Chapter 5

We stick together and do some stuff in town

It occurred to me the next morning that I probably should have asked my magic if we would be attacked in the night in retaliation for the bandits we killed, but it was fine. The inn was still standing when we woke and got back together.

Jekserah joined us at breakfast, sitting down with us flanked by her usual two bodyguards. "So I've been told the job is done?" she asked.

"That's correct," I told her, handing her the scrolls. "They were opened by the bandits, we didn't open them."

"Fine, fine. Wait, who are you?" She looked me over. I currently looked like a sylvestris, the child of an air elemental and a human. Long flowing hair, a bit shorter than I usually was, wearing a simple white dress and a flower in my hair.

"I'm Orchid, don't you remember me?" I acted a little hurt and pointed to the flower.

"But I thought you were- never mind." She took the scrolls and looked them over. "Yes, this seems to be in order. Freighttrain, you may distribute the funds."

"Yes madam," said the minotaur, getting out a coin purse. He counted out nine silver for each of us and handed it over. Yes, that's a bit more security isn't it? Still, it doesn't hurt to ask. "Are you aware of any bounties on cult members in the area wearing black robes with a red sash? We took out a fair number of them to get those back. If the city will pay us for that part of the job..."

"Bounties? Cult members? No, I'm sorry I don't know anything about any cults in the area. Sorry. And don't get your hopes up about getting any coin from the city guard!" She barked a laugh. "They can barely keep themselves running!"

"That's okay." Could be too new? I'll have to check the board in the town square.

"Were they all killed?"

"One escaped, but the others are very dead." Dead, undead, and then dead again.

"That should be all right then. And you're sure they're dead?"

Why the interest? You got your stuff back. "Very dead. We burned the bodies." Didn't want them turning into zombies on their own, given the weird magic I was feeling in that place.

"Splendid! And in only a day too, you are very efficient. Burned them you say? Well, never mind."

Why does she sound disappointed at that?

"That's us," Malachite told her with pride. "Anything else we can do for you?"

"If you're looking for work, there is another matter you might want to look into."

"Go on."

"Somewhere in the Dagger Forest is a group of khi'teen, you know, the bug people? They've been causing trouble near the town as well, killing and making off with caravan goods coming into the city from that area. You would be doing the Merchant's Guild a great service if you were to take care of the problem. I can't say exactly how generous an offer I can make you but rest assured it would be worth your time."

She paid us two suns for three pieces of paper, so I can well imagine. More killing though, not exactly what I had in mind but what exactly did I expect? Planting crops?

"We might be interested in something like that," Malachite agreed. "We should contact you in the usual way if we have something to report?"

"That would be fine. Tannenbaum, I think you have some maps of the area?"

"Yes madam." He got out some sheets of paper from a pack and looked them over. "Here you are." He handed it over, she glanced at it, and handed it to him.

"This will show you the rough area we believe the camp is located. I'm sure you can take it from there. Try to make an example of them, if you can. Yes, that would work out nicely I think."

"Thank you."

"I don't believe we have any other business so I'll be on my way. Come along you two." She stood, as did we, and she nodded and breezed out.

"We did 'ur first job!" Snarly announced, jingling his pouch. "Hurray for us!"

But at what cost? What cost?!

"And perhaps got another," Hanz agreed. "But what is our immediate next move?"

"Take a day off?"

"I would advise against that."

"What did you have in mind, Hanz?" I asked him.

"I believe before we go asking around about this 'Gloom' business we should see how widespread the cult is. We have information related to a second location, let us go there and ascertain the situation. It must be important to them in some way, given the map we discovered with everything else."

"No money in it," Malachite grumbled.

"Unless they have more 'tuff than the last group did," Snarly advised him.

"Perhaps so," Hanz agreed, "but stemming the tide of a group we have witnessed using strange magic, dedicated to reanimating corpses and empowering them now rather than later is tactically sound. If we wait until they can gather even more members, we may have a much larger problem to deal with. Plus we need proof of how widespread the movement is, to know what kind of a response we should recommend the guard take to secure the town."

