- 53 -

Vivian had on a light fabric shoulder wrap over her uniform. The mornings had been cold. But her stare was colder.

“I saw you working with Damien, I didn’t think that nice old man would pull something like this. He’s going to get an earful from me next time I see him.” Vivian said with a glare.

Oh man, she’s really gearing up to tear someone’s head off. Which she has done once if the rumors were to believed.

“Please, it’s not his fault.” Drew said.

“Don’t start making excuses for him…wait what? Did you talk?!” Vivian shrieked.

She quieted down and looked around, but nobody else noticed the conversation.

“Yes, Vivian. Let’s grab a table.” Drew said.

Drew flew over to a table with two chairs near the back of the dining hall. Far enough away from the stairs to the sleeping quarters that they wouldn’t be in earshot of the adventurers waking up.

That was a really great reaction. If I can keep my ability to speak a secret then I can keep surprising everyone. The kids would likely lose their minds.

Vivian ran her hand across her face and stifled a frustrated scream. Then she straitened up and set her face right. She looked at her desk, then confidently strode over to join Drew at the table.

“I swear, if this is another trick to avoid paying dews and taxes you will regret it.” Vivian said.

“Sounds fair. My name is Drew, I would like to form a party with you Vivian.” Drew said.

Vivian looked the prompt over 3 times before selecting No.

“Why didn’t you accept?” Drew asked. “I am a smart crow, I can talk-”

Drew was interrupted as an adventurer came stumbling down the stairs and looked their way without seeing them, then he headed over to the bar.

“I know a healing spell, and I’m learning combat enchantments from Damien.” Drew continued in a whisper until Vivian shushed him.

“Okay what ever this is.” Vivian made a circular gesture with her hands encompassing Drew and everything he just said. “I don’t need to party up with you. You want a real test? Then we get you a guild membership card. Meet me at my desk.”

She got up and swept her arm towards her desk in an “after you” gesture. Drew flew over to her desk a little too quickly.

Oh yes! This is going to be great, I’ll get a guild status card and can get guild access and benefits. I’ll get to earn credit with the guild and use their training facilities. I could buy food!

Vivian pulled out a short sturdy knife and stepped in close grabbing Drew by the neck.

“I don’t know what you are. But if you are some kind of shape shifting demon, or if you are, I don’t know, casting an illusion on yourself. Then we will find out what your insides look like.” Vivian’s eyes were stone cold.

Vivian reached into a drawer on her desk with one hand, the hand holding the knife to Drew’s belly didn’t waver.

She produced an orb, perfectly cloudy and white. Like it was filled with milk. It didn't reflect light like one would expect, but seemed brighter inside than the reflection would have been.

She set it in an ornate metal tripod on her desk and pulled out a plain wooden slat used to make rookie guild member cards.

“Touch the orb. It is going to pull mana from you and appraise your character sheet. You do have more than one mana, right?” Vivian asked.

Drew visibly gulped.

I have not taken her very seriously. When she sees my Light Armor skill from the stolen Grimoire she may kill me anyways. And she’s going to see my name, and all my blessings and my Hero title.

“Well? Hop to it Drew, if that is your real name.”

Drew placed his claw onto the orb. It was cool to the touch. The glass was impossibly thin and delicate.

MP: 94%

The orb whirred into action. White smoky tendrils reached out and touched Drew all over, passing through him with only a sleight tug. After 20 seconds they retracted and started burning his details into the guild card.

[Guild Card]

Name: Drew

Lvl 8 Skurr Juvenile

Guild Rank: N/A

Guild credit: 0

Top skills: Flying, Gliding, Enchanting, Mana Recovery, Speak Common.

Vivian leaned around Drew and applied pressure with her knife to back him away from the guild card.

“Alright enough gawking, let’s see what we have here. What the heck is this?” She tightened her grip on the knife.

“See it’s my name. Drew.” He replied.

“Is that the kind of names Gallows Birds usually have? Aren’t they usually something like Sconekiller, or Fleetbeak?” Vivian demanded.

The guild clerk was getting increasingly upset.

“It’s my name. I was born with it.” Drew said.

How much can I tell her? If I claim I've got my memories from my past life, let alone from a completely different planet, would she believe me?

“Vivian! What’s going on?” guild master Roderick asked suddenly. "I can hear you raving out here from the back."

“Guild master! This is the Gallow Bird that I have been talking about. He’s been stealing quests and completing them. Three or four already. I’ve been investigating to find out who’s familiar he is but today I find out that he is a named Skurr, and can talk.”

Vivian spoke quickly and grew more exasperated as she went.

“You are telling me this young Skurr has completed more quests than half the adventurers here have in 2 weeks? Is that his guild card?” Roderick said.

She switched the knife to her other hand and passed Drew’s guild card over to guild master Roderick.

“Hmmm, oh I see. Drew is it? Did you attend the rank 1 guild training? Yes that was you. You have Mana Recovery and you’ve leveled it a few times.” The guild master said. “And you can speak?”

“I can.” Drew said and looked behind himself at Vivian. “Could we put away the knife?”

