Vimgraunt was small with only one tavern and two inns. It was the biggest area besides Berkshire in eastern Zrud due to the mountain range that occupied most of the land. Many times that she visited the temple, Sunodagh or Healer Gimma asked her to get any debts from the temple paid before she left. It could be from healer services or blessings, but it didn’t matter. She knew every coin counted at the temple, especially in Vimgraunt. The High Priestess was known to be forgiving of debts despite the area.
Mira walked into the tavern and the lively room fell quiet. She swept her cloak from her shoulders and folded it in her arms. Many patrons glared at her as she approached. She bowed her head thoughtfully against the stubbornness around her. The bartender, a dwarf with a balding grey head and salty beard, sneered at her.
“I thought I told you to never come in here again,” He growled, “What do you want?”
“To retrieve what you owe the temple,” Her soft-spoken voice barely crossed the bar, “Five hundred gold is enough to pay for a month of food.”
“If that damned orc wanted to have the money, he’d send one of the pretty girls up here to get it. Then, after I yelled at her, he’d come himself,” He scoffed, “But… a bloody thrall? Where is your master?”
“If my master was here, you would be dead,” She said flatly.
“Then have him come beg me for the money,” The dwarf laughed and filled a stein with beer, “I’ll wait.”
“Might I remind you the last time I visited town,” She sat across from the bar top and drummed her fingers, “And you displeased me?”
“Ay. I remember.”
“Then, you can give me the money to take to the temple,” Mira shrugged, “Or, I’ll take it.”
“I moved my safe. You couldn’t find it now if you tried,” He growled under his breath, “Now, fuck off.”
Mira grabbed a handful of his beard and yanked down. His jaw bounced off the wood with a hard thud. He shouted and swiped at her to grab her. She stepped away from him and the bar patrons around her tried to grab at her as well.
“I won’t leave until I have the money you owe the temple,” She smiled coldly, “I have all night.”
“You bitch,” He spat out a tooth, “What gives you the right to take my money? How do I know you’re actually giving it to the temple?”
She pulled the rolled paper from her pocket and opened it. She pointed to his name with the amount listed beside it. Sunodagh’s signature was next to the amount to verify her bounty. His name was the last to be crossed off of a small list.
“I can’t believe he didn’t come here himself,” He growled, “What kind of orc is he?”
“One that has something better to do than make sure you pay your dues,” She returned the note to her pocket, “I have nothing else to do tonight. So, get the money, Berten, or I will sit here and ruin your business until you do.”
The dwarf sneered and pulled a bag from under the counter. The small sack fell with a thud. Mira expressionlessly stared at the dwarf and waited for him to respond.
“There’s your money.”
“That is, at maximum, two hundred and twenty-five gold,” She picked it up and tossed it, “By weight, closer to one ninety.”
“How the bloody void—”
“I’ve handled a bit of gold before,” She shrugged, “Where’s the rest?”
“I’ll send it.”
“That was your excuse last time.”
The dwarf sneered and spat out a loose tooth, “Can I offer a drink instead?”
“Not unless that drink is the equivalent of all money you owe the temple,” She smiled, “Do you not have it?”
“I don’t have it right now.”
“Then, return the blessed item that you purchased from the temple, and I will call it even.”
“Can’t do that,” The dwarf slammed another stein on the bar top, “You’ll get what I hand you.”
“I do not want to cause a commotion tonight, Berten,” She held her hands together, “I’ll leave for now, but I’ll come back by the end of the night. Be ready to pay—one way or another.”
“If you step foot in my bar again, I’ll kill you.”
Mira stood and grabbed the bag of gold, “Very well. I won’t bother you further.”
She stepped out of the bar and the patrons cheered at her departure. This was a common occurrence, but it still affected her. She knew that they would party a bit harder with her leaving, so she went to her final task of the night. Their boisterous cheers would cover any noise she might make.
Mira walked past the windows of the bar to the back of the two-story building. She climbed on top of a stack of boxes to reach a window on the second floor. She pushed the unlocked window open and crawled inside. The small living space above the bar was quant. She expected a bit more extravagance from a man that kept money from the temple. She kept quiet as she tiptoed around the space, even though rowdy cheers beneath her celebrated her departure.
