Runeguard 026

Day Five

I rose early the next morning, one hour earlier than my agreed upon meeting time with the Paragons. There were a few errands I needed to run first.

Sitting up in my bed, I reached out to the black dragon within me. “Night, you there?” I asked.

“I am,” she replied in a sleepy voice. “Do you need me?”

“No, I just wanted to let you know I’m venturing into town,” I answered. “Don’t reveal yourself to anyone.”

“Very wise, Dace,” Night murmured, then promptly fell asleep.

“Huh… Adi, do spirits sleep?” I asked.

“Spirit guards do,” she replied. “Just like you, Night must spend time replenishing her energy. Since you are her sole anchor in this world, she can only do this while unconscious and sheltering inside you.” 

I nodded thoughtfully, before rising to my feet and slipping out of the room.

You have employed your small room for the allowed one night. If you use your key to enter the room again, you will be charged another 1 gold.

I grimaced as I read the System message. I only had enough money for another night at the tavern. If I was going to stay in the Creche any longer, I would have to find a way to earn more gold.

I hurried out of the tavern and made my way to the tailors’ shop. The old ladies of the Weavers Guild, I suspected, would be awake even at this early hour.

Sure enough, Evelyn greeted me at the door. “Dace,” she said, her voice warm and welcoming. “I’m pleased, if surprised, to see you again.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

The grandmotherly guildmaster smiled. “Why am I happy to see you?”

I shook my head. “Why does my presence surprise you?”

“Ah,” Evelyn said, her smile fading. “Matters in town have deteriorated since we last spoke. Do you remember the ruffians that were asking after you?”

I nodded.

“They have intensified their efforts and have taken to stopping people in the streets to question them—about you.”

I waved my hand dismissively. “I took care of them.”

Evelyn glanced at me sharply. “I’m not so sure you have, young man. They know your name now and have warned off anyone from dealing with you.”

My eyes hardened. “Have they threatened you?”

Evelyn sniffed. “They haven’t gone that far. Besides, we can take care of ourselves.” Seeing that I remained unconvinced, she added, “I have negotiated an agreement for protection with one of the town’s larger guilds, the Wardens. The thieves don’t dare act against us.”

The ‘yet’ went unspoken, but I couldn’t help hearing it. 

“Anyway, if I was you,” the guildmaster continued, “I wouldn’t dally too long in the Creche.”

“I appreciate the warning, Evelyn,” I said. “And I assure you, I don’t intend on staying in the Creche any longer than I need to.” I paused. “I assume you have made plans for your own departure?”

The matron nodded. “We have a few things to wrap up that might take a day or two. But we plan on leaving straight afterwards with the Wardens as escorts.”

“That’s good,” I said. “If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask.” 

“Thank you, Dace,” Evelyn murmured. “But enough talk. What brings you to our shop this early?”

I shifted uncomfortably. “I came to see if you managed to trade those items I gave you. But I understand if you are no longer willing to serve as my factor. I will—”

“Nonsense,” Evelyn said, waving aside my concern. “I told you, the thieves don’t concern me, and as a matter of fact, I have all the goods you requested. Here you go,” she said, initiating a trade with me. 

Trade Window

Goods Offered by Evelyn Martins

20 x lesser mana potions.

“That is a lot of mana potions,” I said appreciatively as I accepted the trade.

“Just as I promised,” she said with a smile.

“You sure did. Thank you, Evelyn,” I replied. I met her eyes. “Well, I guess this is goodbye. I’m heading out for the day, and I doubt we will see each other again, at least not in the Creche. Take care of yourself and your people.”

“You too, Dace,” the matron said. “And never fear, I have your contact details. I will make sure to message you once we are in the sector proper.”

I looked at her quizzically. “My contact details?”

Evelyn shook her head. “Go to the townhall, and you will find out what I mean. It houses a System messaging device for contacting players.” She turned around and walked away. “Goodbye, Dace.” 

✵ ✵ ✵

I left the Weavers Guild deep in thought. Visiting the townhall was something else I needed to do. But not today, I decided.

Of their own accord, my steps carried me to my next destination: the blacksmithy. From the noises emanating from inside, I could tell the smiths were awake and at work.

I pushed through the door and looked for Gorman, but to my disappointment, he was nowhere to be seen within the crowded shop. 

“Damnit,” I muttered. I was really hoping to get my armor before my dungeon delve with the Paragons.

