Part 12
“And it’s time we got to work. Prepare yourself for Translocation.”
A moment later she Translocated the entire group, using the power she and her companions had stored in their batteries, most of which they’d received from the Sylvan magic attack.
They arrived on a beach on the north-east coast of Hiliani. A line of small but jagged mountains paralleled the coast about a kilometer inland for as far as the eye could see, curving out of sight to the north-east and south-west. Between the beach and the mountains was fairly level land covered with forest.
“This will be your new community, from here to the mountains.” Reggie announced. “The first thing we need is latrine pits dug. A quarter of you will work on that with Karzog. A quarter will gather building materials with Valentia. Those who didn’t choose to attack or fight us earlier are probably the smart ones among you, so you’ll work with me on community planning. The remainder will work with Helemia on altering the courses of the streams and building bridges over them so you all have access to water and we won’t be fouling them with silt by walking in them.
“If you’ve made good progress in two hours, we’ll take a break for a meal.
“And by the way, if any of you even think of escaping, disrupting the work, or sabotaging anything, we’ll know.”
Soon Karzog, Valentia, and Helemia had chosen their teams, and work began. Since all of the Sylvan were capable wizards with about as much power as an equivalent number of elves, and were physically fit and larger than humans their ages by about a quarter, the work progressed quickly. Some grumbled and complained, but most seemed to think their new circumstances weren’t so bad, and a few actively supported the changes in their lives.
Valentia’s team scoured the area for driftwood, fallen trees and large branches, and loose stone. By the time that was done, Reggie’s team had decided on locations for eight large long-houses in the forest near the beach with garden plots and livestock enclosures.
and proceeded with an eclectic mixture of
over the land and waters of Hiliani. In a few minutes they’d located and started retrieving foodstuffs from all over the islands; plucking fish out of water, picking berries, fruits, and vegetables, and digging edible roots from the soil and shellfish from the shoreline. These all flew back to her, and she
food was dealt with, she recruited fifty Sylvan to help wash and prepare it and cook what
entire area, and when the supper break was declared they all set to with gusto. For most of the young Sylvan, it was the best meal they’d
up amidst
celebrate your new lives. First we’ll cast the Contraceptions on the females,
get them from you with a Reading. We’ll provide all the music psionicly since we don’t have any instruments, but we encourage any who know the words to sing along, and we
far mightier than you, you can ask someone who is about as dangerous as the one you hate to be your champion.
and clean yourselves up before bedtime. Since the shelters aren’t finished yet, you can sleep on the beach, and we’ll make sure none of you get cold or wet
lively music was heard all up and down the beach, and the bonfires were blazing. Like the cooking fires, the bonfires were completely magic, since all the wood they’d gathered was used for construction
Governors stationed themselves on the beach in the middle of the gathering, between the Challenge Circle
and soon there was a long queue waiting to use it and a big crowd gathered around it to watch and cheer or jeer the fighters, but there appeared to be very little socializing going on other than that. The crowding to see the fights soon became a problem, so Valentia cast a huge Revealing of the arena in the
up from distrust and isolation and constant chaotic warfare.” Reggie privately observed to his three companions. “They’ve all forgotten how to have fun together
that.” Helemia giggled. “I’ll cast it slow so
Sylvan started to become more gregarious. They began mixing more, and laughter was heard. Someone started
Valentia giggled. “This is getting to be a party now!