“Killing me will have to wait,” Rialta whispered. “Here they come.”
“Good evening, Rialta. John,” Lorenza said as she slid into the booth opposite them. Nivin gave a very stilted, awkward bow to Rialta and John before he sat down next to Lorenza.
“Evening,” John said flatly, folding his arms and staring at Nivin.
“Hello,” Rialta said, and she smiled at Lorenza.
“Where’s Remmy?” Lorenza asked.
“He’s… er, indisposed,” Rialta responded.
“Well all right then,” Lorenza said.
The table would have fallen silent without the dim buzz of conversation from the bar filtering through the dining room. Rialta had started counting the number of knots in the nearest support beam, which she found preferable to making eye contact with anyone else at the table.
“Good to see you all again!” Amy said as she approached the table with Rialta’s beer. “As I was telling Rialta earlier, I can’t thank you all enough for—” She stopped and stared around the table. “What happened here?” she asked, looking quizzically from Rialta and John, to Lorenza and Nivin.
“Nothing,” Rialta said.
“Really?” Amy asked. “Because it seems like you’re all in the midst of a really, really, bizarrely awkward situation.”
“We’re fine,” John said.
“Doesn’t look fine,” Amy replied. “You’ve all got these horrible, blank expressions plastered on your faces, and—”
“How about some wine?” Lorenza said, slapping the table. “Just—just lots of wine, Amy, if you please, while we consider what to have for dinner?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Rialta said. “How about some of that cranberry wine you served Remmy?”
“Mmkay then,” Amy said, eyeing everyone at the table with a skeptical frown. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Rialta took a deep breath as Amy retreated to the bar. “John, Lorenza and Nivin are here because they want to join us on our quest. They came here to make their case.”
John simply grunted and said nothing in response.
Several long minutes passed before Amy returned to the table with four large glasses of wine. She set them down on the table one at a time. “Sorry to interrupt your vivacious conversation,” she said.
“Thank you, Amy, that’ll be all for now,” Lorenza said through clenched teeth. She snatched her glass up from the table and took a long drink. John did the same.
More silence ensued, and John was the first to break it. “Look, there’s no two ways about it: I’m still pissed off about what happed earlier today,” he said.
Lorenza did not hesitate to reply. “You’re entitled to be angry, of course, but you’re a fool if you don’t consider the practicality of what we’re proposing,” she said. “You’re going to need help at some point in your journey on Tyntala, I can promise you that. And a group of five has much better chances than a group of three.”
“Really it just makes sense, John,” Rialta said. “H is clearly going to be sending us on a dangerous journey, and we’re going to need all of the help we can get.”
John grunted. “Look, I’m actually pretty sympathetic to your motive of revenge. I’ve got some matters I need to take care of myself when I get back to Ro,” he said, looking at Nivin. “But you need to understand that if you’re going to come with us, the well-being of the team comes first.”
Nivin looked up from the table and looked John in the eye. He nodded.
“We just want to go home, understand?” John asked, nodding to Rialta. “If you want to strangle H, or torture some answers out of him, or tie him to a tree and kick him in the crotch, then fine. More power to you. But it waits until after we’ve made our deal with him to send us back to Ro. Agreed?”
Nivin nodded again.
“All right, that settles it then,” John said, and he held his hand out across the table. Nivin took his hand and shook it.
“Excellent!” Rialta said.
“Well don’t get too excited, we don’t even know what we’re supposed to be doing next yet,” John said.
“Like I told ya, it ain’t going to be long before H reaches out to you again. You mark my words,” Lorenza said.
Just then, Amy returned to the table. “Glad to see things have lightened up a bit over here,” she said with a smirk. “How about something to eat?”
Rialta, Nivin, and Lorenza each ordered a helping of the Pampered Quail’s entree of the day, which happened to be a beef and potato casserole. John again ordered two meals for himself as well as a loaf of bread.
“You must be very hungry,” Rialta remarked.
