The Captain’s office door was open. He already had two guardsmen in his office, Wern and Nirran Ograth. He saw that we were standing outside and bid us enter. He was seated at a large desk, and the Ograths were in the two seats in front of it. They all stood as we entered, the Ograths turning to see us. His two wolves sat in the back near him, watching us attentively.
The Captain focused on Asha Yon. “We were beginning to worry for you four. We asked the gate guard if they had seen you, and they said they saw you leave for a run at about 5:30. You have been on a long run.”
Asha responds, “Yes, Captain, and a fruitful encounter with two elementals as well.” He holds out his palm, revealing his river stone. He looks at us, and we all do likewise.
“Are those …?” Without finishing, he walks from behind his desk and stands in front of Asha, giving the stone a close and possibly awed look. He turns and examines each of our stones in turn. Wern and Nirran do the same.
The Captain shakes his head in wonder. He returns to his desk and takes his seat. He exhales and jokes, “We can take court martial off the table. What could have possibly happened in an hour and a half to garner you those stones?”
These things must not be at all common.
Asha reports, “It started as just a normal morning run. Forrest knew he was close to ranking his running skill to E, which would in turn graduate him to Level 2. But a bit more happened than that.”
Nirran interjects in a whisper, “A bit, yes.”
Asha goes on to relate our just completed adventure. How we joined the water elemental’s party, got a quest, saved the deer, and cleared the logjam. The quest reward for all of us was the river stones.
The Captain responded, “Congratulations to you all. And welcome to the club.” He pulled out a necklace from beneath his shirt. It bore a copper-like stone and gave off the same sort of deep vibe as our river stones, and we could tell it was of import. “I earned this cave stone over 20 years ago, assisting an earth elemental fight off two magical roc monsters. I was with two other guardsmen. We did not manage to kill the rocs, but they didn’t kill us either. Our quest was to save the elemental and their child, who was hiding at the rear of the cave. We escorted them to their family group, and then our quest completed.”
“Asha, please write up a report on your activities this morning. You know that the guard needs its paperwork.”
“Yes, sir. Would some time tomorrow be sufficient?”
“Yes, that will be fine.”
Wern asks, “Does nobody else want to know why Forrest’s stone is different?”
Everyone looked at my face, expecting an answer. My family and Asha knew, but they want me to be the one to explain. “Uh, one of the elementals said the green streaks are a boon from Nature. I was the one who healed the fawn, which would otherwise have needed to be put to rest due to broken bones. In addition to the water-breathing capability everyone else received, mine also grants two points worth of luck.”
“You said that you would speak to me this morning, Forrest. This is a more surprising conversation than I was expecting. Most people go through their lives without any contact with a god, and on your second day you already receive a boon. There is every sign that you will be a valuable citizen of the Fifth Duchy.”
Mom takes a deep breath. “Captain, Lieutenant, I must admit that we have not been fully open with you. My sons realized I was keeping information back, and they followed suit. Nature is not the only god who has interacted with my son. Skawa also did, very openly, and I now feel our reticence has not been the proper course. It was driven by the thought that it would be simpler to not explain everything. There is no sign that Forrest is meant for ‘simple’, however. Since last evening the guilt of my silence has been building, and now I am sure there was no reason for it.”
Simple would be nice.
She explained how Skawa had spoken to me mentally after a bet with Arrjee. How, on misunderstanding Skawa’s intent, she had implied he would be acting unfairly. In seeming anger, he cast our newly armored bodies into the wood, and gave us the quest to save the Blakemans.
Arrjee suddenly asked, “Are the Blakemans still here? We need to let them know that their true benefactor was Skawa.”
Lieutenant Ograth responds, “Yes. Our plan is to escort both families out at the same time.”
“Good.”
The Captain states, “I understand the reservations which led you to silence. You cannot be blamed for wanting to avoid complex explanations, nor did we demand that you give up your privacy.”
