1.35 R

“She should be fine. I think.”

“She seems—odd. What spell did you cast?”

“Ryoka? Time to go.”

“Is she okay?”

“It wasn't me. Peminac cast [Numb], I think. It takes away pain, but it makes the affected slightly…odd. She should be fine, and it’s better than her feeling the pain. We just need to make sure to keep healing the leg every few hours.”

“You still haven't told us how your mysterious [Necromancer] friend will help heal the leg, Ceria.”

“You mean the Necromancer? I thought we were just visiting another [Mage]! I thought he was dead!”

“If that's the case, count me out. I'm sorry, but not even a debt of honor would make me face that monster.”

“In that case, get out. And consider yourself banned from the Horns of Hammerad while you’re at it.”

“Calruz—”

“It’s not the Necromancer we’re going to meet. Just an ordinary [Necromancer], so don’t worry. Az’kerash is dead. Everyone knows that.”

“We don’t need cowards! Jump off and run back into the city!”

“Running from the Necromancer isn’t cowardice, idiot. Calm down. Hunt, get back here.”

“You weren’t on the continent when the Necromancer attacked with his legions ten years back. Or a Terandrian. Hunt is. I grew up with stories of him attacking kingdoms and killing people by the thousand. And that was when I was a girl. Believe me—even if we were all thirty levels higher, we’d still be no match for him. So stop questioning the courage of your own party!”

“So this Necromancer is still alive?”

“In the past, they never found his body and he’d pop up. But the Tidebreaker, Zel Shivertail, beheaded him and they burned him. Still, some people remember him, and everyone hates [Necromancers]. They’re not outlawed everywhere—but close enough.”

“In any case, the [Mage] we’re going to visit is not the Necromancer. He just…practices necromancy. And he’s the only person who can help Ryoka I could think of.”

“Ah.”

“I still don’t like it. Ceria, how do you know someone like that?”

“We studied together in Wistram Academy. I was a friend of his…once. We parted ways badly several years ago, but I knew he was probably in the area. Besides, Pisces isn’t very dangerous. Annoying, yes, but not dangerous. He’s…thoughtless, secretive, selfish, and he’s made terrible mistakes. But he’s no monster. And I hate to admit it but—he is very smart.”

“You told him what you want him to do?”

“I gave him the barest details. The messaging spell I used didn’t give me time for more, but he agreed. We’re not on good terms, like I said. He’ll meet us at an inn a few miles east of Liscor. Don’t worry; he’s competent. But I suspect he’ll want money, and lots of it.”

“We can cover the cost.”

“Why’s he out there?”

“He’s in hiding.”

“Why does he practice necromancy?”

“I suspect because he likes dead people more than he likes the living most of the time.”

“I get that.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Good. Thanks for everything.”

“We’re happy to repay our debts, Ryoka. And it hasn’t been that much of a chore so far.”

“I’ll remember this.”

“—So. About this mage.”

“Pisces. I told you that he’s a [Necromancer]. In truth, he’s probably not that strong of one—I remember that he was about Level 22 when we were students together in Wistram Academy. Even if he’s leveled up a bit, he shouldn’t be a threat if you’re worried.”

“I fear no [Mage], especially not a weak one who practices cowardly magic like necromancy.”

“He’s still the same level as most of our group. That’s not bad. But why did you say he was hiding out, Ceria?”

“…He was kicked out of Wistram Academy. And he’s wanted by several cities for causing trouble, I gather. Not murder—just extortion and troublemaking.”

“Let me guess. He was kicked out because they found he was practicing necromancy, right?”

“Oh, no. It wasn’t just that. No, it was because of what he did with necromancy that he was expelled.”

“What did he do?”

“…He got a lot of people killed. By accident. I think it was an accident, but a good friend of mine died. That wasn’t the only…only reason. But it’s past now. Six years past. I called in what few favors I think I had left to get him to meet us.”

“Is he competent?”

“Oh yes. He’s got the levels to do what we need, and he’s smart. You could even call him a genius in a limited sense.”

“How so?”

“Well, he’s only a brat—I mean, he’s only around twenty in your years, which I suppose makes him an adult. But he’s got levels in multiple magical classes. If you add them all up, he’s got more than I do, and I’m three times his age.”

“So this operation. What—”

“What—”

“Tired?”

“…Guess I’m tired.”

“The [Numb] spell and all the healing you’re doing is probably taking its toll. If you need to sleep—sleep. We won’t get to Liscor for several more hours, and we still need to water and feed the ponies.”

“Worthless nags.”

“I heard that, sir!”

“If you want to go faster, get off and pull yourself. Or I’ll thank you to not insult my ponies.”

“Calruz, shut up. This is the only [Driver] we could get who can take us there fast.”

“Yeah, shut up, with respect, Captain.”

“—I personally believe he’s delusional and that he’ll never achieve his goals. But regardless, he won’t stay in the area long. Every time the Academy learns where he’s staying, they send out a team to capture him. So far, he’s escaped, but it’s only a matter of time before he stays in one place too long and gets caught.”

“Evening.”

“How was the trip?”

“Uneventful. We scared away a few Razorbeaks that wanted to take a bite out of your leg, but we haven’t seen any other monsters.”

“Razorbeaks?”

“Large, green birds. Leathery. Got teeth sharp as a knife, but they’re not too dangerous. A few sparks scare them away.”

“Not a challenge.”

“We near Liscor?”

“A few miles away. But we should see the inn Pisces mentioned any minute now. You have good timing.”

“Goblins.”

“Bah.”

