There were silver and gold pieces, but none of the Coppers that I knew most people used for their basic purchases—or at least they did back home… in Arrika, I mean. While the silver came in three distinct forms, there were only two varieties of the gold ones. The smallest weren’t even coins, only thin strips of metal less than an inch long and not even half as wide. The slightly larger ones were roughly the size of silver and gold bits, but octagonal in shape rather than circular. The biggest of the three most closely resembled Marks, round coins that felt almost the same in my hand despite their strange markings. A quick tally told me I had exactly one hundred of the thin silver strips, fifty of each of the small coins, and twenty of the larger ones. Although the order of value between the various currencies seemed obvious, I had no idea how much any of them were truly worth. I’d have to be extremely cautious during my first few negotiations in this land, or I’d very likely wind up being swindled.
Once I finished assessing my funds and equipment, I took a look around again, trying to decide which direction to begin my journey. Although I had absolutely no idea where I was, I had a vague impression that a town lay somewhere in the distance towards the east. With nothing better to rely on, I nocked an arrow and headed off in search of whatever had guided my intuition.
I soon came upon a ‘road’ of sorts, barely more than a pair of ruts carved along the forest floor. The path definitely led in the direction I was heading in, so I took it as a sign that my hunch had been correct and followed alongside the well-worn tracks.
Traveling alone, I wasn’t stupid enough to openly walk the obvious trail; even with my strength and training, that was a recipe for near-certain disaster. My discretion was soon rewarded when I heard the low murmur of voices only a short distance ahead of me. Freezing in place, I carefully knelt down, concealing myself among the undergrowth as I sought out the source of the sounds.
Fortunately for me, the idiots trying to hide in the brush never shut their mouths, and I was able to locate them easily. They’d been so wrapped up in their discussion that I’d managed to wander practically on top of them without being noticed. Although I’d never actually seen one of their kind before, from the descriptions I’d heard, they were easy enough for me to identify.
The three goblins sat barely a dozen yards away, obviously positioned to ambush anyone who might happen down the nearby road. From where I was, however, it was me who was in the perfect position to launch a surprise attack. One of the Goddess’ stupid fables told the story of a similar ambush, one where she’d allegedly failed to account for the caster among her prospective targets. I wasn’t going to be quite that foolish, and I made sure that I faced only three ordinary foes before launching my assault.
Their conversation ended abruptly when my first arrow took the closest of them in the back, flinging the goblin to the ground between his two companions. The momentary shock of the surprise attack allowed me to launch another shot, this one striking one of the two stunned creatures in the chest and ending his life instantly.
With only one of the small monsters left to deal with, I dropped my bow and charged forward as I drew my blades, intending to finish him at close range. He managed to recover enough to draw his own weapon before I reached him, and I stopped short and slowly circled him as I waited for an opening.
Without his companions, the green-skinned bandit seemed more interested in escape than combat, however. When his eyes darted around, seeking a way to flee, I closed the distance between us and slashed at him with three quick strikes.
Technically, the talent I used was called ‘Flurry,’ one of several blade skills I’d learned during my training. I knew the Goddess also possessed the same ability, though her use of it came with the strange Deathless knowledge of its particular costs and effects. All I understood was how to swing my weapons in precise and measured arcs, each of which made it through the goblin’s defenses before slashing huge gashes into his body.
I’d been waiting for this moment for so long—my first conquest and an actual test of my skills. Yet even as I stood triumphantly over the bodies of my fallen enemies, I was overcome with a sense of horror. The first two I’d slain had been ‘clean’ kills, sterile affairs conducted at a discrete distance, but the final goblin had dropped at my feet, and his blood dripped not only from my blades but also painted my armor with a thick band of red where it had splashed across my chest.
This was nothing like the stories I’d been told. The smell of victory wasn’t sweet; it was the sour stench of death tinged with the metallic taste of blood that tainted the air around me. I thought this moment would be one of celebration, yet my senses were overwhelmed by the sight of the bodies lying on the ground at my feet.
I knew what these creatures were, or at least what they had been. Goblins preyed on anything and anyone they thought they could defeat, slaughtering innocents and doing far worse to anyone unfortunate enough to become their captive. Killing them had certainly been necessary, not only for my own safety but for others as well. I knew that, given the opportunity, I’d do exactly the same thing all over again—I just wished I hadn’t come across them at all.
Still, if life had taught me anything, it was that wishing for something and having it actually happen were two very different things. After defeating the goblins, there was just one more unpleasant task left for me to accomplish before I could move on.
Perhaps it was foolish of me, but I didn’t even consider rifling through their pockets for any loot. Since I wasn’t able to search their corpses with a single touch like one of the Deathless, I satisfied myself with a quick inspection of their packs and coin purses instead. Aside from some shoddy equipment, they had only a handful of the thin silver strips between them, and I added them to my funds after I’d packed away some blades that seemed worth salvaging. Before heading off once more, I used one of their tattered cloaks to wipe the gore from my armor and weapons as best I could, tossing the filthy garment on the ground as I left the bloody slaughter behind.
