You receive Bag of Holding.
You receive 732 gold.
You received Captain Logs.
With the chest empty, Jace turned to leave but remembered he needed to cause some damage. He took out one of the vials of oil and poured it on the chest and surrounding area. He took another vial and poured it on the opposite side of the room, where the bed was. He took the final vial and poured in on the rug in front of the door.
He once again turned to leave but saw the captain’s saber and sword belt hanging on a peg next to the door. He looked back to his broken saber on the floor near the chest and decided he had just found a replacement. Jace grabbed the sword and went to pick it up when he received a pop-up message in his HUD.
Kraken’s Claw is a Soulbound item.
Do you wish to permanently bind this item to your character? (Yes or No)
Warning: This action cannot be undone.
Jace paused at the message. Soulbound items were items that were locked to a character permanently. They could never be traded or sold. Not only that, unlike regular items, they didn’t stay with a person’s corpse. Instead, soulbound items respawned with you. They were extremely rare. Without giving it any thought, Jace chose Yes and bound the saber to him.
Kraken’s Claw has been bound.
You received Kraken’s Claw.
As much as he wanted to check out the Kraken’s Claw, Jace knew he didn’t have time. He moved back over to the window and took a last look around the room, making sure he didn’t miss anything of value.
Just then, the door burst open. A man in bed clothes was in the doorway, his face partially in shadow from the light of the behind him. While he couldn’t quite make out the man’s features, there was something familiar about him.
The man scanned the room before settling on Jace. When he did, the man took a step forward and Jace was finally able to see his face clearly. They both recognized each other as their eyes locked.
“You!” they said simultaneously.
The man, whose voice Jace recognized as the voice from the sewer, identified this person as the captain who had been speaking with Tiebaut. But even more than that, Jace recognized the face. It was Dainard Drakkar, the guildmaster he had defeated in Crossroads. And Drakkar recognized him as well.
Drakkar’s face screwed up in rage and he reached for the spot where his saber had hung until recently. When his hand closed on empty air, the captain turned to see that it was missing. When he turned back to Jace, his face was a mask of fury.
“Intruder in the captain quarters!” he bellowed and started towards Jace.
Jace had no intention of staying to face Drakkar or his men. He couldn’t afford to die here since that wouldn’t mean not only failing the quest but also losing his corpse and everything on it.
He prepared to jump out the window. Before he did, he needed to ignite the oil. Yet, he felt like he needed to say something clever before his exit. Nothing came to mind, so he started his Flame Bolt spell. “Minima fulmen ignem!”
As the flaming bolt left his hand, he remembered a very old vidstream he’d watched with his father about a cop who fought terrorists in a large building. As Jace jumped out of the window, he yelled “Yippee ki yay!”
Behind him the captain’s cabin erupted into flames and Jace could hear Drakkar screaming. He doubted the man was dead but hoped he’d be distracted enough.
Jace plummeted towards the water and remembered to send the message to Luna. “Run! I’m out!”
Then he hit the water and disappeared under the surface. Opening his eyes, he felt the salty water stinging them. He could see the glow of the fire above him and swam underwater to the dock near the ship.
As Jace’s head broke the surface, he heard cries and shouts from the ship. It was a mishmash of voices but Drakkar’s voice rang above them all. “Find him! He’s stolen the tiara and your pay!”
Even as he looked over at the ship, Jace could see men streaming down the gangplank. With effort, he pulled himself out of the water and onto the dock. As he did, a shout game from the ship. “There he is! Off the stern! Off the stern!”
Letting out a breath, Jace climbed to his feet and unequipped and re-equipped his gear. It was an old trick he’d learned. The original designers hadn’t thought to store the state of the clothes, like dirty, wet, etc., when they went into a player’s inventory. When a player put something into their inventory and then brought it out, it came out clean and dry.
“Kill him! Kill him!” came Drakkar’s voice from the deck.
He saw the sailors from the ship streaming off the boat and heading his way. They were led by the dog-kin who probably had the best sight. He saw the dog-kin sniffing as he moved and remembered Mika saying they had a very good sense of smell.
That complicated things. He had intended to use the Infiltrator’s Hat to change his appearance and elude capture but if the dog-kin could track him, that wouldn’t work. As far as he knew, the hat only changed appearance and not scent.
Turning, Jace fled back towards the wall as fast as he could. Maybe he could get to the wall and climb it before they reached it. Maybe that would work!
Then Jace lost a step and nearly stumbled as he realized he hadn’t retrieved his grappling hook. It was still hanging on the back of the Wyvern’s Tail. He had no way to scale the wall now. He was completely screwed.
He glanced behind him to see the pirates closing on him. Not only was he screwed, but he didn’t think he could outrun or lose his pursuers for long. They would catch up to him, kill him and take the tiara.
Desperately he thought of some place he could go to lose them, but the dog-kin’s scent ability would make that impossible. They’d find no matter where he went or who he changed his appearance to look like.
He looked up at the wall and wished he had some way to leap up or climb up on his own. If he could get up the walls, the guards would repel the pirates. They’d probably arrest him, but he wouldn’t die.
