Chapter Twenty-Four

**Collecting the Ashes**

Eliza turned from Vanna and headed towards her cottage. Jason didn’t want to stick around to see what Vanna would do, but he also didn’t think Eliza wanted him following her. His only option was to check out the pig pen. Vanna gave him a stern nod before he left, but all Jason saw was murderous anger in his friend’s eyes.

Jason headed to the pig pen, but there wasn’t much to see there. He didn’t know how many pigs Eliza and her husband had, but they were dead now. A few notification’s blinked warmly in Jason’s view and he opened them.

Quest Completed: The Widow Part I

Reward: 200 Exp.

New Quest: The Widow Part II

You have scouted Eliza’s home, confront the thugs and get them to leave by whatever means you see fit.

Failure Condition: Leave without clearing thugs

Reward: 400 Exp. and additional rewards given based on actions taken

Quest Completed: The Widow Part II

Reward: 400 Exp. Return to Eliza for additional reward

**View combat log? Yes/No**

Jason selected no, he didn’t even think the engagement merited the term fight. As Jason closed out his notification James let out a blood chilling scream.

“Shut it,” Vanna screamed loud enough so that Jason could hear her, “I should geld you.”

Jason clamped his eyes shut and shook his head. A moment later the female player squealed, “ah…ahhh… ahhhhhh.”

That’s enough, Jason told himself. He opened his eyes and rushed back to Vanna. Out of reflex, he gagged at what he saw. Vanna’s sword dripped dark blood. Both of the players were still tied to the log, but in place of their eyes were gory pit oozing blood and membrane.

“Vanna,” Jason screamed.

“What, Jason,” Vanna yelled back, her voice ragged with exertion. The two locked eyes and stared each other down.

“Vanna,” Jason said slowly, “either you kill them or you let them go, I’m not going to let you torture them anymore.”

The warrior puffed her chest and glared angerly back at Jason. Her breathing was heavy, but steady. She’s worked up but in control of herself, Jason noticed. He didn’t fear Vanna would hurt him, but he didn’t want to watch his friend break down into a butcher any farther.

Vanna first softened her eyes, then her body relaxed. “I’m sorry Jason,” she whispered then sheathed her sword. She turned to her two captors and spat on each of them, but that was her final assault on the pair. “Let’s check on Eliza,” Vanna said timidly.

Jason nodded, he was afraid of this new side to his friend, but he had seen the good in her and held onto the hope that wasn’t the real Vanna. They left the thugs and headed towards the cottage. Before entering Vanna knocked softly on the earthen doorway.

Inside, rays of light shined through gaps in the stick ceiling. In the middle of the room, a hearth faintly glowed with dying embers. All kinds of household items were strewn about the room; a broken broom lay in two, ripped clothing covered a wooden chest, old food clung to dirty pots and pans. But the saddest of all was the sight of Eliza hunched over a bed cradling something neither of them could see.

“Eliza,” Vanna whispered. The woman looked back at Vanna and Jason slowly then turned back to the item in her hand. The companion’s crept closer to the curled woman.

“He liked to whittle,” Eliza said quietly, in her hand she held a wood carved pig. A tear stroked down Eliza’s face but she let out a little laugh. “He wasn’t that good, but it made him happy,” she looked down at the little wooden animal and smiled then stuffed the thing into her tunic. “They destroyed the other things he carved, but I was able to hide this one.”

Vanna opened her mouth to respond but she fell short of words. Jason stepped up and asked, “what are you going to do now Eliza?”

The woman gave him a surprised look, it was the first time either of them spoke directly to each other. Jason noted she was still a little nervous around him, but she still responded, “I don’t know.” She turned to Vanna and continued talking, “we raised the pigs for truffle hunting together, I would look after the cottage while he went with the pigs. I told those idiots that my pigs weren’t raised for meat and wouldn’t be worth killing, but they still killed all of them,” a tear ran down her face at the memory of her animals. “Raising pigs is all I’ve ever known. I don’t have much money, not enough to find another pig that could hunt truffles; and I can’t live out here on my own. It was hard enough with two people, I can’t imagine doing it on my own.” Eliza went quiet and looked around the house, it was no longer a home to her.

“Come on Jason,” Vanna said, “let’s go outside for a moment.”

“Um, ok,” Jason responded.

Eliza didn’t watch as they left, the ashes of her life captured her attention.

“Vanna,” Jason hissed when they were outside, “what are we going to do about her?”

“We can’t just leave her here,” Vanna cried.

