With the immediate danger of the undead past, for the moment, Alison met Mal’s eye’s as they hobbled over to the dome of ice encasing their allies. That look said it all, they couldn’t lose Omega, he hadn’t been awakened yet so death would be final. Alison’s arm still hung limp at her side but with her good arm she began hacking away at the ice with Mal joining her in the task weakly.

In the wake of Alison’s song and all the injuries he had received then been healed of Mal felt he had the worst hangover of all time. His head felt fuzzy and he still felt the dull throb of the arrow in his back that hadn’t been removed yet. They called to Taliah and Omega as they broke through the ice barrier the skeleton ice mage’s had formed around their two caster allies.

Finally breaking through the ice they were met with a fearsome sight. Omega lay cradled in Taliah’s arms unconscious with the arrow still in him as she cast another healing spell on the perhaps dying Dynamic Mage. Taliah looked up at Alison and Mal with a grim but determined expression on her face.

“Mana potion.” She snapped at them. “Help me a ta prepare ta remove da arrow, der is a poison an’ tis twixt his a heart.” She said as another green glow enveloped Omega and Taliah’s magic extended his life.

Alison and Mal sprang into action with Mal pulling out several mana and healing potions laying them within easy reach of Taliah. Alison who had quite a high first aid skill prepared her bandages and healing salves she had in her pack. She also laid a blanket down that Taliah shifted Omega to in order to prepare to remove the arrow.

Taliah gulped the mana potion down as she cast her most powerful healing spells draining her mana fast. Taliah met their eyes over Omega’s still form.

“Mal ya hold him a steady ye hear?, needing no sharp herky jerky moves ruining dis. Alison remove da arrow. Den we force ah super healing pot on em. Understood?” Taliah said her voice rough.

“One moment.” Alison was still moving her injured shoulder gingerly after having taken her own healing potion to counteract the ice spell she had been hit with. Mal kept a wary eye on the cave opening that was like a black maw promising death while they waited for Alison. Mal mentally shook himself of the thoughts of death looking down at Omega’s pale face. He would live Mal told himself, he had to, Mal didn’t realize how bad he wanted to hear him say …”Young pup” right now. After half a minute that was making Taliah very impatient Alison was ready as was Mal.

Then after one final check the group acted to save their friend and companion. In a flurry of moves Alison ripped the arrow out gently and smoothly with a sick suction noise accompanying the motion. Taliah cast regenerating and healing magic making Omega glow green with the nature magic again. Mal held Omega firm because he did struggle when the arrow was moved and a cry escaped his lips with a spattering of blood.

“Svetlana!” He said fiercely and it was clear his mind was dwelling on his past love that had met some tragedy before Mal even met him.

“Drink!” Taliah said tipping a vial to his lips and he did. The magics and the potion had the desired effect and Mal could see the wound starting to knit itself closed right before Alison applied a bandage with the powerful healing salve on it. After all that they sat back and watched as Omega went through bouts of being very still and then twitching slightly.

“Now we be a waiting. I can’t a be casting too much der is a overload thingy.” Taliah said. “Poison musta run it course.” She said sitting back and sighing looking concerned.

“Uh Mal, there is an arrow in your back my dear.” Alison said finally remembering. “Come here lemme see it.” She said gathering her bandages to her again.

A short painful time later Mal was laying next to Omega on his own blanket gasping as the poison ran through him as well and the general trauma of the battle caught up with him. The poison hadn’t gotten him as bad luckily for him due to not being right next to his heart.

Alison began playing her gentle healing song that Taliah said was fine as it was different type of magic and there would be no overload. Mal felt his body and spirit rest at ease at this soft music she was almost humming under breath.

About a half hour later Mal felt fully restored and Alison stopped her gentle ministration on the two injured party members. Mal sat up and stretched his back feeling no ill effects from the arrow that had been embedded there a short while ago. If only medical technology back on earth was this magical Mal thought relishing the refreshed feeling he had.

Taliah still had an intent look on her face as she stayed by Omega’s side and she was kneading some type of prayer beads in her fingers. Mal was surprised, maybe their bickering over magics had formed a bond that Mal hadn’t fully noticed. They were of a similar age after all and both currently single. Moving a short distance away with Alison to give them their space he asked her about it.

“Oh Mal, men are so dense sometimes.” Alison laughed quietly. “Of course there is a strong bond forming there. It tends to happen when you fight side by side and spend so much time together.” She gave him a meaningful and intense hinting at something look but true to form as most oblivious guys Mal didn’t catch it.

Instead of realizing Alison was giving him an opening to make the conversation something deeper and more meaningful he changed the subject with a topic he had been wondering about.

