Framework of the Frontier, Sain Artwell [read me a book .TXT] 📗

she was conscious, Rulu attempted a diplomatic tone, “Do not be afraid, for I no longer mean any harm to you. All is well and he slumbers in the chest by your side.”

“Will!” After a burst of frantic fumbling, the woman found him. A puzzled look spread across her tufty brows. “So, this means we lost? I’m… I’m sorry for attacking you, stranger. Thank you for showing mercy.”

“Your apology is accepted. I am Rulu Ekh R’lyeh, an aboleth princess of R’lyeh. You may call me Rulu,” Rulu replied, feeling particularly generous.

The woman showed a smile as soft as her voice. “Ember Fireberry, just Ember is fine. May I ask, where are the others? What happened?”

“You may.” Rulu narrated the recent events, but left out her speculations about the approaching leviathan.

Ember sank against the wagon, a contemplative look in her eyes. She wrapped a cloak about her shoulders and held William in her embrace with another blanket over him. “I knew they were up to no good, but for them to kidnap us…” Ember shook her head, hugging William’s head against her breasts. “And now Rajza is dead.” She frowned, a conflicted thought pursing her lips thin. “Oh, that’ll be trouble…”

The woman fell to her own thoughts.

Around them, the last light fell and the insects of the surface began their praising chirp to the abyssal sky of the night. Life in the pool beneath Rulu’s tail stirred similarly, though the lesser critters understood instinctively to steer clear from an aboleth princess’ presence. Among them Rulu spotted one rather appetizing isopod grazing on algae near her.

She was about to dive down to catch it when Ember spoke again. “Is it okay if we stay the night here?”

“I did not suffer exhaustion to cast you into the night when you awoke,” Rulu said, with disbelief adding an unintentional sneer to her voice. “You may stay and enjoy my protection.”

“Thank you, Rulu. You’re kind. I am sorry for attacking you earlier.”

“It is forgiven. You were misled, and I am a generous personality.” Rulu allowed a measure of pride to swell in her breast.

She was glad to see Ember’s lips melt into a pleasant smile. It reminded her of better times, times before the Succession Cycle, times when she knew people with smiles like that, times when she too could smile like that. In a moment of sudden tears, Rulu was thankful that the faun could not see in the dark.

“Are you alright?” Ember asked.

The frankness of it took Rulu off guard and the pity in her voice stabbed deep. “Am I feeling alright? How dare you voice such insolent assumptions unprompted? And ask them of the one who saved you no less? My well being is none of your concern. You may take shelter upon the shores of my abode, but do not inquire into my personal matters.”

“Sorry, sorry. My intention wasn’t to offend you, and I’m really sorry if I did so, but…” Ember’s words shrank into a mumble.

Rulu interrupted her, “Speak so I may hear you.”

“Sorry. Nothing important, I think. Sorry. Thank you. I’ll be here for the night, if something comes up that you might want to talk about, n-not that I’m suggesting you do! Just an offer. Sorry.”

“Hm.” Rulu licked tears from her eyes, attempting to maintain a regal posture. “I see. Thank you for the offer. Now, I’m going to find dinner. I will return shortly.”

“Okay. Good luck.”

Rulu dove into the pool’s welcoming embrace. Fresh embarrassment burned her cheeks and gills. She regretted lashing out and rejecting Ember’s offer on instinct. Self imposed exile had left her aching for companionship, yet the thought of admitting it to the first person who asked to listen gave her anxiety.

Behold the mighty Rulu, brought low over simple interactions with surface peasants. Pathetic, similar to that delicious looking isopod over there.

Stunning it was a simple formality. While diving to pick up the critter, Rulu caught a glimpse of William’s weapon and his decorative star amongst the lake grass. She brought them up to the surface.

“These are his.” Rulu placed them before Ember and bit the head off of her dinner. Juices burst into her mouth as she pulled apart the soft meat. The taste was acceptable.

Ember’s eyes flickered faintly, widening with a smile as she reached for the hammer and star. “Thank you. He will be grateful.”

“Naturally.”

After about half an isopod later — five bites — Ember spoke up again, “Do you know what happened to the stone golem from before? We wanted to catch it.”

“It must’ve fled to its lair.” Rulu surmised absent mindedly, reaching to suck in the sweet intestines.

Excitement raised Ember’s voice. “There’s another entrance to the Primordial Maze here?”

“I know not of this maze, but an underwater entrance lies between the leftmost statues. It is shrouded by an illusion even I can not pierce.”

“Wonderful. This is big news for me, thank you.” Ember lay William down gently to fetch what appeared to be a small block of densely stacked squares of thin skin and a small twig. She murmured words of magic and began to scribble.

From there onwards the night passed with long stretches of quiet between them.

Every so often Ember would inquire Rulu of her experiences with mind blasting the golem, and of her numerous encounters with its brethren.

Between the formal interrogations, they exchanged an occasional cordial word or two, though Rulu felt a sense of restraint in Ember’s demeanor. The woman froze entirely with nervous flustering whenever they so much as threatened to broach the subject of the ‘blessing’ and Rulu’s erotic moment with William. From this, Rulu deduced that Ember was in a subservient relationship with William. This was good news.

Ashamed though she was to admit it, Rulu needed help. Fleeing the agents of R’lyeh had proved impossible.

She needed to grow her