Chapter 16

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Sadly, the gold I'd set aside yesterday had run out, and there was still so much to do before I could meet the guild crafter! I'll have to go to the Khramm's shop to see if they've sold my scrolls.

A vaguely familiar (they all look so much alike!) dwarf in armor met me at the door of the Trading House and, without saying a word, escorted me to the counter.

"Hello, Dear Sir. Yesterday, three lots were supposed to be auctioned on my behalf. May I ask..."

A young dwarf in clerk's armbands and with a beard attached to his checkered vest with a huge gold clip didn't listen to the rest but immediately opened the book.

"Three scrolls: two of the fourth rank, one of the sixth rank. Sold. Would you like cash?"

Great.

"Yes, please."

"Your price is one gold for scrolls of the fourth rank and five gold for a sixth. Minus our interest, plus our auction trade, minus our share of the promotion." What's he talking about? "That's nine gold, seventeen silver, and thirty-two coppers. We got it right!"

The goods for seven, where did the other two gold pieces come from?

"Excuse me, esteemed..."

"Drori, at your service."

"Esteemed Drori. I am a simple warrior, could you explain how the price of the..."

The clerk didn't listen to the rest of the speech again: "The standard agreement of representation at an auction means that a client's lot may be overbid at a price that the House appraisers think is fairer. You understand that everyone must mind his own business, and believe me, our House has eaten more than one dragon in the difficult business of proper trade!" He stuck out his jaw proudly, and his beard popped out of a staple.

"But still: how exactly is this representation expressed?"

The dwarf, who neatly tucked his beard back into place, looked at me in surprise, but, discounting the "mere warrior," replied: "Your price was not in line with the current price situation. So we set a higher price. We got half of the difference, as we should have. And from your price, we got only the agreed ten percent."

It makes more sense now.

"And if no one bought for the price you set?" The dwarf raised his head already belligerently, and his beard popped out of his staple again. "No, no, I'm in no way questioning the House's estimate. I'd just like to know the exact procedure, for a better understanding."

Drori shrugged and, beginning again to tuck his unruly beard, ventured to answer: "Then we would lower the price until it was equal to the one you set. But we are seldom wrong; the Khramm's Trading House is a respectable enterprise!"

"I see. I would like to add two gold coins to the main account, and get the rest in cash: five gold coins and the rest in silver."

The dwarf immediately clinked coins the trade menu blinked automatically, and the NPC transferred the money handed to me in the inventory. I was about to turn to leave, but then I decided to ask: "Esteemed Drori, would you mind answering a personal question?"

"Of course, honorable paladin."

"And... why are you attaching the beard to the vest with a paper clip? It must be uncomfortable, right? I'm sorry if my question has hurt your feelings, I really don't understand. Maybe it's a House tradition."

Drori waved his hand: "No, it's nothing like that. It's just a fashion."

Wow.

"Fashion?"

"Yes, it's a fashion." The dwarf sighed sadly and fixed his beard again.

I thought for a while.

"How about not attaching it to the vest, but just leaving it like that, clamped with a paper clip?"

The dwarf sighed again.

"Last year the beard was supposed to be held loosely by three massive rings. It was very beautiful! But alas, that is now obsolete. And who invented them, those paper clips!" Nervously adjusting his golden torture tool, the victim of fashion bowed to me.

It was raining outside, so I stood under the awning. NPCs independently dispose of trusted property for the benefit of the player-client! Good idea to create an atmosphere, but now I understand why the auction was not mentioned in the articles about the ways of enrichment in CoD. The developers leveled the odds between newcomers and "gosu." Why? It's not clear yet, but I rather liked the result than not.

The drops flying from the frowning sky were finally replaced by rays of light in the clear air after the rain, and the sun bounces bright on the wet rocks.

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I watched the townsfolk, the NPCs, and the players scurry by. I watched as the sidewalk slowly dried in the hot sun, as the eared and pony-tailed pie salesman threw back the burlap cloths that covered the goods, and carefully looked around to see if anything was wet.

Finally, a loader with a big box over his shoulders bumped into me and, muttering something as an apology, continued on his way through the drying street.

I stared. To hell with the graphics, but that salesman didn't make a single repetitive motion, as if he were being controlled by a living person. The street was alive. It wasn't just drawn - it was alive, changing. Natural. And I, standing under the canopy, the newcomer to the temple guard thinking about something, was in it, not out of it. Not an observer, but one of them.

With a shake, I shook off my reverie.

One of them? Do you see any lazybones here, Vova? Well, take your example from them! The Dwarves have earned you gold coins, so please get busy!

The familiar artisan vendor nodded affectionately and, without waiting for a question, unfolded a commercial menu. A hundred sheets of paper, a hundred units of ink. I wonder what "one ink" is? Does it count by the drop?

Confirmation of the transaction, minus six gold pieces, plus twelve silver pieces of change.

Forty Phantom Companion scrolls. Forty Shield of Blood scrolls. Ten Blessing scrolls. I managed it in an hour, getting two "masterpiece" scrolls again: Blessing and Shield.

