The Way of the Clan 6: World of Valdira

by Dem Mikhaylov

  “Never!”

  “You won’t even be able to with your level, I suppose. So just take my wallet and pay them to get out of town within the hour!”

  “Can you imagine how much that will cost?”

  “No. And I don’t want to imagine. But you should try to save. We’re still going to need money. If you don’t want to give them money— poison their food.”

  “Evil villain! Okay, you persuaded me… I’m going to find the builders’ chief. And I thought you were an honest man!”

  “You will leave me?”

  “You wish!”

  “Then go and bribe the builders. Kira, try and find out If they have vacancies on their team. The more you know, the better. We can put at least a couple of people in there…”

  “And do you have them? People?”

  “I’m not a racist. Nothing against elves and half orcs.”

  “So you don’t have them? No men, and no one else either…”

  “And that’s why I need an intelligent and reliable foreman with a construction team.”

  “Did the lord say “construction team?”” Said the approaching Strogus.

  “That’s right,” I nodded. “How is everything going?”

  “Moving along as planned. Less than half an hour to the ceremony. The caravans and limo will be here shortly.”

  “Wonderful.”

  “And a couple of new travelers have arrived, some fishing enthusiasts. Only about twenty men. Half orcs, humans, dwarves. There is a dwarven stranger as his leader. They have many tools. If you wish, I can speak with them and find out their plans, while you are changing with the missus.”

  “Wait,” I shook my head. “Wait… you said the leader is a dwarf?”

  “Oh yes. A broad, burly dwarf with a hammer… he looks like he means business.”

  “I’ll take a look at him,” I said. “Then I will think about it.”

  “Very wise, sir. Here comes the fleet. Please rise. The mayor will hand you a personal invitation from the private box, from which he is going to make a speech as the opening ceremony. We have to hurry, of course. Unless you want to exude a kingly tardiness.”

  “No, no…” I shook my head like a true simpleton. “We shall not be late! But I will not change too much, except for the shirt.”

  “Very good,” grunted the butler approvingly. “You show much etiquette.”

  Kira retired into a luxurious bedroom, and I began to change my shirt right on deck. I put on a shirt which was given to me by Strogus.

  The limo stopped in the town square, in the shade of a huge sycamore tree, whose boughs nearly touched the clouds. A lot had changed during our absence, and obviously with the help of magic— a wizened old man standing slightly to the side could be seen making subtle gestures with his hands.

  Colored garlands appeared— and several thousand flags. A funny balloon float reminiscent of an octopus floated through the air, which reminded me of the hot air balloon which had taken us away from Mr. Cedrics place not long ago. Only these balloons were more kindly looking, and their tentacles were not clamping down on baskets, but on colorful signs with slogans. “Unicum Fishers— onwards!” “Victory to Harpoon Glory!” “Magic Float— hurray!” “Wise Minnows!” “Tear them up, Spoon River!” “Let’s go Dashing Fish!”

  And so on and so forth.

  Seeing that there were no slogans containing the names of our league, I gave an order and sent a servant hurrying to the old mage standing at some distance from us. He gave the mage a few gold coins and soon our slogan was suspended with the others. “Outland Anglers— good luck!” and “Fishers of the Outland— are the winners!”

  The main idea was not to fall too far behind or too far ahead.

  In any case, my attention was turned not at the motto hanging in the air but at finding the dwarf with a hammer. Unfortunately, it was nearly impossible to find him, or even to distinguish my comrades from the fray. It was like standing on the edge of a car park and trying to find your car among the thousands of others just like it.

  Everyone was dressed festively, and many had celebratory runes drawn on their faces. There were wild hairstyles, crowned heads, colorful silk robes fluttering in the wind… and they were eating the frog dish, not forgetting to take the eyes from the little hands, washing it all down with liters of wine. Crunching and munching everywhere! The horror…

  But I would be able to single out a dwarf in this crowd very quickly: he had a powerful, broad shouldered stature with powerful, big hands, and a chin like an anvil. There were half-orcs, humans, and dwarves. There were no elves… were they too good for it?

