140. Disharmony

“Was this premeditated, or are you giving your clones too much leeway?” Penelope demanded, her jaws clenched. “This was not the plan, and you know it.”

“But it’s better than your plan,” Lukas stated matter-of-factly. “Your way would’ve resulted in war with the Schwarzberg kingdom on equal footing. This way, the trade relationship continues, and war is delayed if not called off altogether.”

“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “You’re twisting the situation to serve your agenda. And—”

“And you’re not?” Lukas raised an eyebrow. “Having the two sides go to war and helping one eliminate the other is not the only solution, Penelope. I don’t know why you’d rather see the Jotun gone. Is it the Conclave? Do they want whatever magic they use, and it's easier to study and experiment with it if they’re gone?”

Penelope didn’t answer. She only glared at him.

“Yes. I have an agenda, as do you. The Grey is a valuable source of materials for me. I’ve also made several valuable contacts in the city. Strictly from a business perspective, war won’t of any sort won’t be good for me. The kingdom will prioritize its own artisans and weaponsmiths, limiting sales to outsiders. Prices will rise. Then there is, of course, the death, destruction, and instability that come with war. We don’t know enough about the Jotun, and the kingdom’s victory is not guaranteed. I’m not attached to the Gray, but I don’t want to see it fall.”

The sorcerer tried to interject, but Lukas kept going. “Much like your Conclave, I also want to investigate the Jotun’s source of power.” He chose not to tell her about them drawing magic from the ground, or about the mysterious tattoos that seemed to feed on their own internal energy and emotion. “It's vital I find out whether their god is a figurehead whose example and teachings they follow, or it's a greater being interfering in our affairs. But I’d also like to understand how they use their magic and see if we can do the same. The Jotun need not be our enemy.”

“That’s not the deal we made, Lukas, and you know it.”

“We didn’t make a deal, Penelope,” Lukas said. “I agreed to help you as a friend, and you ensured my time wouldn’t be wasted. This is why I want to stay away from the Conclave. You’re not as benevolent and force of good as you like to present yourselves.”

“He’s right,” Mira said, taking Lukas’s hand.”His old masters turned him into a weapon, and you want to do the same to him and me.”

“How can you even say that after all the time I invested in you?” Penelope demanded, her eyes wide and fists clenched.

“That’s it, Penny. I consider you a teacher and friend, but to you, this was all an investment. Don’t take it as me not being grateful, but—”

“You’ve been whispering in her ear, haven’t you?” Penelope looked hurt as her eyes met Lukas’s. “You’re turning her against me.”

“He did no such thing. Instead, you’re showing me your priorities now by pushing for a path that will result in war.” Instead of defiance, Mira projected understanding and tenderness. “Lukas is correct in this regard. If there is a way around all-out war that allows refocusing the Jotun’s ire on the Wyrmkin cults instead of the kingdom, why not take such a route?”

“Two of the five remaining warchiefs and the chieftain are against this war,” Lukas said. “Morph has almost turned one of them to our side, and they're about to select new interim warchiefs who prioritize preserving their people's lives over war. All I'm asking is that you lend me, Shae, for this task. He and the Lesser Morphs together can create sufficient proof and redirect the remaining warchiefs’ rage.”

“We’re done after this,” Penelope stated, kissing her teeth. “I've called Bass. He will convey the message to Shae and intercept your Lesser Morphs.”

“Thank you. Meanwhile, the Stalkers and I will get you your evidence. If our plan fails, then we'll hand it over, you take it to the council or royal court, and continue with the war as planned. With five experienced warchiefs gone, the Schwarzbergs should have an easier time with whatever campaign they mount.”

“But if you're successful, Rakan’s minions will be driven out, and your old master will keep her advantage.”

“That's an unavoidable side effect. In the immediate future, Rakan is the greater threat. Don't you want to know why we keep finding Elder Wyrmkin tracks in the mountains and caves?”

Penelope didn't answer. She turned her back on Lukas and Mira, walking deeper into the cave they were using as cover. Lukas had sought it out when warned of the approaching ravens. A stalker kept watch outside, concealed by their shrouds. Ace stood high in the mountains, dice ready to cause disaster. Flukas, Zwei, and another Stalker now walked the mountains, weaving traps into the ground under the snow. Only Bowie and Eins remained by Lukas's side.

Just because the chieftain had ordered Ornn to track down Elder Wyrmkin didn't mean he would. In Lukas's experience, parents rarely cared about the chain of command or respecting their superiors after losing children. The chances of him hunting the dragonfire sorceress while she was in their territory were too high. Lukas believed he was unlikely to give up such a temptation. If he ran into traps that utilized stormfire, denying the possibility of an Elder Wyrmkin plot would prove more challenging.

The intensifying storm drove the ravens to lose track of the decoy Morphs. Since Morph Prime and Astrid had returned to the field, their service was no longer necessary. Instead, the four Super-Clone-created clones and Shae successfully tracked each other down. They had taken down beasts seeking shelter from the storm and absorbed their biomass. It fuelled their transformation into Elder Wyrmkin.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Since Lukas could only rely on messages through the journal, he could only imagine the clones’ appearances. They had copied Shae before altering color, size, and body shape. A couple of them made themselves feminine and gray; they constructed fuzzy braids to mimic the female Elder Wyrmkin’s feathers. The Morphs claimed that Shae appeared uncomfortable with the plot and their transformation, but didn’t protest.

Shae had turned his back on his people for the way they had treated him, dedicating himself to serving Penelope. However, embarking on a plot that would lead the Jotun to target and hunt them was bound to stir up complicated feelings.

