Day 11

 

Bloodstone awoke, in a large bed, he attempted to sit up and only got a few inches, there was an arm draped over him. Violet was snuggled next to him.

“You know you snore.” Isabel said, he looked over to where she sat in a chair.

“Sorry,” as he tried to get his arm out from under Violet.

“Careful if you wake her up we will be here for at least another hour.” Isabel said.

Bloodstone slid his arm out and sat up, only Isabel and Violet were in the room, there were ribbons all over the bed frame.  He slid out of the bed, and realized he was buck naked.

“I have them here, let her sleep.” He could see Isabel was holding his clothes from the night before. She was fully dressed in a very pretty dress.

He changed into them and they went to the door. Once outside he looked at Isabel. She had changed into a simple dress. “Where is everyone else, I remember someone suggesting it was late, after that it’s a blur.”

She shrugged, “I think after all the excitement you fell asleep. how many times did you rewind yesterday?”

“I didn’t”

“Liar, you can’t fool me. You asked me at least dozen times, to do things or suggest things. How many times”

“I don’t know, I lost count.”

Isabel sighed, “You really can’t keep doing that. There’s another issue you need to deal with. Xyrdianes wants to have the marriage dissolved now that Sutter is gone. No rewinding!”

Bloodstone sighed, “Fine, she seemed all for it yesterday, what changed?”

“You scared the crap out of her last night, you were talking to everyone in their heads, don’t you remember.”

“Sorry, no I was just glad I had finally out maneuvered that asshole. Marcus passed the captain the deed to his ship, so we shouldn’t be seeing Sutter again. I will go talk to Xyrdiane”

“I will go with you.”

“Is that really necessary?”

“I need to keep you on a tight leash,” She teased. Isabel stood next to the door out of sight.

They found Xyrdiane in one of the rooms on the second floor, with her head deep in a spell book. “Isabel says you want to talk.”

She looked up, closed the book she was reading, “I don’t feel that I should be with your group, you agreed and you don’t know me, I thought that Rana was gone. It was selfish of me to get you involved with my problems.”

The Gazer woman was dressed in a revealing shirt and pants, and sitting to one side, her eyes moving in various directions, her main eye was on Bloodstone. She stood up from the chair and walked over to Bloodstone. “Lord Bloodstone,” She said bowing,” You brought me back from death, a power only the dead gods were said to hold. Who are you?”

“Didn’t we go over that, maybe not. I’m from another world, you’re welcome to stay as long as you like, and those cells are going to be dismantled.”

“We are grateful for you rescuing us, from torture and starvation. I would like you to release me from the marriage.”  Xyrdiane asked.

“Sure, I can do that if that’s what you really want. I will let Coreen know and we will have it annulled. Is that all?” he said turning to leave.

“I would like to have our equipment returned, we have been held by Sutter for a year, we refused to give him what he wanted.”

“I don’t see any reason not to give it back to you the vault is open, if it’s in there feel free to take what you need.”

The two of them looked at him, “He’s telling the truth.” Ranathil the half gazer said.

“You are the strangest person I have ever met.” Xyriane replied looking thoughtful.

Bloodstone shrugged, “I can tell Coreen now.” He turned to leave again.

“Wait, I think you deserve an explanation.”  Bloodstone paused and turned back. “We are or were part of a group doing research into the nature of magic. There are many noble houses that keep ancient writings from being seen. I was once in a Nobel house that had such knowledge. Twenty-two years ago, a merchant brought down my family’s house and took all our holdings as his own. It was through luck and good fortune that I escaped, and took some of the texts and books, with me.  Later I met Rana and we joined an adventuring group, to delve into some of the lore hidden in those books. We found some of those secrets that our ancestors wished to bury. Events that should never be revealed. I also can’t accept this.” she placed the amulet on the desk.

“Why not?” He asked.

“It’s too powerful, it can be abused, if someone found out I had that.” She shuttered.

“There are secrets worth keeping, some to protect others, some secrets to keep knowledge that would corrupt out of hands that don’t understand it. If you don’t want to trust us, I understand, it’s hard to trust someone you just met. If this is what you want I will respect that.”

“You don’t understand what that bastard did to us.”

“You’re right, I don’t know what he did, do you want to talk about it.”

“I keep thinking this is a trick, when you spoke to me in my mind, last night. That terrified me.”

“Lord Bloodstone, I see no hostility towards my kind, or hers. Most humans do not like half races.” Rana said

Bloodstone shrugged, “Your just people, if I let my prejudice get in the way just because you look different I am the one who would lose out. You have a different perspective on the world than I do.  You are also the bravest being I have ever seen, you stepped in front of that bolt, it wasn’t for my sake it was for hers. You made a split-second choice, without hesitation, that makes you a hero to me.” He again turned to leave.

“I expected you to be angry, to lash out. I don’t know any more what to think. You could force me to stay.”

He turned and said, “If I forced you to stay, I would be just as bad as Sutter.” He leaned in a kissed her forehead with that he turned and fled from them.

Isabel waited, and walked into the room. “Are you satisfied?”

There were tears on her face, and Ranathil was staring off in another direction as if following him through the building.

Xyrdiane nodded, “I thought you were lying”

“I don’t need to lie. We all need someone to help us when things are hard, it’s when we go it alone and scorn the help that things go bad. I am blind and I see the truth you two don’t”

“What truth?” Ranathil asked.

“That you two wanted a hero to rescue you and when that hero arrived he disappointed, because he is so normal. I think you’re afraid that if you gave him a chance you will find that you actually do like him and could actually love him ” Isabel turned and walked down the hall feeling the wall as she went.

She heard, Xyrdiane say softy, “Do you think she’s right?”

