Tad and his companions stopped on the dead god's bridge in front of the new blue dome covering the Valley of Statues. There was no dust or sand flowing through it now. It looked like an opaque circular dome centered on the Tower of the Cathedral. It rose several hundred yards above the valley.

Tad projected to Gweleth, "Can we pass this shield? " he asked.

"Of course, Thaddius. We have it so all humans, dwarves, elves, and beastkin of the feline can pass through safely. Most wildlife should be able to transverse it. This includes the Queen Bee. We can't have a symbol of my divinity bursting into flames on her maiden flight. " said Gweleth.

"What? Oh nevermind. I'll figure it out. How is Zanna?" asked Tad.

"Thaddius, Niucrealath is not happy you forced her to take Zanna as her high priestess. I fear she plans retribution on you, " said Gweleth.

"I don't think I have to explain why I did what I did. To you most of all, considering you have known me my whole life, " said Tad.

Gweleth giggled then. It sounded like crystal chimes in Tad's mind. That was pretty he thought.

"Yes, Thaddius, love is truly blind. Niucrealath had planned to ask Aea, but you already knew that, didn't you. I do not think she will destroy you. Be wary of a goddess's wrath. It is an ancient saying. You should repeat it a few times, so you do not forget. I must go now, Thaddius. I have followers to find, " said Gweleth, then she was gone from his mind.

Tad looked at Lamruil and Nico, then he smiled. "Well, I'm pretty sure we aren't going to burst into flames now. Let's get some food. "

"Seriously, just pretty sure? How about you first then, " said Nico waving Tad forward.

Tad smiled as he walked across the dead god who was currently serving the valley as a bridge. He continued. He stopped in wonder, looking down upon the valley.

Below where there had been the brown of old-growth and dead weeds with and intermixing of cactus and desert shrubs, there was now just green. Lots and lots of green. Across the ruined city on the Island, Tad saw the largest Tree he had ever seen sprouting from the garden area in front of the Cathedral. It was easily a hundred feet tall. It was taller than the tower. He thought it was still growing. Around it flew three giant honey bees tending the large white flowers that had sprouted from the branches. The flowers were forming along the leafed branches and popping open as he watched.

Lamruil spoke, "A tree of the fey? How? " he asked.

"I think that is Catarine's gift to Marena, " said Tad. He remembered long ago when Bubbles had told him it was her flower. Well, he guessed it was now. He didn't think Marena would mind once she saw this. It was stunning. The Cathedral had changed too. It didn't look dingy at all. It looked like someone had just built it. Tad saw a red and blue bird fly below with a long tail trailing behind it. He shook his head and sighed.

"Well, let's go see what's going on, " said Tad as he started down the ramps.

The grass was lush, and the desert trees were blooming. Flowers ran all along the pathway. The ruins of the city still looked like ruins. The bridge hadn't changed except for the vegetation. The Fey Tree on the island towered above them. Tad had to lean back to see the top branches from here. There were white flowers all over it now. They looked exactly like the one that had been on the plant for all this time except, well, huge. He saw one of the bees land on a flower. He knew the bees were five feet long, so these flowers were twice as wide as that. Magic never ceased to amaze and astonish him.

Lamruil spoke quietly in awe, "Do you think it's sentient? When Fey trees get this old, " He paused a second, "or big or well this size, they can do all types of exciting things. Grow dryads, create homes inside of them, or become conscious with a spirit. There are other things too. This is fantastic. Even Aras a Nimloth does not have a tree this size."

"I have no idea, " said Tad looking at the thick bark. He swore he heard it groaning as the trunk grew.

Nico whistled, "All this, and they can make dryads too? I'm starting to think we don't need to go to the Forests of Myrth after all. " then he chuckled and elbowed Tad.

"Concentrate, Nico. We still have a river valley of undead to deal with. That horde couldn't have been all of them. They were here right after the sand curtain fell. There is no way that was all of them. Perhaps that chariot was magical and fast. But those undead weren't, and those giants didn't die with the nice necromancer naga lady. You remember her, the lady with the crazy hair? Besides, if there are any Dryads, I'm pretty sure they are going to be checking Lamruil out. They have a thing for elves, " Tad said this, then started walking across the bridge. Yep, it's always fun to mess with your friends.

"Yea, you wait till I get some better clothes, well any clothes, " then Nico started laughing. Lamruil smiled at the jest.

***

They walked around the roots of the Fey Tree. The roots were so densely packed that they looked like a solid carpet. The visible roots went out many feet in all directions. The roots dug straight into the dirt as they neared the outer walkway near the water. The inner area and paths were gone, consumed by the width of the trunk and roots.

