Tiny Dungeon

POV Cormac Torgir

“Leave. NOW!”

Cormac and his team had just entered the wards surrounding the Dungeon only to encounter the Dungeon’s territory immediately within its boundaries. Nervously, the leprechaun had waited for his god to show up only to have the Dungeon appear first like a vengeful specter.

Hearing its voice was a shock, driving home the fact that not only was the Dungeon sapient but the Divinity that rolled off of its words was impossible to miss. Cormac bowed his head against the onslaught of pressure and fought to remain standing as the Dungeon bore down on him with all of its rage.

He had expected this reaction and was unsurprised by the roiling sense of anger that sought to ground him into dust. It couldn’t actually do that but Cormac was relieved in the extreme when the familiar presence of his god arrived to shield him.

“Hold on nephew there are things at play here that you have no knowledge of.”

“Leave or I will send Geckodo to feast on their…”

“They came to apologize!”

Cormac felt the Dungeon’s presence shudder as its anger mixed with sudden confusion. When next it spoke it was slightly less antagonistic but the anger remained, like a fire that had been stoked. “I think you had better explain uncle, clearly and without muddying the water.”

And so Trik’Weri did, starting from when Cormac had been sentenced, to his conversation with Alu’Mira, and finally to his second sentencing of exile and appeasement. When his god finished, the Dungeon shifted its presence and Cormac felt its gaze upon him. “And you? What do you say about this turn of events?”

The leprechaun licked his lips before bowing to the Dungeon. It no longer galled him to act subservient as he had been reminded countless times over the last few weeks just how low he was. A just humbling and necessary considering his faults. Still, some instinct told him to tell the truth and so he did so as unflatteringly as possible.

“I saw you as a way to save my people from diminishment but the fact that it would have also raised my standing among my people was a greater motivation. I was greedy and my greed almost cost the lives of those I care deeply for. I am ashamed that I was not strong enough to protect them and ashamed that I let my greed blind me to the danger.”

He felt the anger begin to rise and spoke quickly to finish his words before the Dungeon could react fully. “I was not aware that you were sapient or that you already held divinity. I believed I was facing a normal Dungeon, a young one that I could claim and then raise as a safe haven for my people.”

He bowed low again. “I am sorry for the pain I have caused you and your creatures on account of my greed. I am here to make amends in any way I can that does not violate my duties as Trik’Weri’s newest Broker. I also come bearing a gift from Lady Alu’Mira, The Mother Tree, who apologizes on behalf of her people.”

He waited with bated breath as the Dungeon’s presence quivered in anger before seeing it begin dissipating. Like a mist evaporating in the sun, the anger changed to something more resigned. When the Dungeon spoke next it did so in a voice so tired that Cormac had to struggle not to yawn.

“Let us see this gift then and I will discuss things further with my uncle and those closest to me. You come at a dangerous time for my Dungeon and I don’t believe in coincidences.”

Cormac nodded despite his confusion at the Dungeon’s words and motioned to Fiona who carried a small chest. She approached and he brought his right hand to rest against the wooden top. A bright flash dispelled the sealing magic and he opened the lid to reveal a gleaming seed. Beautifully dark and similar to an acorn it practically blazed with Aether which was why they had sealed it while traveling.

The Dungeon’s attention was immediate and distinct. There was a pause as The Seed was examined before he spoke again and when he did it was the softest tone he had taken yet. “This is a true gift indeed. She is beautiful. How long has she been sleeping waiting to be woken?”

Immediately Cormac understood his meaning and responded quickly. “The Ninth Daughter has been asleep for the last fifty years. Before that, she was awake for the customary six months it takes for The Mother Tree to share her ancestral wisdom. The Mother Tree herself is the Ninth Daughter of her own mother.”

“You must understand,” he went on quickly lest the import of The Mother Tree’s sacrifice be misunderstood. “The Ninth of a Ninth is a special child. It is said The Other is close at hand at such a birth. The Ninth daughter was put into stasis to protect her from those who would abuse the power granted by The Other.”

The Dungeon hummed a long note before turning to where Trik’Weri’s presence hung. “What is it that you get out of this uncle? An apology is all well and good and despite myself, I am willing to admit that the gift is beyond my wildest expectations but you cannot expect me to simply Claim a sleeping woman as if she were some Common Schema.”

Cormac didn’t know what a Schema was but he paid close attention as Trik’Weri responded.

“Of course not my boy. You aren’t going to Claim her. What a preposterous notion! Besides, what I get from this arrangement is a completely different topic altogether.” The Dungeon, clearly satisfied, was in the process of turning away when Trik’Weri spoke again.

“Obviously you will be marrying the poor girl!”