The Halfwit Halfling: A Bard's Tale, page 15
The nature of the favour may change how the individual views you.
』
“Thank you,” I said. The concept intrigued me. I had never encountered such a concept in any game I had played on Earth. I found it odd she handed it out without question or investigating my claims of a capper raid. “For the record, we’re not cowards. Jovians do the right thing whenever we can; just never at the cost of self-preservation.”
“And a spine too?” Lady Hyacinth laughed. She clicked her fingers, and the guards guided Lily into a side room. I followed. “Well, I guess I had your kind wrong. You have my apologies, Master Jovian.
Keeping the commendation held no value. I already knew what kind of favour I needed to ask for. However, I didn’t want the woman to think I was ditching Lily straight after getting to safety. Hell, I’d already ditched Lefa when she expected me to marry her. As much as I wanted to deny it, that made me an asshole. Now, I needed to give Lily at least one night before leaving.
“What’s wrong with her?” I asked. Lily had become obsessed with the healer woman’s curly hair. She’d pull on her wavy locks until they were straight, and then let them bounce back into their curls. “I haven’t known her for long, but usually she’s a lot more put together.”
“The symptoms of mana overload differ, largely depending on an individual’s attunement. I take it she’s a Mind Mage?”
I nodded as my stomach sang the song of its people. Pressing a hand on my belly did nothing to quieten it.
“Mushroom jelly in its unrefined form is toxic,” she continued. “Cappers have grown a tolerance for it over the centuries, but aelfs, not so much. Due to the race’s arcanic inclinations and dependency, it’s like catnip to them. So, when she indulged, your pretty friend let her Mana run wild, and it damaged her psyche. Whatever enchantment she tried to use on your attackers backfired.” Lady Hyacinth sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of Lily’s face. “Enough of that depressing talk, go rest.”
The guards tried to usher me out of the room, but when I struggled, the woman shooed them away. Grumbling, the guard captain stepped out the door and stood facing away from us. We waited for him to close the door, but he didn’t.
“Is it permanent? We just met yesterday, but I don’t feel right leaving her while she’s like this.”
“Why? Do you have somewhere to go?” The woman tilted her head to the side, studying me. It was then her hair fell to the side, revealing her aelf-like ears. The rest of her features didn’t match Lily’s, but I guessed they came in all shapes and sizes. Maybe a racial variant? I realised at that moment, besides ensuring Lily’s safety, the woman was trying to figure out whether I meant her kind any ill will or not.
“I’m trying to get to Eldar’s Port,” I said. “Hoping to get some bard and Arcane training.”
“Interesting,” she said. “Jovians with a thirst for adventure are truly rare, and everyone likes a good bard. I don’t know whether there’s any work in town for someone like you, Mister—”
“Kanooks. It’s Peregrin Kanooks, but I prefer Perry.”
“I’m Hyacinth,” she told me, flashing a lovely smile. “You’ve done a valuable service to my kind, saving one of our own. I’ll ask around whether there’s anyone in need of a hand. It’s Market Day today. Come nightfall, the farmers will be heading to their homesteads, and many of them do business in Eldar’s Port too. I’ll see if any of them are in need of an extra pair of hands for a week or two. Do you have any farming relevant Masteries?”
“No,” I answered honestly. Since Hyacinth was upfront with me, I thought it best to reciprocate the gesture. “I’ve dedicated my life to music. I have Sneaking and Mana Sense too, but I don’t know whether they’ll be any use on the farm.”
“That’s certainly not going to make things any easier, but I’ll see what I can do.”
Things were moving awfully fast. I expected she’d want me around for a few days at least as she studied Lily’s condition. Or was it the opposite? Maybe, Hyacinth’s intention was to get rid of me as soon as possible. Either way, I chose not to look a gift horse in the mouth. The further I got from Lefa and Grog, the better.
“Thank you, Hyacinth.”
“Go clean up, Perry,” she said. “I’ve got work to do.”
