He threw on his armor, snatched his bag and maul, and hustled back out to the main room. Stacia and Fluff were waiting next to the door with raised brows and smiles on their lips. “I was tricked, it seems,” Alburet chuckled.
“We just be properly motivatin’ ya,” Stacia giggled.
“She did nibble my neck before she let me go,” Fluff commented idly. “Are you ready now?”
“More than I was a second ago,” Alburet coughed and shook the image from his mind. “Are we going over to the Guild hall to check on Karen?”
“The lobby would be a good place. It will nay interfere with Gerald’s plans, and we be there when they all be ready to go,” Stacia said as she opened the door. “After ya, Fluff.”
Kauree looked up as they entered. “Ye be here to help Gerald?”
“Just waiting on Karen,” Alburet told the Dwarf. Eyeing her half-shaved head, with bright orange hair on the other side, he finally asked a question he’d been wondering about. “Is that a fashion statement, or something else?”
“It be more fashion than anythin’ else,” Kauree shrugged. “Ye goin’ to make me change it?”
“Not at all,” Alburet replied. “I was just curious if there was a reason beyond fashion. I think you pull it off remarkably well.”
“Ye just be sayin’ tha’,” Kauree said, but the corner of her lips ticked up. “I was thinkin’ of changing the color, to more of a purple to be more like Vanessa.”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. “You’re just saying that to needle me.”
“Mayhap,” Kauree deadpanned, but gave them a wink that Vanessa couldn’t see.
“Anything we need to know about?” Alburet asked as he led the women over to a sofa.
“Sir Carter stopped by again the other day,” Vanessa said. “He just wanted to let you know that he is more than willing to go into the Dead Lands with you next time you go.”
“I really should have a talk with him,” Alburet sighed. “He seems more approachable than the other nobles.”
“He stops by ever’ few days,” Kauree added, “but he nay be pushy, just asks if you be in.”
“I’ll have to make the time to talk with him,” Alburet said resignedly. “Can you set up an appointment with him the next time he comes by?”
“Aye,” Kauree said, making a note. “Ya all goin’ out huntin’ again today?”
“Glacial Lake is our target today,” Fluff said.
“Me uncle be a sergeant out there,” Kauree said sitting up straight. “Do nay take offense at his demeanor. He would have a higher rank, but he be too blunt.”
Alburet chuckled, “I’ll probably get along with him then.”
The conversation fell off after that, but it wasn’t long before Karen came out of the back hallway, pulling her armor on as she did. “Oh good, you didn’t make me wait,” Karen said. “Gerald is talking to the Assassins. He said not to wait, and he’ll meet us at Glacial Lake.”
Fluff stood up and gave Karen a quick kiss. “You okay?”
“I don’t care for the dying thing, and I had to take all my armor off so as to not degrade its durability,” Karen sighed as she held Fluff. “Still, it should be worth it; they’ll be paying out a good chunk today. Let’s get going.”
“Have fun with the Langistors,” Kauree called out to them as they left.
“At least they’re tasty if you have butter,” Karen laughed and waved goodbye to the receptionists.
As soon as they were outside, Alburet summoned his Infernals. “Okay guys, we’re heading to the Portal Guild, then off to Glacial Lake.”
“I can be useful,” Kitten purred and stretched out her wings once they were on the street. Folding them back up behind her, she giggled, “It be so much fun, makin’ them kill their friends.”
“More fun to cook them with fire,” Bob called out from a nearby rooftop. “Just need butter to go with.”
“Right?” Karen laughed. “I just said that a minute ago.”
“Master, are we expecting to be attacked?” Tiny asked, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
“It’s likely,” Alburet said as they walked in tight formation. His fears seemed unfounded though, as the Portal Guild came into view a few minutes later. “Maybe not,” he muttered.
Kitten and Stacia stopped in their tracks, legs wobbling and heads slumping forward. A fraction of a second later, Tiny, TJ and Fluff also ended up Sapped. Alburet immediately unleashed a Fire Burst, knowing it would hurt his friends but wanting to break the stealth of the Assassins.
His quick reaction saved his life, as all five of the attackers had gone for him. Stripped of their stealth, their attacks didn’t do extra damage, though all five attacks still dropped him to near half health as three of them were positioned for backstabs.
Bob hadn’t been idle and used Burning Cleanse to free Tiny from his stun. Tiny let out a Savage Roar, taunting the attackers, then stunned the male Elf Assassin for a few seconds with a well-placed Bash.
Alburet cast Demonic Vitality onto himself and pulled his maul off his shoulder. “Good try,” he grunted as the four attacked him again, hoping that with the reduced damage from Tiny’s taunt, they wouldn’t be able to drop him quickly.
Bob got TJ back into the fight, who immediately Bashed another one, dropping it to three attackers, though he held his taunt for when Tiny’s wore off. “For the master!” TJ roared as his axe came around to hit the Assassin he’d stunned.
“This isn’t working,” the Lunari Assassin said as he hit Alburet again, his claws digging past the armor into flesh.