Coreen sat at the desk going through stacks of papers, reading and examining deeds. Bloodstone walked in, “How’s it going?”

“Well, it’s a mess. What can I do for you”?

“Couple of things, I just talked to Marie and Hellen, they agreed to send some information to the king, Newton is setting it up with them. Had a weird conversation with Xyrdiane and Ranathil, they seem to want to leave” he shrugged. “Where is everyone else?”

“The vault, Marcus is keeping an eye on things. I really need to have someone help me with this” She gestured to all the deeds and paperwork.

“You find a place we can setup in the third district?”

“I have been sorting the holdings. That stack is third district and that one big place you had me find earlier.” She pointed to a stack on another desk.

“Can you find it, I don’t want to mess up what you have done so far.”

She got up and started looking through the deeds. Bloodstone looked over her shoulder. “It’s weird, being able to control my own body. Being trapped like that, gives me a perspective.” She turned around and hugged him. “Just feeling warmth, and smelling things.”

“Well we can’t stay here for more than a couple of days, you can though. Have you given any thought as to what you’re going to do?” He hugged her back, and smelled her hair.

“It’s strange thinking like that, I can have a life. I can hold someone, you gave everything my father took from me and more. I think I am still in shock.”

“Well you have a lot more work to do, we will need to get communications going. Once we leave here.” He stepped back from her embrace.

“We can use runners; the distances are not too far, what are you going to do today.”

“Well, I haven’t thought about it really. Usually after getting married there is a honeymoon, though we really don’t have time for that.” He joked.

“Honey moon, is that a desert?”

Bloodstone laughed, “It depends, Violet thinks it’s the main course.”

“Oh? Oh!…” She said turning bright red.

“Sorry, your still are not comfortable with the sex talk, on another note any idea what to do with these classes.”

“What classes,” she said retreating back behind the desk, blushing bright red.

“[Butler], [Assassin], [runner], and [burglar]” he asked.

“I don’t understand what you mean. Who has those classes?“

“I do, I can transfer them to someone else, any thoughts on that?”

“Not really. [Burglar] that’s an odd class”

“It’s the [butler] and [assassin] ones that are higher, you know anyone who could use them?”

“Let me think about it.”

“I need to get a deed or two to a home, anything in here you could recommend?”

“What are you looking for specifically?” Coreen asked.

“A home for Xrediane, if she wants an annulment she needs to have the requirements in the contract. I think that we should have specific homes for each of the wives, like this place is yours if you want it.”

She eyed him for a good thirty seconds, and then started looking through some unsorted deeds, “Here use these two.”

He looked over the deeds and nodded, “these should work, if it’s not enough she can come back and complain.

“When do you think you will be leaving?”

“Tomorrow or the day after depends on how I feel. I’m going down to the vault; you need anything brought back down or up?”

“Something to eat would be nice.”

“Anything specific you want?”

“No, maybe some of that dough with cheese on it, what did you call it?”

“Oh the Pizza, yeah I will have them bring you something.”

He left and asked one of the maids to get Coreen a meal. He headed down to the vault. Marcus stood at the door, and eyed him as he approached.

“Morning Marcus”

“Morning, I think your son is going through the weapons again.”

“Really, anyone else come down?”

“No, just Coreen when she opened it up this morning to get the deeds.”

Bloodstone looked at the vault door the cane was still in the vault door, as it was required to open the lock. He walked inside Xach was looking at half a dozen weapons he had pulled from the back of the vault.  “You busy?”

“Na, just looking for a good axe,” he said looking over a double bladed axe.

“Azalar you still down here?” he said aloud.

“I am.” He said next to the wooden box.

“I am taking the box out, you want to follow or be carried?”

Bloodstone picked up the box and Azalar jumped down as if to follow him. Marcus watched the black cat follow Bloodstone out of the vault. “Act like a real cat till I say ok?”

Bloodstone returned to the second floor, and knocked on Xrydiane’s door. A moment later Rana opened the door, and then stepped out of the way so he could enter.

Xyrdiane looked up from her spell book, “I feel I owe you an apology.”

“Do you have some time, I want to have you look at something?”

“I do, what do you want me to look at” She asked.

“What?” Rana said.

Bloodstone placed the box on the desk, “Can you tell me what this is?”

She looked at it and felt along the sides. “It’s magical, there no keyhole” She looked it over more, “The magic on this is exceptional, was this in the vault?”

“No, my daughter got it in the capital, as well as Azalar.” The black cat jumped onto the desk, and shifted to become the silver cat.

“ຕາຂອງຂ້ອຍຫລອກລວງຂ້ອຍ” Rana said startled. “What?” He said looking at Rana.“I don’t understand how I could not see it before” she said focused on Azalar.

Xyrdiane looked at the cat and then the box, “This cat is a construct, I have never see something so well crafted.”

“Why thank you” Azalar replied.

“It talks!” Rama said even more surprised.

“I do not know how you would open this box, can it even be opened?” She asked.

“The cat was in the box, so yes it can be opened”

Xyrdiane and Rana both looked at Bloodstone intently. “I find that hard to believe” Xyrdiane said.

“I can open it if you want.” Bloodstone replied

“I would like to see that as well,” Azalar said.

Bloodstone placed his hand on the top of the box, and whistled a single pure note of sound. There was a click and the box opened.

“I accept you as the heir” Azalar replied.

They peered into the box inside was a large leather bound volume, that appeared to be bigger than the box was deep. There was also a red silk bag with gold colored draw strings.

Bloodstone reached inside the box and pulled out the bag and set it on the table. He then pulled the volume out of the box and set it on the table as well. “I would like you to come with us when we go north, some the group are going to stay here.”

“What are you really after?” Xyrdiane asked staring at him.

