Runeguard 013

Day Three.

I rose early the next morning, feeling well rested. It had felt good to sleep in an actual bed again.

I sated my hunger with my travel rations before leaving my room. After I locked the door behind me, the key flashed red in my hand and a System message opened before me.

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.

Right, I thought, bemused. Looks like my one day is up. I didn’t mind though. The gold had been well spent.

Exiting the tavern, I made my way directly to the Weavers. The matron had promised to have my new clothes ready, and I was eager to see what her people had come up with.

I entered the tailors’ shop to find it a hive of activity. “Dace, over here,” Evelyn called.

I hurried over to the elderly matron. She was standing next to a large table on which two sets of clothes had been laid out.

“Morning, Evelyn,” I greeted. I gestured at the table. “Are these mine?”

Evelyn nodded. “They are. Go on, have a look.”

You have acquired: 2 x leather gambesons, 2 x leather pants, 2 leather gloves, and 2 x leather boots.

Both sets of clothes were a uniform brown, with fine stitching along the edges. I tried the gambeson first. Made of padded layers of leather, the jacket felt soft on the inside and hardened on the outside. It was well-fitted and extended beyond my waist.

“You can wear the gambeson directly under your heavy armor,” Evelyn said. “And when you aren’t wearing plate armor, the gambeson will provide you with its own small measure of protection. I know you said you didn’t want any leather armor, but this gear will serve your needs well, I think.”

I nodded, impressed by the quality of the craftsmanship.

Evelyn pointed to a curtained-off area. “You can try on the pants there.”

After I changed, I found the pants, gloves and knee-high leather boots to be as well-made as the leather jacket.

Item: Leather Armor Set

Base defense: 10.

Parent Essence: dexterity. Parent skill: light armor. Requirements: none.

Debuff: -10% to all magic skills. 

“I didn’t know you could make boots too,” I said absently while running my hands over my new gear. Wearing them felt good.

“We can’t,” said the matron. “I got one of the cobblers to make them. What do you think of the gear?”

“This is excellent work, Evelyn. Thank you.”

The matron’s lips turned up in a small smile. “Good, another satisfied customer.”

I willed my weapons out of my inventory and buckled the scabbard of my longsword around my hip. If I was going to walk around armored, there was no need to hide my weapons. I picked up my daggers, and after a moment’s hesitation, stuck them into my boots.

In an instant, Evelyn’s smile transformed into a scowl. “Let me see those,” she said, holding out her hands.

I was uncertain what she wanted with the small blades but handed them over anyway. Despite her somewhat prickly manner, the matron had proved to be trustworthy.

Evelyn inspected the daggers carefully before raising her head and calling out, “Joyce, come here.” Another woman hurried to her side. “Get the others to make some sheathes for these.” She looked up at me. “It won’t take long.”

I nodded in thanks, and Joyce hurried away. Evelyn stepped up to my side. “There is something I wanted to speak to you about,” she said in a low-voiced whisper.

My brows flew up. Now what had sparked this sudden bout of wariness in the matron? Thus far she had seemed fearless. “Go on,” I said.

“People are asking after you,” she said.

I looked at her in confusion. “After me? Why?”

She shrugged. “I am not sure. But they were… unsavory.”

“What did they want?”

“They didn’t say, but they asked lots of questions: who you were, where you got the hides from, what weapons you carried, what magic you have, and so on.” She looked at me sharply. “I would be careful if I was you. It did not look like they meant you well. And for all your faults, you seem like a good boy.”

I inclined my head. “Thank you for the warning, Evelyn. I’ll be careful.”

“Good, I wouldn’t want to lose such a good customer,” she said with another smile. “Now is there anything else I can do for you?”

“No, I don’t think—” I stopped. “Actually, there may be something.”

Evelyn gestured for me to go on.

“Are you willing to act as my agent in town? I expect to spend most of my days in the wilds, and I need someone to sell my goods.”

She studied me curiously. “You want me to act as your factor?”

“Exactly,” I said.

“Of course,” she said. “What goods do you want to sell?”

“These,” I said, willing open a trade window with the matron.

Trade Window

Goods Offered by Dace Tolman

138 x pieces of raw meat. 

90 x aloe flowers. 

29 x barberry leaves.

