Everyone was all smiles as they returned home. One could feel the joy in the air as their carts rolled into the warehouse, coming from the piers. I closed the warehouse gate after the last cart rolled into the depot, and went to helping them unload. There was no need to greet them, or ask how their journey had been. I had met them at the dock, and helped moor the ship. I had already gotten a headcount, and been told that all had been fine. Although a few were upset with how long it had taken me to send Reatti and give them the all clear.

They hadn’t brought back too much. Nothing that an hour of everyone working didn’t take care of… especially since we had some human assistance. Lamp had requested, and Brandy and the rest had agreed, to get a few of her people from their Eastern Guild. They hadn’t exactly been told of the Society, or its purpose and those who lived within it yet, but that was the eventual plan. After witnessing the large creature, and the trip on the ship afterwards it seemed Lamp wanted her people to join us quicker than intended… as to keep them safe. She worried for their lives, not because she didn’t trust the Eastern Guild but rather because she knew no amount of normal people could have protected them from such a creature.

It was hard to blame Lamp for wanting to give her people what she deemed a better, and safer, life… but a part of me wondered if joining the Society was in the end just as dangerous.

After all so many of us ended up dead.

Walking back into the depot after dropping off a large box to the vault, I found it mostly empty. Most of the Society had finished their tasks, and were likely resettling back into their homes. Or maybe even getting some well earned rest… I knew many of those here struggled to sleep when on the road, either from the stress or worry. I had noticed a few had… rather dark eye-bags, and had moved slowly.

“From the look of the docks most of the larger ships were destroyed and lost. We’ll have to keep the Saint Light. The cost of canceling the contract would be far less than what we’d earn short term until everyone else is able to rebuild their fleets,” Brandy spoke excitedly to Gerald. They were lost in their little world of business, so I ignored them and approached the largest cart. It was empty now, and the horses taken care of and sent to their barns, but Merit was still messing with it. She was up on the cart and bent down, picking something up.

Stepping up to the side of the cart, I watched as she huffed and lifted a small nail. A black iron one, that looked bent.

“Did someone break something?” I asked. It looked like it was one of the main nails that held the frame together. One of many.

“I did. On accident,” Merit said as she stepped over to the edge of the cart, as to stare down at me. Even though she was short, while on the cart she was still taller than me… though not by much.

Glancing over the cart’s side railing, I tried to find the spot she had broken. I didn’t see it, but honestly didn’t spend much effort on it. After all, it was just a single nail in a single cart. Someone else could handle it later.

Merit however held the nail as if it was important… as if it was something drastic. The way she stared down at it, with upturned eyebrows, made it seem as if she could hear the metal nail screaming out in pain and despair.

“What is wrong, Merit?” I asked her.

“During the ride here, a few people made comments. The kind I didn’t like to hear,” she whispered.

Ah. I see. That must have been where she had been sitting… and she had fidgeted and messed with the nail, or the wooden plank it had held in place, and then thusly broke it when annoyed.

“You’re not one to usually let other’s words affect you so deeply,” I said to her gently. I wonder what had been said? Was it about Brom’s death maybe? She had been there, but I honestly figured that those here would blame either me or Renn before anyone else.

Merit took a deep breath, and then sighed it out in a way that told me she really didn’t want to say it aloud. It had been that disturbing for her.

Yet all the same, Merit gathered her courage. Like always, although tiny… she was mighty. “They’ll be voting on Renn, Vim.”

I blinked, and shifted. Brandy and Gerald’s voices were still behind me, near the door… but they were in a heated discussion. Now about using the opportunity to fire certain employees, and replace them. I tried to ignore their conversation, since I honestly didn’t like to hear them scheme in such a way. I had relinquished such authority to them long ago, so had no choice but to let them be.

Other than they, Merit and I were now alone in the depot. I didn’t need to worry over anyone else joining this conversation, or hearing it.

“Voting on what, Merit?” I asked carefully. She had lowered the nail in her hand, yet was squeezing it tightly. Her eyes were digging into my own, yet I could tell she wasn’t actually staring at me.

“If to banish her,” she whispered.

Closing my eyes, I took a small breath and nodded.

Of course.

“They don’t… blame her for what happened, Vim. As far as I can tell… but…” Merit stopped talking, and even with closed eyes I noted Merit’s emotion. She sounded as if she was crying, yet she wasn’t.

“But now they’ll fear her causing chaos again,” I said.

I heard Merit nod. Her thick hair sounded odd as it brushed against her shirt. Opening my eyes, I studied the thing she wore. It was some kind of wool looking material. The same thing that most people in this land wore, yet it was definitely something unique. Maybe she had picked it up on the ship.

