“It’s Kaa-jl, Damien,” the enigmatic woman said with a sigh. “Try to keep up.” She dropped her tea cup on Ezin’s desk and smoothed her robes.

“You know each other?” Ezin asked, looking at each of us in turn.

I tried to answer only to be interrupted by a haptic buzz. An old [System] notification resurfaced.

Quest: [Heroic Action].

Objective: Kill the impostor!

A person in your vicinity poses a unique threat to your adventure.

Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!

Reward: Undefined.

Oh, for fuck’s sake. I’m not killing anyone just because the [System] demanded it! What the hell did it take me for? An Assassin?

Oh, wait . . .

“Damien and I got acquainted during the dungeon run,” Kajal explained in that controlled manner of hers. “Though I must admit, I was as surprised as anyone to learn that he had beaten the Labyrinth.”

. . . A feat I would never have accomplished without the Traveler’s Room. But, Kajal knew that. The big question was: Did Ezin?

If Ezin had learned my secret from Kajal, he didn’t show it. He ushered me to a seat. “Good, good. It removes the need for one set of introductions, at least. You met us at an opportune time, Damien. I’m glad you could join.”

“Is this about what I think it is?” I asked, sitting beside Kajal.

However, my question was interrupted by the dwarf’s deep rumble.

“This is the Hero of the Labyrinth?” he said with actual surprise. “You didn’t tell me I would be working with a Dark Elf, Ezin.”

“Damien’s from Dreadwood,” Ezin explained.

The dwarf scrutinized me with light, blue eyes. “You don’t say . . .”

“What?” I asked. “Do you have a problem with elves?” That would be so cliché. Almost every fantasy world featured some kind of grudge between elves and dwarves.

“I would have thought,” the dwarf said, “that you’d have a problem with me.”

I blinked at the reply.

“We dwarves are responsible, after all, for the genocide of your people. I’m yet to meet a Dark Elf who didn’t remind me of that fact.”

Oh wow. Talk about dropping bombshells. I didn’t know how to respond to that because I technically wasn’t an elf. Should I feign anger on behalf of my adopted race?

“Well,” I said, “it’s an issue of the past”—hopefully—“Neither of us can do anything about it now.”

The dwarf smirked. “Oh, we can’t, alright. But, I approve of the deed all the same. Had my ancestors not performed it, who knows what would have become of my people?”

“Careful,” Ezin warned.

This maggot-brained stone eater wanted to start something, huh? I’d given him the chance to drop the matter peacefully, but he seemed hellbent on being rude.

Kajal watched the scene unfold with a twinkle in her eyes. She probably found the matter intriguing, considering I wasn’t from Vizhima. Was there a rulebook [Migrant Soul]s needed to follow in situations like these?

Ultimately, I sighed. “Yeah, screw you too, cretin. Let’s just get back to the matter at hand.”

Ezin interjected before the dwarf could speak. “Damien, Medekeine. Medekeine, Damien. I’ll admit that this wasn’t how I expected introductions to begin.” He glanced at me. “Medekeine is here on behalf of the Dwarrow Lords. He can rightfully be considered an ambassador of sorts. However”—and at this, he turned to dwarf—“Damien is a registered member of our guild. I expect you to extend him the same courtesy as me.”

“No offense intended, guildmaster,” Medekeine said and pointedly ignored me.

I returned the favor and asked the question I cared about. “Is this about Dreadwood?”

“It is,” Ezin said.

“So, the scouting party is back?” My heart thudded in anticipation. “What did they find? How are the elves doing?”

Ezin clasped his fingers. “No, Damien. The scouts did not return.”

“What do you mean—?”

“He means,” Kajal said kindly, “that we have good reason to believe that the entire scouting party is dead.”

I gaped at her. “The entire . . .?”

“The last time I received word from them,” Ezin said, “was six days ago. They promised to send another familiar in three days. That did not happen.”

“So, maybe, they aren’t dead. There could be other reasons for their failure to communicate. Capture, perhaps, or incapacitation.”

“Perhaps.” He didn’t sound convinced.

“What did they say then?” I asked. “The last time you communicated. Surely, they had something to report?”

Ezin glanced at Medekeine. “They confirmed the existence of a goblin horde.”

