Chapter 34

Carl's group witnesses Edgar the tortoise create a commemorative tattoo of the fallen Miss Nadine on Signet's skin, learning about Signet's practice of honoring dead companions and enemies through body art. After the ritual, Carl and Donut depart for a dryad settlement to reach a saferoom before Carl's scheduled appointment, but discover the village of Alucarda is now controlled by the mysterious Mayor Lucia Mar and her two beasts.

The chapter opens with Carl, Donut, Mongo, and Samantha observing Edgar use a needle-like stick to tattoo Miss Nadine's likeness onto Signet's thigh. The process is explained as creating a blood and ink elemental—a facsimile combining the fallen creature's remains with Signet's memories. The tattoo manifests as a young female chee with a child chee (Clint) emerging from her skirt, surprising Holger who recognizes the boy's memory lived within Miss Nadine. The were-castors bow respectfully before returning to build defenses at the castle, now playing "Wonderwall" on loop as a deterrent. Signet tells Carl she will contact him with plans for assaulting the elves and warns him about increasingly dangerous outworlders. Carl's group leaves via kayak across the river, where Donut makes crude observations about Signet's romantic intentions. They loot dead ursines on the south shore, finding enchanted weapons and disarming traps before heading south through the woods. Zev urgently pressures Carl to reach a saferoom quickly, hinting at an imminent transfer. The group grinds through mobs including thorny dervishes, collecting materials for Mordecai, and arrives at the small village of Alucarda. As Carl approaches The Aloe Mana saferoom pub, a tree-like dryad reveals the town is now controlled by Mayor Lucia Mar, described as an evil woman with two beasts. Carl transfers away immediately upon hearing the name.