“Well, apparently, he is,” Huk said, standing straight and doing his best impression of the Wrangler. “If you want my help, then this is my request.”
Chloe checked out the quest notification, not quite believing what they’d been asked to do but somehow having known this would be the end result all along.
“Look, guys, I know it’s a tad insane, but if it gets us closer to our goal, then that’s what we have to do.”
“It won’t work,” Leonie said, shaking her head. “We’ll never get it.”
“We don’t know that,” Chloe shot back.
Ben glanced toward the forest. “We could always…steal it?”
“Ben!” Gideon and Chloe exclaimed together.
“What? It was just an idea. It’s dark, it’s quiet, she’ll never know.”
“We’ll know,” Gideon told him.
“We’ll just wait until morning, okay? That way, we can do this properly. Wait until daylight and then…maybe…we’ll be able to get what he wants. There’s a chance she’ll just hand it over.”
“Yeah,” Therese grumbled. “I can see that happening.”
Chloe rolled her eyes, marched through the gates, and led them toward the inn.
Soon they were all tucked into bed, waiting quietly in anticipation of sunrise.
Cockerels signaled the morning’s arrival.
They were large creatures, dotted in several locations around the city. It was the only way to ensure the workers began at the same time every day. Heads arched to the sky, they belted out their morning tune.
Chloe awoke with a start at the sound. She couldn’t remember the last time she had let herself sleep properly and enjoyed waking up to find that a buff of +10% stamina regen had been added to her character after a good, deep rest.
The others were more difficult to wake up, considering they had all logged off during the night. Having had no idea what time it had been when their heads had hit the pillow, Chloe imagined that they wouldn’t be awake for another hour or two, at least.
All, that is, except Gideon and Blueballs.
“Morning, sunshine.” Chloe smiled, struggling to hold back a laugh as Gideon rose from his bed, hair sticking out in all directions.
“Huh? What time is it?”
“Morning time.”
Blueballs gave a small growl as if to say his own good morning.
“Come on,” Chloe said, swinging her legs off her bed and crossing to the other side of the room. “We’ve got some time before they wake up. Let’s get ahead of the game, shall we?”
Gideon agreed, and soon they were waving goodbye to Blueballs at the door. The toffet looked downtrodden, but after a quick word of reassurance from Chloe that they would be back soon, he settled down and went back to sleep.
The streets were alive with activity. Clearly, morning was one of the busiest times to be out and about. Chloe and Gideon snaked along the cobblestone streets, avoiding caravan carts packed with wooden boxes, weaving through crowds of makers and sellers, and dodging excited customers.
The atmosphere was completely different today, and Chloe caught her first hints of the festivities. They tried to navigate to the gate but kept finding the streets choked with people wearing homemade gowns and tiaras. Ribbons and banners decorated everything, and at nearly every intersection, musicians were playing festive tunes.
Chloe asked a dwarven street merchant what was going on.
“It’s decision day!” The dwarf beamed. “King Abaxis has met with each of the suitors, and today the queen-to-be will be chosen!” He clapped his hands and indicated his wares, a table overburdened with royalty-themed merchandise. “You see?”
Chloe and Gideon nodded, determined to move away from the merchant before he started extolling his items.
When they were out of sight of the merchant, Chloe said, “I can’t believe how excited they are. It’s a guy marrying a girl.”
“That’s because you’re American,” Gideon replied, leading Chloe down yet another street after a bunch of people barred their way. “If you went across the pond to England, you’d see how much they celebrate the monarchy even in this day and age, when the royals have less sway than they did in the Middle Ages.”
Chloe squeezed through a group of teenage girls clapping and discussing the choice animatedly.
“You seem to know a lot about the royals and the UK.”
Gideon shrugged. “It’s interesting, y’know? A family so powerful and influential that people from around the world flock to see them, yet it’s the British government that oversees the majority of the decisions. I mean, why are kings and queens special? Who dictated that they were anything other than ‘normal?’”
