to something with this creature.

"Ok, let's show you how to harvest and make these strands safe to touch," said Tad as he started down the stairs to the cavern below.

Before Tad left, he ordered the two constructs to assist Naula when she harvested the strands as long as it didn't harm any of the mushrooms.

***

Tad had made several trips to the Artificer's workshop, putting food, pods, arrows, and other supplies there in case they needed them. He also set up several cots just in case and plenty of water. He hoped they would not need to use it, he was fairly certain Synethaes wasn't going to like the idea of going back there, but she would do it if he ordered it. He didn't trust her at all, but he had made a binding promise, and so had she. He had spent a lot of time thinking about how this all came about. Making a deal with a devil, making deals with vampires that thought of him as food, he was very certain this curse of his was influencing his actions in subtle ways. He didn't know how he was going to deal with that, even with Kettle's help. He didn't think he was making deals with devils as much as making devils do what he wanted. But was this really true? He took a deep breath as he stood there looking at Leana perched upon the coffin that she claimed held treasure. Tad was starting to doubt that also. There was no guarantee she was being truthful, and he had no empathy with the animated creature.

Leana sat there looking back at him, "You may make your request, " she stated matter-factly.

Tad had no real idea how powerful she was, but he knew she was the ruler inside this space: "I'd like you to let Synethaes use that coffin if it comes to it. I have many things going on outside this place, and in more ways than one, they are important to my friends and me. "

Leana looked at him, and she looked like she had swallowed a fly for a few moments, then she stopped. She laughed, "Here, I thought you were going to ask me to give you the treasures I protect. "

Tad frowned. He wasn't interested in gold like others now. It was just a tool needed to further his plans now. Perhaps when he was a child, but now he had changed.

"Thaddius, I like you. You have been very entertaining to watch. The crazy port in at the ceiling to then disappear again to kill a Naga queen? That was something I'd have never guessed in a thousand years of guessing. I will tell you what, I believe more than any that came before you that you may have the treasures I guard. If she so wishes, the mistress may also use this coffin. I do not think I'll need it any longer, " she finished this sentence, then she floated up off the coffin lid as an ornate pedestal rose out of the floor covered in flowered carvings near the Artificer's table. She floated over to this and settled down on the flat surface. She waved her hand at the coffin, and the lid drew back, and out of the coffin, one by one, books and tombs started to float up and were placed on the stone bookshelves in order.

"What are those? " asked Tad.

"Those are my late husband's work, The Ten Volumes of the Artificer's dominion. They are the most in-depth source of knowledge on all things concerning the creation of constructs. If you have the talent, perhaps someday you will master all the magic contained in them. They are worth more than the entire Kingdom of Cheshik if it still stood. I grant you full access to study and learn from them as long as you stand on the side of good and not evil. I have watched you, Thaddius, and your friends. You keep odd company, but you carry about you something beyond the many that have come before you to learn this craft, " she paused, then waved her hand again at the coffin, and Tad saw a stream of gold coins rise out of the coffin as if on a long connected string. The coins moved forward to the table and started stacking themselves. After a few minutes of this, the flow of gold stopped, and several dozen larger cut gems of different colors also went to the table. Finally, one large green gem as big as Tad's fist floated out and sat gently on the table.

"That is the accumulated wealth of dozens of artificers selling their constructs. The large gem is a particularly powerful component for correctly making constructs. You should not take it from this place. Its power will draw many things, and most of them will be unpleasant," said Leana.

Tad wasn't an expert at counting coins, but there appeared to be more gold on that table than he had in his small chest. Several thousand and gems. He nodded to Leana, walked over to the table, and cast an identification on the one item that exuded magic.

Greater Relic of the Artificer - this legendary artifact can be used to create constructs binding spirits to forms created in advance by the Artificer.

A what? Legendary artifact? Tad was quickly learning the more grandiose the description, the more powerful the item was. Then he paused. He noted that the binding of spirits didn't say anything about voluntary spirit. He frowned.