“Honestly, a way home. I am not from this world. Neither is Amethyst, Kuya, Xach, Newton, Beth, Eve, Sarah and oh Miguel. There are others here as well, a way back home for them is one of the things I would like to find or at the very least the way we were brought here”.

There was silence as they stared at him, Rana finally spoke up, ”You are the strangest human I have ever met, and now I know why.”

“I’m not sure if that a compliment.”

Xyrdiane smiled, “coming from her, that’s a compliment.”

Bloodstone opened the bag, and reached in and pulled out a book. It was red leather, and embossed in gold lettering. The title of it was, A beginners guide to the arcane arts volume three. Bloodstone pulled out two more volumes, there was a set of what looked like spell books, fourteen books in all. The titles were basic spells, volumes one through fourteen. Two more books on advanced spell casting. More spell books followed twelve volumes of spells wrapped in blue leather. Then a single volume of crafting spells as well as advanced techniques. He then pulled out seven volumes in white leather. After that he pulled various books on subjects from plants to construct notes. There were thirty seven volumes.

The desk was crowded with books Azalar had already retreated to the bed.

He then pulled out a staff, a wand, a robe, a signet ring, and three scroll cases.

Xyrdiane was staring, she had glanced through some of the books, and she was speechless.

“Xyre, is everything all right” Rana asked.

“Cat got your tongue, “Bloodstone deadpanned

“Well I never, “Azalar said somewhat insulted.

“I.. I don’t even know where to start. This is amazing, incredible.” She looked at the cat, “Who was your creator?”

“Amalathian Teivel, Wizard and Arch mage.”

“You never mentioned he was an arch mage as well.” Bloodstone asked.

“That was before”

“Teivel? That sounds so familiar.” Xyrdain said looking through the large volume. “This is a spell book, and notes and instructions.”

“Do you still want the annulment?”

She looked over at him, “Are you trying to get me to stay?”

“No, I…maybe…” He went and sat on the edge of the desk pushing some of the volumes. “I think I like you, at least so far, you just met me yesterday. Why did you impulsively decide to marry me in the first place?”

“I wanted to hurt Sutter; me bound to you would do that.  I thought I was alone, and that Rana was dead. You were a safe way away from him. Now I see I was being selfish, and yes impulsive. I don’t want to be a burden to you, or be married under false pretenses.”

“Here is a copy of the contract.” He set it down on the desk. She read through it. Rana was reading it as well

“A thousand gold, what’s this about classes; I don’t see how that’s enforceable.” She said puzzled.

“It’s enforceable, I have the thousand gold coins here and Coreen picked out two homes one in the capital and one in district three.” He started putting the books away back into the bag along with the rest of the magic items. He did slip the signet ring onto his finger. He then put it back in the box along with the larger volume.

“What are you saying; do you have any idea what he’s talking about Rana?”

Rana looked at him, “I see he is a [Lord], a [hero], [pyromancer], [Psion], [Wizard],[engineer], [swordsman], and something else.

“Interesting you can see my primary classes, is that a racial ability or class ability?” He asked Rana.

“It’s a racial ability, something half gazers get. Gazers can see more about a person.” Rana replied.

“Xyrdianes, you said you were a [mage] is that your only class or do you have any others?”

“I don’t see what that has to do with anything?”

“If mage is your only class, then that’s fine, however if you have any other classes, I would like to know.”

She looked away, “I have a few other classes, when I fled. I took odd jobs to survive. This was before I met Rana. I have some other classes, are you going to make me name them?”

“Actually I am, I could read your mind and find out. However if I do that, it’s a breach of trust.”

“I’m supposed to believe that you’re not reading my mind right now?”

“I’m not, so what other classes do you have.” He asked.

“You can tell him Xyre, I don’t think he will judge you.”

“When I ran, I was able to make it to Issrysil. There’s a small town about a hundred miles west of First landing, I had booked passage to First landing. We hit a storm traveling and that was the closest landfall. The ship left to continue on to first landing.  I stayed there for two summers. I kept my head down and worked as a [barmaid], the first winter, the only thing I had left was the books, and a few silvers I made working.  I had to eat, and selling the books was out of the question. I got in trouble with the tavern, they found out I was a half elf. I would have starved, I found a job as ..” She looked over at Rana, “it’s where I met Rana, she was a slave at the brothel, for that exotic taste that some men have. She was a [dancer], I also took up that profession.”

“We were both, used to being yelled at, pawed and stared at. Thank fully there was not much call for a gazer to warm the sheets. It did happen. I was a slave so I had no choice.” Rana said.

“How did you hide you were a half elf” He asked.

“Makeup and hiding my ears, I was found out after about two months.” She said softly.

“So you left together?” He asked.

“I made money to buy her papers. I’m not proud of it, I would do it again. Then we left heading to First landing, then down to Invrisil. I made some gold by selling one of the books, and using it to get us started as adventures. Unfortunately I think that’s eventually how we were tracked down. I sold a few more of the more useless books, over the next decade, and used some of the money to purchase a home. We stayed there for twelve years, off and on. We had some other groups look us up, and went on several dungeon expeditions with them. We have explored a number of locations in Issrysil and we had a three year trip over to Baleros. That was five years ago, we ran across a group who found out about the books and wanted to know if we had more. I sold one of them without realizing that it was the same merchant who destroyed my home. We spend the next three years running, and crossing the seas. Ambrose had hired ten adventurers who were promised a lot of gold, to capture us. We were brought here, to be tortured.”

“My guess is that the books are still back home.”

She nodded, ”We can’t let that bastard get them.”

“Does he know where the home is or where the rest of the books are hidden?”

“No, he would need me or Rana to find where we hid them”

“We could send someone there to retrieve the books.”

“He’s got a head start he’s was torturing us for a year and a half.  He had his butler write everything down we said.”

