Joe awoke to a sharp impact against his forehead. He was more or less expecting it so he didn't let it bother him. Opening his eyes was met with a complete sense wall of pitch-black darkness. Only by looking toward the horizon was Joe gifted with twinkling stars. Under the canopy of leaves, Joe could not see his hand in front of his face. Feeling around, he grabbed his pack and staff and stepped out from under the tree, hoping the moon would add some light. The small crescent did not help much. Kaid was just an irregular blob in the darkness. The little thief stepped close and spoke quietly.
“Most of the guards are drifting off at their posts and the only light is coming from lanterns by the front and back door,” he informed Joe. “This should be easy. I’ll lead you to the door to the cellar. I already smeared the hinges with beeswax. We slip in, sneak into the back bedroom and wake Konren. You do your thing and I’ll get you out and we are done.”
“Are you sure we can do this quietly? I can’t see a thing.”
“You got fey-blood and no twilight sight? Man, you got stiffed. Fine. I’ll hold your hand, ya big baby. Leave your staff here. It will only trip you up.”
“Alright,” he replied, leaving the quarterstaff lying on the ground. “Let’s do this. Lead on McDuff.”
“Who’s McDuff? Never mind. I don’t care. Now just shut up and try to step where I do.”
Joe’s eyes had adjusted negligibly to the dark night; Kaid was a slightly more distinct blur in the darkness but no more. He still could not see anything specific about the ground he was walking on. If he encountered a divot or rock, there was no way he was going to be able to see it before he tripped over it. Joe could not remember ever seeing a night as dark as this. Even at his rural home back on Earth, he was used to some general light pollution. There were a few street lamps on his road and a distant city. There was always a little ambient light from porch lights or through neighborhood windows. He had not been camping in years but even then, most nights had moonlight or they would have lanterns or campfires. The utter blackness made him feel clumsy. It caused him to strain his senses for some sort of input. There was a rushing sound in his ears, and every crinkle of grass seemed overly loud. He eventually found a rhythm to Kaid’s steps, which helped him stay focused. After what felt like an eternity, Kaid squeezed his hand hard and stopped. He pulled Joe down and whispered directly into his ear.
“We are here. I’m going to put your hands on the handle to the cellar door. You lift it slowly. I’ll go first. You follow and close the door as quietly as you can behind you. Once in the cellar, I’ll make you a little light. Just nod if you understand. Remember, I can see you.”
Joe bobbed his head and felt his hands being placed onto a wooden handle. In the complete darkness, Joe did not know which way to lift but after gently pulling up he was able to orient himself. He lifted the heavy door, and, thanks to Kaid’s lubrication, the hinges made no sound at all. The wooded planks gave a slight groan but that was the only noise. Joe lifted even more slowly and, once he had it up a few feet, he felt Kaid slide through.
He eased up the panel high enough for himself. This was the moment he had been dreading since they reached the door in the almost pitch-black night. He was going to have to try and lift his foot over the edge, find the step, not letting the door creak, all while almost completely blind. He tried to draw himself a mental picture of the area. He could make out the wall of the farmhouse and from the feel of the door, he had an idea of how big it was. There would be a stone rim and then a step down. The big unknowns were how high were the stones and how far down was that first step. He slid his food to the stones and leaned forward, causing his shin to push up on the bulkhead’s foundation. To his relief, he could feel the top of the stones dig into his leg just a few inches above his ankle. ‘Here goes’ he thought.
Joe lifted his leg, making sure it was a little higher than it needed to be but his nervous tension caused him to wobble. Feeling completely unbalanced, he froze. Suddenly a pair of small hands took hold of his calf. They lower his foot back to the ground, letting Joe regain his balance. An exasperated sigh just barely reached Joe’s ears.
A moment later he felt a slight tug on his leg and he lifted the limb again. This time, with the thief guiding his movements, the transition from ground to steps was fairly easy. His second foot followed without issue. Backing down the stairs, Joe closed the bulkhead behind himself. When the door was sealed, a tiny flame appeared. Kaid was holding a small candle about the size of a tealight.
“There are no windows, but still I don’t want to make too much light. Here you take this. I’m going to head up and wake Mister Dellham. You follow but, for the love of Berghal, would you at least try and be quiet.”
“I was being quiet.”
Kaid made a soft snort before slipping into the shadows. Joe looked around the cellar and was grateful to see it was a working storage area, not a home for miscellaneous clutter, like most basements he had known. Neat shelves lined the walls. They were mostly empty since the harvest was still out in the fields. A few had glass jars, crates, or small barrels on them. The middle of the room was open and free of obstacles. Joe saw the stairs up that Kaid must have used and followed, carefully testing the steps for creaks.
When he reached the door, he found Konren waiting for him. The man nodded to Joe and took his shoulder in a firm hold before deliberately bending forward and blowing out the candle. Joe’s eyes found a hint of light from the embers in the fireplace as well as a mostly shuttered lantern in the large farmer’s hand. It took a minute for his eyes to adjust but thanks to Konren’s steadying grip, he made it to the room where Sarsa was lying in the bed. The door closed behind them, and the lantern was unshuttered some more. This brightened the room enough for Joe to see that a heavy blanket had been pinned over the window by a pair of daggers.
