\u201cWho\u2019s \u2018they\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPisces didn\u2019t say. He only said that if Ceria was alive there could be others.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she\u2019s alive?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes! The message-spell-thingy said she needed help. She\u2019s somewhere in the Ruins, down deep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd with Relc and Klbkch you think you can save them, right?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cForget it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Erin paused.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026What?\u201d<\/p>\n
Zevara held a wet washcloth to her head and scowled at Erin over her desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said no. I\u2019m not sending two of my best guardsmen into that place without a good reason. You want to save those damn adventurers? Do it yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we need<\/em> them! Relc and Klbkch\u2014they\u2019re Senior Guardsmen. They can fight.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re Senior Guardsmen.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara agreed as she absently massaged her temples.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they\u2019re under no obligation to help non-citizens. Which is what you are. Moreover, I won\u2019t risk losing Klbkch again. Not after last time.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin opened her mouth to protest, and the Captain of the Watch stared pointedly at her.<\/p>\n \u201cNot again.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin closed her mouth and frowned stubbornly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll just ask them to help on their own time, then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll forbid them to help you. They\u2019re valuable assets to the city.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t do that!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWatch me.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at Zevara. The Drake\u2019s eyes were a light purple, and she held Erin\u2019s gaze until the human looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2014you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re done, get out. I\u2019ve got a city to protect, and I don\u2019t need to listen to a human squawking at me.\u201d<\/p>\n For one second, the girl thought about flipping Zevara\u2019s desk over and spilling all her neat paperwork on the floor. She didn\u2019t because it wouldn\u2019t help anything, and because the desk looked really heavy.<\/p>\n Plus, Selys had told her that Zevara could breathe fire.<\/p>\n The girl stomped to the door and Zevara winced and scowled at her. Erin turned, hand on the doorknob.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they die, it\u2019s your fault.\u201d<\/p>\n Zevara\u2019s face was stony.<\/p>\n \u201cTell that to the people who have already died.\u201d<\/p>\n There was nothing she could say to that, so Erin left. She slammed the door as hard as she could behind her. That made her feel a little better.<\/p>\n Ryoka was waiting impatiently at the foot of the stairs as Erin came down. The taller girl was practically bouncing on her bare feet, ignoring the stares she was getting from the other guardsmen in the Watch\u2019s barracks.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shook her head glumly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not getting any help from the Watch. And um, I think we should leave. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n They did. Ryoka stopped a few feet outside of the squat, two-story building and turned to Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought you said we could get help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought we would! But it looks like people sort of blame the adventurers for the attack. Which is fair.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFair?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin flinched at Ryoka\u2019s glare. She hadn\u2019t known the other girl long, but Ryoka seemed to have two settings: intense and brooding. And right now she was practically vibrating with energy. She would have rushed to the Ruins as soon as Pisces had come to them if it weren\u2019t for the fact that both she and Erin were exhausted and drunk. Even so, she\u2019d been up at the crack of dawn demanding to be led to the Ruins.<\/p>\n \u201cThat mage \u2013 Pisces said that he\u2019ll go down to look for the Horns of Hammerad. I\u2019ll go with him now. You try to convince other people to help.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka turned and Erin grabbed her arm. The Runner jumped and glared and Erin let go quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. Look, you want to go into the super-scary Ruins with Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. The Horns are down there. I\u2019m going in after them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut with Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a necromancer, right? I know he\u2019s powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but he\u2019s\u2026Pisces<\/em>, y\u2019know?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka just stared. Erin scratched at her head. It was only just past morning in the city and her head still felt full of clouds.