Leonie shook her head. “Don’t even think about it.”
“What? We’ve just told her we want her peacock, and she said no before leaving us outside with the peacock while she stomps indoors? I’m just saying, I think she wants us to take it.”
Chloe shook her head. “No.” Her words were firm. She glanced at the cabin, where they heard pots and pans clattering. “I’ll go talk to her myself. See if I can somehow change her mind.”
To her surprise, Abe added, “I’ll go with you.”
Doris was at the sink, looking out the window toward the group when Chloe poked her head through the door. “Hello?” she called.
“In here,” Doris replied, furiously scrubbing her pots.
Chloe and Abe joined her. “We really meant no offense,” Chloe began. “It’s just… To be completely honest, we really need Fernando to make a deal with the man who visited you the other day.”
“The big man?” Doris replied.
Chloe nodded. Abe cocked an eyebrow, his interest piqued.
“Tell me,” Doris said, taking a step away from the sink and placing a hand on her hip, “why is this so important to you? I mean, it must be something big for you to want to take one of my prized possessions and bother me so.”
Chloe paused for a moment, deliberating whether or not she should tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. She had seen her parents and siblings over the years bend and twist the truth to manipulate people to submit to their will and take what they wanted. It seemed to be a fair business technique that worked in the cutthroat environment of high-stakes investment.
But that wasn’t what Chloe was about.
If she’d learned anything over her time in Obsidian, it was that honesty was the best course of action. Many had responded well to being told the truth.
No matter how ludicrous it could sometimes be.
So, Chloe told Doris the story of their meeting with the Wrangler. How they had put Therese forward as bait, and how Talbot had accidentally replaced her. The battle of the bears, and the journey to the hidden cabin in the woods. The task that the Wrangler had set and the promise he had made.
“You’re telling me that a magical bear-man…shapeshifter…thing asked you to fetch my peacock, and in exchange, he would show you the way to collect your magical goddess horse? I’m sorry. I’ve been spun some tales in my time, but this is one of the most preposterous I’ve heard in my life.”
“It’s all true,” Abe said sternly. “Every last word is true.”
Chloe looked at the dwarf with appreciative curiosity.
“I mean, just think,” he continued. “Surely she could come up with a better story than the one she just has, right? Why would anyone paint such an absurd picture just to get a damned peacock?”
Doris nodded softly, still unconvinced. “Well, my answer’s still no.” She flapped her hands, glancing at the sun out of the window and seeing it high in the sky. “Oh, my. Is that the time? I need to get a move on if I’m going to finish getting my stock ready for the king’s chefs. The delivery wagons will be here in an hour.”
“Why don’t we help?” Chloe offered, desperate to find any way to gain favor with Doris.
Chloe, we don’t have time to help collect chickens. We’ve got a horse to find. Just grab the peacock and run, KieraFreya said.
No, Chloe hissed back. I have such a thing as integrity. We’ll find another way.
Oh, sure, KieraFreya replied. Why don’t we just paint one of the brown ones?
You know what? That’s not such a bad idea.
You’re kidding? KieraFreya scoffed.
Of course, I’m kidding, Chloe thought as Doris accepted her offer and led her around the back of the house to the chicken coops.
Quest unlocked: Get the chick in the wagon
Doris is running out of time before the king’s delivery men arrive, expecting 200 chickens to be ready for their wagons. Help Doris round up the chickens and deliver them on time before you feel the wrath of the king for delaying his celebrations.
Difficulty: 1/10
Rewards: 400 exp
Accept quest: Y/N
Ben closed his eyes and basked in the warm sun.
“It’s never going to happen,” Huk complained. “She’s as stubborn as an old mule. If we want to get the prize, we need to take it by force.”
Leonie clicked her tongue. “Will you relax? There’ll be a way we can make this work for everyone. Just give Chloe a chance. She’ll come through.”
“She always does,” Ben replied.