Sunodagh briefly mentioned the blessed item to her. The man’s wife was sick with a reoccurring illness, and she passed away before he fully paid for the necklace that one of the healers enchanted with a small regeneration spell. Mira knew that it was worth far more than the five hundred gold they sold to him for. Still, he refused to pay after his wife’s passing.
There was an easy solution, but one she wouldn’t follow.
Nara knew of her other form and requested Mira never become the wraith in Vimgraunt. She complied with the request because of the elf’s good will and charity. That didn’t mean she couldn’t use some of the power.
Black mist danced across the floor and the heightened perception soaked her senses. She felt the faint call of a magical aura. She followed it to a locked door and summoned a small knife. Mira placed her ear above the lock and listened to it as she pushed the knife into the lock. She closed her eyes and adjusted the blade to complete the makeshift key. The blade grew in sections until she felt resistance of the lock’s springs. After a silent turn, the door readily opened.
A crib on the other side of the door surprised her. She walked towards the babbling coo of the baby. It sputtered when it saw her, and she furrowed her brow.
“I was not told there was a baby here,” She whispered, “Little one, are you where the aura comes from?”
The dark mist filled the crib as she watched the fat baby grab at her auburn curls. She had never seen a dwarven baby before. She expected facial hair, but the smooth skinned dwarf only had thin black hair. When the mist licked across the child, it started to cry. Mira retracted her concentration from the mist and the baby began to bawl loudly. She quickly slid into a wardrobe and waited for anyone to approach. After a few minutes of shrieking, the baby cried itself to silent.
“Pitiful. He can’t even hear you,” She sighed, “Your mother took care of you, didn’t she?”
Mira crawled out of the wardrobe and reached for one of the crudely sewed toys on the floor. She examined it quickly before she placed it in the crib without another word. The baby sputtered and grabbed the toy. Once it put its mouth around an arm of the indistinguishable creature, she shook her head and expanded the mist once again.
The magical aura came from the room, she knew as much. She let the mist spread against the walls and furniture as she quietly searched for the item. Her fingers brushed a small urn curiously and she felt the tingle of magic. Mira unscrewed the top and lit a small fire on her fingertips to see inside. An emerald rested on a pile of ashes. She reached for it but thought otherwise.
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“Is it disrespectful to the dead to take something from their urn?” She whispered aloud, “It belongs to the temple.”
Mira scrunched her nose as she decided what to do. She knew dwarves often buried their dead with gems and metal. This man put the enchanted emerald in there for that reason. Still, he owed the temple.
Mira felt conflicted on what to do.
She screwed the lid to the urn closed and tucked it under her arm. If she did not find a sufficient amount of gold, then she would take the entire thing back to the temple. Sunodagh could decide what to do with it then. Mira continued her search until she felt a hollowed-out book on the shelf by the urn. She opened it and discovered more gemstones. She moved her flaming fingers closer and examined them closely.
“This could do,” She nodded, “He doesn’t need a safe when he think I would look around.”
Mira decided to take three rubies, two sapphires, and one diamond. If he wanted to argue the price, he could bring the money to the temple and exchange it there. She left the book open next to the urn. As she walked back towards the door, the baby babbled again.
“I do not understand you,” She whispered.
It giggled back at her.
“Babe, you need to rest. Go back to sleep.”
She knew she could not use her magic on the child, or it would likely die. She did not know any sleeping spells or healing. The only thing she could do was cause fear in its dreams.
She cautiously approached the crib and looked over. The fat baby reached up and grabbed her curly hair. Mira scrunched her nose as it tugged to pull her closer. Her amber eyes scanned over the baby quickly.
“Why are you in a locked room?” She whispered, “I do not smell magic on you. You are not marked.”
“Mama!”
Her eyes grew at the cheerful outburst, “Was his wife your mother?”
She frowned at the intelligible sputters and wiggled her fingers into the baby’s grasp to pull them from her hair. When it’s eyes swelled with tears, she looked to the bear again. She tried to get the child to grab at it but it only wanted her hands or hair.
“I do not understand you, little one,” She sighed, “I must go. Your father can care for you when he is done working.”
