Siren's Reach - Fallen Lands Book 3

Chapter Thirty-Four

To Catch a Crustacean

Evelyn

Our return to Siren's Reach was worse than I expected. The normally cheerful town was suffocated in an atmosphere of grief and fear. Every positive thought and useful plan I'd had in my head that morning fled. Faced with the reality of the attack, it was hard to think of anything else. The outer wall and northern areas of the town were nearly untouched, but every step closer to the waterfront we moved, the more the aftermath of the attack could be seen.

Just imagining the devastation as we moved through the city broke my heart. There were no bodies in the streets, and even bloodstains were rare, but I could see the marks of the attack. Claw marks gouged into a wall, smashed fences, broken pavers in the streets. The shattered remains of a trader's cart or a child's toy. Every little thing I saw added weight to the guilt I felt for not being here when these people needed me.

The streets weren't empty. There were plenty of people working on cleanup and repairs, but the market was entirely closed. Anyone who wasn't with the work crews was indoors or hurrying to finish their business as quickly as possible so they could return home. By the time we arrived at the waterfront, we'd passed at least four buildings that had been destroyed beyond repair.

There, we found Septimia overseeing the cleanup and recovery operations. We all dismounted, and I stepped forward to offer whatever help that I could, but I couldn't even meet her eye. I barely managed to get the words out. I expected anger and resentment, but Septimia was just relieved that we were alright.

I'd been too upset at the time to remember everything she'd said, but it was just as we suspected. My presence began interfering with the efforts almost right away, and there wasn't much I could really do to help. At least, not as the Lady of Siren's Reach. The security of Dawn's Light was already as much of a moral boost as the people were likely to get from me being here, and I was only a distraction otherwise.

Our group split, with Amélie, Sibylla, Alice, Caeda, and Constance going to help at the medical tents that had been set up, while Lilith, Kira, Haunt, and I took the lift down to the docks. During our ride, I shifted into my Evelyn the Elven Adventurer disguise, and we got to work helping with the cleanup and repairs. It wasn't until the sun was setting and everyone else was leaving that I finally let Lilith drag me back home.

The others were already waiting for us when we arrived, and the ridiculous furniture cluttering the house disgusted me even more than usual as I made my way inside. I know we ate, though I don't remember tasting the food. Septimia came by herself to tell us about the mass funeral to be held the next day, and we accepted her invitation.

It was only after she left that I realized that not everyone was accounted for. We were all sitting in the dining room, no one really sure what to do with our evening, when Lilith asked, "Has anyone heard from Derik and the others?"

My heart froze in my chest. I had been so busy that I'd forgotten they were even in the town at all. Derik, Ailmer, and Jerimiah had been working with the monster-hunting ships to track down the source of the monsters. The ships were in port, but like every other ship in the harbor, the night crews had been attacked. They would have been sleeping in the town, in this very house most likely, but I seriously doubted they'd have stayed in bed while people were dying.

I turned my horrified gaze toward Lilith as Constance answered her question. "I'm so sorry, Lilith. I forgot to mention, Derik and the others are staying in town tonight. They're going to be on standby tonight to help the townsfolk feel a little safer."

After that shock, I was ready to go to bed. They'd made it through the night with only Jerimiah being injured seriously, and Alice had even healed him herself. The other adventuring team wasn't as lucky. They'd lost two members who were down on a ship early in the attack. Hearing the news just added something else to weigh on my conscience. I left for my room soon after.

That night, Lilith, Kira, and Amélie came to my room together to talk to me about things. They explained a lot about how what happened wasn't my fault. How what I did was important, I was protecting the people, and I couldn't have known. No one was blaming me. Monster attacks were part of life on this world.

None of it helped. It wasn't that I didn't believe them or didn't understand. I knew what they were saying was true. I'd known it even before we made our way back. But that didn't make it feel any less like my responsibility. So many people had died. So many others had endured horrors. And I had no idea what to do about any of it.

What made it worse was that, for me, there was no quantifiable impact at all. If I walked away tomorrow and forgot about this place, what would really change for me? In the face of everything that had happened to people who were supposed to be my responsibility… I'd lost nothing.

