They reached Dorthmead without any real trouble. Syr Katherine had laid waste to half a dozen more groups of bats before the monsters had given up and fallen back. The air around the Dungeon had seemed clearer and less oppressive, even as the light began to fade from the sky. Clay saw the evening sun stain the sky in hues of pink and orange as they reached the walls of Dorthmead and finally staggered in to sleep.

Baroness Dorthmead had accepted the news of their success without much visible enthusiasm. Doubtless, the [Noble] had heard many such tales before, though she did frown in puzzlement as Syr Katherine announced they would take a rest from patrols. Clay doubted it would lead to much of a problem; losing six Guardians in a single day would likely cause a substantial decrease in the numbers of monsters around the place, whether the Ruffians were out there blasting more of them or not.

The next day went by in a blur. Clay spent a hefty amount of the time recovering and resting. Doing any kind of combat practice when the slightest scratch seemed liable to cause grievous injuries did not seem like a good idea, and in any case, he felt like he'd earned a small amount of relief after running through the Dungeon. A small part of him felt slightly guilty at taking a rest, but given the amount of fighting he'd done over the past few weeks, it was probably far overdue.

Olivia, on the other hand, seemed to have no concept of a break. She threw herself into the translation of the documents that they had recovered, obviously intending to make as much progress as she could. Natalie and Syr Katherine joined her, ostensibly to help her out with the task. Given how much she grumbled about it, Clay wasn't sure exactly how much they were actually helping, but it seemed like they were at least able to make sure that the text wasn't hiding some version of the Poisoned Wish within it—at least, to the point where they had translated it so far.

In the meantime, Xavien, Jack, and Lawrence introduced him to a card game that they had picked up at some point during their troubles. He refused to play for money—especially after they mentioned Anne was forbidden from participating—but it still helped while the hours away until the Malus was cleared and he wasn't in danger of tripping and breaking all the bones in his foot.

He was just completing the work of separating Lawrence from some of the pebbles they were playing for when Anne stuck her head into the common room. She looked around and grinned. "Hey, can I join?"

Jack eyed her doubtfully. "I thought we had a conversation about that."

"Oh, come on. You're not even playing for real!"

Clay sighed. "Anne, was there something you were down here for?"

The [Burglar] grimaced. "Yeah. Syr Katherine and Syr Olivia want to speak with you."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Do they?"

Anne shrugged. "If they don't, Natalie seems to think they should."

With a snort, Clay looked back down at his cards. "All right. I'll be right there." He laid down his hand. "There. I think that ends my turn here with a victory?"

Lawrence raised his eyebrows. Then he gave him a devilish grin before laying down his own hand. "Not so fast, Commoner Hero. The stones are mine."

Clay grimaced as the [Occultist] raked in the stones on the table. He shook his head. "I should have known better than to gamble with the likes of you three."

Xavien laughed. "Says the man who talks to the Trickster on the regular. Maybe you should ask the goddess for some tips?"

"Or maybe you could start seeing the future like you're supposed to, [Oracle]." Clay pushed himself away from the table and sighed. "All right, Anne, lead the way."

The [Burglar] gave him a distracted wave. "Oh, they're in the library. You know the way without me." She cracked her knuckles and grinned. "I think some people are in need of a lesson in humility."

Jack coughed into his hand as he gathered up the cards. "Hurry back, Clay. Otherwise, we might need help hiding the body."

Anne pantomimed a reaction of shock, but Clay just chuckled and shook his head as he walked towards the door. They were already dealing out the cards again as he left, and something told him they were going to be at it for quite a while longer.

He made his way down to the small library that the Baroness had lent to her guests. It was a tidy place, mostly meant to provide some entertainment for the adventurers sent to work in Dorthmead. Olivia had reported that the books were mostly romances and myths, nothing truly substantial. Doubtless, the Guild had removed anything interesting a long time ago—at least until now.

Clay heard the yelling long before he arrived at the place, even through the relatively thick wooden door. He paused for a second, collecting himself before he knocked. Natalie opened the door immediately, her expression equal parts exasperation, frustration, and worry. "Finally, thank the gods. Get in here."

He grunted as she pulled him inside, closing the door behind them. Clay gave her a look before turning his attention to the rest of the room.

