Relationships -Chapter 9

Elmerin was in his tent doing his nightly journal writing when Alexavier knocked on the tent pole. "Come in."

Carefully closing the panel behind him, Alexavier crouched down on the opposite side of the small tent. "How are you doing?"

"Fine. Don't beat around the bush and tell me why you're here. <Spinning Breath>." Checking that the ink on the last pages was dry, Elmerin closed the book.

"The Orc General and Falchan."

"He's paying for it. Including an asshole tax."

"That's not going to hold up," Alexavier said, his expression serious. "The guild headquarters is planning a full audit of the Cothmore guild. The only thing holding it up is the labyrinth clearing takes precedence since Bolat's time is so close."

Elmarin smirked. "I know. And Falchan should too, if he bothered to pay attention. Most of the adventurers already have at least a clue." He put the journal away and shrugged. "He's paying to claim it and say it's his. But it's on the paperwork that if someone starts asking questions, I won't lie.

"I only need it to hold for a couple months anyway. It'll take at least that long for someone to pay attention even if the labyrinth doesn't dungeonize."

"What are you up to?" Alexavier scowled at him.

"Nothing complicated. Or that'll hurt the adventurers."

"Just Falchan and Drysia?"

"Falchan, likely." Elmerin considered. "Drysia, not really. Although that's partially because we need as many Diamonds as possible by the time Bolat leaves again."

"Why?"

"I can't say yet." Elmerin closed his eyes. "But the more experienced, principled adventurers and knights we can get in the next twelve to fourteen years, the better."

"Can't or won't?" Alexavier knew more than most about Elmerin's 'sight'. Elmerin would usually not talk about what he knew if it seemed unbelievable or dangerous -dangerous enough that many would cover their ears rather than accept the trouble incoming.

Elmerin looked aside and down, refusing to meet Alexavier's eyes, refusing to reply. Alexavier tried another tack.

"On a scale of Ruby monster wave to Demon King, how bad will it be?"

"Much closer to Demon King."

"Then I'll see what I can do to help -quietly and unofficially. For now."

"That'll help." Elmerin looked at him again. "If the Minister of Accounting for Corundum in ten years is a heavy-set blond with a monocle and thin mustache, then he's not to be trusted. If he's somewhat heavy around the stomach with black hair and smooth-shaven, he'll do what he thinks is right for the kingdom."

Alexavier digested this. Certainly both matched descriptions of likely successors to the position once the current minister retired. Elmerin not being able to see who would definitely succeed meant that at this point neither had a solid advantage over the other. And that Elmerin was getting quite the headache from the conflicting information.

He reached out to touch Elmerin's face. Elmerin pulled back slightly, just enough that Alexavier's hand didn't connect. Bothered by the reaction, Alexavier said the first thing that came to mind. "You never explained why you broke up with me."

"I'm the type of person who eventually leaves everyone behind. Getting your hopes up just to break it off later would've been dishonest."

"My 'hopes' were already up." Alexavier suspected that answer was partially dishonest. He tilted his head. "Did you see my death?"

"No. Not in the next dozen years or so at least. Although that could change if you do something stupid or careless."

"I'll remember that," Alexavier said dryly. The look on Elmerin's face told Alexavier that Elmerin had reached his limit on the topic. "On a similar subject, you've probably noticed Nera's crushing on you."

"Yes, it happens from time to time. Even with the young adventurers I don't guide." Elmerin shrugged. "The tricky part comes if they confess -each has their own type of refusal that'll let them accept it's not mutual -and one that'll utterly break them.

Alexavier nodded. "Hopefully, Nera doesn't say anything -she strikes me on the breakable side."

"Mmm." The sound wasn't really one of agreement or disagreement. It did sound tired, however.

Turning, Alexavier moved to leave. With his hand on the door panel of the tent, he paused. "El, if you need my help -for any reason at all-"

"I'll think about it." Elmerin didn't watch as Alexavier left.

*******

(Later that night)

Elmerin and Drysia were standing watch. No sounds came from outside the room, and inside only occasional low noises from the sleepers. The fireplate did not produce crackling sounds, on the basis that the noise could cover small sounds adventurers might need to hear.

Drysia spoke suddenly. "Would being part of the force that finds the crystal and prevents the labyrinth corruption make me a Black Opal?"

"It would be a huge step toward it," Elmerin said. "After that, a successful hunt of a Diamond-level beast or monster should clinch it."