“Certainly, Vivian. Enough with the knife. He’s no common monster with a card like this. But what are you Drew?” The guild master asked.

“I have been wondering that too. The Skurr aren’t sure what to do about me.” Drew shrugged.

Another adventurer wandered down the stairs to breakfast and Vivian took a step back. She looked over to the guild master.

“Well, he is novel monster. I bet he would sell for a small bag of gold.” The guild master said as he reached into a pouch on his belt and threw some powder into Drew’s face.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Wait what?

Debuff: [Sleep] (30:00)

- 54 -

Drew could vaguely hear a hushed conversation.

Ughh, my head. How much did I drink last night?

He tried to climb to his feet but he had no hands, only feathers for hands so he stumbled. It all came back to him slowly.

Oh right, I’m a crow. A wannabe adventurer. Some hero I turned out to be.

Drew tried hopping groggily to his feet. But failed to stand again.

What happened to me? Am I poisoned?

Drew checked his logs.

Debuff: [Sleep] Resolved

New Debuff: [Captured] - All activated skills are locked while caged, collared, or shackled. Physical Stats limited to 1.

Oh no. I’m in a wooden cage. Like a crate, woven with some kind of flexible wood fibers.

He tried to pry at it with his beak but it wouldn’t even splinter.

“That’s hardly the issue here guild master, the price for the Skurr, if that is truly what he is, no? It is simply too high a price without an appraisal.”

Is this for real? My stats are set to one so I cannot even stand? And I can barely hear a conversation 5 meters away.

Drew could see the guild master speaking with a scrawny man.

He’s likely a human but unusually tall. At least I cannot see any pointy ears.

The man was loosely dressed, with a fine quality vest under a large coat that fell past his knees and a wide brimmed hat. The man had seen rough weather and his clothes had been well cared for.

Nope. I don’t like his shrewd smile. It’s fake.

“We have this guild card. It shows that he is a Skurr and unusual enough to merit the price or more. You are a merchant, if you want to have the monster appraised by an expensive expert after you buy him then that’s your business.”

He’s a merchant? He can’t sell me, he doesn’t own me!

“I’m satisfied that he’s worth 10 gold. I won’t pay a copper to appraise him.” Guild Master Roderic said. “I’ll throw in the cage for free.”

“You drive a hard bargain my friend. You have done good business with me in the past yes? I will honor your price for the sake of friendship. In three months time, when I come this way again, a good friend would have cords of Ironwood stacked as tall as a house. For that I would be happy to pay 100 gold yes?” The merchant said with a smile.

“Then we have a deal. Always good doing business with you sir.” The guild master said behind a fake smile of his own.

They separated and the merchant starting loading things from a pile into his cart outside.

The guild master watched without offering to help.

“Hey Jerk!” Drew shouted.

The guild master ignored him.

"Hey you! Shorty!"

“Hey ugly!”

The guild master scowled and stomped over to Drew’s cage.

“Shut up.” He growled.

“Why sell me off?” Drew said.

He grimaced and turned to walk away.

“I can do quests.”

He can’t do this!

“I am an adventurer." Drew croaked out.

HP: 95%

Drew’s throat locked up from all the yelling.

The guild master turned on his heel to face Drew.

"You are a Gallow Bird, a Skurr. You aren't a person. Whatever trick this is that lets you speak is just that, a trick.”

The guild master stabbed his finger into the cage to emphasize his point.

“Half the children this season aren’t worth our resources either, but that is the price we pay, giving back to the community to level them up and then let them go off and become farmers.”

He straightened up and ran a hand through his beard.

“You can’t sell me.” Drew said.

“It’s nothing personal. You simply aren't worth my guild's resources or time." The guild master said.

"That's it?" Drew asked.

“Indeed it is.” He replied them strode away.

The merchant finished loading up his cart and checked his harness.

How does he plan to move it without some kind of beast to pull it?

The merchant came back for Drew’s cage and dropped a bag of coins into the guild master's hand without a word.

Drew stared daggers at the guild master as he was carried away in a cage.

“Alright my little friend. Climb aboard, you are my special guest eh? Anything you could want please ask.” The merchant said with a smile.

“Freedom.” Drew said.

The merchant laughed and tossed a small bit of food into the cage.

“See we are getting along nicely! How about a free biscuit for the smart bird.”

Once he lets his guard down I’m breaking out of here.

The Merchant quickly slipped a thin dagger into the cage. Drew was able to avoid the tip by pressing himself all the way to the back of the cage.

"I don’t like that look in your eye. Don't be getting any smart ideas yes? The city guards will attack a demon on sight." The merchant said.

His cheerful tone did not drop for a moment.

"I paid good money for you eh? I don't want to waste coin patching up my investment."

He slowly withdrew his dagger from the cage and Drew realized he was holding his breath.

Okay, maybe once he's asleep I'll turn the tables on him. See how he likes a knife in his ribs...

Drew sat and picked at the biscuit, it was stale and musty.

The merchant stepped to the front of his cart and grabbed hold of the two poles and the harness. He hoisted it up and onto his own shoulders. It hung low enough for the poles to rest comfortably in his hands. He started pulling the cart and set a brisk pace.

