“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
Maya sighed and we fell silent, each thinking about our own thing. The news that the children had died shook me.
That’s not right! That was not supposed to happen! Had everything we’d done really been for naught? Had the goddess Fortuna really determined our roles long ago, and now all that remained was for us to meekly act out her storyline?
“What happened next?” I broke the silence.
“The rangers brought me here, sold the captive orcs to an old lanista and got on their way,” Maya answered and, with a crooked smile, added: “And I returned to the world of humans. As it turned out, nobody wanted me here. On the very first day after the captain and his soldiers left, I was robbed. They took all the essences and tablets I had saved up. It wasn’t much but selling them would have given me enough for food and a place in the caravan.”
“But what about those hanged men with the signs around their necks?” I asked.
The woman chuckled bitterly and waved a thin hand.
“I tried to complain, but the Hornet only punishes those that bother him. Beyond that, I later discovered that the people who robbed me were his men.”
“How were you able to carry on this long?”
“I traded everything the robbers disdained to take for food. I took up any work I could find. Until I fell ill. There are plenty of charity cases like me around here. They’ll take your place in the blink of an eye. Now, thanks to your help and healing, I’ll be able to work my way to a place in the caravan.”
“But as far as far as I can tell, the Hornet and his boys will be conducting the caravan, right?” I asked.
“True,” Maya answered.
“What’s the good sir’s going rate?”
“One silver if on foot. Five for a horse. Ten for a sleigh or cart. The best deal is for those who already have their own sleigh or cart.”
“Are they allowed to take passengers for pay?”
“Yes,” Maya nodded. “But only those that first pay for a place in the caravan. Sleighs are worth their weight in gold at the moment.”
“And you can’t just go with the caravan without paying?” I enquired.
“Many intend to do just that,” Maya answered. “They’ll trudge along behind the group. But nobody will be protecting them. They won’t be allowed to enter the camp at night. Overall, they’ll be on their own.”
Hm, so there’s one more argument for my upcoming conversation with Papa Gino.
Mee and I exchanged glances. I awaited a nod of confirmation from the gremlin and turned to Maya:
“What do you say to joining forces?”
The woman’s face stretched out and she stared at me bewildered.
“What are you trying to say?”
“We’re offering to let you come with us,” I answered and, smiling, added: “To pick back up where we left off, so to speak.”
Maya gulped loudly and tears started welling up in her eyes. But a moment later, she got herself together and, her voice quavering in worry, asked:
“What do you want from me?”
“The conditions will be just the same as before,” I answered seriously. “While underway, my orders are to be followed unquestioningly. We’ll take care of you; you take care of us. To avoid problems in the future, you’ll swear an oath of secrecy. We can agree on the wording later. As I’m sure you’ve already realized, I do not want everyone around knowing what I am. And one last thing. You are free to leave us at any time.”
And before I could say anything else, Maya quickly declared:
“I agree!”
“Excellent!” I smiled. “I’m glad to have you with us!”
“Me too,” Mee butted in.
“Hrn!”
A happy smile bloomed on Maya’s pale exhausted face.
For the next half hour, we discussed the wording of the oath. After that, Maya recited it and, when the Great System confirmed everything was in order, we started packing up our little tent.
Two hours later, we were at the gates of the village. I recalled Gorgie by activating the summoning amulet while Mee went under a Dome of Invisibility to avoid unwanted questions.
Once we got inside the village, we split up. Maya headed for the market. Her mission was to buy us all warm clothing and food for the road. When I gave her the money, I warned her to keep an eye out. Seemingly, the pickpockets knew today was their last chance to earn some bread.
We had a few more hours left before sunset but, to my surprise, Tusk was already waiting at the gates. Clearly, when Papa Gino found out about the mage, he pushed his familiar to stand watch early for the important guest. The old man’s affairs must be truly grim. But that’s all the better for us.
“Thank the gods you came early!” the ogre barked joyfully. “I was starting to think I’d have to freeze my butt off here until sundown.”
“You’re mistaken,” I decided to bring him down to earth. “I have business in the village. I wanted to finish it up before sunset.”
The ogre’s ugly mug stretched out, puzzled. His heavy brows crept upward plaintively.
“But Papa Gino ordered...”
“Ordered?” I frowned.
“Me! He ordered me!” the ogre spat out double-time. “He ordered me to wait for you here and, as soon as you show up, to invite you over for dinner! There!”
I pretended to think strenuously and rubbed my chin. Tusk meanwhile froze, not breathing. I think I heard a muted snicker from empty space.
I finally raised my head and said:
“Hm... So be it. I’ll handle my affairs after dinner. Lead the way!”
A satisfied smile blossomed on Tusk’s face. He rubbed his hands together and just about skipped as he led me toward the place I first saw him.
