By the time I’d finished with the notifications the Water Elemental was already long gone, and I didn’t even get a chance to ask what the deal with that was. Shrugging, I picked up my stuff and set off back to Woodhaven, putting on my cloak as I went.
Whatever, I’ll just ask Render when I get back. They’re probably up already, right?
Whilst I ran I tried to actually figure out what the deal could’ve been on my own, just because I was pretty confused about the whole thing. With the way I wronged it, I kind of thought that it would either run away or attack me on sight, so getting a Blessing wasn’t something that had even crossed my mind.
It gave me it after I explained what happened to the Necromancer, so maybe it was a kind of reward for redeeming myself? I hope it’s that, and not that the Blessing has some kind of side effect.
Subconsciously, my back straightened and a small grind crept onto my face. If I was actually right about that then I had actually managed to make up for that incident, hadn’t I? It felt pretty good, although my mood was slightly soured when I thought of the fact that if I could have killed it painlessly then I would have. And then I would’ve never found out about its reasoning, I would’ve just assumed that it was some weird monster and moved on.
But those kinds of thoughts brought up some uncomfortable questions about who or what I would be willing to kill, and for how much money, that I was quite frankly unwilling to even think about right at that moment. Instead I tried to focus on my movements, just to see if I could figure out some way to improve them.
Although I didn’t manage that before one particular answer manifested in my mind. Just one person that, maybe, I would have no qualms about killing.
The Mage Killer
----------------------------------------
By the time I arrived back to my sleeping shack the sun was already beginning to arrive at the height of its curve, although I didn’t actually know when I woke up so it could have been there before I left as well.
To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure why I decided to go back here of all places, since I wanted to find Render and ask about that Blessing, but it was pretty lucky that I did.
For some reason there was a person dressed in well made, if a little too grey for my tastes, Servant’s attire. They stood in front of my door with their hands held primly behind their back, only raising them every few seconds in order to knock on the door.
“Um, hey. Can I help you with anything?” I asked and the person, a man if I were to guess, turned around without betraying even a small amount of shock.
“This one is here on behalf of his Lordship Finnud Ironhold, if you would follow me then I shall bring you to his carriage.” Is this about the Necromancer then? Actually, this is pretty convenient, I bet Render will be there too.
“Alright then, I guess. Lead the way.” Although it’s a little odd that Lord Ironhold came personally, last time we met he wasn’t even willing to leave his throne room.
A sneer came across the Servant’s face but they led the way regardless, “Very well, although it would perhaps do you well to act with a smidge more decorum when we arrive. The Lord is a busy man yet he has taken the time to grace you with his presence, to be rude is an insult of the highest order.” Was I being rude? I don’t think so, but maybe they’re warning me just in case.
“Alright, thanks for the warning. I’ll try to be polite.” The Servant refrained from making any further comments, instead choosing to quickly walk in a strange loop around the village, never coming close enough to see any villagers for the entire journey.
Ok, just what is going on here? Something about this situation is a little off…
Regardless, I didn’t get the sense that this Servant was particularly dangerous, so I simply followed him silently and took the time as another opportunity to look through the trees.
Man, I should really go for walks like this more often. Maybe on my next Job I’ll take a few hours on the way back to just walk normally, that’d be nice.
This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Nearly ten minutes later we arrived at an elaborate carriage, it was made from some purple-reddish wood and had (obviously) iron accents along the edges of the doors, windows and corners. The creature pulling it looked almost like a horse, which I’d seen whilst on the road a couple times, but had a few slight differences that made it clear that it was a distinct creature. Most notably was its near pitch black colouring, and the sharp spines that replaced its mane.
“It’s a Dark Stalker, quite difficult creatures to tame these ones but my people managed it quite nicely. An impressive beast, don’t you think?” Apparently at some point during my observations the Lord himself had opened the carriage door so as to more easily speak to me. Though he didn’t leave his seat by the right window for some reason.
“M-my Lord!” The Servant scrambled into a bow, prostrating himself in the dirt, but I remained standing. I guess this can’t be some sort of trick then, if the Lord is actually here. But why did he go through the trouble? This is pretty odd, isn’t it?
“Huh? Oh yeah, I’ve never seen one before. Is it rare?” A grin appeared on the Lord’s face, but he didn’t answer my question.
“Well, are you going to get in? We’ve a lot of ground to cover if we’re to reach Ironhold by dusk, you know.”
“Is Render here as well?” A look of confusion crossed his face for a moment, but they quickly covered it up and explained.
“No, he will be joining us in the city. Come then, get in. Archibald, would you get the Stalker moving?” Before I’d even taken a single step, the Servant (Archibald, it’s probably polite to use his actual name) had already rushed out a “Yes, my Lord” and all but jumped into the driver’s seat. Not wanting to hold us up, I hopped into the carriage and took a seat by the left window, feeling a strange sense of familiarity as I did so. As though I’d done this before, or maybe dreamt about it.
