Dolgar, Torli, and I conversed at length as we proceeded along the Londorin Road. They’d fled Elinia just before Galliel’s attack, and after they passed Raven’s Rest, Nalkak’s gnolls took everything they owned. Torli had found her crossbow—now my crossbow—on a dead soldier.
Around noon, a worn path branched to the northeast. According to the Global Map, Zelenkh was only minutes away. I promised to visit Dolgar and Torli in Encelas, and then I headed toward the lizardfolk settlement. I looked forward to visiting another village, particularly its shops and taverns.
But as I approached, I saw that Zelenkh was much smaller than Raven’s Rest. Twelve wooden buildings stood outside mountains tall enough to block out the sun. A wooden fence extended from either side of the path, and at the clearing, two lizardfolk soldiers in chainmail watched me with narrowed eyes.
I walked toward them with my hands raised. “Greetings. My name is Dylan.”
The soldier on the left replied in a guttural voice, “State your businness, or be gonne.”
“I’m here to speak with Captain Virik. We met in Nagak-Thurn.”
Both guards looked me over, then one turned and walked into the largest of the wooden structures. Minutes later, he returned with Virik, who looked much better than when I’d seen him in the naga’s prison.
The captain didn’t smile, however, and I wondered if lizardfolk were capable of smiling. Still, his voice projected more warmth than anything I’d heard from a lizardfolk.
“It is good to see you, Dylann. Welcome to Zelennkh.”
“It’s good to see you as well. I’m glad you and your soldiers returned safely.”
“We did inndeed. You must joinn me, for we have much to discuss.”
I followed the captain into one of the smaller buildings, and as we entered, I was struck by the powerful smell. We'd entered a dining hall, and every table was occupied with lizardfolk tearing apart raw meat with their hands.
Virik approached the counter. “Two plates of rabbit. Onne cooked annd skinned.”
Virik beckoned me to an empty table. Before sitting down, he withdrew a purse from his vest and placed it on the table.
“My soldiers annd I owe you our lives. I trust this will settle our debt.”
I tied the purse onto my belt and checked my character sheet. 520 gold. More coin than I’d seen since entering the game.
“I’m grateful, Captain, but this is far too much.”
Virik snorted. “King Urctannus of the nnagas gave us 10,000 gold as paymennt for the damage he’d donne, so we’re all swimminng inn gold.”
“That’s wonderful.”
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Virik shook his head. “I told the Counncil to prepare for war, but nnow we’re signning treaties and trade agreemennts. Strannge times.”
A lizardfolk in a red-stained apron came to our table, carrying two plates. My plate had slices of cooked meat, while Virik’s simply had a dead rabbit.
A handful of lizardfolk pointed at my plate, and amused whispers broke out all around me. Virik turned to face the onlookers. “Silennnce.”
He turned back to me. “I apologize for their behavior. The minnes are closed, so the minners sit here and amuse themselves.”
“What happened to the mines?”
I started eating the first slice of rabbit. If I waited until Virik tore apart his meal, there was a good chance I’d lose my appetite.
“We dug a shaft innto a lair of basilisks, who turnned most of our minners innto stonne. Now the creatures wannder the shafts as if they ownn them. We have discovered nno way to kill them, but the nnaga king promised to consult with his shamanns.”
I thought about this. Basilisks were some of the most dangerous creatures in fantasy games, and normally, I’d stay as far away from them as possible. But I desperately needed silver weapons.
“I’ll take care of your basilisk problem,” I said.
Virik’s eyes widened. “Do you knnow what basilisks are? Why they’re so feared?”
“Any creature that locks eyes with a basilisk turns to stone.”
“Annd that doesnn’t concernn you?”
“Of course it does. But as you’ve seen, I’m as stealthy as they come. I’m also good at slaying creatures before they know I’m there. I’ll slay your basilisks, but I have a list of items that I’d like in return.”
Virik cocked an eyebrow. “What items do you seek?”
I spent ten minutes describing precisely what I was looking for. Virik’s eyes widened as I went into detail regarding how my items needed to be constructed. After wiping rabbit blood from his lips, he nodded.
“Our metalworkers cann fashionn what you describe, except the crossbow. They would nnever touch, much less create, such a dishonnorable weapon. The only weaponns we deem acceptable are swords annd spears.”
“Can someone improve the crossbow I have?”
Virik thought about this for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll inntroduce you to Zimmir, our head blacksmith.”
“After I've cleared the mine, I’ll need my items quickly. I want this to be the top priority of every metalworker in the camp. Have we a bargain?”
“We have a bargainn. I’ll take you to Zimmir.”
A message scrolled at the bottom of my view: QUEST ADDED: SLAY THE BASILISKS IN THE ZELENKH MINE.
⚔
I lined up the crossbow’s sight with the center of the tree trunk. When I released the trigger, the bolt flew straight at first, then veered left. I ran back into Zimmir’s cabin and set the weapon down.
“It’s better,” I said, “but it still needs work. The sight needs to be moved to the right. Just slightly.”
“Nnnn,” the metalworker growled. “I’ve beenn doinng this for nnearly two hours. I suspect you’re wastinng my time.”
“I’m going to hunt basilisks. If I miss a shot, any shot, I’ll end up a statue.”
The lizardfolk clenched his teeth and put on his helmet with the jeweled eyepiece. Then he got back to fixing the sight.
Twenty minutes later, I hit the center of the tree trunk twice in a row, then a third time. Then a fourth. According to my character sheet, I was wielding a +1 crossbow. It was a far cry from the Crossbow of Murder, but it would have to suffice.
⚔
Once my weapon was ready, Captain Virik and his lieutenant escorted me to the mine's entrance. As we approached the sturdy iron door, both officers put on blindfolds.
“All who have enntered the minne have perished,” Virik said. “You cann still turnn back.”
“I love hunting basilisks,” I said, doing my best to sound confident. “Now open the door slowly.”
The lieutenant groped for the door latch, and I listened carefully as the door cracked open. No growls, no footsteps. I took a deep breath as the door opened farther, and then glanced inside. No basilisks. Just a rocky tunnel held up with thick wooden beams.
I turned to the officers. “If I’m not back in three hours, assume I’m dead.”
I stepped into the tunnel, not making a sound. I shuddered as the iron door closed behind me.