Back home, Daly would have been enjoying his summer break. He\u2019d be flying back, looking forwards to being home. Of course, he\u2019d be looking for a job, but he\u2019d be glad to be home. He\u2019d even like to see his sister. Addy\u2019d been fighting with his parents often, and she was a pain to be around when she was in a mood. But he would have liked to see her.<\/p>\n
Funny. It had been months since Daly had thought of Addy. Or his family. It was as if he\u2019d forgotten\u2014<\/p>\n
Daly opened his eyes as someone dropped something hard on the ground that clattered<\/em>. He jerked, sprang to his feet, and whirled.<\/p>\n \u201cOh my god!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Lights. Motion. In Daly\u2019s blurred vision, they resolved themselves into a girl, barely fifteen. She was staring at him, holding her hands up. Crouching. Her brown skin was dead white, her mouth was open. He stared at her.<\/p>\n And then he realized he was holding his axe. He\u2019d ripped it from the sheath, and it was drawn back, ready to strike. Daly lowered it. The Indian girl backed away.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. I heard\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSorry! I\u2019m so sorry!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She backed away. And then fled. Daly hesitated. Then he saw the other figures around him. The other Bushrangers were frozen as well. Like Daly, they\u2019d all woken at the sudden sound.<\/p>\n Half were holding weapons. Siri had a long dagger out; Dawson had snagged the mace. They looked at each other and slowly relaxed.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck me.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson lowered his mace. Embarrassed, Daly returned the axe to his side. He heard a laugh from one of the others.<\/p>\n \u201cNot a fun way to wake up. Who was that? We scared her.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri carefully inserted her dagger into its leather sheath. Daly shook his head. He\u2019d recognized the face, but the name escaped him.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the Indian girls. Don\u2019t know who. Hold on. I\u2019ll make sure she\u2019s okay.\u201d<\/p>\n Carefully, he stepped out of the room and looked down the wood hallway. The floorboards were well-worn and creaked as he headed down the stairs. There was a commotion downstairs, and Daly could hear other people moving about.<\/p>\n The two apartments that the United Nations company was renting was home to at least thirty souls at all times. When the Bushrangers, Luan, and Ken and Geneva\u2019s team were back, it was over forty. Not much space for so many people in truth. People had to sleep together in the rooms, and personal space was limited.<\/p>\n However, given that a lot of people worked during the day, it was less cramped in the mornings. Everyone with a day job was already at work\u2014as [Laborers], [Scribes], [Builders], and so on. Someone, Andel, had even found his way onto the fishing ships that operated out of the harbor.<\/p>\n The city of Talenqual was large enough to employ all of the Humans looking for a job. If it wasn\u2019t a capital city, it was at least big enough to have a spot on any continental map. It was a port city, a necessity given Luan\u2019s line of work, and it was relatively peaceful as the company which claimed the city\u2014the Featherfolk Brigade\u2014wasn\u2019t engaged in any major conflicts. Neither did Talenqual have any vastly rich resources which might tempt other people into fighting for them. It was just a decent place to live in.<\/p>\n Quiet. Except for right now. Guiltily, Daly descended the stairs. He heard a female voice and a few others, reassuring her.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me. Morning, everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly poked his head into the living room that was the United Nations company headquarters. It was, in fact, two living rooms as the apartments had a connecting door which was permanently open. The young man saw the girl he\u2019d scared, along with Kirana and Paige. All three looked up, and Daly stopped.<\/p>\n \u201cHey there. Uh\u2014sorry about that. We heard a noise. She must have dropped something and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe know. It\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Paige looked at him. She was patting the younger girl, who was wiping her eyes. Daly\u2019s heart sank, but Kirana said something to the girl. Sharply, in another language. Hindi?<\/em> One of the languages of her nation. The girl gulped and looked at Daly.<\/p>\n \u201cShe dropped pieces of wood. She did not mean to wake you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n The younger girl gulped. Daly gave her a reassuring smile.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should be apologizing. We just heard something and\u2014you know, we\u2019re adventurers. Really sorry, uh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPriya.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPriya. Of course. I\u2019m very sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly nodded at her. Priya sniffed. She looked at Kirana, and the older girl nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n And that apparently ended that. Kirana got up, Priya hesitated, and then went past Daly. He coughed as she headed back upstairs, and he looked at Paige.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI get it. It\u2019s not the first time. Andel nearly stabbed Dion by accident the other day. I\u2019ve banned weapons in the house, but you lot are a special case.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bushrangers were the only active fighters among the group. Six of them, all adventurers. Of course, the other Earthworlders owned weapons\u2014especially those that had survived their stint as mercenaries\u2014but Daly could see how dangerous that was. He scratched his head, feeling the adrenaline leaving him. He blinked and looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s late out. What time is it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLate morning. We were going to let you sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly rubbed at his face.<\/p>\n \u201cKind of you. We needed it. We\u2014aw, fuck<\/em>. The computer\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019d forgotten to turn it off! It must have burned through all the battery. Paige shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. Kirana saw you were all asleep and turned off the laptop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a relief.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get ahold of a spellbook or find someone who can teach us [Repair]. Paying for it is not worth the expense each week.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what keeps half of us sane. So I\u2019m including it as a reasonable price. But I am searching for someone who can teach us\u2014none of the [Mages] want to give up our daily contribution. And we don\u2019t have anyone who\u2019s high enough level yet, besides.\u201d<\/p>\n Paige scowled as she sat down at the table. She was working on something. Another design, from the looks of it. She had a piece of charcoal and parchment she was sketching on. She glared at the document, probably thinking of the amount of money they paid to get [Mages] to recharge their electronics each week, and then glanced up.<\/p>\n \u201cYou didn\u2019t brush your teeth last night, did you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe did not.\u201d<\/p>\n Guiltily, Daly realized they hadn\u2019t done anything like that for the last two days. He felt at his teeth. Furry. He winced. Paige just shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cHead upstairs. Kirana made some new toothpaste.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Alright then. Be down in half a sec.\u201d<\/p>\n He headed upstairs. True enough, Kirana was waiting for him. Priya was nowhere in sight. Kirana offered Daly something. He blinked down at a minty-smelling wooden tub.<\/p>\n \u201cHere. We made toothpaste. Better than last time.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled as Daly accepted the thick, whitish-yellow paste and sniffed at it. The unmistakable mint smell intensified.<\/p>\n \u201cThis smells a lot better than the salt stuff we were using before. What\u2019s in this, mint?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMint. Oil. Salt\u2014it\u2019s better. You have toothbrushes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep, I think we\u2019re set. Thanks a lot, Kirana.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded. Daly made his way into the room and looked about.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, you lot\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re changing.\u201d<\/p>\n He saw a curtain drawn across half the room. The two other guys were on the other side, not bothering to change clothes from last night. Daly shrugged. He pointed at the tub.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got some toothpaste.\u201d<\/p>\n The others looked up. Dawson slapped his forehead in disgust.<\/p>\n \u201cFuck.<\/em> I knew I forgot something! It\u2019s been days since I brushed my teeth. Give it here!\u201d<\/p>\n He fished for his belt pouch as Daly set the toothpaste tube on a table instead. He had a toothbrush in his pack as opposed to his belt pouch, and he had to wait for the girls to dress before he could retrieve it. Then he and the others gathered around the toothpaste, filled their brushes\u2014half modern plastic, the other half wood, made of some stubbly brush\u2014and began to brush their teeth.<\/p>\n It was odd. But there was something so satisfying<\/em> about an activity as mundane as brushing their teeth. Especially because this toothpaste tasted halfway like something you could buy at home. Nothing Daly would have bought if he had an option\u2014the bits of mint that had been crushed and mixed in with the gel did little to counteract the salty, astringent flavor\u2014but it felt like proper toothpaste. Daly fished out a canteen, gargled, and then realized he had to spit.<\/p>\n So did the other Bushrangers. They fought silently to be the first to the loo\u2014in this case, a smelly pair of toilets located at the back of the apartment. There they spat into it, holding their breath and washing their mouths out.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s good toothpaste! My mouth actually feels fresh.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Siri exclaimed after they\u2019d returned to the room. Daly nodded, running his tongue over his gums. He hoped they wouldn\u2019t start bleeding. The last thing he needed was to lose a tooth or get a cavity in this world.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that toilet\u2019s disgusting. Did you smell that? I\u2019d almost rather go in the bush.\u201d<\/p>\n Another girl complained. Daly grimaced. It was true. The toilet wasn\u2019t one of the fancy, flushing toilets he\u2019d taken for granted back at home. It was an outhouse design\u2014that meant wood panel with a hole you could do your business through. And what was, uh, excreted didn\u2019t go anywhere. It sat at the bottom of a combined container for both apartments.<\/p>\n \u201cIt needs emptying.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot it.\u201d<\/p>\n Half of the Bushrangers instantly touched their noses. Daly didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not our job. We pay someone to take it out. [Nightman], the class is called. They take the stuff, use it in the fields.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot [Nightwoman]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou want the job, Siri? Because I hear it pays well. It\u2019s a shite job, though.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHah.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri punched Dawson. The others groaned, imagining that<\/em> line of work. They\u2019d all had to work hard\u2014well, Siri and Tofte had joined them after the Bushrangers had been formed\u2014but there were some lines they weren\u2019t willing to cross. Daly grimaced.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what people did for ages in the past. I guess no one\u2019s invented sewers?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, they have, mate. I was talking with a Lizardguy the other day. He says there are sewers in some cities. Lots of \u2018em in other continents like Izril and Terandria, apparently. But they don\u2019t bother with them here.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably because something\u2019d breed in them if they did. Imagine taking a job there?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly could all too well. He shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re putting me off my food, you lot are. Let\u2019s have brekky and then get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnother job?\u201d<\/p>\n His team looked at him, not so much with resistance as a kind of weariness. Daly felt it himself. They\u2019d just been on the job. But if there was more money to be made\u2014they could always use it.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we see a good contract. I\u2019ll head down to the guild myself. You lot take the day off until then.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n With that, they headed downstairs. They found another surprise waiting for them. Food, again courtesy of Kirana and two of the other girls who stayed about the house. Daly smiled as Siri and the others found Priya and apologized again.<\/p>\n \u201cRice and lentils and\u2014what\u2019s the bread stuff? That\u2019s new?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s called poori. <\/em>It\u2019s a popular breakfast at home.\u201d<\/p>\n Kirana explained as she filled bowls with rice and poured lentils over the top. She also had several sticks of corn, which had been baked until the sides were turning a bit black. Those were good, so Daly snagged one and tore into it at the table with the others. He was ravenous, and the food really was good.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is so good. <\/em>I miss this every time we\u2019re out. And you made these poori<\/em> really well, Kirana.\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman smiled. She was the [Cook] in charge of feeding everyone and the second manager of the home front besides Paige. In truth, she\u2019d pretty much taken over the household affairs to let the Australian girl work on more designs, and she and several of the girls from India\u2014another addition to the company about two months back\u2014had really improved the living situation. Especially because it turned out that Baleros\u2019 markets sold a lot of ingredients that they were quite familiar with from their country.<\/p>\n The foods of Baleros were plentiful and a mix of exotic and familiar. Daly had been surprised to see staple foods like corn and rice being served alongside plants he\u2019d never seen before. Blue tubers, spicy red things called Yellats<\/em>, and so on. But Baleros was known for growing a lot of produce, and there was meat to be had as well. Obviously, that was more expensive, so the breakfast was all-vegetarian. But spicy, filling, and just the thing for hungry adventurers.