Liam shook his head. “No, I saw him. From the top of the stairs I can see down into the entry and I seen him leave.”
Lord Crimson himself visiting someone’s home late at night? I can’t imagine what the mayor will make of this information.
“And what did you hear him talk about?” I push farther.
“He wants my mom to get something for him. He keeps saying she’s the only one who can get it. She’s the one he needs.”
“But you don’t know what it was?”
“No. He called it a lot of things, but none of it made sense to me.”
“Do you know why your mom is special?”
“No.” He bites his lip, looking worried. “But he said if she didn’t do it he would make her sorry. And he said my name. So, I didn’t want to get her in trouble.”
Bernadette and I share a look but react to the information differently.
“Oh, Liam, honey, I’m sure it was nothing. The lord would never do anything to hurt you. You must have misunderstood.”
But I want to clarify. “How long ago did you hear him say this?”
“A couple days. Maybe three.”
“And you’ve been in the barn the whole time?”
He nods. “I brought some bread and water with me, but I ran out of it pretty quick. And then I couldn’t leave without sending the bats into a frenzy.”
He takes a final large bite of bread and finishes it off.
“Let’s get you something more,” Bernadette says. “Wait here. I’m not sending you home with an empty stomach.”
“I don’t want to go home,” he protests.
But she has already trotted off to make him another plate of food. I check the clock. I’m really going to be cutting it close if I don’t start toward the inn soon. I follow her.
“So you don’t think Lord Crimson would threaten a child? Or you don’t think that he’d need Liam’s mother for anything?”
“Oh, bless you. Both. Either. He’s just not that kind of man.”
“You know him pretty well?”
“As well as anyone, I think. For the last several years he has been quite generous with me, helping me build my property up, contributing to the care of the children. They’re all orphans, you know. Two years ago, Lord Crimson came to me with Elsa. She was eleven at the time and her father had just been killed in a fight with a troll on Lord Crimson’s estate. That blessed man felt responsible and wanted to make sure Elsa had a home and was cared for. Since then he’s brought me several others. I never had any kids of my own, so I’m happy to do it. And his Lordship’s financial support makes it possible.”
“So that’s why you’re all wearing red?”
“Oh, he never asked for that. He’s a humble man who doesn’t seek out attention. But I decided from the start that my household would honor our benefactor.”
“And he’s never asked for anything in exchange? This is all just out of the goodness of his heart?”
She looks a little guilty. “Well … There are some things he might ask for.” She blushes a deep red. “Some things a man might need.” She fluffs her hair. “He’s promised jobs and positions to all the children when they are old enough, and if he occasionally comes to see me on a Friday night after they are all asleep, what’s the harm?”
Okay. Not judging. It certainly sounds like he has made her life better. But that doesn’t negate the possibility that he threatened Liam’s mother.
“Okay. So, does that mean you can keep Liam here with you tonight? I hate to force him to go home if he’s still afraid.”
“Heavens, yes. There’s plenty of room. I’ll send you with a note, if you don’t mind letting his mother know where he is.”
Quest Completed: Find Liam a Home
Description: Through your interrogation and guidance, Liam has a place to stay and food in his stomach. Tonight ends well for him.
Reward: +60 XP
Quest Offered: Letters home
Description: Inform Liam’s mother where he is and who he is staying with so she doesn’t worry.
Reward: +70 XP
“Uh … Yeah. Sure. I can. But is it possible that I can get that note soon? Also, the original reason I came here was to pick up Charlie’s eggs and I’d like to be able to get them back to her before the end of the night.”
“Yes, yes, SirAsh3r. Don’t rush me. Let’s get the boy fed and then I’ll take care of you.”
I resist rolling my eyes. I don’t know how I could be more patient then I already am. But sure, lady, you take care of the NPC child while my literal survival is at stake.
Chapter 28
I look around the kitchen, wondering if the eggs are already packed up for me. But there’s nothing. And nothing I can do until Bernadette is ready to help me. Fortunately only a couple minutes go by before she returns with a small, folded, piece of paper. Isabel Daniels is handwritten on the outside.
“This will explain everything to Liam’s mother and the I imagine she’ll come by here bright and early tomorrow morning. Now let me see about those eggs.” She leaves me standing in the middle of the kitchen as she exits through the back door. It takes a force of will to keep from tapping my foot. The nervous energy needs to go somewhere and I end up pacing the cramped room as best I can until she returns.
She carries a shallow woven basket, the handle hooked over her arm.
“Here you are, dear. All set. Give Charlie my love.”
Charlie’s Errands: 4 of 4 Complete
Thank goodness that quest is finally ready for turn in. I thought it’d be a little side errand to just make some money but it ended up taking me the whole night.
Bernadette walks me to the door, gives me directions to Mrs. Daniels’s house and wishes me goodnight. As I hurry down the road to deliver Bernadette’s note, I try to piece together all the information I have heard about the town’s most prominent citizen. I think I have enough to return to Mayor Barnaby tomorrow morning. Maybe he can make better sense of what I’ve learned.
