“Seemed like you could use a hand,” she chuckled.
“Well, I won’t say no to you lending me a hand. But let me return the favor,” He flexed his hand making the sign of the horns with his left as he reached out and tapped her shoulder, “Burning blood.”
Karen frowned and stepped back as the words left his mouth. She opened her mouth in anger but paused as she became aware of the spell’s effect. Suddenly a laugh came from her, “Oh, a heal over time. I thought you’d put a damage over time on me with that spell. Why the hell does your heal make you say burning blood?”
“We killed it,” Tiny rumbled as he eclipsed the doorway.
“Good job,” Alburet called to Tiny before turning back to Karen. “My first ability was the ability to change the motions and words of my spells. Now I throw the metal horns and say ‘burning blood’, instead of the standard way they wanted me to cast the spell. No issues with the archer?”
“No, Assassins get a stun ability that lasts three seconds, so if you’re good like I am you can normally take over half the life off a mob before the stun ends. Once it died I came down and found you playing with this one. I figured I might as well jump in.”
“Nice. Let’s loot and keep on rolling, shall we?” Alburet asked as he knelt to loot the goblin at his feet.
They spent the next four hours going from goblin hiding hole to goblin hiding hole, killing each group they found. Karen eventually called a halt, “My bag is full and we haven’t found the mob I was hoping to find.”
“I still got plenty of room if you trust me to hold onto your loot,” Alburet said. “So we can keep going for a bit longer if you want, no need to rack up more cost to come back out here just to empty your bag.”
Karen eyed him, her lips pursed in speculation, “What will it cost me to use you as a pack mule and just how much room do you have left?”
Alburet scratched his head, pursing his own lips in imitation of her. “Hmm. I’ve got room enough for easily as much again as we’ve already looted. As for the cost, how about a rain check on a real sparring match one day soon? I’m really curious to see what you can do.”
Eyes glittering with laughter, Karen nodded, “Oh, you poor soul. I accept the terms and I apologize in advance for your bruises, both physical and emotional after I’ve whooped you good.”
Laughing, Alburet shook his head, “I won’t go down easy.”
With a wink, Karen vanished, “But I might if you can beat me.”
Bob began to laugh hard, “Yes, yes, yes! I like her.”
Shaking his head with a grin, Alburet held up his hands, “I yield this round, Karen.”
Bob kept snickering as they went off to the next group. After another two hours, Alburet’s bag was nearly full so he called a halt, “I only have a few spots left and I do need to grab some food. The debuffs are going to hit me soon. Shall we call it for now and head back to Stormguard? We should have a decent profit with all the loot.”
“We can do that. I just wish the damned messenger had spawned for us,” Karen said as she pulled her Homestone out.
“What messenger?”
“There’s a Goblin Messenger that patrols into this village from further east where the goblins have their towns. He drops a scroll that starts a quest chain that will eventually spawn a rare mob. That rare has the chance to drop a few items I’m interested in. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be today,” Karen finished with a shrug.
“I’m game for coming back after we sell off and grab a bite if you are,” Alburet replied.
Karen considered it then shrugged, “Fuck it. I don’t have a class tomorrow. Okay, let’s go sell then I’ll jump out to go grab some food before we head back here. That work for you?”
Alburet pulled his Homestone out, “Works. I also happen to know a weapon vendor who will be happy to buy from us. Do you know where the Dead Man Inn is?”
Karen shook her head, “I’ll find you once we’re both in Stormguard. Just head to the weapon vendor and wait for me there.”
“Agreed,” Alburet said before turning to Bob and Tiny. “Okay boys, break time. I’ll call you as soon as we get out of Stormguard.” Both demons said goodbye before vanishing into puffs of smoke, by the time they were gone Karen was gone as well.
When he appeared in the graveyard he started walking to Grimgar’s right away. He pulled out his map, looking it over to find the blue dot with Karen's name above it across the city from him. She appeared to be coming his way. He made it to Grimgar’s, glad that this time he didn’t feel like he was being watched. The bell jangled announcing his arrival which brought Grimgar out from the back.
“Back so soon lad?”
“Got a lot of stuff to sell, Grimgar. Also, which shop would you recommend for selling armor to?”
“Depends on the stuff ta sell. Leather ye could use Tanned Hides just down the street from me. The Elven lass there will give ye a decent deal if ye use me name. If ye got chain then Strong Links a few doors down from Tanned Hides would be the way ta go. Why don’t ye show me the wares ye have fer sale.”
“Waiting for my erstwhile compatriot to get here. Some of what I’m carrying belongs to her and I would rather make sure she doesn’t think I’m scamming her.”
Grimgar chuckled, “Aye, a lass in a bad mood can be a right handful and nay in the gud way eh?”
Alburet shook his head and checked his map, noting that Karen was getting closer. “She’ll be here shortly. When she gets here you’ll understand just how right your words are.”
A few minutes later Karen walked into the shop, looking from Alburet to Grimgar. Grimgar started to chuckle. “What’s so funny?” Karen asked raising a single eyebrow.
“I called ye a handful a few minutes ago and now that I see ye I think I may have overestimated,” Grimgar laughed again.
Karen smiled politely as she crossed the floor to the counter, “Oh, you think so? How about you come around here and find out just how much of a handful I can be?” She batted her lashes at him, “If you can pin me down I’ll take half as much as I should on what I am selling. If I can stay unpinned for two minutes, you give me twenty five percent more.”
Grimgar chuckled, looking at the slim slip of a woman before him then over to Alburet who was very carefully keeping his face blank. “Ah, I smell a trap here suren as gas in a mine means death. How aboot I apologize fer me words and we get down ta business? I apologize fer me comments about ye, miss.”
A throaty laugh came from Karen, “Perceptive, aren’t you? Too bad you backed out, I could have used the extra coin. You good Alburet?”
Alburet stepped over to the counter and opened up his pack and satchel, pulling out the weapons and laying them out, “Sure am.” The two of them dropped all the weapons they’d picked up on the counter to Grimgar’s approving whistle.
“Now tha’ be a sight te behold,” Grimgar said as he began to sort through the loot. It took him some time before he finally nodded, “Aich, tha’ be a pretty penny. I’ll give ye each five gold fur the lot of it.”
Karen looked at Alburet with a small shrug to indicate she was fine with it. “We’ll take it, Grimgar. Maybe you have a dagger or two that she would be interested in as partial trade?”
“Aye, tha’ I might,” Grimgar nodded, turning to Karen who stopped him with an upraised palm.
“Actually, I’m good with what I have for now. I’ll stop back when I need a new blade later, though.”
“Fair enough,” Grimgar said as he handed them each five gold. “Well then, now I get to cart this lot into the back. I hope ye have a pleasant night.”
The pair said their goodbyes as they left the shop and Alburet pointed down the street, “Tanned Hides and Strong Links down that way are who Grimgar suggested we sell the leather and chain to.”
“Works for me,” Karen said, starting off the way he pointed letting her hips sway slightly. “This way, right?”