“Alburet,” Ioaniss said standing up, with a smile. “I must say, it is good to hear from you again. I still owe you a favor and I’m glad to hear you have a proposition that might clear it from the ledger.”
Alburet shook hands with Ioaniss before they both sat. “Hopefully,” Alburet replied. “What I propose is something rather large in scope, but it might also benefit the King as well. Since you have his ear, I thought to bring it to your attention and see what you think.” Alburet watched Jones leaned forward with interest written across his features. “There are a number of keeps that have come to the attention of the Two-souled. They are apparently scattered through the Dead Lands and other higher end zones. What I ask from you, as a favor, is a number of guards to protect my guild as we go into the Dead Lands in search of such a keep. The part that might benefit the King is access to and use of the teleport rune we’ll install, giving access further into the Dead Lands than is currently available. In exchange, the Crown could provide guards stationed at the keep.”
Ioaniss leaned back, appraising Alburet with keen eyes. “You want me to assemble a team to protect your guild as they search for one of these keeps and help you clear it of the monsters that infest it, so you can claim it. In return, the Kingdom can use the Rune once you get one up and running, if we give you guards to help hold it?” Ioaniss reiterated as if making sure he understood.
“Not helping us clear it,” Alburet replied. “We will do that. The whole point is that my guild wants to strive for something great. Get us there and let us clear it. The only help we’ll accept once we’re there is resurrection for our people that die in the fight.”
“Hmm,” Ioaniss rubbed his chin absently as he considered. “You would have to bring in people who could repair the damage. As well as a Portal Mage to inscribe and power a rune. Neither of those comes cheap. I don’t know if you have the funds to cover such an endeavor.”
Grinning, Alburet chuckled, “I still have two other people to see who both owe me favors. Sir Dracon and Sir Theron, both of whom I will be seeing after this visit.”
A broad smile split Ioaniss’s face, “I see. I will arrange for the guards. It will take me three days to assemble a team. Does that suit you?”
“Three days at ten in the morning,” Alburet agreed as he stood up, extending his hand to Ioaniss.
“I shall be accompanying you,” Ioaniss replied, shaking hands. “I think this will be worth seeing first hand.”
Favor Called In: The Favor with Ioaniss Jones has been called in.
Berk escorted Alburet to the front of the museum. “Sir,” Berk coughed lightly, “do you really think your guild can accomplish this feat?”
Turning to face Berk, Alburet shrugged. “Truly, I don’t know. They all want to try, though, and I will not squash that spirit. We Two-souled are unique in that we always come back, so it truly costs us nothing to attempt the endeavor. If we do accomplish it, then it will be history, and that is always worth attempting.”
Berk gave a shallow bow, “I wish you the best of luck then, sir.”
Alburet returned the bow, then started off down the street towards the Royal Auction house. As he went, he watched the people he passed move about their lives. He couldn’t help compare the similarities and differences from the real world. A young boy and girl darted down the street, chattering excitedly about the puppet show they were going to. A mother carried a sleeping child as she pulled a wheeled cart behind her full of packages. A couple walked hand in hand, smiling sweetly at each other and oblivious to the rest of the world.
“Just like there,” he mumbled as he continued to people watch. “This could be a real world, if not for the clunky game mechanics that break the feeling.”
Alburet reached the Royal Auction House and was met in the lobby by the same underling he’d encountered before. “Renful, is Sir Dracon in?”
Renful eyed Alburet’s adventuring clothes with compressed lips, “He is waiting for you.”
“Lead on then, Renful,” Alburet gestured. “I would not want to keep him waiting, after all.”
Renful ushered Alburet into Vladimir’s office, distaste radiating from him. Vladimir stood up as they entered, straightening his jacket. “Alburet,” Vladimir said with a polite smile, his fangs just showing. “I was surprised that you wished an audience.”
Alburet gave Vladimir a broad smile as he took a seat, “Well, I’m embarking on a bit of business that I thought you might wish to be involved with.”
Taking his seat, Sir Dracon motioned for Alburet to continue, “Please, inform me.”
“There are a number of keeps that have suddenly turned up in the high level zones of the world. Some of them are in the Dead Lands. My guild is going to take one of them. I’m sure there will be a number of rare statues and artifacts and such inside the keep. Once my guild takes the place, we would like to offload them for coin to help finance repairs and upkeep.”
Alburet caught a gleam of interest in Vladimir’s eyes, even though his face remained impassive. “I thought that maybe you would like to assist in the endeavor. We would entrust all the valuables into your care for sale. All I ask in return is a number of mercenaries to man the walls for a year. They will be working with the Stormguard Guards to ensure that the keep remains secure. Their other duties would be to face the dangers of the Dead Lands to keep the Portal Mage supplied with the materials he’ll need to keep our portal running.”
“You wish to use the favor I owe you, to have me procure you mercenaries to man the walls of a keep and supply you with materials for one year? And you will give me access to the loot of said keep to sell on your behalf?” Vladimir asked, his face and eyes once again blank.
“Ioaniss is already putting together guards to get my guild out to a keep, as well as man its walls. Your men would be extra insurance, and would help make sure our Portal Mage will be set with mats. This would square the favor I’m calling in.”
His fangs gleamed as Vladimir extended his hand with a wide smile, “We have an agreement.”
Favor Called In: The Favor with Vladimir Dracon has been called in.
Alburet gave Vladimir a bow after they shook, “Many thanks, Sir Dracon. I shall look forward to seeing the men at the Portal Guild in three days’ time, at ten in the morning.”
Vladimir stood as Alburet was escorted out, watching the Two-souled with glowing eyes. When Renful came back, Vladimir had a stack of letters ready to go out. “Sir,” Renful interrupted politely, “is this wise?”
Chuckling, Vladimir leaned back, “That Two-souled has turned many things on their heads in his time here, Renful. I think he is very much worth watching, and if he can get me closer to the Forgotten Prison, then I will agree to almost anything he wants.”
Renful bowed, “Of course, sir. Shall I send out these letters?” Renful scooped up the messages at Vladimir’s nod and left. Vladimir sat staring at a banner on the far wall.
“Soon. I will be coming for you soon,” Vladimir said to the banner, his eyes burning with emotion.
Alburet set off for House Theron with a spring in his step. The first two meetings had gone off without a hitch. Now he only had to hope that Old Lady Theron and Wilbur would agree to his request. As he walked along he felt buoyed by a swell of happiness and joy. Startled, he stopped walking as he considered the emotions. He leaned up against a wall, assaulted by guilt that he could be so carefree and happy after he’d killed a man in cold blood. He felt like he was cheating the punishment due him. On the other hand, he realized, he would fight tooth and nail to keep what he’d found and do everything he could to enable Kaylee to join him in Alpha World. He pushed off the wall, the bounce in his step gone, and walked on towards House Theron.