Part Two

Chapter Eighteen

Moira and Duke appeared back in the grassy field; five feet higher than where they’d left.

Moira clutched Duke as they slammed into the ground. A small yelp escaped her as they made impact. Moira stumbled to her feet and took stock of herself. She was fine. Nothing hurt or ached like she would’ve expected after a fall like that.

She reached out for Duke, checking to make sure he was okay.

Duke shook his head and stumbled over to her. Moira pulled him into a tight hug; a sense of relief settled into her bones and her wall crumbled to dust.

“Are you okay? Really?” she asked.

He stared intently back at her, his ears pushed back against his scalp.

She held his gaze, searching his caramel-brown eyes for answers.

“Yes,” responded a muffled voice.

Her head jerked up. “What? Who said that? Who’s there?”

“Me.” The voice was clearer this time. It wasn’t coming from the field, it was coming from inside her head.

Her eyes widened, and she looked down at Duke. He stared back, his head tilted to the right.

“Was that you?” she whispered.

“Yes!” the voice replied. It sounded familiar, like how she always imagined his voice would sound.

“Duke—you can talk?”

#

A loud knock pounded against her door.

Moira pulled her comforter over her head, trying to drown out the noise, hoping whoever it was would just go away.

“Mo. I know you’re in there. I’m not leaving until you open this door.”

She peeked her head out from under the blanket, cringing at the sound of her mom’s ‘I mean business’ voice.

Moira glanced around the room. It was a mess. Dirty plates with half-finished meals were piled next to the bed, and the ground wasn’t visible beneath the mounds of clothes. She hadn’t cleaned the place in months, and it showed.

She sniffed the sweatshirt she’d been marinating in for the last week. It reeked of moldy cheese and vinegar. She gagged.

The pounding on her door continued. She dragged herself from her bed, pulling her hood up over her tangled mess of hair, and opened the door.

“Oh, Mo.”

Her mom’s voice broke when she saw her. Pity welled up in her eyes. Moira lowered her gaze, unable to stand that look.

“I know Mo, it’s hard. I’m grieving too. But you can’t keep living like this. Your dad would’ve hated to see you this way.”

Moira bit her cheeks and avoided her mom’s gaze. She couldn’t handle this right now.

“Mo, honey, I got you something. I think it could help.”

“I don’t—”

Her mom unfolded the blanket resting in her arms, revealing a small dark face with caramel-brown eyes that peered back.

“His name is Duke.”

#

A surge of emotion threatened to overwhelm Moira. Duke barked and wagged his tail. She stared at him, tears welling up. She never thought she’d see him again, feel his soft fur, watch the spark in his eye. Now, here he was, speaking to her.

Duke tilted his head. “You, okay?”

Moira wiped her face. “I’m okay, bud. I’m just so happy you’re back.”

He delicately licked her cheek. “Go, now?” He turned and pointedly stared at the city in the distance. The one they’d spotted just briefly before being transported to the Dungeon.

“Yes, bud. Let’s go now.”

#

A wall of smooth white stone loomed over them, like an oppressive mountain. Just beyond the wall, laughter and chattering voices echoed from the city, a contrast to the intimidating presence of the wall that towered above them.

Moira swallowed and straightened her shoulders. Two guards, sporting polished metal armor, stood in front of a large metal gate. Swirling shapes of metal made up the gate. The longer she stared, those shapes turned into figures of various flora and fauna that had been intricately built into the doors.

Moira dragged her eyes from the gate and turned her attention to the guards. The shorter of the two slouched against a small table, while the taller one picked at his fingernails. They looked up as she approached, straightening slightly.

“Name and reason for visiting Tersus?” the tall guard asked.

“Moira Thompson. I’m just looking for lodging and equipment,” she replied. Duke sat patiently at her side, intently staring at both guards.

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“Sign your name here, and welcome to Tersus.” The short guard pointed to a piece of paper on the table he’d been leaning against.

Moira signed her name quickly, and the guard ushered her forward into the city.

“That was easier than I expected.”

She stepped past the gates, her eyes widened as she took in the city.

Iridescent roofs sat atop every building, sparkling like fairy wings against the afternoon sun, creating flickers of color across the city. The roads were lined with a hodgepodge of flowers, varying in colors, size, and shape; like they had sprouted up at random. Vines dangled from buildings, intertwined between bricks of white stone.

People of various shapes and sizes bustled about on errands, brushing past her without notice. Lithe beings that moved with unnatural grace and silvery skin that almost glowed in the sunlight darted between the crowd. Their pointed ears caught her eye.

“Elves,”

If there were elves, what else existed here that were only myths back home?

A stout man with an intricately braided beard and an axe against his shoulder pushed past her, grumbling about “tourists,” shaking her out of her stupor.

Dwarves too, then. The entire city seemed straight out of Tolkien’s head. Her mind stuttered to a stop as a woman with heather wings folded against her back exited a store, a basket clutched within her fingers. Fingers that ended in pointed nails.

She stood frozen, the cacophony of sounds, colors, and new species was a shock to her brain.

A hand grabbed her arm, yanking her sideways and out of the crowd of people.

Moira grabbed her sword from her Inventory with barely a thought. She faced her attacker.