Parchment littered the table the servants had placed inside, and the books and scrolls they had recovered from the Dungeon were scattered among the pieces of paper. Inkwells and pens had been placed carefully away from the ancient texts near stacks of notes written in Natalie's, Olivia's, and Syr Katherine's writing.

Syr Katherine and Olivia were facing off on opposite sides of the table, glaring at each other as if they were about to cross weapons. Only the lack of sword and scythe reassured him, though he worried a little that [Chants] and [Charms] might get involved soon. He cleared his throat, hoping to at least convince them to break eye contact. "Syr Olivia. Syr Katherine. Is there anything I can help with?"

The [Calculator] spoke first. "Sir Clay, I must request that you explain to your apprentice why the Guild cannot allow her to carry this material all over the nation without supervision or protection. The information within these pages has the potential to change our understanding of the world. We cannot allow it to simply remain unsecured."

Olivia spoke before he could respond. "Unsecured? Is that another word for accessible, Syr Katherine?" She finally broke off her glare to look at Clay. "She wants to cart off everything back to the Guild, where they'll probably bury it in those vaults and hide it from the rest of us. Unless you think the Council won't make sure I can't get any closer to these things than I could to anything else in your library?"

Syr Katherine ground her teeth for a moment before answering. "I am sure that the Council will make the best decision possible after considering all the facts in evidence."

"Sure. Right." Olivia snorted and threw up her hands. "We might as well burn it, for all the good it will do in their hands. They might just destroy it, if it conflicts with their own plans."

Clay saw Syr Katherine's fists clench slightly. "The Council has been protecting the world from more threats than you know, Syr Olivia. While you have made great progress, you should not believe you know everything."

With narrowed eyes, Olivia took a step forward. "How are we supposed to learn any of that if you keep burying everything in a hole in the ground like a pack of—"

"Syr Olivia." Clay kept his voice even, and Olivia cut herself short. She sent him a single angry glance and then looked away, her face reddening slightly. He looked at Natalie. "What brought this up?"

The [Alchemist] didn't look particularly happy about being consulted. She shrugged. "I think it was when a message arrived from the Guild. They wanted a report from Syr Katherine on what we've been up to, and if you had arrived." Natalie paused, and a grin tugged at the edges of her lips. "Apparently, you've been up to quite a bit, and they are starting to sound a little worried. Syr Katherine mentioned she was considering asking you to go back to Crownsguard along with the books."

Clay grimaced. He sent Olivia a look, which she avoided by shifting some of the pages around. "At which point Syr Olivia mentioned that we had other plans, I imagine."

Syr Katherine spoke up again, her voice cold. "That is the case, Sir Clay. I'm not sure I approve of the plans you have to continue destroying Lairs without the approval or consent of the Guild."

He spread his arms. "While I respect you, Syr Katherine, I do need to remind you that Syr Olivia and I do not require your approval once we leave here, especially since we are responding to legitimate requests from the nobility." She snorted, but looked away as he continued. "We will not be returning to Crownsguard until we have made at least two other stops first, one of which is at the direct request of King John. I'm sorry if that is… inconvenient."

She gave him a wry look. "I'm sure." Then she shook her head. "You are correct that you do not have to follow my orders, and you have achieved great things. Regardless, surely even you must see how unwise it would be to carry these books into battle?"

Clay blinked, and she continued in a low voice. "You cannot trust them in the hands of others, not even the nobility, and if you carry them into a fight, you run the risk of some monster destroying them. Or are you planning on fighting Guardians with a pack full of books strapped to your back?" Syr Katherine shook her head. "Even if you were able to do so, are you really willing to take the chance of a stray rainstorm ruining what you risked your lives to recover? Please, Sir Clay, see reason."

Her point was frustratingly well made. His mind was running back over the pains they'd suffered fighting the croakers in their swamp, or the shrooms in their terrible village. They'd carried one book into battle, but it hadn't had nearly the same bulk as the miniature library that Olivia obviously wanted to carry along… and the road to Ayleston was a long one.

Obviously, he couldn't just leave Mitchell and the others stranded. He couldn't just not show up for King John's request either, and given the travel times between both places, they would have a hard time reaching all of those places before the snow fell, even if they ran the entire time. Doing it with a load of fragile, precious books as well would be… unpleasant.