<\/p>\n Paige kept working at another table as the Bushrangers ate their fill. She had some of the money out in neat rows and was doing calculations. She looked up as Daly was going back for his last helping.<\/p>\n \u201cKirana, here\u2019s the money for this week\u2019s budget. Try not to buy too many spices. I know it\u2019s important, but that and oil take up a lot of our budget.\u201d<\/p>\n She handed Kirana four gold coins and three silver ones. The girl nodded. Daly\u2019s insides twisted a bit\u2014feeding the company for one week cost two-thirds of what they\u2019d been paid to take out those damn Stelbore. True, it was a lot of mouths, but Paige was already separating more gold coins out from their limited stash.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd here\u2019s the month\u2019s rent. Daly, can you take this over to Miss Hastel on the way out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely. I\u2019ll pop by the Adventurer\u2019s Guild as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Paige paused.<\/p>\n \u201cAlready? You just got back from your last job. You could take a break.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly shrugged uncomfortably.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not that tired.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked around for confirmation. The other Bushrangers nodded or murmured agreement. But their postures told Daly they could use a break. He felt it too.<\/p>\n It was hard being an adventurer. Not as hard as being a soldier in a company and fighting huge battles, but in other ways just as bad. They\u2019d spent a day and a half scoping out their target and barely speaking in the jungle with things biting them, alert for every second. One time, they\u2019d spent nearly a week tracking monsters down, sleeping in primitive mosquito nets while it poured rain and mud down on them.<\/p>\n But what else could they do? It was all about money. Paige hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe you should take a day off. We\u2019re set with coin, especially if Luan comes back. Or Ken and Geneva. They\u2019re set to come back today or tomorrow, you know. They sent a [Message].\u201d<\/p>\n That relaxed Daly a bit. He hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cIf there\u2019s nothing really good\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Paige nodded. Siri looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cAnything you need us to do while we\u2019re here?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Kirana and the others. Kirana shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s your day off. Enjoy yourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n That just made it harder for Daly to commit to taking a request. He sighed. But they had a point, and the idea was<\/em> tempting. If he saw something really good at the Adventurer\u2019s Guild\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cRight. I\u2019ll nip down there, but you all take a break. Which reminds me\u2014here.\u201d<\/p>\n He fished at his belt pouch and handed around some of the money he\u2019d kept. Two silver coins to each. The Bushrangers brightened.<\/p>\n \u201cSpending money? We must<\/em> be doing well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t spread it. But you\u2019ve earned a break.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly met Paige\u2019s eyes questioningly, and she nodded. Some of the other Indian girls looked jealous. Money had been the subject of a lot of arguments in the company until it was decided that everyone could take a few coins from their job\u2014the rest would go to Paige so she could spend it on necessities and what the company deemed vital. Again though, the Bushrangers were an exception to that rule in some regards.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m off, then. Paige, about the crossbows\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get the steel I ordered in a few days. But it won\u2019t be ready for trials for a week.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly grimaced.<\/p>\n \u201cAlright, then. We\u2019ve got poison, still. And it\u2019s damn effective. Killed the Stelbore right off. I\u2019ll see you in a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll join you in visiting Miss Hastel.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri offered. Daly nodded. The two of them strode out of the apartments as the other four Bushrangers broke up.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019ll Dawson and the others do for the day, do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly looked at Siri as he opened the door and the humidity and sun swept over him. He blinked as he saw several Lizardfolk walking down the street, a Dullahan, and then a Centaur trotting by, pulling a cart. This was home, alright. Siri shrugged. Walking down the long steps, designed to let a Centaur climb them, she looked around the city.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably use the computers, if Paige lets them. Otherwise? Books. Maybe go out and buy something, get a few drinks. Check the markets. We could really use some magical artifacts, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. But affording even potions is all we can do.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly sighed. He walked into Talenqual and looked around. The buildings stretched out ahead of them. Few were more than three stories tall, if that. Most were made of either wood or the mud brick the Lizardfolk loved to use. For all that, the city felt vibrant. Alive. A few larger structures near the center of the city stood out, having been made of quarried stone or even reinforced with magic. Beyond the city lay the sea, a glittering sight, filled with boats from the harbor. And in Talenqual walked the citizens of Baleros.<\/p>\n Dullahans in armor. Wood or metal, often decorated or inlaid with fancy decorations if they were rich civilians, or functional iron or steel if they were warriors. Poor Dullahans wore crude, painted wood, but all of them were unmistakably Dullahan\u2014some carried their heads in baskets or slings, allowing them to rotate them in every direction while their bodies walked. Colorful mist or fog ran from the place where their heads should have been.<\/p>\n Centaurs trotted past them, tall half-equine, half-human people. They were far larger than any other species and moved briskly. Many of the workers pulled carts or other vehicles behind them, and Daly and Siri kept out of their way. The flow of traffic in Talenqual was such that the Centaurs tended to move in the center lanes, which allowed the slower foot traffic to move on either side of the street\u2014unless you wanted to cross the road. Daly saw a scaly body dart across the road and a Centaur slow and stamp impatiently to let the pedestrian cross.<\/p>\n A Lizardgirl. She ran across the street, laughing and waving at the Centaur. More than Centaurs or Dullahans, it was Lizardfolk who dominated the streets in numbers. Talenqual was a Lizardfolk city after all, and the scaly, friendly people of Baleros moved about in groups, chattering, talking, always on the hunt for something interesting. They had neck frills and colorful, patterned scales that made them stand out. It was rare to see a Lizardfolk not smiling or chatting. Rarer still was seeing one of the evolved forms a Lizardfolk could eventually turn into, a Naga, Lamia, or other rare serpentine variant.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! It\u2019s you! Buddy!\u201d<\/p>\n Not fifteen steps out their door, Daly and Siri were accosted by a smiling Lizardman, or perhaps a Lizardboy. He was carrying a glittering bottle filled with what looked like a powerful potion in one claw\u2014it shone with four different colors, black, blue, yellow, and flashes of orange as it sloshed about in the jar. He came up to Daly, grinning widely.<\/p>\n \u201cI got that potion you wanted. Really top-grade stuff, right? It was hard getting my claws on it, but for you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He got no further as he tried to slide closer. Daly held up a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cPiss off, mate. We\u2019re not tourists. We\u2019ve been here before. United Nations company. We don\u2019t want colored water.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lizardman deflated at once. He tucked the bottle away and scowled for a second. A few Lizardfolk who\u2019d heard Daly laughed at him.<\/p>\n \u201cYou Humans are hard to tell apart! You\u2019re all one color.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned away. Daly called out after him.<\/p>\n \u201cWho actually buys<\/em> that stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIdiots! Wish me luck!\u201d<\/p>\n The Lizardman turned and waved. Siri shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s hawkers in every world. Has anyone in our group ever fallen for that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDawson.\u201d<\/p>\n A delighted look crossed Siri\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cHe did?<\/em> He never said!\u201d<\/p>\n Daly nodded, although it was harder to smile at the memory.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst day we came to a big city. Paid eight silver coins for some alchemy-colored water.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep. Luan and Paige nearly throttled him. I\u2019ve never got bit, but you should be careful. The bad scammers are like that, but the good ones have Skills. I nearly found myself buying an amulet from a bloke I could have sworn<\/em> I was best friends with.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cScary. And there\u2019s [Thieves] with Skills too. [Merchants]\u2026it\u2019s a wonder we\u2019re not robbed blind every time we go out.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why Paige controls our money. You can\u2019t overspend on what you don\u2019t have. Speaking of which\u2014you really want to say hi to Miss Hastel?\u201d<\/p>\n Siri fidgeted.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026I\u2019d like to see her.\u201d<\/p>\n Or her husband<\/em>. But Daly made no comment. The address of Miss Hastel, their [Landlady], was only a block away. She owned several properties on the street, and she\u2019d naturally chosen the loveliest home for herself. The front of her neat apartment wasn\u2019t mud brick but stone\u2014far more impervious to bugs or rot in Baleros\u2019 heat. Daly knocked once, and after a minute, heard faint noises.<\/p>\n Hoofbeats. Four of them. And then the door opened, and Daly felt a gust of cool air. Miss Hastel, a Centaur with tan fur and dark black spots around her flanks, looked down. Her upper half was dark-skinned, a contrast to her lighter pattern. And she had blonde hair. Dyed, apparently.<\/p>\n She was also heavily, noticeably pregnant. A large bulge in the center of her lower half weighed her down, but it had been covered by a quilt-like covering over her lower torso. Clothing for the lower half was optional for Centaurs, but this was clearly a decorative, expensive dress, bright blue and white. Miss Hastel blinked at the two Humans for a second, and then she focused on Daly\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, it\u2019s you. Mister Daly and\u2026a friend? Come in.\u201d<\/p>\n She smiled, lifting a hand and gesturing them inside. Daly and Siri obeyed with alacrity, because the inside of Miss Hastel\u2019s house was pleasantly cool. Magically so, in fact. Daly only paused to scrape his boots of the dirt and whatever muck was on them on the rug. Siri did likewise, and they walked into Miss Hastel\u2019s apartment.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, have a seat. Anywhere you\u2019d like.\u201d<\/p>\n Miss Hastel waved her hand around the spacious and quite tall apartment that was her home. A Centaur\u2019s house was noticeably different from the Lizardfolk dwellings. For instance, while the United Nations company had rented an apartment for Lizardfolk, or perhaps Dullahans, and gotten a building with two floors with multiple smaller rooms for a number of people, Miss Hastel\u2019s building was one floor and spacious.<\/p>\n Centaurs did not like cramped spaces. Nor did they enjoy climbing stairs. So Miss Hastel had an open kitchen, a very spacious living room, and even a door-less bedroom only partially concealed by a wall. Daly looked around, thinking that the room looked like something he might see back home\u2014with a few differences.<\/p>\n The first, obviously, was the lack of large windows. Even Miss Hastel couldn\u2019t afford more than two small glass ones. The second was that her couches and chairs were quite limited in number. Centaurs couldn\u2019t sit on most chairs, so she had rugs and pillows instead.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like anything to eat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re fine, thank you. We won\u2019t take up too much of your time.\u201d<\/p>\n Out of deference to her, Daly and Siri sat on the ground, and Miss Hastel sat on a large pillow, cushioning her belly, with her hooves facing the Humans, though Daly suspected she\u2019d be more comfortable lying flat out. But Miss Hastel was a Centaur and thus she was infallibly courteous to her guests. And that also dictated how Daly and Siri behaved.<\/p>\n \u201cA lovely home, Miss Hastel. Thank you for inviting us in.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly nodded to the apartment. The Centauress smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. And thank you for coming. I\u2019d be out and about, but as you can see, I am indisposed.\u201d<\/p>\n She indicated her stomach. Daly nodded politely.<\/p>\n Ken\u2019s Centaur Rule #12, or something. Centaurs value tradition, ceremony. You have to make small talk. It\u2019s one of the reasons why they hate Dullahans being blunt and to-the-point and Lizardfolk indiscretion. Exceptions exist, but err on the side of caution.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cI assume you\u2019ve come about the monthly rent? Or is there another issue with the walls?\u201d<\/p>\n Miss Hastel broached the subject at last. Daly smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cNo problem with the walls. Paige is grateful for how fast you got the [Alchemist] to whip up that pesticide. We\u2019ve come about the rent. This is next month\u2019s payment, if you\u2019ll accept it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n Different though they might be, the allure of gold was a fairly universal attraction. Miss Hastel\u2019s eyes lit up at the sight of the gold and silver. She let Daly place it on a small foot table in front of them.<\/p>\n \u201cA proper payment. And ahead of time too. The members of your company are excellent tenants, Mister Daly, Miss Siri.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe try to be.