<\/p>\n \u201cYou really care about them, don\u2019t you? I mean, I do too, but Ryoka, this is crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI owe them a debt. I\u2019ll go down there myself and come out with them or stay there forever.\u201d<\/p>\n Now that sounded heroic and pretty crazy. Erin opened her mouth and raised a finger.<\/p>\n \u201cOr <\/em>we could get reinforcements.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou said that about your two guardsmen friends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did. But I know more people. Zevara said she\u2019d forbid Relc and Klbkch from coming. Well, she can do that, but I bet Klb\u2019s more important than her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. Let\u2019s ask him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka turned and began walking. She moved so quick!<\/em> Her version of walking was Erin\u2019s version of a jog. The girl made it ten feet and then turned around and glared at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? What are you waiting for?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin smiled desperately and looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, I\u2019ve never really been to the Hive. We might have to ask for directions or find a Worker.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Slow people. Slow conversations. The Horns of Hammerad are alive<\/em>! I should be running down to the Ruins now, but I\u2019m stuck here with a girl who doesn\u2019t seem to understand the meaning of haste*<\/em>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n *Or a lot of other things, if I\u2019m honest. She\u2019s a person from my world, I get that. But is she just completely airheaded or does she not take everything seriously? She hangs out with talking bugs and doesn\u2019t even blink at crazed demon midgets**.<\/p>\n **Goblins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Time. It all comes down to time. Not everything\u2019s a 400 meter dash, but some things come down to seconds.<\/p>\n This is an emergency. My frien\u2014Ceria and the others are alive. At least she is. And she\u2019s been down in the Ruins for days, possibly without water or food all that time. She is alive.<\/p>\n I have to help her. But somehow I\u2019m stuck following Erin Solstice around. She\u2019s fine. She\u2019s an innkeeper. But she doesn\u2019t seem to understand how important this is.<\/p>\n I had to push her to run through the streets and she stopped when she got embarrassed from people staring. We found the Hive, and the strange Worker insect disappeared inside for a few minutes before he came out with the strange Antinium.<\/p>\n Antinium. The murderous invaders from across the world. I could use an entire army of them, but it seems like we\u2019re not going to get any.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014And then she said she\u2019d forbid you to help! Can you believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n What is it with this girl and talking to people?<\/em> I should just go. Now. But\u2014<\/p>\n Zombies? Erin did say there were zombies, right?<\/p>\n Can I fight zombies? Would punching them even work?<\/p>\n What if I get bit?<\/p>\n I have to go.<\/p>\n Klbkch, the Antinium with only two arms stares first at Erin, and then me. I don\u2019t like him. He drugged us last night, or slipped us some kind of magical alcohol. I took a sip of that and went insane<\/em>.<\/p>\n What does he want? Why does Erin think he\u2019ll help her? If he\u2019s the Prognugator of the Hive here he should be far too important to want to deal with us.<\/p>\n Unless he suspects where we\u2019re from. Or is it something else? That book said Antinium don\u2019t<\/em> have names except for the Prognugator and Queens. So why did I meet two other Antinium with names?<\/p>\n Focus. I have to save Ceria and the others.<\/p>\n \u201cSo um. Can we have a few of those big soldier guys?\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch crosses his arms and seems to think. The Worker that got him left the instant he completed his task, but Klbkch came out of the hive with the Antinium with swords. Ksmvr. He makes me just as uneasy. Is he a bodyguard? Some new form of Antinium? Or is that Klbkch? They\u2019re not supposed to have only two arms.<\/p>\n At last, Klbkch shakes his head reluctantly.<\/p>\n \u201cI am sorry Erin, but I cannot assist you.\u201d<\/p>\n Her face falls. I heard some people wear their feelings on their sleeve, but Erin paints it on a sign and waves it around wherever she goes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBy the agreement made with Liscor, we may not bring out Soldiers above-ground unless requested by a figure of authority or in times of war or defense of the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Damn, damn, damn.<\/em> But I guess it\u2019s my turn. If I could get some of those soldiers Erin is talking about\u2026I clear my throat. Klbkch looks at me. I hate<\/em> talking to strangers.<\/p>\n \u201cCorrect me if I\u2019m wrong, but aren\u2019t the Ruins a clear threat? That\u2019s where these undead came from, right? Neutralizing it would constitute defense of the city.\u201d<\/p>\n Not good. Two interrogative statements. I should be making declaratives and speaking confidently. That\u2019s what good old dad taught me. Look people in the eye, speak clearly, and lie through your teeth when you have to.