Erin chewed her lip, “We do nay have to, iffin ya think it will cause ya issues. Ma’ and Da’ will be disappointed, but will understand.”
Cupping Erin’s chin gently, he met her eyes, “Is it something that you want?”
“Aye,” Erin said softly. “It has been me dream, as it was Stacia’s, to be married before the altar of the Dark Lord. To be the one picked out by the groom and married. I will set it aside for ya, iffin it will cause ya troubles.”
“We shall discuss it over the next few days,” Wilbur told her. “Did you wish to stay on as a receptionist with Alpha Company, or did you want to become the Lady of the House after we marry?”
“Ya mean stay at home and hold them fancy parties?”
“Yes,” Wilbur told her.
“It be a dream from me young days to be the Lady of a House. I wanted to show them peacocks how real people comport themselves. I set tha’ dream aside when I fell for ya, as ya would never be the Lord of House Gilden. Now tha’ ya are goin’ to be Lord Theron, I do nay know.”
“When you wish to leave and take up the mantle of the Lady of House Theron, just tell me,” Alburet told her. “I’ll be saddened by your leaving us, but I will also wish you the best of times.”
Stacia nodded, “Follow ya dream, sis. I did an’ look where it brought me and ya. Who knows wha’ ya might be able to do once ya follow ya dream?”
Erin nodded, “I’ll stay on as receptionist for the next three days, then. I will step down then to become the Lady for my Lord.” She gently caressed Wilbur’s arm as she spoke.
“Time to find a replacement,” Alburet laughed. “Remind me to ask Kim tomorrow, Kitten.”
“Aye, Asthore,” Stacia replied.
Wilbur followed Erin into the guild hall while Alburet and Stacia retired to their home. Later, as Alburet stroked Stacia’s hair while they lay in bed he marveled over the game again. Everything seemed so real, he could easily live here happily for the rest of his life.
Chapter Thirteen
After breakfast and a little snuggling, Alburet and Stacia were ready to face the day. “Everything was good, as normal, my little fire kitten. Let’s head out and sell things off before everyone’s ready to try the Langistors.”
“Aye, master,” Stacia murmured, relaxing in his arms. “Ya wanted me to remind ya to talk to Kim about replacin’ me sister.”
“Thank you,” Alburet kissed her head before he let her go. “We’ll stop in there first.”
Erin and Kim were discussing Erin’s dress from the day before. Alburet greeted them both before broaching the topic he had come to talk to Kim about. “Kim, Erin will be leaving us in three days. Do you know of anyone who would be willing to take the second spot as receptionist?”
Blinking, Kim glanced at Erin then back to Alburet, “Perhaps. I do know a couple of people who would do the job happily, but they would want payment more in line with what I get.”
“Okay, we can do that. Pick one and bring them in to start three days from now. If you need to take a day off tomorrow is open.”
Nodding, Kim stood up, “I have to go see them in person. Erin, you have the desk for an hour or so. Also, does this mean I can accompany you and Rolland tomorrow?”
“Sure. I still don’t know if anyone else with me will be allowed to follow once we reach the Dead Lands, but feel free to tag along.”
“I’ll be back,” Kim said as she walked out the door.
“Aye,” Erin said as Kim left. “I can give ya back the coin…”
Alburet waved her to silence, “Not worried about it. We need to go off and sell stuff, just needed to get your replacement in the works first. Have a good day.” Alburet smiled at her as he turned to the door.
“Have fun with ya hunt,” Erin told them as Alburet and Stacia left the guild hall.
“Asthore?” Stacia asked as they walked towards the shops. “I be wonderin’, have ya considered what we can gift to them?”
“Not really,” Alburet replied.
“I will take care of it,” Stacia said simply as they walked.
“As you wish,” Alburet told her with a grin.
“I love ya too, Asthore,” Stacia replied.
They didn’t have any weapons from yesterday’s hunt, so they passed by Grimgar’s shop and went straight to Tanned Hides. “Almira,” Alburet called out as the bell rang, “I’ve got something for you that isn’t armor.”
Almira looked up from her single customer, “What did you bring me, then?”
Setting the Silk Glands on the counter, Alburet grinned, “Spider poop.”
Rolling her eyes, Almira picked up one of the glands, “Widow Silk. It is certainly not spider poop. This makes a very good mid-level armor.” She counted the glands lined up on the counter and handed over two gold for each one. “It’s useful stuff. Been out fighting in the Webbed Woods, have you?”
“Yes. That place sucks,” Alburet replied. “We’re going after Langistors today instead. Heh, one of our friends is a little freaked out over the idea that they drop edible meat.”
“That’s silly. It’s like being upset that a minotaur drops damn good steaks,” Almira laughed.
Lips pursed, Alburet nodded, “Good to know. I hope I get to try one.”
“You did already, for Erin’s celebration. The steak was Minotaur flank.”
“He does nay know just how many monsters can be turned into food,” Stacia stage whispered to Almira.
“I guess I’ll learn,” Alburet shrugged. “Ok, that’s it for us. We’re off to see the alchemist.”
“Poison glands?” Almira asked.
“Aye. Tha poison be the main reason we be goin’ elsewhere today,” Stacia replied.
“Fair enough. You are a little under leveled for the spiders. That poison is what makes them dangerous to fight.”
“Sorry for interrupting you,” Alburet said to the guy in the shop, who had watched the whole interaction.
“How did you get to level twenty already?” he asked, “It’s taking so long to level in this game.”
“Dedication and friends,” Alburet replied as he led Stacia out of the shop. “Off to the alchemist, then to the portal guild I think.”
“As ya wish, Asthore,” Stacia said as she walked with her arm in his.
The alchemist gave him a gold per poison sac and wished them well in fighting the Langistors. The walk from the shop to the portal guild was short. “Should we take the portal and check the inn while we wait?”
“Iffin tha’ be what ya want to do,” Stacia said. “I be fine either way.”
Alburet turned them away from the waiting area and headed up the stairs. When they stepped through the portal, the keep laid out before them was just like the one at the Webbed Woods. The big difference here was that instead of thick woods there was a lake about half a mile away. It was big and wide, stretching for miles in either direction. Out in the middle of the lake sat a ruined keep on a rocky island.
“Good to see you Two-souled making it out here,” one of the guards greeted them. “Makes our jobs much easier with you lot killing them.”
“We try,” Alburet chuckled. “We have four friends that should be joining us soon. Would you let them know we’re at the inn, please?”
“Not a problem at all, sir.” The guard peered intently at the guild symbol on Alburet’s armor. “Are you Alburet Two-souled from Alpha Company?”
Alburet’s eyebrows went up in surprise and he smiled, “Yes.”
“The sergeant would like to speak with you, sir. We’ve all heard about Alburet the Two-souled. You’re the one who taught us these new ways of fighting we’ve got now.” The two guards came to parade rest, “It is a pleasure, sir.”
“At ease, men,” Alburet told them. “In that case, please let my friends know that I’ll be with the sergeant instead of at the inn.”