Leaving Olivia behind was technically an option, but it wasn't one she'd likely accept either. He had no intention of giving the Guild the chance to get their hands on her when he wasn't around, and even if he didn't suspect Syr Katherine of anything nefarious, it was clear that the [Calculator] and the [Commoner] weren't going to get along.

He shook his head. "You aren't wrong, Syr Katherine." A flash of triumph filled Syr Katherine's expression, even as a look of betrayal filled Olivia's. "At the same time, the Guild has a tendency to be… unhelpful when it comes to information and [Chants]. You cannot blame Syr Olivia for her mistrust of how the Council would decide to handle things, not when we've had repeated experiences where they have decided to manipulate rather than trust."

Syr Katherine opened her mouth, and he gave her a look that let her know he wasn't done. "And before you protest, Syr Katherine, I'll remind you that you yourself aren't exactly blameless when it comes to this. Or have you forgotten why Syr Olivia and I were here to begin with?"

The [Calculator] paused. She flushed red and looked away, seeming uncharacteristically uncertain. "I… take your point, Sir Clay. At the same time…"

"The books must be kept safe. I understand." Clay nodded. Then he looked at Olivia. "We did promise to share what we grabbed. Do you have any objection to the Guild having a copy of the information?"

Olivia blinked. She shook her head. "No."

Clay nodded, an idea forming. He looked at Syr Katherine. "Can you read any of it?"

The adventurer grimaced. "No, Sir Clay. The text is… difficult to understand."

With a snort, Olivia folded her arms, her lips twisted in a smirk. "You mean that it's mostly written in a mix of Old Balois or Middle Telemid. Even I might have trouble with it."

He looked back to Syr Katherine again. "How many people in the Guild would be able to help translate it?"

Syr Katherine grimaced. "Not many. Master Taylor might have some experience, and perhaps the Rectory may have an expert that could help…"

"But in all likelihood, you need Olivia to help translate things if you're going to find much of anything anytime soon. Especially if you need someone who can withstand the Poisoned Wish if they find it." Clay tried not to sound satisfied about that fact. Syr Katherine gave him a grimace as if she'd heard it despite his efforts. "So you don't just want the books to go. You want Olivia to go as well."

Olivia looked at Syr Katherine in surprise. The [Calculator] looked away and sighed. "It would be… advantageous in many ways."

Clay opened his mouth to respond, but Natalie snorted first. "That's not going to happen." They all looked at the [Alchemist], and she shrugged a little defensively. "Where Clay goes, she'll go. Or am I wrong?"

She asked the question to Olivia, who shook her head. Syr Katherine frowned, but she held her peace for a moment, which gave Clay the chance to clear his throat.

"In that case, I say that we should leave the books and scrolls here with Syr Katherine." Both Olivia and Syr Katherine immediately pivoted to protest, but Clay held up a hand. "If we can't trust them with [Nobles], then you won't be able to trust them with messengers. They're too fragile to travel well, and when the Guild calls you back, you can take them with you."

Then he looked at Olivia. "In the meantime, you can copy the text into parchment that we can carry with us. Not translated, just a straight copy. If there's anything dangerous, we shouldn't activate it that way, right?"

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Syr Katherine nodded, and he continued. "How long will it take to make copies? If the Baroness asks her servants to help?"

They looked at one another, both seeming reluctant. Olivia answered. "Maybe two days. Or three."

The [Calculator] nodded. "We will need to check things. To make sure they are accurate copies, and to guard against anything dangerous."

"Then do it." Clay looked at Olivia. "You can have the copy and work on it while we travel—but we need to leave soon."

She looked rebellious for a moment. "We could stay a little longer. We have time—"

He gave her a frank look. "We don't. Unless you think the Guild isn't going to hear about the fact that we're here, and suddenly have new orders for us?" Olivia grimaced and fell silent, and he looked back at Syr Katherine. "Let me know if you need additional help, and I'll break up the card game down the hall for more 'volunteers'. Whatever doesn't get copied in time, we'll carry with us. Does that sound acceptable?"

Syr Katherine studied him for a moment. Then she let out an irritated huff of air. "It does, Sir Clay." She gave him a crooked smile. "If you weren't so useful, you would be incredibly aggravating, you know."

