Justin had a gnawing sense of unease as he watched Eldrin approach the door. His hand instinctively tightened around his cane, and for a fleeting moment, he considered stopping the Ranger from answering. But Eldrin moved with the certainty of someone who knew what to expect, and to Justin’s relief, when the door creaked open, it was indeed Gorn, the Orcish innkeeper.

Gorn’s usually stern face was etched with concern, his tusks gleaming faintly in the dim light of the corridor. He leaned in close. “Eldrin, you need to get your people out. The city watch is prowling outside the inn, asking too many questions. They’re getting ready to knock on doors. It’s only a matter of time before they poke around in your business.”

Eldrin’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed the information quickly. “Looks like it’s time for me to sneak out the back, like the last time I was here.”

Gorn grunted, his tusks protruding slightly. “Well, that’s why you pay me extra, isn’t it?”

Eldrin turned to Justin and Lila. “Grab your things. We’re leaving.”

Justin hadn’t even unpacked, so it was a simple matter of slinging his pack over his shoulder. Lila and Eldrin were equally quick, their movements efficient and silent.

Gorn was already leading the way down the stone hallway, his heavy footsteps surprisingly quiet. He guided them through the kitchen, which at this late hour was deserted, the lingering smell of roasted meat and spices the only sign that it had been busy earlier. The Orc opened a door at the far end, revealing a dark, narrow passage that led into the Undermarket.

One by one, they slipped through, the cool air of the underground tunnels greeting them. Without another word, Gorn shut the door behind them and locked it, his expression grim.

Eldrin took the lead, guiding them swiftly and silently through the winding alleys of the Undermarket. The labyrinthine network of passages was dimly lit by flickering lanterns. After a few twisting turns, Justin was completely disoriented, with no idea of which direction they were heading.

The Undermarket was still bustling, even at this hour. Stalls and shops lined the narrow passageways, offering everything from exotic spices and “rare” artifacts to dubious magical services. A fortune teller sat at the entrance of a small tent, her eyes gleaming with an unnatural light as she whispered cryptic predictions to a nervous customer. A shadowy figure offered enchanted trinkets from beneath a dark hood, his voice low and persuasive. The air was thick with the scent of incense, mixed with the sharp tang of something unidentifiable but vaguely unsettling.

To Justin, the people who inhabited this underground world were just as varied as the goods on display. Some were hunched and furtive, their faces hidden beneath hoods or masks, while others swaggered confidently, their expressions daring anyone to cross them. Justin felt a mixture of unease and fascination as he observed them, the sense of danger hanging in the air.

Finally, they emerged onto the frigid streets above. The transition from the crowded, oppressive atmosphere of the Undermarket to the cold, quiet streets of Windfall was jarring. Here, the only sounds were the distant clatter of a horse’s hooves on cobblestone and the occasional murmur of voices from a nearby tavern, their warmth and light spilling out into the night.

They crossed a small square dominated by a statue of a griffin, its wings outstretched as if ready to take flight. Beyond the statue loomed an imposing stone structure, cathedral-like in its grandeur. The Windfall Mage Guild stood tall and foreboding, its gothic spires piercing the night sky. The building was adorned with intricate carvings of arcane symbols, and its arched windows glowed faintly with the light of magical wards. A pair of heavy oak doors, reinforced with iron, marked the entrance, flanked by statues of robed figures holding staves, their expressions stern.

They approached the Guild’s entrance, climbing up a short stoop. Eldrin took the lead, knocking firmly and taking a few steps back as snow swirled down the street.

They waited at least a minute until a small grate opened in the door, revealing the face of a mage with a ring of gray hair.

“The Mage Guild is closed to outsiders for the night,” he announced in a firm, no-nonsense tone. “You must return at eight o’clock tomorrow morning if you have business.”

Eldrin, undeterred by the lukewarm reception, stepped forward. “We’re looking for an Orcish mage named Kargan. He came by earlier today. Can you tell us where he might be?”

