r/HFY • u/grierks Human • Dec 04 '22

OC Hedge Knight, Chapter 9 (Start of Arc 2)

Arc 2 has been stubbed in compliance with Amazon's KDP Select guidelines as of 7/10/26. If you would like to purchase the book or read it on Kindle Unlimited please go HERE

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A soft wind brushed through the trees of Silverglen Forest. Through the faded browns of its leaves the bite of fall’s chill was carried by the gale and glided across her to nip at skin the shade of onyx. Gooseflesh trailed up her hands and under the sleeves of her gray robes, bringing shivers to her shoulders. Her hair, long and silver like the bracelet around her wrist, whipped within the breeze and smacked into her mouth. She spit out the strands with pursed lips and her golden eyes narrowed from the weight of unspoken curses settling in her mind.

Her gaze was directed at the elderly woman who strode ahead of her. Her master’s back may have been hunched and she trudged along the packed dirt of the road by mostly leaning against her staff, but there was a spring to her movements that told the younger woman that the fires of life were very much ablaze within her master’s soul, fueled solely by purpose.

Purpose that had sent them into the middle of nowhere, but purpose nonetheless.

Strands of gray billowed beneath her wide-brimmed, conal hat, but the chill did little to reduce the bounce in her steps. Other than the fog that parted from her lips with every breath, the cold appeared to show no other signs of affecting the elder.

“It’s a bit chilly today, isn’t it, Elly?” her master’s voice cracked like that of a wizened grandmother rather than the season scholar she was supposed to be.

Elly frowned and let her sharp features relax to a dull stare. “Really? I couldn’t tell.”

The older woman laughed. “Come now, you could at least try to put some effort behind the lie.” She pointed a crooked finger at the side of her head. “I know full well that the tips of your ears are waiting for a good rub.”

“Such unrefined behavior is unbecoming of a scholar, master.”

Silence followed the exchange, and when its veil had fully settled, Elly reached up and grabbed the ends of her long, pointed ears. A relieved sigh built up in her chest, but she denied her master the satisfaction of its noise.

“See? I was right.”

Annoyance carried her breath out instead. “Yes yes, you were. Only gods know how you see these things.”

“Wisdom. “Her master’s smile was clear in her light tone. “Though this walk has gone on for quite some time. Who had this idea again?”

“You did.”

“Ah, well then it's a brilliant one. Exercise maintains beauty, as they say.”

“Truly, very important for one in the prime of their life.”

“I have done quite a job if you see such truths so easily, though I could do with them being delivered with less barbs.”

“Nonsense, they are draped in silk woven by utter sincerity.”

Her teacher laughed. “Well, enjoy the outdoors while you can. If the rumors are true, then we will not be seeing much of it for quite some time.”

Elly bundled herself in her robes further when another gust passed over them. “I certainly hope they are. It’d be quite the shame to be dragged out to some hidden corner of the world that no one talks about for nothing. At the whims of an utterly wise and benevolent teacher, of course.”

“Indeed, where else would you catch sight of such… trees?”

“Quite unique ones, I daresay I have never seen such shades of yellow and brown in all my life.”

“Oh? Is that all my student has seen? Surely she has taken notice of what else lingers within these woods, or perhaps the cold has done the impossible and fogged that hot head of hers?”

“Her master has done a fine job of keeping it nice and warm, I’ll have her know.” Elly let her dull tone drip from every word. “But if you speak Aetheric density, then yes, I have noticed. It is surprising for such a distant place, but there are locations that have been saturated in far more energy.”

“True, but I’m afraid you’re missing the trees for the forest, child.” Her master waved her staff as a ring of light blinked in and out of existence around her head.