I wasn't sure how long I lay there in the dark, listening to the wind outside the window and the empty echoes inside my own head. Sleep wasn't coming. It hadn't even bothered to try. But then, the door creaked open without a knock. I didn't even lift my head. Only one person in this house would barge in without so much as a hello… and bring a chair with her.

Sibylla dragged it halfway across the floor with a screech that had to be deliberate, then spun it around backward and dropped into it like she was crashing a casual meeting instead of a crisis.

"You're terrible at sulking," she said lightly. "You just kinda... sit there and look like a kicked puppy. No flair. No tragic poetry. Honestly, it's a little disappointing."

I glared at her, but it lacked any real heat.

She leaned forward on the chair's backrest, chin resting on folded arms. "The others already tried the guilt pep talk, right? Not your fault, can't save everyone, blah blah blah?"

I didn't answer. Didn't need to.

"Yeah, thought so." Sibylla sighed dramatically. "They're not wrong. They're just... saying it in a way that doesn't actually help." She tapped her fingers idly along the wood, a thoughtful quirk on her lips. "I grew up in a place where bad stuff happened all the time," she said, voice still casual. "Not epic monster attacks or ancient curses or any of the exciting things this world has. Just the usual. People getting evicted, kids aging out of the system with nowhere to go, a lot of 'sorry, life's unfair' vibes."

I shifted slightly, finally paying attention. Sibylla almost never gave any insights into her past.

"You learn," she continued, "that feeling bad doesn't fix anything. It doesn't feed anybody. Doesn't put a roof over anyone's head. All it does is make you tired. Too tired to actually do anything that could help."

I swallowed thickly, but still didn't speak.

"So, you pick a spot. You pick one thing you can fix, and you start there. You build something better. Maybe it's not enough for everyone. But it's enough for someone."

She stood up in one smooth, lazy motion, chair scraping as she pushed it back with her foot before it vanished back to wherever she'd pulled it out of.

"Anyway," she said, brightening, "tea's ready. And I might have accidentally made cookies. You're coming. That's not a request."

I stared at her.

Sibylla just grinned. "Come on. If we're gonna be sad, we might as well be sad with snacks."

I think more than anything, what she said helped me get my thoughts in order. It wasn't some award-winning speech, perfectly worded therapy, or angry diatribe about responsibilities. It was just something I could understand. It was something that helped put my mind back into motion. I was still upset, very upset, about what had happened, but she was right. I could take steps to fix things. One step at a time. And I used the time eating snacks to think things over.

When I woke up the next morning, I was sprawled across the gaudiest piece of furniture I owned — an oversized red-and-gold monstrosity of a couch that came with the house. The velvet was embroidered with what might have once been noble roses, but now just looked like wilted cabbages under the weight of cookie crumbs and exhaustion. The thing was so ridiculously oversized that Sibylla was just as sprawled out as I was, and we were only close enough to touch where she was using my arm for a pillow.

As I groggily opened my eyes and looked around the sitting room, I found Lilith standing a few feet away, her face full of a deep, silent judgement. A moment later, Sibylla sneezed like she was allergic to me, leapt off the couch, and stormed out of the room, mumbling about a shower. And with that, our day began.

The entire town had gathered for a memorial, a funeral for everyone lost, and an opportunity for everyone to grieve together. It was an all-day event, and Kira even prepared a small speech for me to give. The prepared action and words themselves were just another reminder that this kind of thing wasn't uncommon in this world at all. By the time we sat down for dinner, I didn't remember what was said, only what it made me feel, and that if it wasn't for Sibylla, I didn't think I'd have made it through the first line. I wasn't going to forget that.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

As everyone began to eat, I decided to speak my mind. "Tomorrow, I will leave for Darkwater Downs." That got everyone's attention, and I pressed on. "I think we're on the right track with the dungeon theory. The only way we're going to know for sure is if we follow the clues and figure out where it is."

