by Pdmac
“Any other cons?” Karl asked.
“Just one,” Conrad said. “I hate to be a party pooper, but suppose one or more of us gets killed?”
“OK?” Annabeth challenged. “Suppose that does happen? What’s your point?”
“If one or more of us gets killed, it’s back to Marbeck to start all over again.”
“Just change your bind spot to here,” Sakura answered, stating the obvious.
Conrad’s mouth slacked open then closed as he realized he had forgotten a key part of the game. “Doh. Sorry. I take back all I said.”
“No problem.” Karl smiled kindly at him. “Conrad brings up a good point. None of us are gamers. We are going to forget things on occasion, like bind spots. If we’re going to succeed together, we need to remember that we succeed or fail as a team. Everyone, right now, change your bind spot to here.”
“How about our bedrooms,” Conrad suggested. “That way when you return buck naked, you won’t be standing here in the middle of the tavern.”
“Good idea,” Wendell grinned.
“Everyone needs to accept the quest,” Raquel pointed out.
A minute later, bind spots changed and the quest accepted, Karl called out, “Humphrey.”
The proprietor burst out the kitchen with a wide smile, having eavesdropped on the proceedings from the kitchen. “I should send someone to get the burgomaster.”
“And anyone else who might be helpful.”
“Of course. How about an ale, on the house?”
It was late in the afternoon as Karl, Raquel, Annabeth, Dieter and Sakura sat at the table in the tavern.
“OK,” Karl said. “What do we know so far?”
“There’s three of them,” Annabeth said with a grin.
“They came at the end of the day,” Dieter added.
“Two of them carry battle axes,” Sakura said. “The third has a falchion. They wear some armor, but we’re not exactly sure where.”
“They’re all Level 4,” Raquel stated. “Don’t know their health stats. Wish the townies would have paid attention to that.”
“What else?” Karl asked. When no one could think of anything, he said, “They don’t move as quickly as we do. However, their fighting strength is enough to make up for the slower speed. They came here with no other security, out in the open. They assumed the town would again cower before their demands. They stood before the gate, fully exposed. They’re over-confident. They always use the same route of approach. Not only are they over-confident, they’re careless. We need to attack them where and when they least expect it.”
Impressed, Dieter asked, “Where should that be, Boss?”
“Along the road leading to the city,” Karl answered. “The fences are just like those at Marbeck and provide enough cover.”
“That’s gonna be a little harder for me, Boss,” Dieter said, with concern.
“I know,” he smiled. “We save you for the right time. Now here’s the plan.”
In the dwindling afternoon, two days later, the company was positioned on both sides of the road about 400 meters away the city. Karl and Raquel were at one end of the ambush, farthest away from the city, with Annabeth and her team on one side behind the stone wall and Sakura and her team opposite. Dieter, Brad and Lana were at the edge of the city wall, waiting for the ambush to start. Conrad was with Annabeth and Wendell was with Sakura.
Daylight was just beginning to fade when the sounds of orcs in conversation rolled out of the forest.
“Shut yer face, Fezgul. Yer a damned liar.”
“The hell I am, Grac. Yer the one sez he’s so fearsome.”
“Will you two just shut up. What’re we gonna do if they don’t got any food?”
“Yer the one said we was gonna tear the place apart,” Fezgul said. “Ain’t that so, Grac? Weren’t Borc who said it?”
“Yup. Though the cows was good the last time we was here.”
“An’ anyway, how come we always come here at the same time?” Fezgul demanded.
“’Cause it’s easy pickins,” Borc tartly replied. “I get tired of the wife jabbin’ all the time, even after I smack her down. She’s a stubborn one, I’ll tell you that. I give her credit for not backin’ down. That’s why I married her.”
“Like we care,” Grac sneered. “What about no food? How’re we gonna make them pay?”
“I got an idea,” Borc replied. “We’ll just start lootin’ the farms. When they sez they got no food, we won’t say a word. It’ scare the shit out of ‘em.”
