Her eyes were dead serious as she expectantly waited for my response. I had to be equally serious, seeing as how it couldn’t have been easy for her to say that. By all rights, I was supposed to be the one saying it. The wrong answer could ruin things for us.
“We can think about that—I don’t see why not. Let me just take care of a few things, and we’ll come back to this later, okay? And one other thing, don’t call me an idiot again. I prefer ‘fool.’”
I couldn’t help but notice that she didn’t ask about Vezhleva. Still, her proposal was worth thinking about. It wasn’t the time right then, of course, but closer to the next summer was a possibility. I also needed to meet her sister, since it wasn’t great that she still hadn’t met the person Vika was living with. We can invite her over for lunch or dinner and talk everything over. She played the game, too, and I figured it would be fun to see if we knew any of the same players.
Just like the boss promised, the guy stopped by after lunch in a smart-looking and everyday, if older, BMW 7-series. The paint job was black ruby, and I liked it even more than my Chevy for some reason. Maybe because I’d spent the whole time just wondering when it would get stolen.
He also handed me an envelope from Zimin. I opened it and was happily surprised to see how well-off the Raidion staff really was. At least, that was the conclusion I drew, based on the size of the bets they made…
All the paperwork done once again, I picked Vika up and watched her reaction. Is this faux leather? Real leather? So many buttons! O-o-oh! Off we went.
“Hey, why don’t we invite your sister over?” I asked once we were just about to the garage.
“Why would we do that?” Her eyebrows creased.
“What do you mean, why? I can’t meet your parents—there’s no time right now—though, of course, we can go see them and mine, too, for New Year’s. But I should meet your sister. She probably thinks she’s responsible for you, so I’m sure she’s worried.”
Vika quietly twirled a lock of hair before replying. “First, we don’t need to wait until New Year’s to go visit your parents. Mine are the ones who don’t live in Moscow, and yours are right here. So, we’ll do that soon. And about Elmira? Fine. I just don’t think she’s very worried about me—she doesn’t spend enough time in the real world to even notice I’m gone…”
“We should still play by the rules. It’s just the polite, respectful thing to do. If she comes or not, well, that’s up to her. Our job is to invite her.”
“Okay, I’ll call her tomorrow,” Vika promised. “Are you coming with me or sleeping in tomorrow?”
“We’ll have to see,” I grunted.
The security guards at the parking garage looked at us in surprise when we drove in. Where do people get that kind of money? They just stole his car this morning… I didn’t care.
The next day I went to the office as well, wrote my editorial, looked through the material my team had gathered, and called over to Vika at around two. “Hey! I’m headed out.”
“Sounds good,” she responded automatically without looking up. “I’ll be home around eight. There’s food in the refrigerator, so just heat it up. Don’t eat it cold.”
“Okay, then I’ll send a Raidion car for you at seven since it’s getting dark earlier.”
“No, don’t worry about it.” Vika waved dismissively in my direction. “I’ll be fine.”
“Up to you. And don’t forget to call your sister.”
I gave instructions to the boys, looked back in surprise at how bluish Yushkov’s face was, and left for home.
***
The weather was unusually dark in the North. Low storm clouds loomed over Holfstrig, and I couldn’t even tell if they portended rain or snow. I shivered and thought for a second about what to do. For the first time in a long time, I didn’t have anywhere to hurry off to. I could just stand there or even go have a beer in the tavern.
The city was enveloped in an eerie silence. The könig and his troops were already on their way to Kayger, so there weren’t many NPCs around. From what I could tell, the only people left were quest-related, meaning that they couldn’t have gone running around the burgs even if they wanted to.
There weren’t even that many players. I hope they didn’t all go with the könig? If they did, I’m in trouble.
It was a dreary picture, to say the least.
I looked around one more time and walked toward the nearest tavern, where I could sit with a mug of beer and decide what to do with my poor self.
One pull of the bitter drink in, I slapped myself on the forehead. I had quests sitting around waiting for me.
It may not have been total chaos in my quest list, but it was at least close to it. I deleted a bunch of them that had been sitting there since I was out leveling up in the dunes down in the East. Somehow, I even found a quest for left boar forelegs, one I thought I’d already deleted. I’d come a long way.
I’d finished old Serhio’s quest, the one for parchment, a long time before then. If it had been real parchment, in fact, it would have been ground to dust already in my bag. Should I go wrap that up? Spending the 1,500 gold was a shame, of course, but I did have an ability coming. He might even give me something good if I bring him the parchment. It’ll be nice to see my old stomping grounds, too.
I walked to the hotel and got some money from my chest. Then I thought a little longer before pulling the Fire and Ice scroll and one other small thing out. Maybe I’ll drop by the auction, put something up for sale, see what’s available.
Fladridge was just as I’d left it. Peaceful and quiet, the sun on my face felt good after the lead-gray skies of the North, and players with intensely focused looks on their faces ran by from time to time. Someone was collecting a party to go kill some fierce monster with the nasty-sounding name of Gomulungus—a bear or armored beast, from what I could tell.
I walked into Serhio’s courtyard and saw the instructor sitting on a stool sunning himself.