“It’s that new guy I’m not sure of.” Therese narrowed her eyes. “He appears from nowhere, joins the group, and now he’s helping Chloe with negotiations? I mean, who is he?”
Gideon, who had been busy studying the peacock pen, a look of confusion on his face, half-turned and said, “We met him in the upper levels. Me and Chloe got lost in the crowds, and he helped us find our way back. Nice guy. Said he wanted to head out of the city. A little shady, perhaps, but anyone who helps us is a good guy in my eyes.”
Gideon returned his attention to the pen, confusion on his face as he counted the peacocks with his fingers.
“And no one’s asking why he was running away from the city? Why he kept himself covered with that shroud the entire way out of the city gates?”
Veronica, who was resting with her back to the pen’s fence, elbows propped on the wood as she also bathed in the sun, said, “What does it matter? He helped us. End of story.”
“There’s something about him,” Therese said, stroking her chin. “He looks…different.”
“Wow.” Leonie laughed.
“What?”
“I didn’t know discrimination had crossed the barriers into the digital world. You’re telling me you don’t like him because he’s…different? You know he’s one of you, right?”
“That’s not what I mean,” Therese protested. “For a dwarf, he’s very…clean.”
“So, perhaps he cares about his appearance?” Ben suggested. He could see Chloe and Doris through the kitchen window, but he couldn’t see Abe. The dwarf was so short that his head didn’t reach the lower sill. “Not every dwarf is as filthy as you and Tag.”
A small ripple of giggles worked its way around the group.
Leonie asked, “Do you think he’s coming back?”
“I honestly don’t know,” Ben said. “He’s thrown some rage-quits in his time, but never for this long. When he’s gone silent before, it’s only ever been for a day or two.”
“Or until the next Relic Hunter was released,” Gideon added.
Ben smiled. “Yeah.”
Therese, who seemed to want to talk about anything but Tag, said, “Can we focus on one dwarf problem at a time? I don’t trust him.”
Veronica laughed.
“What?” Therese said.
“Nothing. It’s just funny to see the color jealousy paints on you.”
Therese’s mouth flapped open, then shut, like a fish out of water. Color rose to her cheeks.
“Hey, guys?” Gideon suddenly said, cutting in before Therese could get anything out. He scanned the paddock, counting once more just to be sure of what he was seeing. “How many peacocks did Doris say she had?”
Ben opened his eyes, turning toward Gideon. “Ten. Nine ladies and Fernando.”
“Great name, by the way,” Huk added.
Blueballs grunted in agreement.
“Then is it just me?” Gideon asked, pointing toward the end of the pen, where not one but two brightly colored peacocks strutted. “I’m counting eleven.”
The group turned, confusion on all of their faces.
Huk opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Chloe’s head popped out of the door.
“Hey! Guys! We’ve got a small quest, and we need your help. All hands on deck.”
The party looked at each other. Huk gave a curt nod, slipping away from the group as they all headed toward the back of the cabin, the s
ounds of clucking chickens rising as they approached the large coops.
No one even noticed he was gone.
Chapter Ten
They had gathered the majority of the chickens before the clatter of wagon wheels sounded from the stony road.
Dozens and dozens of chickens, flapping their wings and shedding feathers, were placed into large crates that comfortably fit twenty-five apiece. Even though the chickens were headed for dinner plates, it was of utmost importance to Doris that they lived their last day in the best possible conditions.
The party was exhausted. Sprinting after chickens turned out to be a lot harder than they had imagined. Gideon’s arm was covered in red spots from the chickens’ beaks, and Therese’s armor was so covered in bird feces that she was anticipating a good few hours of scrubbing it all down.
Blueballs was a natural, scooping the birds up in his large paws and dumping them in the boxes. By the time the wagon pulled up to the coops, they had only a handful left to gather.
Despite their efforts, however, the sullen dwarven guard riding shotgun in the wagon hopped down and said, “You’re late.”
