Wrack and Ruin Page 11

  “Very clever idea.” Max gave her a smile he didn’t feel. “What are your plans now, Nessa?”

  “I must return to my master and complete my quest.” She paused, giving him a significant look. When he didn’t respond right away, she held out a hand. “The control crystals? We had an agreement.”

  “Oh!” Max had forgotten. He pulled most of the crystals from his inventory, as well as the box they’d come in, and handed them over. “Here you go. I hope we see you again, Nessa. We worked well together. If you ever find yourself near Stormhaven, please stop and say hello.”

  “Thank you, I may do that.” The woman stowed the box of crystals, then gave a little salute before morphing into the large panther they’d originally met. With a twitch of her tail, she turned and dashed off into the forest, disappearing through the wall of brush that lined the stone courtyard.

  Smitty emerged just as she disappeared. “Not one for big goodbyes, eh? I don’t blame her. If I spent six months on a quest, I’d want to turn it in right away too.” He turned and looked up toward the cliff that stood above the mine. “I’ll bring our mounts back with me. Along with a few of the dwarves and orcs, I imagine. They’ll want to start planning a road from here to the mine.”

  Max shook his head. “Not yet. A road would just advertise that this place is here. An’zalor will be sending more troops soon. I’d like to keep this place a surprise if we can. If he commits troops to a siege of the mine, we can use the portal to bring in a force to surround his, pin him against the fortifications. Nessa said the receipt she found was for a portal in the human city, the one An’zalor controls now. So he may have access to a portal of his own, if it’s still operable. We don’t want him to find this one, and be able to transport in his own troops.” He thought about it for a bit, then continued.

  “Ask the engineers how hard it would be to extend a tunnel out the back side of the hill. Big enough for wagons of ore and supplies to move through. If we can build a secret mine exit in the woods somewhere near here, we won’t need a road.”

  “Can do, boss.” Smitty waved and set off at a jog.

  Dalia, who had been peering over the gnome’s shoulder as he brought the temple and its constructs back online, walked over to join Max. “That lil fella be a genius. Completely insane, but his gadgets be a real wonder. I’d wager some o’ Darkholm’s engineers would pay ye well fer a chance to study this place.”

  Max’s first reaction was to tell her that Stormhaven owed Darkholm a debt, and they were welcome to study the gnome and his gadgets for free. But he stopped himself, remembering that he had a small kingdom full of people to look out for. He couldn’t afford to be so generous at their expense. “I’m sure we can work something out. Maybe they could perform a service for Stormhaven in return.”

  “Aye, good thinkin’” Dalia nodded, flashing him a knowing grin. “I’m gonna search the woods around these ruins, see what kind of herbs and other ingredients I might find.”

  “Not ruins! Stupid orcs.” Glitterspindle yelled without even turning away from his work.

  “Please take Dylan with you. Just in case there are any unfriendlies out there. Maybe teach him how to harvest the plants while you’re at it?”

  “Will do!” the dwarfess turned toward the exit and shouted “Hey, big stuff! Come with me!” Dylan didn’t hesitate, rising from where he’d been lounging against a wall, picking at his toenails with a dagger’s point. With a nod toward Max, he followed the dwarf out the door and across the stone paved area, disappearing into the foliage with her.

  *****

  Izgren woke to the quiet sounds of stealthy individuals with soft-soled shoes moving about the room. She didn’t need to open her eyes to know who was there, or where she was. She recognized the footsteps of every thief or assassin she’d ever trained. And too few of them still lived. From the sounds of things, those who remained were making preparations to leave. The sounds of clothing being stuffed into bags, the clink of metal valuables being tossed into chests, the occasional grunt of a heavy weight being lifted, then the thump of it being set back down.

  Opening her eyes, she met the gaze of her master. The ancient grey dwarf was sitting at the foot of the cot she lay on, his legs crossed and his hands working at shaping something out of stone. “Ah, she rejoins the living. For a while there, we were not so sure of that outcome.”

