I perched on the edge of the rooftop like an alert falcon surveying its territory. Directly in front of me was the wall separating this region from the mysterious Upper Heights. I don’t know why but I was dying to get in there and see what they were hiding. The twisted spire teased me with its glowing dominance over the landscape. The thing soared higher than even the cathedral. Behind the spire on a distant rise the castle rose higher but it was gloomy and insignificant in the darkness of the night. I would get to the castle eventually but for now, the spire was what held me captivated.
There hadn’t been something like this in the merchant zone and that made me even more curious about its purpose here.
I spun in my crouch and took a hold of the drainage pipe, scurrying down like the shadow monkey I was slowly becoming. My feet hit the ground and I whipped around, grabbing a hold of Miranda’s shoulder to draw her attention.
She turned, her eyes bulging as she opened her mouth to scream. I clamped my palm over her mouth to mute the sound, aggressively pressing a finger from my free hand against my lips.
“It’s just me,” I whispered. “Don’t be scared.”
Miranda’s face was deathly pale and her whole body was shaking. I frowned, looking around for something that could have scared her this badly. Aside from the two of us and Stella, the little shadowy corner by the wall was empty and silent.
“Why… why are dressed like that?” she cried when I finally released her.
I frowned and looked down at myself. I’d forgotten I was still wearing the black robe of the cultists. “I’m sorry, I lost my beggar blanket.”
She swallowed and looked away from me. I ducked down to grab the hem ready to rip the thing off but she stopped me. “Keep it on. We didn’t come this far for you to be caught now.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You said that already. What’s your plan for breaking into the Upper Heights?”
“Have you seen anything that might help us?”
“Not really. Anyone who comes this way is let right in by the guards. There’s been a lot of fancy people I assume are nobles and a lot of people dressed like… you.”
Excitement bubbled up inside me. “That’s how we get in. We look like them.”
If looks could kill the one Miranda tossed me would have seen me six feet under already. “If you’re going to play it that way, Joe, you’re on your own.”
I opened my mouth to answer but was cut off by Miranda’s enormous yawn. So much energy was coursing through me I’d forgotten that we’d been awake for such a long time. I looked up at the enticing tower one last time. Whatever lay inside would have to wait. I couldn’t move forward if Miranda was dead on her feet.
I glanced around the little hidden crack we were in. Nothing in it screamed comfort or safety. I sighed and rubbed at an aching temple.
“What do you think the chances are that there is another goblin-run inn around here somewhere?”
Miranda sighed. “Somehow, I don’t think so.”
“Why not? There was one in Stanthorpe of all places, why not here?”
“I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen a single goblin roaming the streets. This whole place is at odds with the rest of the world. There hasn’t been a single monster that isn’t human here either. In Stanthorpe, a dark corner like this one would be crawling with snakes or Crocs.”
“Way to be a Debbie Downer.”
“I’m being realistic. Maybe you should try it sometime.”
Stella whined at our harsh tones and pushed her way in between us. I sighed, crouching to ruffle her fur.
“Come on, there are people out there looking for me. Let’s get somewhere safe.”
“There is no such thing as safe here.”
Miranda moved to take a step but paused as her face fell slack and her eyes turned a frightening milky white. I froze along with her, waiting in silence for her vision stupor to clear. Stella started growling. I turned my eyes away from Miranda to find a pair of cultists standing at the exit to our hidey-hole.
“Well, well, well, look what we have here Zeke. Think this is the guy the High Priest is after?”
“I’d bet my life on it.”
The men were dressed like I was in black robes. One was missing an eye and the other an ear. Both of them had wicked smiles on their bearded faces as they stared at us with disturbingly predatory eyes.
The one named Zeke stepped forward drawing a pair of daggers from his robe. He twirled them and started running at me. I leaped in front of Miranda who still stood frozen and drew my swords. Zeke faulted for a second at the sight of them.
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I jumped forward, meeting his strike with one of my own. The clang of steel striking steel echoed around us. I broke the stalemate and sliced at the fireball Zeke’s friend had thrown at me. My blade sliced through the flames. They crackled and disappeared right before they struck Miranda.