Doris looked abashed. “Excuse me, young man. Your chickens are ready to go.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Give or take one or two.”
The guard wrinkled his nose, a cruel smile on his face. “You’re not finished. That’ll come out of your pay.”
Doris’ face dropped. “You can’t be serious. I need that money. It’s all that’ll get me through the next few weeks until the next order. You know you’re taking nearly all of my chickens, right?”
The dwarf chuckled darkly. “Twenty-five percent less. That’s the pay. No arguments. Orders of the king.” He glanced at Therese, then Abe, pausing for a second on the dwarf’s features.
Doris screwed up her face, looking as if she were ready to give the guard a good tongue-lashing, then thought better of it. “Very well.”
Chloe watched with helpless pity. She wanted to say something—do something—but what could she do?
The guard collected the chickens, not even bothering to count them all, and drove back to the city. They watched him until he was out of sight.
Quest complete: Get the chick in the wagon
Don’t get cocky, kid. Even my grandmother could have completed this one, and in less time. With more skill. I mean…they’re chickens, not basilisks.
Rewards: 400 exp
Chloe grinned at the small increase in experience gained.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do,” Doris said. “That money was supposed to last me for weeks. That was almost all my stock. Do you know how long it takes to raise chickens?”
Before anyone could answer, there came a high-pitched screech from the other side of the cabin.
“And knowing my luck, that’ll be someone trying to steal my Fernando.” Doris sighed.
Chloe’s eyes widened as she realized who was missing from their group. “Huk!”
Doris hiked up her dress and sprinted around the front of the cabin, the others following her.
The sight that met them was beyond comical. As they rounded the house and the pen came into sight, they could all see the small goblin wrestling with the peacock. His hands were on the bird’s neck, and he was trying to drag it through a gap in the fence. The peacock stood firm, plumage fanned in a brilliant display as he stubbornly held his ground, occasionally pecking Huk’s face.
“Huk! What are you doing?” Chloe shouted, running over to the goblin.
“It’s…fine.” Huk struggled. “There are two of them. She’ll never—ow!—notice.”
The peacock gave a strange strangled gurgle, his eyes flashing as he pecked Huk’s nose.
“Ow!”
Doris approached, arm held high as if ready to give him a beating. It wasn’t until she saw that Huk was telling the truth—there actually were two male peacocks—that she deflated, trying to work out exactly what was going on.
“There are two of them?”
“That’s what I said.” Another peck to the face and Huk let go of the peacock. It staggered backward, sprinting into the center of the pen, watching them carefully.
“How is that even possible?” Doris asked.
“Maybe a wild peacock was attracted by the other females?” Ben suggested.
Doris shook her head. “I haven’t seen another male in over a decade. I’ve even tried to breed them and only ever gotten females. This is…” Her smile grew wide. “This is a miracle.”
“So, we can buy one?” Chloe asked eagerly.
Doris’ face straightened. “I, erm, I suppose. Maybe.”
“Great!” Chloe said, leaping the fence in one bound and dropping into a crouch. She stalked the peacock, moving gently, each step measured and slow.
When she was close, she coiled, was about to spring when—
“Hold on a minute!” Doris shouted, scaring the peacock, which fled from Chloe’s clutches.
Chloe landed with a thud on the ground, particles of dirt and peacock poop flying into her mouth.
“What?” she growled irritably.
“Are you expecting me to just overlook the fact that your goblin friend was trying to steal one of my peacocks?”
“How do you know it’s your peacock?” Ben asked. “They look identical.”
Doris glanced at the two males, the second one at the far right of the pen, watching the hunting game with great interest.
“Well, I just—” Doris stuck her nose in the air. “A mother knows these things. My Fernando has a scar on his right foot, right across the third toe. And anyway, it doesn’t matter. The important part was that your friend was going to steal my bird.”
Huk tugged on his long ears. “That one’s not your bird!”
