CHAPTER 137

At some point, Joline and Michael joined him. They looked happy. Their strange host seemed to delight in chatting with all the surrounding humans. Tom saw him having animated discussions with nearly everyone in the human camp. The otter was a social animal. Each session was like his own. Mus only spent five minutes with each person, but it had an impact. Some left filled with hope and others near tears, when presumably Mus had shared an unwelcome truth. Yet despite the range of emotions, Tom was sure no permanent harm was being done. People needed the bandaids ripped off. Existentia may have been immeasurably different from the tutorial, but it was just as brutal.

Tom and Everlyn collapsed next to each other back against the wall that looked down at the party. The bard was still strumming his harp, but the intense fast pace of dance music had faded into something more reflective and gentler after the drummer had disappeared with a female companion earlier in the night. Above their heads, Mus’s huge steed flapped lazily through the air in what had become a regular occurrence. It would leap in the air and do a five-minute circuit before returning to the ground. That cycle occurred every twenty minutes apart from when it had caught one of the giant lizards and spent thirty minutes eating about half of it, in clear view of everyone with night vision.

“Bed.” Everlyn suggested. Tom said nothing. Now the latest set of gases had worn off he felt a sense of disquiet. “What’s bothering you?”

Tom shook his head. “I’m not sure. I feel like I missed something important tonight.”

“No one died.”

“I know. I’m going through my list to see if we’re missing anyone.”

“Mus said he would protect us.”

“Can the griffin really stop the killer?”

Everlyn shrugged. “I think so. I can’t even tell what level it is. But it’s definitely in the hundreds.” She shook her head and bopped his nose in mock admonishment. “Enough sad talk. Did you enjoy the night? I did, I like gases and Mus was funny. I reckon he asked everyone if they would join him.”

“Yeah,” Tom agreed. “You weren’t in the negotiations, but him sourcing some volunteers will be enormous for his species. He probably couldn’t help himself because he was so excited.”

“Will he get any?”

Tom laughed. “Yeah, five of the ten people Joline asked agreed. Which will get us a fortune at least in value. I don’t know what he’s squirreled away in his trade goods.”

Everlyn chuckled. “Given the amount of party material I imagine it’s a lot. Or maybe,” she poked her tongue out of him. “Maybe it’s just his priorities and all we’re going to end up with is his party supplies.”

“You take that back,” Tom demanded. Nudging her. “Our luminary, august personage of an otter will have sensible adventuring stock to transform our lives.”

“Transform? He’s offering that much?”

“Yeah. He agreed to give a fortune.”

“Good, and we’ll find out tomorrow. Now bed.”

“Are you tired?” he teased.

She shook her head. “No, what on earth gave you that idea. Tonight’s been magical.”

Tom woke up an hour after dawn and was not that surprised to discover that he was alone. He had grown used to Everlyn slipping out early.

A couple of cleaning spells later, and feeling refreshed, he set out to find out what had happened overnight.

First thing he did was to climb to the top of fortifications.

Tom froze in response to the view. His body overwhelming his conscious mind with a flash of primal fear.

A hundred metres away birdbrain was standing vigil on top of a small outcrop. Its huge head was moving side to side as it searched for potential enemies. Eyes sweeping back and forth and while he was not the target of its vigilance, it still chilled him.

Tom tore his gaze away to get a better feeling about how the party had ended up. There were a few prone bodies, people who had fallen asleep near Mus’s camp rather than in the fortification. Tom’s frown deepened when he saw two suspects who should have been locked up sleeping close to Mus’s tent. They were supposed to be in the prison. It was good for them to have avoided that fate, but it was a lapse in internal camp discipline that had let them sleep out in the open without attentive guards.

Joline would be furious.

The fact they slept in the open next to an alien who could crush them by accident told its own story, but he already knew how Bob would respond. Their obvious fear was not evidence of innocence. There was no exoneration till hard evidence proved innocence.

