The Fusionist Book 3 -- Chapter 37

Chapter 37

“No! This is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard!”

Karley slapped her fist down on the Major’s desk, emphasizing her point. She didn’t know where this kind of asinine idea her boss had come up with had originated, but it was ignorant and short-sighted – not to mention dangerous.

“I don’t care what you think of my orders, but I will not have you blatantly flaunting your insubordination for everyone to hear. Keep your voice down, or I’ll be forced to take drastic measures to ensure your voice is never heard again.”

The threat coming from Major Kuama’s mouth was enough for Karley to snap her jaws shut on the next thing she was about to say. She highly doubted that she would be permanently silenced, as they needed every single member of the SIC in or around Whittleton alive in order to maintain the safety of the roads, but that didn’t mean her boss couldn’t make her life a living hell in the process.

With a more even and quieter tone, the Elementalist said, “I apologize for my outburst. I’m just seeking to understand what could possibly possess you to think this was a smart idea.”

“That’s better. I respect your opinion, but I can’t have you acting like this when other people can hear.” The older woman leaned her elbows on her desk and rubbed at her temples, and for the first time Karley saw the deep exhaustion that lined the Major’s face. While they weren’t exactly friends, the Major had been in charge of Whittleton’s SIC forces since the Elementalist had arrived a few years ago, and Karley had a healthy respect for the powerful Martial. From what she understood, the common-born Impaler was only a year or so away from retirement age, though she suspected that the spear-wielding woman would continue to serve in the SIC until the day she could no longer hold up a weapon. It wasn’t that rare for those who’ve served decades in the SIC to continue along that path after their required duty was done, as it was the only thing that many of them knew; returning to “normal” life afterward was sometimes scarier than facing down a horde of monsters.

Major Kuama waved her toward a chair, and only after reluctantly sitting down on the edge of its seat, did her boss speak. “We have no choice, Karley.  We need something to even the odds against these monster hordes out there, and I’ve gotten no response from the higher-ups on when we might expect to see any reinforcements. You know this better than anyone other than me, because there’s not much you miss around here.” There was a small smile that quickly vanished as the Major looked at her. “As much as I’d like to say that things are going well, they aren’t. I know that Swanek was a pain in the butt, but he was helping to keep the roads safe for travel just as all of the other patrol groups we sent out. With him and his group dead, it’s slowly becoming obvious that it’s only a matter of time before everyone else from the SIC is whittled down until there are no defenders left.

“That’s why we need to act now before it’s too late.”

Karley shook her head, though she didn’t voice her disagreement. That was because she didn’t really disagree that things currently weren’t looking good, and the eventual demise of everyone in the SIC inside Whittleton was inevitable if things didn’t change soon. But that didn’t mean her boss’s idea to act now showed anything approaching intelligence.

“And so your solution to that is to abandon everyone in Whittleton to the monster hordes? How does that, in any way, make sense?” It’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard, she thought again.

“We’re not going to abandon them forever,” the older woman retorted. “We’re just going to take all our forces to Thanchet and link up with them. From there, we’ll be able to branch out with the combined forces and cover more of the southern portion of the Kingdom. If anyone is going to have reinforcements, it’ll be one of the cities where a Fort and Academy is located; it will be in their best interests to take on more responsibility for the surrounding area, which would include the roads around Whittleton. I’ve already heard about a few other towns sending their forces to join up with the regional headquarters down in Thanchet already, and it is the best idea to consolidate our numbers to combat this everchanging situation.”

“What about the people of Whittleton?”

“What about them?” the Major asked. “The town hasn’t been attacked in months, nor have any of the monsters roaming around even approached the walls. We aren’t trained to handle this kind of situation, Karley, and the only way we’re going to get help is if we go out and seek it.”

“But you’re talking about abandoning your duty here!”

The powerful Martial shook her head. “No, our duty is to protect the people of the Kingdom from the threat of the Scissions, but we can’t do that as we are. Another year or two as it is right now and we won’t have anyone left to send out to clear the roads. Something about the way the SIC responds to these threats needs to change, and this is just the start of making those changes. It might not be what you want to hear, but it’s what needs to happen.”

Karley slumped back in her chair, unable to think of another protest that the Major wouldn’t just shut down immediately.

“We’re beginning our trek to Thanchet tomorrow afternoon.”

Tomorrow? So soon?

“Oh, and Zorey mentioned something about these individuals who helped to fight off the Dechonabras. We’ll be taking these Fusions they somehow possess before we leave.”

“What? No, we can’t do that!”

“We can, and we will. From their descriptions, the sound like deserters from Copperleaf Academy and Fort Pinevalley. I personally don’t care that they’re cowards, because I’d rather not have them in the SIC if they’re going to run at the first opportunity, but we need those stolen Fusions they somehow got their hands on. They will be better served in our possession than in that of those children; I’m sure all it will take is a promise not to turn them in for desertion and they’ll hand them right over. Of course, that will be the first thing I report when we get to Thanchet, but they’ll at least have a head start.”