Tad was trying to sense the bees flying around the treetop when the queen bee's voice projected to him. "Thaddius, I wish to thank you for all of this. I will work to repay your kindness and diligence in finding us a home. " Then she was gone, dismissing him.

Well, that is one task solved. He needed to talk to Kettle alone. They walked around the trunk of the Fey Tree and its roots. The roots on the far side stopped twenty yards in front of the stairs leading up into the Cathedral. Tad was fairly certain this area was stone, which was good. Otherwise, the Fey Tree might have overrun the building. How deep did the roots of this tree go?

They walked up the stairs and into the Cathedral. The inside looked clean all the way up to the ceiling. Even the floors were clean. Tad could see a tiled mosaic floor that depicted the four-pointed star of the magical domains. Very similar to the one on his chest now. This star didn't have all the different colors in it. The points were just the solid yellow, white, black, and red-orange found in most magical books. There were no pews in the wide-open area.

Tad looked up. He saw a stained glass window identical to the image he had seen in Niucrealath's soulscape Cathedral. This large round window above the altar contained the image of Niucrealath with a moon above her head and a lake below her. Tad turned around and looked at the other windows. Above the entrance to the Cathedral was a stained glass image of the goddess as Gweleth with the sun above and a tree below her. Along all the walls were various windows with images of trees, ponies, bees, mushrooms, the lake, dancing people, a cittern, and some other images. Tad was losing track, but it appeared the goddess had fixed the windows, and she made new images in them. There were no doors on the cathedral, and it still needed some seating. Perhaps a runner carpet if they ever get one down the center. Near the large main entrance on each side were stairs that went up to the galleries.

Tad saw the wagons now. The door on the front of Samphires wagon was completely broken, hanging from one hinge. The cage that contained the lasso spider had a similar issue. The door was half broken and bent. The World Egg still sat on its wagon, and the door was wide open. The guards and their wives were standing and sitting on the edge of the wagon, chatting and pointing at the windows.

"Kettle, you ok in there? " asked Tad.

"Yes, it was wild for a while, though. I wish I could have been outside seeing all the changes with the others, " said Kettle.

"I didn't get to see it either, " projected Tad. Tad thought about it. Actually, none of his companions had seen it.

"Halko, you all can stand down. At least for now. The undead can't stand the sun, and I think the goddess took care of the valley when the shield went back up. Anyone up for some grub? I haven't eaten all night. " said Tad.

"Yes sir, Master Rockgrip, we will get right on it, " said Halko.

"Thanks, I think we are going to have a party tonight if there is any extra ale in the quartermaster's wagon. Oh, where is Bernard? " asked Tad.

"You do not know? He slept through the whole thing in his wagon, " said Halko smiling.

Tad sighed, "Well, when you see him ask him to get out all the ward totems. I want to see if Gweleth can help us get them working again. Any of those would have helped last night. "

"I will Master Rockgrip, " said Halko.

"Oh, can you stop with the master rockgrip, please? Tad or Thaddius will do. I think we are all way past formalities, " said Tad smiling and patting the man on the back.

"Yes Sir, Thaddius, " said Halko surprised at Tad's actions.

Tad smiled, "Goodman. I'll be back in a few minutes. I need to go down to the lower Temple. "

"Be careful, sir, that giant spider thing is down there, " said Halko.

"What?" asked Tad.

"While the magic was swirling around and glass flying everywhere, it's cage burst open, and it went running down the stairs there," said Halko

"Crap, " was all Tad said as he took off at a run unslinging his staff.

Halfway down the stairs, he summoned a light and sent it ahead of him. There below him stood the dwarf squadron, all holding war hammers staring back up at him.

"Kizzac is that Lasso spider down here, " said Tad loud enough that they could hear him as Tad took several steps at a time down the stairs.

"Aye, it is, and after all the excitement, it is over there on the platform. It ate half of that snake thing before it settled down. It is not blue any longer. You should come see it. " said Kizzac.

Tad made it through the opening between the stacked stones to find Iliphar sitting on a bench. He was staring down at the spider as it sat there at the feet of Niucrealath. She stroked the hair spikes near its eyes.

Tad stopped, startled. He thought she would only be seen at night.

"Ahh, Thaddius, you should be congratulated for a job well done. I do believe the crazy hair lady deserved everything she got for once," said Niucrealath as she laughed.

"Yea…., " was all Tad said, slowly drawing it out. Nico and Lamruil were standing a bit behind him near the dwarves.

"Do come in. I do not have long till I must go for the day, " said Niucrealath, then she entered his soulspace tent.

She looked around his many-faceted tent, "Interesting. "

Tad watched her as she walked around, looking at the tent and the wooden poles holding up the big top.