“Goblins. Looks like a fight within their own tribe.”

“Hm. Looks like one of those Goblins has some experience fighting. See—they’re using formations and fighting together.”

“Rabble. Not worth dirtying a blade over. Not a single Hob in sight.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you ever saw a raiding party—or a warband. Besides, the Guild offers a copper piece for every four pairs of Goblin ears.”

“I can probably hit the runt if you slow the carriage down. Might stop a new chieftain being selected for a few more days. Want me to make the shot?”

“This isn’t our area, and besides, it’s a tiny tribe. Let the local adventurers deal with it if it becomes an issue. Let’s go find that [Necromancer].”

“He should be waiting at the inn. Anyone see it?”

“There’s the inn. We’re here.”

“Pisces.”

“Ceria.”

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“Quite. Spoken to Mons? Beatrice, perchance?”

“You know I haven’t. This isn’t a trap. I haven’t heard a word for—”

“I am simply asking.”

“Well—no. This is a mission of mercy. Thanks—thanks for meeting us.”

“Is there anyone in there? Can we buy supplies and rest or do we have to go into the city?”

“Not at the moment. The owner is currently elsewhere, it seems.”

“They let you stay at the inn? Nevermind, it doesn’t matter. Well then, I guess this is as good a place as any.”

“I suppose so.”

“You know what we want you to do?”

“Mend shattered bone? A simple task.”

“We’ve travelled over a hundred miles to get here, mage. You’re supposed to be a [Necromancer] able to help us, but I haven’t heard how you’d be able to mend bone. [Necromancers] deal with the dead, so what makes you special? No [Healer] from Wales to Celum could help Ryoka!”

“Necromancy is a misnomer for the true nature of my magic. Reanimation is but one component of raising the dead. Another, crucial aspect is the manipulation and fundamental understanding of—”

“Bones. He can control bones.”

“Thank you for the simplistic explanation. I suppose that does explain it, however. In any event, know that I am a [Necromancer] capable of your request. Kindly refrain from addressing me with pointless questions ever again. As for [Healers] being insufficient—it is not my fault that there’s so little talent to go around.”

“And my fee? As requested?”

“We’ll give you twenty gold coins. No more, no less.”

“For what you want? When, as your dear teammate points out, no [Healer] can help your patient? Sixty, no less.”

“Thirty. And even that is robbery. This is a Silver-rank team, Pisces. Not some Gold-rank.”

“Nevertheless. You can eminently afford…fifty.”

“Forty.”

“—Fine.”

“Very well. And the injured party I’m to heal?”

“Of course.”

“Where do you want to work?”

“There’s no need to move. Now that we’ve agreed, let’s begin.”

“Pisces!”

“I would appreciate no shouting during the process. You know how much concentration this takes even without interruption.”

“You idiot! At least have her lie down before you do that!”

“The comfort of the patient is of no object to me. Regardless…I’m done. Where’s my payment?”

“Already?”

“Impossible!”

“You can’t have finished so quickly! You must be lying!”

“You may doubt all you wish, but I believe my fellow student can attest to my competence. Besides which, any spell would confirm the veracity of my statement. Tell them, Springwalker.”

“It’s true. He’s restored the bone to normal. Dead gods—that’s incredible.”

“Fine, then. Your money.”

“I have plans for this gold. Not least, it will help shut up a certain annoying [Innkeeper]—”

“Sorry about that.”

“If it was that simple, why couldn’t you have done that? The entire spell barely took seconds!”

“Exactly.”

“That little runt of a Human was mocking us the entire time. We travelled all this way and paid all this coin for a spell that any one of you could have done? Explain yourself, Ceria!”

“I couldn’t have done that. And that was no spell—at least, not any spell written down. You think we overpaid? I think we underpaid, and I’m just glad Pisces didn’t catch on to what Gerial was saying.”

“What do you mean?”

“Pisces was moving around each of the shattered bones and knitting them together. He could sense where they are, and he knows how to reassemble them. That isn’t something any normal [Mage] could do. Or even a regular [Necromancer].”

“Ceria is right, Calruz. I wouldn’t know where to begin with an injury like that. But the speed and precision of that [Necromancer]…and you say he’s only Level 22?”

“Pisces is a genius. He possesses an intimate knowledge of Human bodies. No one but another [Necromancer] could have done that so easily. And frankly, I would not trust any other [Necromancer] but Pisces. Listen, have you ever heard of someone mending shattered bone like that?”

“You hear about the Healer of Tenbault, and Named-ranks have the highest-grade potions in the world. But…no. I know a lot of Silver and Bronze-ranks who take a bad break and it never heals.”

“The House of Minos has a lot of experience with bone injuries, and our [Healers] are the best as I said. But—that was instantaneous. And the solution is a [Necromancer]? I should report this to home. If that really does mend bone that fast…”

“And it worked? This only matters if it works.”

“The flesh is still probably broken, but the bone underneath should be repaired if Pisces is right. He doesn’t know healing spells, but he could easily reinforce and repair the bone.”

“Ryoka? How do you feel?”

“…Ryoka?”

“…Ryoka?”

“Ryoka? Are you okay? How do you feel?”

“Ryoka?”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you. Thank you, thank you. Thank you.”

“It was nothing—”

“I am truly grateful. And I’m sorry for my rudeness earlier. I owe you a debt I can’t repay. But I know the Horns of Hammerad now, and I know what defines you.”

“Honor.”

“Honor and duty above all. Without it, we are animals.”

“My name is Ryoka Griffin. I am in your debt. Whatever I can do—if ever you need me, just ask.”