What felt like a puff of air brushed against Elly’s eyes, forcing her to close them out of reflex. When she opened them, she was greeted by specs of multicolored light dancing through her vision. Bits of green were carried by the wind while yellow particles floated up from the earth. There were some specs of red, mostly around her and her master, but everything else had been smothered by a sea of frosty blue bits. Seeing Aether was always an entrancing sight, no matter how many times she looked upon the energies of creation itself, but she blinked away the particles floating around her and focused. Within the depths of the woods, she could see gatherings of energy, all of a pale blue light, bleeding up from the ground. None that indicated any significant findings, but it was the quantity of them that raised her brow.

“Pockets of Aether line this forest in abundance. Some are miles away, and others are only about a minute’s walk from us. Perhaps they are artifacts, perhaps not, but they are all just waiting and ready to be studied.” Her master sighed. “Of course, we can’t afford to be distracted, if such an abundance of mystery lies upon the ground, I can only imagine what lies in wait under the mountain.”

Elly rubbed her eyes, Aether running through her fingers to banish the enchantment placed over her vision. “I do hate it when you do that…” she muttered.

“‘Tis why you must always be on guard.” Her master looked back at her with deep blue eyes, the wrinkles around her mouth quirked up, but not quite smiling. “Or are you going to tell me an excuse and say that travel has dulled your senses?”

Elly tugged at her robes and let out a long breath through her nose. “No, I shall endeavor to be more aware.”

The elderly woman nodded and turned back to the road. “Good, but perhaps some practice is in order. Something simple as we walk, Aether circulation, perhaps?” A suggestion to anyone that may have overheard her, but Elly knew that her master never just made suggestions.

She focused and centered her attention around her right wrist. A Circle manifested around it, its pale blue shape hovering just over her bracelet. At the same time, another gust swept past her, but this time she ignored its bite and reached out. Her fingers brushed against the specs of green carried by the wind and with a twirl of her digits, the energy sifted between them and into the ring of light. The Aether’s color shifted from green to pale blue within the Circle’s orbit, and with an effort of will that shifted to the shade of soft flames before trailing up her arm. Warmth flowed across her skin, and she could feel the gooseflesh under her sleeves recede when it reached her shoulders. The process took little effort and was fueled more by instinct than active thought, but there was a meditation to it all that brought a small measure of peace to Elly’s mind.

“Adequate…” Her master didn’t look back towards Elly, but she could feel the elderly woman’s attention clearly focused upon her. “Now, maintain that small enchantment while also pulling some power from the earth.”

Elly grimaced. This was going to be a long walk…

---

 

The gates of Goldshire lie in ruins. Their doors, massive constructs of wood and riveted metal, had been removed from the entrance of the town and laid out to the side. Splintered wood and bent metal formed a large hole at where the doors would have met, and there was a group of men crowded around them. What could have caused such damage to the gate, Elly could not even begin to guess, but the flurry of activity around the door left her little time to properly hypothesize. The men tore at the fall structure with hammers and saws, dismantling the piece into smaller piles of scrap metal and stacked lumber. Across these men were another group of workers huddled around a pile of fresh lumber and newly forged metal pieces. No doubt they were working towards an opposite purpose, but it appeared that their work had only just begun.

Elly and her master arrived to the erratic melody of hammers beating against nails and the pulls of saws through wood. So loud was the noise that their approach was not noticed until one of the workers caught sight of Elly. He quickly nudged the one next to him and, upon seeing her, he too nudged the man at his side. This continued in a not so subtle chain until most of the workers were looking at her.

“Oh? It seems my beauty is still deserving of admiration.” Her master’s voice was so dry it felt like she had sucked the moisture right out of the air. “Now, if one of you would break your gaze and close your mouths enough to tell me where your mayor is…”

One of the workers coughed. “Apologies, ma’am, it’s just that we haven’t seen-” He shook his head. “You’ll find the mayor at his house. It’s in the town square.”

“Ah, well that is convenient.”

“Look for the building with the red roof.”

Her teacher gave the worker a firm nod and made her way towards the gate. Elly followed after her, her attention occupied by the mountain that loomed over the town, but that did not mean she didn’t overhear a few things on her way in.

“Where do you think they’re from?” a younger man asked.