“Well, the bread is for Remmy. I’ll leave it on his nightstand in case he wakes up in the middle of the night.”
“That’s thoughtful of you,” Rialta said, taking a sip of the cranberry wine. While Amy was correct that the wine was not too potent, it was considerably stronger than the beer she had brought to the table. Not wanting to lose her faculties, she pushed away the glass of wine and pulled the stein back toward her.
Lorenza, however, had downed half her glass in one great gulp. She gave a little shudder. “Damn! That Amy’s a damn fine vintner.”
“Can’t say you’re wrong,” John said, taking another drink from his own glass.
Amy returned with everyone’s food, and soon the sound of silverware clinking against plates pervaded the table. While tonight’s food was just as good as the night before, the casserole was extraordinarily rich, and Rialta began to feel sleepy after only a few bites. The events of the day were beginning to catch up with her, and though she was very interested in talking with Lorenza, she found herself to be drifting into a fatigued stupor. She had the sense that Nivin was feeling the same, as he was very slow to eat and drink. His gaze looked distant, and she could tell that his thoughts were very far away from the bustling Pampered Quail.
“Listen, Rialta, you’re lookin’ pretty beat. I think maybe it would be best if we continued this little conversation in the morning over some coffee,” Lorenza said.
“Oh! No, really, I’m okay! We don’t have to call things to an early close on my account,” Rialta said.
“No, really, you’re clearly half awake,” John said as he cleaned his second plate. “You’ve got dark circles under your eyes. You’re exhausted, and I am too, frankly. Lorenza’s right. We made our peace tonight and there’s nothing else for us to do today. Let’s just call it a night, get some rest, and meet up in the morning. It would be best to discuss our plans with Remmy present anyway.”
“All good points,” Lorenza said. She picked up her glass, downed the remaining wine, then got to her feet. Nivin stood too, leaving his half-eaten food and nearly full glass on the table.
“Let’s meet here in the lobby tomorrow, okay?” John asked.
“Works for us,” Lorenza said.
“Goodnight to you both,” Rialta said.
“Goodnight,” Lorenza said, turning to face the door.
Nivin gave Rialta a little bow without meeting her gaze, then followed Lorenza out to the vestibule.
“I suppose we should go up to our rooms, then,” Rialta said. Her eyes had begun to blink shut in protest.
“Absolutely. Goodnight, Rialta,” John said as he rose from his seat.
“Goodnight,” she replied.
Rialta took a moment to stretch her arms before she too rose from the table and made her way over to the staircase leading up to the rooms. She entered room 107, locked the door behind her, and walked straight to the bed, collapsing upon it without even bothering to remove her shoes before she drifted into sleep.
Chapter 18
The Next Note
Rialta woke with a start to a sharp, loud knock on her door.
“Good lord, John, would you mind knocking a bit more softly the next time you want to wake me up?” Rialta shouted at the door. “I do not like waking up like this,” she said as she scooted to the side of the bed and got
to her feet. But something was wrong. John did not respond.
“John?” she asked tentatively, standing next to her bed.
No response.
Rialta turned to look out her room’s window. A dim light filtered through the window. The sky was overcast, but morning had most certainly come. She carefully stepped toward the door, being very careful not to make any noise as she approached. Just as she was about to grab the doorknob, she noticed a slip of paper at her feet. She stooped over to pick it up, and as she began to inspect it, her eyes opened wide.
Rialta,
I apologize for being so bold as to address you directly, but after having a chance to observe the three of you, I daresay you will be the most reliable contact.
Excellent work making your way to the Chasm. I noticed that you’ve met some old friends of mine who wish to join you: Nivin and Lorenza. No worries there—you may bring them along if you wish. The more the merrier.
Your next task is to head to The Lonely Plains, a quaint village far west of the Chasm. Lorenza can point you in the right direction; I know she has been there on a number of occasions. There is a little gem-mining operation there that I am sure you can find with minimal effort. The mine is run by creatures known colloquially as ‘gremlins.’ I suspect Remmy may be able to provide you with some information about them if you are not already familiar.