Goods Requested from Evelyn Martins

None.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow at the items but accepted the trade without comment. 

“Are you looking for anything in particular in return?” she asked. “Or just money?”

I pursed my lips in consideration for a moment. “Paper perhaps,” I said. “And some writing implements.”

The request seemed to surprise Evelyn, but she only nodded. “Alright, I’ll do my best.” She turned sideways as Joyce hurried to our side. “And here is Joyce with your dagger sheaths now.” 

 ✵ ✵ ✵

I attracted as much attention leaving town as I had entering it last night, but for a wholly different reason. 

Admiring and jealous glances followed me when I strode through the field bordering the town. As many eyes were fixed on the weapons on my belt as on my leather armor. 

Before leaving the tailors’ shop, I had taken the time to fix the dagger sheaths onto my belt. My shield was on display too, strapped over my back. I looked—and felt—dangerous. I held my head high and struggled to keep the self-satisfied smirk off my face. 

At last, I felt like a proper warrior.

The cobbled road was busier today, and as I marched north along it, I spotted a few other people making the journey north.

Are they leaving the Creche? I wondered. Or setting out to explore the forests too?

Whatever the case, no one approached me, and less than twenty minutes out of town, the traffic on the road dried up entirely.

It was a few hours’ walk back to Wolf Valley as I had taken to thinking of the rocky basin. While I walked, I turned over my plans for the day in my mind. Mining the ore vein I had spotted was my first priority, followed closely by exploring the subterranean network below the cave.

After that, depending on how the day went, I would begin my search for a dungeon. According to the original System task description, a dungeon was the only place I would find a guardian Class Stone. 

Seeing as how the Class would both alleviate my armor restrictions and gain me Nightstalker’s reward, it was imperative that I acquired it.

The sooner the better, I thought. But how can I find a dungeon? I was musing over just this fact, when the leaves of a tree up ahead rustled unnaturally.

I slowed, then stopped. Turning my head to the side, I studied the tree. It overhung directly onto the road. 

That’s odd, I thought. 

Thus far, other than the few people I had seen, nothing else had disturbed the serenity of the road. Was a beast lurking in the tree?

You have detected a hidden enemy!

The System message confirmed my suspicions. I stayed frozen for a few seconds longer, wondering if whatever lay waiting in ambush had spotted me.

When after a minute, there was no further movement, I sidled carefully off the road and into the underbrush.

Bracing my back against a tree, I drew my sword, inch by inch, careful to make no noise. Then, with bared blade in hand, I padded in a half-crouch through the bushes, walking in a wide half-circle until I judged I was about ten yards behind my target.

Your sneaking has increased to rank 6.

Ever so carefully, I padded forward.

You have detected a hidden enemy!

You have detected a hidden enemy!

 I froze. I was still about five yards from the suspicious tree. “Adi, do these System messages mean there are three enemies?”

“Three that you have found, Dace.”

I frowned, pondering my options. Would I uncover more creatures, the closer I advanced? An entire pack perhaps? And would I be able to handle them?

“… I’m telling you, I saw him!”

I stilled as I heard the hissed voice. Whatever I expected to find hiding in the forest, it was not people.

“Then, where is he?” a second voice whispered back.

“I don’t know,” grumbled the first. “Maybe he headed back into town.”

“Are we even sure this is the right guy?” asked a third.

“Yes! We ran into him outside those old ladies’ shop last night. I’m telling you; he is the same guy who killed Max and Osten!”

My lips tightened. Things were becoming clearer. The miscreants up ahead were thieves. More of Max’s ilk. 

And now I remembered why the pair I had bumped into last night were familiar. They were two of the sleepers that had fled the alley without aiding me.

So, it looks like the almost-victims have turned thieves themselves. Bad move on their part.

“So, what do we do now, Jimmy?”

“Resume your positions. We’ll give it another hour. Then if he still hasn’t shown, we’ll head back and report to Marcos. He won’t be pleased.”

A rustle of movement followed this order. Tilting my head, I listened carefully. They had taken up position alongside the road again, I thought. Two on either side.

I closed my eyes, considering how to defeat the four. It did not occur to me to leave them be. They were scum, and they were here to kill me. Likely, they had robbed and killed others too. 

I wouldn’t suffer them to live.

I sheathed my sword and drew my daggers. With a blade in either hand, I crept to where the closest thief lay hidden.