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri smiled. She looked at Miss Hastel\u2019s stomach. Daly saw her open her mouth, and then he heard a slam<\/em>. Someone had thrown open the door, and a loud, exuberant voice bellowed into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cHello! I\u2019m back!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Daly jerked. His hand went to his side, but this time, another hand caught it. Siri stopped Daly from reaching for his axe. He relaxed at once, and she let go. Miss Hastel hadn\u2019t noticed. She\u2019d jumped and was glaring towards the door. Daly turned and saw Miss Hastel\u2019s husband\u2026or partner, or\u2026<\/p>\n Cat?<\/p>\n He was certainly a cat. If you took a look at the ancient Egyptian drawings of cat-gods and compared it to the Beastkin that strode into the apartment, you\u2019d find a lot of differences. This was a proper cat-man, not just a cat\u2019s head on a Human body. He was shorter than Daly, but slimmer, and he had Humanoid fingers. Beyond that though? All cat. His tail wagged as he grinned at Miss Hastel, did a double-take, and spotted the Humans.<\/p>\n \u201cOh! It\u2019s the Humans! I didn\u2019t know you had guests.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRital!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaur woman looked completely embarrassed at his entry. Rital looked completely unabashed. He spotted the gold coins and grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh! Paying rent? You Humans are so prompt! And easy to deal with! Not like Lizardfolk or Dullahans. Or Centaurs. They\u2019re all awful. <\/em>Actually, what am I saying? Humans can get pretty bad too.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly grinned. Rital was as energetic as Miss Hastel was stately, for all that both of them were probably a decade older than he and Siri. The Centauress cleared her throat meaningfully.<\/p>\n \u201cI think you mean to say that Mister Daly and Miss Siri are excellent residents.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cat-tribe Beastkin nodded cheerfully.<\/p>\n \u201cSo long as they keep paying. Otherwise, we\u2019ve got a problem. Hey, pal. If you don\u2019t<\/em> keep paying her on time, I\u2019ll get upset, you get me?\u201d<\/p>\n He glared at Daly, narrowing his eyes. He pounded one furry fist into his palm. Daly tried not to laugh. And the sparkle in Rital\u2019s eyes told Daly that he was having fun too.<\/p>\n \u201cPerfectly clear, mate. Message received.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, don\u2019t worry! I\u2019m just kidding. Or am I?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Rital\u2019s antics brought a laugh out of Daly. Miss Hastel, on the other hand, looked like she wanted to kick Rital. She stood up slowly and glared at her partner.<\/p>\n \u201cI think<\/em> Mister Daly and Miss Siri have more important business to attend to. Thank you for coming, you two.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep! Keep bringing us money! Hasty\u2019s not able to get around that far. What with the kitt\u2014er, foal on the way\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The Cat-man bounded over lightly and put an arm around Hastel. His long, feline tail curled up around her. Siri sighed quietly so that only Daly noticed.<\/p>\n Miss Hastel went crimson. She looked mortified as she ushered the Humans to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease excuse Rital. He\u2019s always so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not bothered. He\u2019s a breath of fresh air, that one.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly reassured the female Centaur. She caught her breath and then smiled at last.<\/p>\n \u201cTo you, maybe. But to other Centaurs\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n She held open the door. Daly walked out regretfully\u2014Miss Hastel\u2019s apartment was cool and lacking humidity, probably thanks to magic. What he wouldn\u2019t have paid for air conditioning at home. Siri paused by the door.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Hastel, when are you expecting your child?\u201d<\/p>\n The Centauress\u2019 eyes lit up. She paused by the door, and Daly stood back and watched as Rital made faces, trying to get him and Siri to laugh. That was, until a hoof shot backwards and nearly hit him in the groin.<\/p>\n \u201cAny day now. I have the best [Midwife] on call.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s your first birth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy very first. But I\u2019m not worried. Rital will be there\u2014outside, naturally, where he can\u2019t cause trouble. And my [Midwife] is the best in the city. A Centaur, of course. After the birth, I\u2019d welcome visitors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll be sure to be there. I\u2019m sure everyone from the company will want to come over\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Daly cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of us will certainly stop by. Good day, Miss Hastel.\u201d<\/p>\n He dragged Siri backwards. The Centauress bade them farewell, and Rital waved at them before the door closed. The two Humans stood on the doorstep. They very clearly heard Miss Hastel\u2019s voice for a second.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat have I told you about being rude to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, come on. They liked it. Humans love\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Humans in question backed away. They walked a bit away from the apartment, then Daly looked at Siri, a bit vexed. He crossed his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know we\u2019ll have to give gifts to the baby.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri was unabashed.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019d have to do that anyways. Ken would insist on it. I didn\u2019t know [Midwife] was a class.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly grunted, imagining the cost of a present for Miss Hastel\u2019s baby.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a variant of [Healer]. Anyways, you got your fill?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri smiled a bit wistfully. She glanced back towards the door. Paying Miss Hastel hadn\u2019t been what she\u2019d come here to do. She\u2019d only come to see Rital.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t that she was interested in Rital in any kind of romantic way. If she was, Daly would have stopped Siri from jeopardizing their relationship with their landlady at all costs. No, it was just that Siri loved seeing a full-sized Cat from the Cat-tribe of the Beastkin. Rital was the only Cat Beastkin in the city. Beastkin were rare, even on their home continent of Baleros. And Siri loved cats. And Rital was more cat than even regular cats. Then Siri frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know how Hastel gets along with Rital. He\u2019s the exact opposite of what most Centaurs are like. I\u2019d expect him to be a Lizardfolk\u2019s partner, but not her.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly shrugged. He led the way down the street.<\/p>\n \u201cAll sorts of weird couples find love. You know that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut how did he get her\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe didn\u2019t. She was in a relationship, and the stallion\u2014male Centaur\u2014ran off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. And Rital stuck with her?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cApparently they were already close friends. I guess they got closer. Some cats are loyal like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri glanced wistfully back at the house. Daly sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don\u2019t try and scratch his ears or something. Because I think Miss Hastel\u2019d kick us all out if you did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would never. But that doesn\u2019t mean I can\u2019t look.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri glared at Daly. Then she sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going back to the apartments. You\u2019re going to the Adventurer\u2019s Guild?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll only take a request if it pays really well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll hold you to it. Later.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri trotted back down the street. Daly watched her go. Then he looked around. Lizardfolk, Centaurs, a scowling Dullahan\u2014he was alone. And for some reason, that felt fitting.<\/p>\n Daly walked forwards and melded with the crowd. He stood out. He was an oddity, a Human, one of the rarer species on Baleros. But he wasn\u2019t a foreigner or a tourist. In some ways, after several months here, he\u2019d gotten to know Baleros.<\/p>\n Daly watched his belt pouch as he walked, careful of [Pickpockets]. He effortlessly fended off [Hawkers] and other street vendors and ambled towards the port. The city of Talenqual had grown up around the docks, so most of the more established structures and richer districts were located closer to the spot. Not too close though; the smell of fish and the commerce of the docks wasn\u2019t appealing to most.<\/p>\n \u201cNali-stick! Want a nali-stick?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cXelca meat, fresh!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLooking for someone willing to haul cargo off the ships! Fifteen pairs of hands wanted! No Centaurs!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, has anyone seen the shop where they sell that new board game? Not the chess one\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Daly heard competing voices shouting for attention as he walked. He glanced at one of the shouters. A little Lizardgirl, her scales a dusky pink and yellow, was waving a basket of white, fibrous sticks. He paused in front of her and fished for a copper coin.<\/p>\n \u201cGive me a stick.\u201d<\/p>\n He offered her the coin. The Lizardgirl inspected it, fished in her basket, and held one up.<\/p>\n \u201cNali-stick! <\/em>Here you go, Mister Daly!\u201d<\/p>\n She knew him! The adventurer grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cHave we met?\u201d<\/p>\n The nali-<\/em>stick seller looked scornful. She shook her head, the red frills around her neck opening slightly.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone knows the Human team that came here! You\u2019re the Captain, right? Want more sticks for your team? I\u2019ll give you one for free if you buy five!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo thanks. I\u2019m good with one.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly stuck the end of the white stick in his mouth and tore a piece off. It came away\u2014the nali-<\/em>stick was made up of many fibers\u2014and he chewed hard. For a second, he only tasted the tough fiber and then a wave of sweetness flooded his mouth. Daly grinned, and the Lizardgirl laughed as she saw his eyes light up.<\/p>\n Of the exports Baleros was known for, sugar<\/em> was one of its chief moneymakers. It came from sugarcane, which grew on the continent above all else. The famed plant yielded sugar that the world so badly craved. However, nali<\/em>-sticks were concentrated versions of the tall-growing plant. Unlike sugarcane, they were much thinner, but held just as much sweet in their thin stalks. As such, they were highly prized as snacks, and it was a cheap buy in markets where the stuff grew plentifully.<\/p>\n \u201cWant another stick, Mister? Or you want to buy information? Looking to raid a dungeon?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly glanced back down at the little Lizardgirl.<\/p>\n \u201cI could be. Why, you know about some super-secret dungeon full of treasure? Because I\u2019ll treat you<\/em> to a nali-<\/em>stick if you do.\u201d<\/p>\n Indignant, the little Lizardgirl pushed her basket up one arm and glared at Daly.<\/p>\n \u201cFor information about a dungeon? You should pay me silver!\u201d<\/p>\n The Australian adventurer grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cI would. If I thought the information you were selling was good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll swear on a [Detect Lies] spell that\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014I\u2019m sure you would. But that\u2019s not the point, is it? If you\u2019re selling information, how do I know you didn\u2019t get it from someone else?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly cut the little Lizardgirl off. She hesitated. He went on.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if you<\/em> know about a special lair that\u2019s popped up, I\u2019ll bet everyone in the city knows about it. Especially at the Adventurer\u2019s Guild, hmm? A new dungeon\u2019s popped up and it\u2019s all the rage? Is that the information you were going to sell me?\u201d<\/p>\n She squirmed, a child caught out in a lie. Daly grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, now I have two<\/em> reasons to go to the Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw. But I still told you! Don\u2019t I get anything?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell you what. I\u2019ll buy another nali-<\/em>stick.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFive silver!\u201d<\/p>\n He handed her a copper coin. The Lizardgirl eyed it, then shrugged and handed him another stick. Daly laughed, and they parted ways.<\/p>\n Two sticks\u2019 worth of sugar put the pep in Daly\u2019s step. He double-timed it to the Guild and found it was abuzz with activity. Adventurers were pouring out the doors, and half of them were armed. It looked like the Lizardgirl was telling the truth. One of the teams fighting to be out first was arguing with another group.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have first rights! If the coach comes, we<\/em> requested it. Stand down!\u201d<\/p>\n A Dullahan in iron armor swung a fist, and an angry Lizardman backed up. Daly recognized her as she whirled. Her small team was keeping everyone else back. She eyed him and then blinked.<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Captain Daly. Are you going after this new dungeon?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly looked at the Dullahans. They were the ones from last night. He paused.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Rustless Guard, right? Captain Eldima?\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cOur team just heard about it. I don\u2019t know if you\u2019ve heard the news?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNew dungeon? Popped outta nowhere?\u201d<\/p>\n He didn\u2019t even have to know the details to guess. Baleros, like all the continents of this world, was ancient. Dungeons long buried often appeared as geography changed naturally or artificially. Eldima nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThe rainfall cleared an entrance. It\u2019s three miles south of here. Very close. We intend to inspect it first. And your team?