Taking a deep breath, I smelled the scents of my people. Merit’s was the strongest right now, since she was actually in front of me… but I could smell everyone else. A few had noticeably gone a few days without bathing. Likely thanks to the journey, and where they had stayed. Most didn’t like the Clothed Woman, at all, so were likely on guard the entire time they had been there.

“There’re a few who were very vocally in her favor. Surprisingly Liina and Jasna were amongst those that spoke highly of her… but even they seem to think it best she doesn’t stay here,” Merit said as she stepped away, to the edge of the cart. She hopped off the cart, landing quietly.

“Brom’s death scared them, didn’t it? The creature and the threat of others weren’t that big a deal otherwise,” I said.

Merit nodded as she rounded the cart, to step over to me. “It’s not hard to understand why, Vim. They fear she’ll get involved in something drastic again, and will then need to be protected or assisted… which would then result in someone dying or getting hurt, again,” Merit said.

“Easy excuses, to overlay the truth,” I said.

A wry smile was barely hid by the thick white hair as she nodded. “She’s a predator, a real one. She smells of death now, strongly… though I’m honestly not sure if she actually killed anyone,” Merit said.

“I bet you did more damage than she did, let alone me,” I said.

“They don’t see it that way. All they see is a predator who returned home covered in blood… and not just the blood of our enemies,” Merit said.

I nodded as a door closed. I turned and saw that Brandy and Gerald were gone. They likely had never even noticed we had been behind them. Hopefully they hadn’t locked the doors, those were the only ones unlocked right now.

“She had been covered in Brom’s blood,” I said. I remembered it clearly. She had likely been right next to Brom when he had been hit by that boulder.

“And mine, though no one ever cares for about me when I get hurt,” Merit said.

“Don’t lie, Sofia cares a lot,” I called out her little self-pity filled lie.

She smiled warmly and nodded. “Renn did as well… actually, the Clothed Woman tried to worry for me in her own way too, surprisingly,” Merit said. She turned, as to start heading for the main building.

Walking alongside her, I kept to Merit’s pace as I frowned. “Really? I figured she would have been rather… frazzled, with all of you showing up as you had,” I said.

“She had actually been very accommodating. She had even participated in our dinners and campfires… though she never ate anything, of course,” Merit said.

Huh… that was interesting.

“She really likes Renn by the way. You might want to keep an eye on her when they’re together,” Merit warned.

“Yes… I noticed that last time we were there. I don’t think the Clothed Woman would actually try and eat her, but I had thought that of Kami too,” I said.

Merit chuckled, amused by the memory.

Reaching the door I was glad to find it was unlocked. One of them must have noticed we were still here… or they had simply been in that deep of a conversation, and hadn’t even realized they left it unlocked.

I opened the door for Merit, who walked in slowly. “Welcome home, Merit,” I said to her.

She paused a moment, and then snorted a laugh. “I don’t want to hear that from you!”

Shrugging as I closed the door, I latched the lock and went to join Merit as we headed deeper into the building. “Who suggested the vote?” I asked.

“As far as I’m aware, no one. They all just kind of… started talking about. As if it was hanging in the air this whole time. Though I don’t know why they waited until we were actually back in Lumen to bring it up. Renn’s been gone since before we left the Clothed Woman. Three days ago,” Merit said.

“Well… It shall be what it will,” I said.

“Hard to believe you when you flinch as you say that,” Merit said.

I waved her comment off. Yes. I had. But I had no choice but accept what was happening. After all… I had no say in it.

I was the protector. Nothing more. I had no control over residences. If the Society of Lumen wanted to banish Renn… well… then…

“She had been banished from Ruvindale too. She showed up after, finding me elsewhere… Her look of pure defeat and sorrow was the only reason I hadn’t killed her on sight,” I said softly.

“Why would you have killed her on sight?” Merit asked.

“She had smelled of death. Of Amber’s death. After I had just left them all only a week prior, where they had been all smiles and safe,” I said.

“Just like here…” Merit whispered.

Reaching the main hallway, we walked in silence for a bit as we headed for the Society Houses. The hallway was dark, since no lamps were lit, and there were no windows here on this side of the building. None were near the depot.

Yes. Just like here. With Brom’s death… the only real saving grace is likely the fact that Renn had returned while carrying Merit. If she had returned alone, without me… well…

Odds are she would have been denied entry into the building, or worse. Since no one would have trusted her.

Though, maybe a few would have. Merit wasn’t the only one to have taken a liking to Renn, though she definitely seemed to be the most smitten.

Slowing a little, I paused a moment as I considered that fact. It did seem that most people ended up liking Renn, but it seemed it was those more… on the fringes that ended up actually being her friends. True friends.

I wasn’t sure if the Clothed Woman would be considered an actual friend of Renn’s, but it was the same. She was well liked by those that most didn’t like at all.

Was it her nature, or personality that resulted in such things, I wonder?