Clay laughed. "Well, I guess I'll just have to work a little harder, then."

Natalie snorted. "On being annoying or being useful?"

"You'll find out soon enough." He turned to go and paused. "Still no sign of the Eternal Seal?"

Olivia answered. "No. Not yet."

He nodded. "All right. I'll get out of your way." Then he grinned. "Unless you want me to help?"

She was already pulling over one of the books to start scratching out the letters on a blank piece of parchment. Still, he saw her grin. "As if any of us could read your chicken scratch if we let you do any of it. Go smash something."

Clay snorted and headed for the door. He wondered just how much parchment he was going to wind up carrying to Ayleston. He suspected it would be more than he wanted, but at least it would head off a minor civil war with the Guild. At least, he hoped it would.

It took a full three days to transcribe the records onto sheets that Olivia could carry with her.

In that time, Clay trained with the Ruffians. They had gained a level inside the Dungeon—all of them had received the [Spectral] [Experience], which they weren't exactly enthusiastic about—and they had as much a need to increase their [Stats] as he did.

Unfortunately, it seemed that they improved far more quickly than he did. It took an incredible amount of work for him to reach another level of Will, and that was only after Lawrence had spent nearly a full day tormenting him with illusions and tricks of one kind or another. By contrast, the Ruffians quickly built up their own skills quite a lot quicker.

Of course, they might have had quite a lot of motivation to prepare themselves. As the days had gone on, Syr Katherine had started to hint that she wanted to return to the Dungeon again for the rest of the texts. She seemed fairly confident about her ability to fend off the bats, especially 'with the assistance of the other adventurers'. Apparently, the Ruffians had proved themselves a little too capable, and might be able to see a bit more of the Dungeon than they had actually wanted to.

She'd also hinted that Clay could join them, but he kept his eye on the time it would take them to reach Ayleston. Mitchell had likely already been there for a little over a week, which meant he'd have been there for nearly two by the time Clay and Olivia would reach him. If all had gone well, the [Guard] and his companions would be ready to assault the Lair and destroy it, which would give them plenty of time to reach the King's Lair, hopefully before King John reached the place.

If all had not gone well, of course…

The day they left Dorthmead, the weather had turned cold. It had already been chillier than normal in the mountains where the village was located, but it was just as clear that before long, the snows would arrive. Clay kept that possibility in mind as he watched the skies, where the grey clouds were gathering in worrying numbers.

Both the Ruffians and Syr Katherine had come to see them off. The [Calculator] shook Clay's hand, her voice warm despite her usual neutral expression. "It was an honor to work with you once more, Sir Clay."

Clay grinned at her. "And an honor to work with you as well." He looked back at the Ruffians, who were bidding Olivia farewell. "Are you really planning on dragging them back into the Dungeon?"

"They showed great promise. It would be criminal not to encourage them." She paused. "Besides, we might have the opportunity to find more information within it, before the Guild sends our replacements. Between what you've taught us about the Cloak, and their own apparent skills, we should be effective so long as we are careful."

He nodded. "Well, don't do anything I wouldn't do."

She snorted softly. "As if that would forbid me from doing very much." Syr Katherine paused. "All the same, take care of yourself and Syr Olivia, Sir Clay. The Guild needs you, whether it realizes that fact or not. The changes you bring are disruptive, true, but you may yet find us the keys we need to win this war. If you do not manage to kill yourself first."

Clay sighed. "I will try, Syr Katherine." She nodded and stepped aside, letting the Ruffians have their turn while she exchanged a semi-courteous nod with Olivia.

Jack glanced back at them and gave him a quick grin. "Do they make every woman like that back in Pellsglade? She still looks like she's ready to fight Syr Katherine even now."

He shrugged. "Well, you're welcome to find out, if you can find the time."

"I reckon I will, some day." Jack shook his hand and pulled him in for a quick hug.

The [Knave] had barely backed away before Anne tackled Clay hard enough to make him step back. "Don't get yourself killed, all right? You still need to teach me all those [Chants], once I can finally get my [Memory] high enough."

Clay laughed. "Nice to know what I'm useful for."

