by C E Keene
Oh, he was definitely still cold, it just wasn't affecting him as a mechanic anymore, thank God.
"I'm going to heat some water for them to drink," Zindar said, and Arheis suddenly wished he was covered in fur.
As feeling came back to his fingers, Arheis was able to tell that Mira's hands were freezing, too. His brow furrowed and he looked up at her.
"Why aren't you under here with the rest of us?"
"Someone needs to make sure you don't start losing fingers and toes," she said, her teeth still chattering.
"C'mon," he said, jerking his head. "Under the sheep blanket."
He pulled her toward him, fielding only the mildest of protests. She was shaking and obviously cold. He could feel that even through his clothing and armor.
Adjusting his cloak--and the Celir pelt--so it fell over her, too, Arheis pulled the healer close. It would have seemed intimate if he wasn't nearly as close with Higrem and Galen, and if they weren't all trying to warm up just enough to perform basic functions.
"Drink this," Zindar said, shoving a cup at Mira.
She took it with trembling hands and drank, steam rising from her lips when she exhaled. Lips that were returning to their normal pink color instead of the blue they'd been.
Arheis was handed a cup next, and he drank greedily, nearly scalding his throat with the liquid. It wasn't just water, he found. A spiced heat hit the back of his throat and burned all the way down, warming him from the inside out.
"What is that?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
"Avedra’s Fire. It's one of Galen's."
"Good choice," the elf said, still shivering beside Arheis.
He was next, then Higrem. Finally, Zindar drank, and the five of them seemed to return to their normal state of being slightly uncomfortable, but not literally freezing to death.
All were lethargic--especially Arheis when he went back with Higrem to salvage what materials they could from the Stirandi.
"You going to be okay?" the man asked, one thick brow arched.
"Just need to sleep."
Pulling his knife from his belt, Arheis got to work, carving 2x Stirandi Piercer, 5x Stirandi Eye, 1x Ice Sack, 12x Fine Hairs, 4x Thin Bone, 3x Crystalline Thread, 6x Chilled Meat, 3x Chilled Hide, and 2x Stirandi Mandible.
"Nice work," Higrem said. "Nothing left but the carcass."
"You did most of it. How'd you learn to cut in a way that doesn't just destroy the more fragile materials?"
The man's lips turned up in a smirk. "Ranking up in Hunter’s Perception. Gives you more usable pieces. Pays for itself in the long run."
Arheis could easily see that, and as they headed back with their haul, he made a mental note to look into bumping the ability up when he finally leveled.
By the time they reached the entrance of the cave, the others had already set up camp for the night. There were actual tents clustered around the fire, with cloaks hung on sticks so they'd dry enough to be used as blankets--something Arheis would have to remember to bring in the future if they were going to fight in colder climates.
"Get some rest," Mira urged him, all but shepherding him toward a tent. "We'll deal with all the accounting in the morning."
The sheep, of course, were blessedly asleep.
24
After they broke down the camp, their first stop was the nearby village of Haig. They turned in the bounty there, and they were able to return the two sheep they'd found alive. The grateful farmers threw in some extra coin in addition to the credits and XP they got for completing the quest.
> You have completed: The Ice Queen Cometh!
> You have gained 165 XP.
> You have earned 20,000 GC. (+2,000 GC bonus)
> Congratulations, you have reached level 5! You have gained 2 stat points and 3 ability points to distribute as you please.
"We make very fine cheese and milk here," the farmer's wife said, "and the wool is the best you'll find. If you're ever in need, I'll give you a steep discount."
Since they were there, Arheis went ahead and purchased some wool for a total of 150 GC. If nothing else, he could have it crafted into a warmer shirt or something.
Burden lightened, they returned to the Guild Hall of Iskaral to turn in the last bounty. Matron Ylsa was waiting to receive them in her office, her pipe already lit.
"After I heard you'd taken three bounties, I didn't think I'd see you for a few days," she says, letting out a long exhale of smoke. "Not bad."
Arheis presented the Celir antler--though it was in pieces--and the Matron examined it.
"I do always like my Hunters to be able to think on their feet," she said, turning the antler over in her hands.
"We aren't exactly new at this," Higrem said testily.
She eyed the man, giving him a slow once-over that almost felt predatory, not to mention uncomfortable for everyone else in the room. "I suppose you're not."
Ylsa set the antler down on the edge of her desk, resting the pipe beside it as she went to retrieve the large book she'd recorded their information in.
She marked down the Celir first, then Arheis handed over one of the eyes from the Stirandi. The Matron tilted her head at this new offering, poking the surprisingly hard eyeball with one gloved finger.
"I haven't seen a Stirandi in ages. She must've been ravenous." The Matron's gaze lifted to Arheis. "How was she to fight?"
"Pretty miserable," he admitted. "Her spiderlings shot us full of ice."
A cat-like grin spread across the Matron's face. "That's right. How could I forget? I wasn't able to hold my whip half the time."
"Yes, it was a real treat," Mira deadpanned, her tone far from Ylsa's delighted one. "Next time I want to feel what it's like to slowly freeze to death, I'll know exactly where to go."
