253 Hostage Situation (2/2)

[Wilds seem to be more of a natural hazard. I'm afraid the other expeditions view them as vultures and jackals circling the fallen after the battle.]

[So… they all think WE did it?!] George groaned. [There goes our trade exports…]

[Relax. This could be a good thing for Kara-Goth's image.] Mindy consoled him. [At the very least, it could be a deterrent to piracy.]

[Just being in the Wildlands is deterrent to piracy. Or any sort of human activity.]

[You know what I mean. Having a reputation of a powerful military force can only be good for national security. Less people would dare muck around with a force that's so powerful.]

[There is indeed so powerful a force out here. It's just not us.] George grimaced.

[Doesn't matter. Any sky pirates out here would probably get sunk all the same.] Mindy shrugged. [So, I'm about done with dinner. Any plans to rescue me? Or shall I just get the Flame Emperor to rain fire and fight my way own out?]

[About that… you might want to brace yourself.] George advised.

[Why?] Mindy asked.

At that, the ground disappeared.

”Urghk!” Mindy shrieked, as she fell straight down a deep, deep hole, chair and all.

***

”Mindy?!” Fel blinked.

”Where is she?!” Fate was on his feet.

”We're doomed!” Damnaith cackled. ”The earth is going to swallow us all!”

”I don't think that was the earth's doing.” Sir Jared frowned. ”I'm sensing magic. But it's… deep. Very deep down.”

Sir Jared, of course, had never heard of Tier 6 Land Wyrms, the very same kind that tunneled right under Kara-Goth and through the pit long ago (or maybe not that long ago). Using such a Wyrm to tunnel under Mindy and rescue her would normally be a tricky venture, but then there was Remian, and he took care of the more sensitive details like the last layers of soil below Mindy, and catching her, and quickly spiriting her away down the giant wyrm tunnels atop the back of a grinning Carrie.

Once they were past, the Land Wyrm helpfully collapsed the tunnels beneath them, causing a tremor than shook the dinner table and then a sudden land sink that had everyone except Damnaith yelping and leaping to safety.

”The earth knows I'm already dead! It knows I should be buried!” Damnaith moaned as she sank deeper and deeper into the ground. ”Farewell, cruel world…!”

”Get out of there and stop being lazy.” Sir Jared scolded his student.

Darian cleared his throat. ”Now, let's deal.”

”Deal? With what? We just lost our hostage!” Damnaith cackled almost hysterically.

”Exactly! But we haven't.” Darian said.

”What are you talking about?” Sir Fate frowned.

”I'm talking about you guys.” Darian pointed out. ”Send a message to Ecclesia warning them off our territory for good. Have them sign a treaty, or you and the other knights here are going to get it.”

”I get it! This is a whole new hostage situation.” Fel exclaimed.

”That's right.” Darian nodded. ”From now on, until that treaty is signed, you guys are our hostages!”