Chapter 26 – Making deals

  The morning sunlight stunned Clayton’s eyes. Unexpectedly, the night passed in silence. Given the activities of the previous day, he expected to hear something occurring during the night, but there had been nothing. Even the Chualtalas remained quiet throughout the night. Clayton wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.

  “Report!” Clayton commanded the Wenduag standing before him.

  “Found nothing,” The Wenduag grunted.

  “Good,” Clayton said. At this point, finding nothing was the best he could hope for. If those Wenduags ran a fowl of a Lord, then that was that. If it was the escapee’s work or a new threat in the area, then they should have found something. But that wasn’t enough to make Clayton relax. Caution was key.

  Clayton connected with his elf puppet again confirming the Wenduag’s statement. Nothing out of the ordinary was found throughout the night. But it was strange. According to the elf, they didn’t come across any creatures in the jungle. Was that normal? It was normal for the weaker creatures to avoid the Wenduags when they were about, but there were still several powerful beasts throughout the jungle. Fights were common.

  He shook his head. He was overthinking this. His paranoia was getting the better of him. It was only one night.

  “Return to regular duty,” Clayton told the group around him. “Take extra precautions when scouting the jungle from now on. And if anyone encounters a Lord, they are to report to me immediately. Do not engage the Lords!”

  The Wenduags and spiders left to resume their original duties. Clayton turned his attention to the last remaining tasks he had left in this jungle. He needed to make arrangements to leave. The wildlands were nearby, and within them was a host of Enlighted to sharpen his skills on. But before he did that, he would have those elves under his control.

  *~*

  “Morning,” Zephyr said appearing in the air around them. Jack was already up but nearly had a heart attack at the suddenness of Zephyr’s word. Based on Bryant’s reaction, he wasn’t the only one.

  “What the fuck!” Bryant exclaimed nearly falling off the branch as he did.

  “Calm down,” Elaine said, getting up and stretching her back. “Zephyr just likes to surprise people sometimes. You get used to it.”

  “I’m still struggling on that part,” Jack said.

  “I didn’t use my relaxing cold breeze to wake you this time,” Zephyr said.

  “You mean the arctic blast?” Jack asked.

  “Strange, I haven’t slept that well in a long time,” Elaine said while yawning and interrupting them. “Not even when we found actual beds. Who would have thought I’d miss roughing it?”

  “I know what you mean,” Bryant said. “Felt like I slept a week last night.”

  “There might be a reason for that,” Jack said. Briefly, Jack explained his encounter with the Southern Lord during the night and how he had cast a spell on everyone. Everyone listened intently as Jack went over what he had learned from Reynard.

  “Why would the Southern Lord go out of its way to speak to you like that?” Elaine asked when Jack finished. “Why not all of us?”

  “I think it was because of my status in the Order,” Jack said. “At least he mentioned we were kindred spirits and that the choices I made were important. He also has the same sight skill I have.”

  “Does that mean the Lords are members of the Akashic Order as well?” Elaine asked.

  “He said he was an honorary member,” Jack said. “But he did give me a greeting that I remember a ghost gave me before.”

  “You mentioned these Lords before,” Bryant said. “But what are they really? And what’s this about ghosts? You never mentioned ghosts.”

  “Best I know,” Jack said. “There are four and they are powerful beasts from the higher realms that came back down to this one, but I guess that means they can’t just do what they want either.”

  “The Northern Lord is a giant spider beast,” Elaine added to his explanation. “The Eastern is a snake, I heard it described as a black mamba. A big one, like really big. Daniel told me the Western Lord goes by Byakko, but that is all I know about that one, and the Southern Lord is a shapeshifter. There isn’t a lot people know about any of them as few ever survive coming here.”

  Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

  “Cool,” Bryant said. “Cool. Concerning, especially the spider one, but what is this about ghosts?”

  Jack shrugged. “I don’t really know about the ghosts, or is spirits the right word?”

  “Either works from your perspective,” Ciao muttered. “So, the Lords are connected to the Order. That would explain a lot. Are we not considered members by association then?”

  Ciao said the last part more to herself than to Jack. “Probably not from the viewpoint of the Lord,” Jasper answered. “We may have the access Jack enjoys but it was Jack that made the contract and completed the requirements.”

  Ciao tsked at that but didn’t say anything further.

  “At least we have an option now,” Elaine said. “We have an open invitation to seek refuge in the Southern Lord’s territory of the jungle. That might help if we can get the others there. It will be dangerous using that entrance too many times though.”

  “Not sure if there is any other choice,” Jack said. “It is the first exit out of the underground we found, and we were down there for weeks. There is also the North to consider. We don’t have an open invitation yet, but Reynard, that’s what the Southern Lord called itself, said the Northern Lord might be receptive to helping us.”

