“I see,” Jack said. “Well, I suppose that is true. We have done well. I think after today we’ll have all of our semester fees paid.”
“All of your fees? That is impressive. Are you going to keep going out?”
Jack shook his head. “Probably not, at least not very often. We’ll spend the rest of the semester training and going to classes. We were given a heads-up that there might be bandits hired to hunt us down.”
“That is troubling. Does it have to do with your earlier troubles this year?”
Jack knew she was talking about Isaac Dixon but didn’t want to mention him by name. “Yes. That seems to be the source of the threat.”
She frowned. “I see. That is a serious allegation, and without proof nothing can be done about it.”
“I understand, we won’t be complaining to the Academy about it. The Misfits handle their own problems.” Jack wasn’t as confident as he tried to sound, but he knew that Professor Cyr would want to help him. There wasn’t anything she could do. Isaac Dixon’s family was too rich and too well connected.
“Don’t do anything rash,” Professor Cyr said.
“We won’t. We’re just being extra cautious.”
Professor Cyr sighed. “I’m afraid that is all you can do. I wish there was better advice I could give you, but not everything is fair and just in life.”
“It’s OK, Professor. I know that better than most here.”
“Yes, I suppose you do. Keep in touch and make sure you tell Master Kalynchuk that I sent you.”
…
Jack headed back to the apartment after his conversation with Professor Cyr. He was eager to go see this Master Kalynchuk. But he’d never been to Ansby.
“Hey,” Lana said as Jack returned.
“Where’s everyone?”
“They all went to classes.”
“Good. What are you doing right now?”
“What does it look like?”
Jack shrugged. “Nothing?”
“You win the prize.”
“What do I get?”
“What do you want?”
“A tour guide to Ansby.”
“I can do that,” Lana said as she got up off the couch. “What are we looking for?”
“Mage Street.”
Lana laughed. “Jack, you really need to get out more.”
“That’s what Professor Cyr said. We’ll take both satchels and go see Chadwick when we’re done.”
“Works for me. I’m excited to see what we get for this batch. I have a pretty good idea, but until I hear Chadwick say it, I won’t believe it.”
“Same,” Jack said. “It seems crazy that we might hit our goal early. This year has been so strange.”
“You mean you aren’t used to attempted murder, dragons and killing undead?”
“No, the most excitement in my life was the fights I’d get into all the time because I couldn’t ignore people commenting on my size or heritage. That seems so trivial now.”
Lana frowned. “I sometimes forget that you had to go through that. Being a half-blood in any culture is tough. Westdrift is no exception.”
“It is what it is. My life wasn’t all bad. My grandfather was awesome and I got to travel all over the Empire.”
“Well, I’m glad you ended up here.”
Jack blushed. “Me too.”
The walk to Ansby took an hour and a half. Jack enjoyed taking a leisurely stroll with a friend without having to worry about undead or other nasty creatures. When they arrived at Ansby, Jack saw that it was smaller than Sunder, but it was still larger than most of the villages he’d visited.
They walked down the main street and Lana pointed out different buildings and businesses. It was obvious that Ansby was a thriving town, and Jack said as much.
Lana agreed. “To the south of here are several large farms, and in the mountains there are a few mines, but the Academy is probably the biggest source of business. Mage Street does thriving business, and the Academy gets all its supplies through companies in Ansby. They don’t mind paying slightly higher rates to local companies and it keeps the economy moving even when other things aren’t going as well. There was a time when the people of Ansby were complaining about all the weird stuff that happens, so the headmaster at the time cut ties with all the local companies. It didn’t take long before they decided weird magic was worth it. Some people moved away, but more came and took their places. Ansby is now one of the richest cities in the Empire.”
Jack smirked. He’d run into those kinds of attitudes before. People who wouldn’t want to do business with him because he was half dwarven. Then they would find out his grandfather was a tinker… Many would hang on to their prejudices, but the rest wanted quality work more than they cared about his heritage.
