“Why cover it up?”
“I have a reputation, for starters,” Limerick explained, “and secondly, I lost my best gear in there, and it’s probably still sitting in a heap on the floor. My plan was to go back and get it. I didn’t want anyone to beat me to it. Then, things changed. I stopped exploring and dungeon-diving. My crew split up. I released the book and it got crazy. I never had the chance to go back in.”
“So what’s so bad about room eight? Why did you leave it out?”
“Well, let’s start at room one.”
The Explorer City - Ra’ah
Kogan’s Palace
The palace grounds were busy, but the throne-room itself was quiet. When Athena, Haymaker, and Wisp entered, Kogan was nowhere to be found. They spent time wandering, looking at the various trophies, paintings, and suits of armor that littered the vast hall. Wisp lingered over a golden dagger in a glass case.
“Really? Here?” Athena was appalled.
“What?” Wisp put on his best innocent face, “I haven’t touched anything.”
“Let’s keep it that way,” Haymaker growled. He chuckled and pointed at a painting on the wall, “I remember that. I’m the one on the right.”
“Is that Haymaker?” a voice boomed behind them. “Still no weapon? I’m sure we can have a baby-sized sword made for you.”
Haymaker wheeled around and grinned, “Kogan, you giant sack of ugly!”
The huge Paladin strode across the marble floor. He stood head and shoulders above Haymaker. He grasped his friend about the waist and shook him like a doll.
“Ok, ok,” Haymaker laughed. “How have you been?”
“I have been well.” He turned to Athena, “It is good to see you, Athena. Who’s your boyfriend?”
“I...”Athena gasped. “This is Wisp. Not my boyfriend.”
“Hello Wisp. I’ve heard your name associated with the Conquerors.” Kogan’s voice was colder.
Wisp laughed nervously, “Not any more. I’m done with them.”
“Glad to hear it. What can I do for you guys?”
“We’re here regarding the Wolf Rider,” Athena said.
“Last I heard he got chased into the Haven. The Conquerors sacked the place last night, but didn’t catch him. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Good,” Kogan scratched his chin with a beefy hand, “What happened to him?”
“That’s why we’re here,” Athena replied. “We need any assistance you can provide.”
“I might be able to help a little. We are kind of tied up. Are you trying to bring the wolf here?”
“No,” Haymaker responded. “We mean to take him somewhere remote. Let the boy live in peace with his friend.”
So it really is a kid,” Kogan said thoughtfully. “What’s so special about him that you’re going to all this trouble?”
Athena spoke delicately, “We believe in the real world he is severely handicapped. He cannot leave his bed. He talks about his life as if he has never left his room.”
“The wolf is all he has,” Haymaker said. “We want him to be safe and happy.”
Kogan’s face lost its color. He turned away from the group, and did not speak for several seconds. When he did, his voice was slightly ragged, “How... how are you getting him there?”
Athena gave Haymaker a puzzled glance. Haymaker shrugged before responding to Kogan’s question.
“Through the Agilar. It’s the only path that doesn’t lead straight through Conqueror territory.”
At this, Kogan turned back. His golden eyes were slightly red and moist, and wide with surprise, “You will never survive that. No offense, Athena, but...”
“We have an escort,” Athena replied.
“Who? I have to admit I would have trouble going through there. Anyone else who could do it either works for the Conquerors, is one of my Heroes, or...” He stopped, realization and anger spreading across his face.
Haymaker nodded, “That was my reaction, too.”
Kogan’s nostrils flared, “If you want my help, tell that scumbag to come here and ask personally. If you can get him to show his face, then I will be at your service. Otherwise, good luck to you and the wolf… and the boy.” Kogan stormed off.
“That went well,” Wisp quipped after a brief uncomfortable silence.
“Oh, hush.” Athena hissed.
“Are we done now?” Wisp asked.
“I have one more stop,” Haymaker said. “I want to check something out.”
Athena and Wisp followed Haymaker through the pastel streets of Ra’ah. They made their way across crowded market squares and twisting alleys before coming to a squat thatch-roofed hut. Smoke drifted through the hole in the hut’s roof and faded into a pale blue sky.
Under the hut’s roof was a furnace and bellows. A table was spread with tools, and an old man was beating a hammer on an anvil. Every few strikes he would turn the piece on which he was working. His skin was leathery and dark with soot.
Haymaker called to the old man, “Slip?”
The man stopped hammering and looked up. He spat on the ground, “Who are you?”
“My name is Haymaker. This is Athena and Wisp. We are friends of Ben.”
Cloudy eyes in a wrinkled face searched the trio warily. He stood up, “Are you now?”
“Do you know who I’m talking about? The Shepherd?”
“I’m just an NPC. I train new players in the art of blacksmithing.” The old man squinted under the sun and wiped his brow. He took off his heavy leather gloves and walked closer to the group, “I remember training a boy called the Shepherd. I hear he’s quite good now. I do my job well.”
Haymaker sighed, “I purchased from you in the past. You don’t have to keep up the charade.” Haymaker held up his gauntlets.
“Well I don’t know any Ben,” the man said sadly. Either he had forgotten or Omni created programs that were amazing at lying.
