1.63

““You have lost more than you can dream. Yet, and yet, Yvlon Byres—mourn. Weep. Sit there as long as you must. But Izril will demand you to one day rise again and stand. You must. You will.””

““—If only I could catch them as they fell.””

““I am sorry, Yvlon. I am so…I hoped you would come out of there covered in glory. I did not know. I cannot be everywhere. I should be, but I am one woman. Even now, you will not see me for some time. I am going north. Leaving all of you to your fates.””

““…There are those who did not seek this. Something is happening, Yvlon. I need to seek it out. This time—I can’t be too late.””

““You did all you could. You…were so brave. I am sure you were. If I could have—I always hope you succeed. You did not need me. That was what I thought. I am an unkind [Lady] of House Reinhart because I always expect it of you and all the others. I truly did think I would see you at a party in your honor. Now, I wish I could stay. But…””

““They died well. I would not have expected mere—they rose above what they were. For that, I honor them.””

““She has no coin or anything else. Everything she owned was lost in the Ruins. Her comrades, her pride, her health—what more would you take from her, good Captain?””

““Very good, Lady Reinhart. I shall take the carriage around back.””

““…Hello?””

““It should be more beautiful than that. It must be. I have to prove to her why I am different. Why I am—better.””

““…I would rather take all my time for those who try for everything. Should I have meddled?””

““You have lost your team. Your friends. This moment must seem unbearable.””

““Old man? You go too far, child. First, you give me orders to find people as if I were your personal [Diviner]. Then you lecture me on—””

““I don’t bother with holding tails. I let the young make their own mistakes. It worked with me.””

““Ksmvr was a fool. He nearly cost the Hive the city, our position here and status across the continent, and…other assets. I will deal with him soon enough.””

““A scar will haunt her—perhaps she will want it. But one cannot be undone. Something, Ressa.””

““All the adventurers who went in are dead. Only a handful remain, and they’re in no condition to repay anyone for anything. They’ve suffered enough. Leave them alone.””

““The Council wants to hold someone responsible. And if it won’t be the adventurers, it will be this Guild. You choose which one.””

““One moment, Teriarch. Ressa—I am speaking to an old man with difficulties in splitting his attention. Really, do you think this is appropriate?””

““Harder, better, faster, stronger, huh?””

““No. I let my family make their own choices, for better or worse. I do not interfere. Would you think less of me for that?””

““Will she recover, Ressa? She looks as Ulva did after Petra died.””

““It is called the Rite of Anastases. It is a…process which the Queen of the Antinium may undertake. It allows the dead to be reborn into a new body. A secret of the Antinium.””

““—I just thought that if you were here, you could settle this young woman’s accommodations. Especially if you aren’t taking her. Liscor is rebuilding, and the Adventurer’s Guild doesn’t take charity.””

““The process to revive me. It was a delicate matter that occupied the Queen’s full attention. Without her guidance, Ksmvr did what he deemed best. He chose wrongly.””

““Thank you, Reynold. I—I may take a while.””

““I want those Humans responsible for unleashing the undead held accountable!””

““Some wouldn’t mind your presence. I—personally think you’re a dangerous distraction. But fine. You have a right to see her. You two are related, aren’t you?””

““How else would they rise?””

““They have nothing. Nothing will be gained from blaming them, either. The Council was glad enough when they volunteered to explore the ruins. This is on their tails as much as ours.””

““Someone must. But I don’t believe she or any of the adventurers has enough coin to cover the costs.””

““No. No, Guildmistress. I am not here. In fact, I should be grateful if you let me tarry a moment…then I will depart. Without interfering in your city or falling afoul of your Council. I know that I am not—well liked here.””

““Is something wrong, Guildmistress? I hope you do not wish to bring up—the past at this moment.””

““I think the Watch Captain will appreciate it. It will keep her from jailing the survivors. Selys, send a Runner for the Merchant’s Guild and make a list of the homes that got wrecked. And the families that lost members of the Watch. That idiot, Lism, might know about children.””

““That is broadly correct, yes.””

““I’m just going to lie down for a while.””

““In truth, only a Prognugator would be considered…worthy of the effort and time required for such an act. Moreover, it is not something done lightly. There are consequences. I have lost ten levels in every class. A considerable setback, although my new body reduces the impact on my abilities quite significantly. And the time it took—my Queen labored for nearly two weeks without rest to restore my being.””

