232: Skull

Hari and Wyatt were quick to give each other a giant hug, while the three merchants stood looking to where their carts were now missing.

“Hold up a second? Are you sure they are going to be okay?” Nero asked, turning to me, clearly unconvinced.

Shrugging, I just pulled it back out again.

“Have a look yourself. It costs me mana each time, so I can’t keep pulling it in and out, but a couple of times should be fine,” I explained, going with Milo’s lies.

All three merchants inspected the cart, with Anthony muttering, “Incredible.”

“Do you realise how much money you’d get paid if you could skip the caravan and just store it away?” Nero said, looking at me, while Paro nodded furiously.

“He’d also be putting himself at incredible risk,” Milo said, shutting that topic down.

As I stored it again, I heard Wyatt’s booming voice from behind me. “Come! Come! Let’s see this skull. I’ve been waiting all winter.”

Turning around, I saw Coral poking her head out from the doorway that led into the inn. I gave her a wave and a smile before she grinned, shaking her head and going back inside.

I couldn’t help but overhear the three merchants now talking about how much of a boon it would be to find someone with a similar skill when moving, and would start asking the adventurers’ guild directly for it.

Their drivers, however, didn’t wait and were already walking into the inn.

I followed the group as Wyatt walked us straight past the bar and through the familiar door at the back of the room, before leading us upstairs. I saw the merchants enter the bar as we disappeared, but it was already too late. We were gone.

“Are they going to be okay down there? Don’t they need rooms?” I asked.

Wyatt’s voice came from the top. “Coral will sort em out, don’t worry.”

Entering the room, Wyatt immediately started to move chairs out of the way as Crisplet dove into the fireplace.

“Let’s see this skull then!” Wyatt turned to me.

With a subtle nod from Hari, I pulled it out. We had to get a little creative with this one and left on a tiny strip of hide, as I was worried the bones alone once aged wouldn’t be able to be stored. This fear was unfounded because even after ageing it, it still had a very subtle blue glow to it.

Wyatt let out a low whistle as the skull hit the floor with a thud.

“It’s perfect! It looks so menacing!” Wyatt was saying while pacing around it, reaching out to touch the horns and teeth.

I had an idea, and I didn’t know if Wyatt would be okay with it, but I felt like it would look awesome, and worst case we’d just undo it. So while Wyatt was admiring it, I made my way to the fireplace to get Crisplet’s attention, leaning down to whisper.

“Crisplet, could you go into the skull and create a burning eye in each of the sockets?” I whispered with a grin.

Crisplet didn’t question it, and in a flash he burst into the skull, causing Wyatt to jump back.

“Hey! Wait?!” he said, looking around confused.

I also saw a confused look from Hari and Milo, but there was a clear grin on the faces of Liane and Jen, so I wondered if they knew what was coming.

Crisplet didn’t waste any time as the eye was filled with black charcoal, with a light grey on the edges, before a giant crack split in the middle, giving it almost the appearance of a cat eye, but on the inside was a deep red flame. It coursed through the eye, not coming out except for the slightest tail at the top.

It was perfect, and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as what looked to be an incredibly menacing and dangerous eye stared us all down.

Wyatt stood there stunned, as did Hari, while Milo now had the same grin the rest of us were wearing.

Crisplet moved to the other side where he did that eye too.

“That looks terrifying,” Wyatt said in awe.

“And near permanent too, if you provide it with fire mana,” Milo added.

“Well, we can remove it if you don’t want it,” I added quickly. I didn’t want to ruin the skull.

“Are you mad?! Remove it? Absolutely not! I don’t have fire mana though. Perhaps I could get one of the visiting mages to top it off? How long does it last?” Wyatt rapidly asked, not giving anyone a chance to answer his questions.

Hari, who had caught up to what was happening, just stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

Milo took the opportunity. “You won’t need fire mana. If they get dull, just get a torch or some open flame and apply it to the eye.”

To demonstrate, he took a partially burnt log from the fire and brought it over, placing it near the eye, which glowed brighter almost immediately.

“As for how long it lasts, I really don’t think any of us could answer that. If you keep applying fire mana forever, I think… If you’re talking about before the glow fades, weeks or months I guess?” Milo said thoughtfully.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Has Crisplet always been able to do that?” Wyatt asked.

“No, that’s new since we got to the capital, and you should see some of the stuff he has built there,” I laughed.

“The phoenix was resting in a tree sculpture he made that was as tall as the mansion when we left,” Jen said from behind.

Wyatt’s eyes went wide. “Hold up. Phoenix again? Mansion? You’ve only been gone for a few months. What the hell has happened?”

“A lot, friend. A lot. Also, let me introduce you to Lord Ashmoon, and his sister, Lady Ashmoon,” Hari said, gesturing to me and Liane.

Wyatt’s mouth opened like a fish, but no words came out.

“High noble house too, might I add,” Hari said, clearly having fun with this.

“Don’t forget Crisplet Ashmoon!” Jen said from the side, as some sparks escaped from the inside of the skull.

I felt embarrassed at the attention, but in case she was watching, “And Lily Ashmoon now too.”

It took a long while for Wyatt to process everything; appearing as if he’d been stunned.

“Seems you have a lot to fill me in on… wait, the cat too?” Wyatt said.

Hari laughed, falling into the chair as Crisplet, now done with the eyes, went back into the fireplace.

“Well, before that, let’s get this skull up. I’ve already installed the chains to attach it and pull it up to the roof. We also need to tell Coral we’ll be taking an easy night tonight. I have some serious catching up to do,” Wyatt said.