He sighed and then turned around and scanned the camp as he searched for Everlyn. She had probably been up for an hour or more. If the killer had struck, she would have found out by now and raised the alarm, so Tom was not overly concerned.

He did a quick circuit of the walls, and they were clear of threats and humans. Another lapse of security. The sentries should have been on the wall, but Mus’s appearance plus the earlier damage had thrown everyone off their game. Finally, he entered the courtyard that was filled with rubble through all the temporary structures were back up.

He sniffed appreciatively. Someone was frying meat, so he headed over to the designated kitchen.

Everlyn was already there eating. When she looked up and saw him, she beamed.

“Tom.” She waved him over.

“I take it everything is fine.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

She shook her head. “I just finished a scout and there were no more murders.”

“What is it?” Tom asked concerned he could see that slightly haunted look in her movement. She had discovered something.

She licked her lips nervously her head rested against his chest and her body went lifeless.

He immediately shut his eyes.

Everlyn Louise Campbell has invited you to her personal system room.

Do you wish to accept the invitation?

He accepted and appeared instantly in Everlyn’s system room. The casual attitude from the courtyard was gone.

“Mus is up to something.” She said blunted without hesitation.

“What?”

“I’m not sure what the specifics of your deal are, but he has recruited his own volunteers.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Nor do but I’ve spoken to two different people who had in-depth discussions with him. They talked compensation.” Everlyn declared, emphasising that last word like it meant something.

“But we’ve already decided compensation. Why would he…?”

“I know,” Everlyn said tightly. “Which is why I’m telling you. Mus explained how the individual would be treated, how they could expect to live, hours working and all that sort of stuff. Which is fair enough, but he also discussed the gifts the rest of the group would receive for them signing up.”

“Why would he discuss additional group rewards? And why would he be recruiting? Joline was going to do that.”

“I don’t know,” she answered. “But it stinks. And my bullshit instincts are telling me he is up to something.”

With a shift of perception, he was removed from the system room.

Once more, he was in the courtyard. The small crowd around the tents probably noticed them being rude, but no one called them out on it. Everlyn shoved her plate with fried meat piled up on it to him. “Here, take this. I’ll get a fresh plate.”

“Umm.”

Her eyes flickered toward the exit and where Mus was and he knew he needed to go check it out. Tom’s instincts like they had been last night were screaming at him. “Thank you.” He said absently barely registering the plate in his hands. He had already spun and was heading for the exit.

What the fuck was the otter up too?

They had a deal.

The council via Joline would recruit volunteers and then Mus would pay.

Tom reached the tunnel filled with murder holes before he realised what had been troubling him.

“Oh, shit.” He whispered and then took off at a run, throwing his plate away his food forgotten as he sprinted down to where the party had been.

When he got there, he wondered what to do. Should he drag the people away and interrogate them? Would birdbrain allow that? Would Mus?

The otter was easily amused but Tom in talking to him had not for a moment thought that he was anything but honest and good-natured but too many clues were coming together and the specific wording of the otters agreement with Joline was setting his alarm bells off.

Wording which Mus had pushed for.

Decision made he stalked toward Hao. He was the only one of the four close to Mus’s tent that Tom was on good terms with.

He wasn’t sure what he was planning on doing. Probably wake him to find out what was happening. Ask why he was sleeping here? See if it was something nefarious?

The flaps to Mus’s tent parted before Tom had crossed half the distance to his target. Mus emerged and shuffled with that unique movement forced by feet and legs more designed for swimming than terrestrial locomotion. The superior attributes won out and Mus moved far faster than Tom could and easily intercepted Tom before he reached his target.

“Tom.” Mus said immediately giving off friendly vibes. “Did you enjoy the party?”

“Not why I’m here.”

He was watching the otter’s whiskers, and they did not twitch at all. The otter did not find this funny at all, which pacified Tom somewhat. “No. I guess you’re not.” Mus said tiredly. “Sit we’ll talk.” Mus nodded towards a pillow that he had hazy memories of resting on the previous night with Everlyn on his lap.