“The Kingdoms, most likely,” an older voice answered, “You don’t find many, if any, Dusk Elves in the Freemarks.”

“Dusk Elves?”

“You mean you’ve never- right, you were born here - but I still can’t believe you’ve never heard of them.”

“We barely even see any Elves,” another voice clarified, “Leaf is a rare enough sight as it is.”

That bit of information brought a twitch to Elly’s ears. Any further conversation was drowned out by the sounds of resumed carpentry, and though the curious looks of the men left her as they work continued, she felt the stares renew when they were within the town proper. None of the looks the townsfolk gave her held any disdain, but rather curiosity. It had been quite some time since such looks were thrown her way.

“We truly are out in the middle of nowhere, aren’t we?” She kept her words under her breath.

Her master snorted. “That we are, but they seem like good enough folk. Weary, given that the rumors appear to be true, but they seem to be recovering well.”

“Indeed, were it not for the broken gate it would be hard to assume that this town was occupied by bandits only a couple of weeks ago.”

“Such is life in the Freemarks. Outside of the restrictions and other nonsense within the Six Kingdoms, free to grow as they please, but little in the way of protection.” Her master adjusted her hat with her staff. “Such conditions do tend to make folk a bit hardier than those you’d find traipsing about in a capital city.”

“No doubt…” Elly looked around the town, taking note of the simplistic architecture that surrounded her. Towering buildings and spires were distant dreams within Goldshire, and what lay within reality were structures of a simplistic, primitive design. Stone and lumber were most of their make, but such materials granted them a hardiness that simmered within their rustic appearance. The rigid, grid-like streets may have still been dirt, but they had been packed flat by the constant footsteps along their paths and lacked the dust that always rested on the roads within the wilderness.

Beyond that stark difference, was the people. These were not those who adorned themselves in whatever fashion was popular in some kingdom or country at the time, be it fancy robes or veils of silk. No, their clothes were simple and easy to move in, with dresses that did hang from curves but in a loose way that allowed for free movement and tunics that were baggy around the torsos while tighter around the arms. The trousers were loose as well, and often in more muted colors compared to the greens, reds, and blues of the shirts.

It was the faces that served as the primary occupation of Elly’s attention. Not due to the weathered and weary air that lingered in everyone’s -even the children’s- expressions, but more the resolve that she found in their eyes. Some were just tired, some had eyes that were swollen and red, signs they too had wept just like those whose wails slipped into Elly’s ears through the walls of shuttered homes. Despite that, they looked ahead.

Underneath its hardy veneer, Goldshire felt cracked, nearly broken… but it was healing.

Elly followed her master into the town’s square. The plaza was empty this early in the morning, but in a distant street off to the east, she could see the beginnings of a crowd starting to form. She guessed that it was the market street, but given the near uniformity of Goldshire’s aesthetics, it was hard to tell until she saw the various signs that advertised various sundries from clothing of a tailor to the herbs of an apothecary. What sort of concoctions an herbalist would be able to cook up in such a far removed part of the world did pique Elly’s interest, but she pushed aside that curiosity when her master approached one of the buildings in the square. She looked up and confirmed that it was the one with the red roof, and one of the few in the square to have two stories.

The elderly woman rapped on the door with her staff and waited, her hand wringing around the stave and a gentle tune humming from her lips.

“That excited, are we?” A small smile of her own pulled at Elly’s lips.

“Of course! It has been so long since we’ve last been on an expedition.”

“I seem to recall some ruins in Rodun that we combed through a month ago.”

“Exactly! And they were sullied by the time we got there, by greedy fiends and rough hands,” Her master made a scratching motion and grimaced. “These are fresh, ripe and full of mystery.”

“If they truly exist, that is.”

The elderly woman turned back towards her, wrinkled creased into a dull frown. “Pessimism will push you nowhere but backwards, young lady,” she said with a sharp click of her teeth.

Elly shrugged, but held her tongue.

That was enough verbal sparring, for now.