“Oh, big book silver leather buckle, I think I saw that”

She stared at him, “you read it?”

“Not all of it, just the notes he had and questions he was asking. We are way off topic, classes. I need to know how many levels you have of each class, both of you.”

“Why am I being asked that, I didn’t sign any contract?” Rana said.

He hopped off the table, “Because, I am going to make you a better protector. I need to know your classes and levels.”

“[Dancer 12],[harlot 7],[swordsman 11] and [sailor 5]” Rana said.

Bloodstone wrote them down on a small pad of paper. “and you “

“I’m a [mage 27], [Barmaid 6], [Sailor 8] and a [harlot 5] “

“I can work with those, first I am taking these from both of you, it’s a junk class and I think I know how to recover them.”

They both looked at him like he was crazy.

“Hands please” he held out his hands.

Rana gingerly took his left hand and Xyrdianes took his right. “I think you’re just wanting to hold our hands.” Xyrdianes teased.

“True, but I can’t just go putting my hands in your faces. First this class,” He used the skill remove class.

[sub class Harlot 5]

[sub class Harlot 12]

[skill detect emotion]

[skill enflame desire]

[skill perfect skin]

“Ok now I need to move this class to Rana.”

[sub class assassin 14 removed]

Rana blinked, “I now have fourteen assassin levels?”

“Wait for the skills, should kick in right about now” Bloodstone said.

Rana let go and stepped back. “Xyre, I have two skills, one is a skill called, vital targets, and the second is mask presence. My harlot class says it was removed”

“Mine as well,” Xyrdianes said still holding his hand.

There was a knock on the door.

“That should be the others.” Bloodstone said.

“Others?,” Xyrdianes asked and looked at Rana.

Bloodstone opened the door Isabel, Hellen and Sarah were outside.

“I need to shuffle some of the classes, I gave you”

“I thought it was something important.” Isabel said and walked away, feeling her way down the hall

“No one ever understands.” He said watching her go back into her room three doors down.

“That’s what you wanted” Sarah asked. She crossed her arms, “I want to keep the [mage] class, and the [trader] class”

“Sure, just need these classes.” he touched her activating the remove class ability.

[sub class thief 12 acquired]

[sub class Harlot 20 acquired]

[skill backstab acquired]

[skill detect traps acquired]

“That’s odd, a harlot is higher than a prostitute I wonder why? Sarah can you go find Violet”

“Sure, I think she was looking for you as well.” Sarah went looking for Violet

“Hellen, would you mind taking the [butler] class?”

“No, a [butler] is better than a [maid].”

“No idea what will happen with the maid class when I give you these.” He reached out and gave her the [butler] class.

[sub class butler removed]

Helen’s eyes rolled up into her head, and she fell forward. Bloodstones caught her with one arm. “Oops, any idea what just happened?”

“She lost her maid class and her fighter class, she’s a combat butler” Rana replied.

“Hellen” Bloodstone said softly

“Mmmrmm,” She said.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes, I just got a lot of skills”, she smiled.

He leaned down and kissed her gently.

“I’m taking back the other class, and giving it to Xyrdianes is that ok?” he asked Hellen.

“Mmmhmm, if you kiss me again.” He kissed her and activated the remove class and then the grant class to Xyrdianes who was still holding his hand.

“I saw [geomancer] flicker from Hellen through you to Xyrdianes” Rana said.

“Oh my, warn a girl next time” Xyrdianes said as she staggered and leaned against Bloodstone.

Violet came to the door and saw him holding both Hellen and Xyrdianes, she got a pouty look, “I wana play to” And then put her arms around Bloodstones neck

“Violet, you’re going to knock us over.”

“Awww,” she said letting go. “I thought you wanted some more…”

“Not presently, working on something”

With a bit of help from violet and Rana he managed to get Hellen and Xyrdianes over to the bed, where they sat down.

“Violet, can you back up a little” He said as he turned and bumped into her.

“I thought you liked me being close.” She teased as she hugged him.

“You’re distracting me.”

She smiled, “I thought you liked being distracted.” He hugged her back.

“Want to try something, if you ok with losing your class”

“Just be gentle”

“I am so going to regret this” and then removed her only class.

[sub class pleasure slave 27]

[Skill disease resistance] à [skill Improved disease resistance]

[skill improved endurance] à [Skill Enhanced Endurance]

[skill alluring touch]

[skill alluring kiss]

[skill seduction]

“You still have all your skills right Violet?” He asked her.

“Ummhumm,” she replied

“I have no idea if this will work, you may just get your same class back.”

“Is it going to hurt?” Violet asked.

“Uh, not sure, might just give you a bunch of new skills if it just moved your old class back.” Bloodstone kissed her lightly on the forehead and she tensed. He then activated the grant class skill, and didn’t specify a class he was holding.

[sub class pleasure slave removed]

He held the skill not sure what class she was getting.

[sub class Harlot removed]

He felt light headed, as the classes were removed a seconds later. He went to break the contact.

Violet was still holding onto him, “I have a new class,” she whispered.

“What class, I have no idea what class I was giving you”

“What’s an [Empathic catalyst]” she asked.

“I have no idea. How many levels is it?”

She smiled at him, “It kept going up it stopped at forty seven” She then went limp in his arms.

“Violet.” He said to her, she was breathing steady, he swept her feet out from under her and carried her out. He took her to her room and placed her on the bed. He sat down next to her, and waited.  Rana and the rest crowded at the door. “She alright?” Rana asked.

“I think so, must have gotten skill updates, it happens with a lot of levels, twenty is a mild headache, Forty or so is a screaming migraine, anything over that, will knock you out.  I thinks due to leveling to fast. I burned the two big classes I had.”

