Sooner or later you gotta stop ruminating and editing and just post the darn thing amiright
Moment Three: In Union
The settlement was abuzz with movement. High atop wooden lattice erected around the castle, workers were hastily mortaring the curtain wall where the dragon’s heat had fractured the stone a week earlier. Food stores were being hidden away in the cavern below the castle, in advance of an expected visit from the Home Owner’s Association.The mysterious figure that had negotiated peace between the dragon and human clan had now been appointed a directory role in everyday affairs, and he was already laying out plans for an expansion to the castle fort. To this end, masons and carpenters were surveying the land between the castle and the nearby ocean.
Within the castle walls, a small group had gathered in the courtyard, murmuring incoherently to each other as they surrounded the newly appointed Master of the House and a couple of other citizens. The crowd was lingering outside the prison cell, a small cavity built into the castle wall, no bigger than a coat closet. A roughly forged gate of iron was held fast by a thick oak timber laid horizontally across the doorway, and the small room was occupied by a single human skeleton, peering out at the crowd bitterly. The Master of the House peered back.
“I’ll have to admit, I wasn’t expecting quite so many judicial matters.” The infant, now large enough for the people to see, crawled up to the prison bars. Most of the castle folk made little effort to disguise their aversion to his twisted and unnatural appearance, but the creature took little notice of what he had grown so accustomed to. To the people’s credit, some of the older ones were completely unfazed; having grown old in a dreamscape, the oddities they had seen had become innumerable.
“Hello.” The larvae squinted through the shadows at the skeleton, despondently leaned against the castle wall. “What’s your name?” The tone of the skeleton’s reply was a sardonic one.
“Angelo. What’s yours?” He asked, although his voice betrayed his disinterest. The small creature outside the cell gave up a sad, understanding smile and turned away to the blacksmith standing proudly behind him.
“I thought this little trip had to do with a recent bout of sickness?” The bug asked. The man aimed his hammer at Angelo in response.
“It was his food, was makin’ us sick,” the smith barked, his voice laced with fresh accusation. “Almost soon as we locked him up, folks stopped havin’ aches. Took a few weeks for the shakin’ to quit, though.”
“The food was making you shake? Or was this after you locked him away?”
The blacksmith twisted his mouth and tilted his head. “Mostly after, I guess. But sometimes it happened while he was still sellin’. Some folks couldn’t stop until they ate more of his food, but most of us didn’t shake 'til we had to get our own.”
The human-larvae hybrid eyed the ground absently, chasing a thought. “What are you eating now? Aren’t you collecting your crops from the same fields? And you’re not sick in the slightest?”
“Coulda been poisoned,” offered a villager from the crowd.
“Well, did you find poison in his shop?” The smith shook his head as the others murmured a like consensus.
The master of the house addressed the skeleton in the cell. “What exactly did you sell them?”
Angelo brushed his ruddy hair from his face and shrugged. “Bread, mostly. Cheese and milk too. Everything else was got from the fields, or the wild lands; I just charged the labor.”
“You made the cheese yourself?” The larva inquired, but the baker shook his head.
“Can’t farm dairy independently anymore. There’s a company, Fonduera, has it in with the Association. All sorts of laws that let ‘em control that market. I’ve heard stories from family farther inland that they’ve been told at gunpoint to stop milkin’ the cows, even had the cows shot. Called themselves ‘security’; sounds more like military to me. But that’s just what I heard.”
The human-larvae nodded his understanding. “I’ve heard of similar situations in other lands I’ve travelled. I assume you’ve had to switch to their product?”
Angelo nodded, his dour expression fading. “Yeah. That’s why the price is higher, and it’s not as good. But I couldn’t afford to lose that portion of sales, it’s too much of the business.”
The insect nodded again, and after a brief moment of thought, spoke his command. “Let him out.”
A low burst of objection rose up from the small crowd. The blacksmith, clearly offended by the notion, spoke again on their behalf.
“What for? We just told you why he’s in there.” The small creature turned to look up at the defiant man, his eyes almost expressionless.