“Good afternoon, sir,” I said with a bow.
“And a good afternoon to you, too, warrior. Do we know each other?”
“Yes, we’ve met, though it was a while ago. You told me how you ran out of parchment for your kites, and you asked me to bring you some from the East. Here you go.”
You completed a quest: Acquire Parchment
Reward:
1000 experience
Your choice of active ability
“Thank you for that,” the instructor replied, throwing his arms up happily. “That’s great news! How can I repay you?”
“I don’t really need anything. What could be more valuable than the knowledge you gave me?” I asked carefully.
“No, I know what I’m talking about. Pick an ability, just be smart about it. One of them will let you create the illusion for your opponent that you are actually somewhere else besides where you are. The other lets you use your shield for a powerful blow that does major damage to your opponent.”
I had to think about that one. The second ability was clear—using your shield to do damage was great, but you don’t always have the opportunity. I’d been using my sword more and more, too. But that first one… Camouflage was great to have, although I wasn’t sure how long it lasted.
“I’ll go with the first one,” I said, making up my mind.
You learned a new active ability: Phantom, Level 1
Disorients your opponent by creating an exact copy of you wherever you want for 15 seconds.
Activation cost: 240 mana
Recharge time: 5 minutes
It wasn’t anything game-changing, but I knew it might come in handy at some point.
“Instructor,” I said to Serhio. “I can learn another ability, I’m pretty sure.”
He cast an experienced look at me and nodded. “You can learn the other active ability, the one for your shield, or you can learn a passive ability: Lord of the Snakes.”
“What’s Lord of the Snakes?”
“There’s a much l
ower chance that you’ll be bitten by snakes,” explained Serhio. “Also, if they do bite you, they’ll do less damage.”
I didn’t really need another active skill; I had them coming out my ears as it was. But even a little protection from snakes… I’d be heading south soon, after all.
You learned a new passive ability: Lord of the Snakes, Level 1
Snakes are 18% less aggressive toward you.
The poison from snake bites does 10% less damage.
Now that’s more like it!
“Thanks, instructor.” I bowed one more time.
“Good luck, son,” he responded with a wave.
I hadn’t even left his gate when I got a notification from the internal messaging system. It was Milly Re. What could she want? She’d always used the mailboxes from what I could remember.
Where are you now? Why am I always looking for you?
Do you need something? I answered apprehensively. It sounded like the kind of search that would end with me running for my life.
Have you been to our citadel? Can your port here, or should I come get you?
I’ve been there. Do I have to come though? I have a lot going on.
Are you kidding me?
I didn’t have a good answer, so I decided there was nothing for it but to go. It was just a shame I had to spend good money on the scroll.
Do you have a portal scroll? I can send you one if you want.
I was too proud to give in to my stinginess and decided not to be like a certain other person I knew.
Be right there.
Noise and hubbub echoed around the courtyard of the Hounds’ fortress. It was odd to see the drab building decorated with some kind of Chinese lanterns, garlands, and other holiday crap, not to mention an orchestra playing an upbeat dance. The naughtier of the girls, young scouts, and mages, had small bells in their hands and were already up dancing on tables set up in a large square.
In the center of the courtyard was a fountain spraying a maroon liquid that appeared to be wine. If Flosy were here, he’d probably never leave.
At one end of the courtyard, was a small dais, and on it, was a long table seating around thirty people. Directly in the center, the Gray Witch was listening to a warrior in sparkling chainmail.
“What is this?” I looked at Milly Re in shock.
“You really are an idiot.” She circled a finger around her temple. “It’s the Witch’s birthday!”
“How was I supposed to know that?” I nearly yelled at Milly. “There’s nothing in the papers, nothing on the radio. And I didn’t get an invitation.”
“I didn’t get one either,” snapped Milly. “But I still knew. And they did write in the papers, actually. It’s all in black and white in the Fayroll Times, everything about the party the Hounds of Death is throwing. You need to read more!”
“Well, yes,” I agreed. “I do. But there wasn’t anything in there about a birthday. And the fact that you didn’t get an invitation doesn’t mean anything since you’re in the clan.”
“Oh, she’s just stubborn. The people who should know about it do, and they should remember. Whoever remembers, shows up,” complained Milly. “And then, she’ll get herself all worked up again.”
“Ah, so that’s what the deal is,” I replied with a laugh.
“What do you mean?”
“My clan leader has been worried sick about how she didn’t get an invitation, and everyone’s going to be here. Crying into her pillow at night, the works. And it turns out you just walk in the front door.”
“She needs to know,” Milly said, calming down. “I’ll write her.”
“Hagen, my friend, is that you?” I heard the Gray Witch call.
“Go,” Milly said with a shove. “Wish her a happy birthday.”
Easier said than done when you don’t have a gift. Everyone pretends it’s no big deal, but nobody likes showing up empty handed. Ah, why does it have to be the scroll?
“Good afternoon, mistress.” I walked slowly over to the table and gave her a half-bow. “I am happy to wish you yet another happy eighteenth birthday on behalf of the Thunderbirds and myself personally. The lands and skies of Fayroll have never seen a worthier leader, player, or simply a more beautiful woman.”
