He’d woken a couple of times in the night.

  The first had been to confusion over a Voice and a visceral pain in his stomach - the clenching and gurgling telling him he needed to eat. He’d staggered out of the bed and followed the scent of something meaty - a stew that was still simmering over the remains of a campfire in the middle of the village.

  Nyssara, the elfin woman, had been sitting there. On watch perhaps, or simply not tired.

  She hadn’t said a word to him, but had handed him a bowl and spoon, both wooden.

  It wasn’t great cuisine - he could taste chicken and potatoes perhaps, and a little salt, but no real herbs or spices. Nevertheless he’d wolfed it down in under a minute, accepting a leather pouch full of water to drink from.

  He’d left the woman sitting there, staring out into the darkness as he dragged himself back to the cot he was sharing with Xiaoling. She hadn’t stirred. She was fast asleep, and soon he had been too.

  The second time he’d woken had been just before dawn - to the stars which had illuminated the sky before slowly vanishing as a pale light began to suffuse the horizon. With a full bladder, he’d stumbled from the house and started round the side. He’d only stopped as a voice called out softly.

  “Watch yerself there lad. Don’t be goin’ too far - just the other side of the building.”

  Bleary-eyed, he’d nodded in the direction of the dwarf and had done as instructed.

  Now, as the sun rose above the trees of the surrounding woodland, Wei finally woke properly.

  To say he felt rested would have been a lie. He wandered out of the hut in a semi-daze, looking for his sister. She hadn’t been there when he’d woken.

  She was sitting by a rekindled fire. The dwarf was still there, and they’d been joined by the mage, Lio, and the woman with golden eyes.

  As he approached, the mage shuffled over to make room for him next to his sister.

  Wei took a seat on the log that served as a chair and wordlessly accepted another bowl along with a hunk of bread that proved mostly stale. Xiaoling was silent, staring into the fire, but the sight of a half-chewed piece of bread and mostly empty bowl gave him hope.

  The assembled strangers - the Vanguard of Valour that were present - waited patiently for Wei to finish his meagre breakfast before Lio cleared his throat.

  “Good morning Chen Wei. I hope you slept well. Would you be able to answer some more questions today?”

  Wei looked up at him, mute. He had not had dreams. He had had nightmares.

  Being chased. Screaming. Blood. Spirits of vengeance.

  He started to tremble, and Lio held out a blue-green vial.

  The golden-eyed woman, now out of her silver armour but imposing nonetheless, frowned at the mage.

  “Lio…”

  But Wei had already taken a swig.

  Immediately he felt a calm wash over him and he relaxed.

  “Thank you, Sir. And thank you for the food you have given us and for saving me and my sister. I did not sleep very well, but I can answer questions.”

  The trio of older strangers glanced at each other until the woman - Kira - nodded at Lio, and the mage turned back to him.

  “Thank you Chen Wei.”

  “You can call me Wei if you prefer.”

  “Very well Wei. We were hoping you could tell us more about where you’d come from, and how we can help you get back there - or if there’s somewhere safe we can escort you to. It’s unusual to find people your age with no levels at all - are you from Albraxia? I know you said you didn’t know the name but do you know King Jameth? Or perhaps the College of the Six Paths?.”

  Wei shook his head.

  “I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t know any of those. I don’t… I think we’re from another place. I don’t know how we got here, or if there’s any way to get back.”

  “Lio is fine, Wei. Kira’s the only one here with any sort of knightly leaning, and she’ll never insist on titles. What do you mean another place? Somewhere far overseas? Mianogon or Onbaria?”

  “No. Not like that. I mean… where I’m from, people like him,” Wei pointed to the dwarf, “like Borgrim I mean. Sorry. And people like…Nyssara… they don’t exist.”

  “They’ve been wiped out? The only place that’s committed ge-”

  “No - I mean they’re not real. Elves and dwarves are stories - made up. There are no evil forest spirits, or boars as large as those.” He pointed to the ironback boars dozing next to the wagon by another building. “There is no such thing as magic like I saw you doing, and the…Classes and Skills you have… It’s not real. But now I have them, and I heard a Voice, and my friends are dead, and I don’t know where I am or what to do.”

