Mana Wells

Stacy was petting and playing with the Kitsune around the Minotaur encampment for the minutes she could.

"So where are we going?" said Boris.

"Back to Castle Bright Flame."

"Riders only?"

"I would think so, we don't want to take forever."

"I think I can find some."

"Did you say riders?" said Jacob.

"Yeah, we are planning an attack."

"Then you might need me."

"Huh?"

"Like, I don't want to be always on the sidelines," said Jacob. "If you are a large rider you'll need someone who can fix saddles and armor when they break on the way."

"How are you going to keep up?" said Kurt.

"On one of the rams like everyone else?" looking up at Boris. "Present company excluded." He turned back to Kurt, "Can you not ride one?"

Embarrassingly Kurt still had not learned to ride anything. "No. My powers let me move fast. Really only Harvey, that one time."

"I can make a saddle for Harvey!" said Jacob. "I've thought about it before—less than a week. I need to make measurements. I've been training with the spear too, I'm not defenseless." A tentacle like Sara's came out from his body, "Plus I can use a lot of the enchantments now, even fix them."

"It's going to be dangerous."

"Which is why you need help."

The Kitsune had made a bark at Stacy. Who immediately backed up, hands open and in front of her, "I'm sorry I didn't do anything. I swear."

Kitsune ignored Stacy's plea. And the goatman took her shoulder saying something which seemed to relax Stacy.

Coming up to Jacob sitting in front of him. Jacob looked down as if it were something important. Kitsune turned back towards Kurt. Looking for a moment and turning its head.

Kurt unknowingly nodded back at the Kitsune. It seemed to take as an approval for what it was about to do.

The Kitsune hummed at Stacy, and the goatman pushed her towards Jacob. She walked standing next to him. "Are you sure? Me too?" Kitsune nodded. She grabbed Jacob's hand.

Kurt wasn't sure what was happening. Did he just approve this?

The Kitsune glowed and pulsed. And Jacob breathed sharply through his teeth. Stacy also tensed herself. A tattoo of a heart started to appear just above Stacy's left breast.

Jacob on the other hand had too long lines running up his entire right fore arm past the inner elbow up his bicep. At his wrist, four horizontal lines connected the two vertical ones. It looked like an incomplete ladder, one that could get more and more rungs.

"Well that's different," said Jacob. Looking down at his arm. Something feels different. He rubbed his fingers together, "better though like I understand something."

Stacy looked down at her marking with these gleeful eyes, "I can't, I don't know what to say." Getting on a knee towards the Kitsune, "thank you." She tugged Jacob to do the same.

The Kitsune signals to one of the Goatmen and then to the bed they had brought. The Goatmen took the bed and brought it into the Kitsune nest as it followed along. Looking back a few times with a pleasing smile.

"Ohh," said Maliki, taking a look at Jacob's arm. "A lot more to go, it seems."

"What do you mean?" said Jacob.

"Well, it's a progress you see you only have the two marks and there is a lot of room."

"So what's it to do?"

"Who knows I just know it will grow stronger with you, if you try."

"Try what?"

"It should become apparent that the growth from the mark is rather personal. You're not the first to have a style like that though, I've seen it with so few though. But they will appear as you grow. This mark though seems not be attack-oriented, perhaps a skill or ability to provide short blessings."

"I don't understand."

"It's a gift," said Stacy, "these things touch one's self. Maybe it has to do with your work with the elves. You are not the….best. But you are getting better. Most of them have a hundred years of practice, it's not a fair comparison."

"It's okay, I'm there to learn anyhow. Can't learn from people worse than you right?" said Jacob. And Stacy smiled back.

"I think this blessing will help you with those endeavors."

Kurt and Boris discussed who would come with them. They needed a force, enough to storm the walls. And help make the progression there easier. There would be a large group of goblins coming as well. This was left to Hank, Tom, and Joe to organize and lead. A few elven archers would be coming as well. Jacob could act as the weapon sharpener and general repairer.

The main people staying at the Pillar were going to be Sara, Boris, Maliki, Victor, Thomas, and Arthur. Carla could also be counted upon in an emergency. And of course, Betsy would continue doing her job as well. There was a contingent of Valentine troops stationed for access to the gate. Talia and another noble as well as a company of Valentine were coming with Kurt.

They were going to have to get ready. Jacob asked how he could best help. Saying he could take the time from his place. He suggested that another come with him to advise him. Which Stacy snickered at it was most likely the other way round.

They could make some enchantments on the blades of the goblins. They wouldn't be as powerful as one forged for it but it should help.

So Jacob was coming which was unexpected. Kurt wasn't sure about Stacy. But it seemed they had a little thing between them. He was not sure of the implications of that cross-species relationship. But no one seemed to be making any objections he was aware of.

She seemed to be having the time of her life though. Even on the way back she couldn't stop smiling and trying to hide it. Looking at the heart-shaped tattoo often, the heart was human-looking and not a cute symbol of one. That difference didn't seem to matter to the elf.