The Path to Peace

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “You smooth talker, you,” Karen grinned. “I hope Gerald found out more than we did.”

  “He couldn’t have found out much less,” Alburet snorted.

  “Iffin House Gilden do be behind this, then mayhap he will have done somethin’ to Gerald and Marysue?”

  “Motherfucker,” Alburet said as he snatched his Mindstone and sent a hurried message to Gerald. A moment later he read the return message and breathed easier. “They’re fine and waiting for us.”

  “I did nay mean to worry ya all,” Stacia said. “I just do nay trust most of them lords.”

  “Right there with you,” Karen said. “I know Vlad seems friendly, but I’m not sure I trust him.”

  “Somethin’ haunts him,” Stacia said softly. “Mayhap tyin’ into the request he be havin’ for us?”

  “Oh good, let’s make life more complicated,” Alburet mock complained, rolling his eyes.

  “Most men would say your life is already complicated enough,” Karen opined. “Three wives mean three times the number of ‘honey do’ lists.”

  “Oh, fucking gods,” Alburet said as that idea hit him. “I hope that list is easy. Kiss her, keep her happy, pamper her, things like that.”

  Fluff giggled, “Ear rubs, too. Don’t forget the ear rubs.”

  Everyone chuckled as she laid her head on his shoulder. “I’ll never forget your ear rubs, my precious Fluffball.” He suited actions to words, getting more laughs from the other two and a happy purr from Fluff.

  Chapter Five

  The hostess led them to a private room at Giardino’s. Alburet dismissed Tiny, Bob, and Kitten so the room wouldn’t be too crowded. Gerald sat with Marysue, both of them looking unhappy. “How did your meeting go?” Gerald asked, skipping the greetings.

  “Not as useful as I’d hoped for,” Alburet said, pulling out chairs for each of his wives and taking the seat to Gerald’s left. “It isn’t a single House doing this, which means we have multiple enemies.”

  “Skippy was less than pleasant,” Gerald begun, pausing as a waitress brought in wine for them all. Once she was gone, he continued, “He did offer us a way to stop the assassinations, at least for a bit.”

  Alburet felt the emotions rolling off Gerald and Marysue, and knew he wouldn’t like the next part. “What does he want, my head on a platter?”

  “Roughly,” Gerald said evenly. “He says he’ll pull his backing, which will end the contract, if I remove you from the Guild and have you delivered to his home.”

  “You told him where to stick that, right?” Karen asked flatly.

  “I told him I would consider it,” Gerald replied, just as flatly.

  “What the fu—” Karen snapped.

  “Stop,” Alburet told her, cutting off her expletive. “Why?” he asked, focusing on Gerald.

  “I’ve been around enough scummy businessmen to know when asking for time is the only solution,” Gerald seemed to deflate a little. “I wasn’t seriously considering it, but I was worried about telling you about it.”

  “Because I’ve been extremely volatile in the past,” Alburet said, nodding. “Did you find out anything useful?”

  “You’re right, it’s several Houses working together to fund this contract. I don’t see what they’re getting out of it, though. It’s like they just want to spite us, but I feel an undercurrent of something else. Like some backroom deal to acquire the company before I can buy it.” Gerald sipped his wine, his brow furrowed and frown deepening. “Whatever’s going on, this is just the first step to see if anyone or anything will stop them.”

  “The Houses are using us as guinea pigs,” Karen growled, “fucking nobles.”

  “Gerald is a noble now,” Marysue reminded her softly.

  “Fucking nobles, besides the ones we like,” Karen amended, lips quivering as she glanced at Marysue.

  “I agree,” Marysue grinned.

  “Do we have a plan for this?” Alburet asked, picking up his wine.

  “Ride it out,” Gerald sighed. “If it were just the natives attacking us, we could do what you did before, stop one to gain a concession. From what we’ve been seeing though, the majority of assassinations are being carried out by other Two-souled.”

  “Of course,” Karen sighed. “We get Bounty Coins for completing contract assassinations. They can be turned in for gear and other things. I should’ve considered that money is only part of the incentive for players.”

  “And ya can nay get involved to gain some yaself?” Stacia murmured, sipping her wine.

  “Yeah,” Karen grumbled.

  “What if we set out traps for the Assassins?” Fluff asked.

  Before anyone else could comment, the door opened and the waitress came in with their food. Once everyone was served and the waitress was gone, all eyes went back to Fluff.

  “We can see if anyone in the Guild will be bait. We set up an ambush area around them, and when the Assassins go for the target, we land on them. If we can get a native or two, then we have some good leverage. If we only get other Two-souled, maybe being ambushed themselves will start to dissuade them.”

  A dark smile spread across Alburet’s face, and the women all looked at him as a feral darkness grew inside of him. “I like it. Gerald, demote me, please.”

  “What?!” five voices exclaimed in unison.

