Even after the regeneration potion, the bleed effect she had suffered wouldn’t stop. She needed to find a healer. There had been several in the inn celebrating Alice and Darren’s engagement, but Lythonian was closer.
“I am going to see Lythonian,” SJ said.
“I wouldn’t go outside yet. Whoever attacked will not have received any experience for a kill, so they may come back. Luckily, you were only unconscious for a few moments, and they probably expected that the bleed effect would finish you. Whichever skill or weapon they used is potent to continue doing the damage it is doing. There are few that could have survived without your dragon blood.”
“I can’t stay like this?”
“Why? You won’t die. Your dragon blood will keep you alive. You can wait as long as you need.”
“If I stay here and they do come back to investigate, I will be trapped inside.”
“It’s better to be inside than out on the street.”
There were no visible signs of injury from the attacks, but the realisation that the effect was still attempting to finish her was making her head spin. Steadying herself on the edge of the table, she took a seat.
“I can’t stay here. I need healing. I can’t even think straight,” SJ’s head was spinning with the potential of it being Greb who had attacked her. This was the first time since the initial attack that she had returned to the cottage after dark. Having stayed in the inn the last time she was in town. Now that she was sober, even if in pain from the wound in her back, she could make it to the inn in a minute easily.
“If you are going to leave, fly,” Dave said.
Having not considered it, SJ began to shrink. The sharpness of the sensation that flooded her back was nearly unbearable, and she cried in pain as the transformation was completed. Beginning to beat, her wings sent pulses like electric shocks coursing through her body. It was the safest way, and she knew. Flying to the rear of the property, she flew into the kitchen, knowing that the window was open, and left immediately, rising into the night sky.
Flying over buildings to the rear garden of the inn, she swooped down to land, growing as she touched the ground. Her back flared in protest, her lungs feeling as though they were being squeezed, and she fell forward to her knees gasping. There were several in the inn garden and a couple stared at her.
“Are you ok?” a goblin she recognised as a relative of Setu stood from a bench and walked over.
“No. I need a healer,” SJ replied, grimacing.
He looked at her with raised eyebrows before walking into the rear of the inn. A couple of others had come over to her and helped her to one of the benches where she now sat doubled over, leaning on her knees. Her breathing was difficult, and she didn’t think the regeneration potion fully repaired her lung. A couple of minutes passed before Sven arrived.
Sven was dressed in casual clothes. SJ didn’t recognise him at first.
“SJ,” he said.
“Bleed effect,” SJ hissed.
“Okay,” placing his hand on her shoulder, he began to cast. A brilliant white light emitted from his hand. The light made the surrounding area look as bright as day. SJ watched as her health began to increase again, and it felt as if her lung was being reinflated. After several moments, the rush of power reached her mind, and she felt like she had been injected with adrenaline.
“Thank you, Sven. I owe you again,” SJ said.
“No need for thanks,” he said, looking concerned. “What happened?”
“I was attacked when I returned to the cottage. It’s the first time I have been out at night in Killic since.”
SJ could see the anger on Sven’s face. “We need to find the culprit.”
“I need to speak to Darren. Sven, are you able to sober him?” SJ said, standing and rolling her shoulders, her back no longer throbbing.
“I can,” Sven said.
“Good. Do you mind waiting here for a moment?” Walking into the inn, she found Darren sitting with Alice at the same table they had shared earlier. Alice noticed SJ and frowned.
“I thought you had gone home,” Alice said, slurring slightly.
Darren turned to look at her, a huge grin on his face. His eyes looked glazed, and he was drunk.
“I am sorry to disturb you but must speak to you both. Is that ok?”
Darren smiled. “Sure. Come and sit we can talk.”
“No. Not here. Outside, please,” SJ said, indicating to the inn garden.
They looked at each other, shrugged, and stood following SJ as she weaved back through the throng to the garden. Sven was still outside.
“Sven, do you mind?” SJ asked.
Sven walked up to Darren, who frowned at Sven as he reached out and placed his hand on his arm. The brilliant white erupted in moments, and Darren’s eyes began to clear.
“Wow,” Darren said as his head cleared. “I can start again now,” he said, laughing.
“No. I need your help,” SJ said.
Alice looked unsteady on her feet, and Sven repeated the exercise with Alice, removing the alcohol from her system with his magic. Once the pair of them were sober, SJ told them what had happened.
“I am sorry for ruining your evening,” SJ finished.
Darren was first to respond, “I am going to go to the cottage and see if there is a trail.”
“Don’t go alone,” SJ said.
“I will be fine,” Darren said, calling his bow from his inventory and hurrying form the garden.
“Are you ok?” Alice asked, concerned.
“I wish I knew why I have become someone’s target.” SJ had not told them who she believed may be the suspect. Only asked Darren to see if there were any tracks. She didn’t want to start passing any information without confirming the details.