Another familiar shape separated itself from the smiths and approached me. I exhaled in relief. It was Juyorah.

The guildmaster’s face was an expressionless mask, but blue and black splotches covered his face. I frowned. Were those bruises?

I was in a hurry though, and didn’t take the time to spare to inquire about the cause. “Good morning,” I greeted as he stepped up to my side.

“Well met, Dace,” the guildmaster replied, his face still impassive.

“Is my armor ready?” I asked. “Sorry to be so abrupt, but I am in a bit of a hurry this morning.”

“I’m afraid it’s not,” Juyorah responded.

Damn. “Oh,” I said. It was unfortunate, but I would have to make do without today. Though, I had been hoping to be fully clad in armor for the dungeon. I shifted uncomfortably as I looked for a graceful way to leave. Maybe there is time to visit the townhall, after all.

“Where’s Gorman?” I asked eventually, craning my head to scan the crowds of smiths again. “Not an early riser, is he?”

Juyorah’s stony demeanor cracked as a grimace of pain flashed across his face. “Gorman is dead.”

My eyes snapped back to the guildmaster. “How?” Dread coiled in me. Had I caused the friendly smith’s death by sending him to Wolf Valley?

Juyorah shook his head, avoiding answering the question altogether. “We will have your armor ready by tomorrow.”

“Tell me,” I demanded.

“It’s not important.”

“Let me be the judge of that,” I growled. “Now just goddamn tell me.”

The guildmaster expelled a heavy breath. “It was the Crows.”

I closed my eyes. Them again. “How did it happen?”

“Dace, I don’t think—”

I raised my hand, stilling Juyorah’s objections. The guildmaster met my gaze. Whatever he saw there, caused him to swallow further protest.

“A gang of two dozen came to the shop last night,” he said. “Looking for you. Somehow, the thieves learnt you had given us a commission. They had come—or so they said—to ‘confiscate’ your armor. Gorman attempted to stop them.” 

Juyorah swallowed. “I tried to convince him not to resist. I told him it was useless to even try. There were too many of them.” 

The guildmaster’s voice turned raw with grief and guilt. “Gorman wouldn’t listen. He refused to retrieve your armor from his inventory.” Juyorah fell silent for a moment. “The damn idiot. They killed him and looted the items off his corpse. I am ashamed to say the rest of us stood back and did nothing.” Juyorah hung his head. “I am sorry, Dace.”

I clamped my hand on the guildmaster’s shoulder. “You did the right thing,” I said. “There was nothing else you could do.”

Despite my calm words, my hand on the guildmaster was trembling, and inside I was raging. Like Juyorah, I carried my own share of guilt for the big smith’s death. 

If not for me, the thieves would not have bothered him. If not for me, Gorman would be alive. And now, I couldn’t let his death go unavenged.

Juyorah looked up at me. “You really think so?”

I refocused my gaze on him. “I do. Now tell me everything you know about the Crows.”

The young guildmaster stared at me. “Why?”

I met his gaze. “Because,” I said softly, “while this is not a problem your Guild can deal with, it is one I can handle. Where will I find them, and what are their numbers?”

Juyorah shook his head. “There are too many of them, Dace.”

“Tell me,” I insisted.

Juyorah’s shoulders sagged. “You are determined to do this?”

“I am.”

“You can find them in one of the camps outside the town,” he said with a sigh of defeat. “The thieves have claimed a section of the fields as their own and cordoned off the area. Their leader is a player named Marcos, and the last I heard, he counted over a hundred players as his followers.”

“Thank you, Guildmaster,” I said formally and swung around to leave.

“Dace, wait,” Juyorah called.

I stopped and turned back.

“The thieves may have got your armor,” he said, but they didn’t get the weapons we forged for you.” He initiated a trade.

Trade Window

Goods Offered by Juyorah Kladis

1 x steel warhammer.

1 x large steel shield.

1 x hatchet. 

1 x shovel. 

4 x pickaxes.

500 x pieces of iron ore.

I lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “Where’s the ore from?”

“From Wolf Valley,” the guildmaster replied. “It’s your cut from yesterday’s efforts.”

“The thieves didn’t take it?”

“They didn’t know about it,” Juyorah said grimly. “Otherwise, I am sure they would have stolen it too.”

I rejected the trade and initiated a new one. “Keep the ore,” I said.

The guildmaster nodded his thanks. “We will make you a new set of armor from it.”