“Vim?” Merit paused too, a few feet away. She had noticed I had stopped, but it had taken her a few steps to realize I actually was bothered by something.

“Maybe I’ll get lucky and she’ll stay at the Bell Church,” I said. I prayed. I hoped. I pleaded.

Merit scowled at me, and the nail in her hand was now being held as if it was a weapon. “That was a cruel thing to say,” she said, her tone harsh.

“Was it?” I asked her.

She nodded. “That poor girl is traumatized. Yet she’s not broken. She may blame herself, but she hasn’t retreated into her mind as Tosh or so many others have. She’s stronger than that,” Merit said.

“Everyone breaks eventually Merit,” I said softly.

Merit flinched, since she knew that my statement was true. Truer than ever. She knew well, personally.

I sighed as I stepped over to the wall. Leaning against it, I gestured around us. “If she plans to not join me… and instead stay somewhere, and then comes back here only to find herself banished… That might break her. What broken bones, pain, and death couldn’t do… their votes could, and would,” I warned her.

Merit’s small shoulders started to tremble, and I noticed the way her eyes widened. She was realizing that everything I had said was not just correct… but very likely.

“I may not know everything about her, Merit, but I have spent quite a bit of time with her. She’s sensitive, just in… odd ways,” I said. She was more bothered by emotions and the feelings of others than she was death and chaos.

She became far more distraught, or emotional, when events or words were spoken that shook her soul.

My burning of the paintings and the subsequent killing of those who had tortured and killed Amber.

The family whose cart I had helped fix. That merchant family we had traveled with for a short time. Our own members, from how I treat them to how I speak with them. For instance like how I had helped Trek, or saved Nebl.

She… interpreted things a little too seriously. A little too deeply. What was a normal moment for me was a momentous one for her. What I’d eventually forget, in little time at all, she’d remember forever.

“She would break, especially if she makes the decision in her heart to stay here before arriving, and finding out,” Merit whispered as she nodded.

“Hm. Let us hope she either joins me, or stayed at the Bell Church. She might have you know, she adores that religion and the people who partake in it. It tickles her sense of morals and expectations,” I said.

Merit smiled as she nodded. “I know, it’s so strange. And I forgive her for it, by the way,” Merit said.

I shrugged, since I hadn’t really said that as to poke at Merit’s old scars. Wonder what Renn would say if she knew how many times Merit had been burnt at the cross of that religion she found to be so interesting.

“I don’t want to lose my friend… but I also don’t want to lose my home either, Vim,” Merit said.

“Then do what you must Merit. I shall always support you, as I’ll support all of our members,” I said.

She smiled and nodded. “Even if we don’t deserve it. Yes. I know,” she said.

Well… I didn’t mean it that way.

Though… I wonder if that meant Merit would vote against Renn? Really?

She sighed and stepped over to the opposite wall, as to lean against it as I was mine. “Fly wanted Renn to go to the church. Now I wish she hadn’t,” Merit said.

I shrugged, since I had expected it. When the Societies boat had docked, and I had gone aboard… I admit that I had been a little bothered by the lack of Renn upon it. Not just visibly, but everything else. Her scent was nowhere to be found on that ship… and it had bothered me.

Merit had been kind enough to tell me what had happened, and why she hadn’t been aboard the ship, but…

“Letting her go with Reatti alone wasn’t a wise move, Merit. Why did no one think that unwise?” I asked.

“I couldn’t go! Everyone was worried if I did they’d get hurt!” Merit shouted, upset at me as if it was I who had given the order.

“Lawrence and Tosh had been with them. They would have been fine,” I said calmly.

Merit shook her head, and I noted the nail. It was dripping with blood. Very lightly, and very dark blood. The blood sizzled as it fell onto the ceramic tile beneath her. “I argued. I lost. If I fought it any harder it would have become a very big issue, and knowing Renn she would have involved herself and chose to go alone anyway. I decided to avoid all the fighting and just… Just…” Merit’s shouting slowly became a quiet whisper as she spoke, until she was silent… and just standing in front of me with her shoulders hunched and drooping low.

I hesitated a little… I had wanted to complain about Merit’s and the rest of their audacity of sending Renn alone with Reatti… but now I felt like the bad guy. Merit’s child-like appearance made her depressed reaction look all the more serious.

“I abandoned my friend,” Merit cried.

Ah, great. She’s crying.

I didn’t like it when Merit cried. Other women were easy to deal with but she wasn’t. If she couldn’t control it quickly enough, it always ended up with me being shocked and electrocuted and…

Merit sniffed, and rubbed her face with her arm. As she did I noticed again the thick wool she wore. It sounded weird as it cleaned her face. Seemed she was getting herself under control already. Interesting. I hadn’t even said nor done anything yet. “Reatti will not hurt her, Vim. She vowed it to me and Brandy. She’s hates Renn, but at the same time sincerely believes that her brother’s soul won’t rest if she hurts her. He sacrificed himself for her, so she believes Renn has the right to live,” Merit said.

