CHAPTER 45

"It was created by evil, it serves evil, and it was left by evil. And never again can it fall into the hands of evil." The old knight's tone was still just as soft.

Romuil chimed in, though he wasn't looking at or addressing anyone in particular. "A book like that probably has lots of spells from the dark side, with eighty or ninety percent of them for battle."

"Take it." Krolina held a fat tome out to the old knight. "If I have to, I'll answer to the clan council myself."

The book was thick and old, with red leather binding and bronze clasps. Master Hugo weighed it in his hands.

"That's strange," I said. "I thought I gave him a different book yesterday?"

"You did give him a different book." Von Shlippen-shtain looked at me. "I told you, witchers collect knowledge. They find magic books and other documents with spells, and then they perform a reunification ritual. The knowledge from all the different sources is gathered in their magic books."

"That makes sense." I nodded.

"This," Hugo said as he shook the tome in his hands, "is quintessential evil. There's only one thing to do with it."

He shook it one more time before sending it hurtling into the fireplace. The fire flared, hissed, turned green, and...the book was gone. Von Shlippenshtain thoughtfully looked on and sat down in his chair.

"Screw the book," Reineke, who was also looking at the fireplace, said. "There never was a book in the first place. Right, Romuil?"

"What?" Romuil was staring in the same direction.

"What are you talking about, Lis?"

"Nicely done!" Krolina clapped. "All's well that ends well."

"Of course," smiled Reineke. "So what about the rings?"

"Oh, come on!" Kro visibly deflated. "I was hoping you'd forget. They're nice. One's rare, for mages, with four attributes. The other... Lis, please, it's so cool, and it's for archers. Look!"

She pulled it out.

Ring of Wind and Sparks

+15 to agility

+10 to stamina

+11% to accuracy

+13% damage done by the Triple Strike ability

+9% chance of doing critical damage when using the Straight Through ability

Durability: 330/330

For class: archer

Minimum level for use: 65

"You'll turn it in to the clan storehouse," Reineke said sharply.

"But Lissie, please! It's even for the abilities I use. Please, please, please?"

Lis finally had enough. "Oh, stop it! You can keep it, but you're turning in the mage ring."

"Of course. You're the best!" Kro gave Lis a peck on the cheek.

Gunther frowned from the corner where he was sitting.

"Well," said von Shlippenshtain, who got up again from his chair, "now it's my turn to hand out some rewards. The witcher is dead!"

For completing the Kill the Witcher quest you get:

1500 experience

Other rewards: variable

I heard another ding. What a day!

You unlocked Level 31!

Points ready to be distributed: 5

Fantastic. Level 31 was much better than Level 22, where I'd been stuck for so long.

"I would also like to reward each of you individually. Although…there's one more reward I have for you all." Hugo waved his hand. "Forgive my presumption, but I consider friendship with the Tearful Goddess Order a reward as well."

"Of course, master," Reineke said with a nod. "This is an enormous honor for my friends and me."

Master Hugo looked at our whirling dervish, who was, for the moment, quiet. "Lady Krolina, I am pleased to give you a scroll that has been kept here in the Fladridge mission since time immemorial. It contains an ability called Through Walls that you will find useful as an archer."

"Thank you!" She did a small dance. "I've never heard of that!"

"As far as I know, it gives your arrows incredibly destructive power. I would also like to personally give you this katzbalger. I believe you took a liking to it."

"Thank you. Really, thank you!" Kro spun around to face us. "An ability, a gorgeous sword, and my own knight. How lucky am I?"

"An entire order," von Shlippenshtain said with a knowing smile partially concealed by his mustache. "When the young men in our order hear about you, they will certainly wish to take the place of von Richter in your heart. I suspect your smile will be the cause of many a duel."

Gunther frowned deeper in his corner and drifted off into his thoughts.

"And now, you, gentlemen." Hugo looked at Reineke and Romuil. "I give you swords. Both were bound for warriors of our order, and I am sure that in your hands they will serve only the cause of good."

"Wow," whistled Romuil. "Elite!"

