Wood, Stone and Bone

by Ian Rodgers

  “Now what are you going to do?” One of the new batch of First Years inquired. They were surprisingly quick to accept a sapient Ooze as their companion. Though given the oddities that were on campus, I suppose I was one of the least impressive.

  “Spend the next few weeks recovering. My core cracked pretty badly and if I want to not die the next time I cast an advanced spell I need to rest and heal,” I said. “After that, I’ll be spending the winter in Arv Prith and heading to Drakon as spring comes.”

  “Sounds like fun, getting to travel,” another person sighed wistfully.

  “Did you not hear Jelly talk about how he nearly got mauled to death by an Urdrai?” someone else demanded, and the group descended into bickering over the pros and cons of adventuring and travel. On one hand, you got to see new and exciting locales. On the other, your face was in danger of being eaten if you were not careful.

  “When do you have to leave?” Liliana asked quietly and I patted her knee fondly.

  “Soon, I’m afraid. I visited early this morning because it was the first chance I’ve had since I got to Arv Prith. However, I only have a tiny bit of time to do so. But I promise, as soon as I have more free time available I will come back to visit,” I vowed, and she picked me up for a tender hug.

  “Be safe. Please,” she whispered and I bobbed up and down in agreement. I was then passed over to Kine so she could say goodbye.

  “Don’t be stupid out there,” she cautioned me, and I snorted.

  “What do you take me for? Someone who attracts trouble?”

  The utterly deadpan look the half-elf shot me was mirrored by most everyone else in the room at my comment. I grumbled at that as I was placed back in my glass tank.

  “Alright everyone, see you later!” I called out and waved a tendril in farewell. A few returned the gesture and I sunk into myself and retreated back to my main body.

  .

  “That was a nice visit,” I said cheerfully to Rosa as I got into my disguise. She nodded, even though she hadn’t been there. A quick peek out the window of my small but finely furnished room showed that it was late in the morning.

  Four days had passed since the Urdrai had attacked. I’d spent two of those unconscious, thanks to the amount of damage I’d taken and magic I’d expended.

  Yorrik had been stunned when I morphed back into an Ooze in front of him after I passed out, but took it in stride. I think he’d always assumed something was up with me, but was too polite to say anything.

  With his and Katherine’s help they’d been able to escort me to a covered wagon and put me in it to sleep. Katherine stood guard, using her position as my ‘lady friend’ to stay with me and prevent anyone else from discovering my secret.

  When we arrived at Arv Prith the guards had apparently been shocked to see our battered, weary forms, and the corpse of a Beast of Vengeance in the back of one of the carts.

  Which, as it turned out, was in fact the legendary Lord of the Dullwilds, or at least the current one. Apparently the Urdrai was old, over a thousand years or so, and had won the territory of the inner depths of the Dullwilds from a dragon who’d lived there in prior centuries.

  To say people were shocked – and in awe – was putting it lightly.

  A knock at the door roused me from my musings and I stepped over to open it.

  “Yorrik, good to see you,” I said happily, and Rosa chirped joyful and flew over to the Ranger. He nodded politely.

  The B-ranker had earned himself a promotion of his own. He was now an A-rank, as well as a knight! Or he would be once he attended his knighting ceremony in Valm. The king of Brune had rewarded all the surviving adventurers in some fashion, and Yorrik finally got his wish of knighthood thanks to that.

  He smiled as he leaned on a pair of crutches. “And it’s good to see you as well, Jellik. I’d heard from Katherine you were up at last, but we didn’t get to see each other. Supposedly you were busy at the Guild?”

  “Yup. Tying up loose ends,” I replied as I flashed him my new silver adventuring badge. Earning a promotion to C-rank was the least of the rewards offered for my part in slaying the Urdrai.

  He grinned widely before frowning.

  “I cannot believe they’re covering up the full extent of your involvement,” he muttered.

  “Yorrik, it’s fine,” I said. “I’ve already had this discussion with Katherine. At least you’re far less vocal about the unfairness of it all.”

  “You were the one who delivered the killing blow, all I did was help guide it,” Yorrik argued.