Lilith nodded her agreement. "I agree. But you can't go alone. We all just agreed that we need to travel together while these assassins are still a threat."

"I'm not going alone." I corrected. "Amélie, Sibylla, Haunt, and Caeda will go with me."

"What?! Me?" Caeda immediately squawked.

I nodded, "Yes. And everyone else will stay here to protect the town and use the library, rumors, and any other resources to try and uncover more about this dungeon."

Caeda shook her head, "But, why me? I can't fight dungeon bosses! And I'm good at research! Shouldn't I stay with Alice?" Her tone had turned pleading at the end, and Alice's raised eyebrow let me know she was curious about my reasoning, too.

I gave her a gentle smile, "Don't worry, Caeda. You won't be fighting directly, but we need you in a supporting role. And this is about more than that. The others will all gain more experience working here than you can. You will gain far more experience and levels by going with us. We all have to get stronger, and this is an opportunity you can't miss."

"And me?" Alice asked.

"I can't take both healers with me, and whoever goes will need to be in the fight. This thing is a level thirty-eight dungeon floor boss. It will be very difficult for us to take on at all, but it won't be able to kill Amélie in a single hit, and her protective magic is more advanced. You will also be very helpful here with your control over water for everything going on in the harbor. You will still have an opportunity to grow even if it's not from fighting this monster."

Sibylla nodded furiously at that, "Besides, we'll get you back into the Tower of Learning sooner than you think! You'll be caught up in no time!" When Alice stared blankly at her, she added, "…and I'll even go in with you for guidance and safety."

"That is a good idea." Kira agreed. "I think I've gone through quite a lot in the town's library. It should only take me a couple of hours to get through any possible leads there. Then I can join in hunting down rumors here in town, but I think heading back to the tower after that might be our best bet. The tower's library was system-generated using the knowledge of its ancient dungeon core."

Alice sighed, crossed her arms, and nodded. "I 'spose I can work on askin' 'round the docks while I help clean up the mess down there. Reckon it's 'bout the best place to catch rumors 'bout a dungeon out in the sea. Ain't exactly what I figured bein' a [Hero] would be like."

I gave her a pained smile. "I'm sorry, Alice. I know this is my problem. When this is all over, I'll do a better job of explaining everything that's going on, and we'll go back west. I really appreciate your help."

Alice snorted at me. "No, Evelyn, that ain't what I meant, and it sure as hell ain't just your problem. The whole coast's gettin' threatened. It's on all of us to fix it. Just part of the [Hero] gig, I reckon. I just didn't figure it'd mean me usin' my magic to clean up a harbor full of junk."

That put a real smile on my face, but before I could trip over myself trying to show gratitude, Lilith got us back on target.

"Will that be enough? And what of Dawn's Light?"

I nodded, "It'll be enough. It has to be. Dawn's Light will be staying here. I don't want to risk it being out of the sky if they manage to attack again. That's also why I chose the group I did. We'll get there and back quick."

"…We will?" Caeda asked, her nerves still frayed.

I just smiled.

***

"WaaAAH–aaah–ooh–aahh–!"

Caeda's choppy, bouncing cries of, um, joy, rang out with every lurch of Haunt's stride. We'd left first thing in the morning, eager to get to Darkwater Downs as quickly as possible.

"Too fast! Too fast! Too faaaah–!" She desperately tried to yell out her excitement coherently, but it was difficult to understand through the jolting sprint of the dire wolf.

She'd been apprehensive to ride Haunt at first, but after seeing the intricate and very sturdy harness, she warmed up to the idea. They'd even taken a few minutes to adjust to traveling together. I was just glad she was having such a good time. Not only was it allowing her to keep up with the three speeding foxes that Amélie, Sibylla, and I were, but it was also helping Haunt get some valuable experience carrying a real rider, even if she was smaller and lighter than anyone else in the group.

"NononoNONO–AUGH–!"

Now, it would be understandable if a bystander who wasn't familiar with Caeda mistook her commentary as full panic bordering on lurching terror, but she was a [Hero]'s companion, and this was obviously nothing to her.

