Gamers Eight – Day four

Day 4

There were rumors around the city, that a demon had been seen, that the king had made a pact with the demon king, a dozen other rumors, mixed with just enough truth to not be believable. The one rumor that did circulate widely was that the king had summoned a group of people, one who was in prison, a demon and the king had made someone a [Lord].

Newton, Beth, Eve, Kuya, Xach and Lady Amethyst were in the main room talking.

“Turns out he was right, there is not a single reference to religion anywhere, other than class’s like [cleric], [priest], [acolyte], [holy paladin], among others. There’s some references to holy artifacts, and holy places, the thing is they are all vague or made in passing. I am beginning to lean towards Bloodstone’s theory that the gods did not fight each other, but with the various races.”, Newton said hefting a book.

“It’s one of the few working theories we have; the evidence suggests there was a falling out with the gods and the races. All records of the gods who they were, have been erased, destroyed, or just forgotten. It makes me think the gods they had were not the kinds of deities, we had in our world.” Beth said to the group.

“Phhht, who needs god,” Kuya said.

Xach was playing with his game boy system, and seemed to be ignoring the conversation.

“Me and Beth have worked out with Bloodstones help a plan to make concrete, steel and build the infrastructure to get it all moving. We still have a bunch of holes in the plan, the biggest is sources of materials, where to process the materials and how to get it to the different locations. iron, limestone, clay, and a source of fuel for heating the mixtures, converting the iron to steel. Lots of things to figure out, seriously if you’re just going to fool around can you leave?” Newton said listening to the beeps and music from the Gameboy system.

“I’m listening,” Xach said glancing at Newton, then back to the game.

“Does he ever take anything seriously?” He asked Kuya and Amethyst.

“Xach, stop being an ass.” Kuya said.

Xach looked up, clicked off the Game, “what about using magic, for heating, it would be easier to control. There’s enough of us here who could use magic, and it would be a good way to train fire magic, and ice and water magic for cooling.”

Newton just stared at him, “That’s a good idea, one we keep setting to the side, your right though, it’s a good way to train as well.”

Kuya asked, “Who doesn’t have [elemental] or [mage] as a class.”

Lady Amythyst, said, “Just [raid enchanter] and [illusionist] classes. I’m not a [tank] either.”

He looked over at Lady Amethyst “How did he heal Eve,you were there. A throat slash over one of the arteries, that’s usually fatal. We now have healing potions, thanks to the king’s [guardsman]. Though I am not sure if it would fix blood loss.” Newton asked.

“I was there, and I am not really sure what he did. He’s a pretty smart guy, you will have to ask him when he wakes up.” Amethyst said.

“We will, he kind of freaked us out when the connection was severed, we thought he had been hurt.” Beth said.

Marie the [maid] entered with a wooden push tray with food from the kitchen. “I have breakfast, the cook said to tell you Lady Amethyst that he would love to know about some of the thinks you like to make.”  She said bringing food and plates to the table.

They ate in relative silence, Newton leaned back and looked at the simple eggs and toast, still on the main serving dish he glanced at the maid. “There are a few things we know about this kingdom, it is pretty big, you have the main city, the capital. This is where we are now, in the King’s quarter, from what I understand, we are in the residences, not the fortress. There are the docks, and shipyards here in the city. There is also the first wall, that’s to the north west. There are a few, locations where you can get through the first wall to the space between the first wall and the second wall. A large strip that has ocean on both sides. this pattern repeats, to the fourth wall, where they are working on the fifth. There are major gaps open to the blight lands. Monsters and raiding parties of demons are frequent, between the fifth and fourth walls where there are no garrisons. It is about two days trip from here to the fourth wall, that’s by cart, walking would take longer, unless you have a skill.”

“Seems kind of a waste to make walls, like that,” Eve said.

“You would think they would use one wall to hold one wall to advance. It seems that they are taking territory slow back from the blight lands every hundred and fifty years or so. The thing is that it is not accelerating, its slowing. The territory they need to hold has expanded. The fifth wall they are trying to build will take at least eighty years with the tech they are using now.” Newton said.

“Why eighty years, you ask” Beth started. “Well the problems they have are, constant attacks, on the building zones, getting stone out to the sites, and the lack of skilled labor.”

“We have a plan, we can get this all compressed to a few years, we need to invent the following. Concrete, Steel.” He smiled as he continued, “dynamite, and trains.”

There was a bit of silence, “Isn’t that a little dangerous?”, Eve asked.