Mom says, “That is not all. I have another matter, and I ask you to treat this one with discretion. It will become apparent over time anyway, but it is all very new right now. I do not yet have a feel for all of its implications. Yet you have been so kind, and we have avoided answering direct questions truthfully. Forrest is not a standard unborn awakened. When he was in the void, his interface offered him the chance to live a really long time, with a catch. He exists for one day out of seven. Then he will re-enter the void, and spend the next six days there, not aging. He will return, have another day, et cetera. He will probably be around for seven lifetimes, but absent for most of that time.”
The Captain shifts his attention from her to me. “It sounds as if you are destined for a long and unique life. I recognize that the unusual occurs all the time, but you, Forrest, stretch the boundaries of both time and the unusual.”
What can I say? I shrug in acknowledgement.
Nirran ponders aloud, “The void is like nothingness, isn’t it? Will Forrest actually be conscious, or will he just reappear six days later as if no time passed for him?
I respond, “This, in about an hour, will be my first time. But I understand I will be conscious, with time seeming to flow 60 times faster. So I will only experience about two and a half hours during your six days. I’ve been internally calling that period my ‘sixdays’, one word. A normal day, a sixdays, repeating. I expect this to be a very awkward lifetime, so I have to latch onto the days that I have and accomplish what I can.”
Wern asks, “So your quest to spend time alone was made up, and that is why you did not want an escort today?”
“Actually, it is a real quest that my interface offered up the moment Mom said I would have one. I am to experience my first sixdays, with a reward of another regular day.”
The Captain noted, “It sounds as if you have a very smart interface.”
I smile at him and answer seriously, “I think so.”
Realizing time is running short, I ask, “Do any of you have any specific questions? I promised the Captain a discussion, but time is short. Plus Arrjee is right; we should tell them about Skawa’s involvement. I have two quick ones. First, is the Duchess really holding a relay?”
He smiles and says, “Yes, in about seven months. It is an annual event.”
“Cool. Now, since yesterday I have been speculating about your wolves. I am thinking you might be either a tamer or a druid. Sorry if this is not a discussed topic, but I’m curious.”
“Why would it not be discussed? Anyone with Analyze at a sufficient level can know just by looking at me. Have you learned it yet?”
“Yes, while in the wagon yesterday evening. Mom suggested I learn it and told me how. It is F rank, and I have barely used it.”
“You will want to raise it to D as soon as possible to avoid needing to touch what you want analyzed. The more often you use it, the faster you can rank it. Go ahead and touch my hand and Analyze me.” He pushes his hand forward to the edge of his desk.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
I step forward near enough to touch him.
Randolf Pokka – male Human, level 42
Guard Captain
“Besides what my eyes already told me, it just says your name, level, and that you are a guard captain. I still do not know if you are a tamer or what.”
“It is what. I am a druid, and these wolves are my sisters.”
Okay, in Earth fictions, druids do have a unique view of the world. Check.
“I can see that you are a 16 year old male 50-50 hybrid Covargh, Level 2. You are an adopted orphan, and your classes are Martial Artist and Ki Healer. You have defeated one foe of equal or higher level than you.” He momentarily changes tone from a simple relaying of facts. “I assume that was one of the zebors.” Then, back to his Analyze results, “You have ki attacks available with either of your hands or any of your claws. Arrjee is a 14 year old 7/8 Covargh hybrid, Level 0, and a student. He has defeated 12 foes.” That stated, back to his normal speech, “I can also name a person’s skills and the rank of each.”
“So my job is ‘adopted orphan’? I couldn’t be a ‘former alien’ or something?”
Looking puzzled, he replies, “Even if Analyze is at Rank A, no one can see if you are awakened. Possibly with an S rank someone could tell, but I have never met anyone with S Analyze. Most people are happy to get it to C. I worked mine to B, though, feeling that a guard leader should take the extra step to know any foes, whether beast, monster, or citizen. If someone bothers with A rank, they could pretty much know your whole character sheet.”
“Is it not useful to know a foe's attributes and stats?”
“If someone falls below about 90% on any of their stats, Analyze will show it beginning at Rank E. It looks like the gauge on the first line of your own statuses. The numbers won’t be there until A, but just the colors and gauge heights are sufficient in battle. Plus, if I know that someone is near my level or higher, has Rank A fighting skills, and they look like they have trained their body or mind, their attribute values won’t add any more to what I already know. Expect a really tough fight.”