  Even with the calming tonic he was getting worked up, and he accepted another sip as Lio held out the vial.

  “Is the lad cursed perhaps? Or the victim of some foul enchantment?”

  Lio shook his head as Wei took another sip.

  “I had a look last night and there was no obvious charm on them. I was wondering if it had been a teleportation spell gone wrong that had sent them to the forest, or some sort of summoning error, but if they have no knowledge of your people or Nyssara’s - she’s a half-elf by the way - or magic at all…do you remember your childhood, Wei? Do you have gaps missing?”

  “I remember it. My parents. My village. School. My friends. It was a different place to here. We don’t have magic - only in computer games and stories.”

  “What in the name of scrap ore is a computer games?”

  Wei began to try and explain what a computer was to start with, but only an increasingly bewildered Borgrim listened as Kira bent in towards Lio to whisper.

  “Ah’ve no idea what yer on about lad. If I were to write I’d get a quill and parchment, or if I needed t’ look up a thing I’d visit a library. I don’ need a box to do it.”

  As Wei struggled to work out how to describe it, Lio cut in.

  “Wei. Kira didn’t see any Classes on you or your sister yesterday. She still can’t read your sister, but you appear to have some now. Were you disguising it before somehow?”

  Wei turned from Borgrim to the mage.

  “Oh - no. I didn’t understand what you meant yesterday. It all sounded like a game, but I heard a Voice last night, when I was sleeping. I don’t really know what it means but I have Classes and Skills now.”

  “Yes. Kira says you’re a level 7 [Scavenger], level 5 [Wagon Driver] and level 1 [Protector]. Is that right?”

  “I think that’s what it said, yeah...”

  Borgrim muttered an oath as Lio and Kira looked at each other, eyebrows raising.

  “... is that bad?”

  “Lad, from nothing to that in one day is not bad at all. That’s… phenomenal.”

  “Indeed Wei. Adversity and danger breed fast growth, but that is a lot. Unless you’d been driving a wagon before… getting us away from the Fractured Wilds yesterday I’d have guessed a new [Wagon Driver] might have hit level 3 - not level 5.”

  “I’ve not been in a wagon before. I was hoping to learn to drive a car in a year or two…”

  He cut off as the three began muttering between themselves, then Kira stood and addressed him.

  “I am going to speak to my sister and Nyssara and see if they have any thoughts on this. We’ll stay here for the rest of the day before we head out. I’ll speak to you later, Wei.”

  She left in the direction of one of the larger houses as Wei tried to describe what a car was to Borgrim, much to the dwarf’s disgust as he protested the virtues of ironback boars.

  After a minute, Lio interrupted.

  “So, you got the Scavenger class Wei. What skills did you receive?”

  “Er… I got one called [Quick Grab], [Steady Hands], and, er… [Scavenger’s Satchel].”

  It was odd, it was like he could imagine a list of them.

  “Hah - remind me not to play Griffin’s Claw with you lad.”

  As Wei looked confused, Borgrim began to explain a card game to him, but Lio gave a low whistle.

  “[Scavenger’s Satchel]. That’s not half bad."

  “It’s bad?”

  “Nay lad, that’s his way of saying it’s good.”

  “What does it do though? I don’t understand.”

  The mage leaned forwards with the bag he’d taken off Wei the previous day.

  “Well, this here is a satchel that has been enchanted - it can hold more than you think it could. See.” He began to take out the contents and after a minute the pile of items on the ground by the campfire were larger than the bag itself. Wei felt his eyes grow wide. “Now, this is what someone like me, or Borgrim needs to carry round all the gear we want without it weighing us down. This one was Dorric’s…” he trailed off for a moment, but rallied “...Borgrim has a backpack enchanted with a similar property, and I have this” he took a small leather pouch from his belt, “to hold a few pieces that are essential to my craft.”

  “That’s amazing. Is mine like that?” Wei pointed to the satchel.