The baby shrieked as she stepped away from the crib. Mira closed the door behind her and relocked it with her makeshift key. She dismissed the summoned weapon and walked back to the opened window. Another cheer downstairs hid the sound of her shutting the window behind her. The opened book and urn would give the message to the bartender. He could find his gemstones back at the temple if he cared about them that much.
Mira peered at the horizon to see the first rays of sunlight chase away the darkness. She reclasped her cloak over her shoulders and rushed back to the temple. As she escaped from the buildings of the main town, she stepped into the temple’s courtyard. A yellow orc waited on the steps and waved at her as she approached. She handed him the backpack filled with goods and the crossed off list of names and numbers.
“I completed the assignment,” She whispered in orcin.
“All of them? Impressive.”
“I did not get everything in strictly gold, but kept it separated as you asked,” She tossed the bartender’s bag into his hand, “I took some gems or the items back.”
“I know you steal, but maybe don’t say that?” Sunodagh chuckled, “I’m supposed to be a good influence on you.”
“Then, you can send some priestesses to check in on Berten’s child. It looks malnourished.”
“He has a kid?” He blinked, “I didn’t know that.”
“Is… is it not his child?”
“I can ask around, but I don’t know how he would have one. His wife didn’t give birth,” The orc scratched at the stubble on his chin, “Leave it for now. I’ll have one of my men check into it.”
She tapped her chin, “He’s older. Perhaps a grandchild?”
“If it’s anything too bad,” He clamped a hand on her shoulder, “I’ll have you bring the wee babe here, alright?”
Mira flinched at his grasp. Her hand wrapped around his wrist and squeezed. He yelped in surprise.
“Sorry,” He jerked his hand back and cleared his throat, “I almost forgot with how calm you’ve been, lately.”
“It is… fine.”
He ushered her back into the main room of the temple and sat on a pew next to her. She waited for another assignment from him, but he simply smiled and wrapped an arm along the back of their seat.
“You did good.”
“I did as you asked.”
“With the festival coming up, we are running low on supplies and needed more,” The orc nodded, “I’m surprised they just handed it over. I’ve been fighting with them constantly to pay.”
“Many did not,” She paused, “I have some gold I can give as well.”
“We agreed this was your payment for the knight and the boy’s healing. That should be enough.”
“I still need to pay for—”
“I’ll just ask you to run another errand. It’s more useful to me than any spare change you might have,” He grinned, “You have more fun way, at least. Your smile is worth a few pitiful pieces of gold, aquellan.”
Mira snorted at the compliment, “Well, I try to keep myself entertained while I’m here. It is nice to practice my training in a more useful way.”
Sunodagh laughed, “You’re just lucky I’m on guard duty tonight.”
“You let me leave the temple and don’t interrogate me when I arrive again. It’s appreciated.”
“I know there are some questions that we shouldn’t ask,” He shrugged, “Are you going to sneak back in to bed? I’m sure the girl misses you.”
“Tella fell asleep in Irae’s room last night. Pallik won’t wake up until after breakfast.”
“That knight you brought in was wondering around earlier,” Sunodagh yawned, “What should I say if he asks about where you were?”
“That I stayed in the women’s quarters all night, obviously,” She rolled her eyes, “I’ll make sure he stays in place tomorrow night.”
“You shouldn’t go into the men’s quarters either, but I know you do,” He grinned, “How, anyway?”
She paused, “How did you know I do that.”
“Dust falls from the spot you look through at night.”
She frowned at her carelessness, “There is a crawl space above the rooms that I fit in. I don’t enter the room.
“Well. I’ll have to make sure that gets plugged up, wont I?”
“You should. Someone dangerous could get into the rooms,” Mira nodded once.
“The only danger around here is you,” He ruffled her hair, “Nobody else is looking for ways that someone may attack the temple.”
“I must be prepared in case—”
“You don’t need to do anything here, Mira. We’ve made that clear to you.”
She frowned and smacked his hand from her hair, “I must always be prepared for an attack.”
“Who would attack a temple?”
“Master…” She clenched her fist as her head lowered, “I know you are preparing to approach him about buying me.”
“What?” Sunodagh blinked, “How did you—”
“Nara does not lock her room at night. It is a bad habit,” She paused, “He will not allow it. If you approach him, he will order me to kill you all. I… don’t want to do that, Sunodagh.”