He is stronger than he looks. I need to stop underestimating people. First it was Skyclaw, and then Vivian and the guild master.

From his place of honor on the front bench of the cart, Drew could see countless crates covered in canvas, and an assortment of bags and bundles tied up tightly.

There were several empty cages like his own and a few thin wooden cases made of fine wood, carved and inlaid with intricate designs. About the size of briefcases.

Within the hour the merchant had wound his way through the city until he hit the main road leading out the west gate.

Drew tried opening the lock with his beak and claws but the mechanism was too sturdy and complex for him to manipulate.

No sign of any Skurr to come to my rescue. Maybe I can spot Damien or the kids and they can spring me out?

The merchant joined a line of carts leaving town. He greeted a few other merchants and a couple guards as they all moved forwards slowly.

“So, I hear you are smart yes? Do you play Cabal?” The merchant asked. “We seem to have come into a fair bit of time.”

Drew stared at him silently.

The line of carts had come to a complete stop and the guards were inspecting a merchant’s cart, pulling out bundles and boxes and cluttering up the street. There were 15 carts and twice as many people with pack animals between their cart and the gate.

The merchant pulled out a canvas play mat and a deck of cards. He proceeded to set up a representation of a city, and dealt two hands of 11 cards. The cards ranged from criminal businesses like gambling houses, money laundering fronts, safe houses, and market stalls, to character cards like thugs, pickpockets, con men, cut throats, sub bosses, and bosses.

“You try to take over the city by placing businesses on the mat, and each business gets you coin each turn. You use the coin to build your crew, you see. Or buy new businesses. You can attack your opponents businesses and destroy them or capture them but you will lose some of your crew in the scuffle. Or flat out buy them off. There’s a few other things to know but that’s enough to get you started.” He smiled. “I play both hands for now and then you can start playing along once you get the idea eh?”

The man started to deal out cards and played a couple turns showing Drew both sets of hands and he picked up things quickly.

“You see the general game yes? My crew can take the market stall here from you and your crew is away defending your other property. Not good for you eh? The game will end quickly for you.”

“New round.” Drew said. “I will win.”

Maybe if I win he will realize I’m not a pet and let me out.

They played three more games before the cart arrived at the gate. Drew lost each game.

It’s hard to play when your opponent is literally holding all the cards.

“Let me out.” Drew said. “Win the next game.”

“Oh ho! I think not. I have seen the way you play now. This game tells you much about your opponents. Everyone will tell you Maurice can tell a tricky one with my eyes covered.” Maurice the merchant said.

“Hail. Maurice you strange bastard. You are up next, quit talking to yourself and move your cart forwards.” The guard at the gate said. The other to guards at the gate chuckled.

“Oh my friend! I hope you have been well. How are your children? A beautiful day for a ride through Rottervale.”

He handed over official looking paperwork. “My charter and papers are all in order yes?”

“I have no children you dusty fool. Let me see about your papers here.”

The guard took them over to a small table set out beside the gate for this purpose. The table was inlaid with an enchantment. It shone white for a second then turned a calm golden color.

“Your charter is valid. What are you carrying today?”

“Oh I have the usual goods and materials that the rural outreaches of the valley may want and need.”

Maurice accepted the papers back from the guard and reached into his vest to pull out a small trinket that looked like a dried flower and some bones tied together with wire.

“I also have a few trinkets handsome guards may be interested in.” He whispered loud enough for all three guards to hear him.

The guard looked at the merchant skeptically. But gestured for him to continue.

“This one here glows green if a man has any misbegotten children, do you wish to give it a try yes? Only two silver for a friend.”

The other two guards burst into laughter as the first guard blushed behind his helmet.

“Hey enough of that nonsense. Move along!” The first guard said.

“For you, one silver. You drive a hard bargain. I can tell you truly need it.” Maurice said.

The merchant raised his hands in a shrug pandering to the two guards.

“Or perhaps a fertility potion would be more desirable eh? They all say that Maurice is a compassionate man yes?”

“Move along Maurice” one of the other guards said as he waved the next cart forwards.

Maurice got his cart moving as the guards laughed more at their friend’s embarrassment.

This guy thinks he some kind of comedian. he's a sly fox, they didn't even check his cart. What does he have back there?

- Interlude -

To Damien Hornbrush

Rottervale, Ressalia

Dear Damien Hornbrush,

I trust this letter finds you well in the frontier. Your missive detailing the fascinating occurrences and speculation as to the status of the dungeon has reached me, and I must express my gratitude for your diligence in unraveling such mysterious developments.

While the information you've provided is undeniably intriguing, it regrettably falls short of the necessary evidence to warrant an official audit at this juncture. However, your findings have piqued our interest, and we invite you to journey to the capital and present your specimens in person.

Your firsthand account and the creature that has naturally acquired the understanding of common speech are phenomena that demand closer scrutiny. A meeting has been requested by the Royal Observatory in Valoria, where experts await your presence to assess the nature of these events.

Travel safely, and we look forward to the discourse that your discoveries may promise to unfold.

From the office of the Kings Adviser

Crownsgate, Ressellia