“So at the general goods store there was someone there behind the register?” He said curiously. Alison rolled her eyes before answering.

“Yes, some young shopkeeper. It appears the simulated intelligence guy just spawned there when we bought the shop. I talked to him a moment he had hopes and dreams etc. Pretty standard shopkeeper for a SI.” Alison answered him.

Mal glanced back and forth from Omega to the cave opening keeping an eye for any enemies emerging as he was deep in thought for a few minutes. Then Mal casually put his hand on Alison’s shoulder surprising her, perhaps he isn’t as dense as I thought went through her head.

“That song….you saved us. What is your class?” Mal said catching her eye with a smile at their old joke. Alison giggled lightly and took his hand in hers from her shoulder.

“I thought you had forgotten. That song I just unlocked last time I leveled up. You know traveling with you and being awakened….I have doubled my level in these few short weeks I’ve been by your side.” She said squeezing his hand softly.

Mal who was enjoying the closeness in the wake of battle and the fear of death was not distracted from his question.

“While that is all good and stuff, you dodged the question yet again!” He said and they shared another small laugh.

“I’ll tell you silly man, I’m a Mystic Musician with a subclass of Shadowdancer.” She finally told him.

“Oh, very nice.” he said simply then after a moment. “Subclass?” he asked giving her hand a pull and she nestled up against his side as they sat there.

Alison didn’t respond right away as she too was enjoying the closeness. After a couple minutes she said.

“Yeah subclass, you unlock it at level 15 usually. It lets you specialize in different ways depending on your initial class.” she said.

“Wait level 15? What level are you?” he said.

“22 silly, you can see it in our party window of the UI.” she teased him.

“Your like….double my level.” Mal said kind of surprised.

“Probably why I’m doubly as awesome as you.” She said and nudged him with her elbow.

At that Mal let out a deep belly laugh and he couldn’t really argue with her, he did find Alison to be pretty awesome in many different ways.

"I hope Omega is OK" She said bringing Mal back down to a sober mood and he held her close before responding.

"He will be." He reassured her.

Then Taliah called out to them and broke the little spell they were under.

“He be solid, errr stabilized. Be a waking up!” Taliah said happily with Omega’s head in her lap now.

Joyously the group convened as Omega woke up. A tear ran down Taliah’s cheek because it wasn’t apparent Omega would ever awake again. Alison of course teased him about moving into the path of arrow’s and it not being a very bright idea for such a smart mage. Mal for his part pulled out Omega’s clipboard from his pack resolving to finally go over the population notes Omega had made and discuss it with him. Mal was pleased to see it had the desired effect as Omega’s eyes lit up at the prospect to go over the report. Omega informed them he had been a quartermaster and other management positions when he served in the Royal Casters.

So Mal finally took a hard look at Omega’s report:

The Keep in the Vale population report compiled by Omega Skyborn

Total Population: 54 (including Mal’s adventuring party)

Warriors: 18 (22 including Mal’s party)

Top rated warriors and leaders: Jarl, wood elf, 2 handed battle axe specialist, Maverick, mountain dwarf, Paladin, Mace and shield specialist, Darko, high elf, assassin type class, small blade and poison specialist, Paige, tinker gnome, earth and water caster type class, Magic wielder, wand and staff specialist Various other classes from ranger and archer to shield maiden, soldier, and legionnaire

Workers: 19

Many non-combat focus classes ranging from farmer to general laborer Could be used in a militia with proper training

Skilled workers/builders/craftsmen: 7

Leatherworker/Tanner: 1 Skilled miners and prospectors: 3 Clothier and Loom master: 1 Moderately Skilled enchanter: 1 Stable Master/Mount specialist: 1 Architect/mason/carpenter: 2 Some overlap here with warriors who have secondary craftsmen type professions: Both Jarl and Maverick display indications of blacksmithing skills and metallurgy Paige, true to tinker gnomes natural inclinations she shows high engineering skill and interest in various gizmo and gadget ideas Darko, shows potential as a potion maker or apothecary type profession

Teenagers with potential: 4

Final notes: Many of our skilled workers and craftsmen lack proper facilities and materials, remedy this Commander and our production of tradable goods and quality of exports increases dramatically

Mal spent some time chatting about the population report with Omega then he checked his minimized notifications. Mal had received a hefty chunk of XP fighting the skeletons, close to 5500. Along with the quests he had finished back in town this put him almost at level 10. Mal also sent off a message to Jarl to bring a squad to come and join them. After their almost disastrous first encounter Mal wanted reinforcements to clear the iron mine of undead presence that Taliah still felt emanating from with in the cave.

The group settled in to wait and recover while their reinforcements made their way to them. Then it was time for vengeance on the undead!