Chapter 784: Conflict (1/2)

Ilea recounted some of her meetings with the Cerithil Hunters, and explained their goals. “I came across one of the Keys in my travels. With various enchantments we could track the others. It took some time to collect them but in the end it worked out. To the extent where the One without Form prevented teleportation to Iz, and sent machines to attack human settlements.”

“You used our teleportation network?” one of the dwarves asked. He looked just as old as Ormont, though with a considerably more chaotic beard.

“I know some very powerful space mages,” Ilea said, patting the Fae’s head.

The dwarf glanced down at the creature, seemingly satisfied with the answer.

“Which means you changed the directives? Or turned off the Sphere?” Ormont asked.

Quite knowledgeable. “I tried to remove the directives, yes. But the One without Form argued that would go against the directives.”

He grinned. “Yes. Of course it would,” he shook his head lightly.

“You were right,” another gray haired dwarf said and chuckled. “After all this time.”

“You cannot seriously consider her words the truth?” another old dwarf spat, his grimace furious for a mere second before he managed to control himself. His gray beard looked smooth, longer than what everyone else wore.

“Why not? The machines are gone. You have seen them leave,” the other one said. “And you have seen the keys. You have always been stubborn, Gorn. Our thoughts no longer have to stay hidden. I shut my mouth for thousands of years, and now I can say it. You were wrong. The One without Form was a mistake. And it would have been our last one if it weren’t for these brave elves and this human!”

Several people drew their weapons, a few spells flaring up at the same time.

Ilea teleported the projectiles and weapons into a nearby wall without a comment.

“Enough!” Ormont bellowed. “Is this how we are to behave! We are the Guilds of Io, the remnants of the Taleen.” His words were harsh, each one spoken with conviction. “We have brought enough shame upon ourselves. And we have remained. We have fought, have survived, and we have waited. It is now that we shall stand together, and move forward with this change. Be it Henel, fate, or mere probability, but the One without Form is gone. The machines have retreated from our city.”

“We stand defenseless,” Joori said.

“We did not stand. We knelt,” Ormont spoke, his voice a thunder now. “Do not speak to me, boy. You were not yet born when our people ruled the mountains of these lands, when we were feared, when we-” he broke off. And looked at Ilea. His eyes were tired.

“No, go on, that was cool,” she said.

“How is it…” the choatic beard dwarf started. “How is it you removed the Guardian? If the keys did not allow you to change the directives.”

“I opened up the sphere, and went inside,” Ilea said with a smile. She could see some of the dwarves tense up, only a few of the really old ones.

“Y… you said… the assault happened… today,” the dwarf said, stuttering lightly.

“Yes,” Ilea said.

“But… the heat. Even our tests we… no… I need my research. A nonsense, it’s all in Iz!” he stood up and sat down again.

“You went inside the Sphere using the emergency access?” another dwarf asked.

“I told you she lied,” Gorn said.

“I’m happy to have a conversation. But I won’t stand here while you call me a liar,” Ilea said, enhancing the last word with Monster Hunter, the fires of creation flaring up for a few seconds as many of the dwarves sat frozen. Not the one she addressed, but she didn’t mind. She could tell he knew what the flames meant. It seemed many ancient beings did.

Violence, the Baron said and nodded happily.

“She’s standing there with a Fae in her hand. I suppose it’s possible,” Borin said. “I would very much like to see that however. May I ask you to repeat that while we watch from a distance?”

Ilea shook her head. “Absolutely not. My teeth melted.”

Some of the people averted their eyes.

“Worse than dragonfire,” she said.

A wave of murmurs went through the Guild representatives.

Bragging, the Baron sent.

“A little,” Ilea sent back.

“So let us assume, you truly went into the sphere,” Ormont spoke. He was back to being somewhat calm, taking a few steps towards her.

Joori seemed a little more mellow now. He had been frozen by her call.

“How did you replace the Guardian? As far as I understand, the One without Form is integrated into the control room,” Ormont said.

“I won’t tell you that,” Ilea said. “Just in case you want to reverse it.”

“Any controller directly inserted would work,” Borin said.