Since it’s so late at night, all the lights in town have been doused. All the windows are dark. The light of the moon is enough to illuminate my steps, but I have to stop and look carefully to make sure I knock on the right door. I waste even more time going back and forth between two cottages on this dark street. I don’t want to make a mistake and waken someone unnecessarily.
I’m still not sure either match the description Bernadette gave me when I notice that the third cottage down still has a light shining. It’s in a back room, and it’s very dim. I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t been standing so far to the side of that cottage. A closer look—the bright yellow flowers over the door—tells me that is the cottage I’ve been looking for.
I hesitate, walking slowly up the front path. I wonder what I’m walking into. Hopefully just Liam’s mother up late waiting.
I knock tentatively. The cottage remains silent within. After a moment I knock again, harder this time. There is no hint of voices, not even any muffled footsteps. I contemplate knocking a third time when the door cracks open. A woman’s tired face peeks out at me. I recognize the same startling blue eyes from Liam’s face. Her eyes are red and puffy and she seems to be truly worn down.
“Yes?”
“Mrs. Daniels?”
She nods.
“I have this note for you from Bernadette.” It suddenly occurs to me I don’t know her last name. Oh well. “Your son Liam is staying with her tonight.”
Quest Completed: Letters Home
Description: Mrs. Daniels now knows her son is safe.
Reward +70 XP
Instead of the joy and relief I expect, an expression of horror crosses her face. It doesn’t linger and I get the feeling she is making an effort to deliberately rearrange her expression.
“Thank you.” She accepts the note, but her eyes stay on mine. “Is there anything else?”
“No … Unless …” I really should go. I really need to get back to the inn. But I
can’t help thinking this woman is cornered somehow. That I’d be walking away from a little woodland creature stuck in a trap. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
There’s a slight pause, but she shakes her head.
“No. We’re fine. I’m fine. Thank you.”
She closes the door on me without any further goodbye. I wonder if it was just a slip that she said “we” or if there is someone else in there with her. I stay on the doorstep, listening, but no further sound comes through. I check the clock. There’s nothing else I can do. Maybe the mayor can shed some light on this in the morning.
I’m slightly turned around, and make maybe two or three wrong turns before I find myself on one of the main roads leading back to the town square and Whispering Fox Inn. I’m surprised to still see people out at this time of night. I expected with the rest restraint Toterra Online has placed on us, that all the players would be in bed and there would be no reason for an NPC to be out.
Instead, as I cross the square to the inn, the blacksmith grabs my attention. Again, he’s outside his shop smoking, but this time in conversation with a player.
Toyotom1 hovers above the player’s head in blue.
I really should just let it go and let this guy make his own mistakes but …
“Hey! Toyotom1!” He turns toward me. “You know rest is a requirement right? There’s a cutoff at midnight.”
“I heard.” He turns back to his conversation.
“That’s it? You know what time it is?” I’m getting frustrated. I’m literally taking my own time out of the game to make sure this guy doesn’t get disqualified and he’s blowing me off.
He turns to me again and says slowly, deliberately, “I’ll be fine.”
Fine. Whatever. It’s not my problem. I know I’m right. I leave the player to his all-important discussion and run up the steps to the inn. I only have a few minutes to spare.
Charlie is again behind the bar when I arrive. The rest of the room has all but emptied when I begin unloading my items. Basket of four dozen eggs, large cast iron cook pot, quilt and packet of wormwood. There’s no way I should have been able to carry all that in my little bag, but video game rules are different.
“Nice work, SirAsh3r.”
Quest Complete: All About Town
Description: You have successfully gathered the four items Charlie asked for and returned to the inn with them. You’ve helped your host and shown her you can be trusted.
Reward +180 XP, + 20 Gold Crowns, room at Whispering Fox Inn for one night
“And your room is ready upstairs,” she continues. “Last door on the right. Your key.” She hands me a large metal key. “And let me know if you need anything else.”
I thank her and hurry up the stairs. Thank goodness I made it in time. I don’t know when exactly the game considers me to be resting—if it’s once I’m in the inn, in the room, or in bed— but I’m not going to risk it.
It isn’t until I’m settled in, making myself comfortable in the bed that I realize how tired I am. I might not actually be physically running around in a magical land, but the effort my brain is putting forth to navigate this virtual world is exhausting.
My last thought before I fall asleep is that these Toterra developers sure know what they’re doing.
Chapter 29
I wake with the sun and it takes a good minute or so to remember where I am. Those six hours of virtual sleep left me more refreshed than ten hours in the real world. Plus, I am automatically clean, dressed and ready to go. I’ll need to eat soon, but otherwise virtual life is miraculously convenient.
Before going downstairs and filling my day full of quests, I check the Leaderboard.
Whoa. Toyotom1 is gone completely. They weren’t kidding about logging out. Tough luck for him, but that’s one less competitor for the rest of us. I wonder what could have possessed him to think that he could flaunt the rule. Even Jargonaut isn’t that arrogant.
Looking at the rest of the Leaderboard, I’m relieved to be near the top. Or, nearer the top than I was. I only have today and a few hours tomorrow left, but it feels like Jargonaut is still within striking distance. If I play it smart. He’s probably just grinding or seeking out big monsters to battle, but maybe some strategically chosen spy, information or manipulation quests will match that. I can do this. I’m sure of it. I have just over twenty-four hours left.