Newton shook his head, “No, it’s very dangerous, at least the dynamite stuff. We could invent guns, and bullets, however, it’s not something I personally know how to make. The biggest issue, is controlling the knowledge. Steel, Concrete and even trains are relatively safe technologies. The explosives, that’s going to have to be tightly controlled. It’s one of the reasons the inventor of TNT in our world made sure the profits from it went to improve humanity and make sure those who promoted peace and improve lives were recognized. Bloodstone has some ideas on how to keep the secret, from leaving the continent, I think me and him are the only one who know the full recipe for making the explosive we want to use.”

“I didn’t know my dad knew how to make explosives,” Kuya said.

“Technically he doesn’t but there is a book he has on his computer, and that’s all I am going to say.” Newton said seriously, “with Magic we can create some very precise controls; the only other thing I can think of is getting something that reads temperature accurately. Luckly we have someone who knows the conversions and how to get an accurate thermometer made.”

“So what do you want us to do?” Eve asked.

“Practice, Kuya has scribed some low level spells, fire , ice, electricity, water, light and dark are in the books, let take today and get some spell levels in the [mage] class or the [elemental] class, if we can. Seriously, the other group that they summoned was larger, according to the prince, and they made demands on the king and irritated him, they were here less than a week before getting sent to fight. I think your dad bought us some time, and I found something that he needed to deal with, and that bought us a window of opportunity.”

“I don’t care what the king wants, we should be asking the people what is going on, you know go to a bar, “ Kuya said, shrugging.

Beth sighed, “We went over this before, we keep the king off our backs and we can have a bit of free reign to figure out a way home. You still haven’t found the spell they were using to summon us here, keep working on that.”

“Sure, it’s just so boring, I can’t scribe all day every day, I need a break.” Kuya complained.

Lady Amethyst got up and went to Bloodstones door, “I’m going to stay with my husband. The enchanter we met with yesterday invited us to return at noon, perhaps you could make the trip and talk to her. Hold on let me get the other bag.” She went into the room and came out with one of the bags of holding and set it on the table. “there is a third of the remaining gold we had in there, so don’t go wasting it unless you can get something we all can study, or use.” She turned and went back into the room and closed the door.

“So who’s going?”, Newton asked.

It was decided that Eve wanted to stay, after some convincing the five of them headed out to the city, getting through the guards and gates wasn’t too difficult as all the guards seemed to know Xach from the training the day before.

The first thing they noticed was that the people looked serious, or focused. They hurried through the streets, and when the light rain started falling most of them were off the streets fairly quickly. The five of them had cloaks and put the hoods up. Many of the people only gave them a single look or got out of the way. Something about the group of them gave off the aura of not to be trifled with.

The first stop they made was a potion shop, Newton wanted to talk to a potion maker, and purchase some healing and mana potions. He also wanted to ask the shopkeeper about some specific chemicals as well as sources for materials.

The shop itself was neat and tidy, there was an older man mixing something in a pot. “Morning youngsters, what kin I do fer ya.” His apron was stained in a rainbow of stains from brown to yellow. A large set of leather gloves were next to the cauldron.

Newton stepped up, “I would like to buy some potions and ask some questions about potion making and chemicals, if you have the time.”

The man tasted what was in the pot, “Ben a slow day, I just have my lunch a brewing, the prices for potions are on the sign. You want to buy stuff to make potions from me, I f you’re a potion maker we could trade some recipes.”

Newton looked into the cauldron, inside was a brown sludge. He then looked over at the sign. “That pretty expensive for a potion, eight gold a piece, mana potions are three, would you be willing to reduce the price on bulk? “

The man took a bit of the brown sludge, “Almost done, you don’t like the price, it’s the lowest on the street, how many potions you looking to buy?”

“Well two healing potions for each of us, a mana potion for each of us, should we get a stamina potion or two?” Newton asked.

“Ten mana potions and eight healing potions, and three stamina potions should be enough for each of us.” Kuya said, looking at the potions on the shelves.

“fifty mana potions, forty healing potions, fifteen stamina potions?” The man asked.

“We have two other members who are not here at the moment,” Beth replied.

“Oh, um I don’t know if I have that much in stock. Never seen you in here before you just off the ship?” He asked as kuya looked at the potions.

“Nope, King summoned us; we are just stuck here till someone figures out how to send us back.” Xach said looking at his phone.

The shopkeeper stared at them for a moment, licked his lips, ”Your them hero types, sposed to help kill demons and wall building. Ami right?”

“Yeah, we wanted to know if you knew what lime was,” Beth asked.