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly eyed the Dullahan, thought about the odds of taking on an unknown lair faster than the other teams\u2014if they could even get there before the others, that was\u2014and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cMy team deserves a rest. It\u2019s all yours, and the best of luck to you if you can get there first.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dullahans relaxed. Eldima offered Daly a rare smile.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will take that luck. We are ready to go and only await\u2014here it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly heard clattering hooves. Shod. A pair of Centaurs raced down the street, then another pair. Both were pulling carriages. They stopped, and the Rustless Guard piled into the carriages. The other adventuring teams roared, and some raced down the street, looking for another carriage. Daly waved up to Eldima as she scrambled into the coach last of all.<\/p>\n \u201cFame and fortune to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Eldima turned her head and nodded down to him.<\/p>\n \u201cIt surely awaits.\u201d<\/p>\n And then they were gone.<\/p>\n \u201cHuh. I wonder if they\u2019ll find anything.\u201d<\/p>\n It was a tossup, really. A new dungeon could hold nothing\u2014having already been plundered in ages past\u2014a massive fortune, or have simply become the lair of some monster. But it was exciting. On another day, Daly would have cursed not having heard about the dungeon ahead of time. Today? He was relieved for the excuse not to visit it.<\/p>\n The Adventurer\u2019s Guild was practically empty as Daly strode in. All the teams were converging on the dungeon, and wouldn\u2019t it be a right mess when they got there? The desk was staffed by a Dullahan, or rather, her head. Her body was hard at work mopping the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cAny contracts worth looking at?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly addressed the head. The [Receptionist] paused.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing I can think of. The dungeon\u2019s the rage, but every Silver-rank team and Gold-rank team\u2019s headed for it. You can check the board, if you\u2019d like.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWill do. Thanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly checked the board. He spotted a few contracts\u2014taking out some large rodents annoying one of the [Farmers], hunting down some birds for a [Fletcher], a lucrative job escorting a trading ship\u2014nothing that the Bushrangers were interested in.<\/p>\n \u201cA day off it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly found there was a smile on his face. He walked back out of the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. He could tell the others. Take a longer nap, maybe consult with Paige. But\u2014that was work, wasn\u2019t it? What if he just played a game on one of the laptops\u2014assuming they had juice\u2014or went and grabbed a quick drink? He could do that. Or he could head into the main city and\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cMister Daly! Mister Daly!\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurer\u2019s head turned. He saw a little Lizardgirl race up to him. The same girl he\u2019d spoken to not half a minute ago. She even had the basket of nali-<\/em>sticks on her arm. Some bounced out and fell to the ground, and other children pounced on the snacks. The Lizardgirl didn\u2019t notice. She waved at Daly and stopped in front of him, panting.<\/p>\n \u201cMister Daly! I have something else to tell you! You\u2019re giving a bounty on information, right? I remember you said!\u201d<\/p>\n She looked up at him, her eyes imploring this to be so. Daly hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cA bounty?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah! On news about strange Humans! Well, I forgot, but I heard there were some Humans who were spotted in an abandoned village! They were really weird! They have weird clothing, and they were in trouble because they weren\u2019t supposed to be there!\u201d<\/p>\n Daly froze. Strange Humans?<\/em> Weird clothing? His contented mood vanished.<\/p>\n \u201cStrange clothing? Did they have anything else off about them?\u201d<\/p>\n The Lizardgirl thought, panting.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2014they had strange lights. Not magical ones, but bright. One of the [Builders] sent to check out the village said they scared him and the others off! With these bright artifacts! But no magic<\/em>. I can show you the person who saw them, if you want. They\u2019re going to chase the Humans off soon!\u201d<\/p>\n Squatters with bright, non-magical lights<\/em>. Daly could only imagine one scenario that fit that. He looked at the Lizardgirl, heart racing, then fumbled at his belt pouch.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me more, kid. And bring me to the person who said they met the Humans. If you do\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He flashed the Lizardgirl a silver coin. Her jaw opened with delight. She dragged at his hand, and Daly looked about. More Lizardchildren were about. He pointed at one.<\/p>\n \u201cYou, run to find Siri, Paige, or someone from my company at their apartments. You know the ones? Miss Hastel\u2019s buildings, down on Texal Street. Tell them to ready up the Bushrangers. We might have a mission.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It was only three of them who took the Centaur-driven transport out of the city. It wasn\u2019t so much a carriage as a wagon designed to carry more bodies. Daly had no idea how many Humans there were, so he hoped the wagon was enough. And the information seemed good. Daly had met the Lizardman [Builder] who\u2019d been sent to begin reclaiming a village that had been abandoned due to a Spear Spider infestation.<\/p>\n The worry Daly had was whether this was just a waste of time and money. But he\u2019d paid for the Centaur-wagon, and Paige had agreed it was important. So Daly took Dawson and Siri with him to the village.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure we\u2019re not going to run into monsters on the way? Because we\u2019re not being paid to outrun monsters.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Centaurs pulling the wagon looked at Daly as he climbed on board. He was one of a pair\u2014the other Centauress was chewing on a nali-<\/em>stick. She glanced back at him as well. Daly shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo fighting or monsters, mates. The village is supposed to be abandoned. We\u2019re only going to check on the Humans living there. Swear it on the adventurer\u2019s code of honor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, I swear by my good looks.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly grinned. The Centaurs exchanged a glance. The Centauress snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s just go. The Spear Spiders hit that place last month. If we\u2019re just going there, it\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n The wagon jolted into motion as the Centaurs grunted and began to pull it forwards. Daly, sitting in the back next to Siri across from Dawson, felt a bit of air begin to blow past his face. He stared ahead as the wagon drove through the city.<\/p>\n It was only midday. But they\u2019d be travelling for a good hour. Siri and Dawson sat in the back, staring at the city as the Centaurs slowly navigated towards the gates. When they left the city, they were still initially slow until they won clear of the foot traffic flowing in and out. Then they picked up speed.<\/p>\n In Baleros, transportation from city-to-city and within the cities had another facet in the form of Centaur-pulled carriages, rickshaws, and so on. They provided a cheap, easy means of transport and had literally outrun the competition in the Runner\u2019s Guilds. The only exceptions were those who could navigate the unpaved areas or waters, like Luan.<\/p>\n The sight of the two Centaurs trotting ahead while their upper bodies remained still was interesting. To pass the time, the Centaurs were chatting quietly. The female Centaur was even cutting some nali<\/em>, extracting the sweet core for her friend. In the back, the adventurers sat together, talking over the rush of the wind and the sound of the Centaurs\u2019 hooves.<\/p>\n \u201cShit. I didn\u2019t bring my poison with me, Daly. It\u2019s in my pack. I grabbed my crossbow, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson groused. Siri shot him a reproving glance. She had her gear, pack included.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have enough quarrels?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah! But the poison\u2014no.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not here for a fight. If it comes to that, we\u2019ll lend you our share.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly reassured his friend. Nevertheless, he checked that he had his sealed jar of poison on him as well. He had brought his crossbow, as had the other two. They were armed for a fight. Just in case.<\/p>\n \u201cThink they\u2019re really from Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt sounded like they had a flashlight or some kind of electronics. And who else would hide in an abandoned village? Bandits would have attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuess we\u2019ll see.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson settled back in the wagon. Daly nodded. He stared over the side of the wagon. Baleros wasn\u2019t all jungle and forest. Like the Americas that Baleros vaguely resembled on the maps, parts were extraordinarily clear and flat. The Centaurs made their homes there. Lizardfolk loved the marshes and swamps. They had settled the port cities while Dullahans claimed the cold north by and large. Other species like Selphids and Gazers inhabited the deeper jungles.<\/p>\n Right now, the wagon was driving through rice fields. The Lizardfolk had created vast paddy fields which, filled from Baleros\u2019 spring rains, were busy growing large quantities of crops. They also had the byproduct of attracting bugs and insects. And frogs and other amphibians too, all of which Lizardfolk loved to eat.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope it won\u2019t rain. I\u2019ve had enough of sitting in the jungle with rain drowning us. And I don\u2019t know how they\u2019ll do in the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson remarked, nodding to the Centaurs. The male Centaur snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have Skills, idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Apparently, the Centaurs could still hear the Humans in the back. Daly scooted forwards. The female Centaur half-turned to look at him.<\/p>\n \u201cMind me asking how bad the rain gets? This is our first time in Baleros. We had a few nasty close calls with the rain flooding streams on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen you were adventuring?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cHow bad\u2019s it get? We\u2019ve seen some of the big storms. Does it get worse?\u201d<\/p>\n The Centaurs looked at each other. They spoke at the same time.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve barely seen the rainy season. You want monsoons? We\u2019ve got monsoons this far south.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMiserable weather. Hate it. I can barely walk, and there\u2019s mud everywhere. Worst time to work. You might break a foreleg.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe only species who love this weather are Lizardfolk. The freaks love dancing about in the rain.\u201d<\/p>\n They groused happily to Daly and the others about the weather. The male Centaur, whose name was Bault, pointed at the sky.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about rain today. You think we don\u2019t check the weather on long runs? Our weather mages aren\u2019t perfect, but they usually know what\u2019s happening. Unless a company decides to mess with the weather or start burning something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat happen often?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe smoke interferes with the clouds. Sometimes it can change what\u2019s predicted. Otherwise\u2014well, there\u2019s no perfect spell for detecting the weather. Some Skills can tell when it\u2019s about to change, but not predict, right? I suppose a [Diviner] could do better, but we don\u2019t have one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGotcha.\u201d<\/p>\n The female Centaur, Pihava, glanced at Daly.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re the Bushrangers. I heard you were all [Rogues]. Practically invisible on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly smiled. They were well-known! Maybe it wasn\u2019t just them being Humans.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish. We\u2019re just good at hiding. The idiot in the back\u2019s Dawson, and that\u2019s Siri.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharmed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOur idiot leader\u2019s Daly. Hey, that village we\u2019re headed to was attacked by Spear Spiders, right? What the hell\u2019s a Spear Spider?\u201d<\/p>\n Pihava shrugged. It was quite convenient for her to be able to run and turn sideways to talk. Although she kept looking forward to check the road.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re one breed of Baleros\u2019 resident spiders. There are all types. You\u2019ve heard of Shield Spiders? No? Well, I\u2019d prefer those, honestly. Spearwalker Spiders are tall.<\/em> Some can grow up to twelve feet high\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSiri?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThree and a half meters.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFuck<\/em>. You serious?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll legs. They\u2019re tall ones. You know those spiders that have small bodies but really tall legs? That\u2019s a Spear Spider. Only, their legs can impale people. And they have this trick they use to modulate how long their legs are. They\u2019re fast, dangerous\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut fragile. I hear adventurers just blast them in their bodies with magic or swing a warhammer and take them apart.\u201d<\/p>\n Bault looked back at Daly. The young man looked at his crossbow.<\/p>\n \u201cThink they\u2019re immune to poison? Because we don\u2019t go for heavy armored foes. We\u2019re skirmishers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTell you what. If we run into them\u2014and they should be gone, or I\u2019m kicking every head in at the Runner\u2019s Guild\u2014I\u2019ll let you shoot as many crossbow bolts to find out as you want.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cFair. Say, how many close calls have you had on the road?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, Pihava\u2019s new, so personally\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The conversation went on for about twenty minutes and then lapsed into silence. Daly sat in the back of the wagon and closed his eyes. He could still use a rest. Or rather, his mind told his body to grab the break while it could. It was comfortable in the back of the wagon, and the air cooled him down as it blew past his head. Daly closed his eyes.