The Dungeon Fairy: Two Choices: A Dungeon Core Escapade (The Hapless Dungeon Fairy Book 2) by Jonathan Brooks (free e books to read .txt) 📗

much better, because now she was nearly positive that she had something there that could stop just about anything that tried to come after her.  Tension and hyper-awareness, which she had not even been aware that she had been suffering from since the previous attack, started to slowly melt away as more of the traps were added into her defense.

“Hey – it looks like you’ve got some friends at the entrance.”  Shale’s words interrupted her concentration while she was just finishing up the placement of her newest trap; fortunately, she was incapable of “jumping” at the sudden disturbance, so she was able to place it exactly where she wanted it before turning her attention far above.

They’re back!  Why haven’t they been back already?  Thinking back at everything she realized that it had actually been just under 5 weeks since her Bonded Hill Dwarves had been there with their new group; she wasn’t sure why they had waited that long, since they had the ability to cut in line once a week.  She thought that it might be because they appeared to be wearing a little bit better-quality armor this time, though not nearly as high of quality or as expensive as the ones the Merchants were wearing; then again, anything that wasn’t ragged leather and threadbare cloth was a step up. They were still wielding the weapons they had the last time, though.

“You’ve no doubt heard that this dungeon has been changing things around.  I’m not sure how good your prior knowledge is going to be now, Sterge.” The Gnome Scout led the way, looking for the two Root Foxes that had been near the entrance last time – but failing to find them.  Tacca knew that she had moved them inside the nearest foliage lining the path leading to the next room, just to shake it up a little bit.  “Especially as word has it that the traps are starting to move from their previous locations, as well.”

That was also true.  With the new month, Tacca had started shifting the traps in her upper dungeon from their previous locations, along with continuing the practice of moving her creatures around.  They were minor shifts, such as moving them to the right or left a foot from where it was previously, and only her Enchantment-based ones at the moment; she hadn’t changed the nature of them yet, just the placement.  The Soil-covered Pit Traps were going to be next, though she was giving the groups of Raiders time to adjust to the changes that were happening already before she did that.  Well, that, and they were much more expensive to move as they cost more DF to place, and most of her DF was being consumed in improving her defenses down near her Core.

“Yes, well…we will just have to see.  Perhaps I’ll surprise you.”  Basically, from what Tacca could tell, the Hill Dwarf Fighter, who she now knew was named Sterge, was going to “cheat” using the Dungeon Sight Ability to find all the changes.  She was perfectly fine with that, as she still didn’t want them to die.

Shale, on the other hand, was ecstatic as he watched Sterge use the Ability.  “Wow – I can see that!  Is that what you see all of the time?”

Eh…pretty much.  Does it look all red?

“Er…yes?  Different shades of red, but red, nonetheless.”

I see things in multiple colors depending on what it is, such as traps and creatures, but it’s the same general idea.

“This would be nice to be able to see things like this all the time,” her Dungeon Assistant remarked a bit wistfully.

Perhaps one day you will; you know as much as I do that Dungeon Fairies and their Bonded Cores tend to develop certain Abilities over time – so maybe this will be one.  I can already share my screens with you because of my increase in Assistant Rank; I’m excited to see what will happen when you Rank up as well.

Neither of them said anything more than that, because they were too busy watching the group easily making their way through the dungeon – despite all the changes.  The Dungeon Sight Ability was definitely showing its worth now, as Sterge the Hill Dwarf Fighter easily pinpointed where everything was.

“How?  How are you doing this?” the Elf asked suspiciously after the third time he described exactly where one of the traps was located, even though it was on the opposite side of the room where it had been the last time they were there.

Don’t do it, don’t do it, don’t do—

“Uh, well, you see, well—”

“What Sterge is trying to say is that we developed a sort of…connection…with this dungeon during our initial visit a few months ago,” the Hill Dwarf Caster finished for him. “He can sense where all of the dangers are when he’s in the same room, and can pinpoint them quite accurately.”

The others were all silent as they stared at Sterge, who appeared highly uncomfortable.  Finally, the Elf turned to the Caster and asked, “Wait—you said ‘we’.  Does that mean you can do this too, Gwenda?”

Gwenda.  A name to a face now.

The Hill Dwarf barely hesitated before answering.  “Yes, I have this same ‘connection’.  And please, don’t mention it to anyone else, as it could cause some issues.”

“Is this part of the reason you wanted us to wait more than a month to come back?  So that no one would look at you both two closely and find out about this ‘connection’ – like how we aren’t supposed to mention the poetic message that was left for us last time?”

At least now I know why they waited so long—uh oh!  I hope he didn’t hear—

Unfortunately, her Dungeon Assistant was listening to every word.  “What message is she talking about, Tacca?  What did you do?” Shale asked mentally, through his Bond with her Core.