  “Better’n that I think lad. It might be called [Scavenger’s Satchel] but it should work with any sort of bag or pouch or sack. I’ll wager you can fit even more in poor ol’ Dorric’s satchel than Lio or I could.”

  The mage nodded along at the dwarf’s words.

  “It’s a great Skill to have. Useful for all sorts of professions or even if you’re just travelling.”

  “Why don’t you two have it then?”

  “Well,” Lio said, “we have other Skills more suited to our Classes. For instance, as an [Elemental Mage] I have Skills like [Hot Hands] which power up my fire spells, and [Improved Mana Regeneration] which lets me cast spells more often.”

  “[Improved Mana Regeneration]? You level up last night you sneaky git?”

  A small smile crept onto Lio’s face as he turned to regard his dwarven companion.

  “Level 26 [Elemental Mage]. Got a new spell too.”

  “Alright, nobody likes a showoff. I’ll see it when you need to use it.”

  Lio deflated slightly but turned back to Wei, who was trying to take it all in.

  “This killjoy here is a [Ironshield Anvilguard] which means his Skills are all designed to make him a tough bastard, which is useful as it protects what few brains he has left.” He ducked as Borgrim threw a heel of bread at his head.

  “But how come you both only have one Class and I have three?”

  Borgrim waved a hand. “I have another Class. I’m an [Apprentice Smith], but I rarely have the chance to pursue it, what with all the stuff Kira has us runnin’ round doing. I’m only level 6 in that.”

  “I used to have another Class,” Lio said, “but when I hit level 20 as a [Mage], that evolved into [Elemental Mage] and it combined the other one into it. Gave me a couple of handy Skills in the process.”

  “Oh. Is it bad to have lots of Classes then.”

  Lio shrugged as Borgrim helped himself to some more bread.

  “No. Not really. It gets harder to level a class as it gets higher so it’s not really practical to focus on lots. Classes merging is usually a good thing as it opens up new Skills and ways to level. Take Nyssara. She’s a [Shadow Dancer] - that came out of her [Rogue] and [Courtesan] classes merging when she joined us and started on the adventuring lifestyle. Both her former classes got good Skills but [Shadow Dancer] Skills are usually better, or more flexible at least, and she can level it up by doing both [Rogue] and [Courtesan] style things, but also [Spy] and [Assassin] type work. Not that we’d ever stoop to assassination work.”

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  There was silence as Wei processed what he was hearing. It was like he was in a game - Genshin Impact or maybe Gu Jian Qi Tan.

  I wish I’d played some of them.

  It was a lot to take in, and he looked over at his sister, who was still unresponsive, though she was gradually eating the bread she still held. Her movements were slow and mechanical. To distract himself from the knot of worry forming in his stomach he turned back to the dwarf and the mage.

  “So you adventure? You do… quests? To level up?”

  Borgrim shrugged as Lio nodded.

  “It’s a job, really, although for Kira it's more of a calling.”

  “Aye. Dangerous work, but the rewards can be good. Rather this than a [Farmer] or [Carpenter] or something. Lots o’ dwarves’re content to stay at home but I allus wanted to see the world.”

  “What about you, Wei? What did you do, wherever you came from?”

  Wei felt his brow furrow.

  “I- I was just a student. I was hoping to go to university next year. I helped out around the house a bit. Hung out with my fr…with my friends.”

  “So yer were studying for somethin’ - what did yer want to be?”

  “I don’t know really. It always seemed so far away. I had coursework to do, exams to study for. I guess maybe if I got the grades I would have looked to be a stockbroker or an accountant. They’re good jobs - they pay well. Otherwise, I don’t know. Maybe help my father in the restaurant. Work in a shop maybe.”

  Borgrim leaned forward and patted him on the knee.

  “Sounds dull.”

  Lio shot a glare at the dwarf.

  “Sounds safe is what it sounds. The world needs all sorts. I’ve not heard of an [Accountant] or a [Stockbroker] though - what’re they?”

  When Wei described it Borgrim grimaced and spat to one side.

  “Sounds like a tax collector. You don’t wanna be one of those bastards Wei. You seem like a good lad; no one likes ‘em.”