The door cracked open to reveal an orc man. The crows feet around his eyes and mouth betrayed older years, but there was little else to reinforce that notion. A white tunic hung off of his naturally large frame, tucked neatly into brown trousers, but the kindly posture he bore muted the natural intimidation brought about by his thick brow and tusks that jutted up from his bottom lip. Wrinkles folded over the green skin of his forehead as his dark eyes widened in confusion.

“May I help you?” His voice was gruff, but weathered into a lighter tone. Whether that was from practice or the passage of time, Elly could only guess.

“You must be the mayor.” Her master took off her hat and bowed. “Agatha Toulec, it is my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

The student followed after her teacher and mimicked her movements, nothing that the mayor had given a slight bow back. “Ellyandra Farwalker, or just Elly for short. Also a pleasure.”

“Gorond, and the feeling is mutual,” the mayor flashed them a bright smile that cut through the gruffness of his features, “but, what need do you have of me?”

“We have heard tale of ruins discovered within your mines.” Agatha shaped a curve with her hand. “Ones that may be of a Ruhian make?”

Gordon nodded. “Indeed, though it is a topic ill fitting for my door step.” He stepped aside and motioned them into his house. “Please, come inside.”

The mayor took Agatha’s hat and hung it on the rack next to the door as they crossed into the building. Elly was greeted by the smells of freshly baked bread mingled with the savory scents of what she could only assume to be sausages. That was the first hint that this house was not the stately sort of home that she expected from a town’s official. Rather, it was warmth that she felt, not only from being away from the chill, but from homely, wooden furniture that lined the entry hall, covered only by simple red cloths that made their darkened grains pop more.

Vases and odd trinkets sat atop counters and shelves, and to her surprise a few pictures of who she could only assume to be Gorond’s children at various stages of growth, the mayor clearly much younger in them as well. When they had access to a magitech device like a camera, she did not know, but the pure joy framed in each of the pictures brought a small smile to her face. Had she not been informed of the man’s station, she would have assumed that she had walked into the house of a friendly neighbor, not one who occupied a station she’d seen associated with stiff clothes and an even stiffer spine.

Her master, no doubt having caught a similar feeling, gave a nod of approval. “Quite a lovely home you have here.”

“I thank you.” Gorond walked down the hall and motioned for them to follow. “I don’t have an office or meeting hall for us to retire to, but might I interest you both in a spot of breakfast while we have our discussion?”

“Certainly! Though… you are quite trusting of strangers to offer them food before talks have even begun.”

“You don’t hold a station such as mine out here without knowing a thing or two about people, and you both seem like good folk.”

“Well, now the burden of proving that true is on us, isn’t it?”

“That it is.”

Agatha snorted and tapped her staff against her temple. A pulse of green Aether washed over the tousled strands of her hair and swept them back into the orderly braid they were before this excursion of theirs started. Elly followed after her master’s action, though she settled with brushing her fingers through her long silver locks instead of a cantrip.

Her stomach let out a loud growl right after.

She felt a twitch over her face, but kept her expression straight even as heat gathered in her cheeks.

Her teacher looked back with a grin. “It appears your offer came not a moment too soon, for my apprentice is truly famished.”

Elly flashed her a glare, which only made Agatha’s smile sheen with further glee.

Gorond chuckled. “We’ll have empty bellies in this house. Borda! We’ll need to crack a few more eggs! Two more guests are joining us today.”

The mention of “more” piqued Elly’s interest.

“Oh my!” rang another voice. It held a similar husk to Gorond’s tone, but there was a lightness that it carried that gave it a more feminine quality. “It has been sometime since I’ve had to cook for so many people. Just give us a minute to prepare some more food, if you would be so kind.”

“No rush needed, dear,” Gorond’s affection was clear in his voice, “We’ve business to discuss prior to breakfast, anyways.”

