“Begin,” the judge said.
Stern raised his head, looking directly at the gem, and told the story from the beginning when he first encountered Skippy. The words poured out of him, as he was compelled to speak only the truth.
No one could speak while he was, and as he did, the judge’s face became drawn and the mayor’s purpled. Frank just nodded along while the prosecutor and sergeant both blanched.
“And then I was arrested,” Stern finished.
“Preposterous!” the mayor yelled. “My son was a lowly slime of a toad who knowingly left that useless bitch to her death!”
All eyes went to the mayor, who looked horrified.
The door opening brought all eyes to a young woman in patchwork clothing. Her long bunny ears trembled as she entered the room, but she went to stand near Frank. A female dwarf followed her in. She was smirking until she saw the gem on the judge’s desk—she turned and walked out of the room.
“Who are you?” the judge asked.
“Cyra Walot. My grandmother was killed by Zeus, a friend of Skippy Bloodcoin. They tried to kill me, as well, but a Walker intervened.”
“You useless bitch!” the mayor screamed.
Cyra flinched, but Frank stood up and touched her shoulder. “A zone of truth is in effect. If you speak, it will be the truth as long as you don’t fight it. If you try and fail like the mayor, you will still speak the truth.”
“Your Honor, stop this!” the mayor demanded.
The judge reached for the stone, but Cyra spoke first. “I was brought into the dungeon a week ago by Skippy Bloodcoin and his friends.”
As she started talking, the gem pulsed brighter. The judge couldn’t touch it as it resisted any attempt to stop it.
“I was told they would help me, that they felt bad for me. It was all lies. The moment we entered the dungeon, Klein grabbed me by the ears and forced me against a wall. He told me what they wanted, and it wasn’t me helping in the dungeon... they wanted to use me. I felt like they would kill me after they were done, as Skippy said there wouldn’t be anyone to speak against them. I was crying, but I agreed to do what they wanted. Klein let go of my ears when I started to take my shirt off. The moment he did, I kicked him in the groin and ran.” She swallowed, but kept going, “I ran into the monsters in the next room. The clawed lizards tore me apart.”
Everyone watched her, and the mayor was becoming a purple so dark that it was almost black.
“I was reborn in the temple yesterday. My grandmother was there and I told her what happened. We left the temple together, as she was going to take me to see my savior. When we saw him, he was being advanced on by Skippy and his friends. I wanted to go confront them, but my grandmother pulled me away, explaining that we had to make sure the city knew what they had tried to do.”
Cyra began to cry, but she didn’t wipe the tears away.
“We only made it a street over when Zeus and the others cut us off. Zeus laughed as he told me that Skippy and Klein were killing the man who pulled me out of the dungeon. He gloated, saying that he was going to make sure I stayed dead this time. He rushed us with his sword drawn... I tried to pull my grandmother away, but she shoved me clear and he stabbed her. The moment he yanked his sword free, an infernal woman jumped off a roof and slammed into him. He slashed at her, but she hit him again and he went staggering backward. When his sword hit the ground, she snatched it up and jammed it into him before kicking him. He flew behind his friends.”
Her voice shook and she wiped at her eyes.
“I went to my grandmother and tried to save her, but she was already dead. The infernal and the others were talking, but... I saw only my family dead. The guards came and I was taken back to the temple and they helped me accept what happened.”
The judge snatched the gem off the desk. The mayor was gasping for air, his hand on his chest. “Sergeant, get him to the temple! Now!”
The sergeant grabbed the mayor and hauled him from the room.
The judge looked at the people left in the courtroom and exhaled a deep, shuddering breath. “The Goddess has heard the truth. This hearing is over…” The judge looked around and saw that there was no one with keys to unlock Stern. “Uh... we’ll get a guard, and—”
“No need,” Frank said, pulling out a slim metal rod and tapping it to the manacles behind Stern’s back.
The heavy metal cuffs fell off and Stern flexed his arms. “Thanks.”
“Walkers stick together... or should, anyway.”
“All of you, get out,” the judge said suddenly as he stood up. “Prosecutor, my office. Right now.”
Chapter Eighteen
Stern walked out of the courtroom beside Frank, breathing slowly. He felt elated, but also fearful— he knew the mayor wasn’t going to let his son’s death go. I’ll have to get out of the city quickly. He’ll look to Whitewater first, as that’s where I was most likely to go... I’ll have to detour to another one of the next three, instead.
The other Walkers had been waiting outside the courthouse. When Frank, Stern, and Cyra stepped out of the building, they rushed forward.
Frank held up his hand. “He’s been acquitted of the accusations. I’m sure you all saw the mayor being taken to the temple for his health? He’s undoubtedly going to try making life difficult for Walkers. Well, as much as he can without having the wrath of the Goddess called down on him.”
