Even though my eyes were crusty and aching and I was laying on the most comfortable bed I’d been in for who knows how long, I couldn’t sleep. My body was tense, and my mind played every possible scenario it could think of on a loop. Some of them were downright insane but that didn’t seem to factor into my brain's fear of the unknown.
Returning to Oliver’s Rest had not been as easy as I had thought it would be. Traveling the distance from Condamine Castle to the little fortress had taken twice as long this time. Even with me and Theo taking turns guiding the party we’d still run into three major battles with Crocs and one odd one against something called a Shard Echidna.
Have you ever seen an echidna? They’re normally small and cute with a back full of spikes that made them waddle wherever they go. This one was different. It was the same size, but its spikes were made of green fiery gemstones and shot off its back in hundreds of tiny projectiles. My magic resistance had come in handy when my backside was peppered by the things. I lifted my rump off the mattress to rub at the affected area. Sob had healed me but for whatever reason, it still felt a little tender.
I rolled over, facing the wall now instead of the heavy wooden door across the room. When we’d walked through the gates of Oliver’s Rest it had been to a thunderous uproar. The people were glad to see their Champion home, and because he was so loved, his many companions were as well. I’m not sure how I felt about being lumped in as a simple follower of the mighty Theo Thundershield, but it had gotten me a bed in the Main Hall instead of the bunkhouse of the Goshawks.
Muttering to myself I sat up and flipped my pillow to the cool side, giving it a few hard punches to loosen up whatever was stuffed inside it. I dropped my head back down and rolled to face the ceiling, my hand resting on my stomach. There was a plank of wood above me whose marking formed a face with an outrageously big nose.
Theo had asked us all to bide our time until he could summon us. He needed to report to the Elders and continue his charade of being one of them or our whole mission of getting to Nigel the Sentinel would be for nothing. Theo had warned us that the Elders were especially talented at making people simply disappear. I didn’t doubt that for a second. I just wasn’t sure I believed that Theo wouldn’t do the exact same thing. Nora seemed to trust him, something I found odd considering she’d confided in me that she was just using him not that long ago. I tried to ask her what had changed but she had vehemently remained silent on the matter.
Jacob had been waiting for all of us when we walked through the gates. He hadn’t rushed to meet us as all the others had. Instead, he stood stiffly a short distance away, a glower painting his young face as he folded his arms across his chest. He had been furious about being left behind. Even buying him a beer hadn’t quite soothed his rage. He would come around though. He had to.
It felt weird to say it, even in my head, but we were family. Miranda, Sob, Jacob, Nora, Stella, Frank, and me. Sure, we were unconventional and sometimes downright unstable, but we were family, nonetheless.
I wouldn’t mind adding Gabby to that list. She had proved herself one hell of a fighter on our way back to Oliver’s Rest. I had thought she favored daggers given her belt was lined with the things but where she really excelled, was with her bow. She never missed a single shot, unlike me who was very much hit or miss.
The only one I refused to add to my family was Theo. I would accept his help. Hell, I’d even be civil with the man. But I would never trust him. And without trust, there was no family. I don’t care if you’re bonded by blood, I of all people knew that meant shit all in the grand scheme of things. Maybe one day, he would change my mind like he had Nora’s, but until that day, I would be careful.
The fog of sleep finally began to flow over me right as the dull grey light of predawn began to brighten my small window. My eyelids fluttered closed, but I still managed to see the large black shadow as it flashed into my room.
I yanked my blades as I jumped up, my body coursing with pent-up energy as I faced the darkened blob. I could Shadow Rush anywhere, the whole world was one big shadow right now. The power of it welled inside me plastering a smile on my face as I stared down my newest enemy.
“My, my, not a morning person I see.”
The tips of my blades dropped as my smile was replaced by a scowl. “What are you doing here Kendrick?”
Something soft and fluffy brushed through my legs. I yelped and looked down, only just spotting Kendrick’s little fox friend in the gloom of my room. I used my new Identify skill on the small thing, it had already become a habit for me to do just that.
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Sasye – Level ??? Crimson Fox.