“Green thing, come from warm places?” he asked.

Beth sighed, “Wrong kind of lime, looking for the stone kind of lime.”

“I, don’t think I have either type of lime you’re looking for missy” The shopkeeper said to Beth.

“I’m Beth, this is Newton, Xach, Kuya and Eve, Please don’t call me Missy”, Beth said a little hurt.

“Ok missy, you heroes’ here to buy potions, or just watch me eat lunch?” He said taking another bite of the brown goop.

Beth looked over at Newton, and rolled her eyes, “Ugh”

“We want to buy Seventy mana potions, thirtyfive healing potions, and fifteen stamina potions.” Newton said glancing at Kuya.

“I don’t have seventy mana potions on hand, I have fifty three, I can make more if you’re willin to wait a day.” The shopkeeper suggested.

“We can wait, that should be just shy of six hundred gold.” Newton said reaching for the bag of holding at his waist.

“You copper, silver or gold ranked ventures, seem kind of green to me.” The shop keeper said putting a scale up on the counter.

“What makes you say that,” Eve asked.

“Well you never haggled on the price, every venture that’s at least silver complains bout the cost, tries to haggle me down. Kinda refreshing knowing my work is preciated. Just cause you didn’t haggle, Ill throw in some anti poison and general disease cures, two fer each of you, hows that sound?” The shopkeeper asked.

“Sounds fair, how about you take a look at a list of things and tell me if you know what they are or if you know where we can get some.” Newton said taking a sheet of parchment from the bag.

“I like you,” The shopkeeper said holding his hand out for the parchment. He took the folded paper and started looking it over. “What do you want with aqua fortis, some nasty stuff that. Melt your face off, some of the stuff here on the list I can make or I can get.  The rest, not sure. Here let me keep your paper and see if I can get you prices, and amounts.” He suggested.

“Sure, I wouldn’t go mixing everything on that list together; I honestly don’t know what would happen.“ Newton said.

“You an [alchemist] “, he asked, looking over the list.

“Nope, I did take some chemistry in college, didn’t do too bad with it.  Why?” He asked.

“I don’t know what gummy worms are or, sweetish fish are, but if you describe them I might be able to figure out what they are.” He said looking at the list with more scrutiny

“Yeah those would be hard to explain, what about the last thing on the list.” Newton asked.

The shopkeeper looked at the bottom of the long list, “what’s a delorean,” he asked.

“It’s a metal thing, used in a few movies back home, why is that on the list.” Beth said, raising an eyebrow

“Yup a metal device, has all kinds of functions.” Newton said trying not to grin.

“I don’t know what that is,” Kuya said.

Eve looked over at her, “Seriously!? You never saw the movie with the delorean, I think I understand you a little more.”

“What is that supposed to mean,” Xach said

Eve burst out laughing, “Nevermind I will tell you later.”

“How you yungins plan to pay for these potions,” He asked.

Newton started putting gold on the scale. The shop keeper seeing the gold relaxed a little and started to gather up the potions requested and promised.

They had gathered up all the potions and put them in the bag of holding, Newton was carrying, they had taken delivery of half the mana potions, and the rest of the potions newton had had the shopkeeper bag them in a separate bag and put them in the bag of holding so as not to mix them up.

“You come back tomorrow and you can git the rest of the mana potions you ordered,” He said starting to eat his lunch.

After they left, the shop and were walking down the street, Eve asked, “Why the heck did you have some weird things on that list, a delorean?”

Newton grinned, “only someone from our world would even have a clue as to what some of the things on the list are, If someone stole the list and wanted to see what we are making, it is not going to help there is enough earth junk to confuse the locals. If someone tries to force you to tell them how to make something, you have a way out.”

“That’s being too paranoid,” Eve said.

“Is it, I’m protecting myself and you, until we can defend ourselves properly we have to keep our knowledge safe. Think of it as an insurance policy. We need to be indispensable to the king, so he leaves us alone. If we can get results, then we can move ont other projects, like figuring a way home.”  Newton said as they walked.

“Where are we going now?” Kuya asked.

“Not sure, your mother gave horrible directions to the enchanter’s house. I thought we would have been there by now.” Newton said looking around.

“Is that it,” Beth asked pointing to a four story building with a green lawn.

“Got to be, hopefully she will see us.” Newton said.

“I still think we should go to a bar, and get more information on this king” Kuya said, looking at the house skeptically.

“Stop with the bar, you don’t drink anyhow.” Xach said to Kuya

“Well it is, you know make contact with the…” She started to say.