"You said some of you would shake uncontrollably when you hadn’t eaten his product for awhile, but you’re still eating the same crops and wild gatherings he sold, with no side effects. The only source you don’t have access to any longer is Fonduera, because there’s no one here to sell their product now that Angelo is imprisoned. I think it’s likely the problem lies with the company, not the salesman. There’s nothing naturally addictive about a glass of milk, last I had checked, and Angelo no longer has a say in where he sources his dairy, so the dairy is probably the issue.
“If Fonduera has somehow gained the legal freedom to threaten independent farmers out of business, then they’re probably purchasing someone’s authority. If they’re willing to do that, then they’re likely willing to put harmful additives in their food, especially if it secures a recurring customer base. My point being, Angelo didn’t poison you, he was simply trapped in a capital system he had no control over, and couldn’t afford to leave. So, again, let him out.”
Some of the villagers were confused by the hurried pace of it, and a couple were nodding along with the simple logic. The smith, for his part, was struggling to mask his anger, but begrudgingly stepped forward and raised the door brace regardless. A few people awkwardly clapped their hands as Angelo stepped timidly into the bright moonlight. The human baby larvae turned in position and faced the dead baker.
“Angelo, I’m making you a citizen of this place. You’ll retain the freedom to seek additional citizenship elsewhere, but in this territory, you’ll have the same rights as anyone else.” The Master turned his head and spoke over his shoulder to the crowd, before his voice was lost in the rising volume of theirs.
“I want you to show this man the same respect you would show me, or anyone else in your clan. We’re all struggling enough without turning on each other. Reserve this cell for those who’ve earned it.” The Human Baby Larvae turned again to Angelo. “No more dairy until I can convince local farmers to sell again. I understand business will be difficult for a while; please do your best with what you have and I’ll accommodate where I can, understand?”
Angelo nodded, almost eagerly. “How did you figure it out so fast? Took these lot three whole months to get nowhere at all, and that’s with me spellin’ it out for 'em.” He called after the Master of the House, who was already moving away, toward the main gate.
“They went looking for trouble and found some, it just wasn’t the trouble they needed to see. Don’t spend too much time looking for it; it’s usually enough just to notice.” the new Master called back his reply as he crawled. “Anyway, It’s a story I’ve heard before.”
~IV 
IV~
The Human Baby Larvae completed a circle of individuals in the clearing ahead of the castle gate, grouped around a small wooden table. With him were Maxus, a woman named Linda, and the dragon, whose name was Oram. Completing the group was a small amphibian individual, a priestess of her nearby village. Nearby, Pumpkin Dog rolled around in the dust, chasing a grasshopper.
“I don’t fully understand. Are they a monarchy? An elected government?”
Maxus shook his head. “They’re more like a corporation, everything is numbers and office etiquette to them. They set and enforce the ordinance, and hire in new leadership.”
“They don’t enforce it, they just fine the snot out of everyone until we enforce it on ourselves,” Linda griped. “I’d already have a small village built if it weren’t for all those fines.”
HBL gestured his point. “They could enforce it, if they hired out a private military.”
“Oh, like Fonduera?” Maxus groused.
HBL nodded. “Like Fonduera. Or it may be easier to just contract that company, if they already have a close relationship.”
“Well,” Maxus sighed, crossing his arms. “We don’t have much of a military ourselves. Fighting Oram was hard enough, with almost no weaponry and few able bodies.”
HBL turned to Oram. “How do you feel about fighting for the House?”
“You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. Just point the way.”
“Pumpkin Dog and I will join you,” said the Master. “I’m willing to bet you’ll fight too, Maxus.”
“Of course,” said the archer, scoffing at any idea otherwise. He shifted the topic. “I sent out messengers to the local farmers and nearer villages, like you asked. I really don’t think a lot of them will respond, though.”
HBL shrugged. “Most of them will need more than a promise. I don’t expect much, off the bat.” He looked down the path and pointed. “Here they come.”
Down the road, a small green autocarriage, printed with the English letters ‘HOA’, rumbled along the grassy pathway, throwing up a thin cloud of dust in its wake. The priestess of the amphibian village, Liatris, voiced her dissent.