Xyrdianes walked into the room put both hands on her hips and said to him, “what gives you the right to take classes from people!”

“I thought that you wouldn’t need those classes, and I want violet to be better than she was.”

“Look at her, what did you do to her? You gave me [Geomancer] abilities, you didn’t even ask if I wanted them, you just did it.” Xyrdianes said angrily.

“I can take them back if you want.”

She glared at him. “That’s not the point!”

Rana edged around her, “I appreciate the thought, but those classes are part of us, were part of us.”

Bloodstone opened his mouth to reply, and stopped, ”I am sorry, there’s no way to get them back.” He looked at Violet, “I think they all poured into the new class she has.”

Violet sat up, smiled, “Why are you all mad at him, I’m fine really?”

“I’m not mad at him, “ Xyrdianes said.

“You are too,” Violet said.

Xyrdianes turned threw up her hands and muttered, “I give up, we should leave as soon as possible.”

Rana looked over at her, “You sure?”

“Why not, he’s obviously going to get them all killed, or worse! Isabel!” She said walking out of the room.

Rana smiled, watching her leave, and walked over to Bloodstone. “Can you do that without taking classes?” She asked.

“I don’t know. why?”

She leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

“Um…Maybe..” he looked at her closer, “can I ask a personal question?”

“You can ask, I may not answer.” Rana replied.

“If you’re a half gazer, what is a full gazer like and what is the other half?”

All five eyes turned and looked at him, “I have never met or seen a gazer. I never met my parents, so I don’t know I was a slave for a long time, until Xyre helped me”

“I can try and change your classes to include what you asked, why though” He held out his hand.

“My kind for some reason can’t learn magic as easy as the other races, I was told I would never be able to use magic.”

“that’s seems like a lie, or ignorance. [Arcane blade dancer], sounds dangerous.”

“I heard a few stories about [blade dancers], and [spell dancers] I could protect Xyre, at least better than I did before.” She said solemnly.

“I can give it a… OOOF“  Violet hugged him from behind.

“This new class is interesting, I don’t like being ignored.” She said locking her arms around his chest.

“Violet, please stop.” He said grabbing her wrists loosely.

“Awwww, I just want a hug.”

“Sure, and then you will want more and next think you know we will be romping under the sheets, maybe later ok?”

“Just a hug.”

“Fine,” He turned and hugged her, she hugged him back.

He tried to step back and she didn’t let go. “Violet.”

She showed him her pouty lip, “We could just…”

“Violet.” He said more forcefully.

She let go and walked towards the door, stopped next to Rana looked at her and said, “humph, you need to try harder.” and walked out of the room.

“Do you want to try to change classes?” He said watching Violet leave.

“If it’s not too much trouble, “Rana said, her face was a brighter shade of orange.

“Sorry about that, Violet, well she’s a handful, er… that sounded bad.”

Rana  held out her hand tentatively, and smiled showing her pointed teeth. Bloodstone took her hand in his and pulled up a chair and had her sit. “No idea what this will do.”

He activated the grant class ability.

[sub class thief removed]

[sub class burglar removed]

[sub class runner removed]

[sub class monster 7]

[sub class monster 6]

[sub class monster 5]

Then he ended the contact. “Anything?”

“No, only got [mage] to level 11”

“Maybe I can’t grant that class. Why did Violet get a weird class.”

“No idea, I think I need to take a nap, my head is pounding now, and my vision is a little blurry.”

“You all right?”

She stood up to leave, and got about two steps, “No, not going to be all right.” She dropped both knees and clutched her head. Her loose dark hair falling across her face. “I think I am going to be sick”

Bloodstone knelt, and placed his hand on the small of her back, “did something change?”

“I had a class update, all my other classes except sailor went into [Arcane blade dancer] I just got a bunch of skills.” And then she threw up, leaving a massive mess in front of her. Most of it was breakfast, ham, and biscuits partially digested.

One of the maids looked in, “Is she, all right?”

“No, can we get this cleaned up, and have a hot bath drawn for her also can you get something to clean this up”

The maid scurried off, and was back in a few moments with a bucket and a towel. The maid looked a little upset.

Bloodstone took the towel and offered it to Rana. She wiped her mouth on it and put it over the mess.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t make you clean this up.”

“It’s ok Miss, they will be drawing you a bath.”

Bloodstone helped her stand, and guided her to two other maids who were waiting. “Thank you, Kana was it?”

The first maid looked up, “Yes my lord.” She smiled.

He stayed while the maid cleaned up the mess quicker than he would have thought possible. “I think I have had enough excitement for the day, I am going to go take a nap. Thank you for cleaning that up.”

“You’re not like other lords, even Mr. Sutter never knew my name.“

“Well you’re working for me, and Coreen, we have to take care of those who help us.” He walked down the hall to his room. Isabel was waiting at the entrance, with Xyrdiane

“What did you do to Rana!” Xyrdiane asked loudly.

He looked up and stopped in front of her, “I did what she asked.” He said softly and opened the door to his room.

“She looked horrible, I have only see her like that once before”

“In or out” he said.

“What?”

“In or out, I’m going to take a nap, maybe meditate a little.”

Isabel stepped into the room, without saying anything.

Bloodstone stood at the entrance at passively stared at Xyrdiane. She relented and moved out of his way. “Don’t think I am going to follow you.”

“If you’re worried about anything happening, it’s not.”

“You’re so….. Infuriating!” she said struggling for the words.

Bloodstone walked past Isabel and hopped onto the big bed that he had appropriated. It was a poster bed with a canopy and curtains. Nothing was closed, it was all open.  Isabel made her way and sat on the other side of the bed.

“You haven’t been rewinding time, have you?” She asked.

