Chương 58: Chapter 56: Lambstock and the Good Hound

The keep was abandoned. Ordinarily, you cannot apparently take things from a dungeon. Furniture won't come with you across the threshold, and monsters won't usually call you "Hound" or treat you with any kind of respect or courtesy. We were breaking all kinds of rules today!

"It is a special instance laid on for Her Grace." Fel explained, and it made as much sense as anything else as we man-handled furniture into town and to the inn. It was easy as pie for me to lift heaving great armoires and chairs, boxes of books and the Tailor's equipment.

"Thank you for this, Good Hound" said Ms. Spruce as she opened doors and moved things aside for me. When we returned to town at last, things had been... ready for us already. Nobody was surprised, and once again I had to admire the Burgermeister for his organizational skills. I was moving the tailor into her new place, a bit at a time while Gelidia remained in the keep, directing salvage efforts and taking charge. Good Hound. That was what people were calling me as a title.

The Good Hound, or 'Thank you, Good Hound' - it wasn't them calling me a good girl or something weird like that, it was... just them appreciating me and my reputation preceding me! Totally! I rolled with it, as I had so many things so far in this crazy new life I found myself in!

"Of course!" I said cheerfully, not at all winded as I hefted a refrigerator sized workbench on one shoulder and walked along beside her.

"It's no problem - we're just glad to have you stick around as the town's tailor!" I said cheerily! The Alderman did a little heel-click when he thought I wasn't looking, but I was good at that game. Wolf-Ren was very good for that indeed! Spelt, his skeleton doggo, bounced excitedly around his master's legs, his spectral ears flopping about as his big tail waggled! I grinned, and did my best to ignore the happy dance of the merchant quarter's not-leader.

"Of course! I would not miss this for a big pin!" she said, and directed me how she wanted the thing placed. It was the last piece from her workshop in the Keep, and it was of course the biggest.

"This is fine. I can set it up from here. Thank you again." she said, and the ghoul-maiden curtsied to me, daintily gripping the helm of her skirt to either side as she bent her gaunt and emaciated frame. To me, all it did was highlight her creepy proportions and long, clawed fingers as I gave her a sickly grin and a nod in response to her toothy smile. As I stepped out of the new Tailor's shop, I got bodychecked by Spelt.

The bone doggie flying tackled me with a happy chuffing noise, and I laughed as I caught and spun the big soppy idiot, twirling him once before setting him down!

'HEY! HEY! FRIEND!' Spelt said, clear as day, and I nodded at him. I had no idea how I could just... understand him, but I did.

"What's the matter, boy?" I replied'BIG DOG FRIEND. I LIKE YOU' he said 'ONLY A LITTLE SCARY' he said, doing happy tippy taps as he sat down, floppy spectral ears perked.

"Sorry about that!" The Alderman, Albert Albertson said as he caught up with his dog, and I gave him a warm smile.

"Not at all! Spelt and I are good friends." I said, and caught the bouncy doggo as he jumped up on me again. His bony jaws wrapped around my face, and I laughed, body slamming him playfully to the ground (but not too hard) so I could get his tummy, briefly ignoring the semi-horrified undead baker as Spelt wriggled with delight on the ground!

"Oh! Um! I see!" he said, dead(haha)pan.

"Well be that as it may, how's she doing?" he said, nodding at the Tailor's shop.

"She's setting up now! I put the big stuff where she wanted it and now she's just getting everything put where she likes." I explained, and he nodded at that, just about dragging Spelt back to his side and instructing him to sit.

'OKAY I WILL SIT FRIEND' He said, and waggled his tail. World, Spelt was a good boy! I smiled at him, and nodded.

"I'd better get back to the keep. Her Grace might need more help." I said, and Albert nodded at me. I'd walked away maybe thirty or forty feet before he stopped me and said"OH! I got Mr. Gehrman set up as the Innkeeper officially. He's been hiring some staff on, but a few of them wanted to start what they're calling a 'Bistro' in town here. Do you know what that is...?" he asked, and I nodded! Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"It's a... kind of like a diner or a... do you know what a cafe is?" I asked and he shook his head. I shrugged"It's an eatery where they make nicer sorts of food. You go there for ambience and a place to spend a little time" I explained, and he nodded. I'd suggested the idea to my friend Rose from the kitchens, and I guess she'd decided to take me up on it.

"It's... approved, then? Acceptable?" He asked, and I nodded.