I’ve made it downstairs now. I’ve got to eat and get back to the mayor. Maybe sometime today I should figure out if there’s a place to sell the extra Clubs I’ve been carrying around.
There’s another player—Balderdash13—up already when I get downstairs, but I try to avoid her. After Toyotom1 last night, and getting all that XP basically stolen from me when I tried to help her and Anim8ted, I’m just done. There can be only one winner and I need to help myself to stay focused. I’ll be a Guardian of Camlan with the NPCs, not with other travelers.
“Good morning, SirAsh3r,” a blonde waitress greets me. “How did you sleep?”
“Well enough. But, lots to do today. Hey, do you have any jerky or fruit or food I can take with me?”
“I do, but if you prefer I can teach you Cooking.”
Skill Training offered: Cooking Level 2
Description: Learn recipes and how to transform raw food into edible meals. Each food item you earn to cook will restore health.
Cost: 1 Gold Crown
“Yes, thank you. That’s just what I need.” Assuming I play the game after the Challenge I will need to learn how to take care of myself. And I definitely want to play the game beyond tomorrow. This story quest chain alone has me aching to get started. I can’t imagine what else is waiting out there for me in the rest of the realm.
I follow the girl into the kitchen and realized I am being followed in turn by Balderdash13.
“Can I get in on that?” she asks. “I’d like to learn Cooking too.”
The waitress gives us our instructions, sets us practicing making up bread, then leaves us alone in the kitchen to go help another guest. The silence between us as we cook at the counter side by side is awkward and palpable. We’re competitors. We can’t both win. Maybe after tomorrow I can try to make friends, but right now the stakes are too high.
“So,” she says. “Do you think there’s a chance we can take down Jargonaut?”
We? I stare at her, trying to remember where Balderdash13 falls in the Leaderboard. Somewhere in the middle. I think. Maybe nearer the top.
“Take him down?”
“Yeah, I’ve been wondering if it’s even possible for anyone else to win this competition.”
“I’m not sure.” I want to stay noncommittal, but I’m beginning to have an idea. “Did you have anything in mind?”
She shrugs as she kneads the bread. “Not really. I’ve just been thinking it’s going to be really disappointing for the Toterra marketing team if this Challenge isn’t much of a challenge. Have you been watching the live stream? Those newscasters seem almost bored. Who wants to watch a game that is so predictable?”
I nod. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll definitely think about it. But I’ve got what I think is probably a big quest ready for turn-in, so I want to do that first.”
“Oh, really?”
“Mmhmm.”
She watches me expectantly, and laughs. “Oh, I get it. Can’t fraternize with the enemy. It’s fine. I think I need to go talk to Lord Crimson today anyway. See if I can get permission to stay in town longer.”
“Oh yeah. I forgot I should do that too.”
“It’s weird, right? I don’t know that I’ve seen that kind of story in other games.”
“Yeah … I don’t know. The more I learn about this guy, the weirder it gets. Either the writers deliberately set out to create something creepy, or …”
“I know what you mean. When I got to town last night I had a little quest to help draw water from the well for an old lady. But a couple of Lord Crimson’s soldiers pushed to the front of the lin
e. And everyone just let them. No protests or explanations or anything. If the soldiers weren’t six levels higher than me I might have said something. But I just can’t risk it right now.”
The blonde waitress returns, pronounces our practice breads satisfactory and completes the lesson.
You have learned: Cooking Level 2
“Nice talking to you,” Balderdash13 says as we walk out of the kitchen. “Good luck today.”
“You too. Hey, listen. I’ll think about it too, but let me know if you land on anything definite about how to handle Jargonaut. I think there’s something there.”
“Sure thing.”
We reach the front door to the inn and part ways. I have no trouble finding the bookstore-slash-apothecary shop for now the third time in less than twelve hours. It’s early in the day, still, but do NPCs really sleep? The bell chimes above my head as I walk in and I don’t have long to wait before Mayor Barnaby greets me with a warm handshake.
“SirAsh3r! Welcome back. And sooner than I expected. I trust you learned what we need.”
“I hope so. It’s just in pieces, but maybe you can put it all together?”
“Have a seat.” He directs me to a stool behind the counter and I settle in.
“Well, first, the blacksmith wouldn’t tell me anything so I have no idea if he knows anything about anything.”
The mayor laughs. “Yes, that sounds like him.”
“But the tailor told me he has had quite a few Crimson livery and soldier uniforms orders to fill. Several people around town told me I need to get permission from the lord to stay here. One, uh, friend of mine said she saw Crimson’s soldiers pushing past women and children at the well. No manners or respect.
“And then the biggest pieces is that I went to see Bernadette … I was picking up eggs for Charlie. You know she takes care of—”
“— Of the orphans that Lord Crimson brings her. Yes, I’ve had my suspicions about that for awhile but haven’t been able to identify any actual wrongdoing.”
“Right. She told me he promised all the children jobs or positions. I don’t know what that means though.”
Quest for Camlan: A LitRPG Adventure (Camlan Realm Book 1) Page 14