They walked in silence for a bit and were halfway into the ambush when Borc stopped and sniffed. “I smell dwarf… and elf.”
Karl and Raquel rolled out from their hiding spot.
“How can you smell anything other than your own stench,” Karl taunted, noting the size of the three creatures. The middle orc carried a falchion while the other two wielded battleaxes.
The orcs whirled around in unison. Whatever fear they had immediately vanished.
“Looky there,” the orc in the middle spoke. He was about the same height as Karl, but much broader. Two large teeth protruded from the under-bite of his jaw. He sneered as he readied his falchion. “The humans finally got a spine.”
“Now,” Karl commanded and the two sides of the ambush rose and leaped over the wall to surround the orcs.
The sudden increase in humans, elves, and dwarves aroused no concern in the orcs. The middle orc looked at those surrounding them and spat. “I knew I smelled elf and dwarf. They stink enough to make me puke.” He shifted a quick glance at his two companions. “Grac back. Fezgul right. Attack.”
The orcs launched a surprise attack on Sakura’s team who fell back with the sudden onslaught. Fearing the orcs were trying to break through and run, Karl leaped into the fray, ducking a swinging blow from a battle ax and delivering a slicing cut at the knees, hoping to immobilize the orc.
Yet the battle was a foregone conclusion. Fourteen humans, dwarves, and elves against three orcs was a lopsided battle, even before Dieter had a chance to inflame his berserker rage. By the time the giant arrived on the scene with Brad and Lana in tow, three orcs lay dead and pierced with multiple arrows. Raquel was nonchalantly yanking arrows out of the corpses and cleaning the tips before placing them back in her quiver.
“They’ll want proof,” Karl observed. “Cut off the left ears.” He looked up at a disappointed Dieter. “Sorry, big guy. Next time we’ll figure out a way for you to get first licks.”
Congratulations: You have completed the Quest - save the town from orcs.
Reward: Unlimited access to supplies, scrolls, potions, and weapons currently in the town.
Reward: Reputation. You and your company have increased your reputation: +2 points.
Karl ignored the alert, instead pressing the ‘X’ icon to make it disappear.
When they arrived back at the gate, half the city was there to greet them, their jubilation overflowing with even Conrad and Wendell reveling in the adoration and plentiful kisses of the relieved citizens. The burgomaster strode up, the aldermen tailing behind with their airs of self-importance, and waved his arms for the crowd to settle down. After repeated attempts, he gave up and motioned the victorious company back into the safety of the city walls.
Karl stopped him and in a grand display of theatrics, flourished high the three mutilated ears of the dead orcs, causing the crowd to erupt even louder.
When they finally arrived back at the tavern, the company was more than ready to be rid of the fawning masses, all except Conrad and Wendell who would have remained outside absorbing all the kisses they could take had not Dieter dragged them both inside and barred the door.
As the group flopped down in the chairs, serving girls, carrying trays of steins brimming with ale circulated among the tables, depositing a mug before each individual.
“It’s on the house. Help yourselves,” Humphrey called out as he backed out of the kitchen, carrying a tray laden with steaming steaks a
nd pork chops and placed it on an empty table. One of the cooks followed with a tray filled with bread hot from the oven and another tray with numerous cheeses.
Needing no urging, they pushed themselves up to partake. All except Karl, who remained seated, remembering the rule of the leader that troops were fed first before he got something to eat.
To his surprise, both Annabeth and Raque brought back a plate for him. They arrived at the same time, looked at each other and laughed, placing both plates in front of him.
“Enjoy,” Raquel said, sitting to his right. “It’s not every day you get two beautiful women serving you food.”
“I can’t recall that ever happening,” he replied, sipping his ale.
Midway through the feast, the burgomaster and alderman came traipsing in through the kitchen door.