<\/p>\n Were they really from Earth? If they were\u2026<\/p>\n He drifted off like that. It felt like only a minute before Siri was shaking him. Daly jerked, but remembered enough not to grab at his axe. He sat up and saw they\u2019d arrived.<\/p>\n The village that had been abandoned still bore marks of battle. Brick houses partially caved in, roofs with holes in them\u2014possibly from the Spear Spider legs. Some had been torched, perhaps to ward the monsters off, or maybe by accidental fire. But the rest were intact.<\/p>\n The village was actually on top of a hill. A nice, defensible spot with even a low mud brick wall, crumbling in places. But it hadn\u2019t saved the place. Now, the Centaurs paused below the hill. Bault gestured up at it, sweating.<\/p>\n \u201cWe can pull you up the hill. But between you and me, that\u2019ll cost you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo need. We\u2019ll make the trek. You guys wait here and rest a spell.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly hopped out of the wagon. Pihava nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you hear us shouting, get down here quick. If we see anything, we\u2019re taking off.\u201d<\/p>\n There were no signs of monsters, but Daly nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fair. We won\u2019t be long. Siri\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He looked around. She was already taking point. As the [Scout] of the group, she was quietest, thanks to her Skills. Not that the road up to the village was covered by forest. Still, Daly and Dawson gave her a lead and then followed. Their crossbows were on their backs in case they were being watched, but they were drawn, ready to be loaded and fired.<\/p>\n Daly\u2019s skin crawled as he walked up towards the village. He could see several quite intact buildings. And he had a definite sense he was being watched. He looked at Dawson.<\/p>\n \u201cHow should we handle it? Call out first?\u201d<\/p>\n He saw Dawson roll his shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cUp to you. I wish Ken was back here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou think we\u2019d send him up first? What if they were [Bandits]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019d probably charm them into giving us a hot meal. Why don\u2019t we just march up, shout \u2018anyone from Earth? If not, fuck off!\u2019 And then\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n There was a shout from above. Daly and Dawson looked up. Siri had frozen. Someone had shouted and thrown something down at them. A heavy stone. It crashed and rolled down the slope. Instantly, Daly reached for the crossbow and hesitated. He looked for cover\u2014there wasn\u2019t any but the sides of the hill.<\/p>\n \u201cStay back! This is our place!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Someone shouted from above. Daly couldn\u2019t see who it was\u2014but the gates of the village had been barricaded with boards of wood. It looked like someone had tried to repair parts of the wall. He saw a flicker of movement, and then another stone flew over the wall. Siri jumped back, but it landed well clear of her and rolled down the hill.<\/p>\n Daly glanced over his shoulder. Their Centaur guides were staring up at them. He waved at them and then looked at Dawson.<\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds like a Human.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, not friendly. Hey! We\u2019re Humans! We want to talk! Are you from Earth?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson bellowed up at the walls. Daly heard a sound, muffled, and then cut off. There was a pause. And then\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cGo away! We have weapons!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Daly exchanged a glance. The voice was loud, female, and panicked. The first voice had been male. He called up towards the village.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re from Earth! Are you? Do you know\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He got no further. Someone threw a rock.<\/p>\n \u201cLeave! We won\u2019t be tricked again! If you come any closer, we\u2019ll <\/em>kill you!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n More stones flew. These ones landed uncomfortably close, so the adventurers backed up. Shielding his face and watching for missiles, Daly hurried down the hill. There he looked at Siri and Dawson.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re from Earth. I\u2019ll bet anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut they\u2019re fucking agro. Why the hell\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson grimaced. Siri frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you hear what they said? \u2018We won\u2019t be tricked again\u2019. Again. You think they ran into other people from our world?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf they did, it didn\u2019t go well for them.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly grunted. He eyed the village. Stones and shouting. He\u2019d bet there were only a handful in the village. It would be easy enough to circle the hill and sneak up it, maybe with a distraction. Siri caught Daly\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re terrified. You can hear it in their voices. We should do this peacefully.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson growled.<\/p>\n \u201cHow? If they\u2019re pelting us with stones\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The other two waited as Daly paced back and forth, looking up at the village. Their leader exhaled as he came to a decision.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Siri\u2019s right. We scare them and they\u2019ll run. Someone\u2019s already made them afraid\u2014even of folks from home. We need to coax them to come out. We\u2019ve gotta do this Ken-style. Hold on. Give me a moment to think.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson groaned.<\/p>\n \u201cKen-style? First you said Earth-style, now this. You\u2019re a good leader, but you\u2019re shit with words, Daly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up. Let me try again.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly climbed up the hill. He was greeted by a flurry of stones.<\/p>\n \u201cGo away!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe just want to talk! Can I talk to one of you? I said we\u2019re from Earth! We\u2019re like you lot! We want to help!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet lost! We see your crossbow!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Fuck.<\/em> It had been a bad idea to take it after all. Daly paused.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll leave my weapons behind! Look, just say if you\u2019re from Earth or not! Are you Americans? Can you tell me what an iPhone is?\u201d<\/p>\n Hesitation. And then dead silence. The stones stopped flying, but Daly wasn\u2019t about to get anywhere closer and risk them panicking. He walked down the hill, back to the others. Daly exhaled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy won\u2019t they say if they\u2019re from Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson spat on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cAfraid. Fucking hell. What did the other group do to them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe they were attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a dark look in Siri\u2019s eye. Daly and Dawson looked at her. She and Tofte had shown up on their doorstep a while back and never told the whole story of how they\u2019d survived until now. But they\u2019d arrived with combat classes and experience in fighting. Geneva had determined Siri and Tofte had had a traumatic event in the recent past. But since they could still fight and function, Daly had recruited them into the Bushrangers.<\/p>\n Daly paced back and forth for a while, trying to figure out what to do next. What would Ken do? It was a serious question. Without Ken\u2019s primer on how to interact with Baleros\u2019 races, Daly often would have been lost. And it was Ken\u2019s philosophy, as well as Geneva\u2019s, that had shaped how the United Nations company worked. Daly frowned, bit his lip, and then he had it.<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2014what if we lure them out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith what, nali-<\/em>sticks?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Hey Dawson, did you at least bring your iPhone and the speaker?\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson patted his belt. He was wearing the iconic adventurer\u2019s belt, complete with pouches stuffed full of an adventurer\u2019s gear.<\/p>\n \u201cNever leave without it. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want you to set it up. Turn those speakers up to max blast. It\u2019d better be charged.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is! I haven\u2019t wasted the battery. Not since last time.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson grimaced. He fished out a tangled mess of cord and then a portable speaker. And then his iPhone. Daly had lost his. Or it had been stolen, back when he\u2019d been in Gravetender\u2019s Fist. Dawson frowned at Daly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou want to scare them with the distraction audio?\u201d<\/p>\n Three of the Bushrangers were armed with smartphones as part of their gear. They had a recording to go with the portable speakers they carried. Using it would set off a timed cacophony to distract a monster or person. Daly shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo way. Just play them a song.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA song?\u201d<\/p>\n Confusion flashed across Dawson\u2019s face for just a second. Siri blinked, then smiled. She nodded. Dawson\u2019s eyes lit up as well after a second. He lifted the speaker, turned it on, and then aimed it at the village. He thumbed through the music, and Daly waited impatiently.<\/p>\n \u201cCome on. It just has to be something they recognize.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t rush me. There\u2019s a right song for every moment, Daly. I just have to\u2014here it is!\u201d<\/p>\n Triumphantly, Dawson pressed the button. Instantly, a song blared from the speakers. Quietly at first and then with increasing volume as Dawson adjusted the speaker\u2019s volume to max. The song was iconic\u2014at least, to Daly. Siri frowned for a moment before recognizing it.<\/p>\n The two Centaurs looked up in surprise as the first drums and then a flute began playing. The background buzz of the insects in the jungle grew silent for a moment as a bass began to echo up the hill.<\/p>\n Daly groaned. He shot Dawson a look. The Australian patriot grinned. Daly didn\u2019t even need to hear the lyrics. He knew them practically by heart.<\/p>\n Down Under<\/em>, by Men at Work. There was some logic to it\u2014if there was one song a foreigner might associate with Australia, it was probably that one. And it was unmistakably from Earth. Still, Dawson had such a big shit-eating grin on his face that Daly wanted to smack the smartphone out of his hands.<\/p>\n But it worked. No sooner had the song ended than Daly saw movement at the top of the hill. Someone peeked over the walls. Daly waited, holding his breath. Then he saw a figure descend the hill.<\/p>\n \u201cCrossbows down.\u201d<\/p>\n The three Bushrangers dropped their weapons and slowly walked up the hill. Dawson began playing Great Southern Land<\/em> until Daly smacked him on the shoulder.<\/p>\n The person descending the slope was a young man, dressed in a tight-fitting sports shirt with a logo on the breast. The shirt was dirty, as were the sports pants he wore. He looked thin. Worn at. But his eyes were fixed on Dawson\u2019s iPhone. He opened his mouth, hesitated, and then raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re really from Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly halted a few feet away. The young man\u2019s accent was familiar. He couldn\u2019t be\u2026? The Australian gave him a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. We\u2019re from Australia. We heard there were people here that might be from Earth. We came to check it out. We want to help.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHelp? How?\u201d<\/p>\n Siri jumped in.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got an apartment in a city near here. We\u2019ve got food, money\u2014we\u2019re a company.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFood and money? You mean, you live here? You can<\/em> live here?\u201d<\/p>\n The other Earthworlder looked stunned, confused. Daly\u2019s heart skipped a beat.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. We\u2019ve got jobs. We\u2019ve banded together, all of us from Earth that we could find. Are you\u2014how\u2019ve you survived?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2014we\u2019ve been scavenging. Eating what we could forage. Hiding from\u2014everything. We thought you were bandits like the last\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The stranger shuddered. He looked at Daly. And then part of him seemed to unwind.<\/p>\n \u201cCan we go with you?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cWe wouldn\u2019t be here otherwise. Come on. Tell ya mates to come out. We\u2019ll get you back to civilization.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh my god. Oh my god.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The young man fell to his knees. At first, Daly thought it was an overreaction. Until he saw the tears. The young man shuddered, and he looked up at them like\u2014like\u2014<\/p>\n Dawson turned away. Daly knelt at the same time as Siri. They helped the stranger up.<\/p>\n \u201cEasy. What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBlake. I\u2019m Blake. We\u2019ve been starving up there. And when the lizard-things appeared last night, we thought\u2014this isn\u2019t a dream, right?\u201d<\/p>\n A grimy hand clutched at Daly\u2019s arm. He nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n That was enough. Blake took a shuddering breath. He slowly rose. Daly held him until he was sure he was steady. He was<\/em> thin. The sports shirt didn\u2019t fit him that well.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019re you from, Blake?\u201d<\/p>\n Blake started. He looked up. Then he suddenly grinned. Daly thought he knew why. Blake wiped at his eyes, and then grimaced. Or tried to. He looked at Daly and Dawson. And then he coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, goddamnit,<\/em> it had to be a bunch of Aussies, didn\u2019t it? Of course you lot\u2019d survive over here.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson looked over, and his face lit up with delight.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re a kiwi?