Okay, when I get mine to E, I’ll be able to see approximately how injured someone is. But D has to be the “soon” priority so I can tell from a distance.
Wern says, “I have a question. This morning, while your family is being escorted to Cottages, what are you planning just prior to your void time? Were you just going to dismount your horse and run into the woods?”
“I have not really thought about the specifics. But that sounds like as good of a plan as any.” I smile at her.
“Yesterday, I might have chosen to have someone follow you. I’m glad I know now that you will be okay. What about when you get back?”
“I have a spawn point near Cottages. It is where I began today’s today, and where I will begin tomorrow’s.”
The Captain says, “You have a strange manner of speaking, but given the specific circumstances of your life, I can see how it might affect the way you have to think. Anyway, if you wish to speak with Hesta and his family, we should end this meeting now.”
----------------------------------------
The other guards stand at attention and acknowledge, “Yes sir.” We leave and begin looking for our other friends. They were easy to find, standing outside their room, playing a game of catch.
Hesta is a great dad.
It is Mom who hails them first. “It looks like you are having a fun morning. I understand that things are still on schedule for all of us to leave in just minutes.”
“Yes. My cart is ready to go and so are we. My wife will be relieved to see us, even though it's a day early. If our horse made it home, she would be quite worried. I am sure she will want to thank you someday.”
“Then she should know who really to thank,” Mom says. Skawa ‘pranked’ us, but it was really him wanting us to help you. He transported us from our home in Cottages to where you first saw us. I apologize to both you and he for not being fully honest up front. It was all very quick, with no time to think.”
From behind us, “Yes, I imagine she would want to thank both Skawa and the Silverstones. None of you will be coming home empty handed.” It is Wern, and she is carrying two small leather bags. “These are your bounties and payment for the two zebors. 15 gold for each head, plus 5 each for their hides and meat.”
Hesta responds, “That is far more than we could have earned by selling everything in the cart fifty times over. Thank you!”
Mom seems to know what I am wondering. “Forrest, ten gold could purchase both a young, strong horse and a new high quality cart similar to the one Hesta has now.”
He responds, “Easily. And a new loom to boot. That is on my mind because our current one is so ancient, all that is left to repair are the repairs.”
Ten gold is worth a lot to a tradesman, but it won’t buy a castle. Got it.
Continuing her lesson, “There are 100 coppers per bronze, 100 bronze per silver, and 10 silvers per gold. If we ever get a platinum piece, your father and I will buy an estate and retire.”
Hesta laughs, “And if you ever want to grow cotton on that estate, you’ve already got employees.”
Okay, if a copper is a penny, a gold is 1000 dollars. Probably dollars of the year 1900, when pennies could still buy stuff. Wait. Isn’t cotton insanely labor intensive? Dummy! With the right magic, probably a small family unit could handle it. Hesta and his brothers Besta and Desta. One of them has got to have a teenage son named Frank.
Mom smiles back, “When that day comes, I can look you up in River, right?”
“Yes, they will know us there.”
Wern steers the conversation to the present reality. “I know we will be escorting the Silverstones to Cottages. Will our escorts be bringing you toward River, Hesta Blakeman?”
He asks for a moment to check his map. Once he has a route in mind, he says, “Yes, the main route will be in the direction of River. Several miles before reaching it, we will need to turn off the main road to get to our farm.”
“I see there are still 20 minutes until my appointment. Go ahead, Mom and Arjee, and I’ll catch up in a few days. There is really no reason for me to even start on your journey this morning.”
“Is there something we could assist with?” Hesta is not sure what I mean, and I don’t think it is necessary to explain again.
“Thank you, but I have already committed myself to spending several days away from home. I want to learn more about the guard. As you have experienced, they will take good care of me.”
“Alright. Well met, Forrest Rhodes.” Bob and Herma both give me hugs. With Bob, it is a leg-hug.
Mom and Arrjee give me separate hugs as well. Then they go to our room and gather the few items there. Guardsmen were busy reining a horse to Hesta’s cart. Soon enough, the Blakestones were away.