"Gweleth was a wealth of knowledge. I suppose you already know that. She is quite old actually. Did she tell you to watch out for me? I hope she did. You caused me to do some very interesting things when I awoke, " she paused then to let him speak. She had emphasized interesting like she wished to sear the word into Tad's brain.

"She mentioned you might be unhappy about a few things, " said Tad cautiously.

"Well, that is the understatement of the millennia. Furious is probably closer to the truth, but I've had some time to think about it. Originally I thought I should punish you, but it appears that won't be an issue now. Oh, you will not want to bring my ire upon you in the future, but I have come to a conclusion or two. You see, that creature in the World Egg was my last follower. You threatened her and me, and you denied me, my high priestess. Now I have some chaos spawn half trickster godchild as my high priestess. You know Breamas will never leave me alone now, not as long as she is here. He isn't going to leave you alone either, and I will not risk his wrath by denying him his fun and getting rid of you. So you are going to help me fix the promise you almost caused me to break, " said Niucrealath.

Great thought, Tad, he hasn't been pledged for a full day, and he has already made his deity his frenemy.

He sighed, "What promise is that? And how can you almost break something if I caused it? " asked Tad.

"Well, I promised her if she let Yevgeny Zajíc turn her into a vampire and helped me survive a war that I had clearly lost, that I would fulfill her greatest desire. Now isn't that a problem since all she wanted to be was my high priestess? She has been raised since birth by her parents, training for that very roll. She was from a royal line of the kingdom of the Valley of Statues, " said the goddess.

Tad was quiet, he had no idea where this was leading, but he didn't like the sound of any of it.

"Now I have a high priestess, so either I broke my promise, or perhaps her desires have changed? Some sacrifices will be made, but I think it will all work out in the end. I'm sure Breamas will have great fun watching how this all plays out, " said Niucrealath.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Breamas started all this in motion. He already gave me enough warnings about the future, " said Tad trying not to sound emotional.

"Did he now. Well, let me give you a little update. When the dome went up correctly, this time. Gweleth and I purged all undead and chaos creatures from the valley, " she tilted a nod to Tad raising her eyebrow, giving him time to process what she just said. Why are people always doing this to him?

Tad thought about that. He already knew all the undead were gone. The sun alone would have solved most of that…. Wait a second!

"Dammit!" shouted Tad.

"Yes, it turns out that little creature wasn't friends with anyone in the valley. So when the spell reactivated, he was sent back to whatever hell he spawned from, the hard way," said the goddess.

Tad was dumbstruck. He just stared at her for a few moments before he looked over at Zanna's cocoon. It was still there.

"Do you know what you've done? " asked Tad, anger in his voice.

"Tut-tut my champion. I followed my promise to the letter. Who would have known that evil little creature wasn't friends with anyone? By the time we knew what was happening, it was too late, " said Niucrealath.

"You know she is unique in the hells? She is the first and only female demon ever to be born to a demoness? Breamas's child? They will know where she is now, " said Tad trying to calm himself. Do not hit the stupid goddess, do not hit the stupid goddess, he kept repeating it.

"Oh, now that is interesting."Niucrealath feigned surprise," I'm sure Breamas will love to see what comes next. Perhaps she will become more than she is, and the demon royals will forget their plans. You could always put her back in the bottle if you want. I will even help, " said a now smiling Niucrealath.

Tad sighed, "I don't' see how having hordes of undead and hordes of demons all aimed at this Valley helps you. You are making me think I picked the wrong side in this whole deal, " responded Tad after regaining his composure.

"Oh, I'm sure Breamas won't let his favorite daughter become a demonic cow for some army of the damned. All though that would be interesting, would it not, " she chuckled then.

"Thaddius, This is just the barest inkling of what I have planned for you. You still need to convince dear Aea that her heart's desire isn't becoming the high priestess. I'll even help you. I know you and Gweleth are all squeamish about having a vampire in the house, and I do still need to reward Aea and you for saving the valley and me. So. " She waved her hand, and Tad's soulmancy tent disappeared, and they were standing in a cavern. Tad looked around. There were tall mushrooms all around him. Many had light radiating from under their giant caps above him. The cap's were lighting the floor and walkways between the planters in a pale blue light. Oh, the Gretchic cavern, thought Tad.

Niucrealath pointed across to a giant mushroom in a huge planter. It was forty feet tall, half the way to the cavern's ceiling. It was dwarfing the mushrooms around it. Hanging from the bottom of the larger mushroom's cap were pods. Tad could see the green and yellow energia of life coursing through it and the pods. They looked kind of like a weird fruit.

"This is what I am calling a Blood Mushroom. Why do you think I called it that Tad?" asked Niucrealath.