“Here we are. Mage Street,” Lana said. She pointed down the street. It was a narrow row with dozens of shops. They walked down the street until they found a build with the sign “Kalynchuk.”
“Not the most descriptive signage,” Jack said.
“Did your grandfather need anything other than his name?” Lana asked.
Jack smiled. “Nope.”
He opened the door and a bell rang. They stepped into the building. It had a small but well-designed lobby. Highly polished wood was the main decorative feature in the room. There were a few waiting benches covered with floral designs, and the walls were painted a cream color. The room made Jack feel like he should be wearing his fancy clothes.
An older gentleman with short white hair came out. “How may I help you?”
“Master Kalynchuk?”
“Indeed,” he said. “And to whom am I speaking?”
“Jack Vance and Lana Liahorn. Professor Cyr suggested that I come see you.”
“Ah, Darkthorn students. I should’ve known by the number of magical weapons in your satchels.”
Jack’s eyes went wide. “You can tell what’s in our portal satchels?”
“Yes, but don’t worry. It is a rare skill, and to my knowledge I’m the only one in the Empire with the ability. Now, what can I do for you?”
Jack took off his gauntlets. “I’d like to upgrade these as much as I can.”
Master Kalynchuk frowned. “I can see Miss Liahorn has gauntlets in her satchel that are superior to these already.”
“Yes, sir. However, these have personal significance to me. They were my mother’s; I would like to keep using these as long as possible.”
Master Kalynchuk put a pair of glasses on and looked closer at Jack. “What did you say your last name was?”
“Vance.”
“Cynthia Vance being your mother?”
“Yes, sir.”
Master Kalynchuk nodded. “A nice girl. Her and Michelle, Professor Cyr to you, would come here and trade with me. Your mother was an exceptional healer, if I recall correctly. From the magic you use, I see you’ve followed in her footsteps.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well. I think we can do business. Have you given thoughts to what runes you’d like to use?”
“No. I don’t know enough about runes to make that decision. I will be relying on your knowledge,” Jack said.
“In which case, we should make sure we get it right, shouldn’t we?” Master Kalynchuk removed his glasses and looked closer at the gauntlets. “The magic in these is good, but it isn’t exactly complementary to the skills of a healer. I see that you already possess an amulet of Chante. That might be the best option, but being focused on one god or goddess isn’t a good idea. A young lad with dwarven blood should also consider Rahmann. The dwarven god of bravery and loyalty is a complementary god to the sun goddess.”
Jack didn’t know much about Rahmann or any of the other dwarven gods. Ramy hadn’t been one to put much faith in the gods. But Jack knew the value of a god’s blessings now. There was strong magic in them, and having the runes of two gods sounded good to him.
“I will have to modify the gauntlets to maximize their potent
ial, is that a problem?”
Jack shook his head. “As long as it is the same gauntlets, I’m happy.”
“Very well. The cost will be those gauntlets in your friend’s satchel and one of your ancient swords.”
Lana took out the gauntlets and a sword. She handed them to Master Kalynchuk. He looked them over. “My magic allows me to see the magical qualities of the items inside your satchel, it does not account for the physical quality. These are exceptional. You know how to take care of your ancient artifacts.”
“Thank you, my grandfather was a tinker. He taught me to care for them.”
“A tinker-sharpened blade? That increases the value. Tell you what. Give me that ring you’re wearing and I’ll upgrade it for you. I happen to have a Chante-blessed ring here that will go with your amulet and gauntlets. I also have an upgrade in armor for Miss Liahorn. Or are you attached to your armor like Mister Vance is to his gauntlets?”
“Me?” Lana said. “Heavens no. You can have it.”
“Very well. Do we have a deal?”
Jack certainly hadn’t expected to get more than just the gauntlets, and even though the gauntlets and sword had value, it seemed to be a more than fair trade. “Yes, absolutely.”
