Chapter 61: The Tournament Continues

Much has been written about the Old Guard’s legendary training ethic, and I do not mean to retread well traveled ground, but something must be said for their pristine use of the Duel Partner training strategy. Just as the name implies, this strategy, already well known and coined by Maxidur in SD350, is where two players of the same guild will strike out on their own for a set amount of time in order to train together without the rest of the guild. They will eat, live, and sleep in the same proximity for months on end training not only their own jobs, but making them work in conjunction. The idea is that while around the guild they place themselves in a set rotation of skills and abilities which may not allow them to reach their full potential. By training in pairs, they are able to unlock battle strategies not otherwise possible alone. The most famous pair of the Old Guard to do this would be Melamy and Redstar, who, after a full two years of training within the Great Waste of Esem achieved near perfect symbiosis of their abilities.

-from Training Through the Ages by Gugo Smertz, circa SD981

She had not aged a day.

Greened eyed with hair the color of leaves turning in autumn. Today she was wearing her traveling clothes which was a dark red coat over a black shirt and riding leathers. As Chase looked at the finger she was pointing at him he was reminded of all the times she had ever adopted that same stance over something she wanted him to do. Travel to Tangamar in the summer, go on a quest in Nobanoban to hunt Yeti’s, collect some rare herb for her potions. Anytime he just wanted to stay home and relax there she had been, forcing him to go along with her. Usually he would moan and complain but without fail, and with some annoyance, he always ended up enjoying the experiences.

“Look for me?” Said Chase, attempting to lower his voice. Or was his voice making that sound of it’s own accord? He felt his heart was in his throat and he could hear his pulse pounding in his ears.

She frowned and then dropped her finger.

“Are you a girl?”

“Um…what?”

Christie sighed and waved her hand.

“Behind you. Her. Not you,” she said. “The fighters tourney is still on and we just drew for the new combatants. It’s the women’s turn to go.”

Chase looked behind him and saw Claire sheepishly standing there. She had snuck up behind them from wherever she had been.

“So the fight is still on?” Said Claire carefully.

“You bet it is,” said Christie with a smile. “After Markon settled down some he agreed to allow me to finish hosting—at least for today. Honestly he is in no shape to do anything else today but lay down.”

“Oh…that’s wonderful,” said Claire. She glanced at Chase, seemingly unsure what to do.

“You don’t sound too excited,” said Christie. She flipped her hair and looked around at the others. “You all are her guild?”

“Yes we are,” said Brent hurriedly. For the first time ever Chase saw that he was nervous. Probably star shocked. “I saw you and Markon fight. What was that thing you summoned?”

“Oh, that,” said Christie, looking satisfied. “That wasn’t a summon. It’s a potion creature I cooked up ages ago. Just because one specializes in a no combat job doesn’t mean we can’t defend ourselves.”

“It was incredible,” said Brent, excitedly. He seemed to lose some of his anxiety. “So you are a…I mean…a…”

Amelie half sighed and half laughed.

She said, “he want’s to know if you are a member of the Old Guard.”

Christie laughed and Chase had the vision of a gentle waterfall winding its way down sunlit rocks.

“That I am,” she said. “You’ve heard of us, um, what’s your name?”

“Brent, it’s Brent. This is my guild too,” he said. “We are called the Seven Banes. I’ve read all about you back in the library of the training island.”

“I see,” she said, nodding. “Always nice to meet a fan.”

“Is it true that you once got a village of trolls to drink the Slumbering Slaughter potion but it made half of them start sleeping walking instead?”

“You’ve done your research,” said Christie, impressed. “Nobody had ever given a monster that size such a potion so we weren’t sure what would happen. But I think you mean ‘sleep smashing.’ There was very little actual ambulating going on in that little valley. You have to really watch your step when a 10 foot tall troll that weighs 800 pounds is dreaming about crushing rabbits.”

“Wow,” said Brent breathlessly. Though Chase was not turned around, he could almost hear Claire’s hair standing on end. “How did you get them to drink it? They books weren’t really clear about that.”

“Well, I just brewed the potion,” said Christie. Suddenly her face fell slightly and she looked away. “Someone else had to douse them.”

All gathered were quiet for a moment while she gathered her thoughts. Suddenly she looked up and she was her same old cheery self.

“Anyway, enough reminiscing, hey, quiet man.” She looked directly at Chase. “You must be the guild leader, right?”

“Yes,” said Chase. He tried not to look her in her eyes for too long.

She hmm’ed and looked him up and down.

“Well, make sure your guild is careful around these parts. I’ve been telling all the guild leaders I’ve found that there are some dark forces at work in Esem. Have you read the recent article in the Post about the Antagonista?”

“I must have missed it,” said Chase.

Christie frowned, but then sighed and shook her head.

“Well, read it, okay? It seems to be targeting players. Some sort of new event that will undoubtedly shake the world all for AION’s enjoyment. Claire?”

“Yes ma’am?” Said Claire cooly.

Christie cocked en eyebrow but didn’t comment on her change of tone.