“I didn’t see Greb inside,” Dave said.
Alice and SJ sat on one of the benches. Sven had returned inside to leave them to their conversation.
“It has to be to do with Asterfal,” Alice said.
“Why? I have never been there. I know no one from Asterfal.”
It was well after midnight when Darren returned.
“There was a trail. It leads to a building south of town,” Darren said.
“Did you see anyone?”
“No. It enters the building and stops. It wasn’t easy to track. Whoever it was had trails all over town. It took me a while to find the correct one.”
“Ok. Thanks, Darren.”
“Not at all,” he smiled. “I thought you might know who it is if you want to come with me, Alice?”
Alice stood immediately. “We need to make sure SJ is safe first. I am going to speak to Kerys.”
Alice disappeared inside again, eventually returning, and SJ was made to stay in Kerys and Fhyliss’s private quarters. Fhyliss had finished as the bar had quietened, and many patrons were now beginning to leave the inn. Once SJ was secured upstairs in the relative safety provided by the number of patrons and people who stayed at the inn. Alice accompanied Darren.
SJ was lying on the sofa in the quarters. Fhyliss had provided her with a blanket.
‘I wish I wasn’t stuck here,’ SJ thought.
“Better being safe than vulnerable on the street,” Dave said.
‘I don’t like others putting themselves in danger.’
“Darren is at level 20, and Alice is even higher. They are more than capable of looking out for themselves.”
‘It still doesn’t feel right.’
SJ couldn’t sleep and lay on the sofa trying to work out what she had done to end up as a target of someone. As the morning sun’s first light began to shine through the room’s windows, SJ heard footsteps and a knock on the door. Kerys had returned upstairs a couple of hours before and had excused herself as she needed to sleep after chatting to SJ.
SJ stood and walked to the door. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, SJ,” Alice’s voice replied.
Opening the door, Alice walked in.
“Did you find anything?” SJ asked nervously.
“Yes. We have the culprit in custody. He has confessed to the attempted assassinations.”
“Who is it?” SJ asked.
“I am not sure how to tell you this, but it was…”
“Greb,” SJ finished her sentence.
Alice’s eyes opened in shock. “Yes. How did you know?”
“When he attacked me, he said, ‘Sorry, SJ’. I wasn’t sure then, but I thought I recognised it as Greb’s voice. Did you find out why?”
“Yes. Ballentine and Lorna have been questioning him, and he broke under their pressure. It is safe to say he will not be causing you any further problems.”
SJ frowned, “What happened?”
“I won’t go into details as it wasn’t pleasant. It is safe to say that his Oath was very strict, and as he broke it, he suffered the consequences.”
“Is he dead?” SJ gasped. She dreaded to think what they had done to Greb to make him confess. After witnessing Lythonian’s reaction, talking about Bellakiy’s family was frightening enough to witness an Oath’s power.
“No. He isn’t dead. His mind has been left broken, though. He will be lucky to speak again. Master Rui has been called to treat him with his alchemical solutions, and I believe Lythonian will be spoken to today as well. Master Rui didn’t sound hopeful.”
“Did you find out the reason?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, that is where it affects you.”
“What have I done that has caused someone to attack me?”
Alice looked weary, and it was obvious she hadn’t slept since learning about SJ’s attack. By the sounds of it, none of them had. SJ ushered Alice over to the sofa to sit down.
“It’s not your fault, but unfortunately, because of the system changes, you have ended up as the target.”
“I don’t understand why?”
“It stems from politics, and this attack appears to be based on fear.”
“Fear?!” SJ said. “Why would someone from Asterfal fear me?”
“They don’t fear you. They fear what you stand for. Asterfal is the strongest city in the south of the continent. It has built its reputation around its strength and control of what occurs within the South. Killic has always been a small but well-respected town, and over the years, our relationship has allowed us to bring sway to several of the decisions. We have gained the trust and support of various councillors in Asterfal. This relationship recently supported the tax levy negotiations, which I briefly alluded to you last night.
The problem is because of the influence we have as a town already. Someone within the council is fearful that as the town grows, they fear the balance of power shifting from Asterfal to Killic. The easiest way for them to limit the town’s growth is to dispose of you.”
SJ sat, mouth open at Alice’s words. At no point had she ever considered that because of her position as a Legionnaire and the System’s adaptation of allowing the Killic to grow as she did, it would have brought such danger to her doorstep. Never mind a potential direct threat against Killic. She had seen it as an opportunity for all to grow and develop. Never to challenge Asterfal.
“I thought Asterfal was huge in comparison?”
“It is. The fear of what will happen over time has driven someone to begin this course of action.”
“But it would take Killic years to grow its population and potentially that long for me to ever get to a level that allows Killic to even be considered a rival of Asterfal.”
