EXTENDING ONE'S REACH

Griz walked up the steps, dusting the snowflakes off his cloak. Taking some time to collect his thoughts, he paused before placing his hands on the massive door. With a creak, one side of the pair of arches swung freely, opening a whole new world.

He nodded to the two guards standing just inside, decked in similar suits of leather armor and topped with an iron helm. Both wore a jacket of fur to stave off the cold while gripping one hand on an upright halberd. These guards frequented all the offices and department buildings of the Capital.

Griz stepped towards a large counter located over a hundred feet away. His footfalls echoed out in the massive hall, with high vaulted ceilings. On a high wall at the rear of the interior, the large crest of the Grand Vizier carved in gold established the status of this office.

All around the Capital, buildings like these continued to rise, a testament and proof that the Empire had left the ways of wandering tribes, and settled down.

"Hello, I am Merchant Griz of the recently registered Bai Company. I am here to purchase a plot of land in the Capital."

"U-huh."

The clerk warmed his hands by the fireside, and then unwillingly shuffled to the marble counter. Working in this well designed and marbled building had its perks, but winter was a drag. He gingerly touched the freezing marble counter, before snapping back his hands. These days every small upcoming merchant wanted to live in the Capital.

'What's with this company thing anyway. What kind of name is that?'

"Sir, I would advise you to visit the Emperor's Land Agency, located outside the south gate. The lines might be long, but you will find some relatively moderate plots located a couple of miles from the Capital. Here inside the Capital, this branch deals with the properties located around the Imperial Palace and the inner city."

The clerk said. Most newly registered merchants tend to visit this building, because of its close location to the Merchant Quarters. Like chicks who never learned to fly, they felt joining the Guild with a little newfound wealth, entitled them to live in the large mansions populating the inner city.

"I see, but I am interested in a property within the inner city. I would like someone to take me around to inspect the available ones. The sooner the better if possible of course."

Griz said. He had settled his accounts in Karst and hastened towards the Capital, entering it in winter. Since he had arrived with a convoy consisting of his family, friends, servants, and everything but the kitchen sink, he wanted to purchase a home as soon as possible.

He had no intention of boarding at the inn for the entire season. That wasted gold could fund the servants' salaries. Besides the instructions from the brat, he had to represent the boy in their shared venture with the windmill. Considering the staggering amount of gold involved, Griz did well to avoid suffering a stroke from the shock.

"Ah, I don't think I made it clear sir. The inner city is a place that requires, how should I say it, a person who bleeds gold. Seventy years ago, the previous Emperor finally finished his dream of creating a utopia for the heads of the major tribes to call home. A merchant of your caliber cannot afford the cost of living there."

The clerk said with a scowl while looking down on the obvious country bumpkin. He contemplated signaling to the guards to escort this ignorant fool out.

"So be it then. A friend of mine told me this was the right place. I guess he proved wrong. By the way, this is his token."

Griz sighed, while removing the token from his sleeve, and placing it with a clack on the hard counter. The clerk couldn't care less for any upstart friend of this hillbilly. Reputable merchants would already know their place when it came to living in the inner city.

The clerk snorted while waving to the guards. The sooner he removed this nuisance, the faster he could warm up at the fire. He had swiveled on his heels and began to walk to the welcoming fire, expecting the sounds of shouts and scuffling to reach his cold ears. All he heard though, was the gasps and long inhalations from the guards.

Turning around, he witnessed the guards completing a swift bow of respect to the merchant. A strange feeling welled within his stomach as his eyes fell on the item occupying the uncluttered counter. On finally registering the token, what little color remained, now drained from his pale face.

Only a fool wouldn't recognize the similarity between the small object, and the large crest hanging on the wall over the counter. Every day when the clerk came to work, the sheer majesty and location greeted him while entering the main doors. On;y the symbol of the Emperor stood higher than this in all of the Empire.

Fallen powerhouses, clans and merchants became testament that defying the crest meant defying the Imperial Palace. Using a silver coin in the taverns could unlock all the rumors and the torturous fates that befell those once arrogant men. During the reign of the current Emperor, this was the house which stood like a stalwart behind him.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Yesterday was my first time in the red light district..."

The young man muttered.

The future flashed within his mind, showing the guards stripping him of his position, being branded as a slave and tossed into the northern mines.

Slaving for free, until a release by death. The clerk tottered as his legs went limp and his eyes rolled back.

Thump!

***

"Behind you! Oh my god, there is another!"

"Nooo!"

"Not that passage. Remember the trap, the trap!"

"Oh, crap, bloody hell, what was that?! How could these ancient mages be so ruthless."