“People promise things during the day, yet in the dark of night their deceit shows itself,” I said.

Merit sighed and nodded. “I know, Vim. I do. But what was I to do? I couldn’t argue or it would have ended up far worse than it had,” she said.

“Why did no one else do anything?” I asked.

“A few tried. Brandy thought about going with them, but she didn’t want to wait any longer to get back here. Out of fear of the company falling apart,” she gestured around us.

Right. Renn was a member of the Society, and as such she was important… but this was something hundreds of years in the making. It not only was something ancient, it was the backbone of the Societies wealth. Many of our members would not be able to survive, or calmly blend in with the humans they hid amongst, without the coins it provided.

By all counts it was far more important than Renn. No matter how one thought about it.

And thus, those who returned here to manage it and run it… well…

Yes. Merit had made the right choice. Even if it had hurt. Even if she’d never forgive herself for it.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine. As will Reatti and… Speaking of them, what did you think of Wool?” I asked.

“A typical air-headed sheep. She’s fine. She’ll end up at some farming village or something. Maybe Tor’s, if she doesn’t stay at the Bell Church,” Merit said with a shrug.

Yes. I had thought the same. Not to be rude to Wool, but her personality was more than just her long years of abuse. She was… just… well…

Simple.

“Fly’s the one we’ll need to worry about, Vim. She’s young and childish now, but she definitely has the call for adventure. She kept trying to sneak off, to see the surrounding the forest. Don’t be surprised if one day you find she’s been killed, kidnapped or lost to the world because she wandered away one day,” Merit said.

“That’s her choice, Merit. You can’t place her in a cage, even if she is a bird,” I said.

Merit huffed and nodded. Like always she agreed, but didn’t. “I’m done talking about this. It hurts. I want to cry. Please… let’s talk about something else,” Merit then said.

I blinked, and the nodded. “I’ve begun the negotiations with Thraxton. Our Society will manage and oversee not only the cleanup process of the city, but also the restructuring and rebuilding. Both of the physical city, and the logistics. We’ll also be the ones to write the declaration and the bylaws to be put into place for liberation of the city state,” I said.

Merit’s eyes widened, but I knew she wasn’t really impressed. She was simply letting her mind focus on this topic, instead of the last. “Wow. We’ll be very busy then, won’t we?” she asked.

I nodded. “Very. Tomorrow they’ll likely send a messenger to Thraxton. He wants to come with his family and direct subordinates as to forge our alliance contract… so he’ll likely show up tomorrow, the moment he’s summoned, knowing him,” I said.

Turning, I returned to walking. Merit did as well, and she now had a small skip to her steps. She was glad to have set aside the thoughts that hurt her heart.

Which was sad. And too bad.

Renn didn’t have many people who cared for her. Less than a handful, at best.

If they all set her aside as to focus on other things, since focusing on her was so painful for them… well… then…

Then she’d be alone. Because knowing her, she’d leave. She would run away, if she found out she was causing such discord and grief.

She was gentle in that way. She’d end her own life; if she found out she was the source of despair.

Which was regrettably common in our people. Especially those of note.

And even more regrettably… was that I had yet to figure out how to save such people.

Even after all these years. After all these tribulations and trials…

I’ve never figured out how to save anyone from themselves.

No matter what I did, or how I tried to do it. It always ended up failing. Sometimes spectacularly.

Which was no surprise. I struggled so hard to save anyone from normal threats, let alone things I couldn’t actually stab with a spear or convince with words.

“Though we will complain, this is the best outcome Vim. To still have our home… and our purpose,” Merit said as we neared the Societies Houses.

I nodded, agreeing with her. “Yes. Far better a result than what could have happened.”

“Isn’t that the truth… By the way, had that thing been a Monarch?”

Pausing at her question, I frowned at her and shook my head.

Merit’s eyes widened a little, and then she looked away… as if ashamed. “I see,” was all she said.

“I know not where such creatures came from, or how they came to be. Some sort of plant-like beast. Maybe some kind of mutated ancestor of ours, from long ago,” I said.

“Everyone will think it was a Monarch,” Merit said.

“So they will. I’ll not lie about it, but I expect several will try to spread the news that it had been,” I said.

“Better a little lie, to spread a little bit of hope and joy,” Merit said with a scoff.

“The Chronicler and the rest are incapable of believing in hope on its own. They need someone to raise the banner of hope like a flag, for them to be able to see through the clouds,” I said.

“Poetic. Renn would like that,” Merit said.

I sighed, since I had not meant it that way at all.

I had been rather serious.

Opening the metal door to the Society Houses, I stepped aside as to let Merit in.

“Once again, welcome home,” I teased her.

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