“I am concerned this will not work,” she lamented, urgency in her tone. “Their ignorance has always been our security. If they retain their power after this exchange, they will not hesitate to control us the way they control you.”
“I won’t allow that, priestess.” HBL turned to face her, a reassuring expression somehow present in his insectoid face. “You are under my protection now, just the same as everyone else. There’s no need to hide any longer; just help me navigate this meeting and I’ll repay you in kind, please.” Liatris nodded, albeit not enthusiastically.
The autocarriage slowed to an idle fifty yards out, rotating to face the other direction and bringing the engine to a halt. There was a long pause as the person inside, presumably, gathered themselves together.
“Alright, think twice before you speak.” HBL eyed the carriage like a predator stalking prey. “As far as they know, we’re meeting to discuss an expansion project. Don’t give them anything to work with if you don’t have to.”
The carriage door opened. A short humanoid in a close-fit suit stepped awkwardly from the car and walked briskly toward the group, a leather-bound binder tucked beneath her arm.
“Four above,” she called out, a winning smile on her face.
“Four below,” was HBL’s cheery reply. He expanded his size and shape to match hers and moved to meet her halfway.
Maxus squinted his eyes a bit, thinking. After so many months of conflict, he found himself drawn back to HBL’s earlier line of thought. “What could he do in a real fight?”
Linda shrugged, slouching back in her chair. “Shake their hand? I don’t know. Maybe give 'em a heart attack, if they’re not already used to him.” She laughed at her own joke while Maxus scolded her.
“Oh, he wouldn’t mind.” She waved her hand. “Oram, whaddaya think? Does the Master of the House have any secret karate moves we don’t know about?” She rocked her shoulders as she said ‘karate moves’, grinning playfully.
Oram huffed a mild laugh. He stretched his wings, settling into a sitting position. “I really doubt it’s karate.”
The group watched as HBL reached the HOA representative, extending a welcoming hand. The woman was visibly reluctant at first, clearly avoiding eye contact with the disturbing hybrid before her. Nevertheless,professionalism won out, and she embraced his with hers graciously.
“Oh, Maxus, look.” Linda smiled and pointed. “He’s already winning.”
~ IV IV ~
HBL stood at the shore, peering cautiously out at the sea. Far off, an unknown vessel cut through the tossing waves, obscured by the soft rain, known only by the violent flicker of the lanterns. His eyes followed that light as it moved steadily across his field of view, a bit farther left each second passed. He didn’t pull his eyes away until he heard the sound of heavy tread, the tall grass hissing as it scratched against the approaching person’s legs with each step. He turned to see the clan leader step into the rocky shore, and turned back to the agitated surf.
“You know to be perfectly honest, I don’t really understand what happened back there.” Maxus took his place to HBL’s right. “She seemed pretty happy with the way the conversation ended.”
HBL shrugged. “There’s not much to understand. From what I’ve observed, the Association doesn’t pay much attention to logic or reason when they write their laws; it’s only just enough to exploit you, so it wasn’t difficult to find a loophole. She was only satisfied because she’s too confident in her own system to notice its weakness. She probably thinks we were confused.”
“One of us was.”
The larvae chuckled in reply. “All that matters is a signed agreement affording us relative freedom. Until they realize what it is and void it, anyway, but it should buy us time away from them. That’s all we really need.”
“Well.” The old farmer shifted his footing. “As long as one of us gets it, huh?”
The two watched the rain together for a moment, listening to the patter of droplets against the stone shore. The far light had escaped view, no doubt obscured by the rising land that flanked the bay.
Maxus opened his mouth to speak, but the words were caught short by something inside. When he found them again, he looked down at the water sloshing by his boots, bashful discomfort playing on his features.
“I meant to thank you before, for working things out with Oram.”
“You were the one who negotiated peace with him, not me,” the larva refuted, calmly. Maxus furrowed his brow and shook his head, dismissively, and maybe with a hint of irritation.
“Now… Hold on a moment, let me finish.” HBL almost replied, but chose instead to stay silent. Only the patter of rainfall on the tall grass attempted to interrupt Maxus as he spoke.