Tad opened his mouth, closed it, stopped, then spoke, "You are making blood so I can wake up your vampires. The blood isn't from a creature or sentient being, so Aea won't become a full vampire, well, at least not right away. " Tad remembered his conversations with Leana and Nico on the subject.

"Ahh, you are a smart one. Yes, I took the mushroom you offered as my favorite plant, just as Gweleth took a fey tree. Both are excellent choices. Your mushroom was also from the fey planes, which teams with life. It was a bit dried up, but I fixed it, and now here it is, ready to help me fulfill my promise while not breaking another. We can't have Aea or the other ones hurting your friends, now can we? Well, at least not in this valley. Either way, I have solved a very hard problem, and I think they will find these pods quite delicious, really. With any luck, you might even be able to turn a profit with them. I do warn you, though, if anything happens to my favorite plant, I will strike all those involved. Promise or no promise, hurting your diety nullifies my promise to protect them, " said Niucrealath.

"Fine, I'll help you with this, with joy in my heart." Tad smiled and said the next using his best, come try this game, carnie voice, "Since we are discussing trades and profit. I do fully expect you will treat Zanna with care and respect. You already know why I am saying this. If you can see it in your plans to do this, we will not have a problem. I'm not entirely certain you truly understand which demons you just summoned onto your doorstep, but I do, and if they do manage to make it here. You are going to want both of our help. I'm going to want you to want our help. The last time I saw that particular Archduke. He was absorbing so much energia from so many sources it would not surprise me if he ends up ruling all of the hells before he is done, " said Tad.

"Well then, let's hope her father cares enough for her to find a solution. Oh, and Thaddius before I leave. I hope you understand, promises aside, that displeasing your deity does come at a cost. I will never reward you for bad behavior. But I do owe you a reward for saving the valley and me. If you will empty your pouch upon the floor, please, " said the goddess.

Tad was a bit surprised now. He unstrapped the small pouch he had on his now tattered belt. For that matter he looked down. Most of his clothes were in tatters. He really needed to change and bathe. He dumped the contents on the floor. The Eye of the appraiser, Needle of the Artful loom, and several coins fell to the floor. All his other items were on the platform up in the Temple. Actually, he was in a soulscape. What was she doing and how?

The goddess reached out and grabbed something out of the air in front of him.

"There we go, " then she walked over to another longer planter that had nothing growing in it. She blew on her fingers, opening them, and small mushrooms started to grow all over the dark soil in the planter. They glowed green with earth, and specks of yellow could be seen with his magic sight.

"There, now you will have both mushrooms. One to feed a voracious hunger and another to heal the wounds it might cause, " said Niucrealath.

Suddenly they were both back in Tad's Soulmancy tent.

"Now, I must go. I will see you tonight at the party, " said Niucrealath, and she was gone.

Tad stood in front of a large lasso spider that was dark blue with black streaks like a tiger. It was sitting there. It stood up then. Tad backed away, not liking this at all.

A whispy female voice came into his head. Tad reached out, willing to hear it, "I will not hurt you, human, Thaddius. You kept me once from my revenge upon those who ate my children. But Niucrealath explained to me when I submitted to her that you are just a stupid child. She also said you would help me hunt them down. I await the night that we do this. " The Lasso spider stood up and scuttled quickly down the corridor into the tunnels.

Great Tad thought, another female angry at him. He just can't catch a break. He needed some sleep. He was exhausted. He looked down to find his pouch still attached to his belt. He looked inside, and he found all his items. The mushroom had been in there a very long time before he offered it to the goddess. It must have left a seed or something. Tad retrieved the other items off the podium. Looking at the silver strands of the goddesses cocoon laying all over. He sifted through it to find his remaining unchosen items. Most especially his cittern.

"Thaddius would you like me to gather the silk? " asked Iliphar.

"uh that's silk? It comes from cocoons? Sure yea, gathers it and put it in the quartermaster's wagon for now if you will. Thank you, Iliphar. " Tad looked up at the dwarves, who were all still standing there along with Nico and Lamruil.

"Thank you all. Any debt you feel you owe me is paid in full, and once I sort all this out. I will also be paying you in coin for your assistance. You might not value the coin now, but I assure you times are changing. That includes both of you, Nico and Lamruil. Perhaps you can get that Inn sooner than you think, Nico. Now let's go see what we can find for grub and get some sleep. We have a party to throw tonight. I heard Benard might still have some ale in that wagon of his. " said Tad. He took one last look at Zanna's cocoon being held by a giant statue in a beam of light and life mana. He sighed, then turned for the stairs.

Nico started to grin.

"You heard him, lads! Let's get some Grub! " yelled Kizzac in his squadron command voice.

***