Chloe considered his point, agreeing with a small nod. There were some people in the world who were born with all the gifts life had to give, her included.
And then there were others like Gideon, who were born into troubles and had had to work their asses off to make anything of themselves. Yet, who said Chloe was in any way better than Gideon? She had been lucky, she supposed. Born to rich, successful parents and given everything she asked for.
She felt a frisson of shame. She hadn’t ever considered her life through the lens of someone like Gideon, and the worst part was that he had no idea of her true identity. To him, she was just a regular person.
“Where the hell are we?” Gideon asked, stopping after a while and trying to figure out their location.
“Beats me,” Chloe replied. “I was following you.”
Gideon furrowed his brow, took a swift walk down a narrow alley, and found himself climbing a set of stairs that looked to have hardly ever been used. When they reached the top, they discovered they were on an outcrop of rock that looked out over the whole city.
“Woah…” Gideon breathed.
It was throbbing with life. They could see thousands of people on the streets and the rain of confetti. They could hear the music as if it were coming from a tinny AM radio.
“This view is killer,” Chloe said. “If only we had cameras here.”
Gideon gave Chloe a weird look.
“What?”
“You didn’t know you could screenshot?” Gideon asked.
“I…no!” She rifled through her menus and found the camera button, then looked out over the city and confirmed the picture, hearing the click of a camera shutter before a still image appeared in the bottom right of her vision.
“You can save them in albums and share them when you’re not in-game,” Gideon told her. “My wallpaper on my computer at home is the nine of us at the table in the Twisted Spire in Killink View.”
Chloe gave him a small smile. “One of the last times we were all together.”
Gideon nodded.
Chloe fell into her thoughts, remembering the moment well. The gang had been laughing and having a great time. Blueballs sat in the corner, wondering what the fuss was about.
The nine…
Veronica’s words came back to her: As long as you believe in the nine, your mission will be successful.
Was that what Veronica had meant? That the nine—the KieraSlayers—were what was needed to complete her quest? All of them? Tag and Jessie included?
It can’t be, Chloe, KieraFreya chipped in. You know it can’t.
But what if it is? Chloe mused. What if I can resurrect her again?
You know you can’t. Besides, she’s gone now, and Tag is out of action. Maybe another two will come. Maybe many nines will form before the journey’s through.
Chloe tried to digest this, wracking her brain to understand the meaning of Veronica’s words.
It wasn’t until she heard the Gideon gasping and felt his hand on her shoulder that she was pulled back to the present.
“What is it?”
For the first time since they had ascended the stairs, Chloe noticed a second flight of stairs leading down into another part of the city, this part a lot less busy than the rest.
But it wasn’t the stai
rs that drew her focus. It was the dwarf who stood frozen at the top of the stairs, a terrified expression on his face.
“Er…” he managed.
“Hello?” Chloe said.
The dwarf’s mouth opened and closed, eyes shifting as if he had just been caught under spotlights. There was something about him that looked slightly out of place.
His beard was incredibly groomed, as opposed to all the other dwarves she had met in her time. He wore a dark gray cloak that he held tightly around his person. His cheeks were rosy on his flawless skin, and his boots looked brand-new, barely a trace of mud or dirt on them.
“Are you okay?” Gideon asked. “You don’t look so great.”
“Yes. I mean, no. I mean…” the dwarf stuttered. “I guess I’m just…lost.”
“Ha!” Chloe burst out. “You and us both, brother. We have no idea how we even got here. Have you looked down there, though? It’s a nightmare. I wouldn’t go that way unless you want to get stuck in the crowds.”
“Actually, that’s exactly where I want to go.”
“It is?” Gideon asked.
The dwarf nodded. “Of course. I actually want to get out of the city and away from the crowds. It’s been a nightmare since the festivities began.”