Chapter 23
On The Road Again
I felt good in my new clothes. Off-white shirt, black suspenders, dark brown trousers, and a matching coat. They were all children’s clothes as the settlement didn’t house any citizens my size, but I didn’t mind. They didn’t chafe, and that made me happy. Hyacinth’s people offered a new cape as well, but I rather liked Gram’s ugly gift. It made me feel like a glorious patchwork hobo.
Wary about surprising my new employer, I summoned Diya before our meeting time and slung the guitar over my shoulder. I had considered redeeming my commendation and getting an ensured job opportunity out of Hyacinth but then decided against it. For someone looking to build a future on their Charisma, commendations, renown, and reputation would all come in handy. Instead, I hoped the meeting she had arranged would end on a positive note.
Hyacinth and I headed to the bottom level of the fort, and a trio of guards walked us towards the gate facing Eldar’s Plains. We passed a market full of men, women, and children not in military clothing. I guessed they needed civilians to run a settlement too. Soldiers would occasionally want food not prepared by their barrack’s cook and have a drink away from their commanding officer. The people wore simple clothing and appeared hard at work, but they looked happy. Living in a military-run settlement probably let them enjoy a degree of security most couldn’t find in Game World.
Towards the end of the street, sat the stables where we’d be meeting my new employer. He arrived at the stables as soon as the clock struck seven: exactly a quarter-of-an-hour after us. I could tell from the look on his face, the man prided himself on punctuality. Hyacinth introduced him as Walter. The human had a thick ginger beard, bald head, and was built like an ox. Looking at his stern face, I knew straight away, he’d be a hard man to please.
Walter looked me up and down before turning his attention to the guitar. “How good are you with that?” he asked. A giant hairy goat as tall as my shoulder wandered in while we spoke. It butted its head against Walter, and he swatted the beast away.
“I’m a Journeyman,” I answered.
“That’ll do.”
“You don’t need someone with Beast Taming?”
“No. My livestock are harder to tame than wolves.” The goat was looking at me now. Its thumb-sized horns looked like stubs when compared to the rest of his body. “Most of the herd are nannies, and they’re the friendly sort. They keep to themselves and do what their leading billie tells them. The males like this fine billie goat can be more of a challenge.” He pointed at the creature now approaching me with curious eyes and a collar hanging around its neck. “Though effective, the enchantments cause them too much pain. So, we use music to keep them docile.”
“I can do that,” I said, looking at the goat nervously as it wandered closer. “I hope Hyacinth told you. I’m only looking for something until I can afford passage into Eldar’s Port.”
“That works just fine,” Walter told me. “My boy is the house musician, and he’s down with a cold. You’ll be helping Samuel with taking the herd out to graze until he can play his flute again. Besides, he’s constantly falling asleep in the fields and letting the herd wander. Maybe you can keep him in check.” Walter’s body language relaxed as we conversed. He probably put on his initial stern demeanour to intimidate me. After dealing with Grog, his put on airs didn’t scare me in any way. “Next month, I have a delivery to make in Eldar’s Port, and I’ll drop you off. You’ll have food and a board, but the job won’t pay a whole lot.”
“I was expecting to lose money getting there. So, even if it’s a little bit, that’ll be enough.” I smiled, reaching out to pet the goat. It took a step back, moving out of my reach. “What you’re offering is too good to be true. I mean, it sounds like you have everything you need. Are you sure I won’t just be another mouth to feed?”
“I owe Lady Hyacinth a favour, boy. That is all.” I knew it. She was trying to get rid of me, after all. This felt awfully fast. It felt too much like a trap, but I needed to keep moving. The sooner I found my place in my new world, the better. “Besides, the farm can always use an extra pair of hands.”
Then, things started falling into place. If Lily really was a spy, then there had to be an intelligence network relaying information back to whatever power she served. What if Hyacinth was a part of the network? Maybe, she wanted me gone, so the authorities had fewer people to question. That had to be it. Hyacinth thought of me as a tool Lily had picked for her cover, and now she needed to get rid of me.
I had dozens of questions bubbling inside of me, but I thought it best to keep it to myself. The cappers had some sort of summit coming up, and Hunter’s Watch sat as the first line of defence against a rival nation. The commendation, calling in a favour: Hyacinth wanted me happy and far away. It explained her rush.