““If you’re going to try and shake her, you might as well give up. She doesn’t respond.””

““I wish I could stay.””

““Over two hundred guardsmen and nearly a thousand civilians perished before the Hive was mobilized. Had they broken the Watch Captain’s lines, the number would be tenfold despite our sortie. She acted very bravely.””

““Three hundred sixty-five Soldiers and a hundred and forty-seven Workers. Nearly half again as many are wounded, but the losses were quite minimal.””

““I can’t say. She’s tough. Her entire family is.””

““Ressa. I have so much to do. And so little time for someone who does nothing with everything. I would rather…””

““That’s a lot of work.””

““There is much that must be done. Reparations must be made to the city. The Antinium did not honor their promise. We must rebuild, put up barriers outside the Ruins.””

““The Prognugator role was never meant for specialized action. Moreover, it was thought that the Worker form would allow a Prognugator to blend in to reduce the dangers of assassination during times of war. This new form will greatly improve my abilities.””

““Take Zevara to the leader of the adventurers she wants to blame so badly. Let her make her case there.””

““She may want the scar.””

““She might die out here. She didn’t look like she was doing well. Theofore claims she’s mostly stealing.””

““She has quite a lot on her. If I took her in, then what? She would be the most insufferable headache imaginable. To me, personally, to you…””

““It’s Guildmaster. This way, Reinhart. You won’t take her?””

““She made it all the way here. That’s actually commendable. Was that—kind?””

““That girl. What of her, Ressa? Yes, I saw her. Yes, she made it far. Commendable in some respects.””

““A war would be tenfold higher at the very least. A hundredfold. It was a small price to pay and would have been smaller still had my predecessor not erred. Had we fought alongside the Watch, we would have pushed the undead back without taking nearly so many losses. Had they held the gates, less than a hundred might have died.””

““Ksmvr believed the Queen had to be protected above all else. He withdrew all Soldiers into the Hive while she finished the Rite of Anastases.””

““Yes. I am swifter, more mobile, and possess several changes to my anatomy not incorporated into other Antinium. The older design of four arms was inefficient. This new body will serve me better.””

““Others? Ah. You mean the individuals who were once Workers. No.””

““Stubborn child. If you really wish to push this—Selys!””

““Why didn’t you, then? I mean—he. Ksmvr. Ksmvr…didn’t fight?””

““It was nothing.””

““You let them try.””

““Yvlon? My dear—it’s me. Can you hear me?””

““There were other material costs as well. The Hive would not be able to support such an action more than once or twice. The others—””

““Hey, Toren! Get your bony butt down here and help me lift this thing!””

““Okay. I understand. I think. Then…does that mean you can revive the others who died?””

““Has she considered working? One imagines she could.””

““Lady Reinhart. Is that how I should address you?””

““Oh. Are you here for your guest? If you want to take her…””

““And you’re going to do it? You’re the new Prognugator? Or does Ksmvr still have that job?””

““No…nor does she seem keen on speaking with any Drakes or Gnolls. But her gold’s run out.””

““Get away from them. Get—””

““Someone must pay.””

““Ressa, can you…? An ointment or something?””

““Um. Hi. Follow me, Watch Captain.””

““Two arms are better than four?””

““No. Nonono. It wasn’t her, was it?””

““Magnolia! Magnolia Reinhart! It’s me!””

““Why did he do that? What Rite?””

““How did you come back?””

““Thanks for saving me. Really.””

““Miss Solstice. Are you alright?””

““How many Antinium? Your people…?””

““I get it.””

““Not at all.””

““It was something.””

““He does not.””

““What’s with the new body? Upgrades?””

““Will—this do? For lodging?””

““No. Did she do this? Did—””

““Are they…eating it?””

““Y-yes, Grandmother.””

““Shit.””

““Very well.””

““Distantly.””

““Human.””

““Guildmistress.””

““Yes. Many things.””

““…Really?””

““How many?””

““Why not?””

““Klbkch?””

““Ceria? Calruz?””

““Yes.””

““Yes.””

““Oh.””

““Thanks.””

““Okay.””

““Oh.””

““Yes.””

““Yes, Erin?””