“All right healer. Do your thing,” Kaid said. “I’ll go get Rhiley so he can see I got you back here safely, even after all the trouble you’ve caused me. Back in a minute.”
As Kaid slipped out the door, Joe looked at Sarsa with his new aura sight. He could now see the infection. It looked like a black blot sitting in the middle of her hand. Joe focused on it and activated his [Dispel Rot] skill. Unlike [Healing Touch] this effect had a visual component: a burgundy glow started at his wrist bones and seemed to pour like liquid toward his fingertips. It then jumped to Sarsa's hand, a glimmering maroon cord seeping into her skin. Joe watched as the wine-colored radiance attacked the ebon clot, breaking it up and washing it away. Immediately, Joe had a feeling of rightness wash over him. He did not even notice he had been sensing the disease until it was so abruptly cured. He strengthened Sarsa with a [Healing Touch] and her eyes fluttered open, clear of the pain and haze that had been affecting them before.
“Kon? What happened?” she asked in a voice that was gaining strength. “Everything was so jumbled up.”
The farmer’s low-spoken reply was thick with emotion. “Do you remember Joe? He healed you.”
“I think so. A little. It seems like I met you a long time ago … ”
“Hello, Missus Dellham. Actually, we just met yesterday. You had a very nasty infection in your hand. It’s gone now.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed.
“Shhh, Sarri,” Konren hissed using what must be a pet name for his wife. “You have to whisper.”
“Sorry. I was excited we have a healer in Crowfield again. We have been without one ever since I was a little girl.” Looking from Joe to her husband, the woman had a confused expression. “Why are we whispering? We can wake the children. I want to see them and let them know I am better.”
“The whispering is my fault ma’am. I pissed off your local knight yesterday and I’d rather not spend tomorrow locked up for it. It was nothing terrible,” he added quickly after Sarsa's look grew even more questioning. “Just a misunderstanding and a bit too much familiarity on my part. Unfortunately, this means I cannot stay.”
“What a shame,” she sighed disappointedly. “You must let us at least repay you with something. Are you hungry?”
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“While yes, I really don’t have time. I would like to say goodbye to Rhiley though before I go.” A creak from the floorboards in the other room reached Joe’s ears. Having heard nothing from Kaid all evening, it was nice to hear not everyone moved in perfect silence. “I think that is them at the door.”
Konren closed the lantern down to the barest light again and cracked open the door to the bedroom. Nella, Rhiley, and the gnome joined them in the parent’s bedroom. It was not a large room, but it was crowded only for a moment. Seeing their mother sitting up looking healthy again, the two children immediately joined her in the bed. As they embraced, Konrens’s hand came down on Joe’s shoulder again. Joe felt the quiet farmer squeeze his shoulder, conveying a deep gratitude.
As Joe watched the scene on the bed he suddenly understood why his nurses and doctors chose to do the difficult and sometimes heartrending work they did. If the infection had taken Sarsa, this family would have been deeply wounded. Joe felt a bit of a lump in his throat as it sunk in. He had prevented that loss. Being a healer would not have been the path he normally would have chosen, but, in this moment, he was deeply grateful he had become one.
“I can’t thank you enough, young man. We’ll put together a bag for you for the road. I don’t really understand why the Golden Edict is after you, but after what you have done for us, I want to make sure you have what you need to get somewhere safe.”
“Is that why the guards came, Da?” Rhiley asked. “Are they after Joe?”
“I’m afraid so. Now, keep your voice down. We don’t want them to know he is here.”
“Why, Joe?” Rhiley sort of whispered. His youthful energy was only moderately muffled. “Why are they after you? What did you do?”
“I think it is less about something I did, and more about who I am. The One Above gave me something unusual when I came to Illuminaria. It’s something Sir Groven doesn’t like.”
“Ya also mouthed off to him. Pretty sure that is what closed yer casket,” Kaid added with a smirk.
“You’re going to help him? Right, Kaid?” Rhiley pleaded.
“Yeah, I’ll make sure he gets past the guards.”
“No, I mean you’ll see that Joe gets somewhere safe. Away from the Gold Knights. You can’t just leave him on the road. Not after everything he did for Ma and Buck.”
“Rhy, I’m no guardian type. I’m not a woodman type either. I don’t know how to do that kinda stuff,” Kaid stuttered for the first time looking a bit confounded. This was not the snarky little shyster Joe knew. He could see the thief truly cared what Rhiley thought of him. Stammering, the wastrel added. “I don’t … I can’t … It’s just not me.”
“You need to sneak past guards and run until you get somewhere safe. That is totally you! Just take Joe with you. Please, Kaid.”
The gnome’s cheeks flushed red, though Joe did not know if it was embarrassment or frustration. He dragged his hand down his face and sighed. “Gods damn it. Fine.” He turned to Joe. “You were so not worth those sixteen gold pieces.” He looked back to the earnest young man in the bed. “I will get him onto a stage or to a ship outta here. OK? Will that be good enough?”