"Agreed," I told them. And it'll put off going after those bug people. From what I recall they're just so hideous looking, even more than me, that humans don't want them around. So they aren't really welcome in settlements like this and have to do whatever they can to survive out there. Obviously killing people and stealing goods isn't the best way to go, and they should be found and stopped. But it'll mean killing them, I doubt I would find anyone here in town willing to negotiate with them. Maybe in the meantime that situation will resolve itself?

"Very well. We have a very detailed picture of their location from the map we recovered, as long as we leave before noon I estimate we can be there and back not long after sundown based on our velocity yesterday. Let us try to sell what we recovered from the bandits, have an early lunch, and depart. This will also give us time to shop for any supplies we may need, now that we have been paid for our current job."

"Sounds good to me. Snarly, unless you want to try lugging stuff around Malachite and I will take the weapons and stuff to sell."

"I wanta tell Senna about my 'dventures. She's tha lady I've been staying with, she basically 'aised me. She suggested I 'trike out on my own for a while, I want to tell 'er I lived through it."

"Go ahead," I told him. "Just be back before lunch."

"I will." He scampered off.

"All right. You coming, Hanz?"

"If it's all right with you, I would like to browse the merchant shops, see if anything catches my electronic eye."

"It's your money. Let's go." What does a remnant spend money on? Odd.

Malachite and I gathered up the goods, but I pocketed the watch case. "When we get a chance, maybe tomorrow, I'll go talk to anyone that runs a shop dedicated to magic. Town this size must have more than one. Items like this are very hard to make and rather expensive. Those bandits must have stolen it from someone, and the best place to ask would be the place they likely bought it from." Though the most likely owner is whoever brought the scrolls, or at least someone with them. They're probably either dead or chased off or halfway back to where they came from by now. It didn't seem like they were robbing from the townspeople, after all. We only found the one chest of stuff. The item was probably made half the continent away for all I know. Still, the wizards may have a network for that sort of thing. Better to say I made the attempt than for a mage to track me down and demand it, knowing it was stolen goods.

"Sure, whatever. The compass part would be worthwhile if we're going to be traveling around anyway."

I laughed. "I know a spell to tell me which direction is north. So it's not that useful."

"Oh. What about the potions?"

"As you don't tend to use swords, preferring your claws, and Hanz's special beam cannon or whatever they call it seemed effective enough, I would say sell the ones with the sword on it."

"What about Snarly though?"

I sighed. "Yes, Snarly. He's a problem. Brave enough, to be sure, but didn't seem all that effective when compared to you or Hanz."

"Or you," he protested. "You took out your share, don't forget."

"Oh, did I?" I feigned ignorance. "I didn't really keep track. Yeah, we're going to have to do something about that. Maybe I can find a spell that will help him be more effective. That would be more reliable than potions." I can ask when I see about the watch. Two birds and such.

"Yeah, probably. And the healing ones?"

"Those we're keeping. I can do healing magic it's true, but what happens if I get hurt? If I can't get the spell off to heal myself, these would be a nice backup."

"I wouldn't let you get hurt!"

"It could happen. Especially if our job is fighting cultists and bug people now. I'd rather be prepared."

"Yeah I guess. Okay."

After demonstrating I was a magic user myself I had no problem selling the potions after I explained what they did. (I worked it out before we had left, it wasn't that hard especially with a little help from my divination magic) The weapons, on the other hand, were a different story. Everyone told us they were of pretty bad quality. While the swords could be sharpened and made somewhat more serviceable, the bows were pretty beat up. Arrows could be had in bundles for a copper coin, selling them was hardly worth it. No one wanted any of it.

"So just dump them?" Malachite asked.

I waggled my finger at him. "Ah ah ah, one man's junk is another man's treasure. What have I been telling you about non-material transactions?"

"But they're no good!"

"To sell, yes. But let's think about this for a minute. Who could benefit from these weapons, even in their current state, and would be grateful to have them for free? And then might remember that 'donation' later when we needed something."