“No, did that way too much yesterday. If your wanting to talk Xyrdiane then close the door”

He moved to put his head on one of the pillows, his shoes dropped onto the floor as he put his feet onto the large comforter on the bed.

Xyrdiane stepped in and closed the door, “Isabel, says you only agreed to that marriage thing, to protect the assets and us, why are you quick to let me go.”

“What? You mean the annulment. If you are not happy with the arrangement, far be it from me to make you unhappy.”

“I’m just confused, Isabel says that if I leave..” She looked at Isabel.

“Well whatever she says, you have to make up your own dam mind. I can see the future if I want to, I try and not glimpse things if possible.”  He patted the bed and moved over. “Just talk, you have been a prisoner for who knows how long, I can’t imagine your recovered from that yet.”

She tentatively sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m scared, that it’s all a dream and I will wake up back in the cell.”

“Fear, yeah that’s a hard one, best advice is take it one day at a time.” He said closing his eyes.

“I am still mad at you for what you did to me and Rana.”

“About the classes?”

“Yes, I just don’t like being under someone else’s control. I know you meant well, I just wish you would have asked me first.”

“Well I would have had to kill someone if you kept that one class.” He said jokingly.

“What do you mean?”

“Well if someone called you a harlot, I would have to take offense.”

“I had that class, I did it to survive, it’s not like I need or want you to protect me.”

Isabel climbed up onto the bed next to him and put her back to him.

“Maybe not, it’s my job to protect you, as long as you let me.”

“What was that speech you made late last night, about Isabel being too young, she seems as mature as women twice her age.”

“Well, I know it’s the custom for people to marry young here. The strange thing is your older than my wife and Isabel is way younger, than my daughter is. It’s just creepy, I am not comfortable with it, maybe in a year or so, or once I can restore her eyesight, maybe not even then.”

“I agreed to this, it’s not like I didn’t want to or I was forced,” Isabel said.

“Not the point, I explained it already.”

“She can go north but I cant! , that’s so unfair” Isabel complained.

“She is also older than I am, and a half-elf with magic, you..”

“I’m a blind child, is what you were going to say.” Isabel said accusingly

“I wasn’t going to put it so bluntly, but yes.”

“You don’t have to be so mean to her,” Xyrdiane said.

“I’m not being mean, look I talked this over with Amethyst, I don’t want to put any of you in harm’s way, however, we may go out into the blight, I can’t protect her there.”

“Don’t take her there, we can stay in the third district.”

“It depends on what Newton, Beth and Coreen can find. Sarah also wants to find the others and give them some of the magic items we found, I have no objection, just not sure if it’s appropriate to send her alone. I know they are trying to decide if we can send them anything, and if so what.”

“What about me?” Xyrdiane asked.

“What do you want?”

She was quiet, “I honestly haven’t thought about it much till now, I want out of this place, go home with Rana.”

“Then why not just say that, it wasn’t hard to say.”

“You saved me and Rana, I know they were torturing us for the location of the books, honestly if it had gone on much longer.” She shook her head, “It didn’t, I am afraid of being alone. I think that’s why I was impulsive yesterday. “

“I see and me bringing Rana back, means you don’t have to be alone.”

“Rana is like family, no not like, she is family. When I saw her die to protect me I…” She sniffled. “ I realized how much she meant to me and how much she cared about me. To see you use such a powerful artifact to bring back a non-human. You break all my pre-conceptions of people, I thought if I was part of your family, you would protect me as well.”

“I have no issues with you or even Rana, yes to me her appearance is unusual I will admit that. There are no half races or other races where I come from, so seeing a half-elf or a half gazer, is a new experience for me. I would imagine you have been discriminate against all your life. I will tell you anyone does that in my presence will answer to me. I will protect you as long as you will let me.”

“There are no half races from where you come from?”

“Now don’t get me wrong, we have discrimination where I am from, it just based on skin color. I really wonder how they would treat a half gazer, with orange colored skin and five eyes. They would think she was an alien, and probably have her locked up and experimented on.”

“That’s awful!”

“Your skin and ears, you would probably be considered eccentric, even unique.” Bloodstone yawned.

“Tell me more about where you’re from.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything.”

Xyrdiane stepped out into the hallway, closing the door. Rana was waiting just outside with a towel on her head. “It wasn’t his fault you know. I’m fine.” She was dressed in different clothes, a dark blue dress with blue boots, the blue ribbon that she had draped over the chair look familiar to Xyrdiane.

“Is that the ribbon I had last night?”

“Yeah, you’re not using it.”

Xyrdiane sighed, “You actually took a bath?”

“I did, why is that so surprising?”

“Says the girl who spend a whole winter without bathing, even when I complained about the smell.”

“Well, he …” She gestured at the door, “had one drawn up for me, with hot water”

“You like him, don’t you?”

“I never said that.”

“Are you denying it?”

“Well you married him, what’s that say about you,“ Rana teased.

“Can we not fight, this usually happens, when your jealous or angry.”

“I am not jealous.”

“Then what’s the problem, why are you angry?”

“It’s not fair, that’s all”

“What’s not fair?”

“Life, I never get a break, I am a half gazer, I know I get dirty looks all the time. There was that one time they thought I was that famous gazer, adventurer and everyone was rude and avoided me. I never even met, Gazi. Yet I usually get compared or worse hated because I am a half gazer. You seem to breeze by, I would still be a slave if you hadn’t bought my contract.”

“This old gripe? I know for a fact that where he comes from they don’t have half races. He said you’re a new experience for him.”

“What does that mean?”

Xyrdian shrugged, “He fell asleep, I didn’t want to wake him. I find him interesting, and no not because he said we can break the marriage, part of me doesn’t want to.”

“So, don’t. He gave you a class, right?”

“Yeah [Geomancer]”

“How many levels” Rana asked.