Suddenly, he had a crazy idea. It wasn’t quite what Webley had wanted but it might just accomplish the same thing. But it was risky. Very risky.
Seeing the mob of angry pirates who pursued him, Jace realized he had no choice. Pouring on the speed, he races for the entrance to the Noble District.
Chapter 29
The Noble District was not only surrounded by a wall, but it was also built on an elevated part of the city, adding to the isolation of the nobles from the common folk. The only entrances into the Noble District, other than the thieves guild inside man, was by one of two gates. The first gate was in the west, near the north entrance. The second was just before the Merchant District.
That meant it was only a scant distance from the docks, relatively speaking. But when he was running at top speed from a group of furious pirates, it seemed leagues away. Glancing behind him, he could see that some of the men, especially the dog-kin, were gaining on him.
Jace checked on his Stamina and saw that it was rapidly depleting. He couldn’t sustain this much speed for long. Then he caught sight of the southern bridge up ahead and felt a sense of relief. Just a few hundred yards and he’d be on the bridge.
Those few hundred yards seem to pass in slow motion. He kept glancing back, seeing the dog-kin getting closer and closer to him. Finally, he reached the bridge on his right and swerved onto it with the dog-kin right behind him.
He saw the two towers that guarded the entrance into the Noble District and also saw that the portcullis was down. If he reached the gate and the portcullis was down, the pirates would have him before the guards could raise it and react. But how could he convince them to raise it in time?
He remembered the Infiltrator’s Hat and a desperate idea came to him. He remembered the inside man’s uniform the best he could in his mind and then willed his clothes to change. He blurred slightly and then he was wearing the uniform of a royal guard. Praying his plan would, he called out!
“Open the gate! Open the gate!” he yelled as he got cl
oser to the portcullis. “I’m on the king’s business!”
It was both risky and somewhat foolhardy. Most cities had laws against impersonating guards. Those laws carried some stiff penalties. Jace could only imagine what the penalties for impersonating a royal guard would be. At the same time, he had a trump card. The princess’ tiara.
Jace was almost at the gate and could see that it was still close. His heart sank. It hadn’t worked. Most likely their human eyes couldn’t even see his uniform in the dark. He called out one last time.
“Open the gate!” he yelled with as much authority as possible.
Whether the guards could finally see his uniform or if the tone of his voice convinced them, he wasn’t sure, but he heard someone yelled to raise the gate and then the loud cranking sound of the portcullis being slowly raised.
The dog-kin was almost to him when he finally made it to the gate. The portcullis was only up a foot or two when he got to it. Willing himself to use every rank of his acrobatics skill, he dove forward and rolled underneath.
The dog-kin hadn’t expected his move and slammed into the gate which immediately got the guards' attention. A half dozen guards filed out of the two guard houses with pikes and they headed right for the gate.
“The men pursuing me... are pirates!” Jace blurted out, trying to get his breath under control. “They are under... the command of... Captain Drakkar... of the Wyvern’s Tail.”
Jace was still breathing heavily and talking was difficult. “Dock 17… They are responsible for... stealing the princess’ crown!”
That got the guards' attention. One guard, whose uniform had more stripes than the others, ordered his men to pursue the men and hold them for questioning. Then the man walked over to him and Jace viewed him in his HUD.
Name: Sergeant Tristram Randle
Race: Human
Level: 25
Profession: Soldier
The sergeant walked over to Jace and looked him over with a critical eye. His eyes took in Jace’s uniform and his face grew suspicious. “Who are you? What’s your commanding officer’s name? And what’s this about the princess’ tiara.”
Jace needed to speak with someone in authority. Someone who might be willing to make a deal with him for the information he had. That was his best chance of staying out of the dungeons.
“I need to speak to the captain,” he told the sergeant. “Right now!”
The man laughed mirthlessly. “You expect me to wake up the captain of the guard, before first light? Are you mad?”
The sergeant motioned for some nearby guards and two men came and stood on either side of Jace. Their weapons were at their sides, but they could no doubt bring them to bear instantly.
“Now,” said the sergeant. “Let me repeat my questions. Who are you? And who is your commanding officer? Or are you a guardsman at all?”
Jace stood to his full height and tried to summon up all the bluster he had. Hoping his bluff skill would help. “You need to wake up the captain. Tell him I know where the princess’ crown is. Tell him it involves treason and possibly even a danger to his majesty.”
That shook the sergeant and the guards who looked at one another. Apparently throwing around words like treason and threats to the king got people’s attention - especially people sworn to protect the king.
The sergeant bit his lip as he considered what to do. Jace guessed he was weighing which option would get him in the least amount of trouble. Finally, the man decided. “I’ll send for the captain. But I warn you, if you are lying, after you face his wrath - you’ll face mine.”
“Put him in the holding cell in the east tower until the captain gets here,” he told the two guards on either side of Jace. Then he motioned to another man, still by the gate. “Corporeal, go summon the captain. Tell him it’s concerning treason and a threat to the king’s life.”
“Yes sergeant,” the guards responded and shoved Jace toward the closest tower. One guard opened the door while the other prodded him inside.
