Hump and Celaine went their separate ways after they left, Vivienne returning to report to Countess Daston with the others. He was glad she hadn’t asked them to come too. They’d hardly returned from their travels, and he wanted some time to do nothing. When they returned to the inn, Bud and Dylan were already there.

“How did it go?” Bud asked.

Hump took a seat at the table, and Dylan called out for two more drinks. He caught them up on the scene, briefly going over some of the more grisly details.

“I’m not sure we were much help,” Hump said. “But I recorded the spell formation, which looked surprisingly similar to Kassius’.”

“Oh? You think they’re related?”

“Vivienne does. She’s going to tell Countess Daston.”

“She seems to have become very involved with her since we left,” Dylan said.

“Seems that way,” Hump said. “She and that Graham fellow are trying to create an artifact that can identify warlocks more efficiently. I’m guessing her research at Fishers Lake was quite significant. With any luck, it might not come back to bite me.”

“Someone is going to look into you eventually at this rate,” Celaine said. “It would be best if it was her.”

“I suppose so.” Hump sighed. “How about you both? Did it go alright at the Adventurers’ Guild?”

“Sure did! We’re Iron 4 now, and we were rewarded four gold each for our efforts. Turns out the Merchants’ Guild were the ones who put in the request for the bandits. They paid well.”

“Not bad for a month’s work!” Hump said.

“And a lot better than dungeon diving,” Celaine added.

Bud smiled. “Indeed.”

“We were told to report to our expedition leader this week,” Dylan said. “We’ll likely have a week to rest before getting our next assignment.”

“I’d be happy to go tomorrow,” Bud said. “I’ll be in the Upper City at some point anyway. I’d like to meet with my cousin and fellow knights.”

Hump grinned. “And what of your fiancée. We’ll have to pay her a visit too.”

Bud glared at him. “Just because she’s here doesn’t mean anything has changed. I’m not ready to get married. In fact, I’m less ready than ever. I’ve found my path, and I’m not ready to stray from it yet.”

“You should at least tell her,” Celaine said. “No matter what, hiding from her isn’t right.”

Bud sighed. “I know. I’ll speak with my cousin about where she is staying.”

“We’ll come with you,” Hump said. “I’d like to meet these knights.”

Bud narrowed his eyes. “You’re not going to try anything, are you?”

Hump snorted. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. Sell me back to my father or something.”

Hump laughed, he couldn’t help it. “Believe me, Bud. Few things make you money like having a bunch of Chosen for party members. Your father would have to pay a lot to buy you off me.”

Bud’s pressed his lips together. “Great. Well at least my price is high.”

They’d finished dinner before Vivienne returned. The first thing she did was congratulate Dylan on reaching his next circle and talking over the next blessing. Like the rest of them, she thought the supportive nature suited his personality and the need of the party well.

They spent what remained of the evening catching her up on how their quest chain went and learning more of developments in the city since they were gone. Things were… complicated. Many powerful people had shown up and were still fighting for their place in the hierarchy. For the most part, Countess Daston was uncontested there, but many had allied with the Ferrands, and Duke Malar had sent one of his generals to oversee the defence.

“Hump, may I speak with you privately for a moment?” Vivienne asked as they were finishing for the night.

Hump glanced instinctively to his party members who didn’t seem to think twice about it, before sitting back down at the table with her. “Sure.”

Once the others were gone, she said, “You look tired.”

Hump shrugged. “I am tired. It’s been a tough trip.”

“Oh, don’t give me that. You look exhausted. Be honest, have the nightmares returned?”

Hump swallowed. She’d hit the nail on the head. He nodded.

“Since when?” she asked.

“The bandit attack. I think… the wizard—the warlock hit us with some sort of soul attack. It wasn’t very powerful, but afterwards I heard Lucile’s voice. The nightmares came that night.”

Vivienne sighed and sat back in her chair. “You must be worried.”

“A little. I think it might have just been the situation though. The adrenaline, the danger—it’s normal to be affected, isn’t it?”

“Very normal, and it comes as no surprise to me either. You went through something traumatic, and your recovery will take the form of many steps. But you will recover.”

“With any luck.” Hump smiled, trying to look less concerned than he felt.

From the worry on Vivienne’s face, it didn’t seem to have worked. “What did she say to you?”

Hump shrugged. “She told me the bandits deserved to die. She pushed me to punish them, and I did. I let loose a wave of fire and didn’t even pause when they screamed. I didn’t even question what I’d done.”

“From the sounds of it, they got what they deserved.”

“Maybe they did, but I can’t help but feel something was off. I shouldn’t be able to send people to agonising deaths without a shred of remorse. It’s wrong.”

“Have you discussed it with the others?”

Hump shook his head. “What’s the point? It’ll pass like it did last time. If it doesn’t, they’ll figure it out when I start losing my mind.”

“It won’t get to that stage, Hump. You’ll beat this. I saw your face when we entered that house today—you turned almost as pale as Marcela. You still care. You’re still you.”

Hump had to admit, hearing the words made him surge with relief, but he knew what they were. Empty, hope-filled words. People only hope when they don’t know the outcome. When they needed something other than logic to keep them going. The truth of it was, he was either struggling with trauma, or a fragment of the gorger truly had rubbed off on him, and the warlock’s attack had set it loose.

“Maybe,” he said. “I just can’t help but worry that this was set off by a relatively weak soul attack. What would happen if I faced something stronger?”