At our current rate of travel, we were well on schedule to make it to Darkwater Downs before lunch. We'd have plenty of time left in the day to eat and rest before carefully planning out our strategy. If all went well, we'd even be back to Siren's Reach in time to sleep in our own beds.

"I regret this! I REGRET THIS!"

Fortunately, Caeda had worked out a chant to help her cling on for dear life. Not her life, of course, but to all the lives she was going to save by being brave and helping us defeat this terrible monster. Seeing her newfound security, Haunt helpfully picked up the pace, eager to reach our destination and help us end the threat to Darkwater Downs and the rest of the coast.

"I'm gonna die! I'mgonnadieI'mgonnadie–!"

I couldn't quite make out her words of encouragement over the foxy cackle coming from Sibylla, but it was heartwarming to know she was as determined as we were, even with the short time she'd known us. When we finally stopped shortly after spotting our target in the distance, Caeda was nearly a limp noodle, mumbling under her breath in the saddle.

I shifted and stepped over to help her with the straps. She was so exhausted, she didn't want to let go of the reins, but that was okay.

"How many skill levels was that?" I asked her as I helped her down from the saddle.

"Is it over?" she asked, and I nodded.

"Yep! It's breaktime! I had no idea you were so adventurous. I'd have been nervous to give Haunt free rein on the first ride."

"I think I'm going to be sick."

I blinked at her for a second, but then nodded, "Yeah. It was an exhausting trip. Don't worry. We'll have some time to recover before we hunt down that dungeon boss."

A circle of comfortable chairs appeared around a fire pit as Sibylla approached. "Just take a seat and relax! You did great! And to think you didn't even have the exotic riding skill when we started! You must be a natural!"

Ignoring our nonsense, Amélie stepped up behind her and rubbed her back with a golden glowing hand, "Do not mind them. They are only trying to be encouraging. Is that any better?"

As the magic suffused her, a shade of green I hadn't noticed faded from Caeda's face, and she nodded slowly and let Amélie lower her to a seat.

"That was the worst experience of my life… please tell me I don't have to do that again."

"Oh, don't be like that!" I said with some cheer. "At the end there you were starting to look like a professional!"

She groaned. "Because somehow through that mess I managed to get nine levels in exotic riding!"

I beamed at the news, "Caeda! That's fantastic! Now let's eat while I explain my plan. I'll bet you'll get the skill up to at least level twelve by the time we're done!"

Caeda groaned, but accepted the food being handed to her by Sibylla. We took a few minutes to eat most of our food before I continued. It'd been a long run after all, and I was starving!

"Alright! So first off, we're going to cheat."

Sibylla snorted and covered a laugh, but Caeda just looked relieved. "Oh, thank goodness. I thought you were really going to make me fight a dungeon boss!"

I blinked at her. "Um. We're definitely fighting the dungeon boss. Oh! Sorry, yeah, I see where you might have misunderstood. Oops. But yeah, definitely still a fight, just on our own terms... Not to say I'm making you come. If you really want to stay out of it, you can stay here. No one will force you."

She deflated, but shook her head. "No… I said I'd help, so I will. Gods above, just please tell me your plan will keep us alive."

I beamed at her, "That's the spirit! Okay! Now, K'thralis is pretty much a giant crab, and he expects to be fighting in a dungeon, probably underwater, if I were going to guess, and in a cave. Here, he's out in the open where I can give him the good ol' Az'immon treatment."

Caeda scrunched up her face, "Who, or what, is Az'immon?"

I grinned, but before I could answer, Amélie cut in, "Just some lazy klutz. No one worth worrying about."

"Oh, come on! That happened months ago! Give me a break!"

Amélie only shrugged with an innocent smile, so I sighed and went on. "I'm a mage, but my magic is primarily about the weather. In an underwater cave, that isn't very useful, but out here…" I gestured toward the town where the sky was already darkening under the gathering storm, "I can do a lot of great things. Like drop lightning on dungeon bosses that take up squatting on our beach."

"But, how effective will that be?" Sibylla asked, more serious than usual. "And don't quote old Marvel movies, or forget that you're the only one immune to being electrocuted."