<\/p>\n Klbkch nods at me, and takes his time replying, like a lawyer building his case.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is true under a certain interpretation. But I believe many would see it as a dangerous precedent, especially given the failure of the Antinium to act during the undead attack.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Klbkch, we need help. Really badly. Ryoka and I can\u2019t go down there by ourselves. Or even with Toren and Pisces.\u201d<\/p>\n Whoa. Slow down. Did she just say she<\/em> was going with me? And what was that? Toren? The skeleton? She wants to take a skeleton to fight against its kind? Can she even trust that thing?<\/p>\n Klbkch just nods as if it\u2019s all natural, though.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand. But my Queen would take Zevara\u2019s view, I fear. I can render some aid, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n He nods. Klbkch looks over his shoulder at the other Antinium.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr. Go with Erin Solstice and protect her.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Antinium\u2019s mandibles spread wide, their version of a surprised expression, I guess.<\/p>\n \u201cI? But I am Prognugator. I cannot\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSilence. You will go.\u201d<\/p>\n Klbkch turns back to Erin and bows his head politely. Why do I get something of a Japanese vibe from the Antinium? Stereotypes about the Japanese corporate life aside, maybe because they\u2019re so polite.<\/p>\n A single warrior from a Hive that\u2019s capable of fielding thousands of soldiers at any given moment seems weak to me, but Erin smiles.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re not going to try and stop me, then?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I told you not to go, I believe you would. You and Relc share the same tendencies.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not a compliment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am aware.\u201d<\/p>\n Okay, if that\u2019s all, it\u2019s time to go.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s time to go. Let\u2019s get to the Ruins.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shakes her head. Is she mule headed or does she not realize that we need to hurry?<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cNot yet. Krshia and Selys might be able to help. Let\u2019s go see them.\u201d<\/p>\n Unless they\u2019re both secretly incredible warriors I doubt it. But Klbkch seems approving. He nods to me as I hurry Erin away.<\/p>\n His voice is soft, but I hear him talking quietly to the other one, Ksmvr as I go. Erin doesn\u2019t notice. She\u2019s too busy deciding whether to see Krshia or Selys first. But I hear him.<\/p>\n \u201cProtect Erin and those she travels with. Her life is more important than yours. If she is harmed or dies, I will see you deconstructed.\u201d<\/p>\n Something else to think about, but not now. I keep pushing Erin, ignoring her complaints that her feet hurt. We can\u2019t slow. I can\u2019t stop.<\/p>\n We have to hurry.<\/p>\n I won\u2019t be too late again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWill you not wait a day?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka said it before Erin could even respond. It was incredible, but the other girl was even more hyperactive than before. She was shifting from leg to leg, checking the position of the sun and the time on her iPhone every few seconds.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t wait, Krshia. If Ceria\u2019s down there, she might be in danger even as we speak.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHrm. But it is very dangerous. That creature of skin, there may be more, yes? And even if there is not, many undead did not perish in the attack. They will all be waiting down there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill you come or not?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin winced. Being blunt and rude towards a Gnoll was\u2026well, actually it wasn\u2019t a bad thing. Krshia snorted in amusement at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cPatience, young huntress. Even with Ksmvr, warrior that he is, you two and the mage and skeleton are not enough, yes? I suggest waiting because in time help may arrive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHelp? What kind of help?\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia smiled at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cSeveral of my tribe come down the southern road. They will be here today, if not earlier. They are warriors all, and they will surely help find your humans for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia\u2019s words sparked a memory in Ryoka\u2019s head. She stared at the Gnoll. It couldn\u2019t be a coincidence. Erin shook her head at Krshia.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can\u2019t wait. I\u2019m sorry, but we\u2019re going in. Will you come?\u201d<\/p>\n Regretfully, Krshia shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot. I must wait for my kin and my arrows would do little good against dead things.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin exhaled hard. She\u2019d thought that was the case, but it still hurt.