“Stop, just stop, this is not some anime or manga.” Xach said.

“Just saying,” Kuya said dropping the subject.

“Can you two not fight, at least not till we get back to the palace.” Eve asked.

They went to the gate and went through to the door. Newton knocked twice. A young boy answered, “can I help you?” He asked.

“Yeah these two’s parents were here yesterday, they can’t make it asked if we could stop in and finish the conversation with your aunt I believe it was.” He gestured to Kuya and Xach

“Let me ask, “ He closed the door, and was gone for a bit, and then came back. “The [Enchanter] Jaslene will see you five, I will have to ask for your weapons to be left here at the entrance.”

The removed the weapons they had and left them on a table by the door.  They followed the young man out on to a veranda to the back of the property. There was an older woman wearing a deep green dress, it was elegant, and functional. She looked at them through her glasses. “You five, are as interesting as the two who were here yesterday. I am the [enchanter], Jaslene.”

Newton made the introductions, and she invited them to sit  around a small oval table out on the veranda. “So they will not be joining us today, pity I thought for sure your father could get that box open. Eve, that scar you have is rather odd, I have never seen magic burned into a person, it appears Bloodstone, has learned a lot in the short time he was here, I am impressed, Percival will you go retrieve my box.”

Percival, stared at her, “Are you sure, you said never to touch it.”

“Just go get it, use a cloth to pick it up.” She shooed him off the veranda. “I see your classes, are mostly known would you be willing to share what your classes are?” She asked.

Newton coughed, “I don’t have problem telling you my classes, Hero, Arithromancer, mage, and  knight, though I am not sure how easy getting them to tell you might be.”

Jaslene looked at Beth. Beth rolled her eyes, “It’s not like it’s a secret, Hero, Engineer, Mage.”

Jaslene, turned to Eve. Eve stared at her, grinned and said “[ladrón], [mago], [elementalista], and [héroe]”

Jaslene looked at her for a moment, blinked,” I see, and you” She looked at Xach.

Xach looked at her, “Pass”

She turned to Kuya, “What about you”

“Why do you want to know?” Kuya asked.

“I like to know the clients, helps me understand what they are looking for.” The Enchanter said to Kuya.

“Well, if you want to know my classes you have to make a deal with me,” Kuya said smiling. A white shimmer floated from behind Kuya’s ear and hung in the space between them.

“What is that?” Jaslene said surprised.

“That’s a thought mite.” She said staring at Jaslene.

“What is a thought mite, I have never heard of them.” She said staring at the soft glowing orb.

Percival returned with the box wrapped in a small blanket. He set it down on the table and opened the blanket. The orb of light dove into the box and vanished. Everyone at the table stared at the box.  Percival backed up away from the table waiting for his aunt.

The orb floated out and went to Kuya’s ear.

Kuya smiled, “I know what is in the box.”

“What?” She asked.

“Make a deal with me.”, Kuya said.

“You’re a very strange woman, what is in the box” Jaslene, said as Kuya stared at her.

Eve looked over at Kuya, “Where is that thing from, is it dangerous?”

Kuya not breaking eye contact, said, “It is very dangerous, it eats mana, and it’s a familiar of sorts.”

Xach stretched, “Keep your thought mites away from me.”

“Ok what kind of deal,” Jaslene asked.

“A good magic item for all of us and the box and everything in it. I will tell you my class, and show you what is inside the box.” Kuya asked still staring at her.“I don’t think you will want what is inside the box, Xach might, he is weird like that.” Kuya said still staring at her.

“That’s not much of a deal,” she said looking at the box on the table.

“I see, it’s your box, we just came here to see about magic items” Kuya said still staring.

Jaslene looked at the box then at Kuya who was still staring at her. She licked her lips, “Do you know how long I have had that box, twenty years, and you tell me you can open it. I spent five hundred gold on that box and twenty years, and you say you can open it?“

“Yes, how about this, then a magic item for every one of our group, that is of equal quality, and if you don’t like the contents of the box you sell us everything in it including the box itself for five hundred gold. Deal?” she asked.

“How many are in your group?” She asked.

“Seven of us, us five and my parents. I will even let items be from the box. “ Kuya continued to star at her.

“Ok I will accept your deal if you can open the box.” She said.

“Done.”, Kuya said. The ball of light became more solid and hovered over the box.  There was a soft click, and the lit popped up about half an inch. The ball zipped up above Kuyas head.

