Forming the Company (Alpha World Book 2)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Marcus lurched to his feet, an amiable smile coming to him as he extended a hand, “Oh, it is good to meet you, Alburet. Ioaniss has told me that you are the one who found the Forgotten Prison exhibit. We’ll be moving that out to the main floor tomorrow. Would you like to see the closed exhibits?” Marcus’s voice was filled with wonder as he spoke of the exhibits.

  “I would be glad to learn as much as I can about Alpha World and its history, sir,” Alburet said as he crossed the distance and shook hands with Marcus.

  Ioaniss winced slightly at Alburet’s response, but kept a grin in place, “Well, before I go attend to other matters, to answer your requests last night. The king has decided to grant all of your boons, but it is contingent on two things. First, you must have a place to hang out a shingle as it were. A place where your guild can be found, a base of operations. Secondly, you must register your marriage to Stacia Crowley inside of five days. Once both of those conditions have been met the king will issue the proclamations.”

  Frowning slightly, Alburet nodded, “The second one is easy. The first one, though, might take me a bit longer. How long will I have for that condition?”

  “As long as it takes,” Ioaniss replied, pulling out his Mindstone. “Just trade info with me so you can contact me when both conditions have been met.”

  Alburet tapped his Mindstone to Ioaniss’s, who then took his leave quickly. Alburet turned back to Marcus. “I am in your capable hands, sir,” Alburet said before recalling the story about Marcus having gotten lost in this building before.

  “Follow me, then,” Marcus replied happily, leading them out of the room and down another hall.

  Eventually they came out in another large room, this one not nearly as well-lit as the main hall. This room held shelves of crates along the walls, with a few glass cases in the middle of the room. Marcus led them to the shiniest glass first, inside of which lay the book open to the title page along with the letter opener. A plaque on the display told what the items were and that Vladimir Dracon had gifted them to the Crown.

  “You already know about these two items,” Marcus said, smiling down at the display like a proud father. “It was so gracious of Vladimir to gift them to the king. I am fairly sure that he copied the book first, though, as there are two small ink smudges with newish ink on a back page. He must still be seeking the whereabouts of the prison to see if he can verify if one of his ancestors really was held there.”

  Lips pursed, Alburet finally understood why Vladimir was so eager to get the information about where the prison was. “His ancestor was imprisoned in Alctriuz?”

  “Most records of who was imprisoned in the place are lost to time, so it could just be a malicious rumor. Now let me show you some of the other exhibits that we are preparing to send back to their native countries. You see, we do a rotating exchange program with the other countries so everyone has a chance to learn more about the world.” Marcus rambled on as he walked down to the next display case. “This hammer is known as Mojonor, forged by the dwarves for a legendary hero known as Evansthor. It is said that only those with a pure heart and massive strength can hope to wield it. It is rumored to have been used by the hero to take down one of the Dragon Tyrants a thousand years ago.”

  Alburet bit back a snerk at just how blatantly the developers ripped off the well-known comic-book movies of the past. “That is fascinating. Excuse my ignorance, but what is a Dragon Tyrant?”

  Marcus blinked at him before nodding, “Of course, as a two-souled you wouldn’t know many of the things we take for granted. Dragon Tyrants are the scourge of the northern continent. They have been at war with the Dwarves for all of their recorded history. They are very, very, old dragons that have amassed a lot of magical power. Tyrants are the pinnacle of their race, able to wield magical abilities that can decimate entire raids. They normally lie dormant unless they are woken by adventurers. When they are awake they engage in a horrible ravishing of the countryside.”

  Sensing a thread for a possible expansion to the game, Alburet nodded, “Let us hope they stay asleep, then.”

  “Next, we have an artifact from the Elves that we will be sending back in the next few days. The Windsprinter bow, famed to never miss a shot as well as being able to shoot arrows that travel faster than the eye can see. The name of its original bearer was lost during their war with the Trolls. So many wars between those races over their long history. It is said that the Trolls used to be Elves back in the mists of creation. It is rumored that the Dark Lord twisted them trying to make a hybrid demon-elf and what was left became the Troll race. The bow was recovered during a subsequent war and returned to the Elven Monarchy, who have since enshrined it as a symbol of the endless battle their people face.”

  Biting his lip Alburet, held back his amusement at the artifact, barely managing. “I would bet the one who used the bow was a beauty, even if the wielder’s name is lost.”

  “It very well could be. There was a very well-known general at the time who was famed for her use of a bow in combat. Elven lore isn’t my specialty though, so I can’t recall the name right now. And here is another major relic, from the Lunari tribes, which is also scheduled to be returned soon. A totem from when their tribes first came together to become a single tribe.” Marcus enthused as he led Alburet down to the last display to be seen.

  Inside the glass case was a wooden totem carved into the likeness of a large headed cat standing on two legs with small eyes, three whiskers on each side and a skull attached near one ear. Alburet couldn’t help it, he snorted as he saw the totem.