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNew Zealand. Yeah.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAyyy! How\u2019d you lot survive out here? I don\u2019t see a herd of sheep\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Siri punched Dawson gently in the shoulder. But Blake was laughing. He turned and looked back up towards the village walls. Daly could sense they were still being watched.<\/p>\n \u201cThose your friends watching us? You mind waving to tell them we\u2019re friendly? The last thing we want is an arrow through the throat.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t have weapons. We were going to run if you got closer. Hey! It\u2019s fine!\u201d<\/p>\n Blake turned and waved his hands. He began walking back up the hill and then turned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll stay here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight here. Go on.\u201d<\/p>\n The Bushrangers settled back as Dawson complained to Siri.<\/p>\n \u201cAw, come on. It\u2019s great! We just take the piss\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe don\u2019t make that the first<\/em> thing you do?\u201d<\/p>\n The two began arguing over the right timing to tell jokes and be serious while Daly tried to relax. They had time\u2014it took nearly ten minutes for Blake to come back. When he did, it was by himself. The others came over the walls very gingerly and gave Daly the impression they were ready to bolt. Like Blake, they wore colorful clothing that no [Tailor] of this world could have come up with. Even the dyes of Baleros couldn\u2019t quite match the artificial colors of Earth.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s safe! See? They\u2019re Australian. Australian.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m Swedish.\u201d<\/p>\n Siri raised a hand. The words seemed to reassure the others. They gingerly followed Blake down the hill, staring at the Centaurs with clear fear. There was one more guy and two girls, all of them younger than Blake. They stared at the Bushrangers, reluctant to go further, but Blake waved them on, shouting a word that Daly didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that Italian?\u201d<\/p>\n Siri looked up curiously. Blake turned and nodded. He walked back and ushered the three forwards once more. He turned and spoke to the Australians and Swedish girl.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re Italian. They were on a tour or something\u2014only one of them can speak English well\u2014and they just appeared here. This is Lorenzo, Diana, and Nicoletta\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNicoletta.\u201d<\/p>\n The last girl introduced herself. She was around Blake\u2019s age, possibly not even twenty yet. No\u2014definitely around nineteen, the both of them. Daly hesitated. Now what was the best move?<\/p>\n Siri made it for him. She reached out and offered a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cSiri. It\u2019s nice to meet you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSalve.<\/em> My name is Nicoletta. I\u2019m from Italy. You\u2019re\u2014from Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n She spoke in halting English, partially fragmented. Lorenzo and Diana watched her, and Daly saw their eyes flickering from him to Dawson.<\/p>\n They didn\u2019t understand English.<\/em> Well, no wonder they\u2019d had a terrible time of it. Daly hesitated, then he offered his hand. Lorenzo was the first to shake it. The Italians shook hands and repeated the same question, even if it was condensed to one word.<\/p>\n \u201cEarth? Earth?\u201d<\/p>\n And Daly nodded. He repeated himself.<\/p>\n \u201cEarth. Australians. Friends.\u201d<\/p>\n The relief in their eyes was palpable. Daly looked at Blake. The New Zealander was eying him and then the Centaurs.<\/p>\n \u201cAre those\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCentaurs. Yeah. They\u2019re pulling our wagon. We should pile in\u2014this place isn\u2019t entirely safe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not. There were these little spiders in one of the houses\u2014wait, you said go with them? In the wagon?\u201d<\/p>\n Blake looked uncertain. Nicoletta, who was whispering to the others, translated, and they drew back. Daly hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re friendly. They\u2019re Centaurs. You know\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He had no idea how common Centaurs were in Italian folklore, but popular culture was popular culture. That didn\u2019t seem to be the problem though. Nicoletta shuddered and backed up. Blake hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cWe met Centaurs that\u2014is that why you\u2019re armed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. To fight monsters. We\u2019re adventurers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAdventurers?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Every second seemed to be confusing the Earthworlders more and more. Daly hesitated. They had a lot to explain, but right now wasn\u2019t the time. Pihava was pawing the ground with one hoof, clearly impatient. Nicoletta turned to Daly as he was trying to figure out how to reassure them.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re\u2014from Earth? You know how to get back?\u201d<\/p>\n He met her eyes. They were desperate. Afraid. She looked at him with wild hope. As one lost, frightened person did to another. But\u2014Daly wondered if that was how he\u2019d looked at first. Afraid. Terrified, in fact. But with a core of something in her eyes. Determination. The will to survive. Slowly, he shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. We don\u2019t. We\u2019re lost. Like you. But now\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He reached out. Nicoletta took his hand. Daly spoke quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got you. We\u2019ll protect you. We\u2019re not alone. We are part of the United Nations company.\u201d<\/p>\n Nicoletta jumped when she heard the words. Blake opened his mouth, his eyes wide. Daly looked at them. He pointed down the hill.<\/p>\n \u201cCome with us. You\u2019re safe now.\u201d<\/p>\n And he knew that was the right thing to say.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cAnother world.\u201d<\/p>\n That was all Blake said when they were loaded on the wagon and driving away from the village. It had taken time, twenty minutes in fact, to get the others to approach the Centaurs and into the wagon. But now they were driving back down the way they\u2019d come. Pihava and Bault were pulling the wagon quickly despite the new passengers. Once in a while, they\u2019d glance backwards to stare at the Humans. When they did, the Italians and Blake would flinch.<\/p>\n They\u2019d had a nightmarish time of it. Blake explained in a shuddering voice as they drove. He couldn\u2019t take his eyes off the Centaur until Siri fished out some travel rations and handed them around. The hard, dry meat was salty, a miserable meal. But the other Earthworlders tore into it ravenously. Daly brought out his water and found they were dehydrated as well.<\/p>\n \u201cWe didn\u2019t know where to get safe water. There was a stream\u2014but we\u2019ve barely been able to start a fire. We couldn\u2019t find firewood, and none of us had anything useful on us\u2014and there are things out there. In the jungle.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake shuddered as he wiped his mouth. His hand was shaking as he reached for more travel jerky and crammed it into his mouth. Daly squatted next to him, too restless to sit properly on the moving wagon.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me about it.\u201d<\/p>\n He saw the Earthworlders look around at each other. Daly understood the feeling. How could you explain the shock of it? The sense of being in another world, the confirmation of that reality? But they weren\u2019t describing anything unknown to the others. Blake spoke, coughing on another mouthful of water.<\/p>\n \u201cThe first day\u2014I thought I was losing my mind. I was playing rugby with some friends. I went to grab the ball and I landed\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n In another world. In the water, in fact. Blake was so shocked that he just stood there in the waist-deep pool. That was, until something started biting him. He looked down, felt a searing pain, and then ran for the shore. In that time, he picked up three leeches and the fish took two more bites out of his legs. He still had scars. And when he ran into the group of Italians, they nearly attacked him, bleeding and terrified as he was.<\/em><\/p>\n Nicoletta, Lorenzo, and Diana had all been riding a crowded bus when they\u2019d passed through a tunnel and found themselves standing in the middle of a forest. It hadn\u2019t just been three of them. There had been eight. Plus a pair of two confused people. From\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWe think they were from Venezuela. I think that\u2019s what they were saying. But they were speaking Spanish, and none of us\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The initial confusion of what had happened led to an immediate need to get their bearing. To survive<\/em>. And at first, they\u2019d managed it. A pocket lighter, meant for cigarettes, some branches\u2014they\u2019d even gone back to the pool and collected some water to boil. They\u2019d gotten that far. But after that\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cThe first night, they got us.\u201d<\/p>\n That was all Blake said. He turned dead white and couldn\u2019t go on. Neither could Nicoletta. Daly didn\u2019t press them.<\/p>\n Something had happened. After that, the four survivors had fled. They\u2019d hidden from civilization, foraged, kept away from the roads and all species they\u2019d encountered, and eventually ended up at the village. That\u2019s where they\u2019d stayed until Daly and the others had found them.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long was it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThree weeks?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly exchanged a glance with Dawson and Siri. Three weeks?<\/em> Blake wasn\u2019t sure, but even if he was off by a few days, the timing didn\u2019t match up with anyone else. Were people still<\/em> coming over from Earth? It was a question for later, though. Because Blake and the others had thousands of their own.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is<\/em> another world, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYep.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd those are\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCentaurs, mate. Centaurs. They live on this continent. We\u2019re on Baleros. It\u2019s inhabited by Centaurs, Lizardfolk, Dullahans\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Blake stared at Daly as if the Australian were mad. Daly had to admit it was a far-fetched tale. But the only way he could put it was like that.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a fantasy world, Blake. Right out of a story. There\u2019s magic and shit and monsters too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMagic?<\/em> Now you\u2019re kidding me\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Siri had to cast a [Light] spell to show them. When she did that, Lorenzo nearly scrambled out<\/em> of the wagon. Daly gave them the quick rundown, pausing to let Nicoletta translate\u2014or try.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone here speaks English. Just English. I don\u2019t know why, but it\u2019s universal.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake frowned. Daly shrugged. It was convenient\u2014until you remembered that Ken, Kirana, and everyone else who came from a country that didn\u2019t have English as a native language was screwed. It was probably why they\u2019d found so few people who didn\u2019t speak English alive.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll give you the full story later. The important thing to remember is that you\u2019re safe<\/em>. We call ourselves the United Nations company. To let everyone know we\u2019re from Earth. And there are more of us. You\u2019ll get food and we\u2019ll give you a checkup back at base.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSafety.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake breathed the words. Dawson grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat, you think we\u2019d abandon someone from Earth? We\u2019ve got you. Aussies and kiwis got to stick together, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYour countries are right next to each other, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Siri looked at Daly for confirmation. He nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re close by. But totally different. You know, Australia and New Zealand have different cultures, so we make fun of each other. We have different words, different accents\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOurs are better.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake grinned faintly as the two gently ribbed him. Siri looked between the three.<\/p>\n \u201cYou both sound pretty much the same to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly, Dawson, and Blake all glared at Siri. She shrugged completely unapologetically. She looked over at Nicoletta.<\/p>\n \u201cMore food?\u201d<\/p>\n The girl nodded. Siri fished out a nali<\/em>-stick and showed them how to eat it. Blake sat back as she offered him a piece. He chewed, and his eyes opened wide.<\/p>\n \u201cSweet!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s sugarcane. Or something like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGod, I\u2019m so hungry. And this is so\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Blake started choking up. Dawson looked the other way, but Daly grabbed Blake\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry. Just relax.\u201d<\/p>\n The younger man nodded. It was at this point that Bault looked backwards. He cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, we can\u2019t help but overhear some of that. Are these Humans\u2014friends?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly looked up. He cursed as he realized the Centaurs had probably heard the stuff about this being another world. Or not\u2014they\u2019d been talking quietly up till now. Either way, he could only roll with it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. They\u2019re from the same place. Civilians. Not warriors. They landed in the jungle. Blake here landed knee-deep in a pool with a piranha and leeches or something.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s awful.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Pihava looked over her shoulder and gave Blake a sympathetic glance. He tensed up and then slowly waved a hand. The Centauress looked at Daly.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that why your company put out a bounty for any strange Humans?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t know what hit us. Teleportation spell, maybe. We\u2019re looking for anyone else who\u2019s out of place.