Karley couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“I don’t think you understand what you’re suggesting, nor do you understand the danger you’ll be putting whoever intends to force those people to give up their Fusions. You didn’t see them fight, and—”

“That really doesn’t matter, and it isn’t your decision to make, anyway. We’re already putting plans in place to confront them in the morning, as we have logistical issues that we have to take care of before we can leave tomorrow afternoon.” The Major stopped and stared Karley in the eyes with a penetrating gaze. “I need you on board with this. You’re the most senior and most respected member of the SIC in Whittleton, even if Nobles like Zorey think they’re better than us common folk just because of an accident of birth.”

The Elementalist couldn’t meet her boss’s gaze after a moment, because she was absolutely not on board with any of this, especially taking the Fusions away from the group that had given them aid. She could follow along like an obedient member of the SIC when they left Whittleton, even if such a decision was the height of stupidity in her own opinion, but to deliberately steal what had to be at least a few Platinum’s-worth of Fusions from the young Mages and Martials that had saved her life was almost criminal.

Despite her abject reservations that they were doing the wrong thing, she eventually nodded. This is stupid. They don’t deserve this. There’s got to be something I can do. Even as she thought that, the old fear of sticking her neck out too far crashed over her. No, just keep your head down and don’t make waves. This isn’t your responsibility. Besides, what if the Major is right? What if they are deserters and stole all of those Fusions? It makes sense when I think about it; they’re too young to be entrusted to any sort of mission, after all.

Still, even though she resolved to stay out of it, especially after voicing her concerns only to have the disregarded, Karley couldn’t help but think that this was all wrong. Nothing about it seemed smart, but there really wasn’t anything she could do about the entire situation.

Or could she?

“That is all then, Karley. Get with Zorey and he’ll direct you to where you can help in our evacuation preparations.” With that clear dismissal, the Elementalist got up from her chair with trembling legs, completely floored by what she had just been told and her mind refused to accept it. It was only when she was closing the door to the Major’s office behind her that she realized she wasn’t trembling from fear; no, she was trembling from anger.

No, boss, I’m not on board with this. That secondary plan of yours is foolish, and I aim to put a stop to it.

Squaring up her shoulders, she resolutely started to look for Zorey, knowing that she had to play along with the situation at first before she could make her move. Once she had the opportunity, she was going to ensure that her saviors were able to escape from the machinations of the Major, deserters and thieves be damned. Karley owed them at least that much, and she always paid her debts.

* * *

The common room was crowded by the time they emerged from the stairs, and their appearance caused a minor disturbance as they were noticed. Again, it was thankfully not because of his height, but because of their appearance; they looked both foreign and were of Mage and Martial origins, especially since Larek and his roommates were still wearing their grey student robes.

As for the clientele eating dinner, it was clear to see that many of them were dressed better than the majority of the people he had seen in the streets earlier in the day, though only a few gave him the sense that they were Nobility. The rest were just well-off financially, it seemed. Though, on a second look, there were some that had decent enough clothing but it wasn’t what Larek recognized as being too fine, so it was possible that the meals for dinner in the Waterbury Inn were expensive, but not completely unaffordable.

What surprised him was that there weren’t any members of the SIC present, at least not at first and second glance. It was possible that they were wearing something other than robes and armor, but he didn’t see any sign that that was the case.

There was only one table left empty in the back corner, and while it was small and only had four chairs around it, there were a few empty ones around that he thought they could snag and bring to the smaller table.

They did just that, even though there were a few looks by the other patrons that said they didn’t appreciate the acquisition of the empty chairs, no one said anything. As soon as they sat down, the same young woman that had shown them up to their room appeared as if from nowhere yet again. “Dinner for everyone?”

As everyone nodded, Verne spoke up. “Just a large salad for me, if at all possible.”

“Done. Should be out in a few minutes. Drinks?”

Everyone just ordered water, which caused the Innkeeper’s daughter to make a face, but she left without another word.

“Not very personable, is she?” Bartholomew said, adjusting his armor as he got comfortable in his seat.

“No, but I don’t care as long as the food is as good as it was earlier,” Penelope added.

Larek looked around to see Grenda behind the bar, serving drinks to those around her, but he could see a huge grin on her face that seemed not to have faded from when he saw her earlier. The reason for that was the lamps along the walls, which had at least a dozen people up close to them, checking them out from only a few feet away. They were currently at the Magnitude 2 light setting, which wasn’t too bright but Larek thought was probably a lot brighter than the oil lamps would’ve been. Most of the conversations around the room seemed to be centered around the new Fusions, as heads were turned toward them every once in a while by the people eating at the tables or drinking by the bar.

