Chanter: I can loot through you?
He booped the other chest and I looted it, along with each item in the stack alongside the chest. It was a long list of items and I didn’t bother reading through all of it.
There were bundles named Katarina’s Inventory and Abernathy’s Inventory, which I thought was a very convenient way of sorting the inventory until I realized Tobias’ Inventory, Arlo’s Inventory, Elsetha’s Inventory, and Hannah’s Inventory were all listed as well. A physical jolt of pain shot through my chest.
The team of vile merchants had been thorough in looting everything, it seemed. My joy at the unexpected rescue turned to bitter ash in my mouth.
Chanter: Okay, I got everything. Ready?
Katarina: How did you get it? It looked like the fox thing did?
Chanter: It has something to do with the bond.
I raised both of my hands, now adorned with a matching set of white, star shaped scars in half circles.
Chanter: Ready? Abernathy, are you with us?
Abernathy sat up and nodded, readying himself to jump out of the wagon alongside Katarina. He was silent. His gaze remained unfocused.
Thwump. The crossbow fired again.
“Curses, so close!” Banksy muttered loudly.
“Aye, that was much closer,” Madame Huay responded.
“Let’s stop for a second, good miss. Let me aim proper.”
“And help you earn the silver? I think not. Keep up. You have one more shot.”
“Aw, winds be damned, okay. I’ll get it this time.”
I lifted one of the flaps that hung down the back side of the wagon, tying it up and out of the way. Katarina did the same on her side.
We were traveling down a very rough trail that had mostly been reclaimed by nature. A small forest had begun creeping on the trail to one side. A wide expanse of grasslands spread out in the other direction.
The cart was traveling at a relaxed pace that equated to a moderate walking speed.
Chanter: Okay, get ready to climb down and run into the forest. Find cover.
I duplicated the message and sent it to the kitsiho. Katarina and the fox both nodded. We carefully climbed down. Abernathy supported Katarina silently. They made their way into the forest, walking behind a large tree that grew beside — and partially on — the trail.
I climbed down after them and turned, walking to the side of the cart opposite to where I had heard the man’s voice, closer to the forest. The cart continued down the trail. There were actually two carts, they had taken Balens cart and affixed it to the front of theirs. Some beast pulled the carts, but I wasn’t able to make out what it was from this angle.
I could see the elven woman’s shoulders and head rising above the front of Balen’s cart. They had removed the protective canopy over it.
I pulled the bomb Abernathy had gifted me the day before.
Abernathy’s Makeshift Pipe-bomb.
Unique. Single Use.
Without a core primed to explode, this is nothing more than a paper weight. Add an enchanted core and it becomes an indiscriminate harbinger of death. The progressively thinner structure design promotes and maximizes shrapnel potential in an explosion.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Status: Primed.
The sound of a broken stick cracked behind me as they hurried behind the tree. It echoed.
Thwump.
“Godammit! What was that sound? That shot shouldn’t count, Madame! I got distracted!”
“Don’t mind that, idiot. Go see what that sound was.” She replied, bringing the cart to a stop. Her head turned, her eyes locking on mine and widening.
I threw the bomb in an arc over the wagon, aiming for the elven woman. I didn’t wait to see, I turned and ran for the tree.
I felt the bomb hit and the potential to trigger kinetic overload. I triggered all four charges as I dove behind the tree.
BWAAUUM!!! bwaum… bwaum… bwaum…
The explosion echoed back from the distance several times. A rush of air and force expanded in a ring around where it had detonated. Shards of burning metal flew out in a sphere. A cacophony of tiny impacts rang through the forest ahead of us.
Thrown Weapon skill increase! (7/50)
Magical Explosives skill increase! (7/50)
Thrown Weapon skill increase! (8/50)
Magical Explosives skill increase! (8/50)
Thrown Weapon skill increase! (9/50)
Magical Explosives skill increase! (9/50)
-DING-
Welcome to level 11! New Stat Points available for distribution!
The large tree we sheltered behind shook from the impact. Large green leaves began drifting from branches high above.
A high pitched ringing sound filled my ears. My hearing was consumed by the sound. The fox huddled against me, shaking, its ears pressed backwards and flat against its head.
Chanter: Sorry, I should have warned you better. Are you okay?
Chanter: It should pass. I’m sorry.
I messaged Katarina and Abernathy. Katarina responded that she was okay. Abernathy didn’t respond, but the explosion had pulled him somewhat out of his shock. His eyes darted around, taking in everything and nothing at the same time. I wasn’t sure if it was an improvement over the blank thousand-yard stare.
I looked around the tree. What remained of the cart — the back half of the one we had been in — was burning. A circle of scorched earth, roughly ten feet in diameter, marked where the explosion had occurred. There were… parts… of Banksy, scattered about. I assumed some of those parts belonged to Madame Huay, but it was impossible to tell.
Charred bits of wood and metal were strewn about in a wide radius.
I had never seen the beast they used to pull the cart, but it was also in pieces. The entire front cart – and half of the back cart – was destroyed. The tall grass surrounding the carts had been mowed down in a wide swathe, as had parts of the forest on the other side of the cart.
Bits of burning wood and metal ignited the grass and forest, fed by a mild breeze. They were small embers now, but they spread and grew as I watched.
“They’re dead,” I barely heard my own voice, as if cotton were stuffed in my ears. Katarina looked at me in confusion, mouthing what?
I pulled my lute out and played Radiant Winds. It was difficult to play, deafened as I was, but I focused on the motions and succeeded with a 82% rate. I sent healing orbs to everyone, aimed at their heads.
The ringing subsided as gentle warmth spread from the magical healing and my hearing returned. The animals of the forest were in a frenzy. Numerous bird cries mingled with an assortment of grunts and howls that were impossible to differentiate. The growing fire crackled.
“I said, they’re dead. We need to get out of here or we will be dead too. I started a forest fire. And a field fire. Everything is about to be on fire.”
Katarina looked down at herself, then at me. I realized we were both still wearing the thin cotton fabric used as an undergarment and blushed, initiating a trade request. I gave her back her inventory, then extended the trade request to Abernathy.
He looked at me for a moment. He didn’t accept the request, instead looking away.
“Come on buddy, take your equipment back. We have to get out of here.” I placed a hand on Abernathy’s shoulder. He flinched at my touch.
I equipped my gear straight from my inventory. Katarina did the same, tying her pants leg below the knee and cutting loose the excess material.
Abernathy watched her cut loose the extra pants leg, then looked away.
Lesh flew down, landing softly on Abernathy’s shoulder and nuzzling into the fur at his neck. Abernathy looked over at him and large tears welled in his eyes.
“Lesh, he’s dead. Tobias is dead and its… there… it was… I was so scared, I couldn’t do anything but run and hide. Just like the goblins. I’m so sorry.” The words flew from Abernathy in a rush, like a dam had been broken, and he began sobbing heavily. Lesh continued nuzzling his neck.
Patreon, where you can read 20 chapters ahead!! We are well into Book 2 over there now ^_^