Chapter 920: Arc 9-31 (Shake)
Stampede That Shakes the Mountain, or Shake in all but the most formal occasions, liked to arrive at her guardhouse, Station One, early. Early for the Temple was earlier than most, well before dawn. It was the last hour of darkness, a time of stalking predators and vigilant prey.
Much like them, the first thing she did was survey her territory, prowling its boundaries to reassure herself that all was as it should be. There wasn’t much to be wary of; unsavory characters had little reason to be in District One, the heart of New Quest. The worst she had to contend with were senseless youths who threw dirt and putrid things on their wall, reckless pups that couldn’t understand their own mortality or the size of the threat they provoked with their misguided “heroics”. Still, inattention was never rewarded.
Aside from that, it felt good. As the heir of the Jeshau clan, she had some measure of authority, but it didn’t amount to much, not when the Temple had done the same things on the same land for generations. Their Sanctuary deserved its name but the Hall didn’t offer them the chance to grow. Those with a mind for ambition poured their efforts into the Ranch, a treacherous endeavor that sought to profit from the exploitation of the kin. It used to be those that trained mounts for the nobles of Harvest would only sell to those chosen by the beasts, those they knew would treat them with the respect they deserved.
The tribes separating from the Ranch, and ultimately the Hall, was a long time coming. History painted Dunwayne’s deal with the Temple as a peaceful and optimistic affair. In truth, it was closer to a rich man offering the poor bread. A starving man would be thankful for anything that kept him from a slow and painful death. But no matter his gratitude, in the back of his mind would linger the knowledge that the rich man could offer far more. That the system that allowed the man to be rich and charitable was the same system that had stripped the starving man of his home and left him with no way to feed himself. It was a gratitude built on resentment, like a beaten dog thanking its abusers for not delivering a finishing blow.
Some of the tribes had taken the beating and resolved to become like the men that betrayed them. Others bided their time. A forest could burn, but it always came back, stronger. They believed wholly that there would come a time when the Temple would be prosperous enough to break from the Hall and, eventually, the kingdom. Then they would live as their ancestors intended.
No one could have imagined their opportunity would appear in the guise of Lourianne Tome. As much as the tribes that remained true to the Temple’s teachings despised the machinations of the kingdom, they had to work within its boundaries. If they wanted to build a place of their own, they needed money and influence, which ultimately amounted to the same thing. It was why they tolerated the Ranch; the tribes had been saving money and amassing resources for years.
But now, there was no need. Lou was a generous employer. A guard made five silvers a week, a comfortable salary that could support a small family with simple tastes. That added up to twenty-six gold a year. Most would be able to put aside a few copper a week to build their savings. The Temple were not most people. They lived frugally. The tribes raised animals and were experienced foragers, practices that significantly reduced their greatest expense, food. A disciplined member of the Temple could survive on a dozen copper a month, perhaps less.
Shake wouldn’t ask them to; it was their money and they could spend it how they pleased. She would ask them to contribute what they could spare for the tribe’s future. The children of the Temple understood responsibility. She estimated even the most feckless would still offer a silver a week. A single guard would be donating a minimum of fifty-two silver a year to their communal coffers.
Shake convinced twenty of her peers to join her in defending the city. That meant, at a minimum, they would have ten gold to spend toward their future annually. That didn’t include “danger pay” and “emergency hours”, two chances to earn more than their standard salaries.
It couldn’t compare to the budget of nobles, or even particularly successful merchants, but it was far more than a group of unskilled and marginalized people had any right to make. It was more than the five gold the Ranch paid out to the tribes and the meagre salaries offered to the ranchers. Better, the money didn’t demand they compromise their beliefs.
More of the tribe joined the guard as the city was rebuilt; Shake would put as many of her people in the green uniform as Lou wanted. They would wait for their moment. When the time came, she would appeal to Lou for vassalage.
People looked down on the noblewoman for her lazy approach to governance, but it was perfect for the Temple’s ambitions. There was no hope of them rising amongst the noble houses that could never understand or respect them. The best they could hope for was to place themselves under the banner of an individual that was the exception to the rule. Lou was powerful enough that she would serve as a shield from the uglier ambitions lurking behind the crown.
Shake would happily ply Lou with women and pleasure if that meant the right to rule in her name. With her title and gold, they could buy their own land. Build their own villages. Live as they were meant to.
And it started with fulfilling her duties without flaw. For that, Shake was dedicated. After she completed her sweep, she went straight to her office. The time for luxury would come later. For now, it was functional, with a comfortable chair and large desk. A stack of notes sat in the middle of the repurposed wood, the different pieces joined together so smoothly it could only be magic.
Shake flipped through the papers; she didn’t expect to find anything important, as her guards had orders to wake her if there was anything that demanded immediate attention. The people of New Quest were too busy to cause trouble. Aside from a few scuffles, the notices were updates about the movement of the kin. They were taking to the city well, which was no surprise as it was designed for them. The people of the city, accustomed to bleak streets and their won noise, were struggling to adapt but once they had a chance to settle in, she had no doubt that they would come to appreciate the wonders of the natural world. And if not that, they’d certainly appreciate the lack of harmful insects and pests.
