57: Concern

As we left the office and the doors shut behind us, I heard another loud crash. I suspected I now knew why Kara kept such a modest desk.

 

Heading down the stairs, my mind reeled with what had just happened—how casually the Lord had asked to have me killed while I sat right there, and then, essentially, being banished. Where would we go? Where could we go?

 

It was then that Liane spoke for the first time since we’d entered.

 

“Trev, don’t worry. If that pompous prick had tried to kill you, he’d have been dead before he could even draw a sword,” she said, patting me on the back.

 

Hari gave her a look but said nothing. I noticed Jackson snort a little.

 

“Thanks, Liane. I was just surprised at how casually he said it,” I admitted.

 

Hari explained, “Honestly, Trev, when people like him grow up in power and are always in power, they don’t see regular folk as people. It’s all part of a bigger picture. He said it while you were there because in his eyes, it wasn’t personal—it’s just how his leadership mind functions. Not that it was right. Don’t worry.”

 

“If it weren’t likely to cost half this city their lives, I’d love to have seen him try,” Jackson added as we reached the bottom of the stairs.

 

“The guild would never stand for executing one of its members over a vague threat you have no control over. We’d have fought it.”

 

“Except now I’m banished from the cities,” I said sombrely.

 

“No,” Jackson corrected. “You’ve been asked to leave this city, after you’ve finished your preparations, purely because of its location next to the mountain. You’re not banished from all cities—or any, really.”

 

We stepped out into the Guild Hall. It was as busy as usual, and travelling with the Vice-Captain drew attention, but nothing hostile like at the gate. Just glances.

 

As we left the guild, Jackson stopped us.

 

“You don’t have to, but if you’d like, you can stay at my place until you leave. That way you can lie low and use the kitchen. I can give Gael a well-deserved couple of days off.”

 

“We’ll definitely take you up on that offer. We still need to visit several places before we leave, and cancel the rest of the booking at the inn. We need to visit the Runescribe making Crisplet’s brazier, the Monster Knacker breaking down a Galvonson for us, and we’ll also need to buy a hefty amount of supplies,” Hari listed.

 

Jackson nodded. “I’ll go get the place prepared.” With that, he left us.

 

“He didn’t even ask us about the Galvonson nest,” Jen said with a chuckle.

 

Even Milo laughed. “I suppose we’ll need to go back and get the rest of that crystal on our way as well?”

 

“I don’t think that’s a good id—” Hari began, but was cut off as the ground shook. Not violently, but enough of a tremor to make him pause and look around.

 

Milo seized the moment. “We’re not leaving behind a giant vein of rare-quality, unknown ingredient. We visited that spot before with no issues; another week won’t change that.”

 

As we headed to the stables to pick up our horses, Jen voiced the pressing question already in my mind.

 

“So, where are we going to go?”

 

Hari seemed to think about it for a long while.

 

“Well, we have options. We could head east to Dunhearth so Trev can visit his friends, then go north to Elarith Vale. Or continue further east to the Capital. Or head south from Dunhearth and try to intercept Trev’s other friend down that way. But Trev—before you get your hopes up—there’s every chance he’s already crossed to Lands End. If that’s the case… we won’t be able to follow.”

 

Milo piped up. “What about the dungeon in the swamp to the south? I know none of us have the luck stat for it, but usually we avoid dungeons because we can’t carry enough supplies. That’s not an issue now. Entering it could give us time to let any rumours die down.”

 

“That’s not a bad idea either,” Hari admitted. “We’ll discuss it over the next few days. Let’s get to Clacker’s first and see if he’ll be… discreet.”

 

“If what Jackson said is true, and it’s the creature from the heart of the forest, we could also go explore the forest,” Liane added—though I was sure her motivations were entirely food-driven.

 

“And if he’s wrong?” Milo asked.

 

---

 

We arrived at Clacker’s Monster Knackers a short while later, after dropping off our horses at the stable. Apparently, since Hari had already paid for two weeks, there was no need to haggle—they were simply taken back inside without fuss.

 

As soon as we stepped into the shop, I was hit once again with the strong, metallic odour of blood.

 

A jovial voice rang out. “Greetings, fine adventurers—and fiery ones! I have your kill ready to go!”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

 

“Come, come, let old Clacks show you what we’ve got,” he called, heading through the door into the back room. We followed. Crisplet, clearly pleased to be acknowledged, let off a burst of sparks. As we walked, I could swear I saw a few stray bright sparks shoot off him—odd, but… maybe that was his way of showing he was happy?

 

The sight that greeted us inside was impressive: a towering stack of feathers, a beak larger than my head, and talons so massive they caused a shiver to run down my spine just thinking about being hit by one.

 

“Right,” Clacks began, rubbing his hands together, “we’ve got nine hundred and forty feathers in total. I’ve taken my cut—ninety. Eight talons, I’ve taken one. The beak is all yours. I also took one eye. As for the meat—fully salvaged. I discarded the organs. Smelled bad enough in here already. Hope you don’t mind, I did save the heart since I know that’s useful in alchemy though.”

 

We surveyed the pile of material. I didn’t see the meat at first—he must have it stored separately, keeping it fresh.

 

“Uh, I can take the meat from you if you like?” I offered.

 

“Perfect!” he said, more than happy to hand it over. It came in four massive sections, with the legs and wings separated—eight pieces in total.

 

Before we could sort through further, another tremor rolled through the ground, strong enough to make the hooks on the wall rattle.

 

“Gah, another one? Hard to work like this,” Clacks muttered.

 

“Another one?” Jen asked.

 

“Yes. These damn tremors. Started this morning, they’re getting closer together and far more noticeable. Don’t know what’s causing them. Folks down at the docks are on high alert—they suspect a monster might be stirring in the lake, maybe awakened by the attack on the city.”

 

“Ah, I see,” Jen said with a nod.

 

“Well, Clacks, this is all perfect. There’s something I was hoping to ask you—and discretion is important,” Hari began.

 

Clacks raised an eyebrow. “I’ll work on nothing illegal or sapient, if that’s what you’re after.”

 

“No, nothing like that,” Hari replied. “But it’s unique, and it must be done in a secure location, out of sight, and never spoken of. The location will be the palace basement.”