"You're here, aren't you?" Her lips tipped up in a smirk. "Which is a bit of a surprise, but I'm always happy to see a Hunter prove herself useful."
She performed the exact same duties the Curator had taken over in Lacerda, confirming the kill and giving them each points for it.
> You have earned 5,000 GC for your recorded kills.
> You have reached Guild Rank 2 with the Iskaral Guild Hall.
"Rank 2?!" Higrem exclaimed. "That's it? Those kills should be worth at least four ranks."
"We don't hand out ranks for free here in Iskaral," she said tartly. "You have to earn them."
It did seem low. But they hadn't accounted for all the bounties, either. Arheis realized with a frown that they couldn't.
"We didn't find the Praedus after taking them out. I guess we won't be credited for that."
"Cal sent his thanks last night, after you left," she said casually, dipping her pen back in her inkwell. "I'll mark you down for ten kills."
"We killed at least double that," Higrem was quick to point out. "Hell, I killed at least double that on my own."
"If you want to hike back up that mountain and bring me proof, I'll gladly mark it," the Matron said, sending a stern gaze Higrem's way. "Until then, you're getting credited for ten."
And you should be grateful for that. She might not have said it, but the words were clear enough. Honestly, Arheis was grateful for that. Everyone else seemed to be, as well, save for Mira who seemed uncomfortable with the whole situation.
Reaching over, he took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. She returned the gesture, offering him a small smile.
"Alright, everything's recorded. And the credits you're owed for the Praedus…"
She pulled a key from the pocket of her uniform and used it to unlock one of the desk drawers. Credits clinked together, rounded into rolls and placed into a pouch which she slid across the desk. Arheis looked at his companions, then collected it.
> You have earned 1,000 GC for your recorded kills.
"Come back when you have more bounties to turn in," she said, not wasting any time shooing them out of her office.
As he moved for the door, Arheis saw the woman spare a very telling glance at Hi
grem.
"And you feel free to come back if you wish to argue some more."
Arheis snorted softly, especially amused when Higrem cleared his throat. The man seemed unusually flustered, and it took him a moment to collect himself and actually make it out the door.
Once they all stood at the landing, Arheis turned to address them. "I still think we should all take the rest of today to just rest. The bounties will still be there tomorrow, and we can tailor those to the beasts we most need materials from for the armor."
The agreement was unanimous. After having to spend the night in the mountains, everyone was still exhausted.
Safely stowing away the credits they'd earned, Arheis led the group back to the inn, eager to spend the rest of the day doing the most mundane things possible. First on the docket? Leveling up.
He waited until he was alone inside his room to take a look at his character sheet.
That encounter with the Stirandi had shown him how important Dexterity was, but he'd also had a lot more social encounters than he'd expected. The Prince-Regent, the Guild Matron, even the blacksmiths would likely be easier to navigate if he dumped a couple points into Charisma.
Seeing little downside, Arheis did just that.
> Stat Sheet:
Health: 120
Stamina: 150
Mana: 110
Morale: 100
Strength: 8
Agility: 13
Constitution: 12
Endurance: 15
Charisma: 10
Intelligence: 11
Fortitude: 15
Bond: Amira Alvaro
Abilities were a bit trickier, though. One of his points was likely accounted for. Putting it into Hunter’s Perception would only benefit him in the long run. And in the short run, even, if they were going to continue hunting tomorrow.
But where did he spend the other points? He pulled up his sheet, looking at everything he’d learned.
> Unlocked Abilities:
Sneak
Precision Strike - Rank 1
Iron Guard
Strike
Tracking - Rank 1
Shield Bash - Rank 1
Cooking
Hunter’s Perception
Counter-Thrust
First Aid - Rank 1
Provoke - Rank 1
Preparation
Mediate
Rend
Javelin
Dauntless Guard - Rank 1
Supercharged Shield Bash
Leadership
Haggling
Plunging Strike
Trailblazer
Fishing
Lightning Reflexes
Resolve
True Grit
Rockhound
Skyward Thrust
> Bond Abilities:
Guardian’s Sacrifice (Amira)
So Hunter’s Perception to Rank 1 and then… Lightning Reflexes? That sounded smart. He committed the changes, then checked his other information for posterity's sake.
> Reputation
Village of Lacerda: Revered
Zindar of the Pruvari: Friendly
Amira Alvaro: Bonded
Galen: Friendly
Higrem: Dubious
Archimedes: Friendly
City of Iskaral: Indifferent
Village of Haig: Friendly
He frowned at the fact that the Lady Katherine had basically been wiped from existence, even as far as the game was concerned. It was a reminder that he needed to write to Bren, and that was his next task after closing the menus.
Grabbing a pen and parchment from the single table in the room, Arheis sat down to compose his sentiments.
Bren,
I hope this letter finds you well. I'm just writing to see how you and the rest of the Lady Katherine's crew are doing. Especially Treyous.
If there's anything I can do from here, please don't hesitate to let me know.
Sincerely,
Arheis
It felt stilted and somehow lacking, but he wasn't sure what else to say. He'd been a writer of code in the real world, not a writer of letters.