It didn’t take long to add the notices to her log for the previous day. She was in the middle of writing when a knock interrupted her.
She didn’t have the time to answer before the door swung open. Fur Like Ruby Fire, or Ruby, entered, bushy tail swinging and triangular ears perked. The energy wouldn’t last; much like the beast her clan followed, her energy came in bursts. Once the sun rose, she’d be asleep at her own desk. Still, she was effective when she was awake. More importantly, the Caipamoira Tribe were one of the few that incorporated magic in their path. Things were peaceful now, but New Quest was birthed from the ashes of the City of Magic and Adventure. When trouble inevitably roused itself from its nap, they would have to face spellcasters, but inept and well-trained.
Aside from that, Shake wanted her staunchest supporters around. Even the hardest prey fell to a pack in harmony.
Ruby skirted the desk and climbed onto Shake’s lap, tail thwapping against her side. “You are always writing about nothing.”
“There is plenty.” The information might seem useless now, but it would be something to compare future behaviors to. At the very least, it was good practice. “How goes your hunt?”
“The young of the tribe are eager to follow you but few of the teachers are willing to change.”
“They see better prey?”
“They are scared to trespass in the territory of such a fearsome predator.”
Shake scoffed. “We are welcomed.”
“They think Lou is fickle.”
What a stupid claim. They had witnessed Lou’s loyalty to those she claimed. She befriended Cloud and never waivered. She came to the Temple with an opportunity when she had the strength to demand obedience.
“Fear is a liar. Let it not cloud your eyes or silence your heart.”
“Mm. But I understand. Caution is the way of the kin.”
“Every hunt is a chance. The predator fails a dozen times before catching its dinner. They have gotten too accustomed to easy meals. They forget the spirit of our ancestors that followed the first teachers into the wilds.”
Ruby nuzzled her, the soft gesture calming Shake’s annoyance. “They will change their minds soon. Dunwayne will rest and the Hall will not be our sanctuary for long after.”
Shake grimaced at the reminder. The Harvest Hero invited the Temple to the Grand Hall to save lives. But decades had passed since then. There were those who thought that a group of eccentrics didn’t deserve a third of the flying land when they contributed so little. That the Ranch and its operations should be expanded. Dunwayne had used his position and reputation to stave off those interests, but if the old hero retired, the Temple would soon find themselves beset on all sides.
“We have a few years yet. There are concerns for today. Did you bring my request to the Wundo tribe?”
While they discussed expanding their forces, the door opened. Shake was about to rebuke the poor manners but stopped short as her senses registered her new boss.
Lou strolled into the room, her violet eyes and highlights distinctive even in the gloom of the early hour. The succubus followed behind her, an unconscious man over her slim shoulder. Bringing up the rear was the most distinctive of the group, which was quite an achievement.
Shake immediately thought one of the Temple’s elders had come out of seclusion, as the woman was a perfect blend of human and kin. The lack of markings made her doubt and more contradicting evidence made itself apparent the more she looked. The biggest clue was the eyes. The mind behind the slit pupils was too cold to have grown up around the community of the Temple. And the smell was wrong. The myriad scents of the city couldn’t hide the dank trail of a cave dweller.
A perfectly sculpted brow raised as Lou took in their intimate position. “This how you conduct meetings with your deputies?”
Shake’s eyes flicked over the noblewoman; she found no signs of disapproval, only amusement and faint lust. She allowed herself a smile. “It is good for morale and loyalty.”
“I bet,” she sighed wistfully.
“How can I serve, honored sister?”
“Can’t I visit to say hello to my favorite guard captain?”
“You can visit and do whatever you like.”
Shake’s smile widened as the Lou’s lust became more prominent. It was both gratifying and reassuring knowing the noblewoman desired her so strongly. She wasn’t in a unique position, but Lou was rare in that she treated even her more casual partners generously. It was the main reason she was confident in aligning herself under the noblewoman. Entertaining her aligned with Shake’s own interests and was hardly a sacrifice.
Unfortunately, Lou visibly reigned in her desires, forcing a serious frown to her lips. “There’s a criminal element brewing in our fair city. We’ve located a few of their hideouts. Are you prepared for a raid.”
Shake patted Ruby’s thigh and she scrambled to her feet. “Everyone, now.”
Ruby darted out of the room, flashing Lou a smile that the noblewoman returned. Shake’s eyes moved to the unconscious man. “One of the criminals?”
“Their leader. Callan Atkinson.” The succubus dropped her burden before Shake’s desk. He didn’t look like much of a criminal; he was too skinny to be a problem. “The first guest of your dungeons to be held until the city’s first trial. Time to see if everyone has been studying.”