83 - Where To From Here?

On the last night of the full moon, two days after the death of Sougath, the city of Peregrine Harbor was still celebrating. Joe usually avoided large gatherings, especially ones where he would be one of the centers of attention. He was not shy in small groups, but large crowds made him edgy. Unfortunately, thanks to Mazsy and Hah'roo, he had spent the last two evenings fully embroiled into masses of grateful bayites.

The strangest part of his celebrations was that, even though he was not a fan of the spotlight, it turned out the wildness was. Joe worried at first when he felt his new feral instincts surge, but it was not a burst of aggression. The wildness thrived in a pack, especially at the top of the pack. Becoming one of Peregrine Harbor's local heroes had Joe's wild side practically howling with excitement.

Through the two nights of indulgence, [Purge] was his savior. Without the poison-defusing skill, Joe would have completely embarrassed himself, as he was never allowed to have an empty cup. He learned to do the same for Mazsy. Hah'roo, who seemed to drink as much as either of them, never seemed to be affected in the slightest. Joe was still dying to find out something the frank huntress was NOT good at.

Besides training, that is. Joe had spent several hours training with her over the last two days. He decided to leave off with the staff and try billyclubs and handaxes, both of which felt far more comfortable in his hands than his quarterstaff ever did. He tried a shield, but while it helped his defense immeasurably, it ultimately killed his attacks. Joe needed more practice to find the right balance with a weapon and shield together.

Granted, having a shield was just as useless when Hah'roo flipped back to full rope-dancer mode. She found a way to hook his shield, or his weapon arm, or a leg, every time.

The next day, he spent time with his other teammate. When he awoke, in the comfy little inn he had found, a note from Count Valloc was waiting for him, inviting Joe to lunch at the Corsairs of the Ardent Watch Club. The club turned out to be a private adventurers' guild and was situated in one of the nicest parts of the city. Not only did Joe have a small amount of Jink's trove left over, but the night before, Joe and Hah'roo had been showered with appreciative donations. He had been handed a jar and hat that held a bit over five hundred gold between them over the last two nights.

Joe decided not to wear his comfortable but very unsuitable attire to meet with his noble friend. He splurged on a nice shirt, vest, leggings, and boots, each of which cost more than all of his current wardrobe combined.

The Corsairs of the Ardent Watch Club looked exactly as he imagined it would. It would have fit perfectly on an Ivy League college campus. Heavy granite walls shaped the exterior of the structure. The roof was made of a darker slate. Large pointed-topped windows made up of small leaded diamond panes were recessed into the gray stone. Brass railings bordered the wide stairs to a pair of heavy mahogany-looking doors. And, of course, the whole thing stood behind an iron fence with arrow-tipped rods.

Even spruced up in his new duds, he still felt horribly underdressed as he approached the complex. A guard gestured for him to step up and speak with her when he reached the gate.

"Your name, sir?" she asked in a polite voice.

"Joe. Joe Morris," he replied, still feeling out of his element.

"Very good, Count Randeau has left word of your visit. If you would follow Mathiss there," she said, indicating a scaled man who was stepping up to them. Mathiss wore a black coat, and white gloves, and had serpentine features. "He will show you to your appointment."

He followed the scaled usher up the stone steps and through the ornate doorway. As Mathiss led him into the foyer, Joe stopped cold, overwhelmed by the sight in front of him. Staring down on the entryway was a titanic dragon, glaring at him with an open-mouthed snarl. Flame-red eyes glowed under darker red-scaled brows. Fangs as long as his arm curved to deadly points. A whole horse could fit into that vast maw. Fins of red flesh fanned the head, making the whole visage even larger.

His guide must have been well accustomed to this reaction. He took hold of Joe's elbow and steered him to a side door off the main hallway. "This way, Sir," Mathiss stated calmly.

As Joe's angle shifted, he realized it was just the head of the mighty creature mounted on the wall, strategically placed to awe any newcomer to the hunter's club. When he was able to wrest his eyes away from the crimson wyrm, he saw other heads also lining the side walls. Joe caught sight of a fierce golden boar and some vicious-looking sea-creature before Mathiss whisked him into a large dining area, brightly lit by a full wall of French doors and large windows.

The Count was leaning against a square bar of well-lacquered wood in the middle of the room. Valloc was holding a snifter of some dark red liquor, speaking with a group of well-dressed men and women. While each of their outfits was more formal than Joe's, all of the vestments had a utilitarian look to them. They had belts with spatial storage and light weapons, footgear that one could fight in. Their dress and manner suggested these were not men and women whose existence was limited to courts and social events.

On seeing Joe enter, Valloc disengaged himself and indicated a nearby table. The surface was already filled with numerous dishes and drinks. Joe saw fruit juices, but not in the colors he would typically expect. There were exotic pastries as well. As he sat, he finally encountered one familiar sight when the Count lifted the cover off a bowl of very normal-looking scrambled eggs.

"I ordered the brunch for us, but we can switch to a more midday fare if you prefer," Valloc stated, indicating the dishes.

"Not at all. Breakfast for lunch, or dinner, for that matter, is always great," Joe replied. He filled his plate with eggs and took a couple of slices of grilled meat that was definitely not bacon but smelled just as good. He added some cut fruit. Seeing that the Count had taken his first bite, Joe dug in, hungrier than he expected to be. He worried the eggs would be some weird translation but he was surprised to find they tasted just like their counterparts from Earth. They were cooked perfectly, too. Not all slimy, but not too dry either.

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After several minutes, the nobleman broke the silence. "Let's start by getting the looming beast out of the room. A copy of the [Writ of Innocence] has been filed and accepted by the church of Glauri. You are now free to do as you wish."