I frowned. That had never happened before. Even with the level forty-five Combustion Croc, we’d had the displeasure of fighting only the day before. I turned my eyes to Kendrick, no longer sure what to expect.
Kendrick Nox – Level ??? Class Unknown
What the hell? Nowhere in the description did it say it couldn’t Identify everything. Oh, wait. It kind of did. Did that mean both the fox and Kendrick were such an outrageous level above my own that I couldn’t see more without leveling up and tossing a bunch of points into my Perception ability? Even the fox, seriously?
I muttered curses to myself as I sheathed my blades. It had been amazing being able to see so much information with little more than a thought. Trust Kendrick to spoil it for me in less than a week.
“Are you done?” Kendrick asked impatiently.
I blinked, realizing I must have looked like a complete idiot just standing here quietly staring at the man and his fox pet.
“You never answered my question,” I said. “What are you doing here?”
Kendrick jumped onto my bed and folded his legs. Sasye curled up in his lap as she seemed to like to do. “I thought you might like your reward. I can always just fuck off if that’s what you’d prefer?”
I smacked my aching forehead. After escaping Castle Condamine, it felt like the quest was done but it wasn’t.
“What do I need to do?”
Kendrick smiled. I couldn’t see it in the murk, but I could hear it in his voice when he said, “firstly, you need to tell me everything that happened. Then, you’ll get your reward.”
I did just that, starting from the moment Miranda and I had arrived in the forest outside the castle city. He listened intently the whole time. As I spoke the sky outside my window brightened until the sky was painted in the brilliant hues of sunrise. From what I had been able to see, Kendrick’s face had remained passive the entire time. There was only one moment when his brows dropped, and something sparked deep in his eyes.
“A willie wagtail? You’re sure that’s what it was?” he asked me.
I frowned, remembering the scared little bird that had clutched onto me during the Count’s tornado attack. “Of course. I’ve seen enough of them in my lifetime, I’m pretty sure I can tell when I’m holding one in my hands.”
Kendrick let out a string of curses that would make even a sailor blush before his face returned to the deadpan stare it had been before. “Go on.”
I finished the story, still desperate to know why he’d been so animated over a little songbird.
I tried to ask what it had been about but all he said was, “you’ve earned your reward Pickpocket. Even if it was not quite the way I would have gone about it myself. Stand up and hold out your hand.”
I stood from my seat on the bed and did as he said. He rose along with me and reached out, shaking my hand with too much vigor. A sharp spark pricked my skin, but I didn’t pull away. A bright notification flashed up in front of my face. I slowly read all it had to offer, my smile growing with each line.
Quest Complete: Ill-gotten Crown of Reverence
Reward: 15,000exp points, 7,000 gold, 1 x Master Reward Coupon
Level 11!
Level 12!
Shadow Walker Rank Increased: Footpad
Shadow Walker Rank Increased: Jackroller
“Keep an eye out for my messengers, Jackroller,” Kendrick said. “You will not believe the things I have planned for you.”
With that he vaulted out the window, his little fox following close on his heels. Just once I’d like to see the man use the door like a normal person.
It was hard to focus on Kendrick’s strange flairs when I was still basking in the glow of level-ups. Kendrick had promised me long ago that the rewards would be great if I succeeded, and he had been right. Two entire levels, two full ranks in the guild, and enough gold to fill a bucket. I was so damn happy I just about did a jig right there on the cold wooden floor of my new room.
A knock at the door broke my revelry. “Joe, it’s time for breakfast. You’re not still sleeping, are you?”
I beamed and rushed to the door, ripping it open and grabbing Nora, spinning her around as I continued my miniature party. “It’s too fine a day for sleeping.”
She steadied herself, her cheeks flushed red by my sudden burst of energy. “Yes… argh… day.”
“Come on,” I bellowed, marching down the hall. “Let’s get us some grub!”
“Joe, wait,” she called her armor clanging as she rushed to catch up to me. “Theo has set out a meal for us in his private chambers.”
I stopped marching. All the excitement rushed out of me like air from a balloon. I turned to her; my body taut with readiness. “It’s time?”
She gave a stiff nod. “It’s time.”
No, it couldn’t be. It was too soon. Something was wrong.