Anne rolled her eyes and made room for Natalie, who shook his hand and sighed. "You know, that was what I was going to say." Then the [Alchemist] paused, looking back at Syr Katherine. "Though I guess if we prove ourselves enough…"

He gave her an encouraging nod and then turned to Xavien. The [Oracle] had a half-sour look on his face as he shook Clay's hand. "You're sure you can't stick around longer? Maybe help us on a few Dungeon runs first?"

Clay shook his head. "Not this time."

Xavien rolled his eyes and grumbled under his breath. "Typical Trickster, always stirring things up and leaving the mess for others…"

Lawrence gave the man a wry smile. "As if I wasn't enough to make his life interesting." He looked back at Clay. "Take care of yourself. You still owe me another game, you know."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world." He shook the [Occultist]'s hand and then stepped back. Olivia walked over to join him, and he bowed for a moment. "It was an honor. Good fortune and fine travels until we meet again!"

The Ruffians echoed the farewell, and he turned to face the road. A cold wind blew, brushing the last of the leaves from a nearby tree, and he grinned. It wouldn't be long now, and winter would finally arrive.

All the more reason to meet it running.

They ran together through the chilly air, descending from the mountains as the road led them north and east. Olivia grumbled and complained a little as the mountains became foothills, and as the cliffs and brush became undergrowth and bare-branched forests. She obviously still didn't enjoy the process of building up her [Fortitude], but given the fact that he was still carrying most of the load of parchment, she didn't complain as much as she might have.

The village of Ayleston was a full two or three days away, even at a decent pace, and Clay had every intention of making sure that they could build up whatever [Stats] they could on the way there. Between Olivia's need to study the material they had rescued from the Dungeon and his own urge to continue building up his [Memory] to find new [Chants], they would have plenty of opportunities to grow along the trail. They wouldn't be comfortable opportunities, but that didn't seem nearly as important.

As they ran, Clay checked his [Gift], reminding himself of how much more he needed to improve.

[Clay Evergreen]

[Class: Commoner] {Level 22} (All Stats have a maximum of 37)

[Subclass: Laborer (Gain 10% bonus to all skills when performing repetitive tasks)]

[Soul: 1100/2200]

[Stats] {Might: 35} {Fortitude: 35} {Insight: 35} {Memory: 35} {Valor: 34} {Will: 35}

[Experiences]

{Farmhand: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when performing Farming activities. Gain Planting, Harvesting, and Husbandry skills.}

{Hunter: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when hunting wildlife. Gain Trapping and Tracking skills.}

{Slayer II: Gain 20% bonus to all skills when hunting monsters.}

{Forrester: Gain 5% bonus to all skills inside of a forested area. Gain extra 15% bonus to the Tracking skill in a forested area.}

{Watcher: Gain Analysis Skill. Gain 10% bonus to Tracking skill}

{Ambusher: Gain Hide Skill. Gain 10% bonus to all attacks from hiding. Gain 10% bonus to Trapping skill.)}

{Exterminator II: Gain triple the bonus from all Bane Achievements.}

{Determined: Fatigue lessened by 10%. Wounds heal 5% faster. Gain 10% bonus to repetitive or familiar activities.}

{Defiant II: Gain 40% bonus to all skills when facing an opponent of a higher level.}

{Smallmage: Can chant minor Chants 10% faster. Gain 20% effectiveness for minor Chants.}

{Valiant: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when facing multiple opponents.}

{Warsinger: Gain Lyricist Skill. Can complete all Chants 20% faster.}

{Mentor: Gain 5% bonus to all skills when leading lower level heroes. Allied heroes gain 20% bonus to all skills.}

{Unseen: Gain 20% to all attempts to hide. Gain 10% to all damage and skills while hiding.}

{Banisher: Gain permanent access to the Chant of Garden's Peace. Gain 10% speed and effectiveness for all Chants.}

{Seeker: Gain Ethereal Sense Skill. Gain 10% bonus to all skills when hunting monsters.}

{Leader: Gain Inspire Skill. Gain 5% bonus to all skills when leading heroes. Allied heroes gain 10% bonus to all skills.}

{Stubborn: Fatigue lessened by 20%. Wounds heal 10% faster.}

{Whisperer: Gain 10% bonus to minor Chants. Gain 10% bonus to the speed and effectiveness of all Chants.}

{Duelist: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when facing an enemy one on one.}

