“Hello, Bye-bye,” greeted Herb, sitting on his stool and just waiting to greet his customers.
“Hello Herb,” I greeted him. “Back for a little shopping and I brought a friend.”
“Do I need to worry about my store being under siege again?” Herb asked jokingly.
I cringed. “Well . . .”
“I was joking,” stated Herb, his eyes widened slightly. “Tell me I do not actually need to worry about my store being attacked again.”
“Um . . .” I started, looking to Rose for a little help only to get a shrug in reply.
“If you are, we’ll take care of it,” said Rose. “I’m Rose by the way, Rose Thorns”
“What do you mean you will take care of it?” Herb asked, his voice slightly elevated.
“You know, we’ll stop anyone that gives you or your store trouble,” said Rose, acting as if it wasn’t that important.
I knew she was trying to reassure him but honestly . . . if I were in his shoes, I would be just as troubled. “Herb, we can’t promise the Ardentia Guild won’t attack again while we are here. They have been hunting my friends and I all week and I don’t see them stopping until our quest is completed.”
“And what? The citizens that die are just collateral damage?” the old man demanded.
“We should just go,” said Rose. “We can’t put the store in danger. We can come back when the quest is done.”
I agreed with her completely, but I also felt bad that we couldn’t get Rose what she needed or wanted from this shopping trip.
“Well, you are much more reasonable than most adventurers,” said Herb. “Tell me, what is it you are looking for?”
“Food, water and canteens and maybe a skill book or two,” Rose answered.
“Bye-bye, you know where to find all of that, correct?” Herb asked, studying the pair of us.
“I remember,” I replied, surprised he would even consider letting us in the store given the concerns he just voiced not even five minutes ago.
“You have twenty minutes to get what you need and get out,” said Herb. “I do not feel comfortable exposing my store to more risk than necessary . . . that said, you are a spender and I am not about to turn down good coin.”
“We’ll be fast,” said Rose, grabbing my hand and dragging me into the store, barely stopping to grab a basket.
I led Rose to the canteens and the fill-up station and then to the food. Rose didn’t need water as strong as my own for mana but got it anyway. She also grabbed pemmican but a fortified version that doubled the HP restored, given she was a tank it made sense.
“These are the books,” I said as we entered the last aisle on our planned shopping excursion.
“I thought there would be a larger selection,” said Rose, starting to peruse.
“It’s more than we’ve seen anywhere else,” I defended.
“True enough,” said Rose, shuffling the various books around, trying to find one or two that would be useful to her.
My game clock showed we had about 10-minutes left so I joined her. Hoping to find something new or maybe something I had missed the day before.
Plenty of language and history books and the like but nothing really screamed ‘buy me’.
Rose cursed causing me to become suddenly alert and searching for enemies but seeing none. I looked back to Rose, who was staring at a book in her hands.
“What have you got there?” I asked curious about what kind of book would make her curse like that.
“A subskill, ‘Break Enchantment’,” she answered, glaring at the book.
“Isn’t that a good thing?” I asked. I know she had been trying to learn it from the other books she had been reading. Though I didn’t know how long it would be before she learned the subskill and then how much longer it would be before it was useful.
“Yes . . . but no,” said Rose.
“Why?”
“I can’t afford it,” said Rose. “500-Gold is just beyond me right now.”
I couldn’t even afford that, even with my discount. Beyond that, I couldn’t justify spending the money after she got upset with me for the other skill books I had purchased for her. “Why don’t we go to the college first and see if they can’t teach you. It’s got to be cheaper than a skill book.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” Rose reluctantly agreed, setting the book back on the shelf.
After the 10-minutes we had left expired, neither of us had found anything worth buying from the skill books. Back at the checkout counter, I had Rose give me her purchases, so we could use my discount, activating my ‘Wally’s V.I.P.’ title.
“Okay, so with your 70% discount that will be 26-Gold, 1-Silver,” said Herb, surprising me.