4
I tried to keep my focus on the forest around me, but my thoughts kept drifting back to the scene of my earlier battle… my first battle. I’d dreamed of this day for years, expecting it to be filled with only excitement and even glee, yet all I felt was a deep sense of regret.
It wasn’t that I was mourning the goblins’ deaths—far from it. I knew they were evil creatures who needed to be dealt with. The fact that I’d found them just waiting to ambush some unwary traveler was proof enough of that. Nor did I feel like I’d have to avoid combat in the future. The desire to confront those who would harm innocents was in my blood, so to speak, a part of my heritage even I couldn’t deny.
The problem was one of perception, I guess. I’d never realized just how gruesome things would be after real combat. Although I had been on many hunting trips before and even butchered my own kills, there was something distinctly different about looking over the corpse of a fallen enemy. The consequences of my actions had a much more… substantial feeling to them somehow.
Yet I also understood that was something I would just have to get used to. I was completely on my own in this new land, and this certainly wouldn’t be the only time I’d be called on to defend myself or confront dangerous creatures. As far as I knew, there was no self-important Goddess dispensing her version of justice across these lands; any peace I found would have to be earned with my own blades.
I kept to the forest from then on, cautiously tracking the path while remaining hidden from view, yet by the end of the day, I still hadn’t reached any town. Leery of camping too close to the road, I ventured further into the woods in search of some likely spot to spend the night. I managed to find a small nook tucked away beneath the cover of some heavy branches and laid out my bedroll underneath the sparse shelter it provided. I’d found a trap kit among the gear Noxyl had provided and placed several snares around me before darkness set in—yet I knew those wouldn’t be enough to protect me through the night.
&nbs
p; Even though I’d learned several spells, I was no Evoker—hell, I wasn’t anything at all. Just a half-breed orphan with a collection of random skills I’d managed to acquire over the years. Fortunately, one of them was a spell called Detect Life, one I could cast before going to sleep and which would warn me if anything dangerous approached too closely. Although I could maintain the magic passively while I slept, I lacked the Aura to keep it going during the day while I traveled. This was supposedly a simple thing for true Evokers to do, but without having earned that status, the task was an impossible one for me. It was just another consequence of my… heritage that I was forced to deal with.
Still, the security the thick foliage provided was enough to allow me to comfortably fall asleep in the strange forest, unlike the state in which I woke up. Lying on the cold ground left me feeling stiff and sore the next morning, and it took a long while before I managed to work the kinks out of my aching muscles. Casting yet another of my spells helped speed my recovery a bit. Cure Minor Wounds was a useful bit of magic my Aunt Venna had been able to teach me, though my ability with it was profoundly limited, barely managing to do much more than wash away some of the discomfort. While having no specific class had allowed me to learn a wide variety of skills, many of them were also severely restricted for that same reason.
I traced my way back towards the road in the pre-dawn darkness, yet thanks to my real mother, that wasn’t an issue for me. I’d inherited her elven night-vision, one of the few gifts I had from her that was untainted by the Goddess. Once I could see the rough path in the distance, I resumed following alongside, journeying towards the town I somehow knew would be along the way.
It took most of the day before I finally came to the small hamlet I’d been searching for. As evening fell, I wandered into the village, zeroing in on the tiny inn where I hoped to find a good meal and soft bed for the night. Looking around, I could see the outline of a fortified manor-house in the distance, likely an outpost that kept the people safe from the dangers that surrounded them. Oddly, the streets themselves were deserted, and I stepped inside the inn to find it almost completely empty as well.
The only people present were a bartender busily cleaning a glass that already appeared quite spotless, and an older serving woman who was pacing across the floor as I entered. Both of them turned towards me as I stepped across the threshold, obviously quite startled by my sudden appearance. The barman’s eyes flew open while the woman halted dead in her tracks when I lifted a hand in greeting.
“Are you bloody daft, girl?” Her voice held equal notes of concern and incredulity. “What are you thinking, showing your pretty face around here?”
“I-I’m only passing through,” the barman actually took a step away from me as I replied. “I was just looking for something to eat and a safe place to stay for the night.”
“Did you not see the Lord’s house on the hill?” Her reproachful tone left no doubt that she knew I had. “It’s near time for him to pay us another visit; if he gets one look at you, there’s no doubt where you’ll be spending this night—and you’ll be the meal.”
Where the fuck had Noxyl sent me? Obviously, the nobility of this land felt quite free to prey on their subjects. While I had no fear of some stuffy nobleman, he’d likely not be searching for his next ‘companion’ alone. Three goblins might not have been much of a challenge for me, but a platoon of armed guards would be a completely different story.
“You need to be out of here and quick!” The woman grabbed me by the arm and dragged me towards the back door. On the way through the kitchen, she snatched up a loaf of bread before shoving me outside.
“Take this and run!” The woman pushed me away rather forcefully. “Head north if you know what’s good for you. With any luck, you might even reach the Free Lands before one of them gets hold of you.”