“You–” Tom started angrily.

“Sit. We can be civil.”

Seething Tom did as instructed and Mus produced a divine smelling cooked fish dish he handed across without comment before producing his own version.

“You betrayed us.” Tom said, ignoring the smell wafting from the warm dish in his hands.

“I did no such thing. You were greedy and negotiated sloppily.”

“We promised to get you volunteers and that you would pay.”

“I agreed to pay for the service of you getting me volunteers.” Mus interrupted. “I know you’re mad, but that is what we agreed.”

“That’s bullshit.” Tom snapped.

A feeling of danger radiated from the innocent-looking otter.

The protest cut itself off in Tom’s throat.

“Stop using your aura to suppress me.” Tom growled.

“Quiet,” Mus said with a significant look at the bodies near his tent that had shifted uncomfortably at Tom’s outburst. “We talked late and they don’t have the vitality to deal with so little sleep.”

Mus used his paws to break up the fish and started eating. Tom was impressed by how quickly the otter broke his meal up and reviewed the bones before scoffing down the succulent flesh.

He followed suit, but far more unwieldy. He spat out the fish bones but appreciated the food. It tasted as divine as it smelled. Unfortunately, with the bigger issues, he wasn’t in the mood for it.

The otter put his plate aside. “First thing I want to say is that I have no interest in dealing with Joline. You, Tom, on the other paw, are a different matter. Many people speak highly of you.”

“My contributions have just been me being lucky.”

“And the ring on your finger?”

Tom froze.

“That’s a very interesting artefact. One which no one else seems to know about?”

He knew he looked like a deer caught in headlights. He spun the ring annoyed beyond measure that Mus knew about it. It was supposed to be a trump card that might have balanced the fight against the stronger enemy. Instead, with Mus’s resources he would have a counter. He had made a mistake coming here. He should have woken Joline and sent her in while he watched from the distance.

Then when he fought Mus. Some of his killing intent must have leaked out because Mus’s whiskers twitched and he cleaned them while keeping his eyes focused on Tom.

“If humans are an example of contribution races more generally, then you guys are all scary. The way your mind jumps to violence.”

“What violence.” Tom protested. “You’re the one who has cheated us, and I haven’t even raised my voice. You have no idea what I think?”

“I can however guess.” Mus looked meaningfully at his ring. “You were angry that I noticed that. Probably worried that the knowledge will let me counter it and you’re right I have potions and one use amulet that can shield against even an item as powerful as that.”

“So you say.”

“I have no reason to lie to you, Tom. As I said earlier in this conversation, I’ve only had good reports about you. And I can assure you that you do not need to regret not resorting to violence this morning. The ring wouldn’t have worked. Maybe if you attacked me the instant I landed with the element of surprise. Maybe it could have turned the battle then. But after I identified you and saw that ring your entire camp no longer had a chance against me. Even that first morning, I doubt the fate spike would have made a difference. There is only one of it, but there were two of us. Me and birdbrain, which means one of us would have kept full access to our fate.”

Mus produced a cup of steaming drink and took an appreciative sip. “A good meal and tacha are a great way to start the morning. I would offer you a cup, but it is poisonous to you. Anyway, on that first morning. You could have disabled one of us and in the resulting firefight it is possible potentially even likely that whoever had no fate would have got hurt and maybe killed. But that wouldn’t have helped you. I can guarantee if you killed birdbrain I would have slaughtered you and if I was taken out birdbrain would have been even more unreasonable.”

“If you used that ring, you would have doomed your whole group. After all, it only takes one of us to kill you all. Now, using it is even more pointless. We know to protect the one hit by the ring so you won’t get a lucky kill. And then we’d counterattack. Eliminate the stronger fighters. That’s Everlyn, you and then Keikain. After that, the rest would crumble not to mention I can retreat and come back.”

Tom forced himself to relax. Mus unfortunately was right. “Yes. That’s what I concluded.”

They stared each other down.

“What now?” Tom asked.