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((Triple Wednesday -- Page 2 of 3))
“Sitting on our thumbs and abusing your hospitality is hardly an admirable counterposition,” said Dimas.

‘Well, I’m sure we can come up with something a bit more appealing than that,’ said Garovel. ‘And you certainly wouldn’t be abusing our hospitality while you help us restore Warrenhold--as you have already begun doing, that is. You see, Hector and I have big plans for this castle. We would like it to eventually become one of the safest places on the planet.’

Dimas merely returned a rigid expression.

‘Perhaps you think that sounds a bit overly optimistic,’ said Garovel, ‘but I don’t believe it is. Not after that trip through the Undercrust we just took.’

“...What do you mean?” said Dimas.

The reaper glanced at Hector. ‘Well, I don’t want to get ahead of myself here, but obviously, this group of ours, formidable though it may be, still lacks the power it requires to achieve its ultimate objectives. I simply think that, together, we may be able to discover a good path forward, one which would benefit us all. Beyond that, though, I’m not yet prepared to say.’

Dimas made no response.

Hector wanted to ask Garovel something, though he wasn’t quite sure what. It sounded like the reaper already had some sort of plan, but if that was the case, then why not just say so right now? Dimas was obviously trustworthy, Hector felt.

Hmm.

Soon, their food arrived, and Hector hardly even tasted it as he wolfed it down. Dimas was noticeably more reserved and even seemed to be reluctant to continue eating it. Hector didn’t give him any crap about it, but Garovel did.

After that, it was finally time to go meet Amelia Carthrace. Garovel offered Dimas the opportunity to join them, but the Lord Sebolt politely declined, saying that he should get back to his family. They said their goodbyes and parted ways.

Along the way to the Book Tower, in the middle of the rocky courtyard in the main cavern, the group of children from earlier ran up to him, and one of them presented the knight figurine to him.

Hector stepped closer to one of the pathway lamps so that he could examine the object. It wasn’t quite identical to the one he’d made earlier, but it it was pretty decent, he felt. More importantly, it gave him a clear idea of how much his precision was lost when he materialized something over a large distance and without being able to see it.

‘Give them some encouragement,’ said Garovel privately.

“Ah... well done,” said Hector. Agh. He needed to stop being so self-absorbed. “So... what’s your question, then?”

The boy with the bowl cut looked around at his peers triumphantly before settling back on Hector. “I wanna know if you’re the new leader of the Rainlords or not!”

A chorus of murmurs ran through the small crowd.