\u201d<\/p>\n The two Centaurs exchanged a long glance. Bault coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know that. I just heard there was a bounty. Tell you what, if we hear of anything, we\u2019ll bring news of it your way, okay? Free of charge.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd you can hire us. Ask by name. We know all the roads around here.\u201d<\/p>\n Pihava tossed her head and gave them a nod. Daly smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s very kind of you. But if you could keep what you heard a secret, that\u2019d do us even more of a favor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course. But we will tell everyone at the Guild you\u2019re looking. Dead gods, a teleportation spell? You should get the Adventurer\u2019s Guild to put out an all-alert.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly blinked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think they would?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course! If there are Humans wandering around with no idea of the dangers\u2014these ones are lucky to have survived this long! We\u2019ll get you back to the city. Come on, Bault.\u201d<\/p>\n The wagon noticeably picked up in speed. The Earthworlders stared at the Centaurs\u2019 backs. Lorenzo whispered something to Nicoletta. She spoke up.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re nice?<\/em> Not\u2026monsters?\u201d<\/p>\n Both Centaurs stiffened. Daly bit his tongue. Pihava looked back with a glare that made Nicoletta flinch.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not<\/em> monsters.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly held up a hand and waved it.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve never seen Centaurs before. Not Lizardfolk or Dullahans either. Just Humans. They\u2019re far from home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTerandrians.\u201d<\/p>\n Bault snorted. But the Centaurs relaxed ever-so-slightly. And they kept moving, fast enough to be back in Talenqual much faster than they\u2019d spent going. They made their way through the gates as the Bushrangers did their best to keep the other Earthworlders from freaking out at the sight of all the Lizardfolk, Dullahans, and Centaurs. It seemed the Centaurs bothered them the most\u2014the Dullahans made them nervous, but not in the same way. The Lizardfolk were just\u2026strange.<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s our stop. It\u2019s not much, but it\u2019s filled with people from Earth. Go on, Siri will lead you inside. Dawson? Do a runner and tell everyone what\u2019s up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou got it.\u201d<\/p>\n Dawson and Siri hopped out. Daly jogged around the wagon as they helped Blake and the others to the ground. He looked up at the Centaurs, who were panting.<\/p>\n \u201cYou two did a fantastic job. I\u2019ll say as much next time I\u2019m in the Runner\u2019s Guild. Here.\u201d<\/p>\n He reached into his belt pouch and offered both Centaurs a gold coin. They eyed it appreciatively. It was a generous tip, but they\u2019d run fast and far and Daly was paying for the insult and goodwill.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was nothing. Like we said, we\u2019ll spread the word. Call on us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly promised and meant it. The Centaurs took off, dragging the wagon back towards the Runner\u2019s Guild, done for the day. It was early evening now, and Daly headed straight into the apartments. He heard a commotion, then opened the door and saw Kirana hugging Nicoletta, and more of the Earthworlders in the United Nations company surrounded the overwhelmed group.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! Come on! Clear a space! Let me introduce them!\u201d<\/p>\n Daly raised his voice. He gestured to the group and spoke to Blake.<\/p>\n \u201cThis here\u2019s the headquarters of our group of refugees from Earth. Let me introduce you. Take a seat here\u2014hey, they\u2019re thirsty and hungry. Do we have food\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Indian girls, Priya, rushed into the kitchen and came out with food. The still-hungry Italians and Blake set to as Daly pointed around the room.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s see. This is Kirana, Priya, um\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAmoli.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly turned red as it transpired that he<\/em> didn\u2019t know all the names. They introduced themselves, talking in slow English while the others volunteered their names. Daly heard a clatter down the stairs and looked up. Paige stopped on the stairs, staring.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, Paige! You\u2019ll never guess who dropped in! Someone from fucking New Zealand <\/em>of all the luck!\u201d<\/p>\n The Australian girl stared at Blake and then descended slowly. The first thing she did was give him a hug, which made Daly embarrassed for the ribbing. He coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cPaige is the one who holds down the fort while we\u2019re all away. You could say she\u2019s the boss around here.\u201d<\/p>\n Paige gave Daly a look, and he went on.<\/p>\n \u201cBut our real leaders are all out. There\u2019s about forty of us\u2014but we have two guys and a girl who are pretty much running the show. Ken, Luan, and Geneva. And Aiko?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre they adventurers? Like you?\u201d<\/p>\n Blake pointed at Daly\u2019s axe. Daly shook his head, grinning ruefully.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter. Ken\u2019s a [Negotiator]. You got classes, so you know what I mean. He and Aiko\u2014she\u2019s Japanese too\u2014they\u2019re always with Geneva. He talks to people, gets them to let her work in peace. Aiko\u2019s Geneva\u2019s number one assistant.\u201d<\/p>\n Besides Okasha. And no one was allowed to know about her. <\/em>Then Daly realized he hadn\u2019t said what Geneva did.<\/p>\n \u201cGeneva\u2019s a [Doctor].<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The word made all of the new Earthworlders look up. Diana urgently tugged on Nicoletta\u2019s arm. She\u2019d been swaying in the wagon, and Lorenzo had been helping her move about. Nicoletta looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cIs she here? Diana is sick.\u201d<\/p>\n Half of the people at the table drew back. Nicoletta waved a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, no. It\u2019s\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Blake. He looked grave.<\/p>\n \u201cDiabetes. She\u2019s out of insulin, and we\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKirana! <\/em>Grab us that kit!\u201d<\/p>\n He jumped as both Paige and Daly turned and shouted. Kirana was already grabbing for a bottle. She pressed it on Diana, and they rushed to explain what it was. The girl took a sip of the stamina potion after staring at it for a second. Then she gasped, and color flooded into her face. Daly took off and left the apartment to run and find the other person with diabetes\u2014Filip, of Poland. He was working as a [Scribe], but he repeated Geneva\u2019s instructions, and Daly came back, huffing and puffing, to find that Paige had already found the hand-written instructions.<\/p>\n They were explaining more about Baleros and this world to the Italians, filling in the gaps that they\u2019d guessed at. It turned out that the announcements in their head were a universal language, so the [Scavenger], [Survivalist], and [Skulker] classes they\u2019d received were all familiar to them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all working to survive here. The other species are different\u2014but they are people.<\/em> You can work and earn money, like everywhere. That\u2019s why so many are out right now. Working. Ken and Geneva and Aiko will be back tomorrow morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd she is a [Doctor]?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. She doesn\u2019t have her tools, but she studied medicine, and she\u2019s the best we\u2019ve got. Her and Luan are the oldest. He\u2019s a Runner.\u201d<\/p>\n Then they had to explain what Runners were. And adventurers again. Daly corrected himself as he sat at the table, drinking some of the sugar water that came from boiling water with nali\u00ad-<\/em>sticks.<\/p>\n \u201cCity Runner. Well, I say \u2018Runner\u2019, but he only operates on the water. He\u2019s a kayak\u2014sorry, a rower.<\/em> Nothing to do with kayaks. And he\u2019s an Olympian, a professional athlete.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe never actually competed.\u201d<\/p>\n Paige demurred. Daly snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cBut he\u2019s on the South African team.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAn athlete? He must be insane on the water.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake looked up. Daly grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cFast as fuck. When he gets back, you\u2019ve got to watch him zip around. He can move faster in that canoe than I can run. Way faster with Skills.\u201d<\/p>\n It was scary, really. But hearing about Luan was reassuring, as if someone who would have gone to the summer Olympics conveyed more safety. The Italians were relaxing by the time Nicoletta asked about the name.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy United Nations company?\u201d<\/p>\n They\u2019d understood that, but not the reason the Earthworlders had rallied around the name. Daly gave them a wry smile.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a symbol of home. Yeah, it\u2019s a bit stupid, but a lot of people know the name, right? And it wasn\u2019t us that picked it. Ken came up with it. He\u2019s an idealist. And between you and me, I don\u2019t think he knows quite what the UN did back at home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a good name, though. Really. It stands for something.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake hurried to reassure the others. He looked up and groaned.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel full<\/em>. Excuse me, do you have a bathroom? And\u2014a bath?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re hauling water for you right now. This way.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly led Blake upstairs. Paige caught him on the way down.<\/p>\n \u201cGood work.\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded at her, smiling. Then he felt at his belt pouch and frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cPaige, we\u2019re down two gold, nine silver, and two coppers. I\u2019m nearly out of money.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGot it. But we brought back four of our own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue.\u201d<\/p>\n Paige glanced over her shoulders. Daly heard an exclamation at the door. More of the company was returning from work.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn, there\u2019s going to be a crowd. I should get them upstairs and find them a room\u2014and a bath\u2014before everyone pours in. They need sleep, not more introductions.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll head them off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhile you\u2019re at it, can you get some xelca<\/em> meat? Kirana forgot to buy some.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw\u2014fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly went downstairs. There were more Earthworlders outside. Anders, wet from his work in the harbor, Filip, young men and women from a number of countries. Most were Australian, though. Daly raised his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, listen up you lot! We just got four more friends from home!\u201d<\/p>\n There was a cheer. Daly shouted over it.<\/p>\n \u201cRight, but before you come crowding inside, wait!<\/em> They\u2019re tired, exhausted\u2014half starved\u2014and they\u2019ve had enough excitement. Paige is getting them upstairs, so don\u2019t crowd them. Kirana\u2019s got food going, so we\u2019ll cycle you in and out\u2014half of you\u2019ll have to eat on the steps. And would someone buy some xelca <\/em>meat? I\u2019ve got money\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid someone say xelca<\/em> meat? My cousin sells it!\u201d<\/p>\n A Lizardman poked his head out of the house across the street. Daly wavered. That was Talenqual for you. No privacy.<\/p>\n \u201cUh, yeah. Can we get\u2014fuck. I don\u2019t know, six pounds?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, what\u2019s xelca<\/em> meat anyways? No one\u2019ll give me a straight answer when I ask.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Australians called out suspiciously. Daly heard a laugh from the Lizardman, who grinned and crawled out the shutter without answering. They also liked playing pranks. Daly shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThing to remember with Lizardfolk and their food? You don\u2019t ask. It\u2019s probably a toad or fish. Probably. And it\u2019s good when it\u2019s hot, edible when it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lizardman turned as he walked down the street.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh. That\u2019s catchy! I\u2019m going to use that. Good when it\u2019s hot, edible when it\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He disappeared. The other Earthworlders looked at each other in amusement. Then they began to ask questions, giving time for Paige to do her job. By the time the Lizardman came back with a wrapped package of xelca<\/em> meat in the long strips they were sold in, Kirana was ready to cook it. The Earthworlders went into the apartments, eating buffet-style, grabbing bowls and filling them before eating outside or shoulder-to-shoulder in the living room.<\/p>\n Halfway through the meal, Paige came down to announce everyone was asleep. Like Daly, she was immediately barraged by questions. A girl from Poland stood up.<\/p>\n \u201cAre they okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. Geneva can check, but they\u2019re just hungry. Nothing else. No one crowd them now. We\u2019re putting them up in a room by themselves. So it\u2019ll be a bit cramped.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s new?\u201d<\/p>\n Someone groaned. Paige folded her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re working on leasing another house. Our neighbors are open to the idea\u2014especially with all us noisy Humans tramping about. We just need Luan to get back with a hefty coin purse. Or someone to lose a limb and call in our [Doctor].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHere\u2019s hoping!\u201d<\/p>\n There was a quiet laugh. Paige fielded a few more questions, then headed back to her work room. And the others ate, talked or complained about their day, but all too soon went to sleep.<\/p>\n They\u2019d worked full jobs. And so they filled the upper floors of the apartment, sleeping in the crammed rooms as Daly and the Bushrangers stayed awake. They hadn\u2019t had that active a day. So they sat together in the dining room of the second apartment with the door closed and talked quietly.