“You don’t owe me anything,” the aelf said, clasping the burly man’s hand. “This lovely young jovian risked his neck, bringing one of my people to safety. He’s got a good heart, and I’d like to see his ambitions fulfilled.”
Wow. Hyacinth liked to lay it on thick. I grinned ear to ear, playing along. If she knew I suspected Lily of spying in Blacknail’s Table, I’d be too much of a liability.
“Well, Eldar’s Port needs more people like you, Perry,” Walter said. “Unless someone gets the Merchant’s Guild under control, we farming folk are in for a hard time.” He shifted his gaze to the goat. “Looks like Curry has already taken a liking to you, Perry. Maybe you’ll do just fine.”
Studying Hyacinth, I had almost forgotten about the goat. It hopped forward and headbutted me. The move felt more playful than hostile. However, I wasn’t as stable as Walter, and the force knocked me onto my bottom.
“Yep, I think you’ll do just fine.” He laughed, helping me up. We discussed the job opportunity a while longer. It felt too much like charity, but for someone in my position, turning the offer down would be a bad idea. On the bright side, maybe I’d pick up a useful Mastery while I was at it.
Hyacinth let me bid Lily goodbye. It didn’t matter, the aelf didn’t recognise me. We stood alone in the healer woman’s herb garden as Lily watered the plants. I couldn’t tell whether she understood what she was doing or not. In fact, when I spoke to her, she didn’t so much as look at me. I hadn’t developed any sort of emotional bond with her. However, after what we experienced escaping the wargs and then surviving the tunnels, to some extent, we had become companions. It may have only been for a day, but to me, it was a first.
I considered forgiving the Life Debt. It no longer mattered. Besides, I wasn’t sure whether I wanted Lily ever to find me after she recovered. Then, I decided against it. If she really was a spy, maybe someday I’d find myself in need of her services. Besides, if she ever did track me down and I didn’t have the stolen locket or Life Debt for protection, she could turn me into a puppet too.
“Hyacinth, can I ask a favour of you without using the commendation?” I asked before leaving the garden.
“Depends on the nature of the favour.”
“I made a few friends in the caravan. A man and a capper. They’re very recognisable. The man is a bone carver and carries a unique scrimshawed staff. The latter is a scribe—”
“A capper scribe?” Hyacinth interrupted. “Are you sure about that.”
“That’s what he claims, I’ve never seen him practising his trade.” In all honesty, I didn’t know what kind of job a scribe did. “You’ll know him when you see him. Hruk is an adult, but he’s shorter and skinnier than any full-grown capper, has charcoal hair, and smooth skin.”
“If they come through here, can you please let them know I’m heading towards Eldar’s Port?”
“Sure,” she answered. “You didn’t tell me the man’s name.”
“Sloane.”
“Consider it done.” Hyacinth and I shook hands. “I’ll pass it on to the watch. No need to redeem the commendation for something so simple.”
Dusk had just settled in when we set out on Walter’s cart. A pair of horses pulled it while the giant goat trailed behind us. For the first time since coming to Game World, I could be at ease. Things were falling into place. Sure, I had no idea what I’d do after reaching Eldar’s Port, but for the time being, I had no immediate concerns.
Hunter’s Watch would hopefully keep our pursuers at bay, Lily was in safe hands, and Hyacinth had her eyes open for Hruk. For the time being, there wasn’t much else I could do. Continuing to beat myself up about Gor or worrying about Hruk wouldn’t do me any good. Peregrin Kanooks needed to take care of himself.
Walter’s goat wouldn’t take his eyes off me. Occasionally, it would flare its nostrils and jerk its head upwards, as if issuing a challenge. What did the hairy monster want? I sure hoped he was an anomaly.
“He’s a strange kid,” Walter said when he noticed our staring contest. “His brothers sold straight away, but not him. Even with the control collar, I can’t get him to stop headbutting people.”
“That’s a kid?!” I exclaimed, eyeing the goat. He was almost as big as a warg. “He’s huge.”