“If we give him enough gold, he will—”
“Nothing will be enough. I am his toy –his weapon. I doubt even royalty would persuade him.”
The orc clenched his fists, “I know. Still, it’s worth a shot. We worry you won’t return.”
“I don’t know if I will be able to.”
He sighed and shook his head, “Would you even try?”
“Would you even miss me?”
When he didn’t say anything, her face contorted to a half frown through the coldness.
“Would it matter if we did?” He frowned, “You won’t disobey your master.”
Mira stood and paced away from him. The tenseness between them bothered her. This orc was never this serious.
“You know Irae and the kids will miss you. You should at least come back for them,” He chuckled, “I’ll admit that they’re pretty pitiful when you’re not around.”
“Pallik will be old enough to apply for jobs soon and be able to take care of Tella.”
“What about Irae?”
“She is a grown woman, not a child. She understands why I won’t come back,” She lowered her head, “Tella won’t.”
Sunodagh grunted, “How are you going to take care of her from elsewhere? I’m guessing you’ll move to a different continent.”
“There is a bandit group that will watch them now,” Mira nodded, “Use them to complete any errands you would assign to me. Delpho can facilitate.”
“I won’t ask when that happened,” He laughed airlessly, “But, good to know. Is that why you brought the knight here? To try and keep my ‘errands’ in check?”
“No. He helped me before, so I returned the favor,” She scrunched her nose, “Travel Knights patrolling the area frequently would keep Vimgraunt safe as well.”
“You keep everything in mind, don’t you?” His eyebrow raised, “Smart girl.”
Mira took a deep breath and shook her head. Her hands clenched the backrest of a pew and it crumbled in her grasp.
“Someone must stop me if he orders me to slaughter you.”
“You think that will be enough? Mira, you are a killer. There could be an army around us and I doubt we would be safe.”
The wood tumbled from her hand to the ground. She stared at the ruined carving with a chilling expression as she calmed herself again.
“I know.”
“Even if you were killed, that damned wraith would come and kill the rest of us,” He chuckled, “What was it… five hundred men? That’s how many died before.”
“An estimate, yes,” She slumped her shoulders, “I don’t understand why they didn’t leave. They knew—”
“Pride is a terrible thing. Just as you want to keep us safe, they wanted to keep everyone safe. Your master is a large threat and I doubt man could kill him.”
Mira straightened herself and turned to the orc. He ran his hands over his yellow scalp. He scratched at his stubble as he thought on what to say next.
“Please tell High Priestess to stop saving money to purchase me. I doubt my master has the physical copy of his agreement with my father. I don’t want to risk his rage pointed where I feel…”
“At home?”
“Yes,” She smiled sadly, “I would like this place to remain safe. Even from me.”
“I’ll see what I can do. The woman is determined to save you, despite my efforts to convince her otherwise.”
Mira sat back down and looked at the painted ceiling. The small flickers of candle light illuminated the sparkling strokes of paint. She would miss it here. The late night conversations with Sunodagh always helped cleared her head.
“Go back to sleep, Sunodagh. Staying up is bad for your health –especially at your age.”
“My age?” He snorted, “I’m not a decrepit old man. Besides, you need to go to bed so Irae doesn’t give me an earful for keeping you up all night.”
“We all know you sleep on your shift when I’m here,” She shook her head, “Now your niece is worried that you’re the bad influence?”
“She knows I’ll keep you busy if you let me,” He grinned, “Something about you needing a break when you visit. You’re too serious and need to relax.”
“How exactly do I do that?”
“Well, I figured you’re more like me and would rather be doing something, huh?” He stood and stretched his back.
“Correct.”
“Then, let’s go get some work around the temple done. The festival is nearly here, after all. Most of the fancy decorations need to be put up,” Sunodagh looked up at the rafters above them, “Our ladder broke last week. Help me fix it?”
“I do not need a ladder.”
“I don’t want the women to kill me if they wake up and see you up there without any support.”
“Then, I will finish before they wake up,” She smirked, “Shall we get started?”
“How about we start making breakfast instead?”
“If that is what you want,” Mira nodded, “We could… make those sweets the kids like?”
“Alright,” He laughed, “I can get those ready.”