“My dear Karl the Viking,” he grandiloquently began with an exaggerated bow. “You have rid the city of our oppressors. In return for such bravery, gallantry… uh – ”
“Skill,” an alderman whispered.
“And skill,” the burgomaster said, thankful for the prompt, “we are your obedient servants. The city opens its arms to satisfy all your needs.”
“Thank you,” Karl politely replied.
“How may we serve you?”
“Haven’t really thought about it,” Karl answered. “Our attention was focused on eliminating the threat to the city.”
“Quite right, quite right,” he acknowledged then added a subtle, “um, how long do you plan on staying?”
“We’re beginning to like it here,” he deadpanned. “Not more than a couple of months.”
The burgomaster swallowed hard and he smiled with only his lips as he struggled to calculate the cost to the city. “Um, no doubt you’re all anxious to prepare for your next adventure and I’m sure you’re all anticipating the next thrill of battle and all that. Uh…” he looked to his aldermen for help but their blank faces told him he was on his own.
Licking his lips, he did his best to smile before giving the aldermen a curt wave to follow him. “We’ll just leave you to celebrate your victory.”
“I’ll have a list of items we’ll need from you the day after tomorrow,” Karl said, his face impassive.
The burgomaster relaxed as his hopes rose with the expectation that they would be leaving very soon. “Yes, yes, that would be fine.”
Once the burgomaster and aldermen left the tavern, Dieter stood and stretched. “What’s the plan, Boss?”
“We take tomorrow to scour the town identifying things we need or can use, like weapons upgrades or magic potions. Take your time. Identify what you want and let me know. I’ll put together our list and give it to him the day after tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy the excellent food and ale and other things.” He smiled at Dieter when Elena sidled up to him and slipped an arm through his.
“Speaking of which,” Raquel said, looking at him then at Annabeth. “I believe it’s my turn tonight.”
“And mine again tomorrow night,” Annabeth brightly replied, “and then yours the next night and so on.”
“Don’t I get a vote?” Karl asked.
Raquel patted his hand. “If you’re too tired…”
“I didn’t say that,” he quickly replied.
She smiled smugly at him. “I didn’t think so.”
“You’re not complaining are you?” Annabeth sweetly asked.
“Not in the least,” Karl answered, hoping his strength could match their stamina.
“Good,” Raquel said, standing up. “C’mon then lover boy. A different kind of adventure and excitement awaits you.” She led him through the doors to the upstairs rooms.
“I think I shoulda been a Viking,” Conrad wistfully said, watching the beautiful ranger lead her quarry to her bedroom.
“And miss out on all the kissing this afternoon?” Wendell scoffed.
“Kissing might be good enough for you, but I need more to get me satisfied.” Standing, he cast a lustful glance at Kendra who was talking with Brad.
He had yet to take a step when Wendell popped up and downed the rest of his ale in one gulp. “Wait for me.”
It was early morning when Karl awoke. Through the open window, dawn’s light was struggling to pierce the thick gray of the morning’s mist. Nestled next to him in a bed barely wide enough for one, the gorgeous Raquel lay on her side, her soft breathing telling him she was sound asleep.
Placing a hand behind his head, he smiled at the previous evening’s bedtime frolic. Physically, Raquel looked a lot like Annabeth: large firm breasts, narrow waist, narrow hips, curvaceous legs…and a ravenous appetite. By the time they were ‘finished,’ he was wondering whether he’d ever be able to walk again. That he was awake now more than surprised him.
Though physically similar, Raquel and Annabeth were very different personalities and it had him curious what they were like in real life. He already knew a little about Annabeth from their first encounter. Annabeth was refreshingly honest and pretty much said what she thought, but did it in such a way that she had the gift to tell someone to go to hell and he’d look forward to the trip. And her personality was outgoing and charming. Yet Karl sensed there was an underlying need for validation.