  “I can’t be targeted if I’m an officer,” Alburet said, picking up his utensils. Gathering spaghetti on his fork, he looked at Gerald. “Skippy will have a clause about me being a favored target in the contract. If I can be targeted, they’ll all come for me. I’m the bait.”

  Stacia spoke into the momentary silence following his statement. “They would nay attack ya with us there.”

  “Not if you’re officers,” Alburet nodded.

  “Drop me, too,” Fluff said.

  “And me,” Karen added.

  Gerald let out a deep breath, “I can’t let all of my officers quit.”

  “Pick up Rolland, Ironhand, and Leggylass,” Alburet said. “You’ll need others as well, but they can fill our spots. After this is sorted, if need be, we can become officers again.”

  “Maybe add the natives in the Guild as officers as well,” Fluff pointed out. “They risk the Final Death every time they’re killed.”

  “That’s a good point, Fluff,” Marysue said and turned to Gerald. Softly touching his arm, she continued, “Al has a point. You’ve met Skippy. You know as well as I do what he’s likely to have set up. Al is the perfect bait, if we wish to turn the tables on them.”

  Grimacing, Gerald looked down at his plate. “Let’s eat. We’ll talk more afterwards. Maybe we’ll come up with other ideas that I’ll like better.”

  Karen started to say something, but Stacia touched her shoulder, stopping her. “We eat first, as Gerald says. Mayhap we can think of somethin’ better.”

  “I just don’t like it,” Karen muttered, but started eating along with the others.

  The grim silence that settled over the group made the usually delicious food seem blander than it was. Tension settled over them as everyone kept looking at Alburet, who kept his eyes on his plate. The worry, anxiety, and anger from the three women he loved was strong; almost as strong as his resolute will to do what he had said.

  Alburet finished first and lifted his eyes to meet the eyes of his lovely wives, one by one. Stacia and Fluff bowed their heads a fraction before looking away. Karen held his gaze, not bowing to his will.

  She spoke first, “No. Or at least, not as the plan currently stands.”

  “What do you suggest?” Alburet asked.

  “If we’re going to make you bait, then we make you really good bait,” Karen said as she stood up and went around the table to him. “With us open for attack as well, that will be a big pile of coin just asking to be grabbed. If we set up somewhere that we can have people waiting without raising suspicion, even better.”

  “The inn,” Stacia said, nodding slowly. “Violet bein’ there would nay look od
d, so her and her minions can help easily.”

  “We’d have to make sure your family doesn’t get involved,” Alburet said, meeting her eyes. “I don’t want them hurt on my account.”

  “I’ll let them know,” Stacia said, going around the table to touch his shoulder, “but they be stubborn.”

  “Like you,” Karen grinned at her.

  “I still don’t like it, but we can try it and see what comes of the attempt, at least,” Gerald frowned. “I’ll have to tell the Guild something about why I’m demoting the three of you.”

  “We might have a mole,” Marysue said. “Maybe just explain that they asked for it.”

  “Probably best,” Gerald sighed. “I wonder how this will affect morale?”

  “After I get attacked once or twice, we can see if the attacks are falling off for the others,” Alburet said, resting his head against Stacia’s chest and rubbing Karen’s back. “If so, we can explain why at that point.”

  “I guess that’s the best we can do right now,” Gerald said as he stood up. “We going to hit another zone?”

  “We should,” Karen said, stealing a kiss from Alburet before standing up.

  “The attacks are still happening and the Guild is complaining, but what else can we do right now?” Alburet said. “We can try to help them survive, but I still need to level for my quest.”

  “Choices,” Fluffball murmured. “Will we get attacked if Gerald and Marysue are with us?”

  “That’s a good question,” Marysue frowned. “Once you’re not officers, it might happen. They won’t attack us unless we jump in to help you.”

  “Consider staying out of it, then,” Alburet said. “That will be your call.”

  “I’ll send the Guild message on our way to the Portal Guild,” Gerald said, holding out his arm to Marysue. “I just want you to remember, this was your idea.”

  “Putting a bullseye on my back isn’t new to me,” Alburet chuckled. “I’ve had inmates stab me before.”

  “That doesn’t sound exactly pleasant,” Marysue winced.

  “It wasn’t, but it did remind me that you can be attacked at any time,” Alburet told her as they left the restaurant.

  Chapter Six

  The walk to the Portal Guild was pleasant, with Tiny and TJ clearing a path for the group. All the nearby natives gave the twin Destroyers a wide berth, even with them smiling in as unthreatening a manner as they could.

  “I guess they still aren’t used to Infernals walking the streets,” Gerald said. “Kind of feels like walking with dad though, with security clearing the way to a meeting.”

  “Not enough security for my dad,” Marysue said, smiling at Gerald. “We’re also missing the rearguard.”

  “Fair enough,” Gerald chuckled. “I’ve set up a meeting with Ironhand, Leggylass, Rolland, and Kim for tonight. We can add them as officers and demote you then.”