Roger came forward through the crowd. “Stern, you’ll want to get out of the city.”
“Yeah,” Stern said. “I know. I was thinking about what I was going to do.”
“Excuse me?” The voice was quiet behind Stern. “Can I speak with you?”
Stern looked over his shoulder and down to see Cyra staring up at him. “Me?”
“You’re the one who retrieved my soul, aren’t you? My grandmother described you to me.”
“I wasn’t the only one who retrieved your shards,” Stern said softly. He looked over at Sarah and her group. “They helped,” he said, motioning to them.
“We did it because you asked,” Sarah replied. “You paid us for her shards. Generously paid us.”
“I… that is true,” Stern said slowly.
“Please?” Cyra asked.
“Of course he will,” Frank said. “Many reborn ask to speak with their savior. There’s a tradition that is more common the farther north you go— when a soul is reborn, the Walkers tend to celebrate. Now, while it might not be as much as we see up north, I will be buying the first round of drinks at the hall and the neighboring inn.”
Cheers came from the assembled Walkers, and many began to lead the way.
Stern sighed and nodded. “Yeah, that’s true, as well.” He looked back at Cyra, then realized he was standing fully upright and slouched some. “We can talk at the inn, okay?”
“Yes.”
There was a lot of chatter from the Walkers as they went. Some were talking about dungeons they’d run, but even more were talking somberly about lost friends who, even though they’d been retrieved, had stopped running. The emotional tangle from the group was both happy and sad, making Stern uncertain about his own feelings.
Frank’s companion went to the hall, promising drinks there, while Frank entered the inn with Stern. Gustav’s crew went with them into the inn while the other Walkers split evenly between the buildings.
While Gustav’s crew took a large table, Frank went over to the bar to speak with the innkeeper. Stern found a small table for two near the stairs and claimed it. Seeing Cyra was still with him, Stern pulled a chair out slightly and motioned her to it. Cyra blinked for a few heartbeats, her cheeks flushing light pink, but she took the seat. Stern pushed her chair in before sitting in the other chair.
“One round of drinks have been paid for,” the innkeeper said loudly. “Line up if you want one. Large tables, you may send a single person up to make it easier.”
Frank stepped away from the bar with three glasses in hand. He brought two to Stern’s table bef
ore fading back into the crowd. Stern picked up the glass and sipped to buy more time before Cyra spoke. Dark red wine, heavy on blackberries, helped him relax some.
Cyra sipped briefly at her drink before she set it down and leaned forward. “Why?” It was a single word, but it held so many questions.
Stern dropped his eyes from hers, unable to match her intensity. “She loved you and it touched me. I’m aiming to join the Rescue Squad, so it was right in that way, too.”
“I’m no one, though,” Cyra said, her eyes digging into him.
“To your grandmother, you were everything. That, and Skippy’s clear disdain that one of his crew died twisted my gut. It was clear that I had to retrieve your soul. I had no idea what happened, and that just makes it worse... they never had any intention of letting you be a Walker.” Stern’s hands clenched on the table as he thought about what Cyra had said. “Snuffing a life, a life of someone loved, someone who wants to run and grow…?”
A warm hand touched one of his fists, and he felt the worry like a knife. His eyes jerked up and he met hers. Twin points of bright green filled his vision and he felt a deep warmth and compassion coming from them.
“I’m a beggar,” Cyra’s voice was a whisper. “Doesn’t that matter?”
“No,” Stern replied simply. “You wanted to be a Walker, didn’t you?”
“Like my parents,” Cyra replied. A deep pain flooded out of her and Stern inhaled sharply. “They were Walkers. Gran never told me what happened to them... I wanted to gain strength and go north to find out what had happened.” She took a shuddering breath. “To stop others from being like me...”
Stern closed his eyes. His free hand shook, but the one Cyra was touching was steady. “You feel deeply.”
“Yes,” Cyra said sadly. “Now I’m alone… even Gran was taken from me. The mayor will make me vanish in time, as well.”
“No,” Stern said firmly, standing to his full height. “No. Give me a minute, but be ready to go.”
Stern left the table without waiting for a reply and went up the stairs.
He was almost done buckling his armor on when there was a knock on his door. Stern grimaced and opened it to find Roger standing there. “Yes?”
Roger gave him a questioning look, but held out a folded square of paper. “I need to return this.”
Stern took the page and went to his backpack. He quickly put it back into the hidden pocket in the bottom. “Thank you.”
“Is it true?” Roger asked, giving Stern an appraising look.
“Family friend,” Stern said before silently cursing himself.
“Ah, yes, that would explain it.”
“Keep it to yourself, please,” Stern said tightly as he packed his bag.
“Oh, I will. The mayor has no idea what he’s biting off.”
“And hopefully he never will,” Stern said. “I’ll be leaving by tomorrow morning.”