  Izgren grimaced. Memories of the wounds she had taken led to reliving the loss of her son and his fellow prisoners. “My son and the others are gone. But they died fighting, rather than as caged animals.”

  “I know, I have seen. I hope you do not mind, but I took a small peek at your memories when we were unsure whether you would survive. We needed to know whether to send others in your place. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  Like any thief, Izgren was uncomfortable with anyone poking about in her mind. She had more than her share of secrets. But she trusted her master above all others, and just gave a resigned sigh. “You did what was necessary.” She took a quick glance around the parts of the room she could see from her position, confirming what her ears had told her. “We’re leaving?”

  “The hated ones and their kobold lapdogs are scouring the city. Many of our secret places have been discovered, and our losses continue to mount. It is only a matter of time before they discover this place within the wall. You and I will guide the few of our people that remain through the underground to a new home.”

  Izgren raised her arms, then slowly sat upright on the cot, expecting pain, but experiencing none. She quickly got to her feet and checked over her body, moving and inspecting each limb.

  “You are fully healed. I used one of the superior potions to ensure that you’d be well enough to travel. Your bags are packed and already loaded. Take some time to eat a good meal, replenish your body’s resources, then we will depart. Time is short, so don’t dawdle.” The ancient grey dwarf grinned at her, sharing an old joke.

  “I’m no longer that flighty girl who joined you so many years ago, master.”

  “Ah, but I still see that girl when I look at you, little one.” He used the affectionate term she hadn’t heard from him in at least a century. That in itself made her nervous. Their circumstances must be dire, indeed.

  “I can eat while we move. If everyone else is ready, let us depart.” She looked around, finding a plate with a couple of sandwiches on stale bread, and a slightly softening apple. Fresh food was difficult to come by, even for thieves. Dropping the sandwiches into her inventory, she grabbed the apple and took a bite. Despite the slightly off taste of the fruit, she smiled at her master and licked her lips. “What is our destination?”

  The old master shook his head. “None of my messengers have returned. I don’t know if any of the other three guilds will grant us shelter. And with so few of us remaining, we could not fight for the right to claim a territory in any of their cities. So, for now, we will disappear. Find a secure location in the wilds of the underground and establish a temporary base. We will hunt for our food and live like animals while we gather intelligence.”

  Izgren nodded once, accepting the decision without argument. There were less than twenty of her guildmates remaining, of more than a hundred members from just a few days before. And it was likely they would lose more before they reached their destination. The damned kobolds hunted the tunnels around the city, and though every member of the guild had stealth abilities that made them invisible to the eye, kobolds had excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell.

  “I will scout ahead, master, and leave the usual markers where the path is safest.”

  “Thank you, little one. The rest of us will be safer for it. You are still the most skilled of all my students, even after all this time.” He paused to think. “Let us head north, deeper under the mountain ranges. There was an old orc settlement in a cavern near the surface, abandoned long ago when they moved down out of the mountains to fight the humans and elves.”

  “Gar’doz. I know the place.” S
he nodded once. “And I know the route. It will take three days, maybe longer without pack animals… she raised an eyebrow at the old dwarf, who chuckled.

  “No, we do not carry the treasury. It is safely hidden. We travel light this day, only carrying what we need to survive. We’ll have to gather food and water along the way. When we have established a base, we can obtain pack beasts and return for the dead king’s treasure.” Her master got to his feet. “Off with you, then. I shall round up the younglings and those few veterans who remain, and we will be an hour or so behind you.” He waved one hand at a pack that sat on the floor under her cot.

  With no need to say more, she shouldered the pack, confirmed her remaining knives were in their proper places, took her short sword from the table next to her cot, and sheathed it on her back. A quick nod to her master, some smiles for the others as she crossed the room, and she was on her way.

  *****

  Max spent some time conversing with Red while he waited on his team members to return. The crazy gnome, who spent a good deal of the time talking to himself, didn’t appear at all bothered to see Max doing the same.