Master Kalynchuk opened a side door from behind his counter and offered a hand to Lana. “Jack, if you don’t mind waiting here, I’m going to borrow Miss Liahorn for a moment.”
Lana accepted his hand and followed him into the back. Jack looked out onto the street while he waited. He recognized a few students from the Academy, but most of the people walking by were strangers.
A few minutes later, they returned and Lana was beaming.
“Your ring,” Master Kalynchuk said. He had another ring in his hand. It was onyx black with a yellow gemstone on top. They exchanged rings; the new ring fit perfectly.
“The rest of your stuff will be done in an hour or so. I require silence, so you’ll have to leave now. If you are looking for somewhere to eat, I recommend Charlotte’s place. She isn’t a fancy chef like you got up there at the Academy. But she knows her treats.”
‘Thank you,” Jack said. “We’ll check it out.”
Leaving the shop, Jack turned to Lana. “You seem happy.”
“Oh, wait till you see the armor, Jack. It is majestic. It changes colors, like the Flaming Fingers of Death’s outfits from the party. Not as fancy as their dancing flames, but it blends in. It is like camouflage, and at night it’s a dull red. But when you want to be fancy it is a black like your new ring and trimmed in gold. It has higher mana and health stats and it is lightweight. It’s perfect.”
“Sounds awesome,” Jack said.
“It is. And I have you to thank,” Lana said as she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. She blushed and turned. “Let’s go to Charlotte’s.”
Jack was stunned. Lana Liahorn had kissed him! He didn’t know what to say, so he just walked up the street beside her. It wasn’t long until they reached Charlotte’s. It was a colorful building with a big bright multicolored sign: Charlotte’s Treats and Snacks.
They walked in and stood in line. There was a large sign with a list of all the treats. Jack smiled when he read it. There were crazy combinations that made his mouth water. When they got to the front of the line a comely old lady smiled at them. “What can I get for you dears?”
“I’d like an ice cream cone. The fudge and happy nut swirl,” Jack said. He looked over at Lana.
“The same, but I’d like the fudge and hero-berry swirl.”
The older lady turned to her helper who’d started making the cones as soon as they were said. She handed them the cones. “That’ll be two silver pieces.”
Jack handed her the coins. They left the shop and kept walking. Jack tried the ice cream. It was delicious.
After a while Lana looked over at him. “You’re too quiet. Are you mad that I kissed you?”
Jack shook his head. “No, not at all. I was surprised, that was all… I—I liked it.”
Lana blushed. “I wasn’t sure if you liked me. I mean, I know we’re good friends, but I wasn’t sure if you like me the way Stann likes Talia. You know what I mean?”
Jack chuckled. “I’m not sure anyone could like someone the way Stann does Talia, but yes, I know what you mean, and yes, I like you.”
Lana laughed. “You’re right. That was a bad example. They are a little strange.”
“Yes, but a good strange. Talia brings out the best in Stann.”
“And he treats her like an equal, Talia hasn’t had much of that. Guys in her social circles have always been a little condescending and chauvinistic. They’d treat her like she was fragile and needing protecting. She’s as tough as orc jerky, she doesn’t need protection. Or if she scorned them, they treated her like she was some crazy bitch. Guys can be real jerks. Talia and I are lucky to have good guys like you, Stann and Colin as friends.”
Jack knew what other guys could be like, especially the rich kids like Talia had grown up around. They tended to have narrow views of the world and towards women. “I think we’re pretty lucky to have you and Talia too. You’re both good people and excellent warriors.” Jack cringed as the words came out of his mouth. Good people and excellent warriors, how romantic!
“We are, aren’t we,” she said with a laugh. “We should start heading back, it’s been almost an hour.”
Jack hadn’t even noticed the time. But he was glad for the change of subject. “Yes, let’s go see what Master Kalynchuk has made.”
They made their way back to the store and entered. Master Kalynchuk was waiting for them. “You can use the change room, Lana. You know where it is. You armor is in there.”
Lana smiled and went into the back.