The level of pushback from Penelope surprised Lukas. Initially, he didn’t want to believe that she actively wanted a war or to eliminate the Jotun. He didn’t yet have Morph Prime’s memories, but he was starting to suspect that a good deal of her claims regarding them were false.

The Jotun had a good reason to want war. They were the original inhabitants of the land, but had settled into such isolation that people doubted their existence, and many considered them creatures of myth and legend. Lukas understood them better than the Conclave. They wanted to be at peace with their land but were unforgiving of anyone who stole from them. He imagined honor played a big role in the warchiefs’ desire for conflict. Morph Prime had reported no slaves in the command camp. Stalkers had also crept close to the caravans and parties, and failed to spot any obvious service staff.

The Jotun aren’t war-hungry barbarians as Penelope portrayed them. Astrid and the warchief might be evidence of that. We need to find out who has been dealing with them, who they are, and what their purpose is.

Even though Lukas had no intention of helping Lady Silverspine, he called the journal forth and checked the list of quests. Over the past year, it had bugged him countless times, demanding he serve the Great Silver Dragon’s interests. He had ignored them despite the value of the rewards and upgrading the journal’s abilities. Now, he turned to it for information to assist the plot Morph Prime had set in motion.

Lady Silverspine has three interests in the mountains around you and your clones. All but one are well within your capabilities. The easier quests also have better rewards. The first—

The rewards aren’t important right now. I need details of each quest.

I’ll sort them by difficulty.

A notoriously territorial and greedy Thunderbird has picked a crater high in the mountains as its domain. It, along with a subservient flock of Rocs, isn’t satisfied with its territory and has chosen to expand downwards, bringing them dangerously close to a silver dragon’s frozen remains.

If the Thunderbird and the Rocs are allowed to feast on the dragon’s corpse, they might develop the power to tap into Lady Silverspoon’s power reserves. The small likelihood of developing draconic abilities, including tracking down environments touched by silver dragons.

Interesting. Does this also make Mira a threat to Lady Silverspine?

Negative. Her silver dragonfire is born from within, and its nature has changed over generations as it adapted to the human form.

We’re going to discuss this further at a later date.

You might be interested to learn that the silver dragon was carrying parts of its horde when it died.

Isn’t it odd how many silver dragon corpses are in this region? Was there a nest around here?

The rich magic crystal veins and magic metals in the mountains might’ve drawn them here. Silver dragons value magic-rich environments. Do you want this quest, or should I move on to the next one?

Move on. This isn’t quite what I’m looking for, but interesting enough to consider at a later date.

Lukas didn’t mention that he wished to investigate the possibility of the use of dragon bone in ritual magic, enchanting, or adding powdered bone to the forging process.

The next quest is deep underground, far below where the Gray’s mines end. Dragon eggs require a constant stream of heat to survive, develop, and hatch. Traditionally, dragons manage the requirements with their fire and body heat, but taking care of the immovable eggs leaves them immobile and vulnerable. As one of the Greater Beings and because of regular challengers, Lady Silverspine can’t afford to take care of her own egg.

Did transmigration steal this bit of information, or is it a recent development? I don’t recall anything about—

Lady Silverspine desires the purest volcanic crystals for her incubation chamber. The creatures in the deep caverns and lava chambers are powerful, and a simple touch might end your life. However, thanks to the clones, retrieving a few potent crystals should be well within your reach.

There are bonuses available for the purity, potency, volume, and quantity of crystals.

Next.

It was valuable to know such materials existed under the Gray. He was sure they would prove invaluable in powerful fire-enchantment rituals. After a year and a half in the city, Lulks had grown to believe he knew the area well. Both offered quests said otherwise.

The final quest is the most challenging and might be beyond your capabilities. If you had accepted it when I first detected the interest, the danger levels wouldn’t have risen to such levels.

A dracometal vein has awakened high in the mountains. It attracts entities sensitive to dragonfire, and the fluctuating signature suggests someone is already mining and manipulating it.

Dracometal? Like the dracometal scales from my sub-ability?

Precisely.

The past year had little conflict, proving reasonably peaceful for Lukas and the clones. They hadn’t used the Dracometal Scales to their full potential. However, it was undoubtedly powerful, and he couldn’t begin to imagine how valuable any material extracted from the vein would turn out.

Dracometal equipment can hurt dragons and resist their fire. Such a material can’t be allowed to fall into the hands of just anyone. Stop the mining operation. Claim the metal.

Do you not want it sent to Lady Silverspine?

The arcane field of dracometal interferes with interdimensional transference. It can not be transported out of Fracture. Lady Silverspine would like you to safeguard it.

If entities with draconic sensitivity can track and find dracometal, does that mean Elder Wyrmkin are the ones mining the vein?

It’s possible.

I’ll do it.

“We need to split up,” Lukas said after tracking Penelope down. “I’ll take responsibility for the Elder Wyrmkin plot. Can you provide Morph Prime backup? He’s going to try to gather your evidence.”

“What are you planning?” Penelope asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Astrid might’ve given us a clue as to why there have been sightings in the mountains. I’m going to investigate personally.” Lukas turned to Mira. “I’d rather do this without you.”

“I get it,” she replied. “Speed is of the essence, and I’m not particularly fast.” Mira smiled at Penelope. “Besides, we need to talk without you around.”

“I hope you’re not going to do something stupid that’ll derail things further,” Penelope stated. “Give me a clone. We’ll need help finding and tracking the new camp.”

“You can have Zwei and Flukas,” Lukas said. “Bowie, Ace, and a Stalker are enough for me.”

He kissed Mira, and they parted ways.