  “Everybody all up to date on their stats, Red?”

  “Yep! I can’t see theirs like I can yours, but they each read them out to me, and I’ve started keeping notes on each o’ them. Even Dalia asked a few questions.”

  “Good. Then let’s talk about professions for a minute. I’m leveling my Alchemy, making all these potions, and I’ve noticed that my skill levels up faster when I use the rare ingredients than when I use the others. Why is that?”

  “It’s not so much the ingredients, it’s the potion ye get as the end result. Creating higher quality potions earns ya more experience in your craft, advancing ye faster toward the next level. You could get the same result if ya took your time and worked in a real alchemist’s lab, makin’ proper use o’ the common ingredients to produce high quality potions. In fact, you should stop using the good stuff right now. You’re just wastin’ it. Wait until ya get back home, and borrow a lab, or build your own. Take your time to create the best potions ye can with common herbs, till ye get no more benefit from them. Then ye can try usin’ the better herbs. Though I’d consult with Dalia’s da before you do so. He may be able to give ya some intermediate options first. No point in squandering valuable resources to earn levels ya could achieve without ‘em.”

  “Good point. I’ll do that.” Max nodded. “Maybe I can bribe her father into building me a proper alchemy lab in Stormhaven. Or… shouldn’t there already be one there someplace? I mean, didn’t the grey dwarves make potions and poisons and such.”

  Red shrugged. “I assume so. We can ask Redmane when we get back.”

  “What about Blacksmithing? What other trades can I learn that’ll help me there?”

  “Well, the obvious one be Mining, which ya’ve already started to develop. There be related skills like Leatherworking for weapon grips and scabbards, Enchanting to add power to your creations, Engraving to help with the enchantments, and just for decorating the blades or armor ya make…”

  Max held up his hands. “Okay, okay. That’s probably more than enough for now.” He was feeling a little overwhelmed, but excited at the same time. “I’ll focus on that list to start with. If I live long enough to master those and move on to new things, great.” He thought about how much time he spent with Redmane each day he was in Stormhaven, working through the piles of issues that needed to be dealt with. If he was to spend any time adventuring with his group and leveling everyone up, his crafting time was going to be limited. And it wasn’t like his city was going to depend on him to craft their weapons and armor for them. He had citizens and allies who were already master smiths, leatherworkers, alchemists, and such.

  Max needed to temper his urge for personal development with the need to think on a larger city/kingdom scale. Time spent on leveling his smithing might be better spent recruiting more allies or establishing new trade agreements. This wasn’t one of those MMORPGs where individual achievement and getting on a leader board was the mark of success. He and his men were a part of this world now, and they were playing for keeps.

  “Your ears are smokin’.” Red’s voice interrupted his reverie.

  “What?” Max blinked a few times, looking over at his shoulder, where the leprechaun sat.

  “Ya shouldn’t think so hard, it can’t be good for that pea brain o’ yours. You focus on all the sword-swingin’ and face-biting, leave the deep thinkin’ to me.”

  “Heh. Alright.” Max had the urge to poke her in the belly, see if she was ticklish, but he knew she still had no real substance. “Since you want to do all the heavy brain work, how bout you tell me the best way to level up my Sovereign class? I mean, do I conquer new lands? Add more citizens? Earn more taxes? Expand the city and its territory?”

  “Aye, all o’ those things help. But also the less tangible actions ya take. Make wise decisions that benefit your people, your kingdom. Be aware that they won’t always be the same thing. For example, ya may need to raise taxes to help pay for a war. The people may be unhappy, but it would be the right thing for the kingdom. Treat your people fairly and well, even when it might be easier, or more satisfying, to punish those who annoy you. I haven’t been showin’ ya all the little notifications, but actions like instructing Redmane to get the mages’ guild to put up lights in the city for those who’ll need them… that earned ya some points toward leveling your class. Not just because it’s considered city building, but because ya made the decision out of a desire to help those citizens who would suffer without those lights. And ya made it before any o’ them came to ya to complain.”