✵ ✵ ✵

For a thief, my first target was not very good at subterfuge. 

I had feared at first, I would not be skilled enough to sneak up on him. But the thief’s own constant shifting and restless movements covered up any betraying sounds I made as I padded closer.

I was less than a yard behind him and he still hadn’t detected me. Pausing in place, I studied my target for a second. He was crouched behind a tree with his eyes fixed on the road.

None of the other three were close by, not from what I could sense anyway.

I edged closer.

At the last second, the thief spun about, but before he could cry out a warning, I clamped my left hand across his mouth and slashed the dagger in my right across his throat.

You have killed an unknown player with a sneak attack.

Your sneaking has increased to rank 7.

 He dropped soundlessly.

Leaving the thief where he lay, I stalked my next quarry. He died as quickly as the first, as did the third. By this time my contempt for the thieves had grown immeasurably. Not only did they prey on the weak, but the scum were shoddy players—at best.

There was only one thief remaining. The leader of this merry band: Jimmy. I had deliberately left him for last.

I snuck up on him as easily as I had his companions. But I didn’t kill him immediately. Touching the tip of my dagger to the back of his neck, I whispered, “Don’t move.”

He froze.

I shoved him against the tree behind which he stood and held him in place with my body while I inspected him.

You have examined a player and have partially perceived his nature. Your target is a level 4 human.

Your insight skill has increased to rank 4.

Only level four, I thought. It explained why they were so poorly skilled.

“Who are you?” he asked, his voice quavering.

I chuckled. “What? Don’t you recognize your own mark?”

“You!” he snarled. “You’re a dead man!”

I ignored his bravado. “Who sent you?”

“I’m not telling you!” he blurted out, shouting out the words at the top of his lungs. 

He waited expectantly.

I waited with him, giving it a few seconds. “Expecting your friends to come, are you? They won’t. They’re dead already.”

Jimmy sagged. “Don’t kill me, man,” he pleaded.

“Why not?” I asked. “You were going to kill me.”

“We weren’t,” he said, licking his lips. “We were just gonna rob you. Teach you a bit of a lesson.”

He was lying obviously. “Who sent you and why?” I asked, ignoring his words.

“Marcos, as revenge for what you stole from Max and Osten.”

I frowned. I had heard them mention the name earlier. “Who is this Marcos?”

“You don’t know?” Jimmy asked in surprise. “You’re in so much trouble, man. Let me go—”

I shook him like a dog. “Tell me who he is,” I demanded.

“He is the leader of the Crows, a gang in town,” Jimmy cried out, readily enough.

The Crows? Really? I rolled my eyes. “And where can I find Marcos?”

“I don’t know,” Jimmy stuttered. “He moves around a lot.”

“If you can’t tell me that, then what use are you to me, Jimmy?” 

The thief’s eyes widened. 

He really wasn’t all that brave. Why had this Marcos sent a craven like him after me? But pitiful or not, I wouldn’t let Jimmy go. 

He had sealed his own fate by hunting me. Before the thief could say anything, I drove my dagger through his back.

You have killed Jimmy.

You have reached level 9! 

+1 rank in strength, dexterity, constitution, life, channeling, and perception.

+3 Essence Points.

✵ ✵ ✵

You have acquired: 4 x steel daggers, and 7 silver coins.

It did not take me long to loot the four thieves. Other than a dagger apiece, and a few coins, none of them carried anything of value.

I was surprised at the lack of more suitable projectile weapons. How had they intended on ambushing me? I wondered. With magic?

I left the scene of the ambush shortly thereafter and continued my journey north. The ambush troubled me, but not because of the four I had killed. I felt no remorse for that. The thieves had deserved their fate.

No, what worried me was Jimmy’s mention of the Crows and their leader Marcos. It seemed there were more thieves in town. Maybe even a sizable number. And organized to some degree at least. Perhaps, I had been overly hasty in killing Jimmy. 

I should have questioned him further, I thought.

I was sure the episode with the four would not be the end of the matter. There would be further ambushes, I was certain. The thieves, it seemed, had a vendetta against me, and I resolved to inquire further about the Crows once I got back to town.

I set aside the matter. Right now, the thieves were not important. I had ore to mine, and some tunnels to explore.