Chapter 739: Card Tricks (1/2)

Lily woke up when the cart came to a sudden halt, the roads more rocky now that they had reached the southern parts of Lys. Forests were fewer here, as were lakes and rivers. She didn’t like it. The trees could hide her and her pack more easily. They allowed her to hunt.

She glanced at her father, bald now with a thick beard. She supposed it suited him. He still refused to wear a shirt, the scars from his youth on display for everyone to see. It created some issues. Last week she had to bribe one of the drivers to let them join the caravan, the guards not wanting a level one thirty berserker to join, not with the way he looked. And smelled. The latter should really bother her more but with his occasional nightly disappearances, she could at least find him easily.

The cart had stopped entirely. We shouldn’t be there yet. She checked the black knife fastened to her makeshift leather belt. Then she grabbed the Alpha Hound’s trinket wrapped around her arm and used it to bind her wild black hair. The length was becoming a bit of a problem but it grew so fast she didn’t bother cutting it. Lily assumed it had to do with her canine tamer class, the transformation far more powerful since her evolution at level one fifty. As were the changes to her body. Her nails were growing faster too, and people noticed. A good thing, she supposed. In the end it hardly mattered how the two of them looked. With the right amount of coin, they could manage. And stealing from the extra rude merchants was not only exciting but cathartic as well.

The nice beige shirt and pants she had bought in Vihal were already getting dusty but it would be enough to enter the tournament without issue. Adventurers were attending after all, and many of them didn’t exactly look ready to enter a king’s hall. Plus beggars aren’t close to level one seventy.

She heard voices outside, guards calling out with an uncertain tone. She stood up and kicked her father’s leg. “Roland. Wake up. Something’s happening.”

The man grunted, his eyes opening wide before he took in his surroundings. He grabbed for the axes usually fastened to his belt but found nothing there.

“Guards… right. Do you want to go see?” he asked.

Lily ignored him and jumped out the back of the wagon. She looked around before moving into the shadow, coming out behind a cart. The suns were high on the horizon, ocean air mixing with dust. She climbed up the back of the cart to see, a group of guards gathered to the left of the thirty wagon long caravan.

Just two men. Look rough, she thought, checking the surroundings to see if there was more to it. They didn’t look like bandits, nor would she think anyone stupid enough to attack this close to Morhill. There were bound to be military escorts around, perhaps even Shadows.

“I told you, I’m Jyraiu, fire sage performer. We’re on our way to Morhill,” one of the men said. He wore battered leather armor and looked both tired and dirty. He smelled the part too.

The other one looked worse, and he was a drunk. Something about him put her on edge. Black hair and eyes, two swords strapped to a belt, barely hanging on. The blades didn’t look sharp and the man staggered just trying to stay upright. And still, her instincts told her he was the most dangerous one around.

“Eight silver coins if you want to join,” one of the guards said. “Bale, you got space right?!”

Lily sighed. Wagon of rejects it seems. The smell is gonna be horrible. She glanced to the side and jumped off, moving through the shadows once more before she teleported into a merchant’s wagon. The one who had hired the laziest guard. Joyre was his name and he was currently asleep with his head resting against a large chest. At least he’s protecting that. Lily didn’t want to bring attention to herself or her father, and too much stealing would quickly lead the guards to suspect them. So she took a single bar of soap only.

Back out, she returned to their wagon, the thing half filled with potatoes. Covered by a tarp, to protect the vegetables of course. Why Bale thought Morhill was in dire need of potatoes was a question she didn’t dare ask. It was the cheapest cart after all, and the only driver who accepted them. She threw the soap to her father who caught the thing and looked at it. “A welcoming gift to our new traveling companions.”

He raised a brow and leaned back against the wooden bar.

No comment. Nothing. She didn’t mention it. At least he wasn’t slowly degenerating anymore. Still, she was getting tired of taking care of him. Is that why I’m here? She shook her head. She was here to join a tournament, to fight people that could teach her something, to win coin. To buy equipment, from a smith she could trust.

Chatter came from outside, the two men she had seen before led towards the cart.

“They’ll give your swords back once we’re there. Come on, do you really want to walk all the way?” one of them said, the same she had heard talk before.

“Eight silver for that distance is ridiculous, and there’s no need to take my weapons,” the other said.

A guard appeared, a tired look on her face as she gestured for the two to go up. She glanced at Roland. “You’re getting two more. It’s just another six hours or so.”