“Ben is safe for now, but we are going to move him somewhere that he can be safe for good.”
“I’m sorry son, but I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The old man looked Haymaker square in the eye.
“I must be mistaken then.” Haymaker motioned for the others to follow.
“Wait,” the old man called to them. He cleared his throat, “Where will he be safe for good?”
“Where would you take him?” Haymaker asked.
…
Slip returned to his anvil and began pounding away once more. The Warrior, the Bandit, and the Huntress walked back down the narrow alley and disappeared around a corner. Slip stopped hammering and looked through a small window in his hut.
At that moment, a small, red bird fluttered through the window. The bird buzzed about anxiously, zipping around the small shop before finally settling on a workbench.
“What was that all about?” The bird asked.
“Well, Zephyr,” Slip said, “it looks like Ben’s okay after all.”
“And the wolf?”
“I guess so.”
“That is a relief,” Zephyr sighed. “Did they want anything else?”
“Just to tell me where they’re taking him.”
“Where is that?”
“I’m not telling you. You talk too much.” Slip grinned.
“That is absurd! I would never betray them!” Zephyr was indignant, “We both know that this boy is one of the few truly good people to come through here. And the wolf...”
“I don’t think you will betray them on purpose. But you’ll find a way to let it slip. This is coming from a guy named Slip.”
“How did you get that name, by the way?”
“No clue. Why are you called Zephyr?”
“Hmm.” Zephyr pondered as if this had great meaning.
“I’m busy. You need anything?”
“Not really. I was stopping by and saw you had some visitors.”
“Well unless you wanna’ grow some hands and help out, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Good day to you, too!” Zephyr buzzed out in a huff.
Slip chuckled and continued hammering away.
…
Haymaker had signed off. Athena and Wisp walked uphill toward the center of the city. They aimed for the main teleport Gate, which would take them to Red Harbor, the port on the Inner Sea where they would meet the ship.
Athena watched Wisp sideways as he walked. Fletch flapped above them, sharp eyes looking for juicy bugs. Athena waved at an NPC guard as they passed a gate. Wisp kept his eyes down.
“Is this your first time in Ra’ah?” Athena asked Wisp.
“Yup.” He looked back at the guard, “I wasn’t sure they would let me in. I haven’t made a good name for myself with the Explorers.”
“Why do you steal?”
Wisp shrugged, “I’m good at it and it’s exciting.”
“I saw the way you looked at that dagger in there. That wasn’t a longing for excitement in your eyes. You looked at that dagger like a man dying of thirst who has found a pitcher of water.”
“What do you want me to say? You’ve been looking at me funny since I mentioned my home wasn’t safe. You want to know exactly why my life is terrible? So you can gloat over it? Poor stupid American boy.”
Athena lifted her hand to her mouth in embarrassment, “No, I...”
“Oim a rich girl from England.” Wisp strutted stiffly and spoke with an overdone accent, “Oi eat crumpets and feel sorry for poor American boys.”
“That is a terrible accent!” she exclaimed. “And I’m not from England; I’m from Wales. I never said I was rich.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“So what if I am?” Athena flared with anger, “I don’t look down on you because you are poor. I look down on you because you are reckless and impulsive and...”
“There!” Wisp exclaimed, “You look down on people, because you think you are better than them. It’s like your default setting. THAT is why I knew.”
“That’s not…” Athena could not think of an answer.
Wisp sped up to leave her behind, but after several paces he turned back, “Do you think I looked down on you? I didn’t until now.”
Athena was left alone on the streets of Ra’ah as the sun went down, spilling golden light over the pastel buildings.
Chapter 14
Alexa
The Eastern Ocean
Stout and lively, the Alexa rolled softly in a shallow sea. Warm, stiff breeze pushed the little vessel through gentle waves. Gabe lounged on the bow, his nose poked between two posts in the railing. Ben napped against the wolf’s flank.
Viper watched Laura as she tried to use her abilities. He did his best not to laugh, but she was nearly pathetic in her attempts. Her frustration was growing.
“This is so dumb,” she complained. “I look like an idiot.”
“It’s just a quick wave,” Viper said. “Like this.” He demonstrated by swiping his hand through the air.
She waved her hand outward, and nothing happened, “It’s not going to work.”
“What are you trying to do?” Viper asked.
“See things.”
“What things?”
“I don’t know,” Laura threw up her hand. “Fish?”
“Okay. So think about the fish swimming beneath the waves. Pretend the water’s surface is made of glass and you are looking into an aquarium. To cast the spell you have to visualize what will happen after you cast it. Waving your hand signals which ability you want to use, but your mind is what activates it.”
Viper held out his hand, and it crackled with electricity. Blue-white forks of lightning licked up around his hand and up his arm. “Eventually you will be able to activate simple abilities just by thinking about them. But you aren’t there yet.”
“Fine.” She waved her hand again and paused, “What...”
Her breath caught as the ship’s deck disappeared and the water vanished. She was floating in space. Directly beneath her, some crewmen worked in the galley. The night watch slept in their bunks. In the cargo hold, Christine slept fitfully, kicking her legs like a dreaming dog. Further out and even further below, fish and strange sea-creatures slid through the air. Everything spun, and Laura lost her balance.