“There is nothing complex enough to overtake the One without Form,” another said.

A few of the dwarves glanced at each other.

“There is. There are. Plenty of prototypes existed, and more could have been made in the time between then and now,” Ormont spoke. “It is truth I have not spoken since we were forced to hide in this city, but the One without Form was only one option.”

“The best option we had,” Borin said in a thoughtful manner. “As much as it annoys me to admit that.”

Gorn grunted. A small victory for the other dwarf.

Jesus fuck how long are these guys going to hold grudges?

“Why was it such a rush anyway?” Ilea asked.

Ormont glanced at some of the other old dwarves. He sighed and looked at her. “There were… Monarchs. Hunting for what we had found in Kohr. A mere accident. They should have never known.”

“They wanted it?” Ilea asked. She could tell plenty of the present people didn’t know what exactly they were talking about.

“I did not know their motives, nor do I now. However… that power. I do not know what being could resist its allure,” Ormont said. “Does the sphere remain guarded?”

Ilea smiled at him. “The Sphere Guardians are still around. As am I,” she said and gave him a long look.

He nodded slowly. “That is… good. I suppose.” He opened his mouth ever so slightly but closed it again.

“The Cerithil Hunters, as you called them. What claims did they bring forth? What have they mentioned of our kind?” Ormont asked.

“I don’t know. I think the purpose they shared is fulfilled now. If you’re scared if some of them will come to hunt you down… well, I can see that happening. You are in fact responsible for this whole shit. There were deaths in Riverwatch too, you know? But I’m not sure how much responsibility you really carry for that after thousands of years,” she said. Being basically imprisoned. Shown the failure of your creation. Every. Single. Day.

Ilea knew these had once been powerful dwarves. Tyrants maybe, benevolent rulers, creators. But whatever they once were, what she saw was a group of survivors. A group of prisoners. It was difficult for her to associate them with the actions of the One without Form.

Ormont raised his chin. “We were at war. Thousands were killed every week. Entire cities slaughtered. For nothing but bloodlust and sick joy. Uncaring killing and greed.” He paused and shook his head. “Ash now. Thousands of years past. It was our greed that led to it all. It was our failure… as makers. I have lived with that knowledge. With that shame. And yet I will not forget the dead. Should you wish to judge me, I will be found guilty. And yet still I will fight, for Io, and for our people. For them I prevailed. And I will continue to do so, until I am struck down. By you. By an elf, or by the very Guardian of Iz.”

Ilea locked eyes with him for a few seconds. Nobody else made a sound as he took in rasping breaths. “Well. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. You had a long time to consider the things you did. And I suppose you all have a chance now. To rebuild. How exactly that will look like… I think is mostly up to you.”

“I assume you lay claim to Iz, the Guardian, and everything we built?” Ormont asked, his breathing still somewhat heavy.

Ilea shrugged. “The Guardian lays claim to himself. The rest, I think is up for discussion.”

“Very well. And we shall discuss. I call a vote of the Guilds, to enter talks with the Meadow Accords. In an effort to create favorable terms for the security of Io and its people,” Ormont spoke.

Hands were raised before someone spoke out. “All votes in favor.”

“The motion is passed,” Ormont spoke. He tapped his head while looking at her.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Lilith. Should the Cerithil Hunters claim their revenge. I merely ask of you to tell us. So that we may fight. Little of our strength remains. Their victory is certain. But I cannot bear the thought of an unhindered slaughter, after all this time. The least I wish for is to die with my hammer in hand,” he said, raising his chin as he looked up to meet her eyes.

“Ormont. I don’t like what you did. I don’t like what the One without Form did. But if an elf reaches this city in an effort to kill innocent people born and raised in Io, I will put them down myself,” Ilea sent.

He looked at her for a few more seconds and nodded ever so slightly. “I thought them foolish. To send someone like you. I was wrong.”

“Way to insult me,” Ilea sent and smiled.

He looked at her and started chuckling, everyone else looking on in confusion.

“She has telepathy,” Ormont said.

“Well that just takes the fun out of it,” Ilea sent to everyone.

Violence! the Fae sent. Apparently to everyone as well.