I have it on good authority that the gremlins in this mine have come across an enchanted emerald I will need. Frankly, I don’t care how you get it. Barter for it, kill for it, steal it. Whatever you like, so long as you obtain it.
I’m afraid time is of the essence. If you do not collect it within the next two weeks, I fear the gremlins may exhaust the emerald’s powers, rendering it useless to me. Please collect it and keep it safe while you await further instruction.
Please give my regards to your friends.
-H
Rialta stared at the note for a long moment before throwing her door open. Whoever had left the note was long gone. She stepped out and looked up and down the hall, but it was completely empty. She bolted down the hall toward the next flight of stairs, desperate to find the room where John and Remmy were staying. As soon as she rounded the corner to go up the stairs, she slammed into something very large and fell backward onto the floor.
“Uh, good morning, Rialta,” John said as he looked down at Rialta. “You in a bit of a hurry?” he asked, offering her a hand to help her up.
“I am so sorry for running into you like that, John, but look! Look what I just received!” She held H’s note up to John, who took it and began to read.
“This rotten bastard,” John growled as he read. “What in the hell are gremlins, and how are we supposed to steal some kind of magic emerald from them?” John asked as he finished reading.
“We need to talk to Lorenza,” Rialta replied. “H says she knows about this Lonely Plains place. Perhaps she can give us some more insight into what we should be doing.”
“All right,” John said. “Let’s get ready for the day and meet downstairs. Lorenza and Nivin should be here any minute as it is.”
“Right,” Rialta said. She turned and ran back to her room. When she’d finished washing up, she reached for her usual gray cloak but hesitated, remembering the Cloak of Nightshade.
Fifteen minutes later, she returned to the lobby of the inn, garbed in black. The atmosphere here was just as subdued as it had been the morning before. However—and to Rialta’s great relief— Silby was nowhere to be found this morning.
Rialta sat in one of the overstuffed chairs by the fire as she waited for John and Remmy to appear. Minutes later, John came down the stairs equipped in his usual leather armor with his new spear strapped to his back. Remmy followed behind him, his usually pristine robes wrinkled and dusty. He clutched his head and winced as he stepped into the bright light of the lobby.
Rialta leapt out of her chair and walked forward to meet them in the center of the lobby. “I take it John told you about the letter already?” she asked Remmy.
“Good morning to you too,” Remmy said groggily. “And yes, he did.”
“Then come on!” Rialta said excitedly, grabbing Remmy by the sleeve. “We have to get going and tell Lorenza and Nivin about it!”
“Tell us about what?” Lorenza asked.
Rialta turned to find Lorenza and Nivin casually strolling in through the vestibule door.
“Look!” Rialta said, and she ran to Lorenza and handed her the note she had received from H. Nivin scooted up beside Lorenza to read the note along with her.
“Interesting,” Lorenza said as she finished reading and handed the note back to Rialta. “I’d heard rumors that a big group of gremlins had set up a mining operation out by the caverns near the Lonely Plains. I’m guessin’ that’s what he’s referring to.”
Rialta waited for Lorenza to follow up on her remark, but she remained silent. “Well?” Rialta said.
Lorenza gave Rialta an inquisitive look. “Uh… you’re lookin’ mighty sharp in that new cloak?”
“Thanks—but I mean what about the letter. What do we do now?” Rialta asked, waving H’s note around.
Lorenza sighed. “Just to make sure we’re still on the same page, you’re planning on doing what H tells you, correct?”
“What choice do we have?” Rialta said impatiently. “We need to get this emerald. Where is this town?” she asked Nivin and Lorenza.
“Easy now, settle down,” said Lorenza. “It takes more than a day to walk to the Lonely Plains from here, and it would be pointless to go right this minute. H told you right here in his note that you have two weeks, right? I don’t see what you’re so anxious about. Before we go anywhere, we need to make sure you three can earn the money for food and board for the next several days. The staff here at the Quail aren’t going to let your tab build up indefinitely. You’ll also need more money to buy all the provisions and materials you’d need for the trip. So first things first, we need to find us some work.”