The tower was square and the room he entered took up the entire inner space of the tower. It had a table near the door with several simple wood chairs around it and stairs that lead up to a second floor. Under the stairs was a barred area that appeared to be the cell. It was maybe three feet deep and the entire length of the staircase. On the floor was what looked like woven mat.
Taking a large key from the wall, the first guard opened the cell door while the second guard kept a sharp eye on Jace and then prodded him inside. Once he was inside, the door was locked, and the key replaced back on the wall.
Jace had gone into the cell obediently. He could have used his Vanish skill to disappear, run up the stairs and then jump over the wall. He might even have made it. But he needed to stay if he were to put his plan into motion and finish his quests.
After Jace sat down on the thin mat in the cell, the two guards who had escorted took seats at the table. They leaned in and began talking, occasionally casting glances at their prisoner. He didn’t mind.
Ignoring the guards, Jace sent a mental message to Luna. “I’m in the Noble District. Captured by guard. Tell the girls not to worry. Hopefully, I’ll see them in the morning at the inn.”
“Yes,” Luna’s reply came almost immediately.
Mentally kicking himself, he belatedly asked. “Are you and Mika okay?”
“Yes.”
At least Mika was okay. Thinking of her made him think of their kiss and that both confused and excited him. He wasn’t used to having one girl interested in him, let alone two girls. It was confusing and flattering and he had no idea what to do about it.
He also thought of Drakkar. How had the former guildmaster become the captain of a pirate ship? He’d defeated the man in a challenge just over a week ago in Crossroads. The scoundrel had broken the rules and killed Charlena before disappearing. Jace really hadn’t given the man any more thought.
Now, Drakkar was back. Not only was he back, but he had somehow gotten his hands on the princess’ crown. How had he managed that? Jace wondered if the answers were in the captain’s logs, he’d found but that would have to wait. He didn’t want to bring them out in front of the guards.
He mulled over the various possibilities he could think of for what seemed like hours. Some of his scenarios made more sense than others and, in the end,, he just gave up and waited for the captain. And he waited.
He waited long enough that Jace wondered if the captain would ever appear. Several times, he’d thought about checking the time, but he had slipped the gnomish timepiece into his inventory when they first put him in the cell. After all, he was about to accuse Tiebaut of treason. No reason to be seen wearing a timepiece that belonged to the man.
Finally, the door opened, and a man walked into the room. This man was dressed in polished plate mail armor that, although shiny, had been dented in many places. Over the plate armor, he wore a tabard with the royal crest. Around his waist, he wore a sword belt with a long sword hanging in a scabbard on his right hip. He was a knight.
The guards stood as the recent arrival stepped in and saluted him. “Sir Villiame!”
Sir Villiame dismissed them with a wave of his hands. “It’s too early for formalities, men. I’m here to escort the prisoner to Captain Avolin.”
Jace frowned at being called “prisoner.” He hoped he wasn’t really a prisoner and that he wasn’t bound for the dungeons, but he’d known that was a possibility when he’d thought of this plan. He’d have to wait and see.
The guards unlocked the cell and motioned Jace out. One guard looked to Sir Villiame. “Do you want him shackled?”
The knight gave Jace a pointed look. “We’re not going to need those, are we?”
Jace shook his head. He had no desire to be shackled. That would make escaping more complicated.
“Good, let’s make this as civilized as possible,” Sir Villiame smiled and motioned for him to go out the door. “This way, please.”
He went out the do
or and found four other knights waiting for him. These men were dressed identically to Sir Villiame and took up positions on each side of Jace. But that wasn’t all he noticed. The sun was peeking over the ocean to the east, turning the sky into a tapestry of oranges, reds, and pinks.
Sir Villiame moved to the front of the front of the procession and motioned them forward. “All right then, let’s get this done with.”
Jace had no choice but to follow the knights as they led him through Noble District to the east. It only took him a few minutes to realize where they were headed. The knights were leading to the castle.
He was going to the Royal Palace.
Chapter 30
Just as the Noble District was walled and elevated above the rest of Whitecliff, the Royal Palace was walled and elevated from the Noble District. Saying it was the Royal Palace was not accurate. It was more like a sprawling castle where the palace itself was just one part.
The castle only had one entrance that was accessible by a bridge. He was escorted over the bridge and through the open gates, into the castle itself. As he crossed through the gates, Jace realized just how large the castle really was. It was a miniature city and was bustling with activity.
The palace itself was what truly dominated the castle however. It was a large, squat building that looked very little like the old fairy tale castles. It was much more sprawling and lacked the high, round towers that one normally associated with fantasy castles. Whitecliff’s castle was a more practical, easily defendable structure.
Looking at it, Jace realized the enormity of his task. Even when he finally figured out a way into the castle, it would take him days, maybe even a week, to search the entire castle. Would he really be able to avoid notice for an entire week?
Jace had to bring his mind back to his current situation. Following his escort, he soon found himself at the large stone building that was adjacent to the western wall. The building was nondescript except for several large banners which displayed the royal coat of arms that fluttered on its walls.
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