Book 2 Chapter Six: Bet

SIX

“As much as you’re a pain in the ass, this was nice,” Darren admitted as they all stared at the temporal chambers and the lines already forming outside of them. Dozens of people had heard about the offer of teaching and had shown up to get discounted instruction. Moira was nearly dancing as she hauled her equipment forward with a handful of her closest confidantes.

“Well, it helps me out as well. Especially when you pay for my time in the chamber,” Roan said.

“I’m paying for you time in the chamber?” Darren asked, arching an eyebrow as he stared at Roan.

“Yeah. I did pay for them to come here. And paid the bribe to get into the village. Now, you said you wouldn’t pay me back because I owed money to the association anyways, but I still risked myself here. And a bunch of us are going in and I did loan you my manuals on top of it,” Roan said.

“We have two and a half hours until it starts getting dark. The Association already paid all of them their fees to stay here the remaining hours until dark. Which is twelve hours in the dilation chamber and you’re going in with eleven other people to learn enchanting. You can pay your part of it,” Darren said. The man had his arms crossed and looked sour about the giving up Roan’s earnings, but seemed resolute about not moving off of Roan paying his thousand credits.

“Thousand credits for twelve hours of learning from a master and manual. It’s a great deal. Don’t show any weakness in front of Darren though,” Roan thought it over before he tried a different angle.

“I also brought you information on Nash and Grace. I think that’s worth a measly thousand credits,” Roan said.

“I think Moira kept her hands in your guts and brought your back from the brink of death and didn’t ask for payment. You can pay your share,” Darren said.

“Fuck. I hate it when he has a point. Why can’t I let this go?” The thought of spending money was anathema normally, but yielding money he didn’t need to rankled him in a way that was hard to pinpoint.

“Fine. Taoya, you coming in?” Roan asked. He had reclaimed his looted ring and was determined to have it broken open and see Lester’s prizes.

“No, I want to see the metal smith. If I could get a pair of gauntlets and leg guards,” Taoya said, a violent edge tinging his voice.

“And I will stay on guard with the others who volunteered. We have parties out collecting bounties and trying to find any other surivvors. Everyone is joining the Association now. Well…mostly everyone. Those we find who agree to come this way,” Darren said.

“I should find Deacon, Vanessa, and Billie.Technically the body tempering manuscript is also theirs,” Roan thought. He hadn’t seen a hint of the second group and hoped they hadn’t gone up in smoke last night. With Village 2 likely being the victim of tonight’s dragon razing, he’d have tomorrow to search the remaining villages and reunite with them.

“So the bank accounts are swelling?” Roan surmised.

“Yeah. Even with the expenses. The group discount in the time chambers is a big incentive. They’ll do bounties for the discount itself now that we’re controlling the slots in,” Darren said.

“We’re controlling who gets to go in?” Roan asked slowly.

“Of course. It’s a vital resource and needs to be utilized to its fullest extent. Rotating shifts of one hour real time before the next shift. Lots of people came over here after they found out we had the chambers. And Taoya,” Darren said, nodding his head at the big man.

“You’re going to make me blush,” Taoya deadpanned.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“So, we’re breaking the rules by doing the two hour cycle?” Roan asked.

“No, we just crammed all the time slots together. Instead of six per cycle we’re doing twelve. Everyone wants a chance with the instructors,” Darren explained.

“Alright, enough of this. It’s time. When we come out there’ll be thirty minutes to go before dark. Darren and the others will get first crack at the chambers in the morning for not going tonight,” Taoya said, already heading toward the blacksmiths temporary set up.

“Keep an eye out for Grace. I don’t know what her bloodline is, but she had one and it’s strong,” Roan warned as he walked to his specified house.