“We can at least get this—” the Dwarf cut off suddenly as his legs went wobbly.
“Not today,” Karen hissed as she appeared behind the Sapped Dwarf, both of her blades placed firmly in his back. “You should run now,” she told the Lunari, “run, and I won’t chase you.”
The Lunari glanced at the Human, who seemed hellbent on taking down Alburet, then shook his head. “Fuck this shit, you guys are too much,” and took off running, vanishing after a few steps.
The Human, seeing the Lunari run, cursed and took off running himself, taking the blow from Alburet’s flaming maul in stride. Once he was free of the melee, he vanished as well.
That left the two stunned attackers and the Sapped Dwarf, which Karen was still stabbing repeatedly. Stacia came out of her stun and used Comforting Touch to heal Alburet, then focused on the Elf that Tiny had stunned. He shook his head once, then fell under control of her song. Swaying in place, he nodded at her, and attacked the Dwarf that Karen was killing.
It wasn’t long before the three Assassins who hadn’t fled were dead, their bodies vanishing after a few seconds. Soon after combat ended, the group was healed and ready to finish walking to the Portal Guild.
“You’re still here?” Gerald called out to them from down the street.
“We were detained,” Alburet shrugged. “A group of five Assassins made a good play for me, but came up short in the end thanks to Bob’s quick thinking. He pulled the Sapped debuff off the others. If he hadn’t, I probably wouldn’t have made it.”
Bob puffed up his chest proudly. “What has two thumbs and keeps saving your ass?” Hooking both thumbs at his chest, Bob grinned broadly, “This Imp, that’s who.”
Alburet shook his head and snorted, “Fair enough, but don’t let it go to your head.”
Bob chuckled and hopped from foot to foot on the roof he was perched on, “It’s fine, I already know I’m the best.”
Gerald rolled his eyes. “Best at being a pain in the ass? Yes, yes you are.”
Bob’s jaw fell open and he blinked in shock. “Did he just…”
“Shots fired,” Karen snickered.
“At least I know how to do what my women want and don’t hide behind excuses because I’m too afraid to do anything,” Bob fired back, raising his head and looking down his nose at Gerald.
Gerald’s mouth snapped shut, his mouth going hard. “You arrogant little—”
&n
bsp; Marysue gave Gerald’s arm a tug. “Stop it, Gerald.” Turning to Bob, she frowned. “That wasn’t nice, Bob. I know he said something mean, but that was completely uncalled for.”
Bob dropped down off the roof and landed before Marysue. “I apologize to you. You did not deserve to be caught in my verbal sparring with Gerald,” Bob bowed at the waist to her. “I’m sorry, Marysue.”
“You and Gerald need to stop this,” Marysue said, bopping Bob on the head. “He is the man I love, and I like to think you are my friend. Friends shouldn’t snipe at each other like you two do.”
“Mary—” Gerald began, but cut off at her level look that contained no hint of her normal happy persona. “Sorry. I’ll try if he will.”
Bob glanced up, catching a brief glance of Marysue’s serious face, and his eyes went wide. Dropping his gaze, he coughed once to get their attention, “Gerald, I apologize for my words to you. I have been mean and have deliberately needled you. I will try to stop if you will, for her sake.”
Unclenching his jaw, Gerald sighed, “I would do anything for Mary, even make peace with you. I will stop if you will.”
Bob stood up and offered his claw to Gerald. “Deal?”
Taking the smaller hand, Gerald nodded. “Deal.”
“Now tha’ I did nay think to be seein’ any time soon,” Stacia murmured.
“Right?” Karen said. “Well, we’re all together; shall we head off to kill lobsters?”
Marysue’s normal friendly smile came back instantly. “That sounds like a good idea, though I hope we can do undead later tonight.”
“When we hit 70, there are two zones that feature undead,” Fluff commented as they started walking again.
“I’ll look forward to it,” Marysue said. “I didn’t think I would enjoy doing damage, but I like the little I get to do with the undead.”
“Damage is fun,” Bob agreed from above them as they approached the doors of the Portal Guild. Dropping to the ground, he grinned. “Nothing like watching them die in a fire, right master?”
Alburet winced, knowing Bob was poking fun at his choice of words for Fire Blast. “Right.”
Stacia giggled as Alburet opened the door for them, “Good thin’ ya do nay have to say it aloud anymore.”
“That is a downside,” Karen said as she and Fluff followed Stacia through the doors. “Spellcasters have to keep saying the same words over and over for their spells. We melee types just have to think about doing the Ability and it works.”
“It is a little annoying,” Marysue agreed. “The Ability to change the wording and motions of a spell, though, does help with that. I’ve changed the words and motions to my basic heal at least five times just to make things less monotonous.”
“Have a good day,” Alburet said to the receptionist as they went past her and headed for the door leading to the city portals. “I keep thinking about changing mine, but now that I don’t have to say them anymore, it doesn’t seem like such a big deal.”
“I wonder if I can get that Ability before the endgame?” Marysue said.
