Flakes of snow had begun falling over what was now being called Lunar Glade. Through their hard work and planning, they had gotten everything they needed for this place to survive the winter. The last of the importers had returned for the season and it seemed that Ben’s investments paid off greatly. Their stores were full and ready for the oncoming season, even with so many big-mouthed residents. He could finally relax a little… or so he thought.

Ben blew away the tiny white specs flittering down over him. He sipped at his hot, bitter drink, smirking at the taste. It wasn’t far from the more refined coffee of a modern setting but the difference was palpable. Even though he’d never had the stuff before this, he knew there weren’t supposed to be chunks of grounds in it. Maybe that was on him for making himself, but at least he knew it wasn’t poisoned.

He’d been going nonstop for weeks now, hopping from project to project. It was finally winding down after a full month of work. But even after being allowed some rest, he found himself on edge. He constantly felt like he was being watched and had a slight jitter to him. Now, could it be because of all the coffee he’d been drinking? Yes, but could it also be any one of those real threats out there? Also yes.

Speaking of those real threats, Ben was standing outside an H-shaped building reading the signage. ‘Steady Hand Clinic: Non-Magical Health Solutions’. Taking a breath to settle himself, he pushed open the door. A bell atop the frame rang out as he entered.

“One moment!” yelled a polite voice from one of the other rooms. “I’ll be right with you!”

Strolling up to the counter, Ben took note of the place. It had a very clean smell to it which was surprising given the nature of its purpose. Peeking over, he could see a table of medical tools, all crusted over with a layer of red. A shiver ran down his neck.

After a short while, a dusty blond head peaked out from a corner. “Ah, Benjamin,” Carthex said as the rest of him came out, “to what do I owe the pleasure? Do you have any maladies or malignancies for me to look at?” He was clothed entirely in surgical garb, forgoing the armor that he wore often. If he didn’t know better, Ben might have assumed he was just a surgeon. But behind that caring appearance was a body count in the hundreds.

“Nothing quite as pleasant.” Ben leaned over the counter and set the blade for hire with an intense gaze. “What are you doing here, Carthex? What’s the real reason?”

The polite look faltering for a moment, Carthex shrugged. “Why does anyone take up the mantle of a healer? I find joy in easing the hardships of others.” He nodded as though affirming it with himself before looking back to the room he came from. “Ask any of my patients and you’ll find they are quite satisfied with my work, especially at the prices I ask.” Looking back at the ex-Author, Carthex had a suave expression. “My services are quite affordable.”

Was he really trying to sell this philanthropic cover to Ben? He’d seen him wrench a scalpel out of Alister’s head! All he did was further Ben’s suspicions, and he was going to get to the bottom of at least one threat today.

“Would any of those patients feel the same if a little rumor went around? Something about you moonlighting as a butcher?”

All pretenses of friendliness disappeared from the man’s face at the mention of his title. “You know, master Kinsoriel doesn’t seem the type to put his trust in just anyone.” He pulled out one of his many scalpels and set it on the counter. “Surely someone with that trust wouldn’t be so stupid as to threaten me in a place surrounded by blades, yes?”

Ben didn’t back down, keeping his eyes locked with his mid-story antagonist. “And it would be just as stupid to do something against said person.” Neither of them budged for a few tension-filled seconds before finally, Carthex let out a deep huff.

“This may come as a surprise, but I’ve been genuine with you. I’ve always wanted to open up a place where people can come to when those magic-wielding fleecers turn them away.” He looked to the side with a bitter look before returning to a neutral expression. “I… realize that my prior occupation may make that hard to believe, but it’s true. I made the best of the situation and got all I could out of it. Then, I met you two, and I heard of this marvelous place. It was as if Fayten himself guided me here.”

Letting out a small grumble at the name of his persona, Ben asked, “What makes it so marvelous to you?”

“How could it not be?” He ran a hand along a line, gesturing to the whole area. “A land built on merit. A place where I would be allowed to practice without constant run-ins with those bastard clerics.” With a shrug and a smile he added, “Present company excluded, of course.”

“I’m not a cleric,” Ben hastily defended himself. “I just know a healing spell.”

Raising his hands in faux defense, Carthex laughed. “Merely banter. I could tell when we first met. They all have a certain attitude to them, one that you don’t. You seem to enjoy helping others, just as I do.”

Ben couldn’t tell if he was being schmoozed here, but he genuinely didn’t sense any hostility from him. His words had a honeyed quality to them that made him almost guilty for being accusatory. He knew he should be suspicious, but it didn’t feel like the right course of action anymore.

“Are you really done being a sellsword?”

Carthex nodded. “I am.”

Letting out a breath that carried his doubts with it, the ex-Author put forward a hand. Carthex took it with his own and they both shook.

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“In that case, I apologize for how I’ve been acting toward you.”

“Don’t worry, I understand how you woul-” Carthex’s words stopped suddenly as his eyes widened. With a strong yank, he wrenched Benjamin to the side of the counter. Yelping at the sudden motion, Ben raised a hand to cast a spell when he heard a loud thunk close to him. His eyes darted over only to see a huge dagger embedded into the countertop where he had just been. The one holding it glared at him from beneath a hood with wrath-filled eyes. He recognized them immediately.

“O-oslow?” he stammered before being pulled behind the counter as the dagger was wrenched out of the wood.

Carthex quickly picked up the scalpel he’d pulled out earlier and thrust it toward the ratman. The attack hit only the air as he dropped to all fours and scurried backward before rising once more.

