Dust And Snow

[Amaterasu]

“We can talk while on our way back, if you would like. I happen to have come with a mount that could carry the two of us”, said Amaterasu as they followed the way that the miners, too, had taken.

“We’re in no hurry to talk, are we?” asked Amber. Before Amaterasu could reply she motioned towards the ladder that they were to climb to get up. “After you, please.”

“Ah, thank you. And - no, of course not. It would probably be a better idea to talk while in the comfort of a warm room without heavy coats to muffle our voices.” She climbed the ladder, followed by Amber herself. Urist was the last in line, and grumbled about how the carpenter who had made those ladders must’ve been stingier than even Urist McUristsson, for having built the rungs so far apart. Once they arrived at the top, she spoke again. “You’ll return to Fort Amber, I take it?”

“Yeah. I need to speak with my teammates about those Dust crystals and what we can do to safely excavate them. Speaking of...” She reached into a pouch and pulled out a thin glass vial filled with a ruby-red substance. She held it out to Urist. “Here, have a sample. In ground form it’s less volatile, but be careful with it.”

“Eh?” the dwarf replied, stunned as the vial was pushed into his hands and, following the reflex both humans and dwarves were born with, he grabbed it. “Thanks, bu’ why’re ye givin’ me this?”

“As a token of thanks for helping us out down there. And so you can see for yourself how dangerous those red crystals can be.” She grinned. “Just try not to inhale it.”

“Yeah, ah’ll be careful. Thank ye.”

“We have the same destination”, said Amaterasu next. “Shall we meet up there?”

“Sure. I’ll meet you at the underground bar.”

Shortly after they stepped into the light at the end of the tunnel, literally, and Amaterasu retrieved the Nimbus from where she’d left it before descending into the cave. By the time she came back Amber had already departed, leaving Urist alone. She reached out and helped him climb on the Nimbus before steering its course back towards Fort Amber.

“Thanks”, the dwarf said as he settled behind Amaterasu, and pulled out the vial to hold it against the sun. The crystals reflected the light, casting weird shapes onto his beard-obscured face.

“A friendly girl”, Amaterasu remarked. “She’s the young and full of energy type, just like Fiara. I think they’d get along very well.”

“Aye”, the dwarf answered. “Bu’ she’s got quite some responsibility fer someone ‘er age. Leadin’ a community with such bustlin’ economy ain’t easy.”

“From the looks of the city she’s got it well under control.”

“So, wha’ are ye gonna be talkin’ to her about? Ye’ve not said a thing ta even Oki since we came back.”

“There’s two reasons: first, it’s a little long-winded and I’d prefer to explain it to everyone in one go, rather than answering the same questions twice or more often to different people. And second, what I want to talk about is a little long-winded and complex, if I had to focus on where we’re going or watch out for obstacles.”

Urist was content with that reply and they didn’t speak anymore until they arrived at Fort Amber again. Once again, Amaterasu went to leave the Nimbus in the stables while the dwarf went ahead into the fort building and borrowed Amaterasu’s Communicator to call Oki and Fiara. Shortly after they came back into the bar, reuniting with everyone. Amaterasu noticed that Amber was just talking to the girl behind the bar, likely about the events that had transpired at the mine.

“Hey, you guys are back!” Amber called out. And there was that brief moment again, where their eyes met and their hair stood on end. Oki felt the same as he first met Amber, and for a moment he wanted to bare his teeth threateningly… then it had passed. Weird.

Amaterasu cleared her throat. “Ehm… yes, well. Allow me to introduce you to my friends. These are Oki Kurumi and Fiara Moegami.”

“I’m Amber, pleasure to meet you all.”

“Likewise!” said Fiara, and they both bowed their heads.

“So, Amaterasu, you wanted to talk about something.”

“Yes, right. Could we go somewhere quieter? Preferably safe from eavesdropping?”

“Sure. Follow me… Murasaki, Bianca, Rose, can you guys join us too?” She led them out of the bar, through a corridor and down a staircase leading to the lower levels of the fort. There she opened the door to a large conference room.

Amaterasu noticed the puzzled glances exchanged between her friends, especially towards Urist, but he could only shrug. As everyone sat down around the table in the middle of the room, she remained standing at the head of that table and placed her hands on the surface.

“This may be an odd question, Amber-san, but what are your plans for Fort Amber?”

“My plans? What do you mean?” the catgirl asked.

“I mean what you aim to make of this place. Are you aiming to develop this place into a bustling economy hub? Do you want to turn it into a city or something larger? And more importantly, what are your plans for the trolls and the dwarves that are the numerically dominant civilizations in the Frozen Fields? Do you aim to create alliances or oppose either side?”

Amber eyed Urist, who sat diagonally across the table. “Do you promise not to run to your King and snitch if I say anything that disfavors the dwarves?”

Urist hesitated only for a moment. “Ye’ve me word o’ honor. What’s said ‘ere stays ‘ere.”

“Well then, where should I begin…”