The woman gingerly reached out to open the lid. As it opened there was a soft hiss, a claw popped the lid open. A silvery metallic cat sat up. There were actual strands of fur silver fur. It looked around its eyes deep green orbs, it focused its attention on the enchanter.

“My word, a cat construct. The workmanship is exquisite,” She gasped.

“Madam, you are not worthy to be the heir to my masters works, not now not ever.” The cat looked at Kuya, “I acknowledge you, will you allow me to serve.”

The orb above Kuya’s floated between her and the cat construct. and Kuysa said, “Neo, is the only familiar I am comfortable with, my brother might be interested.”

The cat’s eyes narrowed, “That you decline makes you even more worthy of becoming the heir to my masters works, that you have a sibling, here, is very interesting.” The cat looked at each of them and settled on Xach.

The woman considered the box, and the cat, said “Touch nothing in my master’s box, without me as a guide you will certainly die.” Inside could be seen a deep red pouch, tied with a golden colored string, and the spine of a book leather book, covered in runes. There was just enough space for the cat to rest comfortably on top.

“You’re her younger brother, you too would be worthy to become the heir to my masters work, will you allow me to serve?” The construct asked.

Xach looked at the cat, “Not really into the whole familiar thing, so naaa.”

Eve looked over at Kuya and Xach, “You two are freaks, freaks I tell you. What about me am I worthy?” She asked.

The construct looked her over, “You are joking?”

Eve got into the cats face, “Are you making fun of me?”

The cat turned back to the box, “I was tasked with finding someone who could be the heir to my masters magic or could at least understand it, I am sorry there rest of you do not qualify.” With that in hopped into the box and closed the lid with a click.

There was a long silence. Jeslene just stared at the box. “Can you open that box again?” She asked.

Kuya looked at her, “No, you will just make it angry, and he will take the box somewhere else. I claim the box for my parents, one of them may be able to be worthy. You now owe me six more magic items.”

She stammered, “I agreed to no such thing. The deal was if I didn’t like the contents of the box, I would sell it.  I like the contents and will not sell it.”

“Then you owe me seven magic items, I opened the box, as you requested.” Kuya said her voice getting softer, but sterner.

Jeslene opened her mouth to say something, and closed it, thinking.

Kuya glared at her, and her eyes changed to jet black, her voice changed and resonated, “If you are going to break the deal, there will be consequences.”

Everyone looked at Kuya, Jeslene sighed, “fine I will give you six items, of my choosing, and sell you the box, for five hundred gold.”

Jeslene picked up her cane, and walked into the house. “Percival, please get my scales.” Percival followed her into the house.

She returned a few minutes later, with a satchel under her arm. She glared at Kuya, “Most of these items, I wouldn’t be able to sell as no one really wants them.”

She set down on the table a gaudy amulet, with a red crystal, a pair of boots, a belt of metal plates, with a polished round buckle, a piece of blackened wand, a suit of leather armor, that looked like it had seen better days, it looked worn and stained various shades of brown, and a small white ring with a white stone in its setting. The last item she put on the table was a shimmering blue black cloak, she folded it neatly and put it on the table.

Percival returned with a set of weights and a balancing scale, he placed it on the table. “Now who is going to pay me my five hundred gold?” Jeslene asked.

Newton began placing coins on the scales pan, it took a bit of time, and eventually the five hundred gold coins were placed in neat stacks on the table.

“Now I will tell you what the items are, I will not buy them back, and I don’t think anyone on the continent will be able to purchase them from you.” She said as she sat down back at the table.

“Hold on let me start recording this just in case,” Newton replied as he pulled out his cell phone.

“First, the amulet will deflect blows, or arrows, it will take time to recharge, it’s not going to be able to deflect more than one or two direct blows, without needed to be allowed to recharge, for at least a day. The boots will make tracking you nearly impossible, as it will obscures your tracks, however you can also leave tracks of any beast you find. The belt will increase your strength, the biggest drawback is that you will need to rest if you overexert yourself; you will also gain muscle the longer you use it, The fighter I purchased it from said he was strong enough already without it, and no one he knew wanted to buy it from him.  The wand allows you to channel fire; it came to me in the condition it is in, the mage who sold it to me, said she would come back for it, that was ten years ago, and I know that she left Rhir, shortly after selling it. The armor, was found in the west dungeon, and no one wanted it, its spelled to resist various elements, fire, cold, and lightning, there is nothing I can do about its appearance. The ring allows one to take control of undead, as a necromancer would, though it seems to be able to only control one undead creature. The last item is a cloak of warmth, it will keep you dry and warm, be it in a blizzard or in a raging rain storm, the only thing is that it is uncomfortably warm for most people. I have sold it twelve times and always have it returned with the same complaint, it’s too warm.” She finished reciting the attributes of each of the items, then turned to Percival, “Percival I think I will have tea out here, would you be a dear and put the scale away and start tea, will you stay for tea”

Percival picked up the weights and the scale, he rolled his eyes and walked off the veranda back into the house.