“I know, but will she even want to come with us?” Jason asked. “And Vanna,” Jason said in a lowered tone, “what happened back there?”

The warrior looked away shyly, Jason didn’t want to pressure her more but he needed to know why his friend so easily tortured the two players. “Let’s just say, I know how Eliza feels,” Vanna paused and swallowed a lump in her throat, “something not even a lifetime can make you forget.”

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Jason looked away sheepishly, sorry that he had to hear such a vulnerable fact about his friend. “Vanna,” he started.

“It’s ok, it happened a long time ago, it’s just… you wouldn’t know how it feels to finally fight back at something that has infected you your whole life. Jason, they deserved worse than what I gave them, but that doesn’t justify what I did. I just hope you can understand that’s not the real me.”

“I know Vanna,” Jason whispered. Vanna reached out and squeezed his arm and they exchanged weak smiles.

Behind them they heard a shuffle and turned. Eliza walked out from the cottage carrying a small bundle. “I can’t stay here,” she announced.

Vanna snorted, “well we are heading to Finchead, the village on the other side of the forest. You can join us.”

Jason nodded his head, “yeah, you’re free to stay with us as long as you’d like.”

Eliza faced Vanna, “thank you, I can’t thank you… you two enough for helping me. I may never have anything like my old life back, but at least I have some kind of closure.” She began to unwrap her bundle, “my husband and I didn’t have much, but now there are a few things I won’t need. Vanna this was my husband’s cloak,” she pulled out a thick green fabric. “I know you gave me Jason’s cloak so I figured you didn’t have one yet.”

Vanna took the cloak, “thank you, but are you sure?”

“Yes, I have my own cloak. And Jason,” she turned to the peddler. She stiffened slightly but continued talking, “I thought you’d might like this bag.” She handed Jason a small satchel. He nodded his head in thanks. “It is an heirloom of my husband’s family, it’s not much but it’s has a doubling capacity enchantment and I thought you’d might be able to use it.”

Jason gaped, “um, Eliza, I know magical item are worth a fortune are you sure you just want to give this to me.”

“Yes,” she nodded, “it really isn’t worth much, if you inspect it you’ll see.” Eliza looked at him shyly, but also as if she were waiting for him to do something.

Jason looked at the leather bag in his hand and inspected it.

~Satchel of Holding (Durability 2/45)- Doubles capacity of normal vessel.

**Note This: Enchanted items loss their effect upon reaching 0 durability. In addition, unless an enchanter reinfuses the item, the enchantment will vanish even if the item is fully repair. Warning, items inside enchanted vessels still maintain their original weight while stored.**

Jason looked back up at Eliza, “still this is very kind Eliza, and I will use this.” He smiled at her and he saw her lips upturn briefly.

“And this has a good weather protection rating,” Vanna exclaimed, “Eliza are you sure?”

“Yes, it is the least I can do and I would very much appreciate it if you let me accompany you to at least Finchead,” Eliza said.

“You’re more than welcome,” Jason interjected, “but, um… are you ready to leave…” he slowly gestured his hand around the clearing.

Eliza looked down. “Let me go back inside and grab a few of the things still worth anything. Then I’ll be ready.”

“We can put anything you need on Skippy’s cart,” Jason offered.

Eliza looked at him with soft eyes. “Thank you,” she nodded her head in thanks then went back into the cottage.

“Well this was no fun,” Jason commented.

“Yeah,” Vanna replied.

“What are we going to do with them?”

“I know letting them go is as good as killing them, but I’m not up to killing anyone else, even if I know they’ll just come back,” Vanna said.

“I can’t believe there are people like them.”

Vanna shrugged her shoulders, “one of the things that draws people to the game is the complete freedom to do what you want without repercussions. There are a lot of sick people back on earth. I guess if they don’t start off having fun in the beginning then they make do with what little they can until someone stops them or they get their fix.”

Jason nodded.

“And it’s probably worse for people like me who are in here just to extend their life or avoid their pains back on earth,” Vanna added. “Jason, um do you mind being the one to let them go?”

Jason stared back at her for a moment then nodded, “I’ll go do it now.” The warrior thanked him with a nodded then he started towards the prisoners.

James moaned weakly, but the woman sat still with an angry look on her face. Their crushed eyes scared Jason but he crept towards them. The woman spat, “she sent you?”

Jason wondered how she could tell it was him, but instead said, “I’m cutting you free.”

“Kill me, please,” James moaned. The woman sat stoically.