  “Cool. Who’s a good sovereign? I am!” Max thumbed his chest, grinning at Red, who just rolled her eyes. Becoming more serious, he added, “Do me a favor and tell me if I’m leaning toward a decision that might cause me to lose… uhh… sovereign points? I don’t know what to call them.”

  “That’s as good a name as any.” Red nodded. “And aye, I’ll warn ya, if ya give me time.” She gave him a significant look, making Max think back to the first day in his new body, when he dumped a bunch of attribute points in Constitution all at once, and paid the price.

  “Right. No hasty kingly decisions. I suppose that’s what I have the councilors for as well. Talk things out, make the best choices possible.” He paused and looked sideways at the leprechaun, who in turn gave him a suspicious look. “Aaaand that makes you one of my ministers! You are officially my Minister of Snark!”

  “Shut it, ya big windbag!” She snapped at him. But Max didn’t miss the small smile she fought to keep off her face.

  *****

  Back at Stormhaven, Max spent half of the following day with Redmane, going through the various issues stacked on his desk. The Mages’ Guild had agreed to light the city, outside the keep, and the work was already underway. Redmane chuckled as he added a note. “Old Puckerface has agreed to our terms, and will be bringing three o’ his apprentices here to provide mage lights in the keep. He’s also going to install a few additional security measures that we agreed upon, which are listed here.” The old dwarf handed Max the next sheet of paper. He reviewed it quickly, then approved it. The chamberlain had his complete trust in these matters.

  “Our merchant councilors have executed several trade agreements, bringing in more than enough food for double our current population for three months, including the two hundred new orcs you’ve recruited. They spent a bit o’ your coin, but not an inappropriate amount.” The dwarf handed Max another sheet to review, a summary with several agreements attached behind it. Max spent a little more time on this one, noting that they had purchased a large quantity of the birds that produced the oversized eggs, as well as other livestock meant to sustain his people. There were also significant quantities of grain and seed. Again, he approved it all.

  “Last item o’ the day. Most o’ the goblins have found jobs, either as castle staff or as helpers for the crafters and shopkeep
ers. Sweeping up, carrying boxes, delivering messages, and such.”

  “That’s good to hear. I have high hopes for those little rascals.” Max was sincerely pleased that the formerly starving and fearful goblins were improving their lives in his city. “I’m about to head to Darkholm to speak with Ironhand, let him know about the new portal near the mine. Would you like to join me?”

  “Bah!” Redmane shook his head, but smiled good-naturedly. “Got things to do here. Besides, he already knows o’ the portal. One o’ his engineers sent word through the portal last night to send more troops, miners, and such. Still, ye should share the news in person, just to be polite.”

  “I’ll do just that. I’ve got a few other stops to make while I’m there.” Max paused. “Do we have an alchemy lab here? One I could use? And if not, how hard would it be to set one up?”

  “There’s an alchemy shop in the town, but Dalia’s father already arranged to purchase it. I believe he’s there now, settin’ things up. As to settin’ up a lab here in the palace, it would be simple enough. I’ll get a list o’ needed equipment from him, then send someone to Darkholm to purchase it all.”

  “Perfect! I won’t bother him in the middle of setting up his shop. My questions can wait a day or two.” Max got to his feet. “I’m off to see the king!” he waved at his chamberlain and exited his office. Along the way he picked up Dylan, wanting to get him some better gear. One special thing in particular he had in mind.

  As soon as they stepped through the portal, Max led the ogre, who was getting lots of stares from the dwarves they passed, straight to the apprentice level forge area where he’d spent his first days in Darkholm. It only took a moment to locate Master Oakstone, sitting near the same forge at which he’d trained Max in the basics of blacksmithing.

  “Master Oakstone! Good to see you again.” Max smiled, resisting the urge to bow his head. He didn’t think a king bowed to a smith, even a dwarven Master smith.