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Okay. In that case I need to buy some stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia spread her paws.<\/p>\n \u201cMy shop is open. I have healing potions which I will give you, and you may pay me later. What do you need? Ask.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrying pans, knives\u2026actually, rocks will do. So only frying pans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFrying pans?\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia looked dubious, but she saw Erin was serious.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. I have good ones of cast iron. How many do you wish for?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwo\u2026three\u2026how many do you have?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin took only a minute to select the right frying pans. Then she turned and nodded at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cSelys, then. She might be able to help. If not we\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n The other girl didn\u2019t move. She was staring at Krshia, frowning. Ryoka seemed to be struggling with something, and both of the other females finally noticed it. Krshia smiled at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have something you wish to say?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese other Gnolls you said were coming. They\u2019re coming up the south road?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. If you wait, they will be here soon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. They won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia frowned at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat makes you sure of that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re dead. I saw them.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked from Ryoka back to Krshia just in time to see the Gnoll shopkeeper go completely still. Her tail, usually gently wagging, stopped. Her ears froze and her pupils dilated. She stared at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cExplain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI found a group of dead Gnolls on my way to Liscor. They were around forty miles away from the city, all of them killed. Something cut them apart.\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia flexed her hand by her side. Both Erin and Ryoka\u2019s eyes were drawn downwards when she did. Normally, Krshia had a paw for a hand, furrier than a human\u2019s but generally the same. Now her claws seemed to lengthen. Maybe it was a trick of the light. But to look at Krshia\u2019s hands at that moment was to remember that she had nails. Long and sharp nails, the kind you could use to cut someone to ribbons.<\/p>\n The Gnoll stared down at Ryoka silently. Her face was expressionless, and her voice equally devoid of emotion.<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. But a few hours later I met someone on the road. A woman with a large eye named Gazi.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared in open-mouthed astonishment at Ryoka, but Krshia only nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for telling me this, Ryoka Griffin. I trust you are not lying?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia inclined her head slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought as much and sense the truth of it. Very well. You must go. Save your friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin hesitated, but Ryoka pulled her away. The two girls ran down the street as Krshia watched them go.<\/p>\n The Gnoll was silent as she stood behind her stall full of carefully arranged wares. Another Drake trotted up, happy to be served at last. Krshia turned to look at him and his scales turned grey and he stumbled away.<\/p>\n Slowly, Krshia turned and went back into her small stall. She pawed around near the back, until she came to a long, rolled up bundle placed carefully on top of a few crates. Krshia brought it back and laid it on her counter, brushing aside her display to make room.<\/p>\n She did not move any faster than usual. There would be time enough for that, later.<\/p>\n Krshia unwrapped the bow and stood it upright in her shop. She drew the string out of the bundle, checking to make sure it was still oiled and unfrayed. Then she began stringing the bow.<\/p>\n Across the street Lism, the waste of fur of a shopkeeper, was marching towards Krshia. Probably to complain about one of the two humans. Krshia took no notice of him. She reached into the bundle and pulled out a wrapped bundle.<\/p>\n Lism took one look at the huge broadhead arrows Krshia unwrapped from their wax paper covering and immediately turned around and walked away. The other pedestrians on the street took one look at the shopkeeper arming herself and made themselves scarce.<\/p>\n The bow was strung, and Krshia put the arrows in a quiver at her side. She was ready. She opened the side panel of her shop and stepped out.<\/p>\n Then she raised her head to the sky and began to howl.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Selys had no better news for Erin. The Drake only shook her head and spread her hands helplessly.