Chương 42: The Lord of Stoneford

Odrin sent me on my way, promising she would calculate the total amount owed by the next day. I wanted to stop by the Adventurer's Guild, but I figured I'd better wait for Vaelith. Besides, I had a sneaking suspicion that Rurick was doing something I wouldn't like. As I returned to the Roaring Forge, I found my companions gathered around the common room. The morning crowd had thinned, leaving empty mugs and the stale smell of ale lingering over the stone tables.

They were engaged in some sort of discussion with a dwarven man dressed in fancy robes draped with gold inlays. Gold chains and clasps were scattered throughout his jet-black beard, catching the firelight whenever he turned his head.

"Ah, the man of the hour," the dwarven man said.

"Would you be so kind as to sit down? I've something I wish to discuss with you."

"Wait… what is going on? Who are you—" A human man dressed in expensive-looking leather, carrying two swords on his hips, placed a hand on my shoulder. His fingers dug in as he pushed me toward a chair.

"I suggest that you sit."

"Oy," Vaelith said. She crossed the room in an instant. She grabbed his wrist and twisted; the man's fingers sprang off my flesh.

"Touch him again, and I'll take those damn fingers of yours." The man shrugged her off.

"Don't touch me, demon whore." Vaelith fingered her axe.

"Say that again, and you won't have a tongue."

"Easy," I said, pressing Vaelith to calm down.

"It's alright. We can all just talk." Rurick stood behind his counter, arms crossed. One guard still stood near the dwarven man. The guard who had grabbed me shook his wrist. Vaelith had hurt him. She slammed down into a wooden chair, which creaked beneath her weight. Sable leaned against the wall, casually holding her lyre and pushing a lock of curly hair out of her face. Marnie sat opposite them, timidly twiddling her thumbs, her eyes darting back and forth between me, the man, and the exit.

The dwarven man held out a hand, gesturing to a table that had been set with two chairs facing each other. I walked to the side opposite him and sat. He gave a derisive snort as he took his own seat.

"Impudent country bumpkin. You sat before your betters." He sighed.

"No matter—even the wildest dog can be whipped into obedience by the right hand." As he said it, he set his hand on top of the table. On each finger was a single ring, each holding a differently colored jewel. I didn't need magical sensing equipment or abilities. I could tell those things held powerful magic.

"What do you want to discuss?" I asked.

"Ignoring the comment about me being a dog and all."

"We have much to discuss. Tell me, did Marnie slay the minotaur beast, or did you lot?"

"I'd say it was a… team effort." The dwarven man barked a laugh.

"You lose, Marnie." Marnie looked up.

"What? I—" The man held up a finger.

"Do you remember our bet?" he asked.

"You said that you would go, kill a minotaur, and bring its head back for me, and if you did, I would give you a title and a manor. You! Not some band of wanderers you found to do your dirty work." He turned back to me.

"Still… to kill a minotaur is no easy task. I could use people like you. Lots of little beasties around these days. I even hear tell of a witch making a home in a nearby place of power." Sable's gaze, which had been drifting, was now locked on the dwarven man.

"Ah yes, I did forget to introduce myself. When most people know you, it slips the mind. My name is—""Garran Bracken," I cut in." Lord Garran Bracken—and you would do well in the future to address me correctly."

"So again, I ask you, ' Lord', what can I do for you?"

"Work for me," he said simply.

"Stay in Stoneford, and I'll pay you a stipend. You'll have lodging as well. Kill what I tell you to kill, and we'll reassess in a few months. Good pay for good work. Worth it, eh?"

"Pass," I replied.

"Watch your smart mouth," the man in leathers said. He backhanded me across the face. It stung, and I could already feel the skin beginning to swell. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. Vaelith crossed the room, caught his hand as he raised it to swing again, and I hadn't even noticed that she had removed my knife from its sheath until she cut the man's index finger clean off.

The things bounced off the table as blood poured from the newly formed nub as he desperately clenched it. The other guard slipped on some sort of plated gauntlets, but Bracken raised a hand.

"Enough," he said.

"Durn, shut it. You played with fire and got burned. Go get yourself looked at."

"But, sir—" One of Garran's rings flashed deep red, and blood suddenly began pooling at the edges of Durn's eyes.

"S-S- Sir!" He turned and fled the establishment.

"No more, Vaelith," I said, not wishing for it to turn into a bloodbath.

"The lord wants something, and while we respect that this town is his to lead, we do not wish to remain. If our presence is no longer wanted, we shall leave."

"Now wait a moment… we have gotten off on the wrong foot. I hope Marnie hasn't turned you against me. You see, Marnie and I… we have a history."