  “How many D- and C-ranked mages can cast a Level Eight spell?” I asked him, and he blinked before scratching his chin.

  “I’ve never heard of one,” he admitted after a moment of thought.

  “Exactly!” I said, pointing at him as if he’d won a prize. “The amount of mana needed for a Level Eight spell is ridiculous. Even for a talented adult mage who graduated from the Academy, Level Four would be the extent of their skills. Maybe Level Five if they were a genius or talented mage. Even elves, with all their massive magical energy, would be hard pressed to master a Level Eight spell before their two hundredth birthday.”

  I shook my ‘head.’ “Level Eight is the domain of S-ranked mages, Yorrik. Upper A-rank at best. It is a spell for whom the title ‘Hero’ is commonplace, and for creatures that often challenge said heroes. So how in the Hells could a ‘young adult’ like myself possibly use one? It would be a total embarrassment for a newbie adventurer to be able to take on an Urdrai like that, and highly unbelievable.”

  “The story Arnolt Cantos and the Adventurer’s Guild came up with will help assuage the public about my abilities. You killed the Urdrai with the arrow through its heart, the spot weakened thanks to some old conflict that broke the scale over that vital organ. However, I was the one who enchanted it with a Level Five spell which caused its internal organs to be attacked by lightning. That’s the best they can do to protect their own reputations and my own secrets. Which, by the way, thanks for not spreading.”

  “So you’re a slime, so what?” Yorrik said with a shrug. “I once had a haunted house try to eat me, and before that I had to win a line dance competition while in drag to earn a key which would unlock a secret dungeon in a ruined castle which contained an item some weird noble wanted.”

  I looked at him strangely and he laughed awkwardly. “The point is, Jellik, I’ve seen and done weirder in my career as an adventurer. And I’ve met people who had their own dark secrets as well.”

  He reached out and patted me on the shoulder.

  “There will always be people who distrust you and fear you for your nature and origins, Jellik. But you will find that the more veteran adventurers have a high tolerance for bizarreness, and you will always have allies in that corner. You can’t please everyone, but you will have me and others like me as friends. And isn’t that enough?”

  I thought over his words and felt a tingle of giddiness. He was right. I couldn’t let my past issues hold me back. Common folk just wouldn’t understand me. They’ve never experienced the things people like Yorrik have. I suppose that was my niche, then. Among other highly trained and talented weirdos.

  “You look like you’re thinking something rude about me, and people like me,” Yorrik deadpanned and I flinched.

  “You could tell?”

  He laughed at that. “Of course! Some sorts of body language just surpass all barriers, even those of illusions! Now come on, Katherine said your order was finished.”

  “That was fast!” I said approvingly.

  “You helped kill an Urdrai! Of course, they’re going to bend backwards to help you! Even if the truth is being suppressed to some extent you’re still a hero of the hour!”

  We left the upscale hotel the city officials had given the adventurers as a reward of their own and headed into the business district of Arv Prith.

  The city was an amazing feat of engineering, built onto and into the cliffs that overlooked the Blue
Salt Gulf. the entire city was built of stone, even the docks. The famous Rock Docks of Arv Prith were giant lumps of pumice carved into platforms that allowed them to sit on top of the water with minimal effort. Held in place by steel rods they were a marvel of dwarven engineering and creativity.

  The rest of Arv Prith was mostly made of granite and basalt, though countless monuments and statues made of marble abounded. Very little was made of wood; it was mostly used for doors, window shutters, and furniture. Or for the ships that visited the docks. The buildings themselves had a grand, sweeping sense of scale to them. They all seemed to tower above the viewer, and were made in a blocky style.

  Besides the docks, there were other parts of the city worth seeing. The ‘human’ side of the city was mostly the outer limits, where traders and the like came and went. Accommodations for the taller beings were there, while the dwarf sized parts were closer to the heart of the city and within the mountainside itself.