“Grenda! *hic* Where’d you get these things?”

The Fusionist looked toward the right of the bar to see an much older man swaying unsteadily, a cup clutched in his hand as he stared at one of the lamps. He seemed to be inordinately fascinated by it, like a moth fixated on a flame, and even when he stumbled lightly to the side and sloshed a part of his drink on the floor, his eyes never left the light created by the Fusion.

“I got it from Nunya!”

“What? Who?”

“Nunya business, you ol’ fool!” The Innkeeper cackled at her own joke, before she sobered up and the grin slipped off her face. “You better not be spilling any more ale on my floor, or I’ll be cleaning it up later with your face.”

“*Hic* leave off it, Grenda,” the man said, before he mumbled something that Larek couldn’t hear due to the chatter of the other patrons in the room. “No, seriously, who did your Fusions? *Hic* I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

Their conversation was beginning to draw the attention of dozens of other people inside the common room, and Larek began to worry for a moment. He can see the Fusions? Is he a retired Mage, perhaps?

“What do you mean?”

The man was silent as he continued to stare at the lamp, before he jerked his entire body. “Huh? Who? What does what mean?” He stumbled a few steps back to the bar before he sat down heavily in one of the stools there, before laying his head down and passing out.

At least 3 or 4 others asked Grenda the same question, but she always deflected it, refusing to name the one who created the Fusions. Larek glanced briefly at Vivienne and she nodded at him, as if to say, “See? I was right.”

His relief was interrupted when their meal was delivered, the plates of which barely fit on the small table, but none of them cared as they dug into it. Larek closed his eyes as he savored the whole chicken on his plate along with roasted potatoes and vegetables, as well as the still-steaming bread rolls that went with it. No one spoke as they all practically cleaned their plates, and it was only after they sat back in satisfaction that Kimble gestured toward one of the lamp chimneys that Larek had altered earlier.

“Those are amazing. I know they might seem a little mundane to those who go to an Academy, as Fusion-powered illumination is the norm, but the work is so well done that it’s impressive, nonetheless. And the glass adds another element to the light that makes a huge difference. Were those colors inside the chimney what gave you the idea of those lights I saw on the floor of your room?”

The Fusionist nodded, smiling at how much the Pyromancer appreciated his work. “It is—”

“You should try it, Kimble! The Light Grid Game is actually pretty fun!” Verne said excitedly. Larek could tell that his roommates wanted to go back up and play with it some more, but he was more interested in what supplies the group had obtained.

“Later, Verne,” Larek said, before turning to Penelope. “So, tell me, what were you able to find?”

The blue-haired Martial leaned forward and the others did the same, making their conversation a little more private as she spoke in lower tones. “Food, camping supplies, stuff for your work; all that was fairly easy. We were also able to find some simple clothing for Verne and Norde, as well as second outfits for the rest of us if we ever need to change for any reason.” She paused for a moment, before pointing at Larek. “The problem, as you can imagine, is you and your incredibly large frame. There were, as you can imagine, no clothes that were readily available to purchase for you, and there is apparently only a single Tailor in the entire town. Unfortunately, it’s an older woman set in her ways and wouldn’t take any extra monetary incentive to let us jump the line of her standing orders, which puts us about a week out until she can get to it.”

“Monetary incentive?”

Nedira put her hand on his arm. “She means bribe.”

“Exactly,” Penelope confirmed. “I’m sure there are more people in the town that have at least a few Skills that would help in the creation of an outfit, but finding them and convincing them to do the work was proving to be extraordinarily difficult, so we came back before it got too dark. Half of the stalls were closing up at that point, and no one wanted to point us in the right direction.”

“What does that mean, exactly? No other clothing for me?”

Penelope, Vivienne, and Kimble shook their heads.

“We’ll have to take a chance in another town or city where we might be able to slip in and purchase something that can be altered for you a lot easier than this place,” Kimble proposed. “The problem with this place is it is overloaded and only used to be a very small town, so there aren’t as many professional businesses set up to handle the influx of people, which makes getting things like custom Tailoring orders done quickly almost impossible.”

That was disappointing, but he supposed he’d have to live with it for now. Regardless, it sounded like they got everything else they needed – including supplies that Larek could use to make some additional Fusions for the SIC that night.

“Alright, let’s head back up. I’ve got work to do and—”  As the Fusionist began to stand up from his chair, something in his peripheral vision caught his eye, and he looked over at the entrance to see a familiar face. He immediately thought he saw her eying the lamps, as if she had been told of their existence and came to investigate. That thought was proven wrong when her gaze skipped right over them and searched for something else.  As soon as they alighted on Larek, who had paused as he went to get up, she rushed through the now-boistrous patrons with a frightened look on her face.

Uh, oh; what now?