The sting of metal biting deep into my side made me roar. I stumbled back.
“Say goodbye, sneak thief,” Zeke said.
Stella charged, her whole body glowing golden. Zeke fumbled and shrieked as the dog’s teeth tore into his throat. I dodged around the tangled mess of man and dog Shadow Rushing behind the mage and hitting him with a backstab. The mage dropped to his knees. I ripped out a blade and drew it across his throat, kicking him to the ground as I yanked my blades free of his corpse.
Panting and sweating I looked over at Miranda, the tightness around my chest loosening as I saw she was alright. Her eyes were still the same milky white. Whatever this vision was, it must be far more intense than the last one I’d seen her have.
Stella stood guard beside the frozen woman I knelt and looted everything the pair of cultists had. When I rose, I tapped the tattoo on my wrist and looked over my inventory.
2 x Silver Short Sword of Thieving
47 x Fungal Arrow
Croc skin boots
98 x Lockpick
Canteen
Leather gloves of thieving
Bluedart Brew
Walnut Horsebow of Stunning
163 x iron arrows
41 x Croc Tooth
Amulet of Melumek’s Curse
1 x Sleeping Draft
Leather armor
Leather breeches
Sketching parchment
3 x Charcoal sketching stick
Sealed Scroll
bum bag
Spiked Coyote Vest of Warding
3 x Fellowship of Fayum Black Robe
2 x Daggers of Bleeding
4 x Lavender Sprig
Ring of Fayum Calling
2 x Leather Boots
I was quite proud of my little collection, but one thing did make me frown. When I met with Kendrick in the stables, I thought he had taken everything I’d stolen during my Oliver’s Rest rampage. I was wrong. The sealed scroll. That little gem had come from Theo’s pockets.
I dug the scroll out. Miranda was still frozen. I looked around, weary of my danger but the coast seemed clear for now. I cracked the red wax seal on the scroll and unfurled it.
Theo, the Elders have concerns. Nigel refuses to answer our questions. We need something stronger to make him talk. The cultists in the caverns are beginning to realize we are not who we pretend to be. They are growing more aggressive by the day and we might not be able to keep them at bay for much longer.
Count Banksia is having a masked ball on the night after the full moon. We are sending you to attend. He is a powerful ally. See if he can make the old Sentinel talk.
Leon.
The scroll flared and vanished from my hands as I read the last word. It was a good thing; my hands were shaking so badly I wouldn’t have been able to keep a hold of the thing properly. I knew there was something off about that bastard. No, not just him, all of Oliver’s Rest. The place was a writhing cesspit of humanoid monsters.
I curled my hands into fists, not caring that my nails dug into my palms. Theo was here. He would be at the ball. This quest just got a whole lot harder.
“Joe?”
I yelped as I was torn from my thoughts. “Miranda, are you alright?”
“Yes,” she said, an enormous smile on her face. “I have good news.”
“Don’t hold back, lay it on me.”
She took my hand and dragged me over to the base of the spire. I stiffened as we stood in the wide-open street in full view for anyone to see. The guards eyed us for a second but decided we weren’t worth their time. Miranda held out her hand and instead of touching the door, she touched a large section of white stone.
I stared in shock as her hand passed straight through the solid brick. Miranda turned her head and smiled at me before diving through the wall. I grabbed Stella and followed. A powerful force pressed on me as we passed through the thing. The air squeezed from my lungs and my ears popped painfully. A sound like a gong rang out as we reached the other side.
I thought we’d be standing in a large round room but instead, we were standing in a cramped rounded stairway. The steps beneath our feet were crusted with filth. Sheets of cobwebs hung from the ceiling, tickling me in the worst possible way.
“Where are we?” I asked, flinching as my voice echoed back at me.
Miranda was dancing from foot to foot. “This is the old servant’s stairway. It climbs to the top of this place. There is a gate there, one that will take us straight to the castle.”
“You’re kidding,” I said. “Who showed you this?”
Miranda's joy disappeared as she gestured behind me. “She did.”
I turned and yelped, jumping away from the scattered bones on the floor. A jewel-encrusted dagger was stuck between the ribs of the dead woman.