Duke relaxed in a bath with Aurelia cuddled into him. The warmth of the water seeped into muscles that had been pushed time and time again. His REGENERATION restored his body perfectly, but this feeling of replenishment was different and he stayed that way for far longer than he had planned. As they relaxed, he told Aurelia about all the attacks he had weathered throughout the day.
“Do you think they will start coming in groups at some point and can you handle that?”
“If it gets to be too much, I’m going to relocate to Monrea and ramp up the destruction to the max. I doubt that anyone at Tier Four can handle me while I’m this pumped up by my title. If they figure out that the dungeons are fueling me, then I will have a problem. Moving around will be my best tactic if they come in swarms.”
“I can help you fight, you know.” She snuggled in closer to emphasize her point.
“I know you can, love. But some of the hits I have been taking are monstrous. I took one single hit that cost me over ten million Health. I wouldn’t have survived that without the Title buff. That would have killed you instantly and I am not going to see that happen. Not again.”
“I just feel helpless. I need to help you and I’m terrified about what my world would look like if I lost you.”
“Don’t worry love. I’m not going to let anyone take me out with a shot like that. At least not again.”
“Not going to stop worrying about it, but in the meantime I’m going to be delving Travis’ dungeon to keep myself from dwelling on what could happen.”
“You be careful too.” Duke gave her a wink and a squeeze before he froze in place, his attention elsewhere.
“What is it?” Aurelia asked, concerned.
“Someone just entered the Inn. Not sure how they tracked me down in here, but I have to go deal with them.” He didn’t wait for a response as he practically jumped out of the large soaking tub and threw his clothes back on. An unconscious CLEANSE and RESTORE left him ready for action. He called over his shoulder as he left, “Stay here. This might get messy.” He didn’t look back as he headed down the hall and down the stairs.
Aurelia fumed. “Stay here? Like I’m a helpless flower that needs protection? Oh, hells no.” She dried herself off and began to layer on her armor.
Duke came down the stairs, stepping out into the tavern portion of the Inn. He saw a group of five individuals sitting at a table with drinks in front of them. They were all similar in appearance, being tall goblinoids. The major distinction between them all was in their manner of dress. Duke’s first impression was that they were kitted out as a typical adventuring party with a tank, healer, mage, rogue, and ranged fighter.
The “mage” waved over to Duke and spoke, “Come, join us for a drink before we get this all started.”
“A drink?” Duke asked, intrigued.
“Yes. Please join us so we can discuss things. It is our tradition to always at least share a drink with our subjects before things come to their inevitable conclusion.”
Duke shrugged and came over to the table deciding that he could, indeed, use a drink and his curiosity was well piqued. Perhaps he could get some answers before things went to shit again.
As he sat down, Travis gave him a meaningful look. “There will be no fighting in my Inn. They have already agreed to this.” He set a glass of whiskey down in front of Duke and wandered back towards the bar.
“Thank you for joining us.” The apparent leader raised his glass and the others followed suit. Duke slowly joined them, ready to respond to any sign of violence. The leader continued. “It is both good and terrible to meet you, Duke. I am Vorzag. This is Raktuk, Zelra, Myrka, and Grimtooth. And, as I am sure that you have guessed, we came here to kill you and claim the prize.”
“Yes, I figured you were here to join the pile of corpses in my INVENTORY.” Duke did not hold back the edge in his voice.
Vorzag continued. “I have an Ability that is quite unique in that it allows me to see the result of actions before they occur if I have enough information about the possible events and the variables in play.”
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“That could be quite useful.”
“Indeed, Duke it is. It allows me to guide us to victory rather easily. At least it did until today. You are the first foe I have encountered that I simply cannot find a way to defeat. So, I’m not going to make the attempt.”
“So, you’re just going to up and leave and not try to kill me?” Duke chuckled. “Well, that’s a new one.”
“Not everyone is smart about how they approach the job. Too many just charge in and hope they can overwhelm their target. Sadly, it works far more often than not so they keep doing it. I…we only act when we are assured of victory. That is how we emerged from and escaped the Creche. You are different. I suspect that you possess Abilities as unique as mine and that is what brings us to the table today. I would like to recruit you to join us, Duke. I have seen it. With you on our team, we could easily handle targets two Tiers above our own.”