{Relentless: Fatigue lessened by 15%. Gain 15% bonus to repetitive or familiar activities.}

{Guide: Gain Mapping Skill. Gain 20% bonus to Analysis and Track Skills. Movement speed increases by 10%.}

{Tunneler: Gain 5% bonus to all skills inside of an underground area. Gain extra 15% bonus to the Tracking skill in an underground area.}

{Champion: Gain 20% bonus to all skills and damage when facing a Guardian.}

{Follower: Gain 20% bonus when being led by a higher-level hero.}

{Dungeoneer: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when inside a Dungeon.}

{Stalker: Gain 10% bonus to Tracking, Hide, and Trapping Skills.}

{Scout: Gain 20% to Tracking and Analysis Skills. Gain 10% to all skills when alone.}

{Weathered: Gain 10% resistance to disease, heat, and cold.}

{Spectral: Gain 20% resistance to ethereal senses.}

{Hiker: Gain 5% bonus to all skills inside of a hilly area. Gain extra 15% bonus to the Tracking skill in a hilly area.}

{Spear Expert: Gain 10% to damage when wielding a spear.}

{Infiltrator: Gain 15% bonus to Hide and Analysis Skills.}

{Slaughterer: Gain 20% damage resistance versus monsters affected by Bane Achievements.}

{Swamp Rat: Gain 5% bonus to all skills inside of a swampy area. Gain extra 15% bonus to the Tracking skill in a swampy area.}

{Predator: Gain 10% bonus to the Tracking and Hide skills when hunting humans.}

{Blackmage: Gain 20% power to Storm Chants.}

{Bow Expert: Gain 10% to damage when wielding a bow.}

{Searcher: Gain 10% bonus to Ethereal Senses. Gain 10% to all skills when hunting monsters.}

{Resilient: Gain 20% resistance to poison.}

{Exemplar: Gain 20% damage resistance against Guardians.}

{Shouter: Gain 20% range for all Chants.}

{Knife Expert: Gain 10% to damage when wielding a knife.}

{Mountaineer: Gain 5% bonus to all skills inside of a mountainous area. Gain extra 15% bonus to the Tracking skill in a mountainous area.}

[Achievements]

{Spiderbane: 30% increase to all skills and damage against spiders. Bonus increases to 60% versus Mantrap Spiderlings, Troll Spiderlings, Mature Mantrap Spiders, Mature Troll Spiders, Elder Troll Spiders, and Elder Mantrap Spiders.}

{Corpsebane: 45% increase to all skills and damage against Undead. Bonus increases to 90% versus Rotted Levies, Wretched Corporals, Weary Horses, Skeletal Riders, Corpse Hounds, Condemned Foragers, Corpse Birds, Condemned Hunters, Skeletal Scouts, Wretched Sergeants, Wretched Marshals, Condemned Marksmen, and Skeletal Lancers}

{Lizardbane: 15% increase to all skills and damage against lizards. Bonus increases to 30% versus Flame Wretches, Flame Devils, and Flame Horrors.}

{Slimebane: 15% increase to all skills and damage against slimes. Bonus increases to 30% versus Small Ironslimes, Large Ironslimes, and Giant Ironslimes.}

{Swinebane: 45% increase to all skills and damage against swinefolk. Bonus increases to 90% versus Flesh Eaters, Feral Squealers, Wild Smashers, Land Eaters, Feral Shriekers, Wild Crushers, Soul Eaters, Feral Screechers, and Wild Shakers.}

{Frogsbane: 45% increase to all skills and damage against frogs. Bonus increases to 90% versus Mud Croaker Spawn, Dart Croaker Spawn, Decay Croaker Spawn, Decay Croaker Adults, Mud Croaker Adults, Dart Croaker Adults, Decay Croaker Elders, Mud Croaker Elders, and Dart Croaker Elders.}

{Shroomsbane: 45% increase to all skills and damage against shrooms. Bonus increases to 80% versus Juvenile Hopper Shrooms, Juvenile Spitter Shrooms, Juvenile Shifter Shrooms, Mature Spitter Shrooms, Mature Hopper Shrooms, Mature Shifter Shrooms, Wizened Spitter Shrooms, Wizened Shifter Shrooms, and Wizened Hopper Shrooms.}