  I found the gnome leader fast.

  He was large. Black haired. Confident, judging by his stance. He was sipping something from a large mug of beer and explaining something to a local man. Meaning, someone from the local government. The player was tough and energetic, accompanying his speech with many sharp gestures. And the local continued listening with bated breath, thoughtfully looking at the dwarf. Then the local makes a dismissive gesture, poking the gigantic information box about upcoming competitions. The gnome does not recede. The local makes a gesture with his hand, and behind the gnome appear three city guards. There are a few words exchanged, and then the local leaves, shaking his head, his lush robe furling over the floor. And this is an obvious failure… the gnome, angry as hell, stamps his foot and throws a glance at the place where, on the map of the city, are the ruins of the ancient temple… this is int-teresting…

  “Int-teresting,” I said aloud involuntarily. “Strogus!”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Find out about that gnome right away, and the cause of his discontent— if he will reveal it, of course. I personally doubt it. But if he doesn’t say— hint at the fact that I am hiring a construction crew for the building of the ancient temple.”

  “Got it, sir. Should we call him over?”

  “No. Just show him to the limo.”

  While Strogus was paying a visit to the gnome, I drank a glass of wine and surveyed the surroundings through the telescope.

  Looking at the VIP shed from which we had just recently come, I nearly spat out my wine. There was the Black Baroness, gracefully sitting at one of the tables, gazing at me through a binocular— with her other hand, she stuck a fork into the back of another unfortunate roast from. I didn’t hear the crunch, but assumed the backbone of it was definitely broken…

  “Bitch,” I muttered.

  “Ass,” I read her lips.

  Then the Baroness jabbed her index finger up, and I looked to see all of the banners transformed dramatically— they became a single flag with a wide in the center, with flashing dark blue letters: “Sleepless Fishers— winners!”

  Someone yelled angrily at full volume. There was another roar of delight. And the rest responded in their own way, expressing a whole spectrum of emotions.

  “And that’s enough for our little exchange,” I snorted, watching the wizard in the scarlet suit.

  What had been the cost of such an order?

  I got a message.

  “Give back the things of the spies, killer!”

  I remained motionless, pushing the eyeglass to the side and watching the girls with colored ribbons in their hair. While Kira didn’t see me…

  “Don’t be a grouch. Please.”

  Sighing, I nodded and gave the order. A player from the sleepless clan came up to the limo and retrieved a big bundle of personal belongings from Strogus.

  “Thank you,” wrote the Baroness, biting on the eye of a frog. “You know how it is. They start whining…no masks, no equipment, walking in rags! Screaming that their legendary equipment was stolen, that they were robbed… Oh, and by the way— nothing personal. Today’s competition will be won by my fishermen. Want to bet on a bottle of divine wine? Again— nothing personal.”

  “Bet is on,” I wrote. “And yes— my team shot at them. Don’t look for the shooters, okay? After all, it’s nothing personal.”
>
  The Baroness nodded, pushed her plate away, finished her wine and stood up… and then disappeared into the teleport. The Red Baron followed her, waving goodbye.

  Two very important figures of the Sleepless clan left the city Tishka, obviously having more important matters to attend to.

  But somehow, I became more on guard… as though they left to prove some point. Or was this my paranoia again?

  She had left, it seemed, somehow too easily. And didn’t even ask why I was here.

  Too simple to be true, in other words.

  “Ros, are you alright?’ Kira purred quietly into my ear.

  “Yeah…”

  “Then why is your telescope pointed at the lush brunette with the cleavage? Are you afraid she is going to attack us with a spell of mass destruction?”

  “What?! Oh! no! That’s an accident,” I said quickly, putting away the telescope. “But while you were putting on your stockings, we were visited by the Baroness… after which I got distracted…”

  “Distracted by lush brunettes with a mutation in the chest region?” said Kira, and I kissed her on the cheek.

