I entered the Triumvirate castle without fuss. Constable Richter was absent but showing the guards my citadel room key sufficed to gain me entry, and no questions were asked as I slipped into keep.

Before heading to my room and the sleep that beckoned, I stopped by Kesh’s offices.

“Hello, Cara,” I said, stifling a yawn as I entered the shop.

“Michael,” Cara greeted, looking up. She studied me for a moment. “You’ve been out late again, I see.”

“And you’re still here,” I rejoined. “Don’t you ever sleep?”

She chuckled. “I do, actually. These robes are good for more than concealing my face, you know. They do a good job of hiding when I’m napping too.”

I laughed. “Ah, so that’s your secret.” I glanced around the room. As always, it was empty. “And what’s the story behind this shop? I’ve never seen anyone in here. How does Kesh manage to keep the place open?”

I sensed more than saw Cara’s grin.

“My primary purpose in the citadel is more buying than selling,” she replied. “Walk-ins such as yourself are a bonus.”

I frowned. What could Cara be buying, and in such volume, as to warrant Kesh establishing an office here?

Then realization dawned. The dungeon.

The knights had to be selling their loot from the minotaur maze through Kesh. “So, the Triumvirate are also emporium customers?”

Cara shrugged eloquently. “I couldn’t say.”

As an agent of the emporium, Cara was, of course, constrained from discussing its customers, but her response cemented my certainty that I’d guessed right.

“I heard you created quite the stir this morning,” Cara said in an abrupt change of topic.

I raised one eyebrow. “Oh?”

“The knight-captain roused the entire keep. Every Triumvirate knight was put on alert.” She paused. “Is it true the mantises were hunting you?”

I nodded.

Cara tilted her head to the side and studied me curiously. “Yet here you are. Alive and well.”

I grinned. “I’m not so easy to kill.”

Cara did not laugh as I expected. “Don’t underestimate the mantises, Michael.” The agent’s tone was grave, and she almost sounded… worried. “They will not stop.”

My own amusement faded. “Speaking of the assassins, they’re why I’m here, actually.”

“Oh?” Cara asked, mimicking my earlier response.

“I used up nearly my entire stock of protection crystals today. Do you have more disease and scent ward enchantments?”

“How many do you need?”

“Five each. And five mental protection crystals too, if you have them.”

“I can supply all of that,” Cara confirmed. “But the mental protection crystals are more expensive.” I opened my mouth to protest but before I did, she went on, “Each one lasts twice as long as the others.”

“Oh, alright. Two should suffice then.” I paused. “How much will all that cost?”

“Three hundred gold.”

I winced. That was more money than I had left. I was bleeding gold and knew I had to curb my spending soon. But I couldn’t afford to stop altogether. Time was in far shorter supply.

“Is there anything else?” Cara asked, mistaking the reason for my silence.

I hesitated, pondering my choices. There were a whole host of things I wanted. Many of my Mind abilities were still not upgraded, my thieving skill had reached tier two, adding to the list of abilities requiring attention, and my trapper’s bracelet needed refilling, but with money problematic, I had to confine my purchases to only what was critical.

“Michael?” Cara prompted again.

“Sorry, just thinking.” I exhaled slowly and made my choices. “I also need tier two ability tomes for trap disarm, detect trap, and lock picking.”

I’d decided to go with advancing some of my thieving abilities. The cost to upgrade the mind abilities I’d earned in the Wolf trials were exorbitant, and until I had enough money to afford better traps, it didn’t make sense to improve the set trap ability or refill my trapper’s wristband. “Can you get all that?”

Instead of answering, Cara placed the three items in question on the table.

This is an improved trap detect ability tome. Governing attribute: Perception. Tier: advanced. Cost: 25 gold. Requirement: rank 5 thieving.

This is a superior lockpicking ability tome. Governing attribute: Dexterity. Tier: advanced. Cost: 25 gold. Requirement: rank 5 thieving.

This is an improved trap disarm ability tome. Governing attribute: Dexterity. Tier: advanced. Cost: 25 gold. Requirement: rank 5 thieving.

I glanced at Cara in surprise.

“The ability tomes are commonplace,” she replied, seeing my look. “There are stacks of them in the warehouse. It was simple enough to bring through what you needed.”