“I suppose you’re right. I must have gotten a little overexcited when I got the note this morning,” Rialta muttered.
“Did I overhear that the bunch of you are looking for some work?”
Rialta turned to find Amy emerging from a partition behind the bar. Rialta was surprised to see that she was already impeccably dressed in a flowing silver blouse and a pair of pressed black pants. She carried a large crate which she hefted onto the bar with a great clattering and tinkling as the glass bottles collided with one another.
“The morning courier just arrived with some shipments,” Amy continued, tossing her hair out of her face. “He brought news of a particularly well-paying job. Apparently the staff manning the viceroy’s manor paid him to find some folks who’d be able to clear a few big ol’ rats out of the estate’s basement. Sounds like pretty easy work if you ask me. So if you’re looking for a doable job with a quick payoff, I’d get down to the manor in a hurry if I were you.”
“But aren’t you interested in collecting the reward yourself?” Rialta asked.
“Rialta, you’re a sweet girl, but you’re a bit simple, aren’t ya?” Lorenza said, shaking her head.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Rialta asked with a frown.
“Amy owns the Pampered Quail, of course!” Lorenza replied.
“Oh!” Rialta said. Now that Lorenza had mentioned it, this seemed rather obvious. Amy not only consistently dressed like a professional, but in the short time that Rialta had known her, Amy seemed to work absurdly long hours. On both days of Rialta’s stay at the inn, Amy had been working both after Rialta had gone to bed and before she had gotten up in the morning.
“And to further answer your question, Rialta, I’m not the type to concern myself with rat-slaughter,” Amy said with a grin as she pulled several large bottles of amber liquid from the crate on the bar. “No offense to you all, of course.”
“None taken,” John and Lorenza said in unison.
“It sounds l
ike we’ve got a plan,” Rialta said. “Though I don’t much care for rat extermination myself, it sounds like a simple enough job—and if it’s going to pay for our livelihood while we pursue H’s quest, so much the better. What do you think, John?”
“You actually want my opinion?” John asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise. “Well, I’m with you on this one, if you can believe it. What about you two? Are you in?” John asked Nivin and Lorenza.
“I don’t see why not,” Lorenza said. Nivin nodded.
“Wait, wh-what’s going on?” Remmy asked as he slumped off the cushion of one of the chairs nearest the fire.
“Oh yeah. Rem, buddy, I kind of forgot to fill you in on the details,” John said as he crossed the room and picked Remmy up by the collar. “These two will be joining us on our quest,” he added, pointing to Nivin and Lorenza.
“Okay then…” Remmy said with a yawn before promptly falling asleep.
“Told you he wouldn’t mind,” John said.
Nivin stepped forward and pointed to Remmy as if to say,
Is he going to be okay?
“Ah, don’t you worry about him,” John said. “He just needs a bit of rest is all. I’ll carry him until he’s up,” he said, hefting Remmy and slinging him over his shoulder. “You said the viceroy’s manor is only a half-day’s walk from here, right?” John asked Nivin.
Nivin nodded.
“Then let’s grab some food for the road before we leave town and make for the viceroy’s manor,” John said. “If we wait too long, someone else might get there before we do.”
Everyone nodded, and they all left the Pampered Quail to peruse the stalls of the food vendors outside.
Chapter 19
The Viceroy’s Manor
The group spent the earliest hours of the morning making their way along a narrow path which seemed to have been carved out of a very dense forest consisting of tall, thick pines and some breed of leafy trees Rialta had never seen before. The limbs of the trees spread out in a sprawling web, their branches twisting and turning through the forest canopy. While most of their leaves were green, spots of maroon, orange, and yellow speckled the ceiling of foliage above.
A Quest for Chumps (Departed Dimensions Book 1) Page 13