“We can do that, if it is not an imposition,” Newton said before the rest of the group could descent. He then put his phone away.

“Not at all, bring extra cups Perci,” She called after Percival.

The group sat in silence until Percival returned with a tray, with a tea kettle and six white porcelain cups. “Anything else,” He asked.

She waved him off, and he stood behind her several feet.

The group of them drank tea, and then gathered up the items and put them into the bag one at a time. The box Kuya picked up and carried along her arm.

Percival showed them out shortly after.

The stood outside the gate, “We should head back to the palace,” Newton suggested

“A bar, so we can learn more about this kingdom,” Kuya said looking down the street.

“Ill go with her, you can head back,” Xach said to the others.

“Nevermind, ill go tomorrow, “ kuya said giving Xach a dirty look.

The headed off back to the palace.

 

Bloodstone woke up and heard the familiar voice in his head.

[Psion level four]

[Wizard level three]

“Well that’s nice,” he said out loud.

“Whats nice,” Amethyst asked.

“Just leveling up,” He said sitting up and looking over at her.

“You scared the crap out of me!”  as she sat on the bed next to him.

“Oh you mean Eve,” he looked abashed.

She hugged him, and kissed him.

There were three wagons; they had been traveling for two days, stopping along the route back to the capital. The orders were to bring, the bodies of any of the heroes summoned. The king had ordered that if they fell they were to be brought back to the catacombs under the royal cemetery. This was practical, as well as a smart thing to do.  They could search the bodies for any gadgets, or magic they had acquired as well as keep the bodies from being used by anyone but the crown. There had been a lot of deaths from the Heroes, the soldier who drove the lead wagon wasn’t impressed. He had seen them cry and whine like children. “Heroes bah, corpses now.” They would be in the capital before noon and a short trip to dump off these bodies and they could relax a day or two before they got sent back to the blight.

They arrived at the palace checkpoint.

“What are you carrying?,” The [soldier] on duty asked.

“Corpses for the crypts, king’s orders,” he said passing over a scroll.  The soldier looked over the scroll and lifted the tarp covering the bodies; they had been wrapped in burlap to keep the flies off. There was still a smell that never went away. The counted the corpses and waved the first wagon through.

He pulled off to one side inside the courtyard, waiting for the other two wagons. The soldiers looked over the bodies and counted them up. They waved them through after each inspection. The soldier at the gate made a note on the scroll and gave it to the last driver.

The soldier looked around while he waited for the other two wagons. There were more soldiers than he remembered in the courtyard, most of them were training or watching or running errands.

An older man walked up to the side of the wagon, and looked up at him, “I am to understand that you and your men are transporting summoned heroes.” The man asked.

“That is correct, and who might you be sir?” He asked, pretty sure the older man was supposed to be here as none of the soldiers got in his way and even took care not to get in his. The woman who was with him was pretty, and walked next to him with one arm looped in his.

“Bloodstone, I wanted to talk with them if that’s possible.” The man asked him.

“If you’re a necromancer or some class that can speak with the dead then I have no objection.” The soldier replied.

“Dead?” he asked.

“Yeah, here take a look.” He said and lifted the tarp. There were ten bodies, arranged on the back of the wagon, they could have but all the bodies on one wagon, but had been worried about getting stuck, in some of the muddy roads between the outer villages. The woman with him looked as well.

“I see,” he said looking at the other two wagons as they approached. He turned his head slightly and started walking towards the second wagon, The woman followed him.“That’s odd,” He said.

“What?” Amethyst asked.

“Something’s not right, I can sense the driver, and something else, its faint.” He said closing the distance.

The soldier from the first wagon hopped down and walked with him, “Is there a problem?” he asked.

“Let us find out, have your man get down off the wagon and pull the tarp.” He said.

He gestured to the driver of the second wagon, who nodded and hopped down and walked over to them.

“What up boss,” The second driver asked.