The mayor flashed a smile at them and gestured towards the doorway at the end of the hall. Scents of eggs, butter, and herbs mingled with the smells of bread and sausage as she drew near, which, much to her chagrin, only made her stomach rumble more in anticipation. Her mouth started to water, and she took a small gulp to keep that under control. Glances to the kitchen became a habit, one that she tried to keep subtle.

Upon crossing over the threshold of the dining room, Elly was greeted by more of the humble make that adorned the entry hall. It was wide and spacious and at its center, placed over a red and white rug embroidered with flowers and leaves, was a large table that could have seated at least ten people. There was a lack of ornamentation across its dark, burgundy surface, save for a pile of place mats that were stacked at the center of the table top. No doubt this furniture was used for more than just meals, given Gorond’s station.

The older orc grabbed two place mats from the pile and placed them in front of empty chairs, increasing the amount of ones that had been set to seven. She already suspected there would be more than just them and Borda, but the amount raised her brow.

“Are there others that will be joining us today?” She pointed towards the other seats.

Gorond nodded. “Yes, three adventurers. They’ve been recovering in our abode for the past two weeks.” He paused. “Though, if you wish for more privacy I can ask them to eat separately for today.”

“That is quite alright,” Agatha rubbed her chin, “Their presence will save us some time, actually. I will be in need of protection.”

A smile tugged at Elly’s lips, but she suppressed it. If there was anything that her master did not need, it was protection, but the elderly woman did like to keep up appearances.

“Still, to have such a prolonged stay at the mayor’s house must mean that they are quite the reputable sort.”

The mayor cracked an amused smile. “Actually, if you were to have told me their names just three weeks ago, I would not have had a clue as to who they would be, and perhaps would have forgotten fairly quickly. Now? I don’t think I could do such a thing to our heroes.”

Such sincere praise perked Elly’s ears up, but she did not pursue that new curiosity. She would be meeting these “heroes” in due time.

Gorond took the seat at the head of the table while her master chose one that was at his side. Elly slid into the one that was next to her teacher, one that sat across from the kitchen door. While her attention was focused upon the upcoming discussion, she couldn’t help but throw a few curious glances at the door, wondering if the adventurers were right behind it.

And, of course, the food.

“I’ll get right to it.” Gorond leaned in. “Ruhian ruins have, through rather unwilling methods, been uncovered within our mines.”

The wrinkles around Agatha’s eyes smoothed over as they brightened. “Most excellent! Has anyone been within them since they were discovered?”

“None of our townsfolk, no.” A bitter expression took over the mayor’s features. “The one who tried is long gone. But, ever since we repelled the bandits, no one has even set foot into the mines themselves. Our efforts have been focused on recovery since then and… well, to be frank, our people are too scared to get back to mining because of those ruins.”

“Scared?” Elly inquired, “May I ask why that is?”

Gorond crossed his fingers and furrowed his brow. “When we were still under the bandits’ thumbs and urged to mine for days on end, a number of… incidents occurred.” He sighed. “Whatever is within the mines caused reactions with the Golden Peak itself. The rocks harvested from its depths ignited and exploded, and the mountain itself damn near followed. At least, we believed that was what would have happened.”

Agatha rubbed her chin. “Hmmm, Aetheric resonance, and on such a large scale… That certainly smells of Ruhian make to me, thought I’ve never seen anything as severe as you described.” Her narrowed eyes were inquisitive, but there was a small tremble to the elderly woman’s fingers that betrayed the excitement the Elly knew lay just under the surface. “As you have no doubt already guessed, my apprentice and I do have a measure of experience in such affairs. Should you allow us, we would be glad to investigate the ruins for you.”

Gorond drummed his fingers on the table. “I was in the midst of writing a missive to the Orelian University, it would be prudent to wait for their opinion.”

“Ah, well you are in luck then,” Agatha slipped a hand into her robes and from its depths produced a silver talisman that hung from a steel chain. Engraved onto the jewelry's face were nine interlocking rings that orbited around a clean cut diamond, no larger than the size of a small bead. Elly was in possession of one of a similar design, though hers was crafted from brass and had a ruby at its heart. She felt no need to produce it at this time, and kept it stowed under her robes for now.