"Leana, is this how the unwilling spirits were bound to those constructs? I freed those. If this can be used for that, I believe it's best to destroy it or make it lost forever, " said Tad. He didn't' want to be tempted into that type of thing. Evil was evil. Tools that could do evil were still tools. But this one was particularly atrocious.

Leana smiled a large smile, "Now I see, you just confirmed what I was thinking of you. Thank you. I believe the gem is just a tool that can be used for good or ill. Do not blame the tool for what the user did with it. The intent of the wielder of a sword is what makes it for good or ill. A sword itself is just a long carving knife if you were a cook. I believe you should keep it and use it for good. "

Tad thought about this for a few moments. She was right. His fledgling city would need more help as it grew. But what about the temptations to do evil? " Leana, if you ever think I'll use this for Ill or anyone would. Hide it, and do not let anyone else touch it or know it is here. Ever. For now, could you make all of that shiny stuff and the artifact disappear somewhere in here until I need them? "

Leana nodded and waved her hand, and Tad watched as all the items on the table flew off in long strings of shiny objects into the upper reaches of the chamber.

"I will certainly do as you wish, Thaddius. Please advise Synetheas that the coffin is her's to use as long as she is bound to you, " said Leana.

"Thank you, " said Tad. He nodded to her and then willed himself back to the cathedral to join his friends.

***

Tad arrived at the Gate of Stars. His friends were already there, and Jack was standing there mildly glowing in the night air. After Tad cast his low light vision, he could see Synethaes standing off away from the tree and gate, looking out across the lake. Near the tree were Zanna, Nico, and Lamruil. They were all looking at something Tad hadn't seen before, a root of the Fey Tree had grown up to form a small wooden pedestal.

Tad walked over to see what the three were examining on the pedestal. There a half-sphere of lit crystal was embedded in the surface. Nico pushed it with his finger, and it rotated in the depression of the wood with no friction. It was perfectly round.

The three looked up at him. Zanna spoke, "Our goddess has bequeathed a blessing upon our journey. " She sounded very formal and must be using aspects of her new role as the high priestess.

Tad nodded, looking at the green-blue and white sphere, "What does it do? " Then Tad cast an identity spell upon the crystal and pedestal.

Guiding Sphere of the Gate of Stars - This item was created by the goddess Niucrelath from the cursed eye of the fallen god of war, Rathak Tul. You believe it will allow you to use the Gate of Stars as a scrying device to view any location in this planer realm.

Tad looked at the sphere with his magic sight and saw a huge amount of life mana and some earth mana flowing through it from the pedestal. He could see where the pedestal was attached to the tree under the paver stones of the path. All linked.

Clearly, the goddess was tired of him asking for her help to use this function of the gate. He had wondered where that cursed item had gone after his fight in the temple. There was no curse on it now, and it did kind of look like an eye still once Nico stopped touching it. Creepy, he wondered if there was some portion of the dead god still in there?

Tad touched the sphere and willed it to show him the valley. A large visible version of the orb sprung into hovering above Tad. He could see what looked like a giant patch of tan, brown, and green sitting in a field of blue on the orb. That must be the island they were on, and it was huge. He wondered what size qualified it as something more than an island? He wanted to scroll closer to the island and explore more of it with the eye but looked up and saw Jack standing there waiting.

He rotated the sphere so the view moved northwest the direction Synethaes had told him they needed to travel. After a few moments, another much larger image of land came into view. He moved the round globe north and south. The continent was definitely much larger than the island he was on now.

Tad looked over to where Synethaes stood, "Could you point out where the city of Ring Hunt is, please? "

The vampire woman shrugged and walked over to the image. She took care not to touch the tree's roots or the pedestal and started to look uncomfortable as she neared.

"It is along the coast north, and there is a river and large piedmont of open fields around it. The city itself has a large ring of double walls inside the main walls. It is farther north from where you are looking," said Synethaes. She folded her arms under her breasts, almost like she was refusing to come close to the pedestal or tree. Tad thought about all the life mana coursing around her, it must take a great deal of willpower even to come this close.