  We headed deeper into the dwarven side, and came across Katherine leaning nonchalantly against a storefront. Windows were not a common dwarven feature for houses, choosing to go for clerestory lighting instead with a strip of glass panels ringing the entire roof. Not to say the store was drab looking, though. Elegant mosaics and finely painted pictograms showed off a variety of scenes from dwarven lore as well as advertising what was for sale inside.

  “’Bout time you got here. I was almost worried sending the guy with broken legs to fetch you was a bad idea!” the dwarf maiden joked. Yorrik let out a chuckle.

  “Don’t worry, my legs are fine. It’ll take a year for them to heal up properly, but I will be able to walk again. And they don’t really hurt, just ache a lot.”

  “That’s good to hear. And great to see you’re up and about Jellik. Now come on, let’s go see your new gear,” Katherine said cheerfully and she jerked her thumb towards the door of the building.

  Stepping inside, I was greeted with the sight of countless magical tools and artifacts. High quality household goods stood alongside specialized objects, and the whole place had a glow to it thanks to the runes and enchantments in everything.

  Behind a counter was an elderly dwarf with an impressively long and braided white beard. He perked up when he saw us enter and beamed.

  “Ah, Katherine, welcome! It’s been so long!”

  “It certainly has, old timer,” she said with a chuckle. She grasped his wrist in a dwarven handshake before turning to introduce us.

  “Guys, this is Doro Marblebrand, the best artificer and Runesmith in the city. He can make any kind of magical tool you can think of, as long as you have the materials and the means to pay. And Doro, these are Yorrik and Jellik, the ones who slew the Lord of the Dullwilds.”

  “An honor, good sirs,” he said politely. “Katherine exaggerates my expertise, of course. But I am still proud to be one of four Master-class Runesmiths in Arv Prith.”

  “I was under the impression Runesmiths worked in specialized workshops,” Yorrik commented.

  “Of course, I do, but this is my shop where I sell my products. I wanted to meet you two, and since outsiders are not allowed inside the Rune Block where I and the others work, I asked Katherine to bring you both here,” Doro explained. He grabbed some items from behind him and motioned us over to the counter.

  “For you, Mr. Ranger, I have two new swords to replace the ones who lost,” he said, showing off the pair of elegant blades. Yorrik whistled as he looked them over, checking the balance and the weight.

  “Press that bump on the bottom of the pommel and then twist the hilt,” Doro instructed, and Yorrik complied. He jerked back in surprise when the sword in his hand burst into flames.

  “Impressive, aren’t they? Just twist it again to turn it off,” Doro said with a chuckle at Yorrik’s reaction. After the Ranger put out the fire he explained.

  “Those are Runetrick Blades. Gnomish ingenuity at its finest! Hidden, unfinished runes are placed in the hilt, so the blades aren’t constantly on fire. When you need some extra firepower, pardon the pun, just do what I told you to do. The runes will link up, become complete, and encase the blade with fire for one hour before running out of mana. It takes a few hours to recharge, so be careful with how you use them.”

  “Thank you for this amazing gift!” Yorrik said. He slid the blades into their sheathes and strapped them to his waist with child-like glee. Rosa cooed in amazement at the weapons.

  “Don’t worry, little lady, you’ll get your weapon soon enough,” Doro promised the Carbuncle. “It’s just taking a bit more time than the blacksmiths had expected to forge a functional rapier that small.”

  Rosa smiled and nodded her thanks towards the elderly dwarf, an eager look in her eyes. Doro then turned to me and hefted a long-wrapped object onto the countertop.

  “This one was a bit trickier to make, but I think you’ll find it to be more than good. It’s great!”

  I carefully unwrapped the pole-like object. A gasp escaped me when I saw it and I reverently picked it up.

  It was a staff. A beautiful, elegant one perfect for heavy duty spell casting.

  I’d come to realize I couldn’t keep casting spells without a catalyst. I was using too much mana for simple tasks and with my core damaged I needed a way to keep the strain off of it. This was the perfect tool for that purpose.

  The staff was made of polished bone and ivory taken from the Urdrai I had slain. Some of the bones in the chest region were charred and broken beyond use, but the ones in the arms and legs had been mostly undamaged.