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, Erin. I know this is serious but no one<\/em> wants to go into the Ruins. Not after what came out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut there are other adventurers trapped down there. Friends. Comrades in arms and that sort of thing. You\u2019re saying no one will help?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll the best human adventurers went down with the Horns of Hammerad. The ones who are left are, well\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re just smarter than that lot, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Drake and human turned to look at who had spoken. A Drake with a sword sat with his feet up at a table, balancing on the chair with his tail. He laughed as his friends, all Drakes, started making jokes about the adventurers.<\/p>\n Erin stared around the room desperately. There weren\u2019t all Drake and Gnolls in the room. Some humans were there too, but none of them would meet her eyes. Or the ones that did were laughing at the adventurers.<\/p>\n \u201cWon\u2019t any of you help? Please, they\u2019re in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey should have gotten themselves out of trouble or not gone looking for it in the first place, Human.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake who had first spoken laughed again with his buddies.<\/p>\n \u201cOr maybe they just ran the instant they saw undead and got themselves killed. Either way, we\u2019re not risking our hides for a few idiots.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCowards.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka said it loudly, and it had the same effect as a knife. It cut through the sound and laughter and made the Drake who had spoken sit forwards with a thump.<\/em><\/p>\n The mood changed. The adventurers at the table glared at Ryoka. She glared back.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought adventurers were supposed to be brave. You lot should get rid of your swords and become Runners. At least they get paid to run away.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drakes at the table stood up, hissing<\/em> angrily. Selys banged her hand on the counter.<\/p>\n \u201cStop that! No fighting! This city\u2019s had enough of it!\u201d<\/p>\n The Drakes hesitated. The mood in the room wasn\u2019t on their side, and they weren\u2019t itching for a fight in any case.<\/p>\n They sat back down. Perhaps it was the look in Ryoka\u2019s eye and the rumors about a crazed Runner girl with bare feet. But it was probably because of the look Erin gave them. Everyone had heard about the human who slew the monster made of skin.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Selys apologized again, but Erin just shook her head. Ryoka was already leaving the Guild, and Erin ran after her with a hurried apology for Selys.<\/p>\n This time Ryoka set a course for the gates of the city without even talking. Erin had to walk quickly to catch up. The two girls walked through the crowds of people silently.<\/p>\n They heard the howling begin as they left the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. It was immediately joined by more voices of other Gnolls around the city, so that the streets rang with the sound and Drakes and Humans froze and stared around wildly. But neither girl so much as looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cWell. Ksmvr said he\u2019d meet us at the Ruins. That\u2019s something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose. Do you have anything you need at the inn?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Give me a few minutes and I\u2019ll be good to go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood. I\u2019ll help you grab everything. We need food, water, healing potions\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin lifted the bag she\u2019d carried from Krshia\u2019s store. She had healing potions, and the three frying pans she\u2019d brought. Ryoka eyed them but made no comment. After a moment Erin asked the question on her mind.<\/p>\n \u201cYou met Gazi?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. She was at my inn. She helped me out too, when I first met her. She was, um, nice. Do you think she really\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. But she was close to those Gnolls and she pretended not to know what I was talking about when I asked.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka walked on and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2026bothered me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas it the eye? That creeped me out a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. It was her. I can\u2019t explain it, but each of those Gnolls that died was beheaded. With a single cut.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. She has\u2026a really sharp sword.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n They said nothing more until they got back to the inn. It took them only fifteen minutes, and Erin was gasping for breath when they got there. Ryoka looked at her in way that made Erin feel certain she was judging her. She <\/em>wasn\u2019t even sweating.<\/p>\n It was cold anyways, not the right temperature for sweating. It didn\u2019t feel like winter, but then, maybe they were in the equivalent of Florida or something. Erin opened the door and jumped back.<\/p>\n Toren stood in the doorway, holding his sword. He stared curiously at Erin as Ryoka raised her fists and stepped back.