Chloe felt sorry for the dwarf. “I can see how that could happen. Well, how about this? We’re looking to get out the front gates too. How about you show us the way back to our friends and we’ll all head out of this city together?”
The dwarf’s face lit up. “Really? You’d help me?”
Gideon chuckled. “It’d really be you helping us.”
“Chloe.” Chloe offered her hand.
“Gideon,” the mage added.
The dwarf took their hands in turn. “I’m…” he paused, eyes shifting once again, “Abe. Call me ‘Abe.’”
“Abe, it is,” Chloe said jovially.
Before they knew it, they were back on the streets again. Abe kept his cloak wrapped tightly around him, his face in shadow as he expertly led them through the streets, turning down tight alleys that Chloe and Gideon had to shimmy sideways to get through.
“He doesn’t look very lost,” Gideon commented as they squeezed out of an alley. Abe looked left, sighed at the number of people standing and waiting in the streets, and took a right instead.
Chloe agreed but decided not to say anything. He moved swiftly, and if they dawdled for too long, they might lose him.
At one point along the journey, the dwarf did disappear from sight. They reached a wide street with its edges choked with spectators. Several carts were trundling down it, led by impressively muscular horses.
As the carts passed by, Abe took a deep breath, lowered his head, and sprinted across the street. Chloe and Gideon tried to follow, but one of the horses had been disturbed by the traveler and paused, whinnying excitedly.
By the time Chloe and Gideon had calmed the screaming lady dwarf-suitor and reached the other side, he was gone.
“Crap,” Chloe hissed. “Do you have any idea where we are?”
Gideon looked up at the morning sky. “Judging by the sun, east of where we were earlier.”
“That’s really helpful.”
“I’m sorry, Chloe. I don’t have a GPS in my head.”
Chloe laughed, spying a dark shape at the end of the street a second later. The figure waved them over.
“Come on,” Abe hissed.
Chloe and Gideon sprinted to catch up, impressed by the dwarf’s speed.
When the inn came into sight, Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. The KieraSlayers were all seated outside on their favorite bench, waiting patiently in the sunlight.
Blueballs was the first to spot them, excitedly bounding over and pulling Chloe into a tight hug. She was thankful for the metal armor that covered her body.
“I missed you too, pal.” She laughed.
“We knew you’d already be off on some crazy adventures,” Veronica said, her face annoyed although her eyes betrayed she was more pleased to see them than mad. “What, we can’t even log off for a short break anymore without you guys off canoodling in some tiny hollow of the city?”
“Did you get it?” Huk asked. “Did you find her?”
“What?” Chloe asked, forgetting all about the Wrangler’s task for a minute. “Oh, no. We got waylaid. The city is manic today. Everyone is out in the streets to celebrate the king choosing a suitor.”
“And let me guess: this is the king?” Leonie smirked.
Abe’s head came up, his eyes wide.
Chloe laughed. “Don’t be silly. This is Abe. We met him on our travels. It’s because of his expert guidance that we were able to make it back here.”
“Pleased to meet you all,” Abe said, a weak smile on his face. He refused to let go of the front of his cloak. “If it’s not too rude of me, I really do have to go. Duty calls beyond the walls.”
He turned to leave, but Therese placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Not so fast. You can show us the way. We’ve got business beyond the walls too.”
Abe tensed, slowly turning to meet Therese’s eye. When he did, his whole demeanor changed. He took a step back and studied her.
“Of…of course,” he said goofily. “Absolutely, yes. I’ll show you the way. Yes, of course.”
Ben rolled his eyes. “Well, that didn’t take long.”
“What?” Gideon asked.
“He’s in luuurve,” Ben whispered.
Veronica appeared beside them. “Did you say what I think you said?”
Ben chuckled, not that Therese or Abe heard. Therese was already following the eager Abe as he walked on, continually turning around and smiling at Therese.
Chloe giggled, shaking her head at the ridiculousness of it all.