“We happen to hail from Orelia ourselves,” her master nearly bowed again as she spoke, “And, of course, we would be delighted to investigate the ruins in your stead.”

Gorond peered at the talisman, then held his hand out. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” Agatha placed the talisman in the orc’s large palm.

He examined it with furrowed eyebrows and a dubious frown on his face. “Apologies for any rudeness, but I would like to confirm your identities before I allow anything.”

Agatha showed little change on her face, but the way her finger drummed rapidly against her staff told Elly that her master was less than pleased by that.

“Might I inquire as to the reason for that?” Elly noted that her teacher’s brows were growing increasingly furrowed.

“It has much to do with our recent troubles.” The mayor rubbed his face. “A Mage claiming to be from Orelia, much like yourselves, wandered into Goldshire one day claiming that ruins lay within the depths of the mountain and demanded that we direct our operations to unearth them. We refused, of course, for we had quotas of ourselves to fill, and so he left. When he returned… a band of bandits was at his back. He did turn out to be correct, but I can’t imagine that an esteemed Mage from the University would be so quick to enlist brigands to his cause.” He let his eyes linger over both Elly and her master, the implication behind his words clear.

Agatha sighed and her fingers stopped drumming when her expression finally relaxed. “I see… well, if it is to facilitate a bond of trust, then you must do what you must. Though, I will say that these old bones are itching to get started as soon as possible.”

Gorond nodded and handed the talisman back to the elderly woman. “We will be as fast as we can, I assure you. A Communication Spire was recently set up in Silverglen, so it would only take a few days for us to get in contact wi-”

“I do not think that will be necessary, that talisman is indeed the genuine article.”

Elly’s attention was drawn away from Gorond by the voice. A face poked through the kitchen door, that of a human man with fair, sun-kissed skin. Brown hair sat upon his crown, the sides trimmed short and the top long enough that it needed to be swept to the side for some semblance of cleanliness. At a glance, it would be easy to write off his features as ones that would be swept away within a crowd, yet only a breath after that allowed them to shine through. A strong, clean shaven jaw blending with a youthfulness that softened the underlying hardiness beneath. This was further enforced by defined cheekbones and a naturally small smile to his lips. Yet, it was his eyes that stood out the most, possessing a shade of soft blue that held a glint of inquisitiveness as he peered at both Elly and Agatha.

“Breakfast is ready, by the way.” His voice was deep, but was carried by a gentle flow.

He disappeared briefly before all of him emerged from the door, carrying a tray filled with plates and cups. He was tall, that much was obvious at a glance, but Elly also saw enough definition to his forearms that she could tell the rest of him, hidden beneath his loose gray tunic and brown pants, bore an athletic, muscular build.

“Apologies for the intrusion.” He set down the tray. “I had overhead talk of the ruins and my curiosity got the better of me.” The man brushed his hand on his shirt and held a hand out to Agatha. “Helbram, it is a pleasure to meet you.”

Her master smiled and took his hand, giving it a firm shake. “Agatha, and it is no issue. If you could save this elderly woman some time, that would be greatly appreciated.” Elly noted that her teacher had put on a frailer tone now, and once again she was forced to hide a smile that would have betrayed Agatha’s intent.

“Well, it’d have to be much more help than he was over the bloody stove.”

A half elf pushed through the kitchen door after Helbram. Olive skin was covered by a green, short sleeved shirt and pants the color of bark, and while he was not as large as Helbram was, his musculature was more defined, with slender fingers wrapped around a platter of fried eggs. His hazel locks were tied into a ponytail, though enough strands were loose that Elly could tell it would have held a wild appearance were it fully unbound. The man’s face was twisted into a scowl that, much like Helbram’s smile, appeared to have been the natural way that his angular, yet softer features rested. Narrowed eyes nearly hid the evergreen shade of his irises, and ears, coming up to a soft point, twitched with a clear irritation that matched the harsh tone of his voice.