The first thing that jumped out at me when we got next to the little house the old lanista called home was the large number of clothes lines draped with frozen bandages like garlands. Based on their grey-brown shade, the dressings had been used many times already.
There was also a large covered wagon there, refitted as a sleigh. The roof consisted of several hoops stretched over with thick dark-gray sailcloth. Here and there I saw both old and new patches.
I immediately estimated – there’d be more than enough space for all of us. That of course was if Gino hadn’t found other passengers yet.
In the entryway, I ran into two bulging barrels filled to the top with swamp-colored water that had yet more bandages soaking in them. Despite the unfortunate and even repellent appearance, the barrels gave off a pleasant herbal aroma.
In the entryway, the ogre obligingly handed me a brush to clean the snow off my shoes then himself opened the door into the home, gave a cough and loudly proclaimed:
“Master Eric has come to visit!”
The herbal scent was immediately intermixed with the smell of food, old wood and another ten or so unfamiliar odors.
I remember perfectly well how disgusting our neighbor Mrs. Zora’s house smelled when her husband fell ill. Here though, to be frank, I was pleasantly surprised. When I saw the large number of bandages, I started psyching myself up for different smells. I must give Gino’s housekeeper their due – whoever they are, they’re doing an excellent job.
And a few seconds after coming inside, I realized who it was. It was the same woman I saw conversing with the ogre before. She was standing reverently still two steps away from me, her head slightly bowed forward. A bit thin, but not bony. I’d call her diminutive. Her pale thin skin seemed to have a slight, barely noticeable greenish tinge. I could see reddening on her thin fingers. Looks like this poor woman is busy washing at all times.
Due to the kerchief wrapped tightly around her head, I couldn’t make out the color of her hair. And then, slightly raising her head, she looked at me.
Oh gods! Her beauty was breath-taking! Her subtle facial features, little nose, bloodless pale pink lips and eyes... Big, slightly slanted, the color of emerald. They seeme
d to penetrate into the soul, probing into its darkest most hidden corners.
When our gazes met, her brows, thin and delicate as bird wings, shot upward in surprise. I could read incomprehension in her eyes. She quickly turned her gaze to the ogre, as if to ask: “What’s going on?”
“Don’t look at me like that, Midori,” the ogre muttered. “And don’t doubt it. He’s a mage. A very young mage with normal eyes.”
Ah, so there it is! Now I see the reason for her surprise. My eyes hadn’t changed color since gaining a magic supply, as usually happened to all other mages. At first, I thought the problem was the iridescent tablets. But that lasted right up to the point Master Chi “fed” me a few hundred Clays. Now I don’t know what to think. Although if I’m being honest, I don’t give a crap. It’s actually better this way. Less questions.
“Beg apologies, Master Eric,” the woman made a deep curtsey and gave a timid smile.
Her voice was soft and spellbinding.
“It’s nothing,” I waved it off awkwardly, all the while captivated by her unusual beauty. “Midori? Right?”
“Yes, master,” she bowed again.
“Very nice to meet you,” I smiled and added: “Please, call me Eric.”
She continued smiling courteously, closed her eyes for a moment to agree and, with a gracious wave of the hand, pointed me to an armchair near the window:
“Please, Eric. Make yourself at home. My master will be out to see you soon. May I offer you some wine?”
“Thank you, but I’d take a drink of something more basic,” I answered, hinting at my level and taking a seat.
“Yes, of course,” Midori nodded politely and asked: “Will bread ale do?”
“It’s just the thing.”
“And I’ll take a regular ale!” the ogre rumbled right away. But Midori, thinking I couldn’t see, rolled a gaze over him that made a chill run over my skin. Beyond that, was it just me or were her pearly white canines somewhat like small fangs? I looked closer. No. Normal teeth. I must have imagined it.
“Aw, come on, Dori!” Tusk muttered in a familiar tone, completely demolishing the effect of the genteel reception Midori had worked so meticulously to create.
“I froze my butt off at the gate for hours waiting for the boy,” the ogre continued complaining, diligently ignoring the lightning flickering in Midori’s emerald eyes.
I delicately pretended not to notice anything and started looking over the state of the home’s interior. A small crudely carved table in the center of the room, two benches, two stools and two chairs. You can tell right away – the furniture was acquired on a shoestring budget. There’s plenty stuff like this on the market right now. And that’s basically the long and short of it.
I noticed a small door at the opposite wall. The master of the house must be back there. Curious, I wonder why he still hasn’t come out. Tusk was clear, after all, that this meeting was very important to the old geezer.
Immersed in thoughts, I missed the fact that Midori had appeared at my armchair with a tray in her hands.
“Please, Eric,” she pronounced, smiling courteously.