Tad rotated the view of the sphere as a long river that snaked into what appeared to be mountains to its west along the coast. He thought about making the view larger, and in a second, the rough caricature of a city was seen as the view increased. It was more of an outline than an actual vision of the town, and he could clearly see the double-walled curtain in the center of the town.

"This is Ring Hunt? " asked Tad for confirmation.

"It appears to be. There should be a fortress in the center there where the lords of the city dwelled, " said the vampire standing with her arms crossed in her red velvet dress.

Tad thought about opening the view on the Gate of Stars to get a real view of the city. He felt the directed mana pulse towards root entwined pillars of the Gate of Stars. The area between the pillars clouded for a moment, and then he could see the dark city laid out before him below where they stood. It was a bit brighter there than where Tad was standing. He didn't understand why that was, but the sun had barely set in this location.

"Kid, the planet rotates. You need to be careful not to burn your pet vampire to ashes messing around like that, " projected Jack.

"What? The world is flat Jack," said Tad.

"No, Kid it rotates, trust me, the sun sets later the farther west you go. I can explain it later. For now, just be careful, or we won't have a guide, " said Jack.

Tad nodded as he willed the view to get closer to the city. He didn't see any lights in the city, no torches, no magic lanterns, no posts, not even on the walls. He took the view around to the left, rotating it as he tried to keep the now visible fortress on the hill behind the ring of walls centered. He finally saw some light it was near the base of one of the inner gates to the fortress center. He forced the view forward and saw something he didn't expect. A group of plate-mailed soldiers surrounded a smaller group of men and women who were casting spells and holding a large life shield around the small company. The men in front with shields up and swords blazing with magic were fighting at least twice as many vampires or undead.

" Synethaes, what is this? " asked Tad. He was not expecting this.

Synethaes stared at the brawl of a battle in front of her. She had a small sneer on her face now. Tad could see she wasn't happy with what she saw.

Synethaes spoke with anger in her voice, "Those are vampire hunters fighting feral vampires. The city is overrun, and I expect anyone that hasn't fled has been turned. This is what I warned you would happen if ferals were not put down. This battle will escalate even if those hunters lose. More will come, then more, followed by armies, then legions. Every leader of every city will stop fighting each other to come here and destroy this city utterly. I do not understand how this could happen. No coven would condone this, and they would be the first to remove these creatures. The carnage they leave behind would make it impossible to exist if left unchecked. The gods would not have allowed this to happen. It would upset the balance in ways that will be catastrophic for all. "

Tad looked at the vampire and then back at the battle in the street in front of the inner city gates. Vampires were crawling all over the buildings. Some were swooping down from above to be burned to ashes by the shield, but each time one was destroyed, Tad could see the casters in the middle of the group weaken and struggle to keep the protective shield up. Tad had little doubt that this group of hunters would be overrun as soon as that shield went down.

Tad stopped, closed his eyes, and silently prayed to his goddess, " Niucrelath, I pray for your guidance. "

Tad felt her immediately fill his mind with her presence. "Your pet vampire is correct. There are no gods here. There is no divine presence that I would have expected. Considering the number of temples and shrines I can sense throughout this city. There should be more than one god present here in their domain. Thaddius, you should help those in need there. "Tad felt a puff of air in front of him, "This will assist you. It is a gift from the Queen of Bees to you," said Niucrelath. Tad opened his eyes and saw a large six-sided container had appeared in front of him. "It is bee venom mixed with royal jelly. It should be quite potent against these creatures. Much more than the simple sting your pet received last night. Find your answers in the fortress, my champion, and return. We still have much to do before the growth phase of my awakening ends. " The presence of the goddess left his mind. Tad looked again at the fight playing out in front of them through the Gate of Stars.

What? She wanted him to take his friends into that mess? Dammit! Tad looked at Nico, "Nico, grab that container there. We are going to help these folks. " Tad's jaw clenched as he took a firm hold on his staff and willed the portal to open in the center of the beleaguered vampire hunters, fricken vampires. Why can't anything be simple?

***