I nodded, conceding the point. "Yeah, it's definitely a circumstantial spell, and fortunately not the only one in my kit, or yours. Your alchemical concoctions would be very limited under water."

"And the crabs cannot swim," Amélie pointed out. "They will be stuck on the ground, which I am sure will affect their strategy, assuming the fight was intended to take place underwater."

"Right!" I agreed. "I will have the high ground!" Sibylla's raised eyebrow stopped me from continuing that joke, so I nodded to Caeda instead, "And you. Your light magic would be hindered underwater, wouldn't it?"

Her deer-in-the-headlights impression let me know that she'd not even thought about it.

"Yeah. Light acts funny underwater, but on the surface, you won't be limited nearly as much in range or use. And that is another important cheat."

"How so?" Caeda asked cautiously.

"Have you ever seen a cat chase a laser pointer? Crabs will do something similar."

She stared blankly at me. "No. No, I have not. What is a laser pointer?"

I sighed. "It's um. You know what. Never mind. You can make the crabs chase lights. You just need to make them skitter around like prey, and they'll go wild for them. The boss's full name is K'thralis the Swarmcaller. Based on that, and what we saw last time we were here, we can assume he's going to summon a lot of other crab monsters to help him fight. Rather than fight them all, you're going to scatter dancing lights in every direction but toward us, and give us the space we need to fight."

Caeda raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Yeah, okay. I don't have unlimited mana. What am I supposed to do when I run out? And how can you be sure crabs will chase lights?"

"Don't worry. When you've gathered up enough, we'll kill them in a group. We just want to control where they're going to be as much as possible, so we're not overwhelmed… and it'll work. Probably. Many types of crabs, especially young crabs, can be tricked into chasing light as long as it darts around like prey. So, your job is to catch them as soon as he summons them or whatever, giving them something other than us to chase. We just need to destroy them before they realize it's a ruse and come after us."

Caeda nodded along, understanding, and then asked, "Why don't I just create illusions of people running away from them instead?"

"You can do that?"

She nodded, "It's more mana, but it sounds a lot more sane and likely to work than your idea."

I sighed, my genius plan out the window. "Yep. Ok. Do that. Just make them glow or something so I don't feel as bad."

She rolled her eyes. "Sure."

Amélie kept a straight face when she asked, "And what about the rest of us?"

I nodded, "Right. I am going to do my best to keep the boss focused on me, so you and Sibylla can work on finding his weaknesses and breaking through. We'll need to occasionally have whoever is available kill the swarms so Caeda can rest. But it's a dungeon boss, and we're going in almost blind. We will need to improvise from time to time."

Amélie crossed her arms and gave me a smug look. "Are you forgetting something?"

I returned her look with a flat one. "No. I will use Lore when we're close enough for me to see it. But who knows if that'll tell us anything important."

We took another few minutes to rest before packing up. Fortunately, Caeda was far more afraid of going into this fight on foot than while riding Haunt, and she didn't even complain much before crawling back into the saddle. Our approach to the town was at a much more sedate pace. We needed to conserve energy, and we definitely didn't want to accidentally gain the monster's attention before we were ready.

For some perspective, we stopped on the same hill where Haunt had waited for us the last time we were here. The town itself looked just as dead as before, if a little more damaged. Only, as we took it in, that wasn't entirely true. The whole place felt significantly more spooky. I was getting a really bad feeling just from looking at the place. It sent a cool chill down my spine.

It wasn't just the gloom overhead. I expected that, what with the storm that I'd summoned and all, but this was something else. The place didn't feel cursed exactly, but it felt like going in there was walking to an executioner's block. I began to notice small bits of movement as small creatures, dark-shelled crabs, scurried from one shadow to another. Even the beach seemed to move ever so slightly, like the impossibly slow and subtle breathing of something dreaming beneath the sand.

"Do we really have to go in there?" Caeda asked, understandable trepidation in her voice.

I nodded, "Don't worry. Haunt will keep you safe. Just remember the plan."