The Crafter's Dominion: A Dungeon Core Novel (Dungeon Crafting Book 5) Jonathan Brooks (books that read to you txt) 📖

the presence of the Energy Orbs, especially after Porthel and his Elite group came back with tales, and shipments started flowing in; the Chamberlain simply changed the narrative.”

“That’s also why he didn’t attempt to use his spell on you, because it wouldn’t work,” Churven continued.  “I managed to locate Porthel after finding out about the Chamberlain’s deeds, and I could see some remnants of an attempt to control his mind, but his ‘Bond’ with Sandra had prevented it.”

Plots within plots and conspiracy theories were too much for Echo, and she wasn’t even sure what to think of it all anymore.  All she knew was that she wanted to get back to Sandra’s dungeon, and not only to see Kelerim again.  There was a lot of work left to do to make the area safe, and she wanted to be a part of it; that didn’t appear as if it was going to be anytime soon, however, based on the information she was being given.  If it was all true, of course.

It was more than a few days of waiting for things to calm down enough for an attempt to eliminate the threat of the Chamberlain and rescue the King and Queen from his harmful influence.  More than a week passed while Echo was kept down in the hidden bunker, while the majority of those she had met when she had first arrived – including Sheelagh and Winter – had gone back to their normal culling duties elsewhere.  Other than herself, only a core group of 5 remained: Elder Herrlot, Churven, and the three who had participated in Echo’s capture/escape/whatever she wanted to call it.

Echo was left out of the planning for the most part, mainly because she really didn’t have much to contribute and didn’t know enough about the people and location involved to make a difference.  She was kept apprised of their progress, however, so it wasn’t a surprise when they finally determined that it was time for action, because their chances of success were the best they were going to be; most of the hubbub around Echo’s departure from the Royal Tree had visibly calmed down, and there wasn’t any better time to strike.

Echo still didn’t know for sure that she was on the right side, because there was no real proof of what she had been told about the Chamberlain.  For all she knew, this was all some sort of elaborate ploy by the Elder and Churven to take take control of the Elven government; if that were true, then she would unknowingly be working to instigate the coup of which she had accused Herrlot earlier.  If it wasn’t a ploy, then they would be saving their people from the machinations of the vile Chamberlain, and they would be hailed as heroes.  Regardless of the reasoning behind it, though, success in their endeavors meant that they could finally supply the help that the area around the wasteland needed.  And none too soon, in my opinion.

People came trickling in over the next day as the notice of their impending assault was spread to those who had gathered there before, and all of them appeared highly determined.  “It’s worse than I thought,” Winter said almost immediately after his arrival.  “Dungeon monster frequency is increasing the closer you get to the wasteland, and our resources are being overwhelmed.  Having these Energy Orbs has helped me defend against them, but without every Elite having them, we’re fighting a losing battle.”  The prickly Elite looked exhausted, and for the first time, Echo felt sorry for him.

“Which is exactly why you are all here,” the Elder announced once everyone had arrived.  “It’s time we set things right and get you that help you need.  We move in an hour and attack tonight.”  She turned to Echo, presenting something to her.  “Echo, I have something for you.”

Her bow.  She had been wondering where the special weapon crafted by Sandra had gone, since it hadn’t been on the Roc when she landed, along with all of the Energy Orbs they had brought.  She even had a quiver full of the special bolts required for its use, because normal arrows tended to shatter from the incredible power the bow put out.  Not only that, but there were a handful of explosive-tipped arrows, filled with tiny Energy Orbs that would explode because of an enchantment placed on them.

“Thank you, Elder.”  Echo looked at the staff in Herrlot’s hand, finally getting the chance to ask her about it; the Elder had been so busy organizing things that the Ranger rarely saw her for more than a few minutes at a time.  “If I may ask, what did you do with the staff?”  The green-glowing Natural Energy Orb was on the tip of the staff, held in place by the wood, which appeared to have been grown around it magically.

“Oh, you noticed that?  It’s something I thought up while we were waiting for an opportunity to get you away from where you were being held.”  She held it out for Echo to see it closer, while describing what it was.  “While I’m not adept at enchanting like the Gnomish people, I’ve picked up a little bit over the years.  I figured out a way for the Energy Orb on the end to act as an amplifier, adding energy to the Natural spells I cast if I manipulate the energy through the staff itself.  It takes a little more concentration, but the output of my spells are magnified exponentially as a result.”

“That’s amazing.”  It truly was, too.  From what she knew, the enchantments that Sandra created relied on the rune sequence itself to produce an effect – none of them amplified spells like the Elder’s staff did.  “Why just your Natural spells?  Why not the others?”

Instead of answering, Herrlot asked her own question.  “What did you learn about enchanting while you were in Sandra’s dungeon?”

“Honestly, not much.