"Uhm..." He thought for a moment. "Weapons. Weapons. Merchants leaving the city? No, if they got here they have their own stuff. The only other place would be the guard!"

"Exactly. Good thinking!"

"But I don't get it."

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. "Think about it. Guards have to be trained. But you don't want them training with good weapons they might break or bang up. You train them on shoddy equipment, leaving the better stuff for when they actually get into a scrape. Plus they can practice maintaining swords on swords it doesn't matter if they ruin. Now we..." I trailed off.

"Have a bunch of shoddy equipment they can have, for free, to put in their arsenal," he finished. "It's good enough for that purpose, nobody would care if it broke or got beat up. They know we donated it, and maybe see us more favorably in the future!"

"Bingo," I said with a grin, beeping his nose. "There's opportunity everywhere my scaly friend. Learn to look for it, even if it doesn't lead to coin right away."

"I'm trying!"

"I know. You'll get there, I'm just a bit older than you. It takes time."

"So you say."

When we got back to the Sleeping Lion Snarly was there but Hanz wasn't, so we settled in to wait. They came tearing into the place, had they breathed I would have said they were out of breath. But they did seem excited.

"I have found something I wish to purchase!" they announced.

"So do it and let's go," Malachite told them. "You're the one that wanted to check out this other crypt."

"There is a complication. The price of the item exceeds my current funds by 50%. If you would be good enough to loan me a few more moons I'm sure the item will pay for itself in the end."

My eyes narrowed. "What exactly is this 'item' you're so excited about?"

"It's a map. The purveyor claims it leads to great treasure."

Snarly perked up but Malachite and I just shared a look. "Hanz, we have a word for that kind of thing around here. It's called a scam."

"Yeah, even I know to stay away from so called treasure maps," Malachite scoffed. "Forget it, buddy."

"But the man seemed so sincere!"

"Yes, he would," I agreed. "He was trying to scam you. He wouldn't be disagreeable. Sure sign of a legitimate businessman, either indifference or an outright bad attitude. If someone doesn't seem to care if you buy or not, you know you're dealing with an honest man selling an honest product."

"Is that true? We could at least 'ake a 'ook at it," Snarly told us.

"Oh my goodness," I griped, throwing my hands up. "Look, I'll ask about it, okay?"

"That would be acceptable," Hanz agreed.

I shook my head and started the spell. "Is the map Hanz wishes to purchase a legitimate treasure map?"

Yes

I did a double take. "Now that's a surprise. It seems it's at least somewhat real."

"So we can buy it?" Snarly asked, eyes wide.

"Hold your magically created pocket horses there, kid," I told him. "I'm not done. Does purchasing the map seen by Hanz lead to a greater treasure than the cost of buying the map?"

Yes

"Ah, so there you are. It seems a good investment after all." I have to admit being a bit shocked but the world is full of surprises.

"Wasn't someone just telling me about non-material transactions?" Malachite asked thoughtfully, a claw on his chin.

"What, you think the real treasure will be the friends we make along the way?" I asked him.

He smirked at me. "Possibly."

"Leth go 'ake a look!"

We headed out to the merchant stalls and the map was still hanging there. It was folded over so the whole thing couldn't be seen, so the merchant wasn't a complete dummy, and Snarly looked it over. "Lookth like a real treasure map ta me!"

Yes, we've already established this. And run into a lot of treasure maps in your travels, have you? Now now, Orchid, be nice. Yes, I know. But by the angels he's so young! Was I ever that young?

"Ah, my metallic friend returns. Lucky the map was still here, I've had many interested parties today."

Sure you have.

"So what do you think?" he asked us.

"I'll put in one if you two will agree to put in two," I agreed.

"I'll put in 'wo," Snarly announced. "But I get 'wice the treasure we find that 'ou do!"

"You do recall I'm paying the bulk of the cost, correct?" Hanz reminded him.

"Details, smetails."

