Chapter One-Hundred Seven

Chapter One-Hundred Seven

I laugh to myself as I watch Tiny untangle the group from the web, and manage to ask Teemo to be there once theyre free so he can tell them about the next challenge. It looks like hell have plenty of time, too. Theyve made a proper hash of the webbing.

I count it as you catching me, even if the Weaver doesnt, says Vernew as she has to suffer the indignity of admitting defeat.

You would? asks Freddie with a mix of hope and surprise. I get the feeling its not a usual hunt that ends with you tied to your prey.

The spiderkin shrugs as much as she can right now. I mean, its not a flawless hunt, but you still have backup nearby to clean up the mess and put everything right. Even if recruiting the Reader is cheating she grumbles, and the kids laugh.

Thank you for the help, too, Tiny. Wed be in well a bind without your help, admits Rhonda with a giggle, and Freddie chuckles as well, before speaking up.

So, you call Thedeim the Weaver and Tiny the Reader? he asks with curiosity, and Vernew strains to try to get a better look at him.

Why oh, right! You follow the Shield! Yeah, I follow Thedeim, the Weaver of the Web. The Reader of the Weave is well, kinda complicated.

Im not going anywhere, replies Freddie with admirable stoicism, even if Rhonda giggles at the understatement.

Vernew chuckles. Heh, fair enough, kid. Well, the Reader was one of the Weavers first scions, and is probably the most in tune with the Fate affinity they all have. We dwellers still have the vague memories of when we were still aranea, and feel a connection with Reader Tiny.

Freddie looks thoughtful at that. But the ratkin dont revere Teemo like that right?

Vernew shakes her head, making the whole mass of webbing and people and spiders wobble a little and earning herself a deep chitter from Tiny. Oh, sorry. Uh, the ratkin. Well Teemo isnt She looks around trying to find the words without sounding insulting. After a few more false starts, she sighs and just plows forward.

Hes not exactly majestic or mysterious. No offense to him, but hes just not. But he also doesnt pretend to be. The Reader will try to guide you to a truth, or let you figure out yourself that youre doing something stupid. Teemo will just tell you if youre being dumb. She sighs again. Like if you underestimate a couple kids and dont use everything a certain Alchemist prepared for you because you let your pride get in the way.

Freddie looks thoughtful as the web ball slowly turns, considering Vernews words, and I cant help but feel a little proud of her. It takes a big person to admit when they mess up, and Im glad shes not too prideful nor fearful to admit it. Tiny pats her head in encouragement, and I can practically see her resolve solidify. Ill do better next time, Weaver, she murmurs in a simple little prayer.

The kids whoop in triumph, and the spiders chitter in their own celebration. They all do a little dance, though theres no victory music yet. Slash will need his guitar for that to be a reality. After their celebration, they all dust themselves off and gather whatever they dropped. Freddie even gets Rhondas hat and dusts it off before giving it to her.

So, the crypt complex. Well need to be on our toes on the way to the lab over there, explains Freddie as they make their way out of the maze.

Yeah, I hear the church does a lot of training in there because of the undead, right? Think well have to fight through them?

Freddie nods. Teemo said wed get normal encounters in the first challenge, and I dont think thatll change for this one.

Im glad he counted our capture. I thought for sure we messed up by getting caught in the webbing, too, admits Rhonda as they chat.

Yeah, Im surprised, too. Im also surprised Vernew took it so well.

What do you mean?

Well she failed a task given to her by The Weaver of the Web. I dont know if Id be that calm if I failed something the Shield asked me to do.

Maybe she didnt fail? suggests Rhonda, and Freddie shakes his head.

No, she did. But Thedeim wasnt upset. He didnt even set her up to fail, I think. She had Queens help, too. If she had used that weird ice flask, she could have gotten away from us, but she didnt think she needed to.

Rhonda gives him a sideways look, knowing when hes working towards something. So, why dont you think he was upset with her? He seems pretty relaxed to me, and I dont picture him being mad over something like this.

Yeah, I dont think hed be mad at her, but what she said stuck with me. Shell do better next time. I dont think its about him being mad at her, but more that its about her being mad with herself. It makes me think of High Priest Torlons battered shield on the wall.

Yeah? asks Rhonda, not really seeing a connection there.

Yeah. I always thought the chips and such were just there to be reminders of the grace of the Shield. But now I dunno. That shield is all battered and scarred but it never shattered. The mistakes dont define it, or weaken it. Its still a shield. It can still protect. The marks are reminders to do better and reminders that you shouldnt let a mistake break you.