The Crafter's Dominion: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 5) by Jonathan Brooks (e ink epub reader .txt) 📕

with Kelerim and Owchet watching her with something akin to amusement on their faces.  Sandra wasn’t amused; she was more embarrassed than anything.

 

* Oh, you don’t have to do that, Furbrea.  I told you that my name is Sandra, so you can call me that, okay? *

“Yes, Great One.”

This wasn’t going as well as the Dungeon Core would’ve liked, but at least she was getting some assistance.  She could’ve done without all of the supplication and deference, which was more than a bit off-putting; Sandra preferred mutual respect in communications and interactions, as this…worshipping act…could get dangerous, real fast.

 

* And who is Palzerk?  I’m trying to put a face to the name. *

 

It sounded familiar, but there had been more than a few Warbands that had passed through Grongbak searching for better weapons in exchange for volunteering mercenaries for Sandra’s use.

“Warband Leader Palzerk was the first to come to our village to take the deal offered.  I know not where he is now, but I’ve heard that his territory is relatively local.”

 

* Ah yes, I remember now. *

Sandra had watched all of the exchanges, not only so she could see that both sides were getting a fair deal, but as extra protection for the villagers, including Furbrea.  She remembered the first exchange only too well, because that was when Perceine had joined her team of mercenaries.

An angry tirade erupted in the back of her mind at the thought of the murdered Orc mercenary, but the Dungeon Core did her best to calm herself and push the insane shard away.  It was getting easier to control it, she had found; then again, she hadn’t been tested by an attack coming from the other Cores quite yet.

Fortunately, her fight with the entity in her mind didn’t last that long, and she was able to carry on the conversation.

* Are you sure?  Is this Palzerk the best of all of the Leaders you have spoken to? *

Furbrea bowed her head, practically touching the floor as she did so.  Sandra could tell that the old Orc’s joints were suffering from the prostration, and yet Furbrea seemed content to continue even after being told otherwise.  “Yes, Great One.  He is the only one I’ve interacted with that had the qualities of a leader that people would want to follow, instead of being forced to.”

 

* That’s it? *

“Believe me, that is enough.”

Sandra wasn’t sure why, but the conviction in Furbrea’s voice was all the confirmation she needed.  The Core trusted the old Orc to know who would likely be the best candidate based on her observations; the easier method of choosing would’ve been to ask her mercenaries, but they were going to be inherently biased.  Not necessarily biased towards their former Warband Leaders, but towards the strongest of those Leaders.  One look at Kelerim’s father, Rothgar, was enough to know that strength didn’t always equal the best one to lead.

Hundreds of Shears were swarming over the more than 40-mile radius her Area of Influence now had over Orcrim, the Orc lands where dozens of Warbands were roaming around, clearing out ever-increasing pockets of Dungeon Monsters from the nearby dungeons.  There weren’t any near Grongbak at the moment, though she could see one Warband on the way there now – likely having heard about the deal Sandra was still offering.  That wasn’t the one that was needed, however, as she searched over the territory from up high, locating Warband after Warband.

Thankfully, the one she was looking for was only about 10 miles out from Grongbak, currently in the middle of savagely tearing apart a small group of Wolves.  Must be another Beast dungeon out there somewhere.  Sandra knew from her previous life as a merchant that Fire had, by a small margin, been the most frequent of the elements to which a Human had access, so it wasn’t a surprise that another Fire-based dungeon had chosen Beasts as their Classification.

She was glad to see that their upgraded Steel weapons, instead of the shoddily made Iron ones they had discarded, were holding up quite well under the Warband’s abuse – and were practically destroying the large wolf Monsters.  It’s working.  Now for the next step, even if they’re probably not ready for it yet.

Having located her target, she turned back to those assembled in the workshop, who were looking around blankly.  They were waiting for her to speak and tell them what to do next, so she obliged them.

 

* Kelerim, it’s time you get out and see the sun; it’s been a while and you’re looking a little pale.  Owchet, I need you to go with him to see Palzerk…wait.  You were part of his Warband with Perceine, weren’t you? *

“Yes.”

 

* Then this will be a bit easier, don’t you think? *

“I’m still a little unsure what this is all about, but I will serve with honor.”

 

* Oh.  Easy enough, I guess.  Kelerim is Rothgar Bloodskull’s son, and the first crack at his legacy falls to him.  Since he’s not quite right for the position of Warlord, he can appoint someone in his stead.  If you haven’t guessed by now, that person will be Palzerk. *

“Ah.  I see.  He’s going to have to fight any within the Bloodskull Warband who would choose to take that position, however, and it better be done quickly; when word gets out of Rothgar’s death, there will be quite a lot of bloodshed.”

 

* That’s what I’ve been led to believe.  So…what do you think?  Do you agree? *

Owchet shrugged.  “Of all of the Warband Leaders I’ve met over the years, Palzerk is the best of them.  It was for him that I volunteered to be one of your mercenaries, and though I think I came out on the better end of the deal—” he winked at Furbrea,