Master Kalynchuk handed Jack his gauntlets.
The first thing Jack noticed was that the Darkthorn symbol had been removed and now there was a silver version of the Misfit crest on the black leather gauntlets.
“A minor detail, but I thought it appropriate,” Master Kalynchuk said.
“Identify,” Jack said. The gauntlets had originally given Jack 5 health and 5 mana. Now they gave 10 health and 15 mana. Also, there was additional spells. He looked at the stats for his new ring and the Chante ring had 25 mana. It also had a bonus of reducing the cost of casting Chante spells, as did the gauntlets.
“Every additional piece of armor that you have with Chante’s blessing will increase the stats of each piece. Same with the Rahmann, if you choose to add more dwarven items. You will also be able to modify your Chante spells now. Your sun blessing and solar burst spells are now much more useful. You still need more mana before you can use your solar flare, but you are getting closer.”
“It is fantastic. Thank you.”
Lana walked out. She looked amazing. The armor, like her previous armor, was skintight and showed off her figure, but this one was black and silver like his own gauntlets, and had the Misfits crest on the chest. She twirled around. “This is the formal look,” she said. She then waved her hand and the armor changed to a solid color that matched the wood in the room. “And the camo look.”
“It isn’t perfect camo. You’d need leggings and a cloak to match, but I don’t have those in stock. Perhaps another time we can negotiate for those.”
Jack could see the value of matching leggings and cloak. She’d be practically invisible. “Yes, we’ll have to come back.”
“I’d love to chit chat with you, but I do have a customer coming soon.”
Jack nodded. They were being politely asked to leave. “Thanks again.”
38
Leaving Ansby, they headed back to the Academy. The walk home was mostly silent. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence though; it was the opposite. Jack understood now that his attraction to Lana was mutual. It was complicated, relationships between members of a team were dangerous. A couple breaking up was different for normal people. They weren’t relying on each other in life-or-death situations as part of their lives
. For questers, there had to be an appreciation that the team mattered as much as the individuals, that his feelings for Lana couldn’t affect how he led the team. But Jack wasn’t worried about all those aspects at this moment. He was just happy to be walking down a road with a beautiful and amazing woman. It felt good.
When they arrived at the antiquities area, Chadwick was doodling in a notebook. He spotted them and put the book away. “Well, if it isn’t my favorite first-year questing team.”
“We’re your only first-year team,” Jack said.
“But you’re still my favorites,” Chadwick said with a wink. “And the best dressed. Love the new armor, Lana.”
Lana smiled. “We’ll take that, and thanks.”
Jack knew she was proud of her new armor; she’d changed it back to the formal black and silver with the team crest on it before entering the Academy grounds. It did look good on her, and the team crest was a great touch. Master Horton had done a fabulous job on that.
“What can I do for you today?”
“Give us lots and lots of money,” Jack said.
Chadwick chuckled. “Give me a reason.”
Jack looked at the sorting table. A third of it was covered with items. “We’re going to need more space.”
“I like the sound of that,” Chadwick said. “Let me get this out of the way.” He quickly cleared the rest of the sorting table off. “That enough room now?”
“Probably not, but it will have to do for now.”
Chadwick’s eyes went big. “Now I really am curious. Show me.”
They started emptying the satchels onto the table. Swords, knives, axes, bows, armor, the list went on. When they were done, the table was completely full and certain items had to be piled together.
“That is the biggest load of ancient items you’ve brought in yet. Well done. Normally, I like to do a hand count, good for the brain and all, but with this many items I will rely on magic.” Chadwick waved his hand and a magical spreadsheet appeared over the table. It showed a list of potential items and the classifications and value of each item. It started scanning the items and each item glowed for a fraction of a second and then the item and values were shown on the spreadsheet. At the bottom of the spreadsheet a large box glowed red and flashed. It showed the final value of the items on the table: 32,100 gold.
Menacing Misfits: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (Darkthorn Academy Book 1) Page 41