  “I don’t know - [Stockbroker] sounds much like a [Trader] or [Merchant], though not a type that I’ve come across.” The mage sent a meaningful look at his shorter companion, then turned back to Wei. “The Vanguard of Valour will help you where we can of course, but do you have any idea of what you might do now?”

  Wei opened his mouth to reply and hesitated.

  “I…I don’t know. I don’t have anything. I don’t have many skills - I’m just a student. I’m not a farmer or a carpenter or a mage or anything useful. I don’t even know how I’m going to pay you back for the food you’ve given me or Xiaoling.”

  Borgrim waved away the idea.

  “Don’ worry about that, lad. We’ll no charge for feeding the pair of ye. Yer may no be a [Farmer] or the like but yer a [Scavenger] and [Wagon Driver] - there’s two safer paths to go down.”

  “I’ll speak to Mira and ask if she’ll let you drive the wagon back to Troston; a couple of days experience in the driver’s seat. If you got to level 7 in one afternoon - even if it was frantic - we can try and get you to level 10 by the time we hit a town. A level 10 [Wagon Driver] isn’t glamorous, but you’ll never want for work.”

  He didn’t know what he could do about his sister’s condition, but Wei felt a kernel of relief that he might have a means to provide for the pair of them whilst she recovered from whatever the matter was. The calming tonic had done wonders in putting the horrors of the previous day out of his mind but that had only made room for the less immediate worries: the fact that they were lost, homeless, penniless and out of their depth. And Xiaoling’s unresponsiveness. Maybe they could find a doctor - a [Doctor] - if he earned some money.

  “Don’ overlook yer [Scavenger] Class either. Yer a higher level in tha’. Worth havin’ a look round this place before we go - we didnae search the place save for danger when we arrived.”

  Lio nodded at the dwarf’s advice.

  “That’s not a bad idea. Also - you must have salvaged something yesterday to get the class. Do you know what it was?”

  Wei hesitated, then pointed towards the pile of objects the mage had taken out of Dorric’s satchel.

  “It was some of those. I shoved everything I found in there when I went to find the lady - Nyssara. She told me they were the things you were looking for…for your quest? So I guess they’re yours now.”

  The two older men examined the pile, and Borgrim picked out a silver disc. It had fit nicely into Wei’s palm but in the dwarf’s hand it looked small.

  “Well, our quest was to find out what had happened to the Slayers of Abroath, and their guild token here is enough to prove we found what was left of ‘em.”

  “You picked it up so you’re entitled to some of the reward, though it’s not the biggest payout.”

  Wei blanched and waved his hands.

  “I couldn’t possibly. You saved me and my sister. You’ve brought us to safety and fed us. I would not dream of claiming your prize.”

  Borgrim looked over, surprise clear on his features.

  “It’s only fair lad. You went to help Nyssara just as we helped you.”

  “And you brought me the potions after Dorric fell. And you retrieved my staff. You don’t owe us anything.”

  A deep sense of wrongness welled up in the pit of his stomach.

  “No - I insist. I cannot repay the debt I owe you - for my life and that of my sister. You would have survived; we would not have.”

  He almost jumped as a third of the Vanguard of Valour joined them round the dwindling fire and helped herself to some breakfast. The [Shadow Dancer] was silent as a fox.

  “Hmpf. Typical [Scavenger] - you may as well leave it boys; we do have a claim to the token. Try the other pieces. Or wait for Kira.”

  The half-elf sat down on the other side of his sister and tried to meet her eyes, but Xiaoling continued to stare blankly.

  “Other pieces?” Lio asked.

  “Yes. I told him to grab everything he could.” The half-elf turned to Wei. “What did you pick up from the bodies besides their guild token? Their whole team is dead - you have a claim to what you found on them.”

  That’s kind of morbid…

  As soon as he began to think about it, another part of Wei’s brain piped up.

  They have no use for it any more, and we have nothing. What would be the point of letting it go to waste? If I hadn’t grabbed it, it would have been left there to rot.