Viper caught her before she hit the deck. He let her sit and regain her breath.
“What happened?” she asked.
“You did it. That was Reveal.” Viper stroked his chin, “What was it like?”
“I could see through everything.”
“Fish?”
“Lots of them.” She replied.
“When we get into the Agilar, those fish could be enemies. You’ll be able to warn us what’s hiding in the dark.”
“Is that good?”
“That’s very, very good.” Viper grinned, “I can kill anything in this world if I know it’s coming.”
“You’re very sure of yourself.” Laura taunted him, “Athena almost got you.”
“Let’s move on to maps.” Viper did not take the bait, “What motion would you like to use to create a map?”
They continued to train, and the ship made its way through the warm water.
Chicago, Illinois
Sean stepped off the commuter train and glanced around the station. Despite living so close, he had only been to Chicago once before. He tried to look cool, avoiding the urge to gawk at the buildings. Fortunately, the station was not very crowded. He made his way to the street.
He looked down at the instructions Viper had sent him. If this was a trick, Sean would be very angry - as would his father. Sean had told him that he was going on a special school trip to see the aquarium and museums. If Sean came home early, the logical reason would be that he had gotten into some trouble and kicked off the trip. This would mean a severe beating at best.
One possibility was that Viper was a serial killer and no one would ever see him again. This fate might be better than facing his father. Sean grimaced; life sucked.
Standing in front of a dark town car was a man holding a sign that simply said “Wisp.” The man looked neither bored nor engaged; he was doing his job.
“I’m Wisp.” Sean trotted up to the man holding the sign.
The man looked down, “Who sent you?”
“Viper?” Wisp wasn’t sure this was the right answer.
The man shrugged, “Whatever. I drive, I get paid.”
The driver offered to take Sean’s ratty backpack, but he shook his head. Sean climbed into the town car and discovered a snack bar stuffed with canned soda and nuts. Life didn’t always suck.
…
Sandy, the concierge at the Palmer House, had had a boring day. The hotel was a bit slow; nothing exciting was going on, and no one appeared interested in doing anything that required her help. She had passed most of the day playing card games on her computer and trying to make eye contact with the cute bartender.
The hotel’s decadent lobby was open and grand; one of those things that could not be described - a relic from times when suggesting “minimalist” decorations would elicit a sneer. From her viewpoint she could clearly see the bartender, surrounded by this glorious setting, making expensive drinks for rich guests. She imagined him grinning at her as he made her the most amazing martini she had ever tasted.
She was startled out of her fantasy by a strange sight. A ragged-looking teenage boy climbed the steps into the lobby. His jaw was open and eyes wide as he took in the sights. His torn jeans and dirty t-shirt were completely out of place. His shoes appeared to be several sizes too big, and the filthy backpack he carried was falling apart. A member of hotel security moved toward him.
However, the boy Sandy’s desk and quickly walked over to it. The security guard was close behind as the boy greeted her.
“I am Wisp.”
“I’m sorry?” Sandy smiled sweetly, but looked pleadingly to the security guard. People were beginning to stare.
“Can you look in your system for Wisp? I was told to come he
re.”
She decided to do a quick check and have the boy escorted out. She searched for “Wisp” and waited a second. She opened her mouth to ask the boy to leave:
WISP- DISCRETION VIP VIP VIP EXECUTIVE FLOOR SUITE 101 DISCRETION VIP VIP VIP
ROOM TO BE FURNISHED WITH 1 NEUROMATE PULSAR UNIT W/ VERDIA INSTALLED (CHECK RECEIVING FOR PACKAGE)
APPLY $2500 US TO ACCOUNT *******8856
COMPLIMENTARY TICKET SERVICE
NOTIFY MR. WISP HE CAN ORDER TICKETS TO ANY EVENT
NOTIFY MR. WISP THAT ALL FOOD COSTS ARE COVERED
Sandy smiled again, “Well here you are Mr. Wisp. We have you on the executive floor in a suite. It also appears that there will be a Verdia game set up for you.”
“Good,” Mr. Wisp said.
“There is twenty-five hundred dollars applied to your account, you can use that for food here at one of our restaurants or the bar. Or if you like I can cash it out and you can get something in the city.”
Mr. Wisp coughed loudly several times, “I’ll take the cash.”
“Very good Mr. Wisp. And finally, would you be interested in seeing a show tonight? Compliments of the hotel, of course!”
Mr. Wisp grinned, “What’s playing?”
Los Angeles, California
Like any college town bar, the place was packed on a Friday night. It was supposed to be tropical night - they had carted in sand and palm trees. Laura found this pointless since they were in LA and could find both of these items in ample amounts within a mile. She twirled the straw in her jack and coke.
Her friends had made her come; they were worried about how much time she had spent on her research lately. If they knew what she had really been doing, they would call her crazy.
You are too pretty to be single! They were always saying things like that. Of course, now that she had come out with them, they had quickly disappeared with guys they met and left her alone.
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