  “You look charming,” I said, looking happily at the woman in the pale emerald dress.

  “You bet! Who else came to visit us by the way?”

  “Eh… just these damn Sleepless,” I laughed. “No one else besides them. The Baron was also there.”

  “And what about our stuttering poltergeist?”

  “Don’t speak the name! Or he’ll appear!”

  “He’ll definitely come. The BB was here after all. So long as he’s not occupied with something far more int-teresting.”

  “Let’s see,” I shrugged. “I have got nothing against Orbit. By the way, the Baroness publicly declared that the Sleepless will be the winners.”

  “That’s unlikely,” Kira immediately retorted. “For the second year in a row, the first place has been taken by Lemmings Chaos. They have the largest river fleet in Valdira! While others are learning to cast fishing rods— they are engaged in their manufacture. On four of the seventeen paintings depicting legendary catches, the Lemmings Chaos are featured. They also announced that they are giving a reward to a player or local who can bring in their fifth legendary fish. Because once you pull five legendary fish out of the water, there is a great reward of some kind that is given from the local fisherman in Akelrome, who sits in a rocking chair and always reads the same book: The Old Man and the Sea.” His name is Santiago, I think.”

  “How do you know all that?”

  “What do you mean? The Albatrosses used to participate! Once we got all the way to fifth place! The league of the Lucky Albatrosses. Anyway, there is a video of how the Lemmings Chaos once protected the house of the old man from a Krabber siege! And more…”

  “The legendary catch,” I said thoughtfully. “Okay… so… we’ll wait for Strogus.”

  The stately old butler came back and gave me some unexpected news— the gnome had sent me to hell.

  Not literally. There was no cursing, but he made it very clear and without hesitation that he would not be doing any service for me. He didn’t explain anything, but that was understandable— he was on a secret mission that had nothing to do with me.

  While Strogus told me all this, I watched several players finish their lunch ad make their way uphill, moving away from the crowd.

  “A happy hunting ground it is today for thieves,” I chuckled, looking at the departing heroes.

  “Do you think…”

  “No,” I shook my head. “I don’t think they are thieves. But now, all the housewives and kids and men are on holiday. And a whole lot of rich houses are left virtually unattended. Many will be able to profit if the house is not protected.”

  “Any holiday is a chance for thieves and burglars. How low and vile!” Agreed the butler. “It’s time, sir.”

  “It’s time,” said Kira, putting down her glass and unfurling an elegant fan. “I feel so refined… especially at the waist…”

  “You’re incredible,” I smiled, giving her my hand.

  As we descended the stairs, I whispered to Strogus:

  “I need a construction team. Small but skillful. Five or six workers and a chief. Who have experience in restoration and underground networking.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Many thoughts whirled in my mind— not only aimed at the home and the temple. But now wasn’t the time and place. The mayor of Tishka had already begun his speech, beginning his first endearing epithet.

  There were a lot of sugar coated words— words dripping in honey. We listened, but somewhat impatiently. The sleepy town of Tishka had briefly been overcome with many ardent fans of fishing, and now they were being forced to listen to the magnificent speech of the mayor.

  It lasted twenty minutes. But thankfully, after a time, it came to an end when a greenish haze enveloped several places on the lake designated for fishing. Yes— this was strict. Each league draws a number and only goes to their section to fish for the whole day. Everything Is simple. The greenish haze was the magic which prevented fraud. Kira told me all of this, whispering into my ear as I watched over the scene.

  The speech of the mayor took twenty minutes, and the drawing of numbers took ten.

  Thunder rumbled and there was a gust of wind. Brass fanfares sounded. On the table nearby, I could see a tall table with precious prizes.

  “Kira, baby,” I said quietly. “How about you deal with the league affairs, okay?”

  “Okay!”

  “Wonderful. I’ll be the donor, and you can be the representative of the Outland Anglers.”