<\/p>\n \u201cToren! Don\u2019t stand with a sword in the doorway! Come on; help me!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pushed the skeleton aside and Toren sheathed his sword and began following her around as she yelled out instructions. Ryoka watched the skeleton warily, but Toren meekly ran about, gathering a few glowing green jars, supplies, and for some reason, several rocks from outside.<\/p>\n \u201cReady!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin reappeared a few minutes later with a bulging rucksack, and all three frying pans strapped to it. Ryoka eyed the bag. Well, Erin could always stay in the back and carry the food. She had no idea how deep the Ruins were. She had no idea of anything, really.<\/p>\n It was the worst possible way to enter a dangerous area, but Ryoka had no choice. She had to go.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you done? Let\u2019s get moving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Toren will carry everything until we get there.\u201d<\/p>\n So saying, Erin handed the heavy pack to the skeleton. He accepted it without complaint and staggering a bit, followed Erin and Ryoka. Ryoka thrust open the door and paused.<\/p>\n Several Goblins jumped back, and one screamed in a high-pitched voice. Ryoka nearly threw herself back into Erin before she remembered these were nominally friendly Goblins.<\/p>\n \u201cRags!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pushed past Ryoka as the smallest Goblin stared up at Ryoka suspiciously. She smiled at the Goblin.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m glad you\u2019re here. We need your help!\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka did a double take as Rags blinked in surprise. Surely Erin wasn\u2019t considering\u2026?<\/p>\n She was.<\/p>\n In a few sentences Erin described the message Pisces had gotten, and their mission to enter the Ruins. Rags listened attentively while the rest of her group stared around idly or picked at their noses and ate what came out.<\/p>\n Erin finished with a short plea.<\/p>\n \u201cYou understand, don\u2019t you? You\u2019ll help, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Rags thought for a second, pondering all she had heard. Then she looked up at Erin and shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared down at the Goblin. Rags shrugged at her.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they\u2019re in trouble. And you can help! You\u2019ve got a sword and your tribe. We need you, Rags.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Rags shrugged. Erin didn\u2019t speak Goblin and Rags wasn\u2019t speaking, but she got a definite sense of indifference from the small Goblin. What had the Horns of Hammerad ever done for her? Why should she risk her neck?<\/p>\n \u201cRags, please<\/em>. They\u2019ll die if we can\u2019t get to them. Remember Ceria? Remember Calruz?\u201d<\/p>\n Rags scowled at Erin and turned away. Her attitude seemed to indicate that if there wasn\u2019t any food or chess to be had, there was no point in being here.<\/p>\n That was the last straw. Erin had listened to grouchy Zevara, surprisingly unhelpful Klbkch, Krshia and the idea that Gazi was evil, and a room full of useless adventurers. Her patience finally ran out. She snapped.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She grabbed Rags bodily and lifted her up. The Goblin shouted in outrage and tried to break free, but Erin just glared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m asking you for help. You owe me. I\u2019ve fed you and given you help and even the sword and shield! I even made Pisces teach you magic! Now I need help saving my friends.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags growled at Erin and kicked at her. Erin bit back a yelp as one bare foot kicked her in the chest. Hard.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n The small Goblins grabbed at the sheathed short sword at her waist, but Erin just turned her upside down and began to shake. The Goblin\u2019s head and body bounced around wildly as Erin shook the small Goblin, shouting loudly.<\/p>\n \u201cHelp\u2014me! Help\u2014us!\u201d<\/p>\n She lifted Rags up and down by the ankles, so that the small Goblin bounced up and down like a bungee jumper. To Ryoka it looked like one of the rides at an amusement park that send hapless riders down a hundred feet per second out of the sky, except here no one was amused. Except for her and the other Goblins, of course.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not gonna stop until you say yes! Say yes! Say it!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblin screamed and tried to bite and punch at Erin, but to no avail. Erin whirled Rags around by the legs in a circle as the Goblin screamed. Ryoka had done that as a kid with her father, once or twice. But it had been her holding on as he whirled her around by the arms, not the legs. The way Erin was doing it to Rags was a lot faster, more dangerous, and a lot less fun.<\/p>\n At last, Rags screamed something loudly and Erin stopped. The girl glared at the Goblin as Rags hung upside-down in the air, even greener than normal.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to help? Promise?\u201d<\/p>\n Rags nodded weakly. Erin dropped her.<\/p>\n The Goblin landed with a thump in the grass. For a second Ryoka thought she was going to run, but when Rags pushed herself up the Goblin could only stagger around drunkenly.