"Yeah," Reineke said in confirmation. "Thank you, master. Know that our swords and those of the entire Thunderbirds clan will always be ready to serve the Tearful Goddess Order."

Von Shlippenshtain turned to me. "And for you, my friend, I would like to start by giving you this."

He pulled a shield off the wall and handed it to me.

"It belonged to a great knight, one of the founders of our order. The legends say it was the Goddess herself who gave it to him. She also gave him a sword, but, alas, it was lost. Derek von Lichtenshtain is a legendary figure in our order, as he left the common people, taught himself the ways of a knight, and was knighted by the crown for his deeds of valor and true greatness of spirit. He was a mighty man."

You received an additional reward for completing the Kill the Witcher quest.

Reward:

Shield of Derek von Lichtenshtain

A shield? They're always good.

Shield of Derek von Lichtenshtain

Belonged to one of the founders of the Tearful Goddess Order, and is said to have been given to him by the Goddess.

From the Shield and Sword set

Set includes:

Shield of Derek von Lichtenshtain

Sword of Derek von Lichtenshtain

Protection: 880

+22 to strength

+30 to stamina

+32% to dodge ability

+14% to critical strike chance

+7% gold looted from dead enemies

+24% life energy restoration speed

+18% mana restoration speed

+12% experience received by killing enemies

Durability: 1160/1160

Minimum level for use: 45

For class: warrior

Cannot be stolen, lost, or broken.

The following bonuses are unlocked by using the complete set:

Flash of Light ability

Bloody Mark ability

Life-Giving Tree ability

+15% to your chances of getting items from dead enemies

+17% gold looted from dead enemies

"Oh wow," I said. "Legendary. Cool!"

Hugo raised his eyebrows, not understanding me. A second later, they dropped back down—the wise old man understood and understood correctly.

"Legendary?" Reineke said. "We all got lucky. Seriously. What level is it for?"

"Forty-five. And I'm not turning it in to the clan storehouse!"

"Of course not. Turning a fair reward in to the clan storehouse? Who do you take us for?"

Hugo coughed. We turned back toward him.

"But that's not all. Lord Leyton, I would like to officially invite you to join the Tearful Goddess Order."

You were invited to join the Tearful Goddess Order

If you agree, you will become a member of the order and earn the following bonuses:

+12 to strength

+6 to wisdom

+88 to health

+3% experience earned

+7% damage done by all weapon types

+5% chance of finding rare and hidden quests

Additional:

You will gain access to the order's hidden knowledge, and will most likely unlock chains of rare and hidden quests.

Note:

Only 75 players have ever been invited to join the Tearful Goddess Order. Of them, only one accepted.

Limitations: You will join the order on the side of good.

Committing evil deeds will cause your reputation within the order to fall, and you will be expelled from the order and declared its enemy if it falls too far.

Accept?

"That's crazy!" Reineke exchanged glances with his friends. "Join a non-player order? I've never heard of that…."

I stood there, lost in thought.

I wondered why everyone else had declined. I mean, I knew why I would turn down von Shlippenshtain's offer, but why did the rest? For the same reasons, I was about to or for different ones? And if they had different reasons, what were they? I was especially intrigued by the one person who had agreed to join. He was probably a veritable fount of information, and he was off walking around somewhere.

"Thank you, Master Hugo, but I have to decline. I have some pretty good reasons, and there are also some promises I have to keep that don't really line up with the order's mission. Two circumstances, in particular, are keeping me from joining your order. For the time being, at least."

The knight's face fell. "I'll be honest, your answer disappoints me. Our order would gain an excellent warrior and a good person if you joined. Let's do this: I'll leave the invitation open. If you decide you can join the order in the future, just come find me and tell me you're ready. Does that work for you?"

"Absolutely," I said. "That would be an honor, but is it a problem that I'm a member of the Thunder-birds?"

"Of course not." Hugo was firm on that point. "Your clan is your clan, and your order is your order. Besides, my order and your clan now enjoy a very friendly relationship, am I right?"

~ ~ ~