The grill at Valgrin’s feet absorbed the regurgitated contents of his, and Skwilly’s, stomach.

  “Guess you got sick again, both of you.” Tahlur paused. “I’m practicing being Captain Obvious.”

  “You’ve got it down,” Valgrin muttered, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth. “Honestly, I’m starting to think this whole time-saving thing isn’t worth it.” He paused, “Just give me ten minutes and I’ll be human again. You holding up over there, Skwilly?”

  The priggy looked up, his eyes in conflict with the nodding of his head.

  The group moved over to the side, freeing up the portal platform. One of the operators handed a small cup of water to Valgrin. A few minutes later he felt close to human and stood up straight.

  “Back with us?” Steeyann asked.

  Valgrin answered with a nod.

  “Okay, you guys head back to Izzy’s. I’ll go up to the guild house, get the papers filed, and collect the payments. Then I’ll meet you there,” he said, his footsteps echoing on the wooden floors as he strode confidently out of the station. The others nodded in agreement, their murmured assent following him out the door.

  Malcolm stepped closer to Valgrin, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You and Skwilly good to head out, or do you need a minute or more?”

  Why only me? Valgrin letting out a weary sigh. “I might be a little wobbly, but I can go.” He looked down at a nodding Skwilly. “Looks like it’s the same for Skwilly.”

  Valgrin followed Malcolm out, keeping him within reach for extra stability. The cobblestone road underfoot jarred him, each uneven step threatening to topple his balance. But they made it through without mishap, and about halfway to Izzy’s, the world around him finally steadied. Even with things back to normal, he didn’t relax until he sank onto a barstool.

  “Can I hel…oh, you’re back. Where’s Steeyann?” Izzy’s raspy voice carried a note of concern.

  Malcolm responded immediately, “There’s no reason to worry. He volunteered to go to the hall and register the completed tasks and get paid.” He pointed over at Valgrin. “We have someone that doesn’t handle the portal well. Two, actually, Skwilly isn’t fond of it, either. So we brought them both here directly.”

  Izzy's shoulders relaxed, the tension released in a slow exhale. "Good, even with easier tasks, you never know." Her gaze landed on Skwilly, then shifted to Valgrin. "Portal travel, huh? Not much fun. I almost got sick a time or two myself."

  “I’d settle for almost.” Valgrin deadpanned, earning a chuckle from the group.

  “Wait!” Izzy yelled, “Sorry, that was louder than I meant it to be. But you said tasks?”

  Malcolm brought Izzy up to speed on the trip to Plarest.

  “Thanks for explaining. Glad I wasn’t with you, try to avoid anything with snow or ice—hate the cold. Oh, by the way got some shorla for those who want.” Izzy looked over at Valgrin, again. “Can put together a quick broth for those who may want lighter fare.”

  They placed their orders, and Izzy spun around, her braid swinging like a pendulum as she headed back to the kitchen. A few moments later, Deeah appeared, slipping quietly behind the bar.

  Deeah placed drinks in front of everyone as she spoke. "Izzy says you two get ale, you get water, and Skwilly gets water as well." Her eyes darted between them, curious. "How much longer before Steeyann gets here, do you think?"

  Tahlur paused, his mug halfway to his mouth. “I would guess—”

  “You’d probably be incorrect.” Steeyann stepped through the door. Deeah slipped out and hurried to hug and kiss the ranger.

  “Nice way to be welcomed home,” Steeyann declared with a broad smile,his eyes twinkling. He brushed a stray lock of hair from Deeah's face. “Need to get a few more in before we hit the road again. I've signed us up for another adventure, and we'll need to leave in two days."

  Deeah pushed back from the embrace, her fingertips lightly tapping Steeyann’s cheek with a playful slap. “That desperate to get away from me already?”

  He chuckled, a deep, warm sound, as he pulled her back into his arms. “Not at all. I made sure we’d have tomorrow to ourselves. Just need to get these guys grinding while I can. Though, need to talk to all of you about something that could send us down a different path.”

  Valgrin, who had been resting his head on the bar counter, let out an exaggerated groan, rolling his eyes. “The truth is he loves watching me suffer,” he muttered, feigning exasperation. “What’s the task this time? And what do you need to talk to us about?”

  Steeyann nodded towards the group. “As for the task, a small town in the northeast region of Terska, called Cafro, reported some type of monster infestation. Based on what anyone knows, should be lower lever monsters. Based on what we’ve already done, thought the four of us could take that on and get some experience, fairly easy.”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  Deeah pulled away, frowning. “What’s this blood?” She gently poked at a bloodstain on the lower front of his shirt.

  Steeyann matched Deeah’s frown. “It’s—”

  “Are you hurt?” Izzy called out from the kitchen doorway.

  “Not my blood, it’s llama blood and it leads to the something else. Walked by Dythian’s pens on my way home. Two llamas, throats slit, the scene fresh—just fifteen minutes before I arrived. The blood soaked these envelopes pinned to each llama by a knife plunged into its stomach.

  Steeyann strode towards the bar, “This one has Malcolm’s name on it, the other Valgrin’s name.” He handed them their envelopes.

  “Hold on, don’t open them yet.” Izzy’s voice cut through the air as she rummaged beneath the bar, pulling out a couple of envelopes with a determined yank. “These showed up after you left. One appeared the same day, the second was stuck to the door the next morning. Neither was addressed, so I opened them. They’re the same kind of envelope. Been trying to reason them out, seems like the answer just arrived.” She extracted the papers with a deliberate motion and handed them over to Valgrin. “Read them to everyone.”

