A/N: The wonderful world of Exile (Avernum) remains the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software, not me. I promise, following this bit of fun to return to the game unharmed the following persons: King Micah and Hssrrrr; and places: Patrick's Tower and the Castle.
Nigel walked into Patrick's Tower ... 'Force of habit, I guess. Hard to believe the old man's gone, but there it is ...' he thought.
"Adrianna," he said, catching sight of the lady of the tower. "Where's Jenneke?"
"Teaching Caffren," replied Adrianna.
"You're not ... are congratulations in order again?" said Nigel, catching sight of a definite swell in the robes she wore.
"It's not that many," said Adrianna.
"No," said Nigel, "I guess not, but ... well Avernum's really no place to be raising a bunch of children."
"I made my choice years ago, Nigel," said Adrianna.
"I know," said Nigel. "It's just ... well, there's been a treaty made with the Empire. We've got the lands of southeastern Valorim for Avernum."
"You don't mean ..." said Adrianna.
"Yeah, I do," said Nigel. "These kids ... You know I've been working Unspecified recruiting."
"Well, not exactly," said Adrianna, laughing. "We're retired from all that. Just busy making ..."
"Babies?" said Nigel. "Gods, you two fuck like ..."
Jenneke entered the courtyard just in time to hear, and said, "Nigel, good to see you. What brings you this way?"
"Well, I was starting to say," said Nigel. "Avernum's no place to be raising children. And, my recruits have done better than anyone could have dreamed. They got Empress Prazac to agree to give the lands of southeastern Valorim to Avernum."
"Really?" said Jenneke. "Dree?"
"It's just so hard to imagine," said Adrianna. "What happened?"
"Well, the kids were our second surface team," said Nigel. "They got up there, and you've heard the news about the slimes and roaches, and all those problems."
"Well, yes," said Adrianna. "And the disaster over at the Tower."
"Good thing they managed that one," said Nigel. "I don't mind admitting it now, but that goddamned Linda ... There was no need to be plotting to fight Empire, and she killed so many people because she just had to try to ..."
"I know," said Adrianna. "The lure of using demonic powers is that there is so much power—but it comes at too high a price. I've always said that."
"So, Rentar-Ihrno went off the deep end," said Nigel. "She was the one who had created all the plagues, and those kids managed to blow up her fortress. She'll be years just recovering from that loss. And then Empire rescued them before the whole place went like Spire. And since they saved Valorim, we've been granted the corner of Valorim for our settlement. So, I figured you might like to go up there, build your own tower, maybe ... Be better for the kids, living up there than down here."
"Dree and I will think about it," said Jenneke.
"And then there's the invitation from his majesty," said Nigel. "Big banquet at the Castle."
"Thissa,and Brother Michael be there?" said Jenneke.
"Not Brother Michael. Haven't been able to track ... his last known whereabouts was down in Mancuso," said Nigel. "Before things went ... the way they went with the vahnatai."
"Damn Rentar," said Jenneke. "I never did like her."
"They certainly seem quick to forget their own complicity in the kidnappings," said Adrianna. "Or was that all of that faction in that one fortress?"
"Who knows?" said Jenneke. "I'd like to put Gaddika, Garzahd, and Rentar in the same small room in hell. Maybe with Linda and her favorite demons, too."
"How big is this room going to be?" said Nigel, laughing.
"Oh, about two feet square," said Jenneke. "Dree, I'm sorry."
"I just ... It's been so hard, some of the best young minds, lost because of her," said Adrianna. "And I wish I'd never written the recommendation for Carrie."
"You couldn't have known what would happen," said Nigel.
"No," said Adrianna. "But that doesn't mean I don't feel a little guilt."
"I understand," said Nigel. "I confess, I was spending a few sleepless nights not knowing how those kids were doing."
"So, what are they doing now?" said Jenneke.
"Settling in up there, I understand," said Nigel. "Seems once they got a taste of real ale, they couldn't stomach mushroom ale again." He laughed.
"It is definitely an ... acquired taste ..." said Adrianna. "Are you going to be moving up there?"
"Doubtful," said Nigel. "Too much damned work to do."
Newlywed Anicka and Daniel had been enjoying acting like newlyweds in the house they had been building in the countryside of southeastern Valorim. It was thus, with no small annoyance that they turned to Hssrrrr, rescued from addiction to skribbane to serve as a housekeeper.
"Begging your pardons," said Hssrrrr, "but a courier has brought this letter and is waiting for a reply."
Daniel took the letter, holding it so that Anicka could read it with him.
"The reply is that we will, of course, be there," said Daniel, dropping the invitation to the banquet at the Castle on the floor.
As Hssrrrr padded off to relay the message to the courier, Anicka said, "Seems more a summons, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, but ... what else can you say? We're still Avernites," said Daniel.
"I hope they're having surface food brought in," said Anicka.
"Or at least drink," said Daniel. "I could stomach lizard steak and mushrooms sooner than I could that gawdawful mushroom ale."
The Avernite troops had been doubled and trebled around the castle. Were anyone to intend great harm to Avernum, they most assuredly could have done so with one massive attack that night—for here in the Castle were not only the luminaries of Avernum's government, but also the heroes of the Empire War and the second Surface Exploration team who had secured the treaty entitling Avernites to a place in the sun.
The food had been imported from Valorim—true steak from grass-fed cows, not the sickly cave cows whose meat was good for nothing more than flavoring gravies; ruby-hued wine from grapes; onions, a few mushrooms, salads of delicate greens and carrots. After decades of struggle, Avernum was at peace—and such a rare event deserved full celebration.
Anicka and Daniel had been seated at a table with Jenneke and Adrianna, and after a few awkward moments, as Anicka felt utterly awed by proximity to the heroes of the war which had dominated her childhood. Soon, however, they were swapping stories about encounters with the vahnatai, opinions on Rentar-Ihrno and what her next move would be, comparing the destruction of Rentar-Ihrno's keep with that of the fortress where the Empire had hoped to create a mass teleporter, and Jenneke and Adrianna's plans to move to the surface.
She watched ... 'gods damn it all, what am I doing here again?'Brynja shook her head as though to clear cobwebbed thoughts from her mind, and dressed in the livery of a castle servant, she took away the dishes of the meal to make way for the pièce de résistance ... a towering torte of chocolate and strawberries.
She listened, and as they spoke of fears of the future, she said, "There are moments when everything goes well. Don't be frightened ... it won't last."
Finis
A/N: Thank you so much for reading. Please tell me what you think of the whole saga. Farewell, and good night (for now).