  “Okay! I love it! I’ll begin now…”

  I was delighted by her enthusiasm. I felt surely now as a husband feels when he promises to devote a whole vacation to his beloved wife.

  “Sir,” the butler bent down to my ear. “That one suspect that you wanted… the thief… we found him. We made the offer.”

  “And?”

  “There were some small difficulties. On his part. I thought that you might want to discuss it in person with this… scoundrel…”

  “Yes,” I nodded without delay. “I would like to discuss. Where?”

  “Over there, by the general canopy, close to the kitchen. But standing up right now would be…”

  The butler didn’t finish his sentence, because the whole crowd stood up at once. There rose a wild uproar, and I could distinguish the voice of Kira, giving some orders and dancing joyfully. What?

  “All league matters are dealt with by my fiancée,” I told Strogus. “Help her out. And I will talk with the adventurer. What does he want?”

  “Gold, sir! Something about the objects he needs to delve into the depths… rascal!”

  “I will speak with him,” I reassured Strogus.

  I began to make my way through the standing crowd.

  The crowd was moving to the coast of Naykal, but the journey was a quick one. Someone was running, another person straddled a horse or was picked up by a griffin or “sausage.” In short, everyone was in a hurry. And so was I— but in the opposite direction.

  Soon it became quite easy to move, because the crowd had passed on. I was almost alone, except for a hiccupping drunk or two, who found themselves unable to get up...

  I found the table quickly. It was hard to miss. The person sat there in his ragged clothes, accompanied by a Slim, swaying and devouring the remains of a few meals.

  “Hello,” the player in rags rose from the table. “I’m your adventurer!”

  “A good start,” I nodded with respect. “I am Ros.”

  “I’m Shmig.”

  “I have seen you somewhere before…”

  “And I you…”

  It would have taken a lot of time to recall the memory— when I had seen this player, of the seventy ninth level, with the nickname Shmigovik. But he made it easier for me, remarking:

  “Thanks again! You rescued me once!”

  A few minutes later, I remembered e
verything.

  A quiet and strangled voice, calling after me in the streets of Algora. “Hey, Rosgard… wait a minute.”

  Dirty fingers clinging to an iron grate.

  God, it was so long ago… I had the impression that everything happened last year at least. That day I received marvelous gifts from an amazon warrior, mounted on a huge bull. And after my meeting with Shmig came the stupid situation where, by accident, I came on board a ship of the Sleepless fleet…

  In those days, I was unfamiliar with many of my current friends. I just lived like a log in a river… going with the flow. Oh yes… the glory days.

  How much water had flowed by since those days… it was downright nostalgia…

  Since then, the player Shmig had grown a lot… but he hadn’t gotten decent clothes. I think the fact that they are torn is just part of his style. Or perhaps, they give him some kind of advantage— I was convinced of this because, no matter how hard I peered at his jacket, there was only a blurred smoky cloud where the object information would be. This wasn’t just simple cloth. And the worn short boots were not made by an ordinary shoemaker… I couldn’t see their info either. On the forehead of the player was a thick black metal band— a headband. There were many strange characters on it— it also had a mysterious bluish tint. Overall, Shmig only looked ragged from a distance— though Strogus was right in calling him a thief. These clothes, it seemed, were for diverting attention. As for the equipment— it looked like he had a spear. Under the cloak were several knives. Equipment for spies. A spy and an assassin…

  “Is this Slider?” I asked with some surprise, gesturing at the slim with my eyes and looking at the floating red smiley within the glob of jelly.

  The two eyes and the misty outline of a mouth… this human face is only for expressing emotions of the slim. And it is a slim, after all— the most mundane creature in Valdira. It is not a very popular pet.

  I asked as a courtesy. Because the nickname of the pet was known, as well as its level— the one hundredth. Shmigovik was at seventy ninth level, while the pet had reached the hundredth. Interesting, what were its skills?