Meaning she’d used the merchant ability to teleport items through the aether to fetch the books. Pulling another twelve objects from thin air again—the protection crystals I asked for this time—Cara laid them atop the books.

When I still made no move to take the items, Cara added delicately, “That will be three hundred and seventy-five gold.”

“I don’t have the money,” I admitted heavily. I laid my coin pouch on the table. “That, plus what I have in the bank comes to about two hundred gold.”

Cara sat back and considered me silently for a moment. “What can you offer in trade?”

I set down the death magic wand I’d retrieved from the haunted catacombs dungeon. “Will this suffice?”

You have lost a death magic wand.

“Kesh allows me some leeway in the trades I make,” she said softly. “But even at the best prices I can offer you, the wand is insufficient. I’m sorry, Michael.”

I sighed, but I’d suspected that would be the case. “I understand,” I said and retrieved spider’s bite from my backpack.

I’d had the shortsword nearly since the beginning of my time in the Game and was sad to part with it. The weapon had served me well, but I’d little use for it now. Laying the sword beside the wand, I looked at Cara in silent question.

She shook her head mutely.

A grimace crossed my face, but I didn’t argue. If Cara said it was not enough, it wasn’t. Taking off the medallion around my neck, I laid it on the table as well. It was the least useful of my gear.

You have lost a medallion of the stygian brotherhood.

Leaning forward, Cara inspected the artifact closely. “Almost there,” she said encouragingly.

Drawing out one of my mana potions from my backpack, I laid it on the table and when she still didn’t say anything, added another.

You have lost 2 x major mana potions.

“It’s enough,” Cara confirmed.

I sighed in relief. The trade was costlier than I expected, but crucially, I’d gotten what I needed. Sweeping up the items, I placed my hand on Cara’s keystone and concluded the exchange.

You have acquired 5 x rank 4 disease protection crystals, 5 x scent protection crystals, and 3 x tier 2 ability tomes.

You have acquired 2 x mental protection crystals. Cost: 100 gold. Each crystal contains a single-use enchantment that hides your consciousness for 8 hours.

You have lost 196 gold, 4 silvers, and 9 coppers. Money remaining in your bank account: 0.

“Well,” I said with a lopsided grin. “That officially makes me a penniless player.”

“But a well-equipped one,” Cara quipped.

I laughed. “That too.” Bidding her farewell, I headed up to my room.

~~~

I reached the tiny chamber I’d been allotted without encountering anyone. Closing the door behind me, I sat down at the wooden desk and began to read.

You have upgraded your trap disarm ability to improved trap disarm, allowing you to deactivate tier 2 traps. You have upgraded your lockpicking ability to superior lockpicking, allowing you to open tier 2 locks. You have 5 of 32 Dexterity ability slots remaining.

You have upgraded your trap detect ability to improved trap detect, increasing your chances of spotting higher tiered traps. You have 3 of 25 Perception ability slots remaining.

The last tome vanished and, closing my eyes, I let the new knowledge seep into my mind. My experience in the haunted catacombs had once again demonstrated the benefits of the thieving skill, especially in dungeons with narrow corridors or locked chambers.

I’d not yet decided which of the four dungeons to tackle once I adjudged myself ready, but in at least two of them—the minotaur maze and the coral palace—I could see myself making extensive use of my thieving abilities.

Laying down on the bed and folding my arms behind my head, I considered the upcoming day. I hoped to complete at least two of my allotted bounties, then take on as many more others as I could reasonably conclude. Doing that would leave me with enough gold to advance my set trap ability and replenish my traps. Then I would take time to train my skills further and perhaps gain a few more levels.

But first I need a good night’s rest.

Tugging free the mental protection crystal from my belt, I considered it for a moment. Hopefully, it performed as advertised. Here goes, I thought and closed my fist around slim shape.

The delicate crystal cracked, releasing the stored enchantment.

You have activated a single-use enchantment, casting a ward of mental protection around yourself. For the next 8 hours, your consciousness will be hidden. Casters without direct line of sight of you will be unable to target you with mind spells.

Perfect, I thought in satisfaction.

Safe in the knowledge that tonight at least, the mantises would not find me, I closed my eyes and let sleep take me.