An elf in her late teens, with slanted eyes and platinum blond hair, stared back. Moira dropped her sword to her side.

“Woah, woah. Didn’t mean to scare you.” The elf lifted her hands placatingly. “You just had that ‘Never been to a city, and I’m scared shitless, look.’ Figured I’d grab you from the street before someone tried to rob you.”

Moira stared suspiciously at the elf.

“Not much of a talker, then. Okay, I can deal with that.” She stuck out her hand with two fingers pointed at Moira. “Name’s Sloane.”

Moira looked down at her hand and back at the elf, unsure what the elf wanted her to do.

Sloane dropped her hand awkwardly.

Moira sighed. “Moira. What do you want?”

Sloane grinned broadly, her eyes flicked down at Duke and back up at Moira. “Well, since you’re new to Tersus, I’d love to show you around. Show you the best merchants, and the most palatable inns—for a coin, of course.”

Moira looked at her skeptically. Something about Sloane felt off. She was too friendly, like she was overcompensating for something. Or trying to distract her?

Moira furtively glanced around, looking for any potential accomplices. The crowd moved quickly past them, going about their business. No one stuck out to Moira as suspicious.

Moira caught Duke’s eye and nodded her head toward Sloane.

He stared back, unblinking, not understanding.

She focused on him. If he could talk to her mentally, then maybe she could talk to him?

“What do you think, bud?”

He tilted his head and nodded in understanding. He’d heard her. It’d worked.

Duke was usually a good judge of character. If he liked her, then she’d take the help. After all, Sloane was right. She was new, and she still didn’t understand this world completely. She could use a guide.

Duke tilted his head and gingerly walked up to Sloane, sniffing her furiously. His ears perked up, and he wagged his tail. He pushed Sloane’s hand with his snout, coaxing her to pet him. She giggled and rubbed his ears. His tongue lolled out, and he glanced back at Moira happily.

“Fine. Give us the tour.”

“Passed the test, did I?”

Moira rolled her eyes and gestured for the elf to lead them on.

Sloane grinned broadly. “I knew I’d like you,” she said.

Sloane guided them through the city, slipping gracefully through the crowd. Duke and Moira attempted to follow her lithe movements. Unfortunately for the crowd, they weren’t quite as graceful as Sloane.

“This here is Main Street. It passes straight through Tersus, from gate to gate. If you ever get lost. Just find your way back here, and you should be fine. Up ahead is the market. It’s where the low-cost items are bought and sold. If anyone’s trying to sell you something more than a couple silvers there—it’s a rip-off.”

Moira nodded tightly. She didn’t have any of Caelum’s currency, and she’d need some money if she didn’t want to sleep on the street. Cyrus had said monster cores were worth some money, and she still had the Dungeon monster’s core. But it had to be worth more than what she could sell in the marketplace.

“If I need to sell a core, where would I go?” she asked.

Sloane looked at her curiously. “For something like that, I recommend Fendrick’s. He’ll try to haggle you down, but he’s mostly honest.”

“Lead the way.”

Sloane led them off the main thoroughfare and down a side street. The buildings looked older and not as well taken care of. Dark shadows crept from the corners. Moira tightened her grip on her sword.

“Duke, are you sure about her?” she asked mentally.

Duke wagged his tail proudly. “Nice lady, we stay.”

Moira exhaled. “If this goes wrong—I’m blaming your instincts.”

Sloane glanced back at them and noticed Moira’s stiff posture. “Sorry, it’s just a bit further down this road. There’s a sign. See!” She pointed up at a sign down the street that read Fendrik’s Emporium of Magical Items.

Moira relaxed as she spotted the sign. Tersus had her instincts screaming danger. Maybe she just wasn’t used to being around people. She shivered and followed Sloane.

Sloane pressed her hand on the door and stopped, turning back to face Moira. “Before we go in, let me see the core. Fendrik’s decent people, but he won’t mind screwing you a bit for a good deal.”

Moira crossed her arms and eyed Sloane.

“I’m just trying to help. I swear it.” Sloane met her gaze, not blinking.

“Fine,” Moira said.

She focused on her Inventory and pulled out the monster core.

“Woah, how’d you do that?” Sloane asked.

“Oh, my Inventory? It’s just an ability I picked up.” Moira ran her hand through her hair, her eyes darted down to Duke. “Anyway, here it is. What do you think?”

Sloane narrowed her eyes at her. She needed to get this over quickly and get rid of Sloane. It didn’t matter what Duke thought. The elf was already suspicious of her.

Sloane gestured to the monster core in her hands, and Moira passed it over. She watched as the elf took it in her hands and flipped it back and forth. Her eyes widened slightly, and she glanced back at Moira and then again at the core.

“It’s a good thing I found you. This is worth quite a bit.” She passed the monster core back to Moira. “I’d expect it’ll be worth around ten gold. Maybe twelve if you haggle right. Where’d you find this? It’s a pretty high-level core.”

“Just—around,” Moira said lamely.

“I get it, I get it. You’ve got your secrets.”

“Can we go in then?” Moira asked. Sloane still blocked the door.

Sloane grinned and gestured to the door. Moira pushed it open and walked in; Duke followed closely behind.