“Don’t,” I said, shaking my head. “I intend on getting the original one back.”

✵ ✵ ✵

A System message opened in front of me as I stepped out of the smithy.

You have acquired a new Creche task!

Creche Task 05: Bring the Thieves to Justice

Due to your avowed intent to make the thieves pay for their crimes, you have been awarded the following task: bring the thieves to justice.

Main Objective: Recover your stolen goods.

Secondary Objective 1: Find and punish Gorman’s killers.

Secondary Objective 2: Slay Marcos, the Crows gang leader and end their vendetta against you.

Rewards: +2 ranks in strength for each objective completed.

Additional requirements: Must be achieved before exiting Creche 1050. 

My thoughts were in turmoil as I stomped back to the tavern, and I dismissed the System message without much consideration. 

Plans formed in my mind and were discarded nearly as quickly. Whichever way I looked at it, a hundred thieves were too many to take on alone.

I needed help.

It stuck in my craw to go to Bayan with cap in hand, but I didn’t see how I had much choice. The Paragons were the only fighters I knew well enough to ask, and the thieves had to be dealt with. I realized that now. If only I had dealt with them earlier, Gorman might still be alive.

But it was too late to un-ring that bell. All that was left, was to get justice for the big man.

I pushed my way into the tavern and found the Paragons at breakfast in the common area. I made my way over.

“Ah,” said Lauren. “Look who is awake! I was afraid we would have to come banging on your door again.”

Jorge and Gavin laughed, but Beth, seeing my expression, realized something was wrong. “What’s happened Dace?”

I pulled out an empty chair next to her. “May I?” I asked. She waved permission and I sat. “I need help,” I began without preamble.

“Of course,” she said, concern written across her face. “What do you need?”

I started to reply, but before I did Bayan spoke up. “Beth,” he said.

That single word was enough to wipe off all expression from the fire mage’s face. She turned to face Bayan. As did I.

“Let’s hear Dace’s request before we commit ourselves,” the Paragon leader said.

Beth opened her mouth to protest, but laying my hand on hers, I stopped her. I knew it would do no good. Bayan would decide as he would, regardless of what the others thought. I only hoped I could convince him that what I sought to do was in the Paragons’ best interest too.

“The Crows have killed a smith named Gorman,” I said. The Paragons’ faces around the table tightened at the mention of the thieves, but no one said anything, and I went on. “The night before last, I gave Gorman and the Silver Hammers a commission. This morning, I went to collect my armor. Instead, I found out it had been stolen and Gorman killed.”

“That is unfortunate, Dace,” Bayan said slowly. “But what is it you want from us?”

“I need your help to retrieve my armor and get justice for Gorman.”

The silence around the table was absolute. Not even Gavin had any caustic remarks to add.

“Are you aware how large the thieves guild is?” Bayan asked eventually.

“I am.”

“And you know we plan on attempting the Creche’s second dungeon today?” he asked.

“I do.”

Bayan tilted his head to the side and studied me. “And you still want to pursue a… vendetta against the thieves?”

I shook my head. “I don’t. But if the Crows are not opposed, they will soon control the town entirely. Already the Weavers Guild is being threatened. If the Paragons are not careful, you may find yourselves returning tonight to a town controlled by the thieves. Do you want that?”

“I don’t want that, no,” Bayan murmured. “But we are not planning on returning to town.”

“What?” I asked in surprise.

Beth explained, “I meant to tell you, Dace. Today, after completing the dungeon, we plan on heading directly to the exit portal.”

Bayan leaned forward on the table. “Dace, your objectives are admirable, but I am afraid what you wish is impossible. My advice: forget your friend, forget the armor. You will quickly outgrow it outside the Creche, anyway. Finish the dungeon with us, then leave the Creche behind. The thieves will get what is coming to them, eventually.”

“I’m not so sure,” I said, leaning forward myself. “If they are—”

“Stop, Dace,” Bayan said, sitting back and raising his hand. “I have made up my mind. We will not help. We leave town in the next ten minutes, and we won’t be coming back. You are either with us, or you are not.”

I glanced across the table. From the others’ lowered gazes and turned-away faces, I knew that once again, none of the Paragons would gainsay their leader. I swallowed bitterly. 

I was on my own.

“So be it,” I said. Shoving away from the table, I rose to my feet. “Good luck with the dungeon,” I called over my shoulder as I walked away.

“Wait, Dace!” Beth shouted.

I didn’t turn back.