Chapter 80

"You're excited," Tobias observed as they walked into the Quartermaster's warehouse.

Built as a simple massive rectangle around which half of Ranger town was centered, the inside held the wonder.

Rows upon rows of every imaginable kind of gear sat behind a long wooden counter that bifurcated the large space, leaving only a small waiting area and walkway at its front.

Standing behind the counter, perfectly centered, was a tall, somewhat portly man Riley guessed was in his late forties.

His right arm ended at a stump just below the elbow, to which a prosthetic was attached, glowing with the same shade of brown magic she had seen around Cid's map.

Claw like scars crossed his face, forming an x pattern, yet he still had both eyes. Raising his artificial limb, he placed it across his chest before he bowed, "Good Morrow Ranger Tobias, back so soon?"

"Ranger Sylvester," Tobias gave a short bow in return, "I've actually a requisition form for another Ranger; Riley here needs some gear, if you have it."

Sylvester made a show of looking around before regarding Tobias curiously, "Do you mean your companion?"

"Yes, actually," Tobias insisted, passing over the requisition as Riley giggled within.

Tobias shot her a side long glance and grinned, "Go ahead."

"Yes, I'm Ranger Riley; I've yet to be outfitted," She announced.

Sylvester went pale.

"By the dead gods!" He stumbled back, making clanking noises as he did so.

That's when Riley noticed that he had a prosthetic banding wrapping around his left thigh as well.

"I know how much you enjoy doing that now," Tobias chuckled while projecting.

"It never gets old, but if we get notable, it's going to ruin all my fun," Riley pouted in reply.

Sylvester quickly gained his composure and smoothed his hands over the brown leather apron he was wearing, "Ranger Riley, could I ask you up on my counter?"

"I'm game," She said in affirmation.

Tobias wrapped his hands around her, carefully supporting her hindpaws, lifting her up.

As if by magic a measuring tape seemed to appear in his hand.

"That looks like messenger armor," Sylvester muttered, pulling at it, finding it loose.

"Hmm," He ran the tape one way, then another, "may I slip off your armor?"

"Go ahead," She confirmed as he unbelted it, eyeing the strap.

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"And how did you come by this?"

"It fell off a truck," Riley replied.

Sylvester raised an eyebrow, "What's a truck?"

The image flashed across her sorcerer's mind, "I understood that reference."

Riley giggled, "Thank you, Captain America!"

"And that one…." Tobias blinked in surprise before "translating."

"She means it was a discard. Notice the handle has been removed. It came that way."

"Ok... well, with her length and circumference, I'm afraid I have nothing that would fit her. Most companions that wear our combat armor are far larger. I can, of course, furnish you with a ranger bag and certain other accoutrement, but as to how she'd carry them, that raises another question," Sylvester replied deferentially.

"The Generals worried the same, but we're en route to the capital, and I know an artificer there who should be able to assist us. As to her gear, we have a solution at hand," Tobias asked.

"Of course! You've certainly thought this out," he pulled a writing reed from below his counter and made notations before affixing it with his seal, "one purchase authorization, now to see to the rest."

Sylvester hobbled off, limping a bit on his artificial foot, which did not seem anywhere as advanced as his arm.

"We report to transport next, right?" Riley asked.

"Yes, then we'll most likely be issued a Cockatrice and be on our own a few weeks before we arrive in Ashenvale. That means downtime and a chance to hone our routines, get used to each other's magic..." Tobias said as Sylvester came trundling up with a dimensional bag, a ranger dagger, two sets of health, mana, and stamina potions, a waxed cloth canvas tarp, and a set of green leaf bandages.

Riley, still on the counter, held out her paws, "Now you see 'em, now you don't!"

One by one, they vanished into her inventory space as it gained yet another fifteen slots.

"Since you're a team, she'll have to make do with your map and tracker, and oh, this," pulling out a locked chest from under the counter, he withdrew a com crystal and handed it over.

"Cool," Riley exclaimed, feeling much more the part.

"Is there anything else?" Tobias asked, looking back towards the door.

"If you've a moment, I'll add some punch holes to her armor straps. It should make it more useful in the interim and affix her ranger patch.

Riley's ears perked up in surprise. "Really? I get a patch!"

"Please, hurry, we have to report to transport in the next half hour," Tobias insisted as Sylvester took up her gear.

"Yes sir, it shouldn't take more than five," He smiled, moving towards a small side room.

"I'm going to be all official and everything!" She bounced on the counter, with excitement ringing across their bond.

"Good," Tobias chuckled, petting her ears back.

Ten minutes later, with snugger armor, ranger patches, and fully kitted out, Riley had never felt more confident.

"I'm spiffy!! She twirled as they exited, her heart riding on a high wave of euphoria, while Tobias was focused forward like an arrow in flight.

"Come on," he urged, already into a quick jog, dashing across the keep.

"I hate tight deadlines," Riley complained, though the pace was nothing to her.

Finally exiting the main keep, they drew up towards a building set against the eastern tower, complete with a massive stable full of cockatrice.

Far in the center of the field, six blue crystal lamps strobed every few seconds, delineating the landing area for the dragon transports.

"Do you think we'll get to see one land before we go?" She asked Tobias, feeling like a little kid all over again.

"Once we have our cockatrice, we make our own schedule. We'll stall a bit, even if we have to make up later," he promised.

"Well, what are you waiting for! I want to get a good seat," In a quick sprint, she dashed towards the door, only to find Cid waiting on the other side.

"Thought I'd say goodbye and pull some strings," he slapped Tobias across the shoulder as they walked towards the counter.

"Lunch was enough. I'm still full," Tobias patted at his stomach before they both clasped arms.

"Got your orders?" Cid asked, looking better than he had.

Tobias nodded, passing over his papers.

"This is Ranger Tobias, reporting for his first assignment with Ranger Riley here. I'd consider it a special favor, Helga if you'd see he's assigned my Zella. I won't be returning to the field," he asked, passing over the requisition.

"I'll see it to myself, but you owe me dinner," she winked at Cid, who blushed before she pulled out a large book.

"Oh, I'm afraid that won't be possible. They're due out in half an hour on the dragon. Departure is set for three quarters past three bells," she replied, sounding apologetic but professional.

Riley screamed, "I'm going to ride the dragon!?!"