I kept a forced smile on my face. The smug look of superiority on Harevor’s face, I saw as nothing less than a direct insult that would be remedied one day. Nothing that came out of his perfidious mouth could be trusted, so I searched inside of myself for an answer. My Constitution and Rest? Would that be the answer—could I simply take the hit? Regenerate damage to my Health by literally sleeping off the poison? Too risky. If the poison was something like a time-delayed cyanide, then I would be finished in mere moments. The risk was too great? Cyanide? What was that again… Should I take the proffered vial? But, that could simply be another trick. Could I simply Heal or Greater Heal myself out of the condition? No, that did not feel right.
Then, there it was—the Purify spell. A staple for Paladins for cleansing certain conditions. However, would a level two spell be enough to counteract the delayed poison that was probably running through my veins? In my fear, I imagined a small twinge in the hand that had held the string.
Sweat must have been running down my brow as I kept a fixed expression on my face, and Laes and Larynda looked at me with worried expressions on their faces. Perhaps it was the effect of the poison, or the sudden shock making my brain go this way and that to reach a solution, but time seemed to slow down. Not wanting to show a single card in my hand, I forced magic to come silently, a slow song of a bright light that rushed to my core before spreading to my extremities. Then I felt the burn. My Pain Nullification skill kept the pain at bay, while Purify’s fire coursed through my veins, burning the impurities that dared to intrude into the sanctity of my temple. I acknowledged the pain’s existence, without truly feeling it.
I suffered a single point of damage and I hissed sharply from the surprise rather than any suffered hurt, which Laes might have taken for a threat. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Kidu’s hand had moved closer to the knife at his belt, a better weapon for dealing out brutality in these close quarters.
Something about the spell, the initial imparted knowledge that came with it, told me that magic was successful. Would I have to live the rest of my life, here casting the Purify spell? I shook my head; no, that way led only to paranoia and a slow descent into madness.
Time suddenly resumed its inexorable slide to normality, and I simply smiled a smug grin at the caravan master as I handed him back the vial.
“Please, you must take it. It is far too early for you to fight the war in heaven!” he almost shouted as he tried to refuse it, misunderstanding my actions.
“An antidote will not be necessary. But, we will be moving now,” my expression and tone, I hope, filled with whatever menace I could contrive.
I must have done something impressive, for the world itself rewarded me with a most welcome notification.
You have gained 1 Constitution.
You have gained 1 Charisma.
A few more points of Health and Stamina were always welcome. The increase in Charisma, however, was harder to pin down. A puzzling thing to be sure, for I had no idea how, exactly, it aided my situation and ‘build.’ If, somehow, Charisma affected how much I could influence the people of the world, then they perhaps, in turn, could influence me. Was it some form of passive mind control that stole my agency? A most worrying thought indeed.
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I looked at the ugly caravan master, the wheels in my mind turning at an infuriated pace. Had the attribute aided in bargaining for a faster departure? Or was this simply a result of showing him the poisoned item I had received from Hamsa? I hated variables that I could not categorically measure.
Laes simply nodded, absolutely dumbstruck at this new turn of events, muttering something that sounded like ‘Vanda Venny’ or some such nonsense, before he began shouting instructions at his workers. I took a second to glance in his direction, assuring him with a nod that all was well.
This part of the caravanserai turned into an upturned beehive of activity, as men, women, and beasts jostled with each other as they made their preparations for a sudden departure. The caravan’s master had to assure several people that all was well, to encourage them to get back to work to get ready to depart. Getting out of the way of their industry, my small group moved to the side, next to some wooden crates. My heart, now emptied of poison, was filled with thoughts of yet another betrayal. One day Hamsa, there will be a reckoning, I promised myself.
Among the whirlwind of activity, I watched Laes as he apologized to a group of men clad in fine orange silk deels and yellow sashes, all of them filled with their own self-importance. Head bowed and both palms pressed against the back of his head, he said something to them in a language I had yet to learn. Soon after he had apologized, one of them pocketed a small purse from Laes. Was that a form of apology in this culture? One of my hands subconsciously moved to the back of my head in sympathetic mimicry before I noticed Larynda looking at me. I lowered my hand, feeling a little embarrassed.
“You knew,” I said to the girl.
“Errr… yes… but old Ham said it would all be fine. His words exact as I remember ‘em were, ‘If you don’t dilly-dally with that Gilgamesh fellow, then there’s nothing to be afear’ of s’like’,” she piped and sputtered, before looking down at the ground dejectedly, “an’ thank you I guess.”
I glanced over my Status, blocking everything out except the information that I sought.
Experience to next level 2978/3202
Health: 282/288
Stamina: 56/63
Mana: 12/15
Well, at least the whole ordeal had given me some nominal experience at the cost of three Mana, a fair trade if there had not been the risk of death. Something about the small girl's demeanor and words tugged a little at the strings of the heart, and I suddenly felt a small bud of sympathy grow. Was this a normal emotion to be feeling towards a person that could have caused my death through lies of omission? A small voice said, in the back of my mind, sharp and oily in its insistence.
Abandon the girl, or not? For surely she was to be the albatross around my neck. However, Kidu made the decision for us, as one of his large hands gently patted the little girl’s head, and the unexpected act almost caused her to cry. She looked up at him, and Patches gave her face a slobbering lick, causing her to give out a weak, morose laugh.
It was this simple animal’s trust that had convinced me to trust her, too. The creatures that men tame had instincts that could see through base human deception. She would have the benefit of the doubt, for the time being at least. We would have a deep discussion later, once we had put some distance between us and this forsaken city.
My quest was not yet over.