“Perhaps. They are also aware of the mithril mine. We had thought that the knowledge of it had been controlled well enough. Unfortunately, with Greb being one of the affected parties, whoever he has been working for in Asterfal is now aware. That now brings a direct threat against the town if the knowledge spreads further afield. As you say, we are still a small town; our population is less than 3000.”
SJ had no idea that it was even that large. “Do you know who he was working for?”
“No. He broke as he tried to reveal a name,” Alice’s head dropped forward, a look of shame on her face.
“What’s wrong?”
“What Greb went through is one of the hardest things I have ever witnessed.”
SJ shuddered, thinking what may have been done to him, not liking her thoughts.
“What do you need me to do?” SJ felt the need to help in any way that she could. Whether Alice or others blamed her or not, she had triggered the potential future impact on Killic. She loved the town and the beings who lived here. Dread filled SJ at the thought of her friends being targeted because of her.
“Nothing currently. The most important thing is that you remain safe. How many know of the Farleck Cottage?”
SJ had never publicised where she lived, but several knew about it. Gladys, Hubert, Lythonian, Zej, Husa, Kerys, Fhyliss, Floretta, Zigferd, Alice, Darren, Fran, Gary, and Setu were also aware. SJ reeled off the names of those she could think of. “There may be more. I am not sure,” SJ frowned.
“Well, that is a start, at least,” Alice replied.
“A start for what?” SJ was concerned by the statement.
“Secrecy. If we are going to keep you safe in the future, we will have to keep your cottage that you go to as quiet as possible. Greb was questioned and was not aware. There had been no other attack before last night because you had always been back at the Farleck Cottage. Greb had observed the cottage in town regularly and not worked out where you were going. A new Oath is going to be created, and all those who know about Farleck will be asked to take it. If they don’t, I am unsure what we will do with them yet, but Zigferd’s response wasn’t very positive.”
“Zigferd is aware already?”
“He was involved last night, yes.”
The thought of the damage and challenges she may bring to the town was huge, and SJ put her head in her hands, staring at the ground. “I am so sorry,” SJ eventually replied.
“None of this is your doing. It is the system and those who are fearful of change.”
“If we don’t know who is responsible in Asterfal, what does that mean?”
“I am not sure yet. We have a lot to discuss and work through. Zigferd has yet to decide whether he should inform the council.”
“He has to, doesn’t he?”
“Not unless a direct threat to Killic is known of. We have confirmation of why you were attacked. It still doesn’t mean Killic is currently directly within their sights.”
“I can’t remain as an Ambassador for Killic if I am a threat to the town,” SJ said.
“You most definitely can,” Alice replied firmly. “If anything, it strengthens your position as the Ambassador and shows your meaning and true town position. It is not known widely that you are Killic’s Ambassador, but with your position known, an attack on an official would be the same as an attack on the town. I doubt that whoever ordered Greb knew that you were. Otherwise, they are likely to have tried a more subtle approach rather than direct assassination.”
“Subtle?”
Alice coughed nervously, “Poison, etc., could have been shown as an illness rather than a death because of an attack.”
“Can you think of anyone in Asterfal who would be that fearful of Killic growing in strength?”
“Several, unfortunately.”
“Can anything be done to confirm who it may be?”
“I have contacts that can do some digging and pay more attention to certain information. Our best option is you. You are an assassin, after all.”
“WHAT?!” SJ said in surprise.
“If it comes down to it, and we have to, we will remove the threat. We had no thought of ever challenging Asterfal, but only time will tell what the future brings.” Alice said, looking ahead thoughtfully.
SJ groaned, having gone from the elation of the previous evening to the sudden realisation that she was a catalyst in a wider scheme. She suddenly felt like a very small fish in a very big pond that was potentially full of sharks.
“If Asterfal are aware of the mithril mine, what will they do?” SJ asked.
“I am not sure the Chancellor is aware of the mine yet. If he was, I am sure he would have contacted Zigferd by now. Asterfal only has two mines from which it gets revenue. To my knowledge, one is nearly empty. The priority for the town now is defence. We require the walls to be constructed and the crag entrance controlled. They must be our focus.”
“Won’t the council challenge them? They have resisted expansion already.”
“Once we begin to see the mithril revenue, I can guarantee that most, if not all, the council will want to protect the revenue stream.”
“I need to get as strong as I can as fast as possible,” SJ said with conviction.
“Actually, you don’t,” Alice replied, facing SJ and smiling weakly.
“Why not?”
“If you reach level 20 and the borders expand again before we have other elements in place. We will end up being even more vulnerable.”
Shock registered on SJ’s face. She hadn’t considered the implication of her continued levelling, even after what they had spoken about. All she could think of was growing in strength to support and defend the town and herself if need be.
Alice registered the look on SJ’s face and smiled at her. “It doesn’t stop you levelling. It just means that we must consider your growth alongside the town’s capabilities directly in the future. None of us were aware of any of this until you levelled. It is something everyone must consider”