Bloodstone hopped up onto the back of the wagon and pulled the tarp off to one side.  Ten more corpses were arranged in the back just like the first. He looked at each one of them and stopped. He pulled the burlap off, and looked at the face. It was a woman; she had blond hair, and a horrible purple bruise on the right side of her face. He gently touched her forehead.  He stood there like that for about ten seconds, stood up and hopped down off the wagon. He called over one of the other soldiers.

“She’s still alive, I have no idea how she’s still alive.” Bloodstone gestured back to the wagon, talking to the lead driver.

The soldier came over , “Sir?” he asked.

“I need a stretcher, a heavy board, some rope and a place I can work, that’s elevated and warm. I also will need hot water, some clean cloth, a couple of blankets, and a broth”, he rambled out.

The soldier nodded and ran off get more men and get things he had been asked for.

“That’s not possible, they checked.” The lead driver said.

“Oh she is alive alright, barely. I am not blaming you, far from it. Let’s check them all just to be sure.” He said walking to the third wagon. Under the tarp were nine bodies he checked each one. He was about to jump down when he grabbed his phone and took pictures of each of them. He then covered them back up with the burlap.

He walked back to the first cart, and repeated the process, taking pictures and returning the burlap over their faces.  Returning to the second cart the soldiers had returned with the board and rope, as well as a stretcher.

A soldiers asked, “ You needed a stretcher?”

A second soldier carrying the rope and board walked up to him,”What is the rope and board for?”

The two drivers, watched as he climbed back up onto the wagon and checked the rest of the bodies and he had a small glass device that seemed to capture images onto its surface.  He set the board down next to the woman, with the rope underneath and inched her over very carefully onto the board. Using the rope he tied her to the board.

“What is he doing, isn’t she dead” A soldier asked.

Lady Amethyst watched without saying anything.

“”He says she’s not, dead, not sure why he’s bothering I believe her neck is broken” The second driver said.

Bloodstone hopped out of the wagon, “can you soldiers bring her to where I can work, if I have to bring her to the suite we are using I will.“

A third soldier ran up to the gathering group, “The captain said you can use one of the storage rooms, it’s this way.”

Three soldiers got the stretcher board and the woman off the wagon and followed the other soldier to the storage room.

Bloodstone grabbed Amethyst by the hand, “going to need your help”, and they followed the soldiers. He got about ten steps turned and said to the lead driver, “I’m taking this one, if they have any questions tell them to come see me.” With that resumed following the soldiers.

“Any idea what that was all about” The third driver said to the other two drivers.

“Beats me, I thought she was a corpse,” The second driver said.

The soldiers brought her into a storage room, and looked like it hadn’t been used for much of anything except storage. The gently placed the wrapped up woman on the table, then left. The soldier, brought in three blankets, they were made of what looked like wool.

“Let us see if we can do anything for her”, he said as he started to remove the burlap.

The two of them got her cleaned up, and bloodstone was able to determine her neck was indeed broken, her breathing was very shallow and she was cold to the touch. He sat down on a barrel, she was under the wool blanket, facing up.

“We need to turn her over, the reason she’s not breathing well is there is an arrow in her back. They must have broken it off thinking she was dead, probably saved her life. Problem is that her neck can’t be moved, until it is fixed.” He said to Amethyst.

“Is she awake?” She asked.

“No, she’s unconscious though she has moments of lucidity, where she seems to be awake. Screw it, removing the arrow first, just have to hold her head and neck still. Going to need a mana boost.”

She cast a spell and a glow surrounded them for a moment. “Like that?” She asked.

“Brilliant, I have an idea.”, He said as he used one of the blankets to hold her head in place.

She was resting on her side, and a visible puncture wound could be seen and the nub of an arrow shaft stuck out of it.  It oozed a yellow liquid, the wound itself looked red and inflamed.

“She’s tough this one, a broken neck, and arrow in the back and she’s still breathing. Can you have someone bring some alcohol, something like vodka or straight alcohol would be best, the wound needs to be cleaned.” He asked the soldier who was still outside the doorway.

“Can you help her,” Amethyst asked.

“I think so, not without your help though; I don’t have the mana I would need to do this, at least not at the levels I am at now.” He said seriously.

The soldier returned with a bottle of clear liquid. “Captain said this should do the trick”

Bloodstone took a few deep breaths, “Ok I am going to pull that arrow out, going to use magic to do it.”

There was a sickening squishing noise as the shaft of the arrow pulled free with the arrow point, the point was barbed, and the flesh around it was moved to allow its passage. Pus and green fluid drained from the wound. The smell was putrid and made the soldier holding the liquid gag. The arrow pulled free and floated in the air. The arrow dropped to the table with a dull thud.