“Your fight is in an hour. You are fighting a woman named Dolores,” she shrugged. “I swear, some of these names new players are choosing. Well, be there on time, okay? I have to be going. That little NPC Argo was all a titter when I left Markon.”

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And just as suddenly as she had come she turned around and had to shove her way though the small crowd that had formed, yet again, around them. Chase felt a hand on his arm.

“You okay?” Said Alex, showing a rare moment of care.

“Okay?” Said Brent incredulously. “He—.”

“I’m fine,” said Chase through his teeth. “Let’s get out of here before someone else shows up. This day has had too many surprises for my liking.”

Chase grabbed Thomas by the arm. He was beginning to reach for an NPC’s pocket and he said under his breath, “not now.” Then ushered his guild through the onlookers. Bellis waved to them goodbye and though Amelie looked like she wanted to return the wave she saw Chase’s face and put her hand back down.

They walked in silence all the way back to the inn, but instead of going inside Chase directed them to the back were there was only the stable where Moonshine was stabled. Thankfully no one was about and there were only a couple others horses besides their own. Chase ushered the Banes inside and checked to make sure no one had followed them.

“Guys,” said Chase when he was sure they were alone. He looked each one of them in the eye. “Pack your things. We need to go. Now.”

The cacophony of protest that met this command was deafening.

“Why?!”

“No way!”

“Chase, be reasonable…”

“I don’t care,” said Thomas, sounding bored. “Nothing good to steal around here, anyway.”

“Easy for you to say,” said Brent, rounding on the little boy. “You don’t have a contract tournament.”

“Chase,” said Claire, trying to hold back her anger. “This tournament is what we have been training for since the first day at the fort. You can’t expect us to pick up and go just because you saw your ex girlfriend here.”

“It’s not just Christie,” said Chase, crossing his arms. “Something is afoot what with the shrine back there. This has Xemnara written all over it.”

“You can’t prove that,” said Alex, rolling his eyes. “Look, be reasonable. We are surrounded by loads of players. There is nowhere safer than here right now.”

“Come on, are you blind, Alex? No one desecrates one of those little shrines for no reason. If you ask me Xemnara did it as a warning of some kind.”

“Speaking of her,” said Brent. “We never really talked about what happened back at that inn—.”

“Never mind that,” said Claire hurriedly, her face growing sad again. “Chase, we can’t just leave the tournament. You said it yourself. The experience we will get to our levels for fighting other players is many levels beyond that of just killing goblins thousands of times. We need to stay and see this through.”

“I agree,” said Alex, nodding his head. Now he crossed his arms, too.

“Amelie?” Said Brent desperately.

The entire guild looked at her. Her eyes widened at the sudden attention but then her face grew thoughtful.

“Well, to Chase’s point, the shrine thing is odd. And though I have not had to chance to see it yet I feel deep sense of pain about it…whatever is going on may well be connected with Xemnara.”

She held her hand up as Brent and Claire began to protest.

“Let me finish,” she said. “Something is going on, but Alex is right about all the players here. I doubt we are in much danger. I think what Chase is really worried about,” she turned to face him and squinted at his face,” is being recognized by his…ex.”

Chase wanted to bury his face in his hands.

“She’s not my…ok, she is. And that makes it that much more likely that I could be identified by her. That’s not nothing, guys. If she recognizes me somehow the entire show could be over for us.”

“So?” Said Thomas. He was trying to reach for Moonshine’s tail and grab it. He looked back around when Amelie pulled him away from the gate. “Just don’t talk to her again. Easy peasy. I am sure she is gonna leave tomorrow, anyway. There’s no reason she is gonna know it’s you. Just don’t bring her any flowers and confess your love.”

“You little,” began Chase. The other’s were trying to stifle their laughter and doing a poor job of it.

“Wasn’t she the one who might have warned you about the hit?” Said Brent after he had stopped laughing. “Surely the danger from her is minimal.”

“I have no idea, and even if she was the one I could be placing her in danger just by her knowing that I am alive,” said Chase. “As I told you before, the Old Guard has contacts all over Esem waiting for the chance to report. That extends to even Old Guard members themselves—I can’t tell you how many times I had a spy tell me about another member doing something they didn’t want the rest to know about. I am sure the information about Christie’s fight with Markon is on its cheery way to Solomon’s ears as we speak.”

The guild grew quiet at that statement, and even Thomas looked disturbed that such a network could be around them in Birchtown. Claire glanced at Brent and shrugged her shoulders, to which the young man sighed and crossed his arms.

“Let’s vote,” said Brent.

Chase felt a chill go up his spine, and for a moment had a vision of Karkren superimposed upon Brent. Even their determined stares matched one another as Brent glared at him. The last vote that a guild of his had been apart of had not gone his way, as he had found out within Xemnara’s world when he saw his old guild mates.

“Fine,” said Chase, resigning himself that they were not leaving Birchtown. “Raise your hand if you want to leave immediately and go back to Lazerpail.”

He raised his hand and and almost laughed dejectedly when he was the only one. After a moment Thomas joined him with his small fist in the air.

“Thomas!” Said Claire, frowning. “Why do you want to leave?”

“I already told you,” said Thomas, rolling his eyes. “There’s nothing good to steal here.”