Annabeth was loquacious compared to Raquel. It’s not that Raquel didn’t like to talk; it’s just that she tended to choose her words more carefully as if sorting out the meaning and ramifications of what she was about to say. There was a quiet intensity in Raquel that simmered just below the surface. It was as though she was struggling to keep herself in check, that if she let her emotions run rampant, she would lose herself.
He had felt her intensity last night. The power of her lovemaking was electric.
That thought caused him to smile. Electric. Was sex just a series of electrical impulses? How boring to think of it that way. It’s like the moon and the stars. Once science took control, all the romance went away.
He didn’t want to live that way. Though he was thankful that science gave him an extended life, he did not want science defining his passions.
Raquel rolled over, blinking her eyes. “Why are you awake?” Her voice was soft and warm.
“I have no idea,” he sighed.
“Was last night not enough?”
“My God,” he gushed. “It was wonderful.”
She raised her head to look over his chest and out the window. “It’s still the middle of the night. Go back to sleep.”
“I’ll do my best,” he smiled, kissing her forehead.
She snuggled against him, feeling the warmth of his body. Resting an arm across his chest, she closed her eyes and soon settled into the shallow breathing of sleep.
Still, sleep eluded Karl and he pondered his future. Why wasn’t he content to stay in Marbeck like so many others? Yes, the gamers told him the object was to get to the last island. Yet they never did answer how many islands there were, even when he asked them point blank.
“So how many islands are there in the game?”
“Weeeell,” the developer replied in one long drawn out syllable. “We’re still working on that.”
She was a young woman who couldn’t have been more than sixteen years old, with wild blond hair and purple eyes and a body that most men lusted after. Sixteen. Would that make her a young woman or a girl? She certainly wasn’t a girl in the traditional sense of the word. So, here she was, a young woman who was already in the corporate world as a high level game designer, a genius who oozed self-confidence… and it showed.
At sixteen, he had been awkward and clumsy and worried about zits. The difference between her and him at sixteen was painfully obvious.
“So how many islands are there now?” he had repeated.
“For now, there are ten, but that will change as we continue developing,” she answered with a hint of sympathy.
He felt suddenly exposed as though he were some old man in the final days of his life, vainly clinging to any hope or chimera that promised reprieve. The th
ought angered him. Yes, he was old enough to be her father, but not her grandfather, and it was damned unfair of life to deal him this card. He was in the prime of his life… at least he had been.
“How long does it take to go from one island to the next?” he asked, genuinely interested while wanting to determine how long he was likely to be in the game.
“It depends,” she said, “on how good a gamer you are. Each succeeding island is more difficult and the quests take longer.”
“Suppose you’re not a gamer?”
She stared at him with a look of pity mixed with condescension. “Then it will take you a lot longer.”
Karl shifted to get comfortable, careful not to disturb Raquel. If he was honest with himself, on so many levels this gaming life was certainly far more interesting than his former real life. Where else could he be a tall and handsome Viking lying next to a beautiful ranger?
So that begged the original question. Why not just stay here and enjoy the perks of two lovely ladies and the occasional ambush on orcs? It was certainly safer.
Intrinsically he knew the answer. It wasn’t a question of growing boredom. It was something like the old Chinese proverb: ‘Do not fear going forward slowly. Fear only to stand still.’ Staying here in Abeloft would be standing still. He knew himself and he knew that he craved change and challenge, both of which he missed when he left the military and went into academia. Once again, he regretted his decision to leave the military, though at the time it seemed to make the most sense. From the time he graduated high school, all he had known was the military. His career found him working with the CIA, NSA, and other acronyms no one would ever hear of. Along the way, he completed a Bachelor and Master degree in Nordic studies, which had absolutely nothing to do with his career but was something he enjoyed.
So what changed?
As his career progressed, he found himself desk-bound more often than not and he chaffed at being surrounded by four walls. He missed the cloak and dagger, the insertion into enemy territory, the thrill of immediate danger. It was time to make a change. Unfortunately, academia was the wrong change.