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like we\u2019ve got four new mouths to feed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll manage. We just need to take another big contract. And they\u2019ll work as soon as they\u2019ve got their legs under them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat if they don\u2019t? Like the group we had to kick out?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe deal with it then.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly sighed. He leaned back in his chair. Then he looked at the kitchen. Kirana was still hard at work, preparing breakfast this time. He could smell it, and his full stomach decided to rumble anyways.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, half of the newcomers think we\u2019re prepared for this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n The other Bushrangers looked up as Dawson relaxed. He waved his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cThis.<\/em> I was talking to Jeraldo? Think his name was Jeraldo. He and some of the others\u2014you know, the ones who came after us\u2014they think we\u2019re used to this because we come from the great Down Under. Like we\u2019re used to punching kangaroos and fighting off snakes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFuck off with that.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the other Bushrangers exclaimed, kneading her fingers together angrily. Daly kept his mouth shut.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy, because Australia\u2019s got bugs and spiders? Doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re all experts. Let\u2019s see. Fuck that and that and that<\/em>. What the hell is that thing?\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed to a few bugs crawling across the floor. They looked like ants\u2014but not ants from Earth. One was blue. Glowing. Daly grimaced. They must have been attracted to the food. Kirana kept a clean place, but Miss Hastel\u2019s apartments weren\u2019t exactly airtight, and bugs were a given in Baleros. No one worried unless it was an infestation.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a vote of confidence. Who else is going out and actually taking on monsters? Us. And the Swedes.\u201d<\/p>\n He nodded at Siri and Tofte. The Norwegian man looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cSome want to. But not when they know what it\u2019s like.\u201d<\/p>\n The others nodded. Once you\u2019d actually come face-to-face with a monster\u2014even a zombie, you learned how real it was. Hell, even a zombie\u2026Daly remembered having to slowly hack at the zombie\u2019s head just to bring it down. And the smell, the feel<\/em> of metal hitting bone\u2026<\/p>\n In the silence, Daly looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not all experts who live out in the bush. That\u2019s true enough. But someone\u2019s got to do this job. Push comes to shove, we\u2019re our company\u2019s first response.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we volunteered. We didn\u2019t have to.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly nodded as he glanced at Dawson.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone tells you how we should wander off and kill a Spear Spider with a boomerang, you just tell them we\u2019re not used to this. If they want to join up, they can. But it\u2019s not a fun job. I\u2019m proud of you all for stepping up.\u201d<\/p>\n There was a moment of silence. Then Dawson offered a tired smile.<\/p>\n \u201cLove you too, Daly. No homo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAw, you idiot\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The group broke up. Daly sighed as they trooped up the stairs\u2014to share a room this time. He stayed up, wondering if he could nap in the living room or if the ants would start crawling in his ears.<\/p>\n Eventually, Kirana finished her work and turned out the light in the kitchen. She headed upstairs, missing Daly. He was sitting so still he was invisible. And he had a Skill.<\/p>\n [Faint Presence]. An [Axe Warrior], a [Carpenter], and a [Rogue]. Apparently he might become a [Ranger] if he kept at it. Daly sighed. And then he heard a faint sound.<\/p>\n Someone was coming down the stairs. Daly looked up, about to call out. And then he saw Blake. Daly froze. His hand reached for his side. And then he reconsidered. He reached for something else instead. Blake walked down the stairs, barely making a sound. Quiet, slowly. He looked around the room and then crept for the door.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing somewhere?\u201d<\/p>\n Blake spun. He saw Daly, sitting in the shadows, one hand resting on the table. The other was in his lap. Daly pointed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not the suspicious sort. But we had one incident where a bloke tried to rob us and then do a runner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t. I was just\u2014I needed to step outside. Be alone.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake gulped. Daly eyed him, then shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cOutside? You\u2019ll just run into Lizardfolk. And there\u2019s no alone when you\u2019re with even one of them. Have a seat. Here\u2019s the best you\u2019ll get, probably.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled up a chair. Blake hesitated and then sat across from him. He stared at Daly.<\/p>\n \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to take anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe you. What\u2019s wrong? Can\u2019t sleep?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. It\u2019s\u2014I did sleep, but then I woke up. I couldn\u2019t get back. All of this\u2014it\u2019s too much to believe.\u201d<\/p>\n The kiwi uttered a short laugh. It was more like a bark of sound. Daly nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tough. But believe me, it\u2019s real. If pinching could wake me up\u2014it\u2019s all real.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. There\u2019s no way I\u2019m dreaming. But I want to be. You know?\u201d<\/p>\n Blake ran a hand through his hair. He fell silent. Daly waited.<\/p>\n \u201cAbout when we came here. What I said\u2014we got jumped on the first day, you know? Not by bandits or\u2014[Bandits]. By other people. From home.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly didn\u2019t move. Blake looked up.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I don\u2019t know who they were. They just came out of nowhere. This guy ran up\u2014they\u2019d smelled us cooking that fish. They told us to hand it over. One of the Italians said no. They started shoving each other and then\u2014they just attacked us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat nationality were they?\u201d<\/p>\n The other young man looked up. Daly elaborated.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you meet them, or if we run across them, it\u2019d be good to know. We can\u2019t take people like that into the company\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Blake uttered a strangled laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cNo fear of that. Like I said, after that day\u2014there were four of us. We ran. I don\u2019t know what the hell those others were\u2014they were like monsters. They didn\u2019t look as if they\u2019d been here for just a day. Completely psycho. And they had Centaurs with them. They were<\/em> [Bandits], I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow many Centaurs?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJust two. They were really young.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOutcasts. Centaurs expel troublemakers. Most die or form into groups like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess they do. But they didn\u2019t follow us. So we ran. Eventually, we got to this\u2014this village. Headed straight down a road and found them. They were\u2014Dullahans.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Daly frowned. Then why were they alone?<\/em> His hand twitched. Blake nodded. He was caught up in his story.<\/p>\n \u201cThey scared us so bad. We were running, and then this head<\/em> hidden in a tree trunk spoke to us and the bodies appeared out of nowhere. We thought we were dead. But they saw the blood and cleaned us up and even healed us. And when we told them what had happened\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n His voice broke. Daly waited, hearing Blake gulp.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were appalled<\/em>. You know? Just horrified. They patched us up, and their head person\u2014their [Village Leader]\u2014told me that justice would be served. The next day, a group of them in armor set out. They came back four days later with the heads of everyone in the bandit group.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how Dullahans do it. They take heads. On Dullahans, it works. They take the heads and the bodies try to get to them. Or die.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake uttered what sounded like a prayer in the darkness.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, well, these were Humans. And the Centaurs. The Dullahans told us justice was done. Two days after that, they kicked us out when they realized we couldn\u2019t do anything. Herded us out and told us they\u2019d cut off our heads if we came back without money to pay for lodging.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked up. Daly paused. Then he nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s Dullahans for you. I don\u2019t want to say it, but you got lucky. Not that lucky\u2014Lizardfolk would have been nicer. But you could have run into Centaurs. They might\u2019ve killed you then and there if they thought you were lying, or just left you to die.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n The tone in Blake\u2019s voice was flat. Daly nodded. He pointed up.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know Kirana? Priya? The Indian girls who help keep the place running? They were the last group we found. Just girls. I think they were this group we met the first night we were here. But\u2014the rest of them were dead. They took to stealing. Got caught in a Centaur town. Guess what they did?\u201d<\/p>\n Blake didn\u2019t say a word. He didn\u2019t need to. Daly nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know why Kirana and the other girls survived? Centaurs don\u2019t kill women unless it\u2019s in a battle. Even bandits.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDoes that make them better than Dullahans?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think they can be right bastards. Some of them. But that\u2019s their way. They think females shouldn\u2019t be treated like men. Or they respect the only gender that can give birth. They revere mothers and are really protective of children. Especially because childbirth\u2019s trickier for them. That\u2019s how Ken sees it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKen. You speak about him like he\u2019s your leader. Him and\u2014Geneva?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd Luan. They pulled us out of the fire. We were in a company. Mercenaries. We would have all been slaughtered in this war\u2014but Ken helped stop the fighting. So yeah, I look up to him. All of us do. Him and Geneva and Luan\u2014they keep us together. Because they\u2019ve got actual talent. Ken\u2019s a diplomat. Luan\u2019s an actual athlete. And Geneva\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The two sat in silence for a while. Blake looked up at last.<\/p>\n \u201cThanks for getting us. We would have stayed there until someone ran us off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s what we do. We have to stick together.\u201d<\/p>\n Daly nodded. He looked at Blake.<\/p>\n \u201cGet some sleep if you can. You\u2019ll have a full day of it tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will. Thank you. Again. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Blake stood up. He headed up the stairs, looking calmer. Or so Daly thought.<\/p>\n But was it just an act? Did someone wake up and just happen to go to the door?<\/p>\n People from Earth. Just because they\u2019re all from our home doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re all trustworthy.<\/em> Some nights,<\/em> Daly still wondered what had happened to Caroline. Was it just<\/em> an accident? What if Pihava or Bault talked?<\/p>\n Stupid.<\/em> Wasn\u2019t their knowledge from Earth useful? And there were other things to consider. Not everyone could work together. There\u2019d been one fight about one of the boys wanting to set up a place to pray and squabbles over sleeping arrangements. Friction.<\/p>\n Together but not together. It might get better when Ken and Geneva returned. It usually did. But in his heart, Daly struggled.<\/p>\n He had to believe Blake was on the up and up. He had to believe things would work out. He\u2019d watch Blake. He had to. He had to be the one who made the hard decisions. But he couldn\u2019t turn into the monster. His finger twitched and twitched. Daly tried to make it stop.<\/p>\n Baleros was war. It wasn\u2019t hell, although it felt like it sometimes. There was so much beauty here you could forget the blood and death. And then a day would come along and rip the illusion wide open. But it wasn\u2019t an evil place.<\/p>\n Daly had fought. He still fought, every day in fact. And he\u2019d learned something on nights like this. It wasn\u2019t monsters or even other people you were fighting. What you were really fighting was yourself. And whether you turned into a monster or didn\u2019t was the real battle.<\/p>\n Slowly, Daly reached into his belt pouch and pulled something out. A padded case, made of wood. He fumbled with it and then removed the little toothpick-sized quarrel from the crossbow in his lap. He stowed the miniature crossbow and carefully uncocked it before packing it into the case Paige had made for him.<\/p>\n Some nights, it felt like all he\u2019d done since coming here was learn how to kill things in different ways. With that thought in his head, Daly just pushed back the table and lay down on the floor. He fell asleep slowly as an ant crawled across his arm.<\/p>\n And the next day, Geneva came back.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Back home, Daly would have been enjoying his summer break. He\u2019d be flying back, looking forwards to being home. Of course, he\u2019d be looking for a job, but he\u2019d be glad to be home. He\u2019d even like to see his sister. Addy\u2019d been fighting with his parents often, and she was a pain to be […]<\/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":[11693086,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693135],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-5880","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-6","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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