Chương 38: [Welcome to Monkhaven]

Merin looked across the table at Mike.

"What you've described maps closely to what we can offer," he said.

"The Wilds knowledge first. We know what lives out there, what to avoid and what can and can't be managed. Your people won't survive long guessing at it." He paused.

"Food is something we can help with in the short term while you get production running. Torren has already spoken with your man Terry about some of this." Torren gave a small nod.

"We can help secure an area that's safe to farm. The southern plains on the other side of your town would be my suggestion. The coast and the town itself cover two sides. The south heads toward the core and away from the border. That leaves just the west to watch and we can help with that."

"Combat training," Merin continued.

"Your people have the physical foundation the UI gave them. That's already a great foundation to build from. Working on it properly takes time but we have people who can do that." He glanced briefly at Kai without lingering.

"What we'd ask in return is straightforward. Knowledge that improves life on the border. Agriculture, medicine, construction. The understanding your world built without magic that we haven't had reason to look for." He sat back slightly.

"You mentioned your world solved problems differently. We'd like to know how." Mike nodded slowly across the table.

"Training is something we'd welcome, we have people who want to learn and the UI gives everyone a foundation to build on. The sooner we start the better." Yara let Merin finish then leaned forward slightly.

"I'd like to add something to that." Her voice was even.

"This isn't a sign of distrust, it's being prudent. Before any combat training begins I want an agreement that what we teach doesn't get turned around on us. Not because I think that's your intention. Because intentions change and people change and I'd rather we agree on it now while everyone is in the same room." A few of the council glanced at each other. Gary looked at Frank. Frank spoke before anyone else could.

"She's right. Same thing I'd ask in any arrangement involving weapons and training. You nail it down before it becomes a problem not after." He looked at Mike. Mike nodded.

"Agreed. You have our word and we'll put it in writing." Yara sat back.

"Good." Merin looked across the table.

"Great. Now, where were we?"

"Back to what you offered Merin, that's more than we hoped for honestly," Mike said.

"The farming area makes sense, we thought the same thing but didn't want to pull the trigger on it til we knew it was safe enough. We still haven't told everyone in town about the threats we're facing. We come from a place that's safe year round. The last thing we need right now is panic." Merin paused.

"Pull the trigger?" Mike smiled.

"Sorry, it's an idiom. Means to go ahead with a decision." He paused.

"Funnily enough it comes from guns." A few people around the table smiled. Merin nodded slowly, filing it away.

"That's a wise decision," Merin said.

"Adding worry to your people's problems does no one any favours. There's one more thing. Trade. You'll need materials and resources from outside eventually, things neither the town nor the village can produce alone. If you go looking for those yourselves you risk being found. We know the traders, the routes, who can be trusted and who talks too much." He paused.

"Let us handle it. Everything gets passed back to you, nothing about where it came from or where it's going. As far as anyone outside knows it's village business." This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Mike looked at Frank. Frank gave a slight nod.

"That solves a problem we hadn't figured out yet," Mike said. John had been quiet through most of the conversation. He leaned forward now.

"I want to make sure I understand the arrangement before I say I'm comfortable with it," he said.

"The village handling outside trade makes sense on paper. But if everything coming in and going out runs through Stonehall, we're entirely dependent on that relationship staying good. If something goes wrong between us down the line we're not just without an ally, we're cut off." He looked at Merin directly.

"I'm not bringing this up to cause problems. I just want to bring the risk to everyone's attention before we agree to it. What are your thoughts Mike?" Mike leaned back slightly, turning it over. Koss spoke before he got far.

"What if the arrangement isn't dependency but investment," she said.

"The village finds materials and resources, we also put funds towards acquiring what is needed that can't be found nearby. The town provides the knowledge to turn them into something useful. What comes out of that gets shared. Neither side is relying on the other's goodwill, we're both relying on what we built together." She paused.

"It's harder to walk away from something you helped create." The table went quiet. Mike looked at John. John gave a small nod.

"Yes," Merin said.

"That is a fantastic idea." He looked across the table.

"I think we just solved it," Mike said. Mike glanced over at the boys then across at Merin.

"While we work through the details, why don't the lads take Shai, Rika and Torren into town. Give them a proper look around." He paused.

"People have been trying to sneak a peek from the barricade since we left. Might as well give them something to see." He looked back toward the barricade. A few figures near it suddenly disappeared from sight.

"Plus I get the feeling they'd like a look around and you're all just standing about at this point. We can handle the rest from here." He looked at Merin.

"That alright with you Merin?" Merin glanced at the three of them then nodded.

"Of course." Leo looked at Shai.

"You up for it?" She smiled.

"We'd love to."

"Oh gods." Rika was already on her feet.

"I want to see everything." This got a laugh from just about everyone, even Kai letting a slight grin slip through the cracks of his stern guard facade. The group of eight set off toward town. Parmo was already grinning.

"I can't wait to see how some of the gossiping old ladies react when they see Torren walk in with us. This is going to be funny as fuck." Shai fell into step beside Leo as the group moved off.

"So what's the plan?" Leo glanced at her.

"Honestly? No idea. Wasn't expecting this." He thought for a moment.

"Most of the town's power is going into keeping everything running. There's not a huge amount to show that would be obviously impressive." He paused.

"Then again pretty much anything is going to stand out. How about we just wander and I'll point things out as we go."

"That works for me," she said. Rika had already found Parmo and fallen into step beside him.

"So Brandon, what's your favourite thing about the town?" Parmo closed his eyes briefly.

"Parmo."

"Right, sorry. So Brandon—" He could feel eyes on the back of his head. Phil, Sam and Luka had gone very quiet behind him. Torren's low laugh rumbled somewhere back there too. He wasn't going to give them the satisfaction.

"—what do you actually do here, like day to day?"

"Hmm. Train magic, think about going to the pub then realise the taps are turned off." Parmo said.

"Realise how addicted to the internet I am and miss it. You know, same thing as everyone else." Rika's eyes lit up.

"What's the internet?"

"Oh god, what have I done..." Phil, Sam and Luka had drifted either side of Torren. He walked with them easily, looking around at everything, a quiet laugh rumbling through him every few steps.

"I have to admit," he said, "I am very much looking forward to trying some of your food."

"It'd be better if we had everything from back home," Luka said.

"We're working with whatever was in the stores when we arrived. But I'm sure we can find something you've never tried." Torren looked genuinely delighted at the prospect.

"I look forward to whatever you put in front of me." The barricade came into view ahead. A handful of people were visible near it, pretending not to stare. One woman nudged the person beside her. Neither of them was subtle about it. Leo heard someone whisper "holy shit, look at the size of that guy..." Torren looked at the structure with quiet interest.

"You built this yourselves?"

"Others did but yeah, a few days after we arrived," Sam said.

"It's not much to be honest, just a few cars, bins and other stuff shoved together. It's been added to since then."

"It does its job and that's what matters right now, a foundation to build from," Torren said. They made their way over the barricade, some of the onlookers backing off slightly. Luka grinned.

"Yeah you're right. Anyway, enough of the barricade. Welcome to Monkhaven."