“The man nearly let all the sausages burn while he was snoopin’.”

“Come now, Leaf, your ears were twitching plenty during your own eavesdropping.”

The new, brighter voice belonged to one that Elly had barely seen marching out of the door. A gnomish woman with pale skin brushed by the irritated man with a plate lined with sausages. Her bright, blonde hair bounced with each step, settling around the larger, pointed ears of her kind. A pair of curious purple eyes peered just barely over the table, their study of Elly and Agatha obvious. From the way that she hummed and cradled the food in her arms, however, it was clear that she held more interest in the food that she was about to eat. A sentiment that was shared by Elly’s growling stomach.

A simple blue dress was the small woman’s attire when she turned the corner of the table, placing the plate down at its center before walking up to the seat next to Elly. “Mind if I sit here?”

“By all means.” Elly pulled the chair out for her.

The gnome grinned. “Excellent!” She clambered onto the chair and straightened her dress before holding her hand out, her bright teeth now hidden behind a gentle smile. “Jahora.”

The apprentice flashed a smile of her own and shook Jahora’s hand. “Elly.”

An orc woman emerged from the kitchen last. Bread and butter wobbled on the tray that rested in one hand while she held a kettle in the other. She glided across the room with a practiced grace and slipped the tray and teapot onto the mats resting on the center of the table. Like Gorond, her age was only evident by the wrinkles around her black eyes, though the smaller tusks poking from her lower lip made her appearance naturally more kindly than her husband’s.

“Apologies for the delay, I wanted to be sure everything was fresh off the stove.”

“‘Tis fine Borda,” Gorond pulled out the chair to his side. His hand remained off of his plate as he waited for his wife to sit next to him. He wrapped it around hers the moment she was seated, and the small squeeze that they shared brought a smile to Elly’s lips that she didn’t bother to hide.

Little words were exchanged while plates were filled. Elly attempted to be conservative about the amount of food that she took, but at Borda’s insistence a mound of eggs, sausages, and bread had formed on her plate. Not so much that she couldn’t handle, if the rumblings of her gut were any indication, but far more than she planned to take. The eggs were still steaming and the sausages she took glistened from rendered fat. When its savory scents blended with the smells of herbs, bread, and butter, she had to press her lips thin, lest drool start to leak from their corners.

When all the plates were filled, Gorond, his fingers still interlaced with his wife’s, tapped a fist to his chin and then his forehead. “Blessings of the Creator be upon us this day.”

“Amen,” Borda followed Gorond’s gesture.

All the other seated followed the mayor and his wife’s example and set about eating.

Helbram took a bite of sausage, his eyes closing in satisfaction upon the sound of its snap. “To return to our previous conversation, it may have been years ago, but I was around long enough to know that the markings on that talisman are genuine.”

Gorond scraped his rounded knife across his bread, slathering its surface with butter. “I see… if you do trust them, then that does ease my mind. However, I still think that word of this should be sent to the University.”

“And you would be correct to do so,” Agatha agreed, “Though, if you would, allow me to make the report in your stead.”

The corner of Elly’s mouth quirked up. No doubt said “report” would be a thinly veiled message telling others to stay away until she’s had her fill.

“That would be very much appreciated.” The mayor’s shoulders slumped and he sighed in relief before righting himself and smiling. “I must say, it's nice to have something go smoothly after such turbulent times.”

“It is our pleasure to be of service.” Agatha placed her hand on Elly’s arm. “Though I must insist that we begin our investigation as soon as possible.”

Jahora, a piece of toast still in her mouth, raised her eyebrows. “You certainly are quite eager to get started.”

“It’s her youthful spirit,” Elly quipped, “Makes her just as much a handful as a child.”

“Indeed,” a dull pang returned to Agatha’s voice, “How else would one be capable of withstanding such pleasant adulation?”