Besides, there was a good chance Bren wouldn't even get it. The courier might be stopped at the gate. Arheis had to try, though, and if that didn't work, he'd visit the Pruvari settlement himself.
He owed it to Treyous, no matter how little his presence was desired.
Arheis delivered the letter to a courier, paying him a bit more than was necessary because of the trouble he was likely to face. The whole thing made him think of Zindar and how he must still be feeling about all of this. He'd been focused on the task at hand, but there was something off about the Pruvari's behavior. He wasn't quite himself.
As Arheis settled in his room, dead-tired and eager to nap, he thought of his friend. He also thought of Higrem and the things he'd learned about the man; about Paul. Just like Zindar, he'd set his personal problems aside in favor of focusing on the mission, but he knew that wasn't going to stand.
He needed better answers, and he lay in bed unable to rest, convinced he had unfinished business. The tremor that shook through the city didn't help, everything on the nearby table--a basin, a jug of water, a book--falling to the floor.
It was clear to Arheis he wasn't going to sleep anytime soon, so he got up, dressed in fresh clothes, and went in search of Higrem.
He found Zindar instead.
The Pruvari was dressed in full armor, his blades at his side. There was a grim, resolute expression on his face and he nearly bumped into Arheis as he hurried toward the stairs.
"Oh, sorry," he said, affecting a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Quake woke you up, too?"
"Among other things," Arheis said, studying his friend's current state of dress. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Well, I just wanted to…" He hesitated, his tail swishing behind him, ears pivoting backward. Finally he let out a sigh and said, "I thought I'd pick up an easy bounty and get another hunt in."
"We were all supposed to rest today."
"I know." Zindar scratched at the tufts of fur on his cheek. "I'm not really that tired, though."
Arheis could tell that was a lie. Pruvari might not have expressed fatigue the same way humans did, but there was something about the way he held himself and the set of his face that spoke of exhaustion.
There had to be a reason he was telling this lie, though, and Arheis didn't feel comfortable just calling him out on it. He also didn't feel comfortable letting Zindar go off alone.
"Well, do you want some company?" he offered.
The Pruvari's ear twitched. "You don't have to do that."
Arheis just shrugged, giving his friend a smile. "I'm not sleeping. Might as well put the time to good use."
Zindar drew in a long breath, then finally nodded. "Sure. I'd like the company."
He smiled then, his teeth snagging his lip. It was the first genuine smile Arheis had seen from him in what felt like forever, and he reached out to clap the Pruvari's shoulder.
"Let me go get my gear and I'll meet you outside."
They made the trek over to the Hunters’ Hall, stopping into the barracks to pick up a bounty. Zindar chose this time, scanning the list of lower-tier bounties that seemed more feasible for just two Hunters.
"This one looks interesting," he said, his finger resting right below it.
> Guild Bounty: Poison Heart
A Lupeleus has been spotted near Crestwind Lake. Travelers report the beast has poisoned the water so thoroughly that fish have risen to the surface, dead. Kill the Lupeleus and bring back its heart as proof of the deed to receive your reward.
Quest Level: 5
Reward: 5,000 GC in currency and 175 XP
"Do you have antidotes?" he asked.
"Plenty."
Arheis still had some from Lacerda, too. And a couple more he'd bought just for good measure. He also had the skill to make them, should they somehow run out.
Even with that, he strongly consid
ered swinging by The Eager Sow and getting Mira. Zindar was cagey enough already, though. Adding someone else to the party might defeat the purpose of this little trip.
"Sounds like a good choice to me," he said with a smile.
Maybe it would be a bonding experience. Probably not in the literal, ability-granting sense, but right now Arheis just wanted a way to approach the thoughts that were eating away at him. There was a reason Zindar was ignoring his own fatigue and pushing to complete another bounty, after all.
For now he didn't say anything about it, and they looked on the map to find the location of Crestwind Lake. It was west of Iskaral, apparently, splitting the nearby forest and another mountain range that bordered the area.
They set off toward the lake, talking only a little as they followed the west road through the woods.
"How long do you think it'll be before we can hold our own with the Petravor?" Zindar asked, batting some overgrowth away from the path.
Arheis had leveled already, though he hoped for another before facing the creature again. He couldn't exactly say that to Zindar, so instead he fell back on something the Pruvari would understand.
"The armor and the augments will give us a fighting chance, I think. And the bounties we complete along the way will give us more experience fighting in this region."
Zindar nodded, evidently satisfied with the answer. Quiet fell over the pair of them, interrupted only by the sound of songbirds in the distance, their calls ringing through the forest.
"I wrote to Bren," Arheis said cautiously. "I sent the letter with a courier not long before I ran into you."
The Pruvari's demeanor changed immediately. His stance became rigid, his tail held stationary behind him, ears pinned back. He forced his body into motion before answering.
"Oh. I hope she gets it."
Arheis let that simple statement hang in the air for a while, debating whether or not he wanted to push the conversation.
In the end, he decided to ask, "You think she won't?"
Zindar drew in a breath through his nose. "I don't know. There's a chance they won't accept it, especially if they know it's from you."