<\/p>\n \u201cRun away and I\u2019ll throw a rock at you. And you know I\u2019ll hit you.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin threatened Rags. Ryoka wondered how credible that was\u2014Erin didn\u2019t seem like she was the athletic type, and Ryoka seriously doubted she\u2019d ever played baseball. Maybe softball, at best. She didn\u2019t seem like the competitive type.<\/p>\n Rags glared at Erin, stumbled a few feet away, and threw up noisily in the grass. She paused after vomiting up a considerable amount of undigested food, thought for second, and then threw up again.<\/p>\n Erin stumbled as she turned, dizzy from the swinging herself. She nearly walked into another Goblin. Rag\u2019s small posse was alternating between glaring at her and staring at the vomit in the grass with curiosity or hunger.<\/p>\n Maybe they were protective of their boss. She didn\u2019t care. Erin glared at them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou wanna fight? Huh?\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblins looked at their leader, still noisily being sick in the grass. They looked back at the Destroyer, Slayer of the Skin Monster, Provider of Pasta and Free Drinks. They backed up quickly.<\/p>\n Rags was nearly done puking. The Goblin wiped at her mouth and said something in her scratchy language. Erin pointed at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re helping. No arguments. You and your tribe\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin hesitated and turned around. The area was already emptying out of Goblins as they ran away.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka glanced at her. The girl\u2019s earlier amusement at the spectacle had evaporated like the other Goblins.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to go. Why do you want the Goblin, anyways? Even her tribe wouldn\u2019t be much help.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin disagreed.<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s got a sword and a shield. Plus, she knows magic.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka paused.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026She does?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, maybe not as much as you, but some. And she was the one who killed the super-evil-skin-worm monster that was leading the undead.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka stared at her. Erin threw up her hands.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s true! <\/em>Why does no one believe that?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n They met Pisces waiting at the Ruins. The mage was antsy, and he hadn\u2019t brought anything but his customarily dirty robes. He didn\u2019t have his usual sneer though, and he was nervous. Possibly the only person more nervous than him was Ksmvr.<\/p>\n \u201cI would deem it far more prudent for you to remain behind, Erin Solstice. You are no warrior, and the Ruins are dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re my friends. I\u2019m going in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glared at Ksmvr. The Antinium wavered, and then sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cVery well. But remain behind me at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n Rags glared at the Antinium as he looked down at her, and then at Toren.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have chosen an unusual group.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one else would come.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka ignored the two and marched up to Pisces. He looked at her with the expression of someone trying to recall her name. She didn\u2019t care.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you get another message from them?\u201d<\/p>\n He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cPossibly something is blocking Ceria. Or her mana might still be low. It is possible if she is\u2026wounded.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight then, let\u2019s find her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose so. But there\u2019s a ah, problem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded at the vast entrance to the ruins.<\/p>\n \u201cThe guardsmen won\u2019t let us in.\u201d<\/p>\n After the attack on Liscor, a palisade and deep ditch had been dug, and the guards at the entrance to the Ruins were now twenty strong, armed with arrows and torches and even a Drake mage in robes at the back. The guardsman in charge stared at Erin and the others as they marched up.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going in.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drakes and Gnolls stared at Erin as she stood in front of them. One of them laughed, but stopped when no one joined them. Their leader, a Drake with maroon scales shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one goes in or out. Zevara\u2019s orders.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe knows we\u2019re going in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe does?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe does.\u201d<\/p>\n He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t let you in without word from her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is regrettable.