  Nyssara’s words made sense, and Wei stepped over to the pile and began to examine it. He pulled out a pair of rings, a necklace and an axe, then a charred pouch, a waterskin and a tattered cloak. It only took a few seconds - it was as if he could tell exactly where they were without looking.

  “There you go.” Nyssara said. “Your salvage. Lio can examine them and find out what they’re worth, can’t you Lio?”

  “If they’re magical, yes. Anything mundane you’re better off asking Mira.”

  Wei sat and watched in silent awe as the mage took the objects one by one and muttered words under his breath. A ring, the necklace and axe, the waterskin and the cloak went into one pile. The second ring as the pouch went into another. He pointed to the larger pile.

  “These have some sort of enchantment, though the necklace is only low-grade as far as I can tell. Same with the waterskin - I’d guess that one has a Sturdiness enchantment given that it survived their deaths, but the rest I’d have to appraise further. I can do one now, and the rest on the way back to Troston.” He pointed to the second ring and the pouch. “Those aren’t magical. There’re coins in the pouch - four gold, five silvers and eleven copper. Enough to last a week or two if you’re frugal. I’m not sure what the ring’s worth but possibly more? Do you want to pick one of the enchanted items for me to examine further?”

  The amount of money meant almost nothing to Wei, and he shrugged.

  “If it’s no inconvenience to you it would be good to know - I guess whichever you think is best to look at first? I don’t really know what any of this is worth though, or how much I’ll need to keep me and my sister off the streets and fed.”

  Borgrim took over as Lio began to examine the magical gear closer.

  “Ye can probably find lodgings in a modest tavern for a few silver a day. Maybe half a gold for the two of ye and they’ll chuck in breakfast ‘n’ dinner. There’s a place in Troston that we stay at with some cheaper rooms; they won’ rip ye off and ye can trust the food. Other places - if it’s less than a silver for ye dinner yer probably eatin’ rat. And no’ the good rat either.”

  Across from the dwarf, Lio finally picked the ring, and, leaning forward, held it up between his thumb and forefinger.

  “[Appraise Enchantment].”

  A moment later he sat up straight.

  “Hey, that’s a bit of alright there.”

  Despite being overwhelmed by everything, Wei felt his interest piqued.

  “What does it do?”

  The mage handed it to him and motioned for him to slip it on.

  “It’s a defensive enchantment overall,” he said, picking up his staff, “with a bit of a kick to it. It robs some of the impact from a blow or attack and stores the energy.” As he said it, he swung at Wei. The young man flinched but it wasn’t a hard strike, and when the staff connected it felt like a bump on the arm. He did it a few more times. “When there’s a bit stored, a punch or blow or swipe with that hand will use the energy to add to the power of the blow. Try it on Borgrim.”

  Wei looked over as his brow rose in question but Borgrim was already standing, grinning, bracing himself for it.

  “Go on lad. Right in the chest here. Give it yer best shot.”

  Wei stood, a full foot taller than the dwarf but less than half his mass. He took up a vaguely aggressive stance, clenched his fist and punched hard at the dwarf.

  As his fist sailed forwards he felt the kick from the ring as it accelerated his hand as it struck the dwarf square in the ribs. It was a strong blow, but Boregrim barely grunted.

  “Not bad. Show me what it’s like without the ring’s power.”

  Wei tried again and this time the dwarf didn’t make a sound.

  “Well dwarf?” Nssara said. “What is your rating?”

  “Bear in mind that was close to the bare minimum charge.” Lio added.

  Borgrim thought for a second.

  “Even so, I could feel it. Definitely Silver tier. Maybe Gold depending on how well made it is. I’ve seen others like it before and they’re always useful. Worth a pretty penny I’ll wager. Let me test its limits and I may make ye an offer meself. Been thinking of adding to my offence.”

  Wei bowed.

  “I would be honoured, Borgrim, to give you the ring as tha-”

  “Nope.” Borgrim’s arm sweeping out in a gesture of negation cut him off before he could finish. “This is yours, just as the quest reward is the Vanguard’s. I don’ steal and I don’ require charity.”

  Blushing, Wei sat down.

  “Sorry.”

  Nyssara reached across and slapped Borgrim on the back of the head.