"History?" Marnie interjected.

"That 'history' is named Fenna."

"Yes, yes, and Fenna is doing quite well without you. She is getting on with her studies. Plenty of brothers and sisters to keep her company. We are all one big happy family, after all." Marnie growled.

"You turned her against me."

"You were gone on some blasted quest just to try to prove me wrong—" The two began bickering back and forth. All became clear. This lord wasn't just a lord… not to Marnie. He was someone with whom she had shared a bed and a child as well. A child the lord seemed to be keeping from Marnie." Bah, woman, if you wish to see your daughter, all you must do is ask."

"See her," Marnie replied.

"But not raise her as my own. I am practically a stranger to her."

"And what could you offer her, huh? A shared closet of a room with a common grade class wage? I offer her so much more. Don't you see?" Marnie had no reply. Tears flooded her eyes, and she turned away, unable to face Lord Bracken any longer. Garran turned to me.

"Family troubles, as you see. So then, where were we? Ah, yes… working for me. Take a day or two and think it over. If it is not to be, then it is not to be. We have no slavery here in Stoneford." Garran stood to leave.

"Lord," Rurick said.

"The matter we discussed." He disappeared into the back and then reappeared, holding a plate. On it sat one piece of my Redcap Pepper Jerky.

"Lord, you must try this." He set the plate down in front of the lord." Hmm," the lord said, staring at it.

"Did you make this?" I nodded.

"Aye, I'm a chef by class… of sorts. This here is Redcap Pepper Jerky. I don't know what Rurick has told you, but it is not for sale." Unlike most, the lord wasted no time plopping the entire thing into his mouth. He savored it, chewing slowly, and afterward licked his fingers clean.

"Exquisite," he said.

"I have professional chefs. Those with uncommon grade classes. But this… this puts what they can make to shame." He straightened in his chair.

"I take it all back. I don't want you to work for me temporarily to slay monsters. I want you cooking for me… forever." He stood.

"Name your price." There it was. An offer of a lifetime. The safety, stability, and backing of a lord. I wouldn't have to risk myself anymore. Sure, I'd need to kill monsters, but likely he could order soldiers to bring them back to me alive. I could be rich. I could live an easy life in this new world until I died. But looking around, why did it feel so… wrong? I noticed one of the lords rings glowing green, and when I did, I felt the spell break against my mind.

Garran noticed that the spell he had cast had faded away. He smiled.

"Can't blame me for trying."

"No, thank you," I replied, seething just beneath the surface.

"I do not wish to work for you. Not now… not ever." The lord ran a hand through his beard.

"I can see you are all emotional. I will take my leave of you… for now. Stay for a few days. Think on it." He turned to address Marnie. She didn't look at him.

"The minotaur's head is yours. Trade it for whatever you can get. I don't care. As for our deal… you lost. Next time, think about the terms before you so willfully accept them. But I will still honor our original agreement. If you bring me ten thousand gold, procured by any means you choose, I will allow Fenna to go with you, if she so chooses, clear of my rule. I could live with one less child. I have ten others after all." The lord straightened his vest.

"Now then, I take my leave of you all. Good day." He walked out of the Roaring Forge. Suddenly angry, I reached for my knife, and before I knew it, I had it at Rurick's neck. The lion-man looked frightened.

"W-W-Wait," he stuttered.

"Why?" I replied.

"What were you trying to do? Get me killed? Enslaved."

"Wait," Marnie said. At hearing that, some of my anger fled. I pulled back as Marnie stepped between us. She looked at Rurick and asked, "Did you try to make a deal with the lord to free Fenna?" Rurick blushed as he ran a hand through his mane.

"I…"

"He did," Pella said, appearing from another door.

"I told him it was a stupid idea and not to involve himself, but he hates seeing you in pain." Marnie reached out and hugged Rurick. Rurick glanced at me and said, "I'm… sorry. I thought it was the only way. I knew the Lord would not honor her deal. We'd have to offer him something… permanent. Something he wants. Something such as a new chef."

"Or ten-thousand gold," I replied.

"If he would even accept that." What a mess I'd found myself involved in. With my anger fading, I sheathed the knife.

"I'm going to take a walk."

"Be careful," Vaelith warned. Darwin hopped onto my shoulder. I shook my head and sat him down.

"If he wanted to hurt us," I replied, "he'd have done so. I think I'll be fine." I stepped outside to clear my head, and not ten steps away from the Roaring Forge, I heard a hawker call out.

"Oy, you there. Yes, you! I've got something interesting for you to see."