“My paddock, my birds,” Doris shouted, her voice rising an octave. “You are thieves.”
“Oh, give it a rest!” Abe boomed, breaking his quiet and storming to the fence. His voice was authoritative, instantly quieting everyone. “Enough of this horseplay. Let’s first establish which peacock is which, and then you will grant one of them to the party, okay?”
Doris blubbered, clearly ready to protest.
“Okay?” Abe repeated.
A shadow passed over Doris’ face. “Okay.”
“Good.”
Abe ducked beneath the fence and strode across the pen. The peacock didn’t flinch at his arrival, despite his heavy steps. With one confident arm, Abe tucked the peacock in the crook of his arm and carried it across the paddock. He then grabbed the second peacock and brought them both back to the fence for examination.
“Here,” he said, holding them both against the fence.
Doris and the KieraSlayers watched, impressed. Doris lifted her dress and dropped to her knees, taking each of the incredibly calm peacocks’ feet in her hands in turn.
She smiled, staring into the right peacock’s dark eyes, stroked his head, and said, “Fernando!”
“Good,” Abe said, passing the left peacock to Huk. “It’s settled.”
The goblin clutched the peacock tightly, his small body overwhelmed by the large bird. He looked at the others for help. Ben crossed to him, took the peacock in his arms, and began stroking its head.
“How did you do that?” Huk asked the new dwarf in amazement. “Those birds were riled up before I even got near them.”
Abe shrugged. “One of my skills, I suppose.”
Therese eyed Abe suspiciously.
Doris, who seemed a lot happier now that she had Fernando in her arms, smiled and said, “I suppose, since there are two of them, you can have the other one. I honestly can’t think where it would have come from. It is a gift to see two so close to each other. Not only are they rare, but they’re very territorial.”
“There are no issues here,” Chloe said, leaning against the fence and eyeing the peacock clutched in Ben’s arms. If she didn’t know better, she would swear it was staring at her with a knowing look, its beak impossibly smiling.<
br />
Before they left Doris’ house, they stopped to have a drink in the mid-afternoon sun.
They were all in good spirits after the mess with the peacocks, and even Doris seemed to have lightened up despite her encounter with the king’s guard.
“I’ll be okay,” Doris said. “I’ve always found a way to get by. Even after my husband passed, I managed to make ends meet. You guys should count yourselves lucky. You never realize how blessed you are to have good companions until the day that the world takes them away from you.”
The KieraSlayers looked at each other and smiled.
Ben raised his glass. “Hear, hear.”
They all joined in, except for Abe, who sat there nursing his own drink and looking troubled.
“What’s wrong?” Chloe asked quietly as the others chatted among themselves. “You’d think you’d be happy. You’re out of the city like you wanted, and your superpower helped solve the great—” beep “—debate” She nudged him gently, laughing as she did so. “Wait, damn. That was meant to rhyme with ‘sock.’”
“It’s not fair,” Abe said. “This lady has so little, yet she is being given less by the city for, what, not packing the chickens quickly enough?”
“Sounded like the king’s decision,” Gideon said, eavesdropping and leaning closer to them both. “It’s the same in most monarchies. The ones at the top don’t see the daily struggles of the average Joe. They don’t see the impact just a little bit more gold could have on the people they govern. It’s a sad but inevitable truth.”
“Well, it doesn’t have to be this lady’s truth,” Abe said, standing up suddenly. “Doris, I’m sorry for the wrongs that have befallen you on this day.”
Doris waved a hand. “Forget about it. It’s not your fault, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Abe’s cheeks flushed. He seemed to consider his words before saying, “Actually, there is. I can do everything about it. By tomorrow morning, I will ensure that you are given your missing twenty-five percent, plus an additional fifty percent from the royal treasury.”
Doris looked at Abe as though she were speaking to a madman.
“Oh, yeah? Under whose authority are you going to do that?” She laughed.
Goddess Complete Page 9