  Valgrin’s expression tightened as he examined the notes, then turned to the tense group. “The first one reads, ‘I’ve found you.’ The second says, ‘You will pay for everything you’ve done.’ No signature on either.”

  “Nobody’s named on those?” Malcolm’s voice carried a sharp edge, his hand reaching out.

  Valgrin shook his head, “No, nobody signed nor is there anything indicating who to. There isn’t any name anywhere.” He turned the notes over to Malcolm.

  Steeyann let out a sharp whistle, the tension in the room palpable. “That handwriting matches what’s on the envelopes I brought. Valgrin, you read yours to us first. Then Malcolm, you’re up.”

  Valgrin drew the paper out with a sense of foreboding, his eyes widening, mouth agape. “If it weren’t for the llamas, I’d call this a sick joke.” His gaze swept over the group, noting Malcolm’s unopened envelope. “This one says, ‘It’s time to face the consequences. I’ll be watching and waiting for you at the Southern Swamp. If you’re not there within two weeks, someone you know will die. If you delay another week after their death, two more will perish. Happy times are coming my way. DL.’”

  “DL?” Malcolm’s brow furrowed with intensity as he ripped open his envelope. “Mine’s identical, every word. Who or what the hell is DL? Two questions come to mind, actually more, but we’ll start with two. I’ve kinda asked the first one. Who’s DL? Second one, where’s the Southern Swamp, and can we get there in two weeks?”

  “The Southern Swamp is a swamp in the south of Ahtridbius. This zone of EverNever. The creators don’t know the name?” Tahlur cocked his head.

  Valgrin shook his head. “Our gaming group stopped playing after the second adventure. Sanpra was the only name I had in place. Both scenarios happened in the city. So there hadn’t been a formal name given to anything, yet. Either another creator or someone in the EverNever named the zone.”

  “This doesn’t answer if we can get down there in two weeks.” A faint sharpness crept into Malcolm’s tone.

  “Sorry,” Tahlur gave a nod to Malcolm. “We could be down there in a few days. That is, if Valgrin is okay with more portal travel. If not, we’d have to start in the next couple of days to get there on time. It’s not a small swamp. Is there any sign of what part of the swamp, or directions we’re supposed to follow?”

  Malcolm and Valgrin shook their heads in unison.

  “I’m guessing the watching part means DL will have people watching the portal and possibly other paths in.” Malcolm said.

  “He’d need to cover at least three.” Steeyann sat down. “We have three portal endpoints in various places around the swamp. A fourth, but it’s an extra two days of walking.”

  “We?” Valgrin asked.

  “Didn’t we form a crew?” Steeyann answered with a question. Tahlur nodded in agreement.

  “Well, this seems like it’s on us. I wouldn’t ask you to join us.”

  “Me neither.” Malcolm added.

  “Don’t need to ask,” Tahlur replied.

  “Not breaking up the crew that easy.” Steeyann grinned. “I can get us out of the other contract, I took it on the condition you agreed to it. I’ll just say it didn’t meet the conditions.”

  Valgrin sat up straight. “Thank you. I’m sure we can use the help. As ominous as this sounds, let’s put it to rest tonight and discuss plans over breakfast. Give us time to recover, and for Malcolm and I to remember a DL from the past. Assuming we know this person.”

  “It sounds personal. So I bet we know the name.” Malcolm looked up at the ceiling. “Problem is we have so little to go one. It could have been a character, a villain, a NPC, or some other role. Nothing is coming to mind.”

  “True, but for tonight topic is closed. Deeah, I’m recovered. Let’s all get an ale and toast to our first successful job as a crew.”

  “Will do.” Deeah got busy serving everyone, including herself, that didn’t already have an ale.

  Izzy cleared her throat to get attention, her eyes landing on Malcolm. “By the way I’m playing tonight.”

  A long, loud screech of Malcolm’s barstool rang through the tavern. He jumped and hastily made his way to the larger of the tables close to Izzy’s stage. “Not missing out this time.” He called as he plopped into a chair, motioning the rest of the group to join him.

  “I’ll finally grab some dinner for you all when I make it back to the kitchen, or if you can grab it for me Deeah,” Izzy called out over her shoulder, her voice carrying above the chatter of the tavern as she moved toward the customers.

  “You up for a meal, Valgrin?” Deeah's voice carried above the clatter, her eyes appraising him, “Kinda hard to tell with your blue complexion.”

  Valgrin glanced down at Skwilly, who was perched at his feet with eager eyes. “You up for fo..”

  “Almost always,” the priggy interrupted, his excitement barely contained. “That is if you’re asking if I want to eat.”

  Valgrin gave a wry smile, seeing Skwilly’s anticipation. “Skwilly says yes. For me, maybe a small bowl as long as it’s not spicy.” He watched Deeah’s nod.

  Within a few minutes, steaming bowls were set before them, filled with a savory concoction that reminded Valgrin of hash, with tender pieces of something chicken-like at its core. The savory aroma wafted up, making Valgrin’s stomach rumble in anticipation. Meanwhile, Izzy settled herself on the platform where she had performed before, her instrument in hand. Her fingers danced over the strings, filling the tavern with songs that wove through the air, enchanting the crowd for the next couple of hours.

  The crew sat at the table chatting, bragging, laughing, and listening.

  Looks like Malcolm is relaxed. Forced? The laugh sounded like it at first—but, especially with Izzy singing, I think he is relaxed. Good, he needs to let it all go for a bit. Need to follow my own advice. Not sure I can. Who is DL? And what consequences are they referring to?