“I thought my increased discount was only good for yesterday?” I questioned.
“I said for 1-day, last time I checked, 1-day was 24-hours,” said Herb, correcting me.
“Rose, go get that book,” I said, before she could argue, I added. “I know, I know, but this is important for the group. You need that skill, so we can complete the quest. And I don’t care about the money.”
Rose frowned and hesitated for a moment. “Fine, but I’m paying you back.”
“Deal,” I said. That was more than reasonable.
Rose nodded then ran off, back to the aisle in question.
“What book and what quest?” Herb asked.
“Rose needs to learn the subskill ‘Break Enchantment’, it is related to the Ardentia Guild mess we’ve found ourselves immersed in,” I answered.
“I see,” said Herb, rubbing his chin in thought but not saying anything else.
Rose returned a moment later, setting the book on the counter.
Herb handed the book right back to her before I even had a chance to pay. “You are good to go,” he said, glancing over to me and winking.
“Did Jack already pay?” Rose asked.
“You could say that, just promise me you will make those Ardentia cultists pay for attacking my store,” said Herb, sitting back on his stool and waving us away.
Rose was stunned silent, it was a few minutes later and a block away from the store that Rose spoke. “Did he just give me this book?” Rose asked, looking between me and the book still in her grip.
“So, it would seem,” I said, feeling a little jealous that she got a free skill book after I had to pay out the nose for my books.
Rose grinned a little as the book crumbled to dust. “Okay, Enchanter’s College here we come.”
“Rune college,” I corrected her. “I won’t take nearly as much time in the Rune College as you will in the Enchanter’s College.”
“And how do you know you won’t need as long?” asked Rose.
“Because I am only going in to register. We don’t have enough time today for me to sit inside for hours working on my Runology. I know you might need the time to level your enchanting, so you can break that enchant if your skill level isn’t high enough,” I explained.
“Fine, Rune College first,” relented Rose. “Lead the way, Jack.”
After asking a guard for directions, we learned there was no Enchanter’s College or Rune College, those were simply departments of the University. It encompassed enchanting, runology and a few other professions. One destination versus two was much better for us.
The University was a massive building that reminded me of an old university building with its tall bell tower and large arching windows and two-tone red and white bricks. A rather magnificent bit of architecture.
From the outside, it looked like this was a hallowed place of learning. I expected it to be a quiet place of reflection and study.
“Oi, Jardar, you got any ‘EP’ you can spare?” yelled a player loudly, drawing my attention as soon as we entered.
“Sorry Joke, I just used the last of mine,” replied another player from across the room,
<
br /> “Would you two please shut up!” a third player yelled,
“Honestly, stop your whining Bells. You can always go study somewhere else,” replied Jardar, looking to the young elf woman. Jardar was an orc, also dressed in robes those his were darkly colored. Turning back to Joke he spoke again, “Check with Lister, I think he said he came in with a ton of ‘Enchanting Powder’. I saw him upstairs earlier with Baxwell.”
“What is ‘Enchanting Powder’?” I whispered to Rose.
“It’s like ink but for drawing enchants,” answered a voice from behind us both that was clearly not Rose.
Startling the both of us we turned sharply, half expecting to be attacked by someone from Ardentia.
The woman that answered just laughed at us until she was holding her sides. “Oh, you noobs are just too amusing.”
“Gee, thanks,” I replied flatly.
“So, new to enchanting?” the woman asked. I looked up at her nameplate,
“No,” said Rose, studying the woman. “You just answered before I could.”
“Not to worry,” said Stephanie, still smiling. “So, here to learn a bit?”
“If I can, we’ve got a few hours before we are meeting back up with our friends,” answered Rose.
“And the eye candy?” Stephanie asked, looking at me and making me feel decidedly uncomfortable with the hungry look in her eyes.
“Jack is here to register with the Rune College,” answered Rose.