"That which the devil himself dwells within. Very well, we shall take the map."

Some distance away we unfolded the map to see exactly what we had bought. It seemed to mark a sunken vessel off the coast, though I would be sure to ask if it was still there before we left as that looked like several days travel.

"I can go down there easily enough, but it may be a solo mission," Hanz told us.

I shook my head. "Not so fast. I don't have to breathe and depending on the size of the boat and how much ambient mana is in the area for me to draw on, I may be able to just raise the whole darn thing and we can all poke around it." My magic should support all points equally, so as long as it's still in one general piece and I take it slow, I bet I could raise it. Yeah, that could be fun. Could it be fixed up? Could we own a boat? I had no idea what being underwater would do to a boat, but I supposed it depended on how long it had been down there for. And who made a map to it and then didn't bother to go down and see what it contained? Very odd.

"A task for another day."

"Exactly. Let's put this away and head out."

"Lunch first!" Snarly reminded us.

So we ate lunch and headed out, cutting straight north rather than following any road. We knew approximately exactly where we were going, after all. However, fate was against us, as while we walked, khi'teen dropped out of the sky and surrounded us. We formed a circle as our two groups looked each other over. They stayed clear of my horse though. These guys aren't supposed to be here. Unless this is another group, their encampment is supposed to be in the forest west of town. We're north of town! But I suppose if they attack us, we can defend ourselves.

But Snarly of all people made the first move. "'ello friends!" he called, stepping forward. "Great day for flying, isn'tit? Uh huh!"

They clicked at us and I wondered if I was going to have to put my spell on that would let me talk to them, but one was called over and stood before Snarly.

"Why you trespass these lands?" he demanded.

"We're on our way to beat up 'ome badiths," Snarly told him honestly. "We think they're usthing bad magiths so we 'ave to spopth them."

"So come from that reached human town you have?"

Does he mean wretched?

"Yeth but none of us is human! As 'ou can thee?"

The bugman looked us all over. Hanz and Malachite were clearly not. Would he recognize me as a funny looking human? I discovered I wasn't breathing and forced myself.

"That's why talk, not attack!"

"We thank you for that. What can we do fer 'ou?"

"These lands ours, you pay toll to walk here!"

Are they though? I don't think that's how it works… Or maybe that's exactly how it works I forget.

"You mean like money?" Malachite asked, who was of course loathe to part with any. Treasure maps leading to, well, treasure, excluded of course.

"Maybe."

"How would you use it? You would have to go into the town you clearly hate to spend it."

"No use fancy words muddle issue! You trespass, you give us something."

"Ah, more of that non-material transactions I've been reminded of recently."

It looked like he was struggling to understand this.

"Look, we don't have anything," he clarified. "See?" He spread his arms. "Just food for the road. You want to rob us, fine, but how many of you will die in the process?" He flexed his claws.

"Must have something. You open packs!"

"What if we just did 'omething for you insteath?" Snarly asked.

"Like what you do for us?"

Ugh, please don't offer my magic. The guild would be less than thrilled me doing healing or repair spells for these 'people' even if it was to save my own life.

"We'll tell the town these lands are 'ers. Tell all the town. I promish!"

"You tell humans leave us be? Not come here?"

"I'll tell 'em. Can't make 'em listen though..."

He considered it, looking us over. "Fine. You give word, tell town."

"I give you my word," he promised, holding a hand up.

"Fine, you go now!" He clicked something to the others and they took off again.

I looked at Snarly with a new admiration. He seemed to handle that well, even with Malachite butting in. I approved. I just hope we don't meet them later over at the encampment and have to kill them. That would be… awkward.

"Did I do 'ood?" Snarly asked.

"You did fine kid," Malachite told him with a smack to the back. "Really stepped up there. Good job."

"Thanths. Let's head to tha 'omb."

Yeah, before we have any more unwelcome visitors. I kept one eye on the sky but we made it to the entrance just fine. Our possible second tussle with these weird Gloom cultists was about to begin.