Jason used his knife to saw through James’s binds, the blinded man sobbed the entire time. When the ropes were broken the man didn’t move but continued to sit as if he were still tied up. Jason moved over to the woman and began sawing her free.

She let out a single laugh, “you think you’re better than us. You don’t even have the decency to kill us rather than leave us for the wolves.” Jason gritted his teeth but stayed quite. “Well forget you, and forget you too James. I’m done with this game.” And then without any further warning the woman’s body evaporated.

“Haley, Haley,” James cried in a panic, “oh god, she must have logged out. Ugh, I guess there’s no point of playing anymore. Have fun in hell bastard,” James spat then he also vanished.

Jason stared blanky at the empty imprints in the ground before him. His knife began to shake in his hand, but he turned and walked back towards Vanna.

“Are they gone?” Vanna asked as he approached. Eliza stood next to her wearing a stuffed backpack and carrying a bundle in her arms. Vanna seemed to be helping her as she had her own bundle of items.

“Yeah…yeah, they’re gone and I don’t think we’ll see them again,” Jason mumbled.

Vanna tilted her head slightly and squinted her eyes, “alright…let’s go then.” Eliza nodded then began to lead them back towards the road.

*****

The trio managed to arrive in Finchead before nightfall, but to empty streets and glowing doorways and shutters. A couple late workers waved to them as they walked through the main street, but no one stopped to talk.

Jason knocked lightly on Byron’s door and a moment later the reeve opened the door. “Jason,” he cried with a smile, “I was getting worried, you’re later than usual.” He looked behind Jason to find Vanna. When he saw Eliza his face scrunched in confusion, “and you have a new friend?”

“This is Eliza. It’s a long story Byron, one not for tonight,” Jason replied.

“I understand my friend, come in and eat. It’s nice to meet you Eliza,” Byron bowed curtly to the woman. Eliza returned a small smile and curtsey, but remained silent. “Jule and I are almost done and we have plenty left,” Byron said.

“Thank you Byron,” Vanna called. She gestured for Eliza to go inside. Byron stepped outside and stood next to Jason as the two women entered the cottage. Jason could hear Jule let out a cry and Vanna begin to introduce Eliza.

Byron clamped Jason’s shoulder, “come my friend, I’ll help you unload your cart. More things to sell?” Referring to the bundles in Skippy’s carts.

“Sadly, no those are our friend’s,” Jason explained. “But we are ready for our next load of wool.”

“I mentioned organizing more permanent arrangements last time you left,” Byron said. Jason perked up excited for what Byron was about to say.

“Yes, I remember something about that,” Jason said coyly.

“Yes, you seem to be making a routine of traveling between here and Laxtar,” Byron continued. Jason nodded, happy where he was going. “Well, if you’re going to be staying here every other day we can’t have you staying in the townhall, we need it for other purposes.”

“Oh,” Jason said, his hopes deflated. “Yes I suppose you’re right.”

The pair stopped talking to lift Skippy’s cart off the donkey’s back. Byron groaned from the exertion and continued, “off course you’re always allowed to use the stable. I talked around town to see if anyone had anything to rent out and I found someone.”

“Okay,” Jason said, “what’s the place?”

“It’s a two room hut, nothing wonderful, but I’ll let you talk about it with the owner,” Bryon explained.

“When can I meet this guy?” Jason asked.

“Tonight,” Byron exclaimed happily, “I’ll go and fetch him while you eat, then you can go look at the place afterwards. Don’t worry I already vouched for you so you’d be able to move in tonight, but its up to you to work out a price.”

“Alright, that sounds good,” Jason said starting to get excited about the idea of having established base. However, talking about a trade agreement still nagged on his mind. The reeve turned around happily to leave the stables, but Jason stopped him, “hey Byron. There actually was something else I’d like to talk about.”

Byron arched his eyebrows, “yes?”

“I was hoping that I could work out some kind of trade agreement with the town.”

Byron smiled knowingly, “ah, I thought that would come eventually. Well its not me that you need to talk to, but I can arrange a meeting with the proper people. You’d probably need to stay an extra day though?”

Jason brightened, “really? Thanks, yeah I don’t mind waiting another day. I don’t know if you noticed or not, we’re all tired, its been a long two days. And if renting this place works out it will give us time to get it together.”

“Then its settled,” Byron said, “why don’t you go inside and eat while I go grab Felix to see the hut?”

Jason nodded and they parted ways in the dying light of the setting sun.