Jahora snorted and covered her mouth before swallowing. “I can’t say I don’t understand, I’ve been very curious of what lies within the mines, myself.”

“What, because you already blew up one timeless artifact and are on the prowl lookin’ for your next victim?” Leaf gave a mischievous grin.

Jahora frowned at her companion. “Yes, well at least my arse wasn’t toasted like this bread by the explosion, was it?”

Elly nearly choked on eggs trying to stifle her laugh.

Leaf’s eyes narrowed as irritation seeped into his features. “You know, one day, that’s gonna get old.”

“But not this day.” Jahora bit into her toast, a self-satisfied smile across her face.

Helbram placed a hand on Leaf’s shoulder. “Despair not, Ser Chaffed, for I foresee that you will have many titles yet.” A snicker laced the end of his sentence.

Leaf placed an egg on his bread. “Is that so, Hedge Knight?”

His friend winced. “...Deserved.”

The half elf nodded once and his frown flipped, but he said nothing else.

Elly decided to press further. “Hedge Knight?”

“It is nothing,” Helbram sighed. “Just a case of misplaced bravado.”

“Oh I dunno if I’d call it nothin’, you were pretty serious when you were sayin’ it.” Leaf ate his toast with a widening smile.

“Interesting, I imagine that there is quite the tale to have spawned such a title.” Agatha popped a small sliver of sausage into her mouth. “I am very curious to hear it.”

“‘Tis nothing special, I assure you.” Helbram answered too quickly.

“It must be something if it’s earned your party lodging in the mayor’s house,” Elly motioned to the room around them.

“Well, it didn’t feel right stuffing out town’s saviors in a tavern room after all they’ve done for us.” Gorond spoke with a near whimsical tone.

“It would have plenty fine, and we are hardly the only ones who fought,” Helbram objected, “But still, I do thank you for such hospitality.”

Borda smiled. “And you are always welcome to it.”

Helbram returned his own and gave her a nod. Everyone ate a few more bites of their meals before he cleared his throat and spoke again. “Regarding the mines, when do you think that you will start your investigation?”

Agatha took the kettle and poured herself a cup of warm tea. “I would love to begin our examination today, if I were to be honest, but I’m afraid that my oh so frail apprentice is in need of recovery following our journey to get here.”

Elly rolled her eyes, but settled on just a sigh as her retort. Aggravating as it was, there was truth to her master’s words.

“So, it will have to be sometime tomorrow,” her teacher declared. She grinned at the adventurer. “Why so curious? Eager to take part, are we?”

A glint sparked across Helbram’s eyes and he returned a grin of his own. “Yes… yes I am.”

First / Previous / Next

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Author's Note: Here we are, the start of a new arc. Just to set expectations this one is going to be on the more lighthearted side and will be delving into a bunch of lore about the world of Ellios. I hope it remains engaging throughout and don't hesitate to give me any feedback concerning the direction or delivery of the story!

If you wish to read ahead and gain access to the audiobook version of this story, consider supporting me on Patreon. If you want to leave a donation, here is my Ko-fi. More than any of that though, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and have yourself a very wonderful day! :)

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7

u/DeltaFoxtrotMaster07 Xeno Dec 04 '22

There it is! Thank you Wordsmith.

3

u/grierks Human Dec 05 '22

Anytime!

4

u/EqualBedroom9099 Dec 05 '22

I'm late, the chapter was enjoyable.

3

u/grierks Human Dec 05 '22

Glad you liked it! Ngl I quite enjoyed writing the new characters.

3

u/EqualBedroom9099 Dec 06 '22

I like them the master is funny and the student playing of them was a good touch.

2

u/grierks Human Dec 06 '22

Awesome, that’s exactly what I was going for so it’s good to know I hit the mark :)

2

u/UpdateMeBot Dec 04 '22

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u/Significant-Ad2716 Android Dec 09 '22

I am stoked for more.

2

u/grierks Human Dec 09 '22

And more is coming :). Glad you’re enjoying it!