“Thank you, buddy. I knew you were the best.” Rhiley untangled himself from his mother's embrace and practically tackled the frustrated scoundrel. Konren let go of Joe to grab the pair before they topple over onto the floor.
“You have my thanks as well, young man. Let me get some supplies for the two of you. Rhy, Nel, come help me.” Konren eased himself out of the room followed by his two children.
“Hey,” Joe spoke quietly to the little man beside him. Kaid pulled his eyes away from the doorway to look up at him. “Thanks, man,” Joe said with the utmost sincerity. “I know things have been a mess but you’re saving my life. Thank you.”
“Oh shut up,” Kaid said with a husky voice. “Just remember when we get out of here, I’m in charge. Got it.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
An awkward silence filled the room, which was thankfully broken when Sarsa pointed at Joe and patted the bed next to her.
“Tell me something about yourself, son,” the woman whispered. “I would know something about my savior,” she added with a smile and squeeze to Joe’s hand.
“Rhiley called me a newcomer. I am just that. I was not even part of your world when you cut your hand.”
“I’m sure your parents would be very proud of you. So many revere the champions of the battlefield but I think those who save lives are just as noble.”
“I think they would have been, ma’am. Unfortunately, it's just me. My parents passed several years ago. You know, if I had been a healer then, I probably could have saved them.”
Sarsa pulled his hand to her and placed her other hand on top. She tightened her grip, conveying an honest sympathy. Joe felt disconnected as he rolled that thought around in his head. He was pretty sure this was not the right time to work through the feelings that were trying to push their way out of the places Joe packed them into. The idea fought back. It was such a huge concept, Joe did not know how to file it away for later.
Thankfully Konren and the kids saved him. The farmer returned with a varnished wooden box about two feet long. Rhiley was dancing at his heels. Nella, who closed the door behind them, was carrying a large sack. The man lifted the box and gave Sarsa a pointed look. The woman returned a smiling nod. As Konren placed it on the bed, Nella gestured for Kaid to join her.
“Come here Kaid,” Sarsa said, reaching out and lifting the lid. “My uncle Clyd was a long-time adventurer. He left this with us after one of his travels. None of us have ever had much use for it. We would like you to have it now.” Inside the box was a fighting dagger. The blade was straight and two-edged. The metal of the blade was darker than steel and less reflective. In the pommel of the weapon was a faceted black gemstone. “He said the dagger can project a field of silence that follows the blade. While you already have skill in stealth, you may find it useful to shield Joe’s movements. Also, Clyd said it was helpful against spellcasters. He told us a few tales of him using it to break enemy incantations and prayers. Please take it with our gratitude.”
Kaid picked up the dagger, which in his hands made it seem more like a short sword. He spun it across his palm and rolled it over his knuckles. “Nice balance. Definitely made to be thrown. Never had a good spell-breaker before.”
While his companion was enthralled by the blade, Joe took the sack of provisions from Nella.
“You have enough in here for a couple of days,” she said. Dropping her voice to an even quieter murmur, she whispered, “I stashed in there a smaller bag. When he is not looking, stick it in your backpack. It has a tin of biscuits and a jar of blackberry jam. They are Kaid’s favorites. When you need to bribe the little pain in the rump, they will give you something to bargain with.”
Joe opened his eyes wide as the polite young girl echoed his feelings about the gnome. “Rhy and Kaid have been friends for years,” she huffed. “I’ve had to put up with him a lot longer than you have. We all know about Kaid. The one good thing about Kaid is if he gives his word, he sticks to it. He’ll get you someplace safe if he can.”
Before Joe realized what was happening, she wrapped her arms around his chest and hugged him tightly. “Thank you for saving my mom,” a tearful muffled voice uttered from the face pressed into his shirt. Joe did not know how to reply other than to give her a gentle hug back.
“Will you two get over your mush. We gotta go.” Kaid flicked the blade in a tight roll over his hand. “This should make slipping out of here much easier, especially with lead foot here. You got anything you gotta to do before we split, loser?”
Joe looked around trying to think of anything he might need when he spotted a notification waiting for him. Joe held up a finger to ask for a minute and opened the screen.
You have successfully completed [Septic Slice]
Do you wish to accept your quest rewards now?
Joe was afraid the ball of light would be too bright but when it appeared, he realized it did not actually light up the room at all. He could see it but it created no shadows or actual illumination. He willed [Coin Catcher] to loot the orb and a medallion appeared in his hand.
Item [Talisman of the Medic] (Rare - Soulbound) {Distance Pool: (Max/Current:) 400 ft / 400 ft - Max: 280ft.}: You will frequently find it necessary to dive through battle in order to heal a comrade or to get a patient to safety. This talisman will store up your movement and use it to make medium-range teleportation steps. The item will store 100 feet of movement per point of Vigor you possess. The item can be worn in any body slot. You can carry an ally with you but doing so will consume twice the amount of stored movement and half your maximum range.
Joe smiled. “Hey, Kaid? I think I can one up your dagger.”