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr called from behind Erin. He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should return to the city. It would not do to stand in defiance of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka opened her mouth\u2014for what, she didn\u2019t know. A threat? She wasn\u2019t sure of anything that would work. But Erin just narrowed her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll let us in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr I\u2019ll hurt you.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake stared at Erin. She glared at him. He had nearly a head of height on her not counting his helmet, and he had a spear and nineteen guardsmen at his back. All Erin had was a frying pan. But he remembered where Skinner had died and he had [Dangersense] too. The look in Erin\u2019s eyes made him reconsider his next words.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will send word to the city. If you\u2019ll wait.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pushed him. The Drake stumbled back and nearly ran into the sharpened wall of stakes. Erin stomped past him without another word, and the others followed. Ryoka stared open-mouthed at her back and then hurried to catch up.<\/p>\n The Ruins were dark, and the open stone doors were just as foreboding as before. But despite the ominous blackness from within, Erin knew there was no turning back. But she did have a thought.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. Did anyone bring a candle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c[Light].\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces and Ryoka said it at the same time as Rags muttered something. Three orbs of shimmering light flew upwards as all three blinked at each other.<\/p>\n \u201cGood, then we\u2019re\u2026good.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked back into the Ruins. Here be monsters<\/em>, she thought to herself. Nasty, undead monsters. This was the place where Skinner had come from. This is the place where countless adventurers had died.<\/p>\n Death lurked below, waiting. But so too did the Horns of Hammerad. There was no choice. Erin took a deep breath.<\/p>\n \u201cReady?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces looked green, but he nodded. Rags scowled at Erin and Ryoka and the ground. Toren\u2019s sword was already drawn and the skeleton scanned the dark entrance.<\/p>\n Ksmvr stepped forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cAllow me to go first, Miss Solstice. I will scout ahead and signal you when it is safe to proceed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. We go in together.\u201d<\/p>\n He hesitated, but Erin pushed past him. Ryoka blinked in surprise. Erin walked into the darkness of the ruins, and then turned.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? I can\u2019t see anything if you guys don\u2019t follow.\u201d<\/p>\n The others hesitated, but then they walked forwards. Ryoka passed into the darkness and shivered. Her tongue was in her mouth and her heart was pounding. She was afraid. For the first time she was truly afraid. Of the unknown. Of what she did not know. Of being too late.<\/p>\n But she had to go.<\/p>\n A dirty [Necromancer], a Goblin, an undead skeleton, the Prognugator of an Antinium Hive, an [Innkeeper] and a City Runner walked into the Ruins. It sounded like the beginning of a joke, but what would the punch line be?<\/p>\n Gazi the Omniscient sat with her back to a slope several hundred meters away. Her main eye pointed into the back of her head as she tracked the progress of the strange group as they descended into the Ruins.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s see. By primary classes they were\u2026<\/p>\n A Level 12 [Warrior] Antinium.<\/p>\n A Level 27 [Necromancer] with [Mage] class levels.<\/p>\n A Level 8 [Warrior], Level 6 [Mage] and Level 10 [Tactician] Goblin.<\/p>\n A Level 11 [Skeleton Warrior] carrying a ruby enchanted with [Terror].<\/p>\n A Level 18 [Innkeeper] Human.<\/p>\n And a level-less Runner Human.<\/p>\n A joke, then. Something about Ruins? Or the undead. They could be humorous. Gazi frowned. She\u2019d work on it while she waited for them to come back out. She had plenty of time.<\/p>\n But then, she could hardly wait. She was patient, had been patient, but now Gazi was buzzing with anticipation. She polished her sword, humming quietly, waiting. A tightly sealed scroll with a glowing rune etched onto a wax seal sat in the grass next to her.<\/p>\n It was finally time to go home.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cWho\u2019s \u2018they\u2019?\u201d \u201cPisces didn\u2019t say. He only said that if Ceria was alive there could be others.\u201d \u201cAnd she\u2019s alive?\u201d \u201cYes! The message-spell-thingy said she needed help. She\u2019s somewhere in the Ruins, down deep.\u201d \u201cAnd with Relc and Klbkch you think you can save them, right?\u201d \u201cYeah!\u201d \u201cForget it.\u201d Erin paused. \u201c\u2026What?\u201d Zevara held a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693082,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693131],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-1355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-2","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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