“Believe it or not, Curry is the runt of his family.” Walter laughed at my wide-eyed surprise. “His sisters are already bigger than him. I’ve tried selling him to a rare animal merchant, to the butchers, and tailors, but no luck. They’ll buy my butter and cheese, but Nil Mountain Goat is too exotic for their dinner table and too wild for anything else.”
Walking up to the edge of the cart, the goat headbutted my leg—this time, harder than before. When I tried to pet it, the creature shied away again. What did it want?
“You’ll see more of his siblings when we get to the farm,” he continued. “I plan to sell the rest in the city. They’re more open-minded in their selections of meat and fabric.”
I’d never been a fan of goat meat. Maybe in Game World, it would taste different, but on Earth, the gamey smell always put me off. Walter told me about his family business. They kept a half a dozen billie goats for mating purposes. The diverse genetic pool did well to prevent too much inbreeding between the stock. The rest of the flock were female. He made a living selling their fur and milk. A while after birthing season, he’d cull the male kids not ideal for breeding.
“What does the collar do?” I asked, studying the device around Curry’s neck.
“If the wearer does anything against their master’s wishes, it causes growing pain until they obey,” Walter explained. “I can’t tell whether this one has a high tolerance for pain or gets off on it. He doesn’t respond and keeps doing the same thing over and over again. Maybe he’s stupid.”
“I think he’s just stubborn,” I said. “That challenging stare in his eyes is pretty familiar.
“Whatever it is, I hope he sells soon. I’m not sure where he puts it, but Curry eats as much as his brothers.”
“That’s a sick name, you know,” I said, amused. “Born to end up in the pot?”
“It’s morbid, I know. My son thought of it.”
When Curry came in to headbutt me again, I tapped his head with my giant bare foot. He hopped back, his big goat mouth, hanging open. The goat appeared slighted. I didn’t want to risk him putting more strength into his next attempt, so I quickly swung Diya onto my lap and strummed a tune. I started with one of my own songs. After the incident with Lefa, I decided not to test Wonderwall’s power again.
For a while, the beast stared at me with a sceptical look in his beady eyes. In my opinion, Curry deserved more credit. Walter knew more about the species than I, but I thought I saw intelligence in him. Or, it could be the opposite. Maybe Curry was just stupid and I was jumping to conclusions. Perhaps he didn’t realise the collar hurt him whenever he misbehaved.
I was halfway into the song when Curry sighed a very goaty sigh and continued following us with a more relaxed expression. Now that I understood the world’s magic system, I recognised the Mana’s flowing through the guitar and me. As expected, the smaller pool of green energy coming from the guitar carried the Life Attunement. I still failed to recognise the second Mana’s nature. Maybe it had no attunement at all. Lily did say people sought out places and beings of power to give their Mana a type.
Walter became more talkative when I finished my song. I guessed when talk failed to exercise my Charisma, Music did the job. I checked my Mastery Menu. Of the ten slots in the Active tab, six were full.
『
Cooking Apprentice: Rank 6
Dodging Novice: Rank 3*
Mana Wielding Novice: Rank 2*
Mana Sense Novice: Rank 4*
Musician Journeyman: Rank 4
Sleight of Hand Novice: Rank 3*
Sneaking Novice: Rank 7*
』
That’s right, I had a new Mastery. I earned the Dodging Mastery when showing off my fancy footwork. I’d been more concerned about clearing my vision to deal with Gor, so I had swiped the notification out of my sight and forgotten about it.
All but Musician Mastery had experienced some degree of growth. I guessed levelling them at Novice rank took a lot less effort as well. The rank hadn’t budged since I finished playing Wonderwall. True, I didn’t recall how long I had played Diya after meeting Lefa, but I remembered flashes of her sitting upfront while I played a few more songs.
Now that I had my freedom, it was time to plan out how to fill my Mastery slots. Planning builds, and theorycrafting had always been one of my favourite parts of playing games. Now, I would need to do the same for my new reality. Over the past few weeks, I had realised Charisma alone wouldn’t get me anywhere. I still intended to dump all my free points in Charisma, but I needed Masteries that would pump up my other stats.