“What class did he give you?”

“[Mage]”

“I thought you couldn’t use magic.”

“I think that’s why I got sick, I remember being tested and having that same feeling. What if he gave me to much magic?”

“Meaning what?”

“Well one of the skill I got was [elemental channeling] I have no idea what that is.”

“Seriously!”

“Yeah, I got that, [crimson blade], [blood dance], [flickering blade] and something called [dancing defense], the last skill I got I think is what made me sick.”

“What was that”

“Its [Eye of the gazer] right after that that I got nauseous and it felt like I had ants crawling across my skin. There’s something else I talked with his first wife.”

“Really, I haven’t talked with her.”

“She is different, she asked if my race hated humans.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That I didn’t but other half-gazers might, not that I haven’t met more than what I can count on one hand.” She said giggling

“That’s still a bad joke you know.”

“Can I borrow your ribbon?”

“Sure, you want me to weave it into your hair?”

“If you let me borrow it, I think I like him.”

The two of them went into Rana’s room to fix her hair.

Marcus stood at the entrance, to the vault, he had volunteered, and was following the rules as they were set.

Sarah was arguing with him, ”Why can’t I go into the vault?”

“You can’t go in the vault alone.”

“That’s stupid”

“That’s what Lord Bloodstone said, even he has to follow the rules.”

“That’s still stupid, what does he think someone is going to steal everything?”

“I have no idea, there are already two people in the vault already.”

“Who?”

“You can wait till they come out, or you can get someone to go in with you”

“Fine, I’ll be back”

Xach and Kuya walked out of the vault, “I got what I wanted, you need anything Marcus” Xach asked.

“No, I am good”

They walked back up the steps.

Newton had the laptop open, with a wire to a phone. Marie and Hellen were looking at two other phones on the table.

“Do you understand?” Newton asked.

Marie looked at the phones, “So you want me to record a message to the king, anything I want?”

“Yes we can leave the room if you want, we also want to make a backup of the file, and save it for later”

“I don’t understand, wouldn’t you be able to watch like you just showed me?”

“We could, the thing is we are going to use a password on the file, and only you will know what that is. You could tell the king, and if something happened he could always retrieve them with that password.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Hold on I think I have an idea. We can do a test and show you the process.”

“Ok, let’s do that”

Newton had her record a short message. “Ok so we copy that file, with your message to the chip, and then we take that same message and encrypt it. So now type in the password, and don’t forget it. you can use numbers and letters twelve or more is good, I don’t think magic could unlock it but who knows. So once we copy everything over, we give you the chip to deliver to the King. We keep a backup, just in case we need to prove that you sent the message.”

“Ok, I can do that. Can I borrow this device?” she asked.

“Sure.”

Marie left with the phone. She came back with the phone a short time later, they copied the file to the chip, and then archived it.

Newton handed her the chip with the recordings for the king. “All in your hands”

She then sealed it into a wax seal and folded up the paper, and sealed it as well. She then went down to the first floor and spoke with Coreen. The letter was handed off to a runner.

“I really don’t understand what he was doing yesterday,” Beth said to Newton.

“I don’t get it either, to be honest.”

“I mean if this was back home, isn’t that illegal” Sarah asked.

“You mean him marring more than one person, yeah. Though I heard his argument, I didn’t and still don’t agree with it.” Eve said.

“I was surprised his wife didn’t object.” Beth replied.

“Everything about him just doesn’t make sense to me.” Eve said.

“Coreen didn’t help either, she seemed fine with it.” Sarah replied.

“I never liked him,“ Miguel said.

“You don’t like anyone.” Eve chided.

“I like you” Miguel said leaning closer to her at the table. She pushed him back, “No”

“C’mon,” Miguel said as she pushed him back

“No, you seem to have a problem with rejection. No means no”

He slumped back into his seat. “This so sucks I don’t even have my phone” He glanced at Eve.

“What the hell was that ribbon shit,” Beth asked.

Newton shrugged, “Let’s be honest here, I think we are a bit upset because he seems to be enjoying the situation. Maybe we should go and help Sarah.”

“I don’t want to go anywhere with that eye thing, that thing freaks me out with five eyes.” Miguel said.

“After seeing the demons and monsters, Rana is way better!” Sarah said giving Miguel a dirty look.

“Even seeing a half gazer, didn’t even phase Bloodstone, I really think there’s something really wrong with him. I admit, I was shocked to see her” Eve said.

“Have you all decided if you’re going north with Bloodstone or east with me to the other group?” Sarah asked.

Everyone looked around the table, “You know we have to tell him” Newton said. “What about Marcus any of you ask him yet?” Newton asked.

“No, we thought you might talk to him and Ke’lara, she got mad when I asked her.” Sarah said.

“She got mad?” Eve asked.

“Yeah,“ Sarah replied. “She was really pissed, saying that I had no loyalty, and that he saved her life twice.”

Amethyst walked into the room, with her phone, “You have to see this, it so cute.”

Everyone looked startled for a moment, and then looked at the picture she had on her phone.

Azalar as a black cat was sitting on Bloodstones chest, while he was asleep, and next to him curled up was Isabel.

“I would think you would have a problem with that.”

“What do you mean?”  Amethyst asked.

“Isn’t she sixteen”

“Oh that, what’s the problem?”

“You know,” Sarah said starting to turn red.

“You heard the magistrate right, blind she wouldn’t be of use to anyone. It’s not because she’s a seer that he said yes. This world is very harsh, her father just couldn’t watch out for her, if he and the king married her off she would at least be taken care of. What makes you think my husband can’t help her?”

“Is just isn’t she like way to young,” Sarah asked.

“She is, what would you do, turn her out, leave her in the capital, return her to her parents?”