“It’s as bad as I thought it was,  maybe worse.” He took the bottle and washed out the wound with some of the liquid. Taking a cloth he wiped away the putrid green liquid and pus from the table and her back. “Burn this.” He said wrapping it up in another cloth.

The soldier gagged again and took it holding it at arm’s length.

“I think it was a poisoned arrow, makes me want to burn demons more and more.” He said out loud.

He washed out the wound two more times, a bit of red began to flow from the wound.  He let it go for a minute then used another clean cloth to clean the wound.

The soldier returned, looking less green than when he left.

Bloodstone handed him the second batch, and the soldier turned green again and left with the cloth dripping alcohol and he went.

“Now for the hard part,” Bloodstone said, sitting back down on the barrel.

He started breathing rhythmically with his eyes closed. “What a mess, there are bone fragments all over, I am going to use the hole in her back to remove the pieces.”

The soldier returned and watched as nine small bloody bone fragments dropped out of the wound on her back. The soldier turned his back and looked down the corridor.

“Those fragments are too random to put back in the puzzle.  There one vertebrae locked back in place, nothing missing, onto the next.” He said more out loud than to anyone else.

This went on for an hour sweat had been dripping down his forehead since he started.  “All done with the bones, the fragments can be absorbed back by the body.” The nine fragments flowed back into the wound.

There was a stirring from the woman. “Ugghh, my head” she said somewhat slurred.

Bloodstone got off the barrel and kneeled so he was eye level with the woman.

“Please don’t try and move yet.” He said to her.

“Why can’t I feel my arms or legs?” She said still slurring her words.

“You may have a concussion, and spinal damage. What is the last thing you remember”  He asked softly.

“Last thing, running from an attack, they said to run, I ran. I ran into something, not sure what it was, it swung a club at me, am I dead?” She asked.

“No your alive, and I am trying to help you, get back on your feet. There it is, this should help.” He said

“Huh, my mouth has a really bad taste in it.” He speech was a lot more coherent.

“Yup, you keep talking I will keep linking up the broken nerve ends only a few thousand to fix. So what’s your name, wait don’t tell me, your name now is mouse” He winked at her.

“Huh, my name is“, and she froze, “I can’t remember my name.”

“Nope, I don’t think you are going to want to tell anyone your name, at least not right now mouse.” He said teasing her a little.

“My name is not mouse, its..” she tried to remember.

He got a little closer, “I need you to focus, your hurt really bad, I really can’t do much more without your permission, since your awake and all.”

“How bad am I hurt” She asked.

He reached out and touched her shoulder, “Do you feel that” He asked.

“No, I can’t feel anything” she looked scared.

“I can fix the damage, you’re going to be in a lot of pain, as we progress.“ He said seriously

“Give me a healing potion then, please.” She begged.

“Not all your bones are set and not all the severed nerves are stitched in place, a healing potion would leave you just like you are now, and much harder to fix until it wore off. Your arm is broken, its stitched in place, your neck was broken, the bones are stitched in place, there is a lot of swelling and some of the nerves in your spine were severed from the neck damage, and there is the concussion damage. You need to give me permission, It’s not that complicated.”He said as he glanced at Amethyst.

“Just heal her,” Amethyst said crossing her arms.

“She’s awake; I have to know if she wants to be helped.” He said turning back to the woman.

“Please help me,” She said tears in her eyes.

Bloodstone nodded, “Very well then, Amethyst can you put her back to sleep?”

Amethyst nodded and cast a spell, and the woman was asleep instantly.

“You are such a bastard,” Amethyst said.

He stood up and turned and looked at her, “Maybe, I have work to do” without another word he sat back down on the barrel, he sighed once, “More mana please”

She cast a spell and he was surrounded by a blue glow.

 

It took him hours to finish, and when he was done he had them carry her to the suite. She was put in the extra bedroom.  Bloodstone had returned exhausted to his bed. Newton and the rest had returned and gone straight to the library, they returned later, and found Lady Amethyst sitting in the main room, having dinner.

“Where is Bloodstone?” Newton asked.

“Sleeping”, she replied taking a drink, from a crystal bottle.

“Still, Lazy turd”, Kuya said.

Lady amethyst raised an eyebrow, “Really, you have no idea how exhausted we are.”

“We got some magic items, from the [enchanter]” Xach said grinning.

“I’m going to bed, we can deal with everything in the morning.” Amethyst said leaving the bottle on the table and going to bed.

“Let’s eat,” Newton said grabbing a plate of food.