Chapter 26 (2/2)

“Donny is… a buffer. I don’t have time for most of these problems. I am the Ghosthound. And prepare that dagger… plenty of enemies to test it out on are coming.”

Decklan began to laugh, and Randidly left and searched through the rooms until he found Donny, shaking him awake.

“Up and at'em, village chieftain.“ Randidly said grimly. “We have company.”

***

As the rather drunk rabble that had taken an oath to call Donny boss roused themselves, Randidly slipped back past the cabin into the small camp area that Sam had set up by his truck. For a moment, Randidly slowed as he approached, but he figured that whoever those figures were, they would be sleeping within the wooden shelter Sam had made.

The spot that would grant the watcher the most visibility was the bed of the truck, so Randidly walked there. As he approached, he saw movement in the truck bed, but the figure that sat up was small, and covered in a camo rain coat.

For several seconds the two regarded each other.

As Randidly opened his mouth to ask after Sam, the other figure spoke, the voice feminine and lyrical. “...it looked like fireworks.”

“Huh?”

“Fireworks. You were doing magic earlier, right?” The girl said, her voice a strange combination of eager and wistful. “Mine don’t look like that at all.”

As if it was the most natural thing in the world, she raised her hand and a thin bolt of energy shot forward, sliding over the grass until it hit a tree with a dull thump, leaving a small scorch mark. Randidly tilted his head to the side.

“Your skill level is just low. As you raise it, and your Intelligence, it will get stronger and brighter.”

The hooded figure nodded, as if that was profound wisdom. “I’m working on it. You want Mr. Hoss?”

Dubiously assuming Sam was Mr. Hoss, Randidly nodded. The figure hopped down off the truck and walked away, leaving Randidly to wonder about this masked girl. She definitely seemed a teenager. Maybe 15? But why was she, and the two others, kept hidden…?

Sam hurried out moments later, with his mouth open to say something, but Randidly just shook his head. “Now’s not the time. Something’s coming. I don’t think Nul has properly explained all of the rules about Newbie Villages to us.”