“I don’t think anyone is suggesting that, but he didn’t have to marry her.” Eve said.

“He left the invitation open, she decided on her own, She’s a very sweet girl. I also talked with Coreen, most girls are usually married or betrothed by sixteen. I already told him if he hurt her I would kick his ass.”

“Really, what could you do?” Sarah asked.

“Try me”, Everyone at the table froze.

“I don’t even know if you have a class” Sarah said.

“I do, I was also there when you were being put back together. Do you know why he helped you?”

Sarah looked away, “I don’t know”

Amethyst walked around the table, and leaned to eye level, “Because Kuya is about your age. He said something that night, that scared me. He asked what if it happened to our kids.”

“He blocked my memories” She said softly.

“You notice that the locals look up to him, where people from Earth, are more concerned about appearances, than actions. I had a long talk with Corren, Hellen and Isabel last night, you probably didn’t know we asked Violet to keep him occupied. He’s not a saint, and not perfect, he irritates the hell out of me more than he realizes, it’s not out of malice or spite. The moment you start looking for the evil in people you will find every flaw they have. I think that’s why he tries to bring out the best in people, make them see the light they have.”

“You make is sound so easy”, Eve said listening.

“What worth doing is ever easy?” she said straightening up.

“I guess that’s true,” Eve replied.

“I still don’t get why he decided to get married, to you again and them, it’s not right” Miguel said.

“What specifically is not right?”

“Having multiple wives,” Miguel said.

“Here, its allowed, according to Coreen, she’s happy about it, since she doesn’t have to worry about anything. It’s a convenience for her.”

“Still seems wrong to me,“ He said getting upset.

“If we are all aware of it, is there really any harm? Coreen has his protection and if someone tried to kill her, all that would do is piss my husband off. Do you understand how dangerous he is? He’s making sure that if his kids are stuck here they will be taken care of. Didn’t he let you all go through the vault and pick out things?”

Sarah looked at her hands, “I just feel like I need to do something to help the others.”

Amethyst stepped closer and hugged her, “You just need to take it easy, I know you want to help them, there is a better way to do that.”

“I just feel so useless, I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You need to stop thinking like that, stop trying to do something you can’t do and figure out what you can do. You are a [cook], right?” she let go of the embrace.

“Well, you don’t need a [cook] and I haven’t really been able to figure out magic or what the [mage] class can do. The only other thing is the [trader] class.”

“Why don’t you go talk to Coreen about helping her, she’s going to need someone who can make deals, on her behalf, and we do need a [cook].”

Sarah let go smiled weakly and got up and walked out, “I’ll do that”

“So I hear your all thinking about leaving as well.”Everyone looked everywhere but at Amethyst.“ Some of you may want to stay here and help Coreen. I can’t stay here. Actually we can’t help you if you leave, you do that and your own. Your adults figure it out.” She got up and left.

Everyone watcher her leave, “Have any of you seen what she is able to do?” Eve asked.

“There is something about her demeanor that scares the crap out of me, Blood is the same way.” Newton said.

“She’s right though” Beth said

“What is she right about?” Miguel asked

“That we are adults and that if we leave we would be on our own.” Beth replied.

“Now that leaves us with some things to think about, stay here, go with Bloodstone, or go east.” Newton said.

The room was quiet.

Ambrose Sutter stood on the deck of the ship, the captain ignored him. He had been standing here since that damnable woman’s charm had worn off It took over a day, and they were far out to sea with a good headwind. He had demanded the captain return, him to Rhir. The captain had told him that he was paid to deliver him to Issrysil and he really didn’t care if he wanted to go back, he wasn’t turning the ship around.

They had found his steward locked in a trunk in his skivvies. He had gotten a set of clothes, they barely fit, and stunk.  Stutter watched as his steward mad his way up to him. “How long?”

“At least six weeks, six weeks then we can go back and take back what was stolen. “ Stutter growled.

“Why won’t he turn this ship around?”

“That bastard, he gave the captain the deed, and instructions that we are to be put ashore in Issrysil “

“You have assets; on Baleros and Issrysil you can still get funds together. Bring back a gold team to deal with them.”

“How? How did he get blood that worked on a Selphid that would be worth knowing.” He walked along the deck, and several sailors watched him, “When we get to port I will have to pay a visit to some of the lords. Have you checked the luggage?”

“Yes, I found most of what you packed things you would pack for the normal trip, several things were missing.”

Sutter turned and looked at his steward Daniels, “What is missing?”

“The magic bags, there was a note.” He held it out for Sutter

Father, I feel that you deserve far worse. You murdered me, your own daughter because I would not acquiesce to your wishes. Then you put a Sephalid into my body, you showed little remorse. I have seen you torturing slaves and others.  You should consider yourself lucky we didn’t have you killed.  Lord Blood Stone is now my husband, and the gift he gave me is beyond priceless.  I would warn you not to come back, I know your mind, and you will come back. Go ahead and bring a group or two of adventurers. I don’t fear you father, I never will again.  I have warned you, we both know it will fall on deaf ears.  As for your equipment and money, I appropriated it. Your time Is over, I am sorry it came to this, I never expected you to be the one to murder me. I have grown wiser, and if I see you again, it will be the last time.

There was a signature. 

Coreen Stone

 

He crumpled it up and tossed it overboard.  “That sephalid will die, for betraying me.” He muttered

There was a call from above, “Sails starboard” several sailors looked off to the north.  There were three other ships visible far out.  The captain pulled out a long glass and looked. “Unfurl more canvas, those are Rhislan pirates. We can out run them” The sailors reacted and moved sails began to be unfurled, adding more sails to catch the wind.

The three ships followed for hours, until night then they disappeared into the darkness and starry night. The next morning, they were gone. The captain kept the sails up.