I balled my fists. “And, the elves?”

“The Wood Elves are at war.”

“No, not them. My people. What did they say about my people?”

“I did not receive any specific mention of your kind.”

Crap.

“This meeting is about the horde, then,” I said. “Skeelie is your priority, so you intend to discuss ways to protect the city. I don’t think I can contribute—”

“What great loss that would be,” Medekeine drawled.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“—because I intend to leave for Dreadwood the first chance I get. Is there anything else I should know?”

Ezin frowned. “You’re not heading to Dreadwood alone, Damien.”

“I don’t think I will. I have a party—”

“What I mean is that I summoned you here for a mission.” He placed a scroll on the desk. “The Dwarrow Lords and the Merchant Guild have each sponsored quests into Dreadwood. They humbly request the assistance of the Hero of the Labyrinth.”

Medekeine bristled so hard that his armchair vibrated beneath him. “Guildmaster, I do not desire his assistance.”

“You asked for my strongest adventurers.” Ezin shrugged. “Here they are.”

“I will not proceed with an elf in my party!”

“Then, you won’t proceed at all,” Ezin said, and the desk creaked beneath his fingers. “Damien has as much reason to join this venture as anyone. You will need him. With Dreadwood crawling with goblins, the last person you can afford to turn away is a native of the forest. He will be your guide.”

Huh? What right did he have to decide this all by himself?

“Um, Ezin,” I said. “I thought you banned the merchants from conducting business in Dreadwood?”

“I did. But, the survival of the Wood Elves is now at stake. They need weapons and supplies to fight this war. And, they have requested it for no small amount of gems.”

Kajal chuckled. “The merchants can’t ignore a chance to turn a profit, huh? Even with an existential threat on the horizon.”

“And, the dwarves?” I asked. “How are they involved in any of this?”

Ezin paused, unsure of how to answer. But, he need not have bothered.

The dwarf replied with gusto, as though educating a belligerent child. “Because every goblin horde spawns within the mountains. And, the areas beneath the hills and mountains and dells are all considered dwarric domains.”

“Yeah, well, that doesn’t answer my question.”

Ezin jumped in with an explanation, though he failed to hide his smirk. “Medekeine is a Tinfolk dwarf from the mountain nation of Alamö. The Tinfolk have historically assisted Bargheria in battles against the goblin horde. He’s been sent by his masters to assess the current threat.”

Medekeine’s brows twitched at the mention of the word, masters. He seemed to dislike that.

“Then, he should consider the threat assessed,” I said. “We’ve confirmed the existence of a goblin horde.”

“That we have,” Medekeine said. “But, my interest does not lie solely in the gobs. What the Dwarrow Lords wish to confirm is the current nature of goblin leadership . . . because our quest may take either of two dimensions depending on who leads the horde.”

He drew out his next words, savoring my attention. “We might either be dealing with a Goblin Prince, and the Wood Elves stand a good chance of emerging victorious . . . or we are faced with a Goblin Calamity, and you don’t want to know what that means for this city.”

I could probably imagine. The name Goblin Calamity sounded ominous enough.

“I have notified the Governor and the Crown Prince, regardless,” Ezin said. “Skeelie will be ready if the Wood Elves fall. However, we must secure a brief window to muster our forces. This is the reason why I favor the sending of aid to the elves.”

“You’re using them as a bulwark,” I said in realization. “The merchants might be in it for the coin, but each elf that lives to see another day is one human that need not be slain in battle.”

Ezin’s green eyes gleamed. “Make no mistake, the elves won’t have it any other way. They won’t condone large numbers of human forces trampling through their forest until all has truly been lost.”

But, that was untrue. For Nana, at least. If there was one thing she wanted, it was aid for her people.

“The Dark Elves are my priority,” I said.

“My priority is your priority, elf,” Medekeine said, “as long as you are employed in this expedition.”

“Then, save your employment.” I turned to Ezin. “The two quests are related but not inclusive, yes? I will help the merchants deliver the items to the Wood Elves. After that, I work on my own.”

“That arrangement is possible,” Ezin conceded, “but unwise. You would find Medekeine an irreplaceable ally on your journey, and in you, he would have a guide. For the safety of everyone involved, the two parties undertaking the quest must act as one. I lost good people in my scouting party, Damien—all of silver rank. We can’t afford a repeat.”