  The cracks and spots where the bones had been fused together to create the five-foot-tall spell catalyst were elegantly covered up with golden inlay shaped into runes of channeling.

  At the top of the staff a set of antlers had been filed down and carved to look like a pair of hands clutching a glittering orb of opal between them.

  Rosa smiled sadly at the horns, floating over and stroking them fondly. Sullivan the Dire Moose had provided this part of the staff at Rosa’s request.

  I sent a bit of magic through the staff and marveled at the smoothness of the flow of mana.

  “The Urdrai’s bones provide a boost to Dark and Earth Element magic. Considering how adept you are with acid based spells it should work quite well for you,” Doro said, revealing the specs of the staff. “Plus, the magic resistance and durability they retain means it won’t crack from even a Level Nine spell being cast through it!”

  “Then there’s the Dire Moose antlers. They’ll help channel Wind and Dream Elements. I must say, they were impressive specimens. And as for the opal, it’s a gem that is good at channeling all eight of the Elements of Magic. Not great, though, so don’t expect it performing like a ruby or sapphire if you want enhanced Fire or Water magic,” Doro stated.

  “Lastly, the gold inlay along the shaft will keep the mana flowing nice and smooth through the staff and prevent clogs and build-up. Like any catalyst though you’ll want to clean it and adjust the output every so often to get rid of any issues that might crop up.”

  “I cannot believe you made all of this in just four days,” I whispered in awe, stroking the haft of the staff and feeling the potential within it.

  “I’m one of the best at my job, kid! My granddaughter asks for top quality for her friend and savior, and I provide it!” Doro said proudly. Katherine looked aside with a hint of red on her cheeks.

  I bowed my head respectfully towards the Runesmith and stroked an imaginary beard in a dwarven sign of gratitude.

  “Thank you. I will cherish this for my entire life.”

  “Ah, someone who knows traditions!” Doro said happily. He then glanced slyly at his granddaughter.

  “You know, if things don’t work out with that Valen fellow it seems this mage is still single.”

  “Grandpa!” Katherine gasped, blushing furiously. We all let out hearty chuckles at her flustered expression. She began to scold the elderly master and so Yorrik and I slipped out of the store while they were
n’t looking.

  “So, now that you’re a knight, when will you propose to your lady?” I asked as we walked through the streets of Arv Prith and took in the sights.

  “I’ve already sent a letter to her father,” Yorrik said proudly. “I don’t see him refusing me now! After all, I’ve become a hero!”

  He looked at me curiously. “What about yourself? After you’ve found the, um, ‘others,’ what are your plans?”

  I thought it over.

  “I’m not sure,” I said slowly. “I never thought I would make it this far in my goal. Honestly, I’m still coming to grips with the fact there are others like me out there.”

  We walked, slowly, up a ramp that led to one of the ramparts of the outer walls that had an impressive view of the sparkling blue water of the gulf on one side and the lush greenery of the Dullwilds on the other.

  “As for what I’ll do after finding them in Drakon, I guess I’ll train some more. I need to be stronger. I don’t have a choice.”

  “What on Erafore could you be preparing for with all this training?” Yorrik inquired worriedly.

  I paused, wanting to impart just a tiny bit of the truth on him. I’d come to view the Ranger as a friend, and I wanted him to be ready for the conflicts I feared were soon to come.

  Before I could speak, though, something caught my attention near the entrance to Arv Prith.

  In the shadows of a small grove of trees stood a man in a pitch black hooded cloak, a silver mask covering his face.

  I went rigid when I spotted him, and on my shoulder Rosa began to hyperventilate softly.

  (Sour soil… he reeks of sour soil!) she whimpered. I could taste the vile magic pouring from him. I recognized it as the same magical signature behind the attacks I had suffered the past few months! I was about to raise my staff to attack when he raised his right hand and I froze.

  Pinched between his thumb and index finger was a disturbingly familiar dark green scale.

  The same one Katherine had found after the stampede. The same one missing from the Urdrai’s chest. The same one I had thrown at the Lord of the Dullwild’s feet. The same one that had drawn that monster to us in the first place!