Confused by the strange turn of events but persuaded by the near-terror in her voice, I took off through the trees, putting as much distance as I could between me and the now ominous-looking fortress. When I’d gone far enough, I began looking for another campsite; some shallow cave or sheltered thicket to protect me during the night, managing to find a suitably hidden location before too long. After setting up my security, I ate a few mouthfuls of the bread I’d been given while trying to understand what the fuck Noxyl had done to me.
She’d freed me from the Goddess, of that I was certain. Yet she’d also managed to trick me as well. I hadn’t considered that Noxyl might deliver me into a place where I’d become some hunted quarry, but that was exactly what she’d done. The powerful of these lands seemed both willing and able to prey upon their ‘lessers,’ a category that now included me as well.
Apparently, there was a refuge from these deprivations, however. The ‘Free Lands’ the woman had spoken of lay some unknown distance away, and even without knowing anything else about them, they seemed like my best, and perhaps my only option. I decided to head north starting the next morning, avoiding any settlement along the way that showed even the slightest indication of some ‘noble’ presence. I sure as hell wasn’t going to meekly submit to any request to spend the night with one of the detestable vermin, and the inevitable conflict that would follow my refusal would probably not end well for me.
Yet, at least for the moment, I was safe again—or at least as safe as a lone traveler could be at night in the wilds. I felt fairly certain that I wouldn’t be confronted by a troop of well-armed soldiers seeking to drag me to their liege’s bedroom; anything less than that I was sure I could handle.
Forced to spend another night sleeping on the cold ground, I tried to make the best of it, focusing on the fact that I’d avoided the trap Noxyl had clearly set for me. Obviously, the bitch had intended for me to stumble upon one of these so-called ‘Lords.’ Had I actually fallen victim to one of them, it likely would have made her vengeance against Dreya complete. I doubted that I’d ever see her again, but if I did, Noxyl would definitely feel my wrath, Goddess or not.
I headed due north for several more days, cautiously crossing the few roads I found and circling widely around two small towns that also had imposing manor houses looming over them. Although Noxyl had provided me with a full set of camping gear, I longed for a soft bed and something other than trail rations to eat, and probably would have killed someone for a hot bath. Sadly, the risk seemed too great, so I stuck to my original plan.
As I traveled through the forest on the third day, I caught the scent of roasting meat wafting through the air. My mouth began to water as I followed the trail, eventually leading to yet another small village. Despite my overwhelming desire to track down the tantalizing aroma to its source, I prepared to leave, fearing to stay anywhere near one of the horrid noble’s domains. Yet looking around, I saw no sign of a mansion or fortified position of any sort and wondered if this small town might provide me with at least some temporary refuge.
Aside from the odd cut of their clothes, the few people I saw would have been right at home in the Imperial District. They seemed to walk the streets freely, unconcerned that they might be abruptly whisked away by some abusive Lord. Unlike the brief moments I’d looked in on the other towns I’d passed, these people weren’t constantly casting furtive glances over their shoulders or demonstrating any of the obvious fear I’d seen before. I wondered if I’d finally reached the Free Lands I’d been told about—but even if I hadn’t, it seemed as if this place might be an island of normalcy amid the sea of oppression I’d been trapped in. After watching for a long while and seeing nothing resembling the terror that was so clearly present elsewhere, I finally ventured into the small town, fully prepared to flee at the first indication that my observations had been incorrect.
Nothing seemed amiss when I entered the inn. The waitress took my order without questioning my presence there, and I was able to enjoy the fine stew and ale she brought me in peace. Even my request for a room for the night passed without remark; only when it came time to pay did I have a moment of hesitation.
“Your meal comes to three silver Scales, and the room will cost you a full silver Fenn on top of that,” she politely informed me as I drained my mug.
I still had no concept of how money worked here, but her phrasing gave me a pretty good idea of what my bill was. Reaching inside my pouch, I pulled out one of the large silver coins along with five of the octagonal ones and passed them over to her.
“Thank you.” She smiled quite genuinely before returning to her duties, letting me know not only that I’d guessed correctly, but also given her a more than adequate tip.
Reassured that I’d found a safe place for at least one night, I headed upstairs, wanting nothing more than to feel the comfort of a warm bed again. Sleeping on the ground in the forest for days on end wasn’t quite the adventure I’d thought it would be. There was far more dirt and grime—not to mention discomfort—than I’d ever imagined.
As I made my way towards the staircase, a man sitting at the bar caught my eye. It wasn’t the first time I’d noticed him glancing in my direction, and I couldn’t help but smile back when he flashed me a wink and lopsided grin. He was quite dashing, in a roguish sort of way. Unlike my so-called suitors, he seemed like the sort who’d actually earned his place in this world, and even after I ventured upstairs and he passed out sight, I still smiled at having received his attention.
Perhaps this place might be worth hanging around for a while…
5
The clattering of heavy pots and pans in the kitchen below woke me the next morning, and I was only mildly surprised to discover that I hadn’t been dragged away during the night by a squad of brutes from some hidden keep I’d failed to notice. As I slowly stretched out beneath the warm layer of blankets, I felt none of the knots cramping up my muscles that had been plaguing me the past few days.
Second Skin: Wayward: A litRPG Adventure (Second Skin Book 7) Page 3
