Chapter 135: Guy’s Night

“Okay so right there is where Akresh says the Raid Boss is.” Loth said, pointing out a spot near dead center on the map.

Will frowned, studying the X in the middle of a lake below a waterfall.

“This hasn’t been discovered in a thousand years?” Will asked. It was in the center of the map, partly between the Wyrd Stronghold and all the Key Sites.

“I’m sure it has, but it’s likely rare.” Loth said, pulling out a pen and laying it between the Stronghold and key site, drawing a straight line between the two.

It bypassed the lake.

For illustration, Loth laid the pen between all the other sites. None of them crossed the lake.

“Climbers don’t just…wander around aimlessly if they can help it.” Will said, nodding.

“Not the ones who have survived this far. Most people are headed directly to a Stronghold to rest, or directly to a key site to change Floors. Most grinding is done within a few hours walk of the Stronghold.” Loth said.

Unconsciously, Will’s eyes traced the edges of the map.

If there’s something hiding at the center of the map, how many more things have never been discovered along the edges? Will wondered.

“Now as for how we can fit this in to the Caravan’s schedule,” Loth said, “The walk there will take roughly three days, so we may have to arrange for temporary protection for the Caravan while we deal with the Raid Boss.

“Three days?” Will asked with a frown. “I’ll get us there in ten minutes.”

Loth paused, twirling the pen in her hand. “I forget you’re actually becoming a Lord sometimes.”

“It would be irresponsible to leave them entirely undefended while we’re gone, though,” Will said, prompting Loth to nod.

“I don’t want to leave Arkesh here with the Caravan. Not even for twenty minutes.” Loth said.

“I totally agree,” Will said. The old snake had promised not to harm the six of them that had met him outside the caravan, but that promise didn’t extend to anyone outside of those six, nor was a promise some unbreakable thing they should be riding their whole future on.

“Drop him on the Wyrd Stronghold?” Loth asked, getting a chuckle out of Will.

As amusing as the idea of Arkesh the Mind-Conqueror suddenly appearing in the middle of the Stronghold was, that was pretty much cold-blooded murder of hundreds of civilians.

Which I still want to avoid, Will thought. There were still lines he hadn’t crossed yet.

“Honestly I can’t think of anything better than just throw him a few miles out and hope he doesn’t find his way back.” Will said

“That’s a terrible idea.” Loth said.

“I know.”

“We could just kill him?” Loth suggested.

“Feels wrong.” Will said. “Even with him wanting to die, and it being a vacation from life for him…Still feels wrong.”

Will glanced up at the tent’s door. “Abyss, let’s just ask him.” he said, hopping to his feet and striding out into the caravan, where Arkesh was still chatting with Reese.

“Hey, Arkesh the Mind-Conquerer,” Will said. “You are a wonderful guest, but we are going to arrive at the Wyrd Stronghold soon, and you present a diplomatic risk if your identity is discovered.”

Will modified the reason for kicking the snake out of the caravan to shift blame onto Mark Wyrd, so as not to offend the giant snake.

Will began rolling up his sleeves.

“So do you want me to kill you now, or…?”

“No!” Arkesh said, holding up a hand. “I’ve lived through nearly a dozen Coils, but I’ve never met you…or the person filling your role before, I suppose. I’ve missed the drama of the end of the Coil every time. Usually I was just sunning myself out in the middle of the jungle, and the System Announcement hit everyone at once.

“I never…witnessed it happening. Please…This is the most interesting thing that’s happened to me in six thousand years.”

Arkesh gave Will big, watery eyes.

“…Fine. Trim your beard, take a bath, wear clothes, and find somewhere else to be for the next week, and you can follow us up.” Will said.

Arkesh moved to hug Will, who stopped him with a hand on his chest.

“Trim your beard, take a bath, wear clothes, and then you get a hug.”

“Right away!” Arkesh said, turning away, before pausing and turning back to Will. “…What’s a bath?”

“Not it.” Loth said, turning and leaving the situation at the exact right time.

“Damnit.” Will grumbled under his breath.

Will would really rather be doing anything other than teaching a smelly old man how to bathe and dress himself, but Arkesh was simply too smelly and too dangerous to foist that duty off on any of the civilians or Anna.

Will could easily imagine Arkesh accidentally squishing someone because he was ticklish.

Will heaved a long sigh. “let’s get this over with.”

The next hour was a memory that Will wished he could forget, but at least the old man was a quick study, so Will would never have to repeat the process.

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All told, once they were done, Arkesh was dressed in a fine shirt, shoes, and slacks, his white beard trimmed close to his face.

“Wow, my skin and face actually feel much better.” Arkesh mused, idly straightening his shirt.

“That’s why we do it.” Will said. “Now find us again after the caravan is over fifteen miles out from the Wyrd Stronghold, understood? If you show up before we’re outside that range, I’ll assume it’s because you changed your mind about wanting to die.”

“Very well, great uncle.” Arkesh said, nodding deeply.

“Don’t call me uncle,” Will said. “It’s weird.”

“You’re the son of my father’s uncle, so-“

“Just call me Will,” Will said. “…You still want that hug?”

“No…the moment’s passed.” Arkesh said, looking up at Will from his clothes. “Don’t get ambushed and die before I get a chance to find you again. Humans are always getting betrayed and dying and then not coming back with their memories intact.”

Arkesh tapped his chin in thought. “I’m fairly certain you take after your mother in that regard.”

Will frowned. “…Yeah. Probably. I’ve never tried it…Dying, that is.”

“Well be careful. I hear the lord of this Stronghold is a real bastard.”

“Mark or Frederick?” Will asked.

“Heath Wainwright.”

Will frowned.

“How long ago was that?”

“Ummm…I want to say…four hundred years.”

“…Well, okay then,” Will said, clapping Arkesh on the shoulder. “I’ll see you in a week or so.”

Arkesh nodded.

“I look forward to committing your story to memory. Perhaps I’ll even pass it on to your successor after you die.”

“Lovely,” Will said, gesturing the ancient snake towards the jungle.

In a matter of minutes, Arkesh was gone, and Will made another pass with his Memory Key to make sure the snake wasn’t trying to pull one over on him.

It seemed like the old snake stuck to his word.

…That was good.

After Will was sure the snake was gone, he gathered up his Party.

“Alright, Loth got a map to a raid boss from Arkesh. I’m going to pick some people to come with me to kill it.”