“Have you actually checked?”

“Not really, but I can sense it,” said Thoams. He looked at Chase and have him a toothy grin. “I’m with you, boss. Don’t forget this moment in the future. Especially when Seb wakes up and lies about me.”

“Thanks, Tommy,” said Chase dryly. “Ok, and opposed? As though we really even need to do this,” he added under his breath.

Claire, Brent, and Alexander raised their hands defiantly.

“What about you Amelie?” Said Brent, worriedly. “If you vote with Chase we will be at a standstill.”

“I am abstaining,” said Amelie, to which Claire both rolled her eyes and swore audibly.

“What does that even mean, Amelie?” Said Claire. “Come on, just vote with us.”

“It means I am not voting,” she said simply. “I am the mage, and will follow wherever the majority wants to go. My job is to heal you guys, and if that means here or back at Lazerpail with the goblins I will do so.”

“Whatever,” said Claire, lowering her hand. “I guess that means—how do you say?—the motion passes?”

“So is Moonshine,” said Thomas, holding his nose. “Gross!”

For a solid 30 seconds all the guild did was stare at Moonshine before bursting into laughter.

“Ok, ok,” said Chase, still chuckling. “Fine, it is decided. We will stay for the contract tournament. But I have some ground rules.”

“Such as?” Said Alex, relief in his voice.

Chase held up a finger.

“One. We stay together, and avoid Christie as much as possible. And two, after the tournament we all report back to the inn. No late night walks, got it?”

“Yessir,” said Brent.

“Whatever,” said Claire.

Alex said, “You got it, boss.”

“But I need to steal things!” Said Thomas, rounding on Chase. “I didn’t vote with you just to have you turn around and do me dirty!”

“Settle down, Tommy,” said Chase, ruffling the young boys hair. “I’ll make an exception for you, but I’ll be tagging along when we have a chance. I ransacked this place years ago so I know all the NPC’s hiding places.”

“Fine,” said Thomas. “I’m easy. Hey, how about some food?”

“And just like that he’s on to something else,” muttered Claire, shaking her head.

“I second the motion,” said Brent with a grin. He patted one of his biceps. “These muscles need some grub after that fight.”

Together they returned to the inn where a dozen players were sitting eating lunch. Chase smelled beef stew and went to order six plates when he ran into Clark from Meredith’s guild sitting at the bar. He had an empty tankard before him and the front of his shirt was wet. He stared at Chase warily through his glasses and then blinked.

“Hey, you,” said Clark. “C’mere.”

“Clark, is it?” Said Chase, pretending he forgot his name. Dealing with drunks could go either one of two ways in his experience.

“Yeah, that’s me,” said Clark, nodding. “Meredith wanted me to tell you that Seb woke up.”

“Ah, that’s wonderful,” said Chase. He flagged down the innkeeper and ordered the food. When he turned away Clark grabbed his arm.

“I wasn’t done yet, Chade.”

“Chase,” he corrected. “Chade is a famous assassin.”

“Whatever,” he said sullenly. “Meredith wants you to go see her upstairs.”

“Fine,” sighed Chase. “I will. Why are you drinking so much? It’s barely noon.”

“This? Oh, I’m not,” he hiccuped, “drunk. I am merely drinking a couple. Meredith told me that mage of yours healed Seb in seconds flat. It takes me ten minutes just to mend a little scratch. Anyway,” he drained his tankard. “There’s only so much a man can take. Maybe in the Old World I ran a bar, I kind of like it here.”

“Well, there is always the Innkeeper job if you’re so inclined,” said Chase.

“Really?” Said Clark, blinking stupidly. “That sounds nice. How is it you know so much about these jobs? I’ve heard you talking to your guild about them before.”

“Just some basic research,” said Chase, trying to pull himself away. He shook off Clark’s hand. “I’ll see you later, oh,” he pulled a gold coin from his bag and placed it one the table. “Next few are on me, Clark.”

He left Clark staring at the coin and returned to the guild as fast as he could.

“Guys, I ordered the food,” he said when he made it to them. “Seb just woke up, too. I’m going to go see him, okay? Don’t go anywhere.”

He briskly walked away before anyone could offer to go with him. If Seb was going to say anything incriminating of Thomas he didn’t want anyone else around. It would be far easier to deescalate the situation if he were the only one with Seb and Meredith when the boy began talking.

As he trudged up the stairs he made sure his knife was securely on his hip.

The second floor was mostly silent but for the low murmuring of voices at the end of the hall. He quietly padded over to the last door where the voices were coming from and stopped for a moment to listen. The voices stopped talking as he did so and so he knocked.

“It’s Chase,” he said through the door.

“Come in,” came Meredith’s voice.

Chase opened up the door and stepped inside of the little room. There were four small beds and Seb was laying on the one furthest from the door, Meredith at his side sitting on a small stool.

“You okay, Seb?” Said Chase as he shut the door. “You gave us quite the fright but Amelie managed to heal you up. Do you remember anything?”

“He remembers—,” began Meredith.

“It’s him!” Said Seb, eyes widening with terror. “He’s the one they were talking about!”