“Priests don’t get that Ability,” Fluff said as they came to the portal for Bunker. “Mages are the only class besides Summoners that get Silent Casting. Necromancers get Still Casting, as do Shamans.”
“Figures,” Marysue sighed. “Oh well. I’m glad I picked up Personal Spells.”
“Next stop, Glacial Lake,” Karen said as she stepped onto the portal, followed by Fluff.
“Cold and lobsters,” Marysue sighed as she followed Fluff, then was followed in turn by Gerald.
“At least I’ll be able to help,” Stacia murmured as she gave Alburet a quick hug. “Let’s nay keep them waitin’.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Appearing before their home later that day after gaining two levels from Glacial Lake, the group headed towards the Blood Ring, Fluff smiling widely as they walked. “You’ve never seen it?”
“No,” Alburet said, “I’ve had no reason to check out the other Class trainer areas.”
“It’s just a big arena,” Karen said.
Fluff frowned, “And the Assassin hall is just a manor. It’s the aesthetic that matters.”
“Ya both be proud of ya class halls,” Stacia giggled. “It be fine, we’ve seen Karen’s and we be goin’ to see ya hall now, Fluff.”
“They hold fights for Berserkers to test each other, like the Assassins have missions to carry out contracts, except we get small tournaments.”
“Oh, that’s cool,” Alburet said, nodding, “and it helps reinforce the aesthetic.”
“Yes,” Fluff said, bouncing along for a few steps. “It’s fun. I entered one shortly after I met you, Al. I lost in the second round, but it was good to test out my new skills against others.”
“Can anyone enter the tournaments?” Karen asked.
“No, just Berserkers,” Fluff said.
“Figures,” Karen frowned. “Maybe we should look at the main arena in the city. There might be a quest for winning fights in there.”
“There only be quests when the Crown holds events,” Stacia told Karen.
“Rats,” Karen sighed, her shimmering form nudging Fluff’s hip gently. “Next time, tell me if you enter. I want to watch you.”
“Okay,” Fluff agreed with a smile, her arm going up and pulling Karen in for a brief hug.
Karen returned the hug. “Don’t want to give away my position, huh?”
“It would be silly to do so,” Fluff said as she looked straight ahead, instead of at the shimmer.
“Made me happy to see you reach for me, though,” Karen said, stepping behind Fluff. “I’ll save you the temptation.”
A handful of minutes later, they approached a small arena located next to another, much larger one. “That’s the normal arena,” Fluff said, motioning to the larger one. “This one is where my trainer is.”
“Lead on, we’re right behind you,” Alburet said.
Leading them into a back hallway, she pointed out various training rooms as they passed. Eventually, she led them to a simple room with sand covering the sunken floor. As they entered, a one-eared Dwarf appraised them.
“Charles, I need to train my next Ability,” Fluff greeted the surly looking Dwarf.
“Who be these behind ye?” Charles asked gruffly.
“My husband, Alburet Two-souled; my wife, Karen Two-souled; and my other wife Stacia, formerly of the Crowley line. The Imp is Bob, the Succubus is Kitten, and the Destroyer is Tiny, all of them Al’s minions.”
Lips puckering, Charles stared at Alburet with a bit of disdain. “Summoner.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Charles. I thank you for training Fluff so well. She is a veritable killing machine when we hunt,” Alburet replied with a faint smile.
The disdain vanished and Charles nodded. “Aye, it be me job to train all who ask what can withstand it. Iffin ye will all step back against the walls, I do nay wish ye to get caught up in this.”
Fluff gave Karen’s hand a squeeze before stepping forward. “What are my choices for level 70?”
“All the ones ye have passed up before, of course,” Charles said evenly. “Yer two new choices be Shrug Off, which negates 25% of AoE damage all the time, or ye can take Pole Vault, which will double yer Leap distance.”
“I’ll take Shrug Off,” Fluff said, settling her weight onto her back foot.
“I thought ye might, with a Summoner in yer group. Many of them do nay take their Ability to negate the fire damage they do to their allies,” Charles reached up and rubbed at where his missing ear was. “Ye be ready?”
Fluff nodded, eyes focused on the Dwarf. “Yes.”
With a roar, Charles charged at her. As he got into range, twin hammers appeared from behind his back and he began spinning. Tiny let out a rumble and almost took a step forward, but Alburet stopped him. Fluff took the blows, but started leaning away from them. After a few seconds Charles stepped back, his hammers disappearing behind his back again.
“Yes,” Fluff said, wiping a thin trickle of blood from her lip. “That will come in very handy, thank you.”
Alburet watched the exchange with a raised brow, as his training was simply touching a page in a book. He kept his mouth shut, though, as Charles turned towards him.
“Ye kept yer minion on a leash, thank ye for tha’,” Charles said stiffly.
“Tiny didn’t want to hold back. He protects her as fiercely as he does me, as she is my wife,” Alburet replied. “You asked us to step back, so I figured it was part of her training, even if it is vastly different from how I train.”
The Path to Peace Page 21