I left some paper and ink in reserve, just in case. It takes not much space in my inventory, but it might come in handy. I had the last of the Companions on the boss yesterday, and what if I hadn't had enough? That's okay, I'll be smarter from now on.

Boss! I forgot about it.

The quest bone, obtained for the first walkthrough of the dungeon, was still lying in the closet, where I threw it along with the other trophies. I'll trade the trash when I have more but for now, I'll let it stay there. I have to go to the crypts for a long, long time, and then I'll do small wholesale trade. Or I'll give it to the noobs, and let them enjoy it. Bone... right. Map!

Calling out the map, I marveled at its detail. The full version was not a store-bought sketch of the main paths! There were two paths leading to Loeur's crypts besides the one I already knew, and the new ones were both a good deal shorter, though they ran through rough terrain. The crypts themselves were marked with a green badge, an acknowledgment that the information the player had gathered was as complete as possible. Things could change almost instantly in "CoD", but green on the map indicated locations where there had been no changes or additions for the past two weeks... which is logical for an entry-level instance designed to train newcomers.

Touching the icon, I unfolded a full sheet. A schematic of the crypts. A list of monsters, with locations and frequency of appearances. Skills, characteristics, spells.

By the way, I reread this. Among those available for capture by the scribes was only the Ice Arrow of the first rank. The same one that almost got me killed by skeletal mages yesterday, pinched from both sides. Now I'd finally get to try the capture!

No treasure hiding places, no rare monsters. Boring.

Rotating the map, I found a dungeon of the ninetieth level and spent a long time reading the long lists of loot, sophisticated monster skills, treacherous traps, and known plot moves. There's life in there! And here... just one constant quest.

Enchanted Bone.

Personal item

Starts quest - collecting magic items

Available for players of levels 1 - 15

Completing the quest - the Temple of the patron god

Reward - 20% experience per level, increased reputation

It's a good thing I got so exhausted on the walkthrough yesterday! Now pass the quest after the last pass, the fifth part of the fifteenth level is much more than all of the seventh. What to do with this bone? The closet counts as inventory, unfortunately.

After collecting the scrolls and putting the bone in my bag, I left the room and headed for the sanctuary.

The priest I knew was still standing at the altar, but this time he was not praying, but discussing something with the altar boy, pointing his finger at papers. For decency's sake, I stood aside for a few minutes and dared to get his attention:

"Ahem. Uh... excuse me, I need your advice and your help."

The priest said one last word to the altar boy and turned to me.

"What happened, brother paladin? Do you need a blessing again?"

"It's still with me, thank you. That's not what I wanted to know. I found this object on the body of one of the undead. It promises a reward..."

"You can easily get it in that aisle. The minister will put the deed in the book and reward you." I was pointed to an archway that led deep into the sanctuary. Did I detect a hint of boredom in the priest's benevolent voice? How many thousands, tens of thousands of "light outsiders" had he pointed this way?

"You can also give this item to martial or magical mentors."

"I heard..." Pause. To make the moment more heartfelt. "I heard that you can donate your loot to the Patroness. No, I understand that it would be appropriate to give precious weapons or magical objects, but this is my first victory over evil, my first trophy. Whether it's appropriate, I don't know..."

The priest made a negative gesture.

"Don't even doubt it! Your gift is from the bottom of your heart and will be accepted. Come to the altar!"

The altar was a block of white marble, almost a cube with a meter edge. No carving, no polishing, just a block that had been chipped. On it was a small bouquet of bellflowers. I guess I like that.

"Put the gift on the altar. And say the proper words. No matter what they are, let them come from your heart, and let your mind be a mere servant of sincere feeling."

Calling up the inventory menu, I pulled out the bone and shifted it onto the white, smooth surface. White marble, blue flowers, dirty gray human bone. Somehow the combination didn't seem far-fetched.

And now the words. What did I read there about Amala? I don't know what the hell it's supposed to say. If you don't know what to say, just say the first thing that comes into your head.

"To you, Worthy One, my gift. Accept it."

The bone scattered ashes, scattered with tiny blue sparks.

"The gift is accepted, brother paladin."

Yes, it does. So everything that comes into your head comes from your heart? Well, well.

I saluted the priest, then turned and nodded to the altar. Not a bow, but a nod, like an old friend encountered in the hustle and bustle of the day.

Your deed pleases the Goddess!

It's not even surprising. I wonder if they will do that for every bone?

Reputation increased by 3

Come on! Enough with the presents. New Year's Eve is still a long way off.

"In the future, just repeat it. At any time of the day or night, for She never sleeps a wink in the care of the world."

I shrugged.

"Poor gal. It must be hard without rest."

The priest smiled: "We should not measure the gods by the measure of mortals. We do not know what is Her day and what is Her night. Our whole life may be one minute to her."

I shrugged again.

"Maybe. But since I'm a paladin, I'll go clean the filth out of a dungeon or two. Less work for her. Good day to you."

"All the best to you too, brother paladin. May your hand be steady."

Yeah, and the Companions are obedient. Yeah, right.

I turned around and walked out of the sanctuary. It was getting late, and I still hadn't killed anyone.

It's not okay.

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