“Damien and I are not going to die,” Kajal said at that moment as if it was a fact of the world, as sure as the sky was blue. “You should be more worried about the trouble you’ll have on your hands when news of the impending horde reaches the cityfolk.”

She paused to take a sip of tea. “We can’t expect Damien to act in Skeelie’s interests and overlook his family. So, I propose we do all three. We escort our esteemed guest, Medekeine, here. We deliver the supplies to the elves. And, while we are at it, we help Damien secure the lives of his family.”

Medekeine growled. “Shouldn’t he offer a reward if he intends to include a quest?”

“Oh, I’m sure there are other ways Damien could return the favor.” Her words sounded jovial, but knowing what she did about me, they were anything but.

Regardless, Kajal had proffered a solution that worked for everyone.

Ezin thought so too because he nodded in appreciation. “It is settled, then. Kajal, and Damien, you two would ensure the safe delivery of the merchandise to the Wood Elves. You are also to assist Medekeine in the investigation of the goblin horde. Should you learn news about Damien’s family, you are authorized to intervene, but not in a manner that would jeopardize your quests.”

He drummed his fingers thoughtfully on the desk. “Considering the multi-faceted nature of your mission, Kajal will lead the party to manage all conflicting interests. I hope this won’t cause any problems.”

Medekeine looked like he took issue with that, but he ultimately snorted.

“I pray you return safely,” Ezin continued, “but if you don’t, the quest rewards will be transferred to a beneficiary of your choice. You may leave at first light tomorrow once you have concluded preparations.”

“How many rankers do we need?” Kajal asked.

“The fewer the better,” Medekeine said. “A party of five is considered optimal. But, six also works in case we need to split up. Elven boy here can serve as our liaison.”

Kajal sighed. “I have one available partner that could come with me.” She glanced at the rest of us. “You’ve already mentioned you travel alone, Medekeine. But, what about you, Damien? Any suggestions?”

“Yeah,” I said, “I have two.”

“We could also recruit that Skirmisher . . . What was his name? Allen of Glamring?”

Ezin shook his head. “Allen is in no state to join your company. He has requested extended leave.”

Kajal arched her brow. “Alright. We’ll work with what we have. When do I meet the representative of the merchants?”

“I will arrange for the meeting once the hour is up. Before then, there are other matters we must discuss.” He fixed the rest of us with a pointed look, implying dismissal.

Sadly, I also wanted to speak with Kajal. A huge number of questions ran unbridled in my mind since our encounter, and, despite my best efforts, she hadn’t been an easy person to find.

I could wait another day if it came down to it. But, the sooner I understood this affair with [Migrant Soul]s, the better.

Ezin seemed insistent on speaking to her privately though.

Aw, shucks. “I’ll take my leave, then,” I said. “See you at the city gates tomorrow?”

“Yes,” Ezin said, and his expression softened. “Are you still beset by contract killers, Damien?”

“Oh, don’t get me started! The last incident occurred last night! You need to do something about border security. How do these guys keep slipping into the city undetected?!”

Kajal gasped. “You’re targeted by assassins, Damien?”

“Well, not Assassin assassins. Though a couple were of that class. The last hitman was a drunk Samurai who is still hiding somewhere in the city!”

“A drunk Samurai?” Ezin said. “I know a few who fit that bill.”

“They’re after the dungeon heart!” Medekeine said with a chuckle. “Are humans still primitive enough to shed blood over artifacts that have dwarven substitutes?”

“I’ll do something about this, Damien,” Ezin said.

Yeah, right. “You promised to do so the last three times.”

Medekeine stroked his jaw. “This dungeon heart . . . it remains in your possession, yes?”

“No. I sold it off a few days ago.”

“How sad. Now I can’t use that as an excuse to leave you for dead.”

Kajal and Ezin frowned.

“A joke,” Medekeine said. “It was just a joke.” He looked with disdain at his teacup. “By the way, your hospitality is lacking, guildmaster. I don’t suppose you could spare some ale before we leave?”

I would spare my fist down his throat before our quest was over. But, I needed to do a few things first.