DAY SIX—FOUR DAYS BEFORE EXECUTION

SEVENTY-TWO HOURS BEFORE THE INVASION

The next morning, I was off and running for Rivercrest as soon as the cloud touched down.

Ezzie said.

Ezzie said.

I said, as I ran through the west gate to find the same half-dead rider galloping into the town square. The event unfolded exactly as it had before; even the dialog was identical. The same prompt, then, once the rider had said his piece.

System Alert: you have triggered a Regional Event: The Creeping Ice

Description: A rider used his last breath to warn the townsfolk that something is headed their way. Organize the residents of Rivercrest and build up the town’s defenses; you must repel the invading army.

Reward: Experience and Renown (Avatar’s reward scales with their contribution level).

Failure Penalty: -200 Renown for every NPC death, -500 Renown for every building lost, -2000 Renown if you fail to repel the invasion. Contributing nothing to the Invasion will result in severe penalties, including the forfeiture of a life.

Decline Penalty: Quest cannot be declined.

Time Until Invasion: 71 hours, 59 minutes.

I said, as I nodded at the two players I’d seen earlier. They were wearing the same clothing, and the woman’s face was blackened with soot.

The woman elbowed the man sitting beside her. “Look who’s back.”

“Heh,” the man said between sips of beer. “Went and got himself killed. Typical.”

Ezzie said.

I ignored the other players and poked my head into the inn, just as I had before, then ran around the back and hopped into the dumpster.

Ezzie said,

I found the same two muffins in the same place, so I grabbed them both up and took a bite out of the one in my right hand.

Ezzie said.

I said, as I took another bite.

Ezzie said.

I took another, larger bite.

The lid to the dumpster opened, and Faye shrieked just as she had before.

Then she hit me with a shovel. The strike deflected harmlessly off my copper helm, but the impact left my ears ringing.

Faye dropped the shovel and covered her mouth with both hands. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I thought you were a raccoon! Wait, why are you in the trash?”

“Cause I was hungry,” I said, a little bit of muffin dribbling out of my mouth.

Ezzie said.

“Cause you were hungry,” Faye repeated.

I said.

Ezzie said.

I looked down at my feet and spoke to Faye: “yeah. I’m very, very hungry.”

Ezzie said.

“If you don’t mind,” I said, “I’m gonna go back to eating dumpster food.”

Faye bit her lip. “Do you want something to eat? Like an actual meal?”

“If it’s not too much trouble,” I said. I swallowed down a dry mouthful and took another bite.

“…please stop eating that muffin,” Faye said. “It’s got maggots.”

Ezzie gagged through the link.

I said,

Ezzie made a sound that was a lot like a dry heave.

I shrugged at Faye and tossed the muffins back into the trash.

“Why don’t you have a seat over on the back steps,” Faye said, already heading in that direction. She disappeared into the inn and I sat where she’d indicated, in the exact place I had before. She rejoined me a moment later, carrying the same bowl of soup and the same mug of sweet, sour ale.

This time I was able to savor the soup, having actually eaten the last few days. It was amazing just how enjoyable food could be when your main concern wasn’t getting enough of it. I spared a glance at Faye and saw that she’d once again taken to spinning her wedding ring on her finger.

“Thank you, the food was amazing yet again.”

Faye cocked an eyebrow at me. “Again?”

I froze. “Uh—”

“Please tell me you aren’t comparing my cooking to the stuff you just dug out of the trash,” Faye said.

I forced a laugh. “No, I’ve eaten here before, that’s all.”

“Ohh, okay,” Faye said.

Ezzie said.

“You seem troubled,” I said. I hated taking such a shot in the dark, but I needed to change the subject to keep Faye from following up on her question.

She gave me a sad smile. “Is it really that obvious? I guess I’m more of a mess than I realized.” She flicked her ring with her free hand. “Can’t seem to pull the damn thing off.”

“Here, I’ve got you,” I said, as I reached over and plucked the ring off her finger just as I had before.

Ezzie said.

I said.

Faye bit her lip, hard, trying to keep a straight face but failing. She turned away from me, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

I said.

“Sorry,” Faye said, as she wiped a tear out of the corner of her eye. “I didn’t mean…it’s a wedding ring, so.”

“Ohhh,” I said. I adopted what felt like a very serious face. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

Ezzie said.

I said. I gestured to the bowl that Faye had given me. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Faye shrugged. “What’s done is done, I think. But thank you for asking. I’ll take that bowl if you’re done with it; you can keep the mug.” She stood up and reached out a hand.

I said,

Ezzie said.

I took a long drag on the mug, finishing nearly half of it in one go.

“How is it?” Faye said, with a bit more curiosity than I’d expected. It was almost like she was testing me.

“The beer? It tastes like magic.”

Faye grinned in earnest. “Thank you, I’m glad you like it. It was my husband’s recipe.”

“You sure I can’t help you out with something?” I said. “I was planning on heading up north later today, if that helps.”

She put her hand on the doorknob, and I held my breath.

“Well,” Faye said. “If you’re already heading north…”

Ezzie said.