{Batsbane: 45% increase to all skills and damage against bats. Bonus increases to 90% versus Junior Fanged Bats, Junior Howler Bats, Junior Blast Bats, Senior Fanged Bats, Senior Howler Bats, Senior Blast Bats, Ancient Blast Bats, Ancient Howler Bats, and Ancient Fanged Bats.}

{Paragon: All skills gain 30% effectiveness around fellow heroes.}

{Combat Generalist: Gain Tactician Skill. Gain 10% bonus to all damage in combat.}

{Warrior Poet: Gain 40% bonus to Lyricist Skill. Gain 10% bonus to the speed of all Chants.}

{Unyielding Spirit: Fatigue lessens by 5%. Wounds heal 10% faster. Gain 10% damage resistance.}

{Commander: Gain 10% bonus to all skills when leading a group of heroes. Allied heroes gain a 20% bonus to all skills.}

{Assassin: Gain 40% damage to initial attacks from hiding.}

{Traveler: Gain 10% faster movement speed. Gain additional 25% movement speed in forests, tunnels, hills, swamps, and mountains.}

{Weapon Master: Gain 5% bonus to speed and damage in combat. Gain 15% speed and damage when using a spear, bow, or knife.}

He obviously needed to spend more time on his [Valor], but at least his [Fortitude] would be coming along nicely after the trip.

Clay kept telling himself that as they ran through the countryside, closing in on their next target.

That night, with the tent put up and dinner warming on the fire, Clay sat back and sighed. Olivia already had the parchment out, going over the text and scratching out notes for her translation. She'd already done the same during their break for lunch, spending nearly the entire time absorbed in the task. He'd nearly needed to remind her to eat.

It seemed like things were going to be about the same this time as well. Clay shook his head and smiled. He gently nudged her, provoking a startled glance. "How is it going?"

Olivia grimaced. She looked back down at the pages in front of her. "Not incredibly well. The grammar in these pages is older than what I'm used to. More archaic. It's like they are speaking in riddles or with poetry rather than plain speech."

Clay raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure they aren't? Maybe we managed to steal a book full of ancient poetry."

A smile quirked her lips, despite her agitation. "Wouldn't that be useful?" Then she shook her head. "It doesn't seem like it, though. Unless I am translating these things completely wrong."

"What did we end up with, then? If you don't mind me asking." A bit of genuine curiosity ran through him. He'd mostly avoided the translation efforts, mostly since he'd felt a little out of place in them, but it wouldn't have been the first time that Olivia had dredged up something from a book that would prove crucial.

She nodded, tucking a bit of her hair back into place before resting her chin on her hand. "Mostly just things that I thought might have clues to what they were doing about monsters before the Dungeon or Lair took the place. Three 'proclamations', an epistle of some kind…"

Clay frowned. "An epistle?"

Olivia nudged him, a playful smile now taking over her features. "It's a Rectory thing. A letter that's meant to announce or describe something." Her smile faded a bit. "A couple of personal histories for local nobles, a few trial records about various local conflicts—you know, the usual things that might describe something a Rogue was doing or how the [Nobles] worked."

He nodded. "I'm guessing that was mostly what the scrolls were. What about the books?"

"We got one historical text, two more collections of mythological tales, and a travelogue of some kind." She shrugged. "I'd hoped that we'd find more descriptions of Lairs or Dungeons, and what they'd done about them. I'm not sure if the actual [Chant] will be included, but we'll hopefully at least find clues. At least, I was, but I haven't seen anything so far."

Clay sighed. He tilted his head back to look up at the darkening sky. Some of the stars were already starting to peek through the curtain of the evening, bright pinpricks against the gathering darkness. "Too bad no one had the courtesy of making a book of spells for us to use. Though I suppose we can't blame them for not being as forward thinking as you."

Olivia snorted softly and shook her head. She shifted a little so that she could lean back against him as she went back to scratching at the parchment. "I guess not. You're lucky you have me around, then."

"I am indeed." Clay smiled to himself and snuck an arm around her. She snuggled a bit further in, and he sighed in contentment. His aching muscles seemed to become a more distant problem as he watched the stars arrive, and waited for the smell of fresh stew to fill the air. For now, at that moment, he was right where he wanted to be.

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