“I have to help Bob,” Tiny roared as he slammed his axe down.
“Dismiss me,” Bob Jr. called out. His arms were pinned by the spider’s mandibles, keeping him from casting.
Alburet willed the Copy to vanish, which left the spider without a tasty snack. “Tiny, fall back and taunt the other one.”
Karen plunged her blades into the Trapper spider that was cowering before Fluff, doing impressive damage, but also removing Fluff’s fear effect. It spun around, hissing, to attack her.
Tiny’s roar caught the spider, the taunt sending it scurrying through the undergrowth to him. The spider seemed to flow through the vegetation as if unaffected by it.
“Strength debuff from this spider,” Marysue called out as she looked over the effect on Fluff.
“Fuck,” Gerald said as the spider he was leading back was able to bite his foot, applying the poison to him.
The one in front of Tiny sank its fangs into him while his attention was on the other spider. “I’ll kill you all,” Tiny raged in his deep voice, his axe leaving deep wounds each time it connected.
“Bob, focus the one that Karen hit first,” Alburet called out as he closed in on the melee along with the others, even as he Copied Bob again.
The battle was not pretty, but in the end they were victorious. They did discover that while the poison didn’t stack, each new bite reset the timer. They stayed put and waited for the debuff to fall off.
“I don’t think I like this area,” Gerald said. “Maybe we should go after the Langistors instead.”
“We should at least try to do our quests, besides the boss of course,” Alburet sighed.
“That would be nice, but we aren’t going to manage it before sundown at this rate,” Karen added.
“We grit it out, come back tomorrow do it again. Once we have those done, we can jump zones but I don’t want it said that we ran from spiders.” Alburet told them as he glanced down at Bob. “Good thing that was your copy, Bob.”
“No shit,” Bob said. “I had nightmares of it getting away with me and you forgetting to dismiss me.”
“He would nay forget ya, Bob,” Stacia said, kneeling next to him and giving him a hug. “Ya are doin’ so much better now than before. I be happy to see ya improve.”
Bob swelled up a little at her praise, “Yeah, well, okay.”
“Alright. Let’s do this, then,” Gerald sighed.
Over the next two hours, they managed to kill the twenty Trappers and Widows but didn’t find a single Mutated. Alburet called a halt as the sun began to dip close to the horizon.
“Okay, we are calling it here,” he sighed. “We can turn in the two quests at some point tomorrow and we can skip the other two for now. Tomorrow, after Gerald’s meeting, we can go hit the Lobster-folk.”
“Langistors,” Stacia said. “Ya mayhap get chunks of meat from them that makes a tasty stew.”
Marysue shuddered, “Eat other humanoids?”
“They be nay humanoid,” Stacia told her. “Ya will see tomorrow. It be like the silk glands and poison sacks we got today. If ya nay want to keep them for ya own use, sell them to the right merchant and ya will make good coin.”
“Everyone good with the plan?” Alburet asked to get them back on track.
“Langistors tomorrow,” Fluff agreed.
“I’ll bring the butter,” Karen smirked at Marysue, who shuddered again.
“Tomorrow,” Gerald added with a frown at Karen before he and Marysue vanished.
“Heh, that was funny,” Karen snickered. “She’ll unbend after she sees them tomorrow.”
“Lobster like?” Alburet asked.
“Too many legs, and they have these wicked claws instead of hands. They don’t look the least bit humanoid. Their shells are really hard, and they’ve got a stacking bleed.” Fluffball told him, bringing out her Homestone. “Goodnight, see you tomorrow. See you after my talk with Lilith, Karen.”
“You know it. Massages for us both,” Karen smiled broadly.
After Fluff vanished, Karen turned to Alburet, “She seems to be improving.”
“Good,” Alburet replied with a smile. “I’m glad she’s starting to be able to make some progress.”
“Anyway, I’ll catch you tomorrow. Going to see if I can talk her into dinner after the massage.” Karen pulled out her Homestone and winked at Stacia, “Give him a rough night.” She vanished before anyone could respond.
“We are done then master?” Tiny rumbled.
“Yes, good work today. Bob, you’re turning into a powerhouse, well done.” Alburet told them, “Go get some rest. Tomorrow, we have seafood.”
“Rather hang around and see what you and Stacia have planned, but fine,” Bob said before he vanished.
“Tomorrow,” Tiny said as he vanished as well.
“Dinner with Lady Theron,” Stacia said softly. “Ya think ya idea will work, master?”
“We shall see. I can’t see the future until it’s behind me. Let’s go home and get cleaned up.” He kissed her, then they both returned to the house to get ready.
Chapter Twelve
Stacia mostly behaved herself while they showered and got dressed. Alburet only had to chastise her once for her bit of grab ass in the shower. He was buttoning up his jacket when a knock came at the door. He slipped past Stacia, who was doing her hair, and went out to answer it. Kim was there, “Evening, Kim. What can I do for you?”
“Your carriage is here, and Erin and Wilbur are waiting in the guild hall. I just thought I would check to see how much longer you were likely to be.”
“I be ready,” Stacia put in as she came gliding into the front room. It was the same dress she had worn to the castle, so she was sure it would be fine for this dinner as well.
“It looks like we’re ready,” Alburet said, taking Stacia’s arm and kissing her cheek. “Kim, if you will let Wilbur and Erin know, please?”
Kim nodded and went back to the guild hall as Alburet handed Stacia into the carriage. As she settled into her seat Alburet stepped aside so Wilbur could hand Erin into the carriage. Her dress was not as fancy as Stacia’s but still tasteful and quite well made. Alburet smiled at her as she entered the carriage. Once she was settled, Wilbur and Alburet climbed in and the driver got them moving.
“So where is dinner this evening?” Wilbur asked with a raised brow.
“An acquaintance of mine has asked me for help with an issue. After mulling it over, I think you will be able to help me solve that issue, to everyone’s satisfaction.” Alburet grinned as he watched Erin’s eyes widen a little. “I would like to keep the details secret for just a bit longer, if you don’t mind.”
Wilbur eyed Alburet for a moment, then nodded, “Okay. Erin will not be in any danger, will she?”
“I would not put family in harm’s way if I could help it,” Alburet replied.
“Very well,” Wilbur said relaxing a fraction.
The carriage ride continued in silence, but turned out to be quite short. As the carriage came to a halt, Alburet looked out the window to see ornate gates swinging open. A minute later the carriage stopped again, this time in front of a large manor house. A man dressed in livery opened the carriage door and greeted them.
“Welcome to House Theron,” the man told them. “If you would please come this way, Lady Theron is expecting you.”
“House Theron?” Wilbur asked, his shock clear.
Alburet smiled as he got out and turned to help Stacia down. “That is what he said.”
Wilbur followed suit once Stacia and Alburet were out of the way, helping Erin down and taking her arm. The two couples followed the liveried servant up the wide stairs of the covered front entry. The man knocked once smartly on the door, which was opened by a man in a butler’s uniform.
“Gentlemen and ladies, welcome to House Theron, I am Jarvis. The Lady is expecting you. Please, follow me.” The butler turned on his heel and led them down a wide hall showing hints of extensive wealth, but was far more subdued than what Alburet had seen at Carradine House. Erin looked around with wide eyes, awed at the display of wealth, even subdued as it was.