“Then you have more to be concerned about than the state of your own soul,” she said. “Keep yourself alive. We’ll figure the rest of it out, whatever the case. People have recovered from soul damage far beyond anything that has happened to you.”

“And what if I don’t get the chance? You and that Graham fellow are already working on ways to find warlocks. It’s only a matter of time before Abraxus decides to investigate me anyway, even just based on our connection.”

“At least for now, Abraxus hasn’t pushed my investigation now that I have Justine’s support. There will still be a tribunal, but it will only be on our findings at Fishers Lake. They’ll have no reason to question you.”

Hump ran a hand through his hair, anxiety building. “Unless they find out I’m Sethril’s apprentice.”

“It will likely happen, though with the recent attacks I expect it’s fallen down the list of priorities. When it does, you’ve got Countess Daston’s protection. Bringing back that artifact was good, Hump. Very good. When I spoke with her earlier, she was impressed with you all.”

“We got lucky,” Hump said. “Anyone could have found it.”

“That luck has tipped the scales a little more in her favour. I wasn’t exaggerating when I said the political climate is difficult to navigate. There are many powerful people in Sheercliff now, it’s just a matter of time before one of them decides they want to be in control.”

***

Hump slept in for the first time in a while, undisturbed by nightmares. They had an easy breakfast before heading to the Upper City. Bud had received word back from his cousin and they had arranged to meet for lunch. Before that though, they were going to find out what their next assignment would be.

The academy grounds were still busy, with only the oldest students granted permission to start adventuring. The training grounds were full as they entered the yard, students facing down constructs as teams, or sparring with each other. On a smaller field behind the artificery, Hump spotted a group testing out artifacts, presumably ones they had made themselves. They didn’t draw much attention entering the campus. The academy was a pride point of Sheercliff, second only to the Elenvine Academy in the capital. Visits must have been common, especially with arrivals from all over the kingdom.

The second floor of the main building had been set aside for expedition matters, which is where they found Natalie, Ricard’s second in command. Vivienne had mentioned her briefly yesterday. The woman was well known in Sheercliff due to being a fourth circle Chosen of Vesta, the god of Travel and Language. A position very few could claim. Vesta’s blessing was one of the rarest and most prized to receive, granting her Chosen the ability to communicate and create portals across long distances.

Bud introduced them and Natalie smiled. She had an office in what looked to have previously been a classroom.

“Oh, Ricard mentioned the four of you,” she said. She lacked the posh accent of the others Hump had spoken with in the Upper City. “The Countess’ Hopeful, he called you. We received word from the Adventurers’ Guild that your quests were successful. I trust you were compensated appropriately.”

“Very well, thank you,” Bud said.

She found a folder from a cabinet behind her and scrolled through it until she found a page. “Not well enough from the looks of it. All the bandit quests we assigned have been upped at least a grade.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Warlocks pillaging villages. It’s unbelievable. Your promotion is much deserved. I’ll likely be assigning you to a dungeon in the coming weeks. I’ll provide you the official request in a few days, but for your rank, you’ll be patrolling the outer regions for monsters. Nothing too dangerous I assure you.”

It was an interesting job at least. Plenty of monsters for them to fight, and with any luck, no more people. Hunting rogue monsters was something Hump knew they would do well at too. Few parties were fortunate enough to have both a Chosen druid and huntress to guide them.

They took their time heading to the agreed meeting place. Bud showed them some of the sights of the Upper City, familiar with them from four years prior. The Tower of Osidium, built atop his shrine and sealed against entry, overlooking the city below. The many statues of the gods and ancient warriors. It was a city of history, with plenty of old stone things to kill some time on.

They parted with Dylan before going to lunch, he and Vivienne having their own plans. When the hour for lunch finally arrived, they went to a restaurant with a view of the rear side of the cliff, out toward the plains beyond the city. They arrived first, taking a seat while they waited.

“You look nervous,” Hump said to Bud. The knight was twiddling his thumbs as he sat there, glancing at everyone that moved nearby. For once, Hump wasn’t feeling too out of place. His battle robes were well made, his cloak fine—he looked like a reasonably successful adventurer.

“I am nervous,” he said. “I’ve not seen my family for months. I’ve no idea what to expect.”

“Just don’t let them poach you,” Hump said.

Bud smiled. “No need to worry on that front.”

It wasn’t long until a voice boomed in the doorway to the garden.

“Robert!” The man took Bud’s shoulders in his hands and beamed at him.

He was almost as tall as Bud, but a few years older, somewhere in his mid-twenties. Behind him, five more joined them, greeting Bud fondly. A woman stood off to the side, appearing awkward as she watched. She was quite tall, and wore a rapier and buckler on her belt, though despite her weapons he could tell she didn’t fit in with the Blackthorne lot.

“It’s good to see you, Arthur.” Bud said beaming. “It’s good to see all of you. Too much time has passed. Let me introduce you to my companions.”

“Ah! Before that, there’s someone you should meet.” Arthur turned and gestured to the woman. “This, dear cousin, is Emilia. She is your fiancée.”

Bud stared. They all stared. The knight struck dumb and not reacting.

It was Emilia that broke the painful silence. “You promised you would not do this, Arthur.” She turned her cold gaze to Bud. “It is nice to finally meet you, Robert. It seems you are not the only Blackthorne that cannot keep their word.”