A Tense Exchange

The man’s construct came to a halt, its heavy limbs sinking slightly into the soft earth. The man dismounted with surprising agility and approached, his grin wide but far from reassuring.

“Name’s Harlen,” he said, gesturing to himself with a flourish. “And this beauty here is Roam. Say hello, Roam!”

The construct let out a low, grinding hum that might have been a greeting—or a warning.

“What do you want?” Anora asked bluntly, her hand resting on the knife at her belt.

Harlen raised his hands in mock surrender. “Easy there, tiger. Just passing through. Saw you two and thought you might need a little guidance. The Wastes aren’t exactly forgiving, you know.”

“We’re fine,” Dren said curtly. “Don’t need any help.”

Harlen tilted his head, his grin widening. “Oh, but I think you do. You’re looking for something, aren’t you? Something… shiny, maybe? Something you don’t quite understand?”

Dren stiffened. “How do you know that?”

“Ah, a lucky guess,” Harlen said, his tone dripping with insincerity. “But let’s just say I’ve got a knack for finding things. And people.”

Harlen stepped closer, lowering his voice. “You’re not the only ones out here, you know. The Wastes are crawling with folks who’d love to get their hands on… certain artifacts. Dangerous folks. The kind who don’t ask nicely.”

“And you’re different?” Anora asked, her tone sharp.

Harlen chuckled. “Oh, I’m as dangerous as they come. But I like to think I’ve got a little more… finesse.”

He glanced at Dren, his eyes narrowing. “Word of advice, friend: Whatever it is you’re after, don’t trust the Creche to guide you. They’ve got their own agendas, and trust me—they don’t always align with yours.”

“What do you mean?” Dren asked, his curiosity piqued despite himself.

Harlen leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “You ever wonder why there aren’t more of them? Why they don’t just… fix everything for us? Think about it. They’ve got the power, the knowledge—but they hold back. Why?”

Before Dren could respond, the ground shuddered violently, cutting off the conversation.