“I wasn’t going to continue the contract out on you,” Carthex said as he brought out a shortsword from under the counter, “but I suppose I should finish what I started before I move on.”

Oslow’s beady eyes moved back and forth from one man to the other. “Just my luck. Finally found ‘im, an he’s here too.” he squeaked angrily to himself. Pointing the dagger at Carthex, he did a ‘come here’ motion with a free hand. “Bring it on then you bloody monster! I’ll put a blade ‘tween your ribs!”

Pushing Ben back, Carthex calmly went around the counter, a scalpel in one hand and a sword in the other. “I’ll handle this. Stay back.”

Before he could object, he saw the ratman pull a small crossbow out from his inner cloak and aim it straight at him! He hit the floor with a thud as he dropped himself. A bolt whooshed overhead not a moment after. Clangs rang out while he peaked back over.

Both combatants were skilled, caught up in a constant dance of slashes, stabs, and ripostes. Oslow had pulled out another large dagger and was doing his best to get close. The assassin-turned-doctor refused to give any distance, using the length of his sword to keep him away. Neither had made contact with the other through the flurry.

Hiding himself back behind cover, Ben racked his brain for ideas. Not acting would cost him. If Carthex won, the last of his supporting cast would be dead. If he lost, Ben would be next on the chopping block. He had to at least try and solve this non-lethally. Did he know anything that could do that?

His thoughts were scrambled as a body tumbled over. He witnessed his protector slam onto the floor next to him. A rage-filled cry filled the air as the ratman hurdled the counter. Dual blades swished down through the air, poised to pierce Carthex’s throat! This wasn’t to be, for the man made a swift recovery. Pulling back his legs, he delivered a powerful kick to the rogue’s chest. With the momentum he already had, Oslow was sent hurtling through the air, crashing through a window with a loud shatter.

Groaning as pulled himself back up, Carthex hurried through the front entrance with surprising speed. The ex-Author was forced to give chase as well. He still hadn’t come up with anything and it looked like things were only going to get worse. He rushed out the door and ran along the edge of the building, hearing the sounds of battle continuing further ahead.

Rounding a corner revealed the two of them back to their fervent clashing. Small red patches matted the fur along Oslows face. He snarled as their weapons met over and over.

“Lay down your weapons and I’ll make this painless,” Carthex calmly offered as he batted another swipe aside.

“Piss off! I only need one nick. Then?” He twisted and pirouetted, bobbing and weaving frantically. This strange yet agile movement was actually getting him closer. “Yer done!”

Ben stared with horror as he ducked low before delivering a wide slash along Carthex’s sword arm. It cut through the surgical garb as though it weren’t there at all, getting at the vulnerable flesh beneath. Carthex dropped his weapon with a sharp gasp before hopping back and raising the scalpel to take its place. Blood fell from his arm to the frosted grass beneath.

Oslow kicked aside the sword before returning his attention to Carthex. “Ya think you can fend me off with that little thing?” Oslow gave a laugh equal parts sadistic and bitter. “Well, It don’t matter anyway. I just gave you a little kiss from a Still Weaver.”

Though he couldn’t quite tell his expression from this distance, Ben could see Carthex stiffen at those words. If he had heard correctly, then he understood why. Still Weavers were one of the most dangerous spider species he’d ever made, with a highly paralytic, coma-inducing venom. They’d bite their prey and then wait till it rendered them helpless. It would then devour them over the course of a month. It took a while to be put into a coma with one dose, but the victims would be slowed near instantly. Ben could see the sluggishness already taking effect as Carthex continued backing up.

Oslow twirled around his daggers with a flourish before getting closer with exaggerated steps. “Howsa ‘bout you lay down that butter knife then? ‘I’ll make it painless’,” he said with a sarcastic edge.

There was no more time to think of what he should do; Ben needed to do something, anything. Gritting his teeth in frustration, he raised his hand. He extended his index finger and thumb in pistol imitation and quickly envisioned the end result. He brought the mana to his fingertip before finally saying, “Bang.” A small, bright blue bullet of energy shot out of the finger.

Its shrill scream was the only thing that clued in its target, who had tried twisting away out of reflex. It didn't help him. Oslow stumbled as the spell hit him in the back. It didn’t do much damage, having about as much force as a serious punch. That was all it needed to do.

Carthex saw the opportunity Ben had given him and acted immediately. He rushed forward as much as his debilitated limbs would allow him, and with one efficient motion, stabbed the ratman right in the eye.

“AGGGHHH!” Before Carthex could pull back the blade, Oslow roughly kicked him away. The injured rogue started running, his cloak shimmered around him. “Blink Step!” he cried before being whisked away by the enchanted item.

Balling up a fist, Carthex turned to Ben with a look of embarrassment. “My sincerest apologies. I couldn’t finish the job.” He started to move back to the clinic with stiffened movements. “You must excuse me for a moment. I need to get the antidote before it gets any worse.”

Ben wanted to offer to help via healing but realized how intricate of a mental image it would need to be. Blood vessels, muscles, cognitive functions; it just wasn’t worth the trouble if there was medicine available. So instead, he came up to the surgeon’s side and helped him walk.

“You don’t need to do this,” Carthex half-heartedly protested as Ben put an arm around him. “I’ll be fine.”

“Maybe,” Ben said as they pushed past the door together, “but I wanted to.”