Roger watched him curiously. “But you’re geared and packing up as if you’re leaving right now.”
“I have something to do before I go,” Stern said, already focused on what he had in mind.
“I won’t ask. This way, no one can learn it from me,” Roger said. “Should I inform him?”
Stern hesitated. “I’ll be gone, and he should know I used his letter. Yeah, it would be the right thing to do.”
“I’ll send him a message and explain the entire situation to him. Should I tell him that you used the zone of truth?”
“Yes,” Stern said. “You can tell him anything. Just be prepared for him and possibly others to show up. I’ll be long gone by then.”
Roger wanted to ask more, but shook his head. “Very well. Safe runs.”
Stern stopped packing to look back at Roger. “Thanks… for everything.”
“No thanks are required. I didn’t even have to do anything, it turns out,” Roger snorted, “besides bringing a single paper to you.”
“But that page is… important.”
“Understatement,” Roger snorted. “Safe trip.”
With his pack on his back and fully geared up, Stern came down the stairs. The entire room turned to him. The majority thought he was getting out while he could. Gustav, his crew, and Frank looked thoughtful. Cyra stared at him with wide eyes when he stopped beside her.
“Ready?”
“What?” Cyra asked.
“Time for you to get that badge,” Stern said with a soft smile. “I’ll be with you.”
Cyra stared at him as seconds ticked by before she rose to her feet, as if in a trance. “You’ll be with me?”
“Dungeons are better with a crew,” Stern said. “Time for you to get the first step done.”
Cyra’s eyes widened and she smiled. “Please?”
The inn was silent as they watched the two of them leave. The moment they were gone, the whole place began the time-honored tradition of speculating and forming rumors.
Frank moved over to sit with Gustav. “Someone should make sure they make it out of the dungeon and the city.”
“True,” Gustav said. “You asking?”
Frank pulled a coin from his pouch and spun it on the table. “Paying.”
Gustav let out a soft whistle and picked up the coin. “Which one?”
Frank chuckled. “That isn’t a need-to-know question. I’ll make sure the Walkers know so you’ll get credit for the quest. Only get involved if it’s needed. Otherwise, be unseen.”
“I did that last time. It cost the old woman her life,” Suzana said bitterly.
“We all fail, at times,” Frank said. “Learn from it and grow. That’s the Walker way.” He got to his feet and left the inn.
Gustav looked at the coin in his hand. “We’ll do this, then head back north. We have the money to gear up for our next run, now.”
“And then some,” Stella whispered.
~*~*~
Stern and Cyra made it to the well. The guards on duty looked bored.
“Two,” Stern said, approaching the guards.
“Has she passed the academy courses?” one of the guards asked.
“Yes, and I have help to get me through,” Cyra said.
The guards looked at Stern’s full badge and nodded. “Must have paid you well. You know that maiming and death are possible?”
“Yes,” Cyra shuddered. “I am very aware...”
“Alright, make sure to pick your perk and loot carefully,” the guard said. “In you go.”
Stern had Cyra go first before following her down. When they reached the bottom, Cyra shuddered again as she looked at the swirling mist.
“You don’t have to,” Stern said, feeling the fear radiating off her.
Cyra pushed her fear down. “Yes, I do. If I want to be stronger, I do. Besides… you’ll keep me safe.”
Stern blinked at the rock-hard certainty of her statement. “Okay. The first room is always clear to give us a chance to gear up. We’ll discuss our strategy there once we know what we’re facing.”
Cyra breathed slowly. “Okay.”
“After you,” Stern said, gesturing toward the portal.
Her fear spiked again for a second, but then Cyra rushed into the mist.
Stern took a deep breath and followed her, hoping he was doing the right thing.
Chapter Nineteen
Stern paused where he was— the air was heavy and damp and, all around him, tall trees loomed with vines tangled between them. Deep underbrush blocked any way off the clear path he was standing on. He glanced up and understood why the light was so dim. The tree canopy was thick, blocking most of the light from coming through.
Cyra stood still, her eyes wide as she looked around. “What is this?”
“Outdoor path dungeon,” Stern said. Seeing her uncertainty, he frowned. “You don’t know this?”
Cyra looked down. “I barely passed the course...”
Stern felt her shame and mentally kicked himself. “Okay, have a seat,” he said as he did the same. “We need to
discuss strategy as it is, but first, we’ll talk about what we are likely to see here.”
Cyra knelt. She kept her eyes down, as she still felt ashamed.
“This is a path dungeon. Honestly, it’s not that much different than the standard underground dungeon. It’s outdoors, but it still manages to restrict you to paths and clearings. It would be impossible to try to go off the path— the undergrowth would be too thick, and if we kept at it, the monsters would be drawn to us. It’d be like trying to tunnel through a wall in a dungeon. The act of doing so will bring the monsters to you as a group, which is not good.”
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