“I guess the odds are I’d have gotten everyone killed sooner or later if you hadn’t showed up, and I just owe you a thank you. I didn’t know what Oram was about, and I just…” Maxus grimaced. “I got a lot of people killed for it. Could have been more.” HBL shook his head as he faced Maxus.
“I think you did the best you could with what you knew. There were poor decisions, yes, but none borne of neglect or pride. You said it yourself, you didn’t know he had a nest here. You didn’t even know he was more than an animal.”
“Yeah, and I tried to kill him like one.” Maxus shook his head again. He made a lazy gesture toward the House. “Anyway, I hear them talking, and everyone is grateful for the peace and quiet you’ve made for them. We’re all pretty glad you’re here.” HBL smiled, still a wicked expression even in a human form.
“Thank you,” HBL said softly as he turned back to the water. Maxus nodded quickly, but couldn’t stand the seriousness of the moment.
“Well, everyone but the Home Owner’s Association.”
HBL barked a laugh. “And Fonduera, I suppose.”
“And Donny, unfortunately.”
HBL smirked as he turned again to Maxus. “That’s the blacksmith, right? I did find it difficult connecting with him.”
Maxus grinned and shrugged his uncertainty. “He doesn’t get along with anyone at first, or usually ever. Just part of who he is.”
“I’m still not entirely sure what exactly he wanted me to do. Angelo was in a cell; nobody is sick anymore. He seemed to think he had solved the problem.”
Maxus sighed and leaned back in a stretch. “I think he just wanted to impress you, make sure he’s not on the sidelines. Everybody knows you’re driving the horses now and, well, I don’t want to speak ill of anyone, but Donny’s got an ego and he likes to keep it fed. Good man, though. Takes care of his people.”
“I’m sure of it.” HBL’s eyes caught another flicker of flame through the mist hanging over the sea, noting its direction.
“Who are they?” He asked, pointing a finger at the light.
“No idea,” Maxus said. “They never come here.”
“Hmm.” HBL rocked his head in thought. “We’ll need to make some friends soon. I just incited a revolution against a very powerful government.”
“You want to contact them?” Maxus nodded to the far, unseen ship. “We’d need to build our own ship first.”
“No, not them. Well… maybe, at some point. But we’ve got to finish a few other projects before that, like the docks. I was thinking of another people in particular. Could you do me a favor in the meantime?”
“Yeah, sure.” Maxus crossed his arms. “What do you need?” HBL turned around and pointed to the castle.
“Every time a trader comes by, offer them a permanent camp across the river from the castle, right around there.” HBL made a rough circle in the air, toward a relatively flat portion of land. “We need this place to become a major hub, trade and the like, and that won’t happen if it’s just fifty farmers and a dragon.” Maxus pursed his lips, already planning the encampment layout.
“Sure, makes sense to me.” He paused for a moment, then huffed a sigh. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m an old man and I’m pretty well beat, so I’m off to bed.”
“I’ll stay a while, I think.” HBL turned back to the sea, catching the second light just as it passed beyond sight. “Thank you, Maxus. Sleep well tonight.”
Maxus waved and headed back up the path. The Human Baby Larvae kept his post for another long while. The rain had since let up a bit, and he hoped to see a third vessel with a clearer view, but none came. He let his mind wander, imagining what those people might be like, and where they come from…
…ind him, we’ll have nowhere to hide.
The hybrid king jolted around, frantically chasing the horizon with his piercing eyes.
‘…Ellion?’
Lord?
The Master of the House ran clumsily on human legs up the path and around the castle wall. He again scanned the horizon, seeking the source of the voice in his mind.
‘Ellion, where are you?’
My Lord, I’m in the wastes. Bastion and I are sheltering in a canyon. We feared you dead, my Lord.
‘No, I am alive.’ HBL smiled. 'I thought perhaps Thymos had killed you, as well.
Fortunately not, my Lord. Are you well? I’ve not heard your mind so clearly before.
‘I found a way to lift the veil. I am free, Ellion, or will be soon.’
Lord, we are hunted by the swarm. We wish to be free of Thymos as well, if you would have us.
‘I would. Follow my voice, Ellion. I have a new home for you.’