  “Didn’t you just say the North Lord was a spider though?” Bryant asked.

  “Yes,” Elaine said. “But I am more worried about its children. We barely escaped the last run in we had with them and Jack almost died. Not to mentioned we killed a lot of them. I’m not certain they will be happy to see us.”

  “Yeah, no,” Bryant said. “I might be new here, but if it’s between a giant spider and a shapeshifter, we should avoid the giant spider. Or just leave. Leaving is also an option.”

  “If we are making recommendations,” Ciao said speaking up. “Then it would be foolish to leave Kharzast. All that magical knowledge just sitting there and you wish to abandon it. Find of the millennia, wasted.”

  “I agree with Bryant, the first part at least,” Elaine said, ignoring Ciao’s protest. They had gotten used to hearing ignoring complaints like that to their intention from Daniel. “South sounds like the best choice right now. And I don’t think the others will be thrilled about going north either.”

  “Well, there is a catch,” Jack said.

  “Of course there is,” Elaine said, rolling her eyes.

  “I had to make a deal with Reynard in exchange for his help,” Jack said. “It only takes place if we agree to take him up on his offer though, but it’s something we’ll need to consider before going south.”

  “You should be careful about making deals,” Jasper said. “Especially with entities you don’t understand.”

  “Present company excluded, of course,” Ciao added.

  “What was the deal?” Elaine asked.

  “There were three provisions, but only one affects you and the others. We would have to agree to take in a resident of its choosing when we start making our city,” Jack explained.

  Elaine thought for a moment. “That doesn’t sound too bad.”

  “Why would it make you agree to a deal for something like that?” Bryant asked.

  “That is the question,” Jasper said. “Little to be done about it now though, but something to consider.”

  “Yeah,” Elaine said. “We’ll need to get the others’ thoughts on the matter. What were the other provisions?”

  “The last two are only on me, and I am fine with both,” Jack said.

  Elaine stared at Jack for a moment before he spoke again. “Really, it’s not that big of a deal. So long as everyone is okay with the first requirement, then I’m okay with my part.”

  “Is it dangerous?” Elaine asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Jack said. “The only part I know that might be dangerous is something I was planning on doing anyways.”

  “Fine,” Elaine sighed. “Just be careful. I doubt a creature like a Beast Lord would ask for something simple without a reason. We should head back. Have any ideas on how we are going to do that?”

  “Aren’t we just going to go back the same way you came from?” Bryant asked.

  “We have to get pretty close to the Wenduags’ camp for that,” Jack said. “I don’t know any other way, but we can’t approach the camp until you have a decent stealth skill. Too risky otherwise.”

  “How am I supposed to do that?” Bryant asked. “I’m not exactly a stealthy guy.”

  “We can help train him in a few skills and maybe a spell or two,” Jasper said.

  “Who is we?” Ciao interjected.

  “You can?” Jack asked Jasper, ignoring Ciao’s protest again.

  Jasper nodded. “I told you before. I’m not a fighter, but I can help teach a little and Ciao is good with magic and stealth.”

  “Why am I being volunteered for this,” Ciao said. “I did not agree to this.”

  “Great,” Jack said. “Then I’ll leave it to you two.”

  “Ciao might need a little motivation though,” Jasper said as Ciao continued to complain.

  “Fine,” Jack said. “Ciao, if you can help Bryant get his Stealth skill, then I’ll let you have free access to one of the Order’s libraries for an hour.”

  Ciao perked up at this, now interested. “A day.”

  “One hour,” Jack pushed back.

  They continued negotiating until they eventually settled on two hours for every beginner rank skill they helped Bryant get, and four hours if they manage to get any skill to novice rank.

  “That might be asking a bit much,” Elaine said. “You can only get so far on training alone.”

  “No supervision?” Ciao added at the end.

  “I don’t like how you feel the need to add that,” Jack said. “Feels like I should absolutely supervise your visit now, but sure no supervision.” It wasn’t as though they had succeed in being able to read any of the text in them yet anyways.

  “Deal,” Ciao agreed a little too quickly.

  Jasper sighed. “Didn’t I just tell you to be careful with making deals with entities you don’t understand.”

  “I can’t be looking over my shoulder wondering if everyone around me has some hidden motive,” Jack said. “All three of you are my Familiars and we are going to need to learn how to get along and trust each other on some level, or else what is the point?”

  “Fair,” Jasper said.

  “Exactly,” Ciao said. “We’re all friends here.”

  “We should celebrate,” Zyne said poking out of Jack’s shoulder. “Group hug?”

  “No hugging,” Jack said.

  “Dude, I am starting to get used to the talking frog and cat,” Bryant said. “But whatever that plant thing is, it’s creepy.”

  “Not a frog,” Jasper responded automatically.

  “Not a cat,” Ciao replied at the same time.