  Marcus frowned as he glanced at Alburet, “That is a little disrespectful. This is a representation of their goddess, Bestat. Before the Creator told the gods to leave the world and to watch from the planes, Bestat was known to walk amongst her people more than any other god. Said to be equally involved in love and war, she is venerated to a high degree by the Lunari. If one of them had heard you disrespect this totem they would kill you, many times over, until you apologized.” His voice was severe, obviously upset.

  Alburet bowed, “I meant no disrespect, sir. The totem, though, is very similar to an icon from the world we two-souled come from. There it is more of a happy mascot, definitely not the figure of a goddess. Please forgive my outburst.”

  Taking a calming breath, Marcus nodded, “It is fine. Tell me about this similar looking mascot.” The next ten minutes Alburet relayed what he could about the well-known icon from his world. When he finished, Marcus seemed to understand, “That is going to cause some issues for you two-souled I will bet.”

  “I’m certain of it. I feel bad for the two-souled who started on the Lunari continent.”

  Turning away slightly, Marcus rubbed his chin, “Well, those are the most interesting artifacts we currently have in the building. I could show you a few from the time of Maximus the Lightbringer?”

  “Was he the one that made it so Summoners and Necromancers wouldn’t be hunted anymore?”

  A bright smile lit Marcus’s face, “Exactly. We have that set up out front. Follow me, please.”

  A few minutes later they were standing before a number of displays. Each held an item along with a painting of the historic figure. “These are Maximus the Lightbringer, Summoner Yuna Demonchild and Necromancer Steinberg Franklinson.” Marcus pointed to each portrait in turn.

  Taking a moment to look at each, Alburet nodded. The line of the Emperor hadn’t faded much over the years, each one had the same strong jaw. Steinberg was a tall thin man with skeletons behind him, his long black hair flowing around his pointed Elf ears. The portrait of Yuna showed a frowning woman with bright red hair that seemed to stare back at the viewer. He thought he noted traces of Stewart in the jaw line, along with a hint of the Crowley line in the nose and eyes.

  “Historical records indicate that Emperor Maximus was visiting the Dwelden continent to negotiate a new trade deal with the Dwarves. The Dragon Tyrants had just settled back into their long sleep but some of their c
hildren were still very active. He had opted to not use a portal, but instead take an over land trip to see more of their country. This proved to be almost fatal for the Emperor, but in the end worked out.”

  Marcus paused his telling to take a sip from a flask before continuing. “The Emperor and his party were a few days from the capital in the foothills when the convoy was set upon by an Elder Dragon. Emperor Maximus was traveling with only a small retinue, not expecting to encounter any such trouble. When the dragon came out of the clouds his men fell into formation quickly, but they were not used to fighting the beasts. A number of them fell to the beast’s breath attack, and the battle did not look hopeful.”

  Nodding, Alburet wasn’t surprised to hear that dragons here would have breath weapons. It was almost a given, really. He made a mental note to ask later if there were different types of breaths or just a single type. He could tell by the gleam in the man’s eyes that Marcus was in full storytelling mode and trying to interrupt would probably be useless right now.

  “It was then that Yuna and Steinberg came galloping down the road. Seeing the Elder Dragon attacking the group, they dismissed their mounts and summoned their minions to aid them. They arrived just in time for the Destroyer of Yuna to pull the dragon’s gaze from the Emperor. The ensuing combat is told well in any number of songs and books, I wouldn’t do it justice by trying to tell it myself. However, when the dragon fell, the Emperor’s men leveled their weapons at the two adventurers.”

  Pausing for another sip, Marcus cleared his throat before continuing, “It was here that Maximus realized he was only alive due to two people who should, by law, be executed for their class. Being a just man, he knew that would be unforgivable to his god. He ordered his men to stand down, then approached the wary duo alone. They declined all offers of repayment from the grateful Emperor. After the third refusal, the Emperor just smiled and declared their classes no longer punishable by death in the human lands. He thanked them one more time, vowing that any other boon they or their children asked would be granted, then the Emperor and his entourage used their Homestones to return to Stormguard. Upon his return, the Emperor issued the proclamation that Summoners and Necromancers would no longer be put to death for practicing their natures. The next day, Emperor Maximus used the portal guild to go straight to the Dwarven capital.”

  “Huh. So Yuna and Steinberg never got any other payment?”

  “Each of their offspring came forward during the reign of the next Emperor and claimed small rewards. Yuna’s child asked for rights to run an inn in the city, which was granted to her. The Crowley line still runs it today, being her direct descendants. Steinberg’s son asked for the rights to a ruined city in the Dead Lands. His request was hotly debated for a few years before it was allowed, with the condition that upon his death the lands revert to the Crown.”

  “So, the current King owns them again?”

  “No, the son still lives as far as we know, as the rights have not reverted to the crown yet. Steinberg’s son was a Half-Elf, so he could live for some time yet. No one has seen him since he left for the ruins.”

  “Hmm, interesting. That was fascinating, sir. My thanks.”

  Beaming, Marcus seemed to stand a bit taller, “Would you like to know more?”