“Come on,” Veronica said. “Before the lovebirds leave us behind.”
“Speaking of lovebirds, we better go find ours,” Chloe added, walking side by side with Blueballs as Abe led them through the streets and out toward the fields beyond the city walls.
Chapter Nine
“Wow! She really is a beauty, isn’t she?”
Veronica stared in hypnotic admiration at Fernando, the peacock strutting around the pen with gentle nods of his head. Behind him trailed his feathers in a dazzling display of rainbow colors.
“Fernando is a ‘he,’” Doris said rather sharply.
“Really?” Veronica replied. “I’d have thought the girl birds would be the pretty ones.”
Chloe raised an eyebrow. “Have you never seen a peacock before?”
Veronica shook her head. “Not down our way, no. You don’t get peacocks in the inner cities. I can tell you what pigeons and rats look like. I used to be able to shoot pigeons from fifty yards away with a slingshot.”
“Not even at a zoo or a petting farm?” Ben asked. “They’re always at those.”
“Nope,” Veronica replied. “Never. Not once. To be honest, I thought they only existed in fairytales. It makes sense when you think about it. What other brightly colored birds do you see flying around on US soil?”
“Parrots?” Huk suggested.
“They’re not American.” Veronica scoffed. “They’re tropical.”
“I’ve still seen them in the US.”
“And they don’t fly.” Doris raised a finger, as if teaching a class a very important point she was rather proud of. “Well, not really. They flap a lot and can sort of hover, but you won’t see them trailing through the sky.”
“Then what’s the point of them?” Veronica asked.
Talbot shrugged. “I hear they make a great dinner.”
Doris gasped.
Chloe, quick to try to recover, flapped her hands and said, “But that’s not why we’re here, is it, guys?”
No one replied.
“Is it, guys?”
Realizing what Chloe was trying to do, the rest of the group very quickly shook their heads.
Doris looked at them with a trace of suspicion.
“Look, I appreciate what you’re asking, and it’s a very generous offer, but I’m sorry. Fernando is not for sale. He was a gift from my late husband. He’s all I have left of him. I can’t give him up that easily.”
Chloe’s heart sank. The task had seemed so simple, but now that she looked into Doris’ eyes, she knew it would be a lot harder than she thought to separate the two.
“We have gold,” Chloe said, scanning her menu and feeling herself deflate when she saw the meager number of coins left in her inventory. It seemed the cost of living in Hammersworth over the last week or so had taken its toll on her pockets. “We have some gold.”
“I’m sorry,” Doris said, turning to head back inside. “If you have any questions about them or any of my other livestock, let me know. But I really should be getting on with preparations for the big feast tonight. The king’s palace has asked me for two hundred chickens to feed the table at the after-service dinner.”
“Two hundred chickens?” Ben said incredulously. “Seems a bit extravagant, even for a dwarven wedding.”
“Nah,” Veronica chipped in. “Dwarves can stomach anything. They’re like cows or goats. Everything in sight goes into their mouths and down into their bellies. Ain’t that right, Therese?”
“I wouldn’t know.” She glared at Veronica. “I can’t speak for my race, seeing as I’m not a real dwarf.”
“What about you, new blood?” Veronica asked Abe. “Wouldn’t you say dwarves can eat anything until their stomachs are fit to burst?”
Abe, who had remained relatively quiet up until this point, studying the others intensely, suddenly gave an awkward laugh. “Ha! Yeah, anything, those dwarves. I mean, us dwarves. It’s too many chickens, really. I should ask…I mean, the king should ask for fewer. Or maybe some variety, y’know? A cow, or a pig, or a…” his eyes hunted the paddock again, “a peacock!”
Doris glared at Abe. “No. The peacocks are off-limits.”
With that, she stormed into her house and shut the door firmly behind her.
“You know,” Huk said, eyeing Fernando greedily, “she’s not the smartest farmer in the land. We could just…”
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