The man’s eyes held a hint of recognition. “An Orc named Kargan was indeed here earlier.” His voice was laced with disdain. “But we contest the identifier of ‘mage’ that you attach to him. He was rejected by the Guild. The Council does not accept practitioners of Blood Magic.”

A flicker of anger crossed Eldrin’s face, but Justin was glad that he kept his tone measured. “Do you know where he went?”

The man considered for a moment. “I saw him heading east down the street, but that was hours ago. Searching for a less reputable establishment if I had to guess.”

Eldrin turned to Justin and Lila. “Let’s go. We might still catch up with him.”

Without wasting another moment, they turned and headed east down the street, leaving the Mage Guild behind them.

The streets were mostly empty, this quarter of the city having the look of a residential district with basic shops and businesses beneath on the street level, almost all dark for the night. They passed a few taverns that were still open, but they, too, were nearly empty. Eldrin seemed set on reaching the East Gate, his pace determined and focused.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

But as Justin’s eyes wandered toward a nearby tavern, he glimpsed something through the frosted window. There, sitting alone at a small table, was a figure that might have been Kargan, though it was difficult to be sure with the frost warping his shape. He was hunched over, nursing a drink, his shoulders sagging.

“Look,” Justin said, pointing. “That has to be him.”

Eldrin followed Justin’s gaze and spotted Kargan through the window. His brow furrowed in concern. “That’s him, all right.”

Without another word, they made their way to the tavern’s entrance, pushing open the heavy wooden door. The warmth inside was a welcome relief to the desolate streets outside. The air was thick with the smell of ale, mingling with the smoke from a crackling fire in the hearth. The tavern was dimly lit by flickering lanterns that did little to push back the gloom. Most of the patrons were drinking alone.

Justin noticed a few eyes glance their way as they entered, but most of the customers were too preoccupied with their own affairs to pay much attention. The tavern had an air of quiet resignation, as if it were a place where people came to escape their troubles, if only for a little while.

Justin’s heart sank a little as he saw Kargan more clearly. The Orc’s broad frame seemed almost too big for the small table he occupied, his hands wrapped around a large mug as he stared down at its contents. His amber eyes were dull, his expression one of deflation.

“Kargan,” Eldrin called out softly as they approached the table.

The Orc looked up, his eyes focusing on them with a hint of surprise. “Eldrin? Justin, Lila? What are you doing here?”

“We’ve been looking for you,” Eldrin replied, taking a seat opposite Kargan. Justin and Lila followed suit, sliding into the chairs beside him. “We heard what happened at the Mage Guild.”

Kargan’s expression darkened, and he let out a bitter chuckle. “Mage Guild. You’ve been following me?”

“Only because we need to,” Eldrin said.

Kargan drained the rest of his mug. From the dazed look in his eyes, it was far from his first one. “So, you heard they don’t consider me a ‘real mage.’ I should’ve known before showing my face there. Blood Magic isn’t magery, according to them. Still, I thought it was worth the chance. Now, who knows what I can do? Maybe there’s some blacksmith that’ll apprentice me. That’s the job for Orcs, right?”

Justin felt a pang of sympathy for Kargan. He could see the frustration etched on his face, the anger at being rejected not just for his abilities, but for who he was. Thus far, that had been the story of his life.

“They’re idiots,” Lila said, her voice firm. “Blood Magic or not, you have real power, Kargan. They’re just too blind to see it.”

Kargan shook his head, his tusks glinting in the dim light. “It’s more than that, Lila. It’s not just about power. It’s about control. Blood Magic…well, it scares people. They don’t like what they can’t control, and they can’t control me. Besides, I doubt their curriculum has anything that can help me develop my abilities. I’d have to go underground for that.”

Eldrin leaned forward. “We don’t care what kind of magic you use, Kargan. You’ve already proven yourself to us. We’re heading out soon and we could use your skills. Come with us.”