"And you happen to know exactly when one will show up."

"Manticore, possibly demonized. In about three weeks, coming to this territory from the north."

Narrow-eyed, Drysia studied him, then gave a huge sigh. "And what would that cost? That and keeping Falchan from sabotaging me on the hunt?

""Wait, what?" 

Drysia looked uncomfortable, but plowed ahead. "I'm… I'm sure Falchan is trying to sabotage me, maybe because I took the Diamond exam without him. He's been really noticeable sometimes, and lately he's been barely trying to hide it."

Elmerin gestured for her to go on.

"When we were fighting the orcs, he pretended to try to help me climb over the bodies to get to you and the orc general, but instead yanked me back so I couldn't help you with the kill. And later, he claimed it was my fault neither of us got a blow in. And look at my helmet." She pulled it out of one of her item bags and handed it to Elmerin. He examined it and frowned.

"This is-"

"It was made by the blacksmiths on the Cothmore estate."

With a nod of acknowledgement, Elmerin studied the helmet further. On the surface, it looked fine. But looking more closely, particularly now that it was partially damaged, showed that some parts of the metal were softer than others, and not in ways that made defensive sense. The softer parts were set so that, depending on the monster and its level, damage to the helmet could cause a simple head injury, an injury causing brain damage, or even death.

Drysia could sense and follow the flow of mana above a certain intensity or strength, so…

<Limit Level: Analyze>

The lower key analysis couldn't go into full detail the way the higher version could, but it was enough for the moment. The helmet was crafted by "a master blacksmith" to deliberately have flaws to help injure the wearer.

What the hell is Falchan thinking? A sudden chill ran down Elmerin's spine; maybe it wasn't Falchan. Maybe it was Count Cothmore, seeking to get rid of what had to be a political nuisance. "Do you have a spare?"

Drysia shook her head. "It needed repairs and wasn't ready by the time we had to leave. I bought that helmet from Faystah's shop, but the Cothmore blacksmiths were repairing it."

"I'd check those repairs. Either Falchan or his father is behind this sabotage." Elmerin held the helmet in one hand while holding his chin thoughtfully, thinking about the gossip around the fireplate the night before. "Falchan likely wants more control, and might be angry you've outstripped him-"

"Might!?!"

"-and the count likely sees you as an embarrassment to his family, and definitely an obstacle to a politically useful marriage. "

Drysia eyed him. "You're being awfully open for someone who hates my guts."

"'Hating your guts' and 'letting someone screw over an adventurer' are two different things," Elmerin snapped. He pitched the helmet back to her. "Especially when it's someone as hostile to adventurers as Cothmore's been lately. Dungeonizing the labyrinth-"

"Back to topic, what do you want to help me get to Black Opal and watch my back?" Drysia snapped. "Gold? Items? Help sneaking into the Cothmore estate?"

Elmerin considered the last one for a moment; he'd wondered what information he could collect if he could be on the estate for even an hour. "Tempting, but let's put that aside for now. I think the Lily Necklace you picked up a few months ago would do for a down payment."

"That… is a really low down pay…" Drysia's confused look suddenly turned hard. "You want Kres."

Elmerin was momentarily surprised at her fast connection of details; but then, her doing that on the battlefield was one of the things that had helped her reach Diamond. "Well, yes."

"I'll think about it." Drysia turned her back on him and didn't speak unless necessary for the rest of the watch.

*******

Characters in this chapter, information as displayed on guild card:

Elmerin: Limit Level: 3.

Drysia

Death Eagles:

Alexavier Asheburne

Spells in this chapter:

Analyze: A spell that analyzes the object or person it's aimed at. Depending on level, it gives less information than a guild card's show information to digging out nearly all of a person's secrets about their background, skills, abilities, and talents. It has the quirk that most people cannot learn it, and of those that do, the churches, governments, and guilds are quick to try to recruit them. Both bribes and high-pressure tactics are used.

Limit Level: Limits the level of a cast spell. I.e., if a mage has level 8 Fireball, they can cast <Limit Level: Fireball> to decrease the level the fireball is cast at. The desired limit is decided by the caster when the spell is cast. A tricky to use spell, since it requires fine control to use properly. 

Items, magic:

Lily Necklace: A necklace of white lilies carved from an unknown bone, embedded in a silver chain. Has mild protective capabilities.