him now.
“Olias, why would anyone bother to save us? Even once? Much less three times? What is my life worth? Less than nothing,” Po whispered.
Olias said nothing because in his mind he saw her point. He at least was a good blacksmith apprentice, worth something. He didn't say it.
The horses were done eating. Olias replaced the bridles, and they moved on again. Po was riding the Keeper’s horse, and she noticed a special pouch on the saddle sized to hold a modest sized book.
It was empty.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Gatehouse
“The Emergency Module, in hostile environment mode, had very complex algorithms. It determined the likelihood of Barcus’s survival would increase if he were not alone physically.”
--Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Emergency Module Digital Forensics Report. Independent Tech Analysis Team.
<<<>>>
They traveled for several days, and with the snow falling now and then, they could always follow the path left by the mysterious thing that was their dark savior.
They moved farther and farther into the wilds until one day, they found what seemed like an ancient road that was arched above by trees, heavy with snow. It was like a tunnel, hushed and dim under gray skies. The tracks followed this road north farther still.
They found small trees attempting to grow in the road with minimal success. They had the uneasy feeling that they were the only people left in the world. Every day they would find places to rest and more forage for the horses. Only once did they have to sleep in the open. On that night, Po didn't know if she slept at all because she sensed the black, faceless demon was near.
Once it was beginning to snow again, and the tracks led them to an abandoned farmhouse. It had a steep, old style, thatched roof that was more moss than thatch now. Inside there was one large room, and each end had a hearth with firewood that was already cut and laid out.
The floors were flagstone with traces of thresh still visible, but decades old. Olias set about making a fire in one hearth and Po in the other.
They brought the horses in and let them warm up and dry off in one end the room, and they took the other.
“I didn't know there were any settlements this far north,” Olias said, trying to start yet another conversation with Po. She had fallen silent for nearly two days.
“This house...” Olias looked around at the stone walls and the heavy beams in the rafters, “was built to last. The hinges are made of stone.”
Po spoke, “This was a Keeper’s house long ago.” She sat on the floor in the center of the room and slowly placed the palms of her hands on the floor. “The Keeper’s magic lingers. The floor is already warm.”
Olias sat next to her and felt the flagstones. They were warm even though the fires had been lit less than an hour ago.
“It was always like this in a Keeper’s house. Rooms that had no hearths would even be like this. Keepers can make things hold magic and keep it,” Po said.
Olias knew she had spent time as a Keeper’s companion.
“I saw a Keeper’s talisman that could bring things closer without moving them. You could look at a sawdust beetle like it was the size of a mouse. It could even bring the sun closer... and burn. The Keepers made it, infused it with their magic, and it still worked for whoever held it.”
Olias dug into the saddle bags and brought out the last of the dried meat and nuts.
“What will we do after today? Are you a good hunter?” Po asked very seriously.
Olias laughed. “Don't worry.” He felt the floor again. “I think we are almost there.”
“Where?” Po asked.
Olias just shrugged and tossed a nut into the air and caught it in his mouth, smiling as he chewed.
Barcus watched the exchange in his personal HUD. The translation appearing as subtitles. He paced back and forth in what he had started calling the “throne room.” It did have a raised dais at one end with a massive carved
“Olias, why would anyone bother to save us? Even once? Much less three times? What is my life worth? Less than nothing,” Po whispered.
Olias said nothing because in his mind he saw her point. He at least was a good blacksmith apprentice, worth something. He didn't say it.
The horses were done eating. Olias replaced the bridles, and they moved on again. Po was riding the Keeper’s horse, and she noticed a special pouch on the saddle sized to hold a modest sized book.
It was empty.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The Gatehouse
“The Emergency Module, in hostile environment mode, had very complex algorithms. It determined the likelihood of Barcus’s survival would increase if he were not alone physically.”
--Solstice 31 Incident Investigation Testimony Transcript: Emergency Module Digital Forensics Report. Independent Tech Analysis Team.
<<<>>>
They traveled for several days, and with the snow falling now and then, they could always follow the path left by the mysterious thing that was their dark savior.
They moved farther and farther into the wilds until one day, they found what seemed like an ancient road that was arched above by trees, heavy with snow. It was like a tunnel, hushed and dim under gray skies. The tracks followed this road north farther still.
They found small trees attempting to grow in the road with minimal success. They had the uneasy feeling that they were the only people left in the world. Every day they would find places to rest and more forage for the horses. Only once did they have to sleep in the open. On that night, Po didn't know if she slept at all because she sensed the black, faceless demon was near.
Once it was beginning to snow again, and the tracks led them to an abandoned farmhouse. It had a steep, old style, thatched roof that was more moss than thatch now. Inside there was one large room, and each end had a hearth with firewood that was already cut and laid out.
The floors were flagstone with traces of thresh still visible, but decades old. Olias set about making a fire in one hearth and Po in the other.
They brought the horses in and let them warm up and dry off in one end the room, and they took the other.
“I didn't know there were any settlements this far north,” Olias said, trying to start yet another conversation with Po. She had fallen silent for nearly two days.
“This house...” Olias looked around at the stone walls and the heavy beams in the rafters, “was built to last. The hinges are made of stone.”
Po spoke, “This was a Keeper’s house long ago.” She sat on the floor in the center of the room and slowly placed the palms of her hands on the floor. “The Keeper’s magic lingers. The floor is already warm.”
Olias sat next to her and felt the flagstones. They were warm even though the fires had been lit less than an hour ago.
“It was always like this in a Keeper’s house. Rooms that had no hearths would even be like this. Keepers can make things hold magic and keep it,” Po said.
Olias knew she had spent time as a Keeper’s companion.
“I saw a Keeper’s talisman that could bring things closer without moving them. You could look at a sawdust beetle like it was the size of a mouse. It could even bring the sun closer... and burn. The Keepers made it, infused it with their magic, and it still worked for whoever held it.”
Olias dug into the saddle bags and brought out the last of the dried meat and nuts.
“What will we do after today? Are you a good hunter?” Po asked very seriously.
Olias laughed. “Don't worry.” He felt the floor again. “I think we are almost there.”
“Where?” Po asked.
Olias just shrugged and tossed a nut into the air and caught it in his mouth, smiling as he chewed.
Barcus watched the exchange in his personal HUD. The translation appearing as subtitles. He paced back and forth in what he had started calling the “throne room.” It did have a raised dais at one end with a massive carved
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