  Half bored, Alburet knew it had to be around lunch time. “I’m afraid I have a few other obligations I must attend to, sir. I do thank you for taking the time to show me around and teach me more about this world. I’ll be back at some point to learn more, but it will probably be some time before that comes to pass.”

  “If I am available, I will be more than happy to show you around again. It is so rare to find someone who really wants to learn,” Marcus shook hands with Alburet as they said their farewells.

  Alburet let out a deep sigh once he was outside, marveling at how intense Marcus could get when he got rolling. He wondered what he should do first, he still had gear to sell and he was also actually thinking of getting some lunch now that he thought about it.

  Chapter Twelve

  Alburet started walking towards Grimgar’s so he could sell off the junk he’d accumulated from hunting. As he walked he recalled that he still had an unfinished quest that he could no longer finish, but he could cancel it. With that thought he changed course, to fix the oversight.

  He came into sight of the guard building after a bit. He nodded to the two gate guards, getting polite nods in return. He cut off at an angle towards the training building. A single guard was just coming out the door as he approached.

  “Excuse me,” Alburet said politely as the guard looked up at him. “Is Captain Roberto in?”

  The guard looked him over before responding, “Who is asking?”

  “My name is Alburet, I am a two-souled and have unresolved business with him.”

  “Wait here, please,” the guard said, spinning and going back in the building.

  A minute later both the guard and the captain came out. Roberto chuckled slightly, “I was wondering if you might have cut and run on me.”

  “No, sir,” Alburet said, giving a salute. “I’m sorry for the delay, but life caught up to me. I am here to pay you back for the loan, as I have been informed that I will not be able to teach your men anything more.” He dug out five gold, holding them out to Roberto.

  Taking the gold, Roberto raised a brow, “This is more than I lent you.”

  “I know, sir. However, I feel you should be given more since I’m late getting back to you and I won’t be able to fulfill the earlier request now.”

  Roberto handed back two of the five gold, “This will do, then. Anything more looks fishy.”

  Quest Canceled: Return later to help Roberto train the guard

  You returned the gold, canceling the quest.

  You will not incur any penalty to reputation with Stormguard.

  A small smile appeared as Alburet nodded, “As you say, sir. I also would like to tender an apology to Guard Wilber Gilden, sir. Is he about?”

  Both brows rising, Roberto studied Alburet for a moment before replying. “He is on the daytime shift, so is on duty right now. Would you care to leave him a note?”

  “I think a note would be a bit too impersonal. Will you deliver a message for me instead?” Alburet asked. When Roberto nodded, he continued. “Ask him to meet me at the Dead Man Inn this evening so I can tender an apology in person, please.”

  Frowning, Roberto nodded, “I will pass it along, but frankly he is unlikely to wish to visit that place.”

  “That is true, sir. I hope he will do so anyway as it I believe it will benefit us both. Thank you again, sir,” Alburet snapped another salute before turning and walking away.

  The guard who had been there watched Alburet go before speaking to the Captain. “Do you think Wilbur will go?”

  “I don’t know, but that two-souled has caused some waves from what I’ve heard. I don’t know if Wilbur will be amenable to the overture.” Roberto replied, heading back into his office.

  After more walking Alburet finally got to Grimgar’s. DrFrank was in the shop, examining a staff. The jingle of the bell made Grimgar look up to offer a smile and nod as he listened to the customer before him.

  “This is the best you have that I can afford? Ten to intelligence and wisdom is nice, but I thought I would get more for the price.” DrFrank said as he set the staff back on the counter.

  “Ye be not even level twenty yet, lad. While ye do have a nice bit of coin, this be the best ye can hope for right now.” Grimgar replied, resting a hand on the staff, “Iffin ye do nay want it though, tha’ be fine.”

  Sighing, DrFrank put his hand on the ebony staff, “Let’s not be hasty. Can you come down in price at all?”

  “What’s he asking for it, Frank?” Alburet asked, interrupting the haggle.

  Turning his head, DrFrank frowned briefly before tilting his head slightly as recognition dawned, “Oh, Alburet. How you been? He’s asking for fifty gold for something with a meager plus ten t
o two stats.”

  Pursing his lips, Alburet nodded, “Well, even at level eighteen the best I’ve seen is ten to a single stat and I can make most of his asking price in a single day. Though I’ll admit it does seem maybe a touch higher than I would pay.”

  Grimgar watched the interaction between the two before coughing gently, “I can lower it to forty gold, but nay a single one less. Tha’ be due to a valued customer speakin’ up for ye.”

  DrFrank blinked, glancing between Grimgar and Alburet before shrugging. “I’ll take it for forty,” he dropped forty gold on the counter. “What are you here for, Alburet?”

  “Selling off loot from the gnoll area, mostly, but Grimgar here has been my go to for weapons,” Alburet replied as he started to unload all his looted weapons onto part of the counter.

  “Wait, you’ve been out to the gnoll area? What the hell level are you?” DrFrank blurted before focusing on Alburet, his eyes going wide. “Level 18! What the fuck, dude? That is insane, you’d have to be playing like twelve hours a day for that kind of progress.”