  “Be more gracious, master dwarf. But no, child, do not offer us these for free; we may not be rich but we are adventurers and the coin we have is to be used for things like this.” Her voice darkened and quietened. “Though with the loss of Dorric we must now find a new alchemist or a reliable supply of potions.” She brightened somewhat. “Still, at least we know the identity of the body, and thus the properties of the axe.”

  “We do?” Lio said, one eyebrow raising.

  A sigh of understanding came from Borgrim.

  “Ah, of course. Helgrim. He always was tougher than he looked. Explains how he knocked me out that one time.”

  “Either that or the barrel of wine you’d drunk.”

  “As if a mere barrel would put me on his level.”

  “Erm, sorry to interrupt,” Wei looked at the argument brewing between Lio and Borgrim. “but if we know whose it is - shouldn’t it go to their family or something?”

  The dwarf looked at him with a hint of awe.

  “Kid, you’d make the worst [Stockbricker] ever. Stop tryin’ t’ give away yer loot.”

  Lio snorted and the dwarf ducked away from Nyssara as she tried to cuff him again. The mage explained as the half-elf began chasing the dwarf around trying to land a solid blow.

  “Don’t worry about that Wei. The team was registered with the Adventurer’s Guild - a reputable one. If they had kin to worry about, once we confirm the team’s demise the guild will pay out to their families; it comes out of the tithe every team pays to the guild - if they’re signed up. It’s a generous thought though. I could take the non-enchanted ring in with their guild token - if it’s something meaningful to his family he may have paid to have it returned to them in the event of his death. The guild gives a fair price for that sort of thing.”

  Still seated, Wei bowed to him, and Nyssara and Borgrim returned to their seats.

  “What’s the axe then?” Lio asked.

  Nyssara waved a hand to the grinning dwarf to explain as she finished off her breakfast by the fire that had, unattended and unwatched, gone out.

  “Helgrim’s axe was an Everkeen axe. Nifty little enchantment of the fire type. Won’t lose its edge even if it’s not honed, and can burn when it cuts.” He patted the mace at his side. “Not as good as ol’ Betsy here but Silver quality for sure. Small enough to throw too. Might be worth taking off yer hands for the team. Backup weapon, or firestarter if softhands here runs out of mana.”

  Lio raised a middle finger to the dwarf, but asked anyway.

  “What do you think it’s worth, Bor?”

  The dwarf picked up the axe and tossed it in the air before catching it by the haft, a glow of red forming around the head. He passed it over to Wei.

  “What do you think, lad? How would you sell it to me?”

  Wei looked at the weapon. How would he sell it?

  Well, start with what it can do.

  “I’d ask if you were looking for something to defend yourself with.”

  “Let’s say I am.”

  “Well then, if you’re an adventurer, you would definitely want a magical weapon. Look at this axe. It didn’t break against those elemental monsters, so it must be strong. What would you pay for a normal axe?”

  “A normal one? A few gold.”

  “A well made axe could go for five to six gold easily.” Nyssara chimed in, much to Borgrim’s annoyance.

  “Okay so let’s say five gold pieces. Now if this one is magical it must be worth…” he stalled, until he caught Lio’s hands flashing a couple of times, “...twenty times that?”

  Borgrim inclined his head in acknowledgement.

  “Okay then, so a well made magical axe - a hundred gold.”

  Hearing Nyssara’s snort, Wei went on.

  “Well, yes, but this is no common magical axe, master dwarf. As you just said, it is Evenkeen -”

  “Everkeen.” Lio supplied.

  “-Everkeen, so think of all the time you’ll save not having to sharpen it.” Wei began to warm to the subject. “My father is a chef and he has to sharpen his knives a couple of times every day. That’s twenty minutes or more a day. That’s maybe two hours a week - a hundred hours a year. Think of that: four days without sleep each year spent just sharpening, and how long might you be an adventurer for?”

  “At the rate these lot go, it won’-”

  “Just answer the question, Bor.” Lio said with a grin.

  “-mpfh. Fifty years. Sixty?”

  Wei blinked. He hadn’t imagined that long.

