The Birth of Fantasy

Chapter 23

Chief Wollow, the Ferret Beastkin, sat there staring back at me after I gave a persuasive lie about how I saved Luin, got blood all over her, and dug my way out of the hive. In the process, she became bound to me as a companion. He began rubbing the bridge of his nose and seemed to start hyperventilating.

"I'm sure I couldn't come up with a more complicated scenario than this one. There is only two way for the Bond to be broken. The death of one of you, or the willing dismissal of the bond by the one who accepted the Bond. Seeing as she looks like a sack of happy cakes, I doubt that's going to happen.

Bond Magic is a school of magic far less used and even lesser understood. It doesn't seem to use one's mana at all. Most recorded bonds happen with hunters and rangers who develop a kind of friendship with the creatures of the forest.

What is known is someone who bonds with another, can share experience and possible levels. How one such as yourself shares experience, I can't say.

For the sake of Ray'tha Rise, I ask you to speak with the Kobold's Alpha and come to an understanding with him sooner than later. The Kobolds need to understand this bond between you and Luin and accept it.

Maybe you can frame it as Luin saw you as the best possible way to grow stronger. Last resort? Tell them it was her wish for the Bond. Any disagreement would be seen as going against the Priestess of Gna'zanth. The text says her word is the law. At what age this becomes law is not evident within the texts."

"I don't want to cause any more conflict. Where can I find their alpha?"

"Near the dungeon, you will find the entrance to their underground warren. I'm sure you can gain an audience with him. I'm also sure news of both Luin and their head priest's actions have already reached his ear."

"Thank you for your time, Hollow. I will go and speak with him now."

"If you two can come to some agreement, I really do need your help with the dungeon. I wasn't joking about the need for someone. It could benefit the village and you at the same time. We need the dungeon cleared of the stronger monsters so the weaker of the miners can go back inside.

We've allowed them to populate for too long over the past year. The top layer has been handled, but I'm told the Shinehorns are more powerful and in more significant numbers. We don't know what's happened past them at this point.

Then we have the encroaching Gnits inside the forest. If you can find any information on those, it would be greatly appreciated. You will, of course, be compensated for your troubles. Take this as thank you for saving those you could, and as early payment for your future help," said Hollow tossing over a bracelet that clinked when it hit the table.

I picked the bracelet up and studied the metal objects hanging from it. Coins, maybe?

They were incredibly shinny and clean. Most of them were the color of copper and silver. The copper coins were in the shape of a triangle with rounded points and had three white gems embedded inside the coin so you could see from both sides. The silver coins were squared and again with rounded edges. These coins sported four small green gems. A single five-sided coin that looked to be made of gold had five blue gems.

Each coin sported a hole in the same shape as the coin at its center. The bracelet's braided leather cord passing through these holes. I would study them more later. I tossed the bracelet of coins inside my magic bag. "Thank you. We'll be going now."

Hollow waved us away, and we left the tavern with our two guards close behind. I asked them to direct us towards the dungeon and the Kobold's warren. The amount of Kobolds standing to the sides of the dirt path began to grow as we walked closer to the dungeon. I feared I would have to protect Kiszo's and these guards' lives at any moment. That fear was unfounded when we made it to the large cave entrance unmolested.