“Rune License, there is no college,” corrected Stephanie. “Just like enchanters like us need to get an Enchanting License to complete enchanting quests.”
Rose’s eyes narrowed, I was slightly surprised when Rose took my arm in hers. “Sure, that,” she snapped.
“Oh relax, your boy toy is nice to look at, but I have no intension of robbing the cradle with such a young and tasty morsel. Besides, I don’t think my boyfriend would appreciate it,” said Stephanie, giggling a little.
Rose seemed to relax a little but had yet to relinquish her hold on my arm . . . not that I minded.
“Anyway, you both want to go upstairs. At the top of the stairs take a right and go to the office at the end of the hall. Master Fitzle can take care of your licensing,” Stephanie explained.
“Thank you,” I said, smiling kindly.
“Thanks,” mumbled Rose, turning us both quickly and marching us toward the stairs.
Stephanie just giggled behind us.
We found the office and inside sat a wiry, big headed gnome with tufts of disorganized silver hair and coke-bottle glasses, sitting behind an oversized desk. The desk reminded me of one from an old courtroom, it was easily taller than I was. The gnome moved a piece of paper from a stack next to him, read it, stamped it and set it on another pile.
“Hello,” I tried greeting the gnome.
The gnome didn’t respond, just pointed to a sign at the front of his desk.
‘TAKE A NUMBER AND YOU WILL BE CALLED IN ORDER’
I looked around the room and found a box with a stack of coaster sized squares of wood with numbers stamped on them. I handed one to Rose and took one for myself.
“Do we just wait?” Rose asked.
No answer came from the gnome. We ended up just having to wait as the gnome continued to go through his stack of papers.
“Number 3,” called a female voice from somewhere behind the gnome and the massive desk.
Moving to peer around the desk, I saw a door and a gnomish woman in a pants suit that looked completely out of place in the World Tree.
“Thanks for the help again, Ms. Fitzle,” said a player, exiting the room behind the gnome.
“Happy to help, Mr. Willynilly. Remember, slow down and do it right the first time and your next enchantment will not curse the item you are trying to enchant,” Ms. Fitzle replied, smiling up at the troll leaving her office.
“You can curse an item if you enchant it incorrectly?” I asked, looking at Rose.
Rose shrugged.
“Number 3, last call,” said the gnome woman, Ms. Fitzle.
“Sorry, I’m here,” said Rose, stepping forward.
I stepped up with her and got a sharp look from the gnome. “Wait your turn.”
“It’s fine, Jack can sit in with me,” said Rose.
Ms. Fitzle pursed her lips and hummed. “I suppose, but he better not interfere with our business or I will kick him out and give him a one week ban from the University.”
“I won’t interfere,” I insisted.
Ms. Fitzle clicked her tongue. “We shall see, now come in.”
Ms. Fitzle’s office was small and cramped. Her desk was smaller than her secretaries by a large margin. She had bookshelves covering every wall, freestanding chalkboards covered in diagrams and symbols I couldn’t interpret for the life of me. The rest of her office was cluttered with stacks of books that were easily taller than she was. The desk itself was covered in papers and writing utensils all strewn about and as disorganized as possible.
“Please, have a seat,” said Ms. Fitzle motioning to the only open chair across from her desk, the other chair was laden with more books and papers and a small suit coat I could only guess belonged to her.
I motioned for Rose to go ahead and sit.
“Now, I’m Master Giggle-Bella Fitzle, but everyone just calls me Ms. Fitzle . . . except the stubborn ones . . . I’m getting off-track, how may I help you, Miss . . . uh?”
“Rose Thorns,” she replied.
“Right, Miss Thorns, how can I help you today?” Giggle-Bella asked.
I wanted so badly to interrupt and ask if she was related to Giggle-Ana, the gnome engineering trainer we met last month in Hurlig Ridge.
“Jack and I need to get our licenses, me for ‘Enchanting’ and him for ‘Runology’,” said Rose, kindly including me.
