[28]

It was a delightful surprise to wake up and discover I had a notification from my soul ledger.

+1 Willpower

The additional point brought it to 4, making it my second highest attribute after the 6 I had in Constitution. I worried that casting so much magic before bed would leave me feeling mentally exhausted, but my Willpower seemed sufficient to stave off that effect. A small but entirely tolerable headache was the only consequence. In fairness, that could just as likely have resulted from Ugz slapping me with his tail to wake me up.

Curiously, as soon as I got out of bed, my ill-tempered newt rushed out of the bedroom; undoubtedly up to no good.

I took a nice relaxing bath, using water that was at my maximum heat tolerance. Knowing that I had an entire day of hard physical training again, I wanted to be prepared as I could get. With my sore muscles soaked, I dipped into some stretches that Saewulf taught me, then dressed myself in a fresh robe.

“Good morning,” I said politely to Izzy, who stood in the living room looking out the front window. She looked to have slept in a large cushioned chair meant for receiving guests and relaxing before the fireplace.

The guard only grunted in response.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a blurring shape speed over my shoulder and nearly slam into the dwarf. At the last second, Izzy held her shield up, blocking the projectile with a loud “thack” sound.

“Nice try,” Izzy laughed. “You should have waited until I was actually in conversation.”

On the ground, Ugz glared at her before darting up my pants and onto my shoulder.

“What was that about?” I asked them both.

“Your critter has been keeping me company all night. Trying to ambush me with that ball attack he does.” Izzy said, grinning.

“Ugz why? She’s our guest! I already told you!” I said. Ugz ignored the reprimand, flipping his tail, eyes only on the dwarf.

“Nah, it’s fine. Smart, actually. Your pet is training my Perception and Agility and also working on his attacks. His ability to climb walls and launch himself makes him great at ambushes. It’s been fun.” Izzy said, shrugging.

“Sorry, Ugz. Looks like you know what you are doing,” I said. He sent me a feeling of smugness.

Raxx came out of his room a moment later, and together the three of us said goodbye to Ugz and headed to the dining hall.

Joy sat at our usual table when we came in, and a part of me feared telling her about the events of last night. We were not very close, but I feared that my constant draw of danger would be a deterrent to our continued friendship. It may seem odd for those who have had friends all their lives, but for someone that has lived a lonely life as I have, their relationship meant the world. Raxx became my companion because of an instinctual connection he felt while we strived in the face of adversity. Joy did not have the same kinship, but we had shared interests in reading and experiences in life. She had grown up in a library, after all.

Neither cared about my looks. I suspected Raxx thought I looked like every other human. Well, except for my golden eyes, which given the amount of gold he wore was probably a sign of good fortune in his mind. Joy said that she found me attractive, but being that we were different species, it was more in the way one might admire a flower or a painting. The irony of finally being beautiful and having friends that did not care did not escape me.

Reluctantly, I told Joy about the attack on Elaine, and introduced her to my new traveling companion Izzy.

“Going after a duke’s daughter? That’s ballsy.” Joy said, shoveling in a big helping of fresh mushrooms.

“Heh. Unlike Harald here, she actually has the resources and connections to find out who might want her dead. Maybe she can find out who sent that monster after you while she’s at it.” Raxx agreed.

I was not so sure that was possible.. The night before, I asked Marwin if there had been progress on finding out who sent the demon after me. His look of disappointment confirmed his failure before he said a word. An experienced [Truthseeker] with resources from the best ascended in the world could not find who was responsible; I doubted very much that Elaine could succeed where he failed.

Before we parted with Joy, a group of three women in blue robes approached our table. A tall, svelte woman with long light purple hair led the trio like a military formation.

“Hi!” she said, but the smile never reached her eyes. I detected no spite, so I gave my best smile.

“Hello,” I said evenly.

“I’m Lina Engleford,” she extended her dainty hand, and I shook it.

“Harald Horste.” I noted she failed to introduce her back up. “This is Raxx, and that is Joy.”

“Horste, eh? I don’t believe I know the name.” she said, taping her lip thoughtfully. A second later the spell broke, “Anyway, nice to meet you all. I’ve seen you three around, and I wondered if you might be interested in coming to a party at my villa on Sixday. I’m having a little shindig to start the year off right!” She winked playfully.

Joy snorted.

Raxx laughed.

“That sounds lovely.” I began.

“We’ll go.” Raxx said.

Joy looked irritated and opened her mouth to protest.

“All three of us. There will be drink, I assume?” Raxx clarified.

“Of course!” Lina said, beaming. “The party starts at dusk. Just go to the Engleford estate!” The gaggle of girls left, all giggles and whispers.

“Why did you do that?” I asked Raxx.

“You need it.” Raxx said, slapping me on the back. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but ever since you got back last night you’ve looked upset. Maybe it had to do with that duke’s daughter, or maybe that letter the courier dropped off. I don't know. What I do know is that wine and women make everything better. I planned on strong arming you to a tavern Sixday evening. This just works better. Ya know, because the drink is free.”

“I’m not upset. What are wine and human women going to do for me?” Joy asked.

“You need to climb out of your books and see what life offers. If you are going to make me read, I’ll be damned if you get to sit out of a party. Fair is fair.” Raxx said, folding his arms in a defensive gesture.

Joy sighed in resignation. “Fine. I guess that is fair.” After a second, Joy said, “Hey what about Izzy though?”

Izzy swallowed a pancake whole, stood up and said, “I like parties.”

“But isn’t it dangerous for him to be out in the open? What if there is another attack?” Joy asked, not willing to give up on finding a way out of extroversion.

Izzy shrugged. “It’s up to him. He can’t spend his life hiding in a safe house. That would be a stupid approach to take for Ruinlands adventurers.”

Joy did not have a rebuttal for that. Soon after, she left to go to Izzy’s husband's class, and I felt sorry for her.

Raxx, Izzy, and I arrived at combat training.

Master Rohan pulled me aside to look over my new poleaxe. He noticed it the night before and said he wanted to do a more thorough examination of it when I went to class.

“Good quality. It’s an alchemy treated blade, and the haft is darkwood. You will still need to keep it sharpened, but it won’t rust on you. Darkwood is resistant to fire and stains. We can’t have you practicing with it on the dummies. Let’s find you a replica weapon closer in size.”

The instructor took me over to the weapon rack to compare replicas, but I could not hold the question that was burning in my mind.

“Master Rohan, is there any word on Elaine?” I asked. Most of the class had arrived, and I suspected she would not show.

Raxx, I noted, was already in the sparring area, swinging a wooden saber back and forth and making crude jokes at Tedric and Reynold. I tried to not let it distract me.

Master Rohan grabbed my attention back from my barbarian friend with a growling noise I took for annoyance. “No. She did not go to her estate. Marwin still has people out looking for her. She can’t have gone far.”

His words left a sinking feeling in my stomach.

“You have yourself to worry about,” Master Rohan said, handing me a five-foot poleaxe, and giving me a serious look. “As we discussed last night, your performance was abhorrent. From now until the rest of the class, I want you to think the word ‘Haunt’, just before you strike the dummy. Abilities, unlike spells, cannot gain in rank. Conversely, they cost nothing to use and, unless otherwise stated, work indefinitely. Don’t use the ability for real, mind you, I don’t know how that might affect the magic of the dummies. Think it, strike. Got it?”

“Yes, sir!” I said, trying to give him enthusiasm that I did not feel.

Why had I let her run off alone?