"Thank goodness," Joe sighed. He had assumed the writ was going to straighten things out for him, but the Count's confirmation removed his lingering worries.

"Now that you are unburdened by those charges, Joe, may I be so candid as to ask, what are your plans going forward?"

"I think it's time for me to get out of Duskrug. I don't mean any offense, sir, but I don't think I belong here."

"Quite understandable. And wise. Duke Amberwroth does not take being thwarted kindly. The Suttrels may also seek vengeance."

The Count shook his head slightly before continuing. "You have had an unenviable introduction to the kingdom. I will say not all of the country is as unforgiving as you have witnessed. Unfortunately, Duskrug has always had an acrimonious relationship with the Fey. The heritage you possess is now better hidden, but it may cause you difficulties again as long as you stay within the kingdom's borders."

The Count put down the piece of toast he had been holding and brushed clean his fingers on his napkin. He gave Joe a speculative look before he spoke again. "Speaking of which, I would like to express the gratitude of House Randeau for your part in destroying that murderer. I have spoken with my aunt, and she agrees we would be honored to share one of our house traits with you. Are you able to take one at this moment?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I leveled several times with Sougath. This is my third shared trait, and today is day three after the alias trait that is adjusting my identity. Perfect timing," Joe beamed, putting his fork down onto his forgotten plate. After seeing what Sir Groven had, Joe wondered how much better a Count was traited than a mere knight.

"Excellent. We discussed making you a peer of House Randeau, but that would embroil you in unnecessary complications. You would get the backing of our House, and we are well respected, but there would be obligations and a few old feuds I assume you would rather avoid."

Joe simply nodded. He was just about to get his footing under him with his new life. While he very much liked both the Count and Marchess, he would much rather gain something simply good, than something complex.

"Very well, then my suggestion is one of our most potent traits and one of my favorites. To stay ahead of the creatures we hunt, we often find ourselves constrained by time. Quite often, you need to place shields in two places at once or ward yourself and another against … say, a breath attack or lightning bolt. There is also the benefit of being able to empower both weapons you are wielding at the same time. To accomplish this, the House Randeau has passed down the trait [Dual Cast]. This is what I would share with you. I think you will find it invaluable in your role as a healer, and the attribute bonuses will suit you as well."

Joe had already tried and failed to heal two people at once. Such a trait would make his life much easier. When the Count shared his sheet, Joe accepted the offered ability with many thanks.

[Dual Cast] Double trouble +1 to Vigor. +1 to Spirit. You can simultaneously invoke two instances of a skill. Resource costs and material requirements must be met for each instance. Once cast, the skills function independently from each other.

They spent the rest of the meal discussing plans for where to head next for Joe. The Count suggested either the Small Kingdoms to the east or Hornwood to the south. In the Small Kingdoms. Joe would find a great variety of people and cultures. The southern peninsula was a lusher and more challenging region. It was Count Valloc's firm belief that Joe could thrive in either of these locations.

After leaving the heroic swordsman, Joe decided to get one more opinion before making his choice. He headed off to find Hah'roo. He knew the inn she was staying at exceedingly well, as they had spent hours the night before drinking and singing along with the patrons of the Lean Pig Pub. Joe crossed back through the city in a slow, halting progression. His description had been circulated far and wide, which led to him being stopped time and again for countless handshakes, hugs, thank yous, and offers to buy him a drink. Joe had to turn down the last ones, or he never would have made it anywhere.

Just as he was approaching the front door of the Pig, a familiar face stepped out to greet him.

"I was just coming to find you," Joe stated a little blearily. Try as he might, he had not escaped every drink offer, and after two days of heavy binging, [Purge] was starting to lose efficacy in his current blood/alcohol battle.

"I know. The winds told me. You have cleaned up nicely," she breathed airily, with a look at his new shirt and groomed appearance. "I take you have concluded your appointment with Count Valloc?"

"Yup," he replied. Walking beside her with no apparent direction in mind, Joe filled her in on his discussion with Count Valloc as he finished clearing his head. When they reached the part about where Joe should head to from Peregrine Harbor, she glanced away, looking unsettled. In a very un-Hah'roo-like hesitancy, the galeling started to say something, but her words failed her.

Joe waited, giving her space, unsure what was prompting her reluctance to speak. Normally, she was the cool and collected one.

"I do not wish to end our time together, Joe," she finally whispered. "It is more than just my duty to protect a zephyr, though, of course, that is a large part of my feelings. Shielding one such as you is a task all gales hope one day to be called on to perform."

She stopped on the walkway of the street leading down to the harbor and turned to face Joe directly. "It is more than that. I am comfortable around you in a way I rarely am with those who cannot hear the winds. I have had allies and lovers among the lowlanders, but it is rare to find one I would call a friend."

"Well, if I had to pick anyone to join me adventuring, you would be at the very top of my list, Hah'roo," he stated earnestly.

Joe turned and looked out over the city as it sloped down to the bay. He saw the sun glinting off the ocean and the seabirds wheeling through the air. The water's horizon was a dark blue line below the bright blue sky. All of these things called to Joe. They whispered of possibilities now open to him; of far-off lands and unknown wonders. He breathed in a deep breath, feeling the tingle of anticipation climb across his skin.

"How about we take a walk down to the wharfs. I'll pick the ships I like the look of, and you can tell me about the amazing places they could take us to."

With a bright smile, she looped her arm through his, and together, they did just that.

Here ends Book 1 of the Illuminaria Series: A Road Unknown.

Joe and Hah'roo will return in Book 2 - Wild Shores.

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