"Leave him, the spikes have already skewered Ray into hell."

"Captain, the exit has been blocked by another stone wall!"

"You stupid soldiers! This is why we said to leave it to us. Hurry and find the lever!"

"Shut your mouth, you damn adventurer. If it wasn't for you Walsh wouldn't be dead."

In the darkness, kept only at bay by the flickering light of flaming torches, a heated battle descended into chaos. Clanging and squelching noises intermingled with shouting and cursing, while men and arachnid fell to join the lifeless stones.

Scholar Rang stumbled away from a skittering sound on the uneven slabs and then dodged as a man and spider of similar size tumbled past, locked in a heated battle. Yelping, he frantically waved the torch, burning both foe and companion alike. With terrified eyes he spun around the large hall, searching for signs of the Captain.

A menacing, blood-curdling hiss, followed by a terrifying shout ended in a gurgling of blood. A rallying shout followed by a dying squeal and clatter. Puddles and splotches of blood stained the stone floor. The fighting claimed souls from both sides without favor.

Scholar Rang tiptoed across the large open hall, circumventing the broken pillars. As he pressed himself next to one, a spider, large as a washbasin pounced on his chest. The unexpected attack, from the darkness above, caused the old man to react with the reflex of a prime fighter.

Shoving his torch between himself and the spider, Scholar Rang burned the beast as both of them jumped away while squealing. The spider slunk into the shadows, leaving the old man slapping his flaming beard and robe. As the arachnid scuttled away from their burning embrace, the scholar followed suit. In his flight to escape, his foot slipped into a crack between the long-neglected stone tiles.

Scrambling up from the ground, he hobbled away while screaming. Wiping a mixture of filth and slimy juices from his face, the wizened man searched for refuge amidst the clangs and shouts. With a twisted foot, ragged clothing and smoking chin, Scholar Rang stifled his scream.

How the hell did this happen!

***

"See that star there. I always thought it reminded me of the North Star. It's supposed to remain in one place for the entire night."

"Ah, like the north N of the compass right?"

Among the rubble surrounding the ruined castle, Chu and Miki sat together on a large block of stone, staring into the cold clear sky. Pointing at a twinkling large star in the distance, Chu continued chatting to this seasoned cartographer. At least seasoned within his mind.

"Yes, the North Star can help explorers find their way, but this star here cannot. Sometimes when my eyes fall on it, the position changes. During the course of the night, it moves, appearing either in the west or in the east. It had me doubting my little directional skills."

"What, no way. Chu is the smartest when it comes to mapmaking. Someday we will find that Star, even if we have to climb the tall mountains in the north."

Miki replied as she stood up and promised while patting her chest with a fist. Her black hair fluttered in the light wind creating a mesmerizing sight in the starlight. When she turned her oval eyes filled with determination towards him, Chu felt his heart flutter. The two of them stared at each other, seemingly locked in a trance.

Cough!

"Ahem. Chu, the goblins sent a scout, saying the noise beyond the stone door has stopped. it's time."

Lucy imitated a cough before reporting. With little Rang having no choice but to follow them, communication became much easier.

"Already? Well, they did struggle until nearly morning. Let's conquer this dungeon then."

He said, climbing down from the rubble. Picking his way along the loose stones and scree, he joined Ming sitting and chatting near a large bonfire. Zubyia Rang busied himself, rushing here and there, as the goblin Elders and the humans used him to the fullest. Lucy had dragged Miki away, for some personal girl talk.

"Hey Chu, the Chief Elder says if we can enter the tower, the Goblin Shaman may decide to use it as a base. The traps and spiders have always kept them from living in this place. The ruins have a long history, with stories passed down from generations."

Ming said while drawing with a stick on the ground.

Chu stared at the sketch which aided the teen with his communication with the wrinkled goblin. Hearing his name, Chu turned towards the source.

"Boss, this is the Elder whose tribe owns the opal cave. His tribe will also be the closest to us when they settle, about two suns travel away from the farm. He says rumor has it, that the forest at the foot of the mountains, literally has streams filled with shining stones rolling down them."

Pick pointed to the Elder goblin sitting beside him.

"A rumor worth investigating. The north mountains seem more and more like an enigma."

Chu said while nodding. Despite the marked differences between the races, these men and goblins interacted without prejudice. As long as certain lines were not crossed, peaceful interactions could occur during future meetings.

He clapped his hands by the fire, drawing everyone's attention.

"So, shall we reap the benefits?"

If old Scholar Rang had been present, then he might have undoubtedly coughed up blood. Who knew this would have happened?