  “Well then, Master Borgrim. Over the next fifty years would you prefer to spend…five thousand hours… two hundred days sharpening? Or would prefer to have that time to sleep or relax in a tavern, or get to wherever you’re going sooner? How much is 200 days of your life worth?”

  For his part, Borgrim looked genuinely thoughtful, though Lio and Nyssara were both grinning at the discussion.

  “Well, I suppose, when you look at the time saved…”

  “You said earlier, Master Borgrim, that I might find reasonable lodgings for half a gold a day.”

  “For the two of ye, aye.”

  “Well, I might suggest that you deserve a higher quality lodging - a gold a day would surely be reasonable for a seasoned adventurer such as yourself.”

  “Why, I suppose so.”

  “Well then, two hundred days worth of savings could be seen as a value of two hundred gold.”

  “That’s… a reasonable take. Three hundred gold overall then, you say?”

  “That seems like a fine price, Master Borgrim.” Wei noticed the dwarf responded positively to the formal address. “Maybe we could finish off breakfast and make a deal?”

  “Well that sounds like a grand plan. Let me - on, Lio, the fire’s gone out. Heat it up.”

  But Lio had caught on to Wei’s line of thinking.

  “Actually Bor, I’m busy at the moment. Or maybe I’m out of mana.”

  Wei jumped in.

  “We could give you a mana potion, Mage Lio. How much would one cost?”

  Nyssara helpfully supplied the answer.

  “Fifty gold.”

  Already drawing breath to launch into his next line, Wei started choking in shock at the price.

  “...well, there’s a cheaper way to start a fire.”

  Borgrim cut him off with one hand.

  “Okay lad, let’s not take the piss here. I see your point, and it’s well made, but no idiot is going to give a mana potion to a [Mage] every time they need to light a fire. That’s what tinderboxes are for.”

  “Oh really Borgrim, where’s your flint and steel then?”

  The dwarf glared at the half-elf as she ratted him out.

  “If we didn’t have Lio, I’d make sure one of us had one.”

  “But what if you lost it, Master Dwarf, or it broke. And you can’t burn a monster with a tinderbox. The enchantment is surely versatile - not only might it harm your foes more, but it could keep you warm or maybe even cauterise a wound? I’d say that’s enough to warrant…” he kept an eye on Lio’s fingers. The mage raised a couple, and then hesitantly put a third up. “...tripling the price.”

  “Nine hundred gold!” Borgrim began to splutter. “Now see here, it’s a nice weapon, but I’ve got Ol’ Betsy, and we don’-”

  “What if there was a monster flying just above you though?”

  “That’d best not be a height joke, lad. I’d throw Betsy.”

  “Which would then leave you weapon-less.”

  “Aye, well…I’d not pay nine hundred for a backup - that’s almost what I paid for Betsy herself!”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t suggest the full nine hundred. Not when I owe you my life.”

  “-well now, let’s no-”

  “But maybe eight hundred?”

  The dwarf paused, and glared round the extinguished campfire. Xiaoling was the only one not paying attention to the discussion.

  “It’s a nice piece, but it’s at the lower end of Silver tier. We’re talking five or six hundred maybe.”

  “For a piece like this?” Wei said, gesturing to the axe. “I thought you didn’t want me giving away my loot?” Nyssara sniggered as Borgrim blustered. “Surely Seven hundred and fifty would be a fairer price.”

  “Aye lad, I did say that, and I’m no’ lookin’ for charity or gratitude, but the fact is I’m better with a mace or hammer. Six fifty.”

  “A dwarf admitting he can’t swing an axe, did you hear that Nyssara? Make a note and send it to the Holds.”

  Borgrim rounded on Lio, about to lay into him, but Wei jumped in.

  “Seven hundred gold, and you never have to rely on a mage to light a fire to cook your dinner or keep you warm again.”

  The dwarf hesitated, then glared at Lio and spun to shake Wei’s outstretched hand.

  “Deal.”

  Hi all! Welcome to my book, Miscast Heroes.

  I'm uploading a few chapters to start with and then will upload one a day after.

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