"Ms. Pankko is a heck of a cook and she'll do a brisk trade I'll bet." I said." It'll be great!" I said, and the man grinned the grin of somebody happy to see money move around in town. I waved at him as I set off again. Stepping up to the gate, I marveled that it... was somehow whole again. It had a little door beside it hanging open, and when I stepped through it, You have entered Windbinder Keep Dungeon, Level 6-10 I got the notification. I grunted, and nodded a bit, inspecting the gateway as I did so.

"You like it?" Gelidia asked, and I turned towards the open main door to find her standing there. I went to her, swept her up in my arms, and twirled her!

"Yes! Is this so people can use the dungeon normally?" I asked, and she nodded at me.

"How was that done?" I asked, and she shrugged a shoulder.

"I can modify the dungeon a little as the Duchess and its rightful owner." She explained.

"I can't... control the dungeon itself, or its monsters and such, but I can sort-of give it suggestions on certain things, exert a little influence on it" she explained as I put her down again.

"We are... more or less moved out of it at this point. I'm just here holding open the door so people can get a few last minute things out, and... so I can say goodbye." she said, and that last had a brittle edge to it. I took her hand, linking fingers with her as we stared into the main hall. It wasn't the seat of power for a spooky skeleton lord, it was just... a ballroom, a large, empty space lit by stained glass windows in a kind of rosy-golden glow in the noonday sunlight.

"I don't think I'll come back in here." She said.

"I don't blame you." I replied, and pet the back of her hand with my thumb.

"... He'll be the dungeon boss now, won't he?" I asked, and she made an unhappy noise. Oops. She did reply though.

"A version of him, at least. It... won't be him though, not unless... not unless I return here myself." She said softly, and I squeezed her hand a little.

"... If you do, I'll be there to help you." I promised, and she nodded, giving me a damp little smile. I felt like a jerk for mentioning her father like that.

"... so whatever happened to his Sword?" I asked. I sincerely hoped that would not become dungeon loot. She glanced at me and blushed a little. Then she put her hand on her waist. Faintly, I heard the rattle of a blade in a sheathe, but to my eyes it looked... like a dagger, not a broadsword like it had been.

"It's here." she said, and drew it. And drew it. And drew it. A three foot long blade came from a six inch sheathe, and glinted with fluted, beautifully designed and compact viciousness. In the daylight... it glinted with silver and green, and seemed to reflect more light than it should have.

"Felbrandt is... kind of the Windbinder heirloom. And now... it passes to me." She said, and very, very carefully sheathed it again, turning it once more to a dagger at her hip.

"Felorikaan assures me.. that it is a unique weapon, or at least... very, very rare. Even if he wields it in the dungeon, my Father won't..." she hung her head a little"... drop one." she sighed. I pulled her against my side and hugged her tight.

"I'm sorry." I said softly, and the shade waved that away.

"It's... not your fault. You spared the fool when I asked you to, he just..." I could almost hear her trying not to cry. She wasn't crying! Which wasn't the same thing as... not crying. She took several seconds to collect herself and re-compose, but she struggled with it clearly.

"... That idiot, I swear." She spat. I waited with her then, until the last person left the keep and we shut the door behind us, ending the instance. There was no great drama to it, just... a door's bolt sliding home from our side. Better safe than sorry. With that, it was done, and I- Quest Updated Survive, Thrive, Be Free... okay?

"Well that's... uh." I said, and explained"My quest updated... and nothing changed." Gelidia blinked at me uncomprehendingly for a moment before oh-ing.

"Survive, Thrive, Be free?" She asked, and I nodded.

"And... nothing changed?" I shook my head.

"That is just plain weird. Which, I suppose... is pretty normal. Can it be weird if it is normal?" she asked, and I shrugged.

"Life is weird. I guess it's just what you make of it. So what do we do now?" I asked, and Gelidia cuddled in close to me to squeeze my arm.

"Well... we need to make contact with the Republic of Deplia. I think we should send an ambassador with the Wayfinders to Rucksburg. I have no idea what the capital of Deplia is or who we should talk to, but that is a good a start as any." She said, and gave my arm another squeeze.

"Oh! An Ambassador! Who do you think we should send?" I asked, even as I got a sinking feeling in my tummy. She didn't smile, she just... stared up at me.

"... Who should we send, my love?" I asked, meeting her eyes. Oh. === END OF PART 1===