“All lies, of course, but that’s very nice of you,” the Gray Witch smiled back.
“The Thunderbirds have a new leader?” the warrior sitting next to her asked in surprise. “What happened to Elina? Although, she has been kind of going crazy recently…”
“No, Hagen is simply a member of the clan.” The Witch wasn’t about to dive into the details, but even that explanation was enough for the warrior. He nodded and bit into an apple.
“Let me continue. If only you knew how much trouble we went through for your party.” Everyone at the table stared at me in surprise. The Witch squinted, light gleaming in her eyes. How can she always read me like a book? She already knows what I’m going to say. Certainly, there was nothing unusual about it, but still. “It was incredibly difficult trying to figure out what we’d get you for your birthday. We even thought about having a competition for the best idea, but the problem solved itself in the end. You’re a true woman, and true women are contradictions between heat and cold; night and day; fire and ice. So we decided to give you that fire and ice.”
I took a few steps forward, got down on one knee, lowered my head, and held the scroll out to the Gray Witch with both hands.
Judging by the steps I heard, she walked around the table and came over to me.
“Let me thank my friends the Thunderbirds for not forgetting my little party, and for honoring it with their presence,” she proclaimed loudly. The orchestra stopped playing. “I’m happy to see our clans slowly growing closer, to the point that, in the eyes of the gaming community, they are very nearly one and the same. The hour is coming when the wind will fill the sails of ships sending the emissaries of our clans to do battle for new lands, and in that battle, we will stand shoulder to shoulder.”
Applause broke out and quickly died down. My head remained bowed.
“I am also glad that my party was visited by a player I met not that long ago, and for whom I have the warmest of feelings. Of course, I am referring to Hagen, who you see in front of you. In just the short while he has been playing—short, at least, by our standards—I have gotten to know him and can even say that I have grown attached to him. I can proudly call him my friend, and know that I can depend on him if ever I am in need. And if anything were to happen to him, I would consider it a personal affront to me.”
The scroll left my hands, and I realized it was time to rise. Everyone in the entire courtyard was staring at me. There were appraising glances from the people seated at the table, curious looks from the players torn away from their fun, some interest from a few of the ladies present, a dashing laugh from Milly Re, and pure, unadulterated hatred on the face of Elina, who was standing at the gate I’d walked through just a few minutes before.
Chapter Twenty-Four
In which everyone converges.
“And there’s Elina the Wise, head of the Thunderbirds clan,” said the Gray Witch, following my glance. “It’s great to see you. Your clan mate got here first, which is something he has a knack for doing, but there’s nothing we can do about that. There are worse faults, no?”
“Of course.” Elina sighed. “Everyone’s always hurrying off somewhere. I just wanted to say—”
“Everything’s been said, gifts have been given, and I insist that you come sit with me. Why did the orchestra stop playing? Let’s hear some music!” The Gray Witch shook a fist at the ensemble.
Music rang out, and I was only too happy to leave the center of attention for a far corner of the courtyard, where I tried to figure out the best, fastest, and, most importantly, most inconspicuous way to get out of there.
“Hey, Hagen.” Someone shoved me in the shoulder, and I turned to see an old friend, Romuil.
“Well, hello. Did you just
get here?” I was overjoyed to have at least one person I knew there.
“Yeah, right,” Romuil snorted. “I’ve been here since everything got started.”
“But Elina just…” That’s when I realized that Romuil must have made tracks out of the Thunderbirds. And he probably joined the—
“Don’t hurt yourself.” My face was apparently betraying my thought process. “I’m here with the Hounds now. Have you heard about the split in the clan yet?”
“Just rumors a little while ago, but I don’t know the details. Really, a split?”
“What details?” Romuil grunted. “Elina finally went crazy trying to make the clan better than everyone else. We weren’t playing anymore, weren’t going on raids, we even stopped training the kiddies. There weren’t any to train in the first place. Have you noticed that you aren’t getting as much money with your loot?”
“No,” I said with a shrug. “I haven’t really been checking though.”
“Go check. That sweet little thing used to just take 5%, but recently she bumped it up to ten. Everything’s about saving up and building the ships. People want to go hunt monsters, and she makes everyone just train our pros. The veterans told her it’s time to stop with the circle-jerk, and she blew up. Obviously, we didn’t take that sitting down, and so a good fifty people got up and walked out right then and there. I came here. They accepted me right away, I might add.”
“How could we not accept a fine specimen like yourself?” Miurat walked over. “Hey there, Hagen, my friend. Well said up there! What a speech.”
“Hi, Miurat.” I fidgeted with my foot. “I couldn’t believe Milly just yanked me over here without saying why. It was just a good thing I happened to have something to give the Witch as a present.”
“You know, Romuil, you and I must be in the wrong line of work if a Level 50 player has an ability scroll just lying there in his bag,” Miurat said. “Here we are with raid after raid, and barely anything to show for it. Watch and learn!”
Ah, Miurat, you dog. I set myself up for that one.
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