Dungeon 42

First Night

Chapter 164

I transported Henry and myself to the town green. It was near the central square and offered a place to hold larger events for the holidays we’d eventually celebrate.

“You don’t intend to g-greet them?” Henry inquired.

“Not right off, it's better to let Erica and the others handle that… I’m a bit much to take in,” I said, gesturing to the considerable size of my form. I didn’t know how exactly the Silvertree folks would react to a giant's kin, but I assumed a bit of forewarning would be appreciated.

“I s-see your point,” Henry agreed with a nod. I hip-bumped him lightly and we settled on a bench.

“Not that we can't watch,” I added, opening a window. I didn’t need a map to know who was near me when it came to outsiders, so I was confident we wouldn’t be caught using it by anyone I didn’t want to see.

We watched as Erica, Dawn, and a few others waited for the Silvertree folks to make their way down. The group was quite orderly and an idea occurred to me as I watched everyone explain what was going on to them. Tanner Leeds seemed to be the one organizing them, though I was a bit surprised as I’d expected the knight Ackley Camphor to be in the lead.

It wasn’t a disappointment so much as curious. Still, my thoughts strayed to the square and myself. I’d said I was giving everyone time to break my presence to our new arrivals gently, but that also meant they’d have time to wonder about me too.

Laughing, I summoned picnic tables based on my own design and set them up along with some simple decorations.

“42?” Henry inquired, curious but not alarmed. He was more than used to my abilities and caprice.

“They’ve just been told a mythical figure will be letting them live here. Seems a bit disappointing if I can't at least manage a warm welcome,” I explained with a toothy grin.

“Perhaps it would be,” Henry agreed. I sent out a group text, explaining the small change in plans. I quickly had a band gathered as well as cooking staff, though they were largely for show.

I texted Dawn rather than Erica about the change in plans and soon the weary group was arriving at the green. They were definitely footsore, so I greeted them standing, wanting to get the formalities done quickly.

"Greetings friends, and welcome. I’m Mayor Deux," I proclaimed, injecting confidence into my voice. "You've had a long journey, but rest assured you'll find sanctuary here."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd at my words. They all looked rather surprised, though if it was for the friendly greeting or my appearance was questionable.

“And with that, the formalities are done. Sit, rest, eat,” I added. That got a palpable wave of relief as everyone sank down to rest their legs finally. They’d all be staying temporarily at Erica’s farm, which was still a ways off, but that final walk could wait until they’d had some time to recover. House hunting in the town proper could wait a day or two.

It was half an hour before the first shout of surprise when someone used the public privy. They were the same kind as at the bunkhouse.

“I think you might enjoy surprising people a l-little much,” Henry chided, even as he laughed.

“Better they get used to it now, this town isn’t likely to get less weird,” I counter playfully.

“Indeed not,” Henry agreed.

As the food and music flowed, weary travelers were replaced by smiling faces. Children darted after the band, clapping along happily. Adults chatted in clusters, weary feet forgotten.

I kept my distance, not wanting to disturb the festivities with my imposing presence.

After so much worry over their arrival, it was satisfying to see our efforts rewarded.

The sun dipped low, dusk settling comfortably over the valley. As the air chilled the light stones set in the poles holding up the bunting came slowly to light. A hush fell at the sight, followed by awed murmuring.

I cleared my throat, waiting as the murmurs faded.

“Erica has agreed to house you all at her farm until you select more permanent residences. A wagon will make rounds to take you all there, as I’m sure everyone is likely happy to be done walking for the moment,” I explained. I had two prepared to take the people across the river bridge to the farm.

Another round of discussion occurred after my announcement. Most of it seemed to be the adults debating who needed to turn in already versus who wanted to stay out a while longer. The enticing availability of free cider apparently making the prospect of another night under the star more enticing than it probably should have been.

Erica caught wind of this and appeared to approve. Not unlike at the fete, the older folks started to take charge, directing people like generals on a battle field.

“Ah, and no worries if you choose to linger, the baths won’t run out of hot water,” I added playfully to indicate my own approval. People were entitled to have some fun and it wasn’t like the crowd was rowdy. They seemed content to just drink and chat by the bonfire being erected, snacking on leftovers.

“You know that's not normal, right?” Dawn asked, elbowing me playfully in the side. She’d come up from behind me, but she wasn’t halfling or assassin quiet so I’d heard her.

“I was aware hot water should run out, I just didn’t care,” I said back.

“I mean that it's available at all, let alone without having to boil it yourself,” Dawn countered. I just shrugged at that, knowing and not caring about that either. Magic places should be magical.

Dawn snorted, though I hadn’t said anything and walked off to join Icarus by the fire. He’d been chatting with some of the new folks who’d been quite confused about his short height. They hadn’t heard of halflings before, let alone seen one.

“Hm, appears we have c-company,” Henry muttered into the cup he was pretending to drink from. Tanner Leeds was walking up to us, looking rather nervous.

“Uhm, Mayor…” Tanner started, fumbling.

“Just Deux or D is fine if that's easier. You’re Tanner Leeds, if I’m not mistaken, Erica pointed you out to me earlier,” I offered to speed along introductions.

“Just so, Mayor D. I wanted to thank you, she told me earlier you helped her overcome her bad health. We’d all been worried about that after she left; she took sickly as a child and just never seemed to properly recover,” Tanner explained.

“Well, you're welcome, though you needn’t thank me. Erica is a friend and I was glad I could help her,” I said, sincere though the order was a bit off. I’d helped her well before we knew anything about each other, though I had been glad to be able to for Elim’s sake.

“You're as kind as you are eccentric,” Tanner said agreeably then froze, blushing violently.

“I take it Elim said that rather than Erica,” I offered, laughing. Tanner nodded, still looking embarrassed.

“Don’t worry about it and go have fun with the others,” I said. Tanner was the first, but not the last person to make their way over to me and say thanks for something, be it Erica’s good health or just having a place to go.

“What are you thinking about?” Henry asked after a while. The evening had deepened into night proper and the fire was dying down. Those who’d elected to remain were laying out in pairs or small groups on quilts I’d discreetly supplied and would be waking up still on the green in the morning.

“Just that this was nice and I’m glad I didn’t make them uncomfortable,” I replied honestly. My population was growing.

It was possible I should have felt bad for deceiving them like I was, but I didn’t. For a change it didn’t seem like the system’s suppression function at work either. I wasn’t going to force them to do anything and was giving them a relatively safe place to stay. Maybe I’d gain points out of it eventually, if any of them perished within the boards of the dungeon.

Still, I had no intention of forcing an early harvest and they could leave if they wanted. It was probably as close to a fair deal as I could have hoped to offer them without using the system.

"You did wonderfully," Henry murmured. He slipped an arm and his cape around my shoulders from where he stood beside me as I sat on a bench. As if either of us experienced cold. "Though I never d-doubted you would."

I huffed a laugh. "Flatterer."

Tomorrow would bring a hundred mundane tasks requiring the Mayor's attention. For now I simply enjoyed the quiet as we watched my new citizens pass their first night in the valley.