The Captain had approached during the final moments. He hands everyone in my family a small box attached to a necklace. “These will provide a temporary way to carry your stones.” We all thank him as we put our stone in the double-latching boxes, and put on the necklaces. Not fashion forward, but it will do for now.
Mom and Arrjee bid me farewell. The Captain pats me on the shoulder as I watch everyone leave. He smiles, “So what did you want to know about the guard?”
I chuckle. “I noticed the mess hall’s fare included vegetarian dishes. Are many guardsmen vegetarians?”
“Some are, but I don’t know of any here now. The advantage to having vegetarian dishes available is that anyone can eat them, vegetarian or not. Did you have any more serious questions, about joining, or training, or anything like that?”
“Not at the moment. I still barely know Cottages, just my one family, plus grandmother, uncle, and niece. Before I can think about a broader life, I am going to need to start with a smaller one.”
He looks at me appreciatively. “It is difficult to remember that you are not just a 16 year-old Covargh. I forget that you had a whole other life, and the wisdom that comes with it. For the twenty or so minutes you have left, what would you like to do?”
“If you don’t mind, I would like to head back to the river and relax, watching it flow. Spend this short time alone in reality, getting ready to be alone in the void.”
“Very well. I don’t know when we will meet again, but I look forward to that day.”
“I feel the same. Thank you for everything the guard has done for us.”
“You are welcome.”
I give a final nod, and run out the gate to the running path, and around to the river.
I take a seat in the grass a couple yards from shore, and just watch the water flow. It occurs to me I don’t even know the river’s name, so I open my map. Ah, it is “Wetter River”. The fort has a name also, “Fifth Duchy Fort 3”. Yep, should have known.
This would be a great Tenthday for anyone else. In a few minutes, for me it will be gone. I say to myself, “I guess that is bad luck of a sort, right?” I am trying to think of anything at all that happened my first today that I might term bad luck.
I hear a voice in my head. Skawa. “Well, you did have those two minutes of embarrassment while Arrjee had his laughing fit. That was not lucky, was it? And then you managed to lose a bet, fully knowing what the answer was ahead of time. It is not a lot of bad luck, but you have had some.
“Hello Skawa. Did you hear my thanks for receiving the quest xp?”
“Yes you are welcome. I do in fact have a ‘messaging service’, but most are filtered and handled if necessary without my attention. For now, you are not filtered. But do not expect me to pop up at a moment’s notice to handle one of your problems. I am not that type of god. I don’t think any of us are – maybe the ones with high priests; I am not sure.”
“Okay, I do not have a god at my beck and call. Got it. I don’t think I would want that anyway. No offense, but gods make me nervous.”
He continues, “As well we should. Back to the topic of luck. Do you know what types there are?”
“It is just good luck and bad luck right? And I guess medium or no luck?”
“You have not named the one that seems to apply to you the most. ‘Unusual luck’. Not in the sense of unusually good or unusually bad, but I mean unusual as in weird. You have had the most unusual luck I have ever seen. A mortal draws the open attention of two gods within the span of a day? I don’t know when that last happened, if ever. Your luck defies the ordinary. That makes you extremely interesting, and I will continue to watch off and on.”
“I don’t understand. Everything that you have mentioned relating to luck – it just was circumstances, and it didn’t seem luck was a factor at all.”
“What do you think luck is? ‘Circumstances’ would be a decent one-word definition.”
“I don’t really know. I was picturing my bad luck maybe leading to a tornado coming down and hurting me or my family.”
“Indeed that would have been very bad luck. But you know what the good news is? Thanks to Nature’s benevolence, your luck rating of 8 puts you in the low normal range. I wouldn’t go gambling, expecting to win a lot of money. But you probably would not get robbed on your way home, either.”
“It’s just about time for you to be voided. I’m breaking off this conversation. I do not think it would cause problems to still be communicating as you disappear, but no sense tempting, uh, luck. Bye Forrest.” Then, like before, his absence is palpable.
“Good-bye.” Just seconds after I think that, I feel reality begin to fade, just the opposite to how arrival felt. Here comes nothing.