I looked around. The ogre was no longer in the room but, based on the muttering sound, he must have been somewhere just outside. Probably in the back room or kitchen. That’s it. Over on the right there is another doorway behind a thick curtain.
“Thank you,” I nodded, accepting the small clay mug filled to the very brim with dark brown foamy liquid.
“My master will join you any minute now.”
After she said that, Midori flitted toward the far door, hitting me with an intoxicating springtime scent of herbs. I wonder, is she using some ability, or had I simply fallen victim to standard womanly charms?
Just in case, I activated Sixth Sense again, but didn’t detect anything magical. Other than Mee, frozen in invisibility a step away.
Finally, when the mug was just about empty, and I’d started to wonder how long I’d have to wait, the door behind me screeched open. I stood to my feet and turned around. Midori was standing in the doorway while next to her, leaning on her arm was a short unmoving old man. By all appearances that was Papa Gino. Despite the hearty smile, it was obvious that he was experiencing strong pain. I suddenly realized that the mere fact that Gino had come into this room was quite the feat.
Hurriedly taking a few steps forward, I was about to greet the master of the house but froze stock still in surprise. A chill ran down my spine despite myself. My mouth instantly filled with bitter saliva with the familiar taste of rot.
Chapter 8
THREE QUICK STEPS back and my body was protected by a Muckwalker’s Aura while my right hand was enshrouded with the lilac haze of a Ram. The summoning amulet materialized in my left. Just as I was about to activate it, my gaze fell on the people standing opposite me.
To say that they were stunned would be a massive understatement. In Midori’s eyes there was fear and incomprehension. Gino’s wrinkled face stretched out slightly. But I must give him his due. Despite the obvious frailty of his whole body, he tried to protect the woman by standing in front of her.
Frankly I’m baffled. Why isn’t anyone attacking? After all, it’s clear as day – Darkness manifested itself when the old lanista came into the room.
The tension hanging in the room was slightly thinned by the ogre appearing from behind the curtain. All hunched over in the cramped space, he slipped through the door and froze, staring at us. I noticed a clay jug in his right hand.
“So, what is going on here?” he asked, raising his brows and looking baffled. Meanwhile hiding the jug behind him.
“I’d like to know that myself!” Gino said in a creaky voice. The harsh gaze of his faded gray eyes landed on me. “I suppose you’ll have to explain yourself, young man!”
Quickly activating Sixth Sense, I looked around the room and at all of them. Nothing! But there must be something!
“How can this be?!” I asked perplexedly.
The ogre and people exchanged uncomprehending glances.
“I can clearly sense emanations of Darkness in this room,” I continued, stubbornly staring at every one of them. “They’re very weak, but unmistakable.”
My gaze stopped on Gino. I’m reminded that Shen could imitate a man masterfully. I’ll never forget his tooth-filled ugly mug. Gino is level seventeen and clearly very ill, but I have a very good idea of what blackbloods are capable of.
The old man’s gray brows crept upward. Astonishment in his eyes. Not expecting me to be able to detect you?
But the way Tusk and Midori reacted caught me by surprise. They exchanged comprehending glances, which gave them away lock stock and barrel.
Moving a bit to the left so my Ram would also hit the ogre, I said with menacing in my voice:
“Start talking!”
If something like this were to happen in the Wastes or the Stone Forest, I’d have attacked without a second thought. But now, Bug take me, I need to talk to this old man!
“Good sir mage!” Gino said with a firm voice. “I swear to you that neither I nor my familiars are in any way linked with Darkness! We bear no ill intent against you! And the thing you sensed is nothing other than my cursed ailment.”
After he said that, Gino slowly bent down and raised his right pant leg.
“Here...” he pointed at the bandages tightly wrapped around his skinny shin.
I quickly read a system message confirming Gino’s oath then, still frowning untrustingly, said:
“So, you mean to say...”
“Young man,” the old man interrupted me lightly, wincing in pain all the while. “How about we all settle down and continue our conversation calmly at the table as we in fact were planning to do. My legs could give out on me at any moment.”
Gino waited for my nod, chuckled and added:
“The only reason I still haven’t collapsed on the floor is that I am very scared.”
While saying that, he looked warmly at Midori stand
ing next to him.
I recognize that look. My parents used to look at me like that sometimes. Looks like Gino is more worried about her than himself.
And she, by the way, responded in kind. Carefully supporting him by the elbow, she helped him hobble over to the table.
Wheezing and frowning, Gino got down in the armchair and, finally, looked at me.
“Hey, what are you standing for?” he asked and pointed at the chair opposite with a shaking hand. “Take a seat! My heart is telling me we have a long conversation ahead of us.”
The Dark Continent (Underdog Book #3): LitRPG Series Page 7