Duke stared at the five of them for a long moment before responding. “Quite the offer, but I am rather happy with my own things right now. Perhaps another day I may change my mind, but today is not that day.”
The exchanging of coins that followed Duke’s response was neither subtle nor fast. Duke’s realization that they had been betting on the outcome brought a smile to his face. “So, you can predict the outcomes of events…that’s pretty cool if I say so. Thanks for not being dicks and trying to kill me like so many others have and, I’m just guessing, are still coming to do so.”
“Oh yes, the contract is so appealing that you may indeed be fighting for the rest of your days. No, that’s not right. Word of your potency will get around the community over the next year, and no one will be willing to attempt the contract anymore. Have you ever considered the life of a hunter? You would be really good at it, even if it’s not on my team.”
“I’m still establishing my own places here. It will be a while before I start traipsing all over the cosmos hunting poor souls down.” Duke’s next words were interrupted by a woman in golden armor bursting out of the stairway, sword drawn to strike, and shield ready to deflect a blow or bash a foe.
“Leave my Duke alone!” Aurelia’s words rang with the full weight of her COMMAND VOICE and all heads turned in her direction.
Vorzag laughed. “Now that, I did not predict.” The table dissolved into laughter as Duke stood up and walked over to his battle-ready lover.
Aurelia stared at him dumbfounded. “Thanks for the backup, love. But they aren’t here to fight, they are trying to recruit me.”
“Recruit you? What for?”
“To join our bounty hunting team, of course. Your Duke is quite extraordinary and would be quite the asset to us. The pay is good, and you could join us as well.”
Duke interrupted. “I’ve already declined. Don’t try to pressure me with the woman I love.”
Aurelia mindlessly sheathed her sword as Travis handed her a drink. She absently downed the glass of liquid and gestured for another which Travis was happy to provide. Duke calmly led her to a seat that had somehow arrived at the table, and they all sat back down together.
“Well, this is not what I was expecting. Who are all you people.”
Duke went around the table making introductions. When he finished, Raktuk spoke up. “When we sat down, there was only enough room at this table for the five of us. Now there are seven and there’s still plenty of room. How is this possible?”
Duke smiled. “Magic. This Inn is magic. That’s why I chose it as my place to say for this time. With all the hunters and assassins coming for me, I rather like having a nice place to come back to relax after fighting. Don’t you?”
“This human is unlike any other I have met. Is this why he has such a price on his head?” Grimtooth asked Vorzag, ignoring the self-same human he was asking about.
“Not very polite of you to speak of someone like that when they are sitting at the same table as you. But the truth is that I don’t know what he has done to get such a price upon his head. That wasn’t specified in the contract. I don’t suppose you are willing to share that information, Duke?”
“Pass.”
“I didn’t think so.” Vorzag reached into a pocket and retrieved a small device and handed it to Duke. “This is a device you can use to reach me when you are ready to change careers and join us.” Duke accepted the device and IDENTIFIED it.
***You have found a targeted exospace communicator. This device can be used to communicate through exospace and therefore has near infinite range. ***
“That’s handy. I’ll keep this in a safe space and if I ever want to join you, I’ll give you a ring.”
“A ring? I don’t understand.”
Duke shook his head. “It’s an idiom. It means that I will get in communication with you.”
“That makes much more sense. Thank you for hearing me out and being so cordial. I hope to hear from you soon but I now know that I won’t, at least as far as I can see. Oh, and the svaldmethok are vulnerable to wind.” With that final bit of advice, the group rose from their seats and headed for the door. They had left behind twenty chips of some transparent material that Duke assumed was some form of currency. They were out the door before he even thought to ask. When he turned back from the door, the chips were gone. The knowing look he received from Travis told him exactly where the chips had gone.
When he turned back to the door he paused. “I don’t suppose I can convince you to stay here and enjoy a meal while I go out?”
The look he received from Aurelia told him everything he needed to know about her answer. He shrugged and waited for her by the door. They stepped through into the desert to find it was no longer barren. The Inn was ringed by landing craft, strange, mounted beasts, and dozens upon dozens of foes waiting for him.