Day Three. Morning.

Outside the door of Mariga’s cabin, I dropped back into stealth concealing myself in the porch’s dimness.

Benadean had been right.

The dark druid was odd and, although I did not trust her entirely, I thought I could trust to her desires. She had been hard to read, but I was sure she hadn’t lied about wanting to rid the valley of the goblin tribes.

If I give her what she wants, maybe I’ll get what I need in return.

Either way, it was time for me to leave the safe zone. I had done what I’d come for and still had lots to do before my Pact with Erebus expired in the next five days. I didn’t have a concrete plan to escape the sector yet—or to rid it of one goblin tribe, much less three—but I had learned all I could in the safe zone, and it was time to get started on my tasks.

Turning my attention outwards, I scanned the empty streets. This village quarter was still quiet, but the surroundings had brightened considerably. Once I left the porch, I would not be able to stay hidden, though. And if I moved through the more trafficked areas of the settlement, I was sure to be spotted.

So what?

The players hunting me could not harm me in the village, and once I was through the Howler’s fort, I was confident I could lose anyone still on my trail.

I slipped off Mariga’s porch, and immediately, the shadows concealing me fell away.

Two neutral entities have detected you! You are no longer hidden.

My gaze whipped leftwards, sensing two figures watching me from that direction. A moment later, my tension dissipated as I recognized the pair.

It was Ultack and Cecilia.

I rose slowly from my crouch and padded softly towards the pair. “What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you,” Cecilia said.

“The captain wants to speak to you,” Ultack added.

My face expressionless, I studied him. “And why would I want to see your captain?”

Ultack opened his mouth to respond, but before he could speak, Cecilia interrupted. “It’s not safe here,” she said, her eyes darting left and right. “We can talk back at our base.”

Still, I hesitated.

“We mean you no harm,” Ultack said. “ And the captain won’t keep you long, I promise.”

I jerked my head. “Alright. I’ll come. Lead on.”

~~~

The pair cut a snaking path through the village taking pains to avoid the main routes through the settlement. They were not alone in their efforts to shepherd me either.

On multiple occasions, I spotted other players waving them on or warning them off. Some, I remembered from the party I had rescued in the forest. Others were unrecognizable altogether.

Eventually, we halted outside a long low-lying building on the western end of the village. It was a barracks of some kind, I thought. Without pausing, Cecilia ducked in through the door. Ultack and I followed on her heels.

Inside, I found myself in an open hall. The room was full of players. Most stood to attention and looked alert, gripping their weapons.

Cecilia made for the center of the room and the most commanding figure in the hall. My own gaze was drawn to him too.

The player in question was a weather-beaten man dressed in full plate mail. His armor was scratched and worn in places but cared for nonetheless, like a favorite coat. He was well-groomed with a neat beard and closely cropped hair. His right hand rested on the hilt of a jeweled sword, and his left toyed with a piece of parchment.

This must be the captain. He appeared a man who spent more time on the battlefield than off it.

Three yards away from the waiting officer, Ultack and Cecilia stopped. The elven mage glanced at me and gestured me on. My audience with the captain was to be a private one, it seemed.

The officer’s gaze never left my own as I strode closer. Curious, I reached out and analyzed him.

The target is Talon, a human of indeterminant level. He bears a Mark of Supreme Dark and a Mark of Tartar.

I clenched my jaw to disguise my unease. Like Ishita’s sworn, the captain’s level was hidden. More worryingly, he bore an unexpected Mark.

Tartar. Who was that? It seemed likely he was another Dark Power. Is he hunting me too? Probably.

“Michael,” Talon said. “We meet at last.” Like the rest of him, the captain’s voice was gravelly and well-worn.

I drew to a halt in front of the captain but didn’t return his greeting. “What do you want?”

Talon ignored my brusqueness and continued speaking with a mildness that was in itself a rebuke. “When I heard that Erebus was hunting a novice player, I thought the rumors false.” He opened his clenched fist, revealing Ishita’s bounty notice. “Then I read of this, and my curiosity grew. What, I wondered, could the two Powers want with you?”

He smiled. “But seeing you now, I begin to divine the source of their interest.” His gaze roved over me. “A mindstalker. How fascinating.”

I fought to keep my face smooth and unruffled, but I couldn’t stop my eyes darting sideways, wondering who else had overheard the captain’s words.

Talon looked amused by my reaction. “Do not worry,” he said. “We are surrounded by a privacy shield. No one can hear us.”

I concealed my relief and turned my attention back to the captain. “How do you know my Class?” That he had a superior form of my own analyze was obvious, but I wasn’t certain which one he’d used on me.

Talon’s lips turned upwards. “You are still untutored in the Game, I see.”

I scowled.

“I don’t mean that as an insult,” he said before I could speak. “It is simply the truth.” He paused, then answered my question without any trace of animosity. “Any player with improved analyze can perceive your Class.”

“Improved analyze?”

“It is a rank five ability,” the captain said.

I pursed my lips. “I see.” That put the captain’s level at much higher than my own. Once again, it seemed I was outclassed. I eyed him again. He watched, patiently waiting for me to go on.

For whatever reason, the Dark player appeared receptive to my questions. “What do you know about mindstalkers?” I asked, seeing no reason not to take advantage of his willingness to answer my queries.

The captain shrugged. “Not as much as I would like,” he admitted. “It is an advanced class and not one achievable without a Bloodline.”

My ears perked up, noticing the curious emphasis he placed on the word, ‘Bloodline.’

He tilted his head and looked at me curiously. “Which one do you possess?”

I was certain I knew the answer to that already, but I was not about to share the information with him no matter how helpful he was being. I gave him a shrug of my own and changed the topic. “Why can I not see your level?”

Talon’s smile widened at my evasion, but he did not remark on it, nor did he refuse to answer my question. “You used basic analyze on me?”

I nodded.

“Then the answer is simple. Basic analyze is limited to discerning entities below rank ten. It will not work on anyone of higher rank.”

So he is more than three times my level.

I grimaced as I grasped the full implications of that. “Why am I here?” I asked finally, voicing my most burning question.

“I brought you here to warn you,” Talon said.

“Warn me?”

“Ishita’s people are hunting—”

I waved my hand negligently through the air. “I know that already.”

Talon held my gaze. “And did you know they are in the Howlers fort right now, planning to ambush you?”

I stilled. “You’re sure?”

He nodded.

I cursed softly. I should have left when I had the chance. My mind raced, wondering what awaited me in the fort. How many players had Ishita’s mages gathered for their ambush? And where exactly had they positioned themselves?

The players, though, were not my biggest concern. The goblins were.

I’d already proven I could hide from Ishita’s mages, but the Howlers’ soldiers were too vigilant for my liking, and if the tribe had been placed on alert, there was no way I was going to sneak through the fort.

“The Howlers will not interfere,” Talon said, seeming to follow the direction of my thoughts.

I broke off from my musings and scrutinized him intently. “Why not?”

“You bear a writ of safe passage,” Talon said. “The Howlers are bound to honor it.” He smiled. “And I’ve taken the liberty of reiterating to their shaman the consequences of not doing so. The Dark Powers do not look kindly upon those who fail to hold to their bargains, regardless of extenuating circumstances.”

I blinked. “Thank you,” I said grudgingly. “Not that I am ungrateful, but why would—”

“Because you interest me,” the captain said, interrupting me. “And because… I want something from you,” he admitted.