  “Works for me,” Alburet said, scanning the surroundings. “Tomorrow is going to be interesting.”

  “Define interesting,” Karen said.

  “Oh gods, oh gods, they’re all going to die?” Alburet replied with a grin, twisting the quote for his own needs.

  “Wash was funny,” Fluffball giggled. “I liked his dinosaur intro in the first episode.”

  “And we shall call it… this land,” Alburet chuckled.

  “I think we should call it your grave,” Karen snarled, wiggling her eyebrows.

  “Curse your sudden, but inevitable betrayal,” Alburet laughed. “I didn’t know you were a fan, Karen.”

  “Who wasn’t a fan? Stupid executives canceling it after one season,” Karen sighed.

  “They tried for years to bring it back,” Fluff said with a sad shake of her head. “It never happened.”

  “This be another of ya plays?”

  “Roughly,” Marysue said.

  “What zone are we going to today?”

  “Glacial Lake, over in the Dwarven lands?” Alburet suggested.

  “Langistors again?” Marysue frowned.

  “We could hit the Plague Wood, over on the Elven continent,” Karen suggested.

  “Undead,” Marysue brightened up, “I agree with this plan.”

  “Plague Wood it is,” Gerald said, smiling at Marysue. “Good thing you can cleanse the debuffs.”

  “I’ll help,” Bob said from the rooftop nearby. “BJ can help, too.”

  “That will make things easier,” Marysue nodded. “This should be fun.”

  “I will nay be as helpful, but I can use me blades, if nothin’ else,” Kitten added from behind them.

  “Your heal and drain abilities will still be helpful,” Marysue pointed out.

  “Aye,” Kitten said as she strolled along, “anythin’ I can do to help me master.”

  “Onward to adventure,” Alburet chuckled.

  It took a few minutes for them to get to the portal for the Elven continent, then out to the Plague Woods. They finally appeared before a tall, green thorn hedge, nodding to the two guards standing beside the entrance.

  “Afternoon, hunters,” one of the guards greeted them. “We’ve been glad to see you Two-souled over the last week.”

  “I’m betting that the Delvers were the first ones here to help,” Alburet said.

  “Indeed. They’re the best known Two-souled Guild in these lands, but we’ve heard of Alpha Company as well,” the guard said. “The Gunso is inside the main building. He’ll be more than happy to give you the quests for this area.”

  “We’ll go see what we can help with, then. Thank you,” Gerald said, giving the guards a quick salute.

  “Happy to help, sir,” the guard said, returning the salute.

  The hedge was thicker than the other one they’d seen. Just inside the green wall sat a young Elven maid with a book in her hand. The group gave her friendly nods as they went by, and she returned the greeting in kind.

  “Woodweaver?” Alburet asked Fluff quietly.

  “Sitting there, it’s all but certain,” Fluff told him. “She’s there to close the gate, or the equivalent for these lands.”

  “We still need to see what the Dwarves have in their zones, and the Lunari,” Alburet said. “We didn’t make it out to either of those two continents before attacking Gwain’s Keep.”

  “We should have, but there was so much to do before the assault,” Gerald nodded. “We can see about visiting them tomorrow.”

  “I’d like that,” Alburet said. “It was one of the reasons I wanted to do Glacial Lake.”

  “I’d like to see the Wildwood,” Fluff said softly. “We would need to go after lunch, though. It’s said to be special after nightfall.”

  “We can do them both tomorrow, barring further issues,” Gerald said.

  “Sounds fun,” Alburet said. “After I get ganked, or if we get tired of slaughtering the Assassins.”

  “No one will touch you,” Tiny rumbled just as they reached the main building.

  The two guards on duty glanced at Tiny, then Alburet, with matching frowns. “Keep your minion on a tight leash. We will respond with force if he causes issues,” one of them said.

  “Tiny,” Alburet sighed, “stop scaring the guards.”

  “Sorry, master,” Tiny rumbled.

  “We aren’t scared,” the first rebutted.

  “My apologies,” Alburet said. “Tiny, you and TJ stand guard out here. We’ll be back shortly. Kitten, Bob, stay with them. We don’t want to cause any issues.”

  “Yes, master,” they responded in unison, taking up positions out of the way, but close to the door.

  “There. No problems,” Alburet said with a smile. “After you, Gerald.”

  Shaking his head, Gerald led them into the massive, squat tree that had been crafted into a building. The two Gunsos were at desks, doing paperwork. Coming to a stop before the older Gunso, Gerald saluted and waited.

  The Gunso looked up, “You must be Alpha Company. I’ve heard of your penchant for saluting. I take it you want th
e quests for these woods?”

  “Yes, sir,” Gerald replied, holding the salute, as did the others.

  The Gunso’s lips twitched into a faint grin as he returned the salute. “Very well. We need twenty Arcane Undead dispatched, as well as twenty Plated Deathwalkers and, if you can manage them, five Colossal Brutes.”