Kargan looked at him, the spark of interest flickering in his eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by doubt. “Where are you going? You make it sound like you’re not planning to head east anymore.”

“We’re heading through Thalgar’s Tunnel,” Eldrin explained. “It might be our best shot at getting out of Windfall unnoticed. Who knows? We could find some rare treasures down there, and you’d have the chance to build your skills.”

“Rare treasures? You won’t find that in the Tunnel.” His eyes widened in realization. “Wait. Unless you mean to head down to Drakendir…”

Eldrin gave a slow nod. “We do. It’ll be dangerous. But Gareth’s men will be here tomorrow evening, and they’re on horseback. We hope to use the tunnels around Drakendir to come out someplace safer where we can stay undetected. It’ll be dangerous. That’s why we need someone with your abilities.”

“You mentioned treasure. That would mean going into a Vault. I’ve heard about them opening up the Tunnel, but the dwarf cities have had two decades to fester. The Vaults down there will be way beyond our abilities. I need a guaranteed payout, not something that’ll get me killed.”

“I have no guarantees, Kargan. I’m happy to share in whatever we might find, but it’s possible we come away with nothing.”

“It’s better than whatever this is,” Lila said, looking around the tavern. “Don’t you want to spend time with people who respect your abilities?”

Justin watched as Kargan mulled over the offer, his fingers tapping lightly against the side of his mug. He could see the internal struggle in the Orc’s eyes—the desire to prove himself against the fear of more rejection and failure.

“Are you sure you want me along?” Kargan finally asked. “I’m only Level 4.”

“And with each level up, you’ll become even more capable,” Eldrin said.

Justin leaned forward. “We’re stronger together, and we need all the help we can get. You saved our asses in Eldareth. Besides, if anyone can manage what’s down in those tunnels, it’s you. Your night vision will come in handy.”

“Not to mention the light of my Sacrificial Armor spell,” he mused. Kargan stared at Justin for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “All right. I’ll come with you. Lila’s right. It’s better than sitting here feeling sorry for myself.”

A small smile tugged at the corner of Justin’s mouth. “Good to have you back, Kargan.”

The Orc pushed away his mug with a sense of finality. “Good thing you caught me before I’m too deep in my drinks. So, when do we leave? Thankfully, we Orc’s have a strong constitution. Do we still have that room in The Mountain’s Rest?”

They shared a look, and then Eldrin quickly updated the Orc on everything that had happened. Kargan listened attentively.

“By Gor,” he said. “That’s tough luck, Lila. You all must be exhausted.”

“We are,” Justin said, stifling a yawn.

“I’ve already rented a cot here for the evening. Just twenty coppers a night. It’s not much, but it beats sleeping on the street. You’ll be safe enough here. Tunnel entrance will be closed for the night, anyway.”

Eldrin nodded. “That may be what we have to do. I doubt the City Watch saw us coming here. We’ll rest up for the night and get started tomorrow morning. We’ll need all the rest we can get for the long march through the mountains.”

“And just how long is this march?” Justin asked.

“It’s about thirty miles to reach the Drakendir Gate, if those adventurers are to be believed,” Eldrin said. “I’d like to make it by evening tomorrow. With luck, Gareth won’t think we’ve gone that way, at least not immediately. And I suspect he won’t know about the opening of the Tunnel as soon as he arrives. That should buy us more time.”

“We should get some rest,” Lila said. “It’s been a long day.”

Eldrin, Lila, and Justin moved to the bar, where they asked the barkeeper, a burly man with a thick beard and a gruff demeanor, about a cot. Within the minutes, all of them were heading back with Kargan to settle down for the night.

The space was shared with about a dozen other people in a single hall, a good half of them snoring, but Justin was far too tired to care. He set down his things, using his pack as a pillow while also ensuring it wouldn’t be messed with.

Within minutes, he was fast asleep.