It took Len and Belar a while to hammer out the details of an initial trade. Her most immediate need was sand for the sake of glassmaking. She needed that to start boosting her crop production, though other supplies would be useful as well. The fact that their meager mine was understaffed didn’t help matters and she wasn’t going to be getting help on that front any time soon. Belar claimed to know an area within a few days trek that he could have some people gather sand from if there was enough benefit to it.

This left a number of problems that she hadn’t considered just yet, such as the actual glassblowing facility. She supposed they could come up with some sort of furnace arrangement with enough time, but it hadn’t really been a priority without the sand handy to craft it. There was also the safety and operations to consider, and she doubted she’d be able to get much productivity out of any given craftsman who wasn’t already experienced with working around heat. It’d be a struggle to get anything out of them, but she didn’t have many options at present. They were scraping by right now, but that wouldn’t last forever and then they’d start to die off.

She thanked the humans for their time and began the trudge back to the Hovel. The sun was starting to set and the bite was returning to the air, so she quickened her step. It still took almost an hour to get back, and the sun had fully set by the time she got there. Valkar cocked an eyebrow as she returned, but said nothing. She didn’t really feel like saying anything to him either.

She did the rounds before heading to bed. The miners had finished their work and Weaver had apparently done his part. They’d mostly gathered up coal, but had enough surplus to run the stoves a little hotter for the night to stave off the cold. Everyone else had suffered through Larry’s training regimen and organizational routine, all seemingly just terrified enough at the prospect of ending up in the mines that they’d tolerated his ministrations. Overall, he’d whipped the camp into a bit better shape, clearing out any number of piled up wreckage and snow, and the camp itself was much easier to move about now, she had to pat him on the head in acknowledgment over that.

Curly hadn’t found much else of interest, just general mapping of the area and mild annoyance that he’d seen her go against their initial decision and just straight up talk to the humans. He didn’t say anything further on the matter, but he did let his judgment hang in the air all… judgy and stuff.

When she finally retired to her room, she called for the Trio and Valkar to join her. Valkar seemed mildly surprised at his inclusion, but complied all the same. After a suitable waiting period to warm up her chilled limbs and devour some tasteless bread, she explained to her gathered minions what she’d accomplished with her day.

“So yeah,” she said. “I think there’s a real shot at getting some basic trade up and running with the humans. That Belar guy seemed perfectly reasonable and open to relations. Frankly, he mostly seemed amused by the fact that we were still here. They’re content to leave us alone as long as we do the same with them, but they could also use some of our ore if we were to offer it. I’d say that we’ve every reason to do so at present.”

“To be clear,” said Valkar. “Instead of dominating the humans as we’ve been instructed, your plan is to trade with them?”

“Oh please. Like anyone out there expects us to actually succeed at crushing the humans with our might. If they had the slightest interest in doing that, they’d have us better equipped, better manned, and, frankly, I wouldn’t be in charge right now. The only way we’re gonna stand a chance out here is if we try a different playbook on the situation.”

“Well, I suppose it’s fair to say that this is something that hasn’t been tried yet,” Valkar allowed. “And lord knows the things that HAVE been tried haven’t worked out too well. You’re the boss, so long as you’ve got the mettle to stick around, so I guess I’m in. Exactly what are they offering in return for iron and coal?”

“Sand!”

“Sand…”

“Yes!”

“As in… small bits of rock when we’re surrounded by literal tons of the stuff?”

“Trust me, I’ve got a plan for it. We’ve actually got a bunch of things that need doing, but sand gets us to glass,” she bit her tongue on the fact that there’d be a number of other steps involved. “And glass will help us to get better crops. Better crops means the whole place is more secure and we might stand a chance of surviving the first hiccup that happens with Cookie or Marble.”

“I don’t get it at all,” he said firmly. “But that doesn’t matter. You’ve got a plan, go for it. Can’t go any worse than any of the other disasters. Just try not to get too many of us killed in the process.”

“Oh, there’s hardly any chance of that happening, trust me.”

“I don’t. But I’ll obey you all the same.”

“You’re a real sport, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.”

“Really?”

“No.”

“All right, Curly. I’ve got another job for you. A bit rougher, but it’s important.”

“Yeah?”

“So, looking at the maps, it’s about a week and a half to get to Kila’s camp. I want you to go there and get her to come back with you. I’ll write a note explaining the situation, you go get her and bring back whatever you can scrounge up. If she can convince anyone else to come along, even better, but she’s the critical factor here.”

“You’re sure she’ll just drop everything and come with me?”

“Without a doubt. Shouldn’t cause more than a little trouble.”

“You actually know someone foolish enough to come to this place voluntarily?” Valkar asked.

“Yup, good friend. Blacksmith. Should really be able to boost operations here if she gets a chance. Would be nice to see what she could do with a ready supply of ore.”

“Can’t do worse than the last one. Suppose you could get the forge back in working condition. Lord knows the miners have been begging for new tools for long enough.”

“Good point. Curly, see about bringing back some tools while you’re at it. We should be able to start making our own pretty quick, but might as well get a head start with them and give ‘em decent gear to begin with. We don’t have much by way of funds, so you’ll have to beg Kila something fierce.”

“Sounds like something YOU’RE gonna have to do, boss. Make sure that letter is heavy on the charm. Lord knows we used up most of her hospitality on our last visit.”

“Bah, she’s a sport. She’ll help us out, I’m sure of it.”

Kila was her dearest friend, someone who’d known Len before whatever strange magic had transported her mind into this world and left her utterly discombobulated. More than that, Kila hadn’t batted an eye when she’d explained the situation to her, she’d simply signed up to do whatever she possibly could to help Len get back to her world and get HER Len back in the process.

It was a bizarre thing having the memories of a lifelong friendship with a woman but also having a new friendship budding with her at the same time. The Orc was an accomplished blacksmith and cheerful personality but most important of all, she was just kind. Len had spent a lot of the previous month leaning on her for support and had come to trust her as much as any she’d known in the past. If she was going to have a chance at success here in the Wastes, she’d need Kila here sooner rather than later.

With nothing left to say on matters, Len bade the lot of them a hearty “Get out of here” and closed up the tent for the night. It was strange to think that this would be the first night she slept alone in over a month. It was all the stranger to think that it had only taken a month for the solitude to BE strange. Still, she expected it wouldn’t take long at all to get back to that comfort, and besides… just as well that they couldn’t see her pull out the letter to read it again.

“Seriously, woman, what is your deal?”

“Maybe she likes you,” said Pitch, lurking in the shadows behind the stove.

“Gah!” she yelped. “Don’t DO that.”

“A thousand apologies,” the shadow said without the faintest hint of sincerity. “I’ll be more careful to alert you of my presence next time.”