Weird, I don’t think I’ve ever ridden a carriage before.
I looked towards Lord Ironhold and watched as his grin widened further, but that unnerved me more than I cared to admit so I hurriedly looked back through the window. The carriage lurched into motion, the gentling clipping and clipping of the Stalker’s strangely horse-like hooves on the dirt filling the air.
The leaves and branches reached uncomfortably close to my face and I realised that we weren’t even on a road, but rather riding through untamed wilderness. It was a small miracle that the carriage was even able to move at all.
“So, Robert, you’ve been busy haven’t you?” I glanced over at the Lord but that grin was still there in full force, so I turned my head towards the wood in front of me.
“Yeah, I guess so. Running into that Necromancer was a coincidence though, and I feel like Render did more work than me. Why aren’t they riding with us, by the way?”
After a moment of silence, Lord Ironhold spoke, “Their armour was too heavy for the Dark Stalker to pull, we probably would have had to leave poor Archibald behind if we wanted to bring him! Now wouldn’t that be a shame?” Something about their voice seemed a little off, they were obviously making a joke but it almost felt like they were the only one that knew the punchline.
“Haha, yeah. I guess they can make their way there on their own easily enough then.” From there, we lapsed into an uncomfortable silence, one that the Lord seemed all too willing to maintain. I tried to do the same, but it was just too awkward and the urge to say something grew too strong to hold back.
“So uh, do you know anything about Blessings?” He tilted his head curiously but didn’t make a move to speak, “There was this Water Elemental that I was hired to get rid of, apparently by the Necromancer herself, so I did that. I went back to that river and saw them again, and they gave me a Blessing when I told them that I’d taken care of her. It gave me a stat point, but I was wondering if it could have done anything else at all.” Ok, why did I need to over explain like that? Do I just talk this much when I’m nervous or something? I can’t remember the last time I was in a situation even remotely as awkward as this.
“Hmm, how curious. It seems like this Elemental didn’t like the Undeath Affinity of a Necromancer, so it would make sense for it to be grateful if you got rid of them. You truly must be favoured by the Gods to receive such luck.” His grin faded, and he took on a thoughtful expression, making me wonder if perhaps there was something wrong with having a Blessing.
Also, favoured by the Gods? If that was true then… then why would Kaelan be killed? He was probably the best friend I’ve ever had, even though we didn’t even know each other for that long. Damn it, I didn’t want to think about this. Damn it.
“My apologies Robert, did I say something to upset you?” I was confused for a moment, since I was certain that I hadn’t spoken out loud, until I realised that there were tears threatening to fall from my eyes.
I wiped them away with the hem of my cloak and said, “No it’s fine, I’m fine. Just a little dust or something. No big deal.”
Without looking directly at him it was difficult to tell for sure, but I got the feeling that he wasn’t being entirely sincere with his next words, “Very well, but if you wish to confide in me then you may do so. I have heard of your recent loss, it is truly tragic that you lost a friend in such a manner.”
“Well I’m fine now, that was ages ago so it’s not even a big deal.”
Suddenly, the carriage jerked to a stop and the Dark Stalker out front made some kind of odd hissing sound.
“My Lord! There is a log blocking the road! There may be bandits afoot!” At Archibald’s words, something from Battle Meditation kicked in and I felt an overwhelming anxiety, like something was sure to attack any moment.
“I think he’s right, I can feel something from one of my Skills. They must be dangerous.”
“Yes, they must. Very well, let us go out and face them like men. If we are to be robbed we shall do it with dignity.” At that, he stepped out of the carriage and walked to the front, where I soon joined him.
Archibald rushed down from the carriage and stood by his Lord’s side, frantically looking into the forest for our assailants. But whilst he looked outward I looked inward, trying to figure out the direction of this danger that I was feeling. I was able to make some progress, and could narrow it down to just one half of my surroundings, so I walked in a careful circle around the Lord in the hopes of at least discovering the angle of attack.
“Something’s strange. My Skill keeps saying that the bandits are behind me no matter where I move. Do you think they could have a Skill that interferes with mine?”
Lord Ironhold began to chuckle at my words, prompting me to look at him, and his laughter only grew when he saw the confusion on my face. When Archibald asked if something was wrong, his laughter only grew further.
Until, suddenly, it stopped and he pointed at somewhere in the forest, “Quickly Robert! Over there!” They’re attacking? But I can’t sense them?
I spun around to face the enemy, only to find that the treeline was just as empty as the last time I checked.
“I don’t see-” Something squelched behind me, and then thudded against the ground. What was that?