“That’s fine,” Lily said instead. She grit her teeth at the woman’s look. Pity. Little she hated more. A growl resounded as her shadows threatened to attack.

The woman’s eyes opened wide as she took a step back.

“Shadow summoner. Nice Class, girl,” the weaponless drunk said as he climbed up without a care in the world. He plumped down at the back and nodded to Roland. “What’s with you?” He turned to her. “Mute?”

“Doesn’t talk much,” Lily said and shifted away from him. He knew something about her magic. Few did.

“Sorry for bothering the two of you. We had a…” the other man said and sat down next to Roland. “Rough journey,” he sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Gods I’m glad we’re finally close.” He looked up to see Roland hold out the soap. “You must be knowledgeable in divination magic. Thank you, friend. What’s your name?” the man said and took the soap. “Now to find water. I’m Jyraiu by the way.”

“Roland,” her father said.

“There’s an old woman three carts down. Low level water mage. She takes pity on people who look like you,” Lily said.

[Fire Mage – lvl 166]

She glanced at the other man.

[Sword Master – lvl 226]

No wonder he seemed dangerous. Adventurer?

“I don’t need a fucking bath,” the man said.

“Yes you do,” Lily said and stared at him.

He quirked up his brows and stared back. “Tough one, are you?”

She didn’t reply.

“Don’t glare at her,” Roland said, his teeth grinding.

“Berserker going to be mad? She your slave? Your daughter? Picked her up on the road out of pity?” the man asked.

“Stay out of it,” Lily said. Stop defending me. Stop protecting me.

Roland looked down.

The drunkard whistled.

“Edwin. Please. You stink,” Jyraiu said and held out the soap.

“Fucking Alyris’s shiny ass, you absolute pansies,” Edwin growled and grabbed the soap. He jumped out and nearly fell under the horses pulling the next cart.

“You stink too,” Lily said.

“Oh I know. Trust me I was looking for that soap,” Jyraiu said. “I’ll go after. Sorry about him. He’s an absolute shit.”

“Why travel with him then?” Lily asked.

“It pays well. And certain… opportunities may come up,” the man said and gave her a hint of a grin.

Lily didn’t get it. Nor did she care much. So she stayed silent.

“Joining the tournament as well?” Jyraiu asked.

“Oh by the gods,” she murmured.

“Alright. Not one for conversation. I get it. Crowds these days are not the same, I tell you,” the fire mage said with both hands raised.

Soon it was his turn to go clean up.

Edwin dripped with water when he came back. He didn’t speak a word and just watched Roland.

“You look angry,” Lily said after a while.

“I thought you didn’t like talking,” he said.

You heard that?

She didn’t add to what she said.

The man glanced at her and whispered. “You’ve been snooping around. I’ve seen your kind. Know if anyone has Amber Pearl?”

“I don’t know what that is,” Lily answered.

“Dark red bottle, round, three snakes on it. From Virilya,” he said.

“Haven’t seen it,” Lily said.

“Country merchants, fuck,” Edwin said and looked back at Roland. “What the fuck happened to us. Huh? You want to fight?”

Roland leaned forward, his muscles tensing.

Why

Jyraiu jumped in and wedged himself past between the two men. “I got some soap left. They lady was really nice. Thanks for the suggestion. I also bought a card game we can play.”

Roland was back to his apathetic self.

And Edwin had a new target. “You don’t have any coin to bet.”

“Don’t need coin to play a game of cards,” Jyraiu said as he shuffled, the cards moving in a mesmerizing way as he smiled and glanced at Lily. Sparks of flame started to dance around the deck but his magic was cut short when Edwin slapped his hand into the spectacle.

“Why are you all like this?” Lily asked and vanished. She could walk the rest of the way, or run. Miserable. Old. Fucking. Men.

__________________

Ilea watched the approaching caravans. The main road leading up into the mountains was chock full of travelers. And that with the festivities already started. The tournaments wouldn’t begin for another day. She glanced at a group of black winged Sentinels in the distance, landing to fight off a group of Harpies. Having so much fun against such weak creatures. Ah how I miss the day.

She looked around, Morhill on the other side of the mountain, the distant city bustling with activity. No four marks had come to attack so far. No demons had been summoned. No Elves had attacked. And Ilea feared it would stay that way. Well. At least nobody will die. Except some in the tournaments if they go too far. She sighed. Going back to Karth wasn’t really an option for now. The food was good but the streets were a little too packed for her comfort. She was looking forward to watching the tournaments but that would take some time.