Giggle-Bella rolled her eyes. “You do know this is your appointment, right? Not his?”
“Yes,” answered Rose, slightly hesitant.
“Then let us focus on you, what do you say?” Giggle-Bella asked, looking pointedly at Rose.
I wasn’t sure what I had done to upset her so much, but I felt keeping my mouth shut was probably the right course of action at this time.
Rose had no such compunction. “What is your problem? I already said I don’t mind Jack being here and if it saves a little time, why shouldn’t I let you know?”
“I do not have a problem,” said Giggle-Bella defensively. “You want to give up your valuable time for someone else, that is your problem. Just do not expect me to give you more time when your session with me ends.”
“Are you saying there is a time limit?” Rose asked, glaring at the gnomish woman.
“Yes, 30-minutes, no more,” Miss Fitzle answered.
“She can have some of my time, I shouldn’t take up too much of your time,” I tried to interject in an effort to defuse the situation. The glare both of them leveled at me shut me up in a hurry.
“Jack, I’ve got this,” snapped Rose, returning her glare to Miss Fitzle.
“Yes, stay out of it and wait your turn or I will ban you,” warned Miss Fitzle, also returning her glare to Rose.
After a tense moment of glaring both ladies snorted then giggled, much to my confusion.
“I like you, Miss Rose. You have a toughness to you I do not see in many of the adventurers. Usually when they come to see me they are all kowtowing to me for training or profession quests or who knows what. It is rare one of you has a spine when confronted by all four feet of me,” Giggle-Bella finally said, giggling at the end.
Rose laughed a little.
“Alas, I do have to be strict with my time limit. How can I help you today?” Giggle-Bella asked again.
“I need a license,” answered Rose.
“For ‘Enchanting’ yes?” Giggle-Bella asked.<
br />
“Yes,” replied Rose.
Giggle-Bella nodded and opened one of her drawers and removed a glove, it looked like cheap burlap, probably worthless at that. “Enchant this.”
Rose accepts the glove and sets it on the desk. Reaching into her bag she pulled out an inkwell and pen, setting them both on the desk.
Rose dipped the pen into the inkwell then placed the pen tip to the glove and began to write in a very tiny script forming a circle or ring of script. Then dipping the pen again, she started a second ring that interlocked with the first. Then a third, fourth, fifth and sixth ring, all of them interconnected and covering most of the back of the glove. Then she wrote a smaller ring on the knuckle of the middle finger followed by a series of additional rings lining down the top of the finger. She repeated the process for each finger until the glove was nearly covered in black script. Rose put the pen and inkwell away then held her hand over the glove, a look of concentration on her face as the underside of her hand began to glow faintly. A moment later the black script flared gold and vanished from view, as if it had never been there.
Rose then picked up the glove and held it out to Giggle-Bella.
The gnomish woman accepted the glove then put a loupe over one eye and began to examine the glove.
“Impressive,” the gnome said after a minute or two. “Where did you learn this technique?”
“Ssay nothing,” warned Panther from around Rose’s neck.
“I can’t say,” answered Rose.
“Oh honestly,” said Giggle-Bella with a roll of her eyes. “You can tell your little friend your secret is safe with me, but he . . . her . . . whatever, the little snake around your neck just gave me the answer.”
I heard Panther hiss a curse a few words then sniffle.
“Panther, it’s fine. I’m ssure the Goddesss Lilith won’t get angry with you,” Rose hissed, trying to reassure the little serpent.
Panther sniffled. “You promisse?”
“Yess, I promisse,” hissed Rose.
“Moving on,” said Giggle-Bella, having grown tired of the hissing. “You have clearly learned ‘Enchanting’ and learned it fairly well at that,” she started, then reaching into her desk she removed a small card and handed it to Rose. “License granted. Will there be anything else?”
World Tree Online: The Duchess of Hammers: 2nd Dive Begins Page 31
