Chapter 17

Krarshe stood atop a hill overlooking the cliffs of the Molduhr Mountains. A bead of sweat tickled the side of his face, the mid-Sirnus heat in full force. His role was simple: wait for the signal, then cause a disruption. Not the most glorious of roles in the party, but one he did exceptionally well. At least his role was clearly defined now, after much trial and error. And, it had the added benefit of having someone to watch everyone's packs, not that it was something Krarshe would consider particularly meaningful despite how tremendously helpful it was.

He could see Tomas and Sverre approach the mouth of the cave from either side, home of their current target. While he wasn't sure where Celine or Lycia were, he assumed they were hidden among the trees near the base of the cliffs. They wouldn't put themselves at risk, given the plan.

A glint from Tomas' piece of shiny metal — "mirror" is what he'd called it — caught his eye. "Guess it's time, then."

Krarshe held up his hand. With a short incantation, a large slab of stone coalesced before him and launched itself into the cliff face. The impact shattered the slab with a boom. Tomas and Sverre braced themselves for the tremor, having learned from a past quest.

And with that, Krarshe's role was over. Now, he'd just watch and provide support.

As the dust settled, the screeching of their objective pierced the air. A cauldron of horsebats spewed from the cave's entrance. From this distance, they didn't seem too impressive, but he'd been told their peculiar name was from the fact that they fed on horses, and it wasn't odd to see them carry one off like a hawk would a mouse.

A flaming wall blazed from the trees, catching a few horsebats and enclosing the rest. Ah, so Lycia's over that way, Krarshe thought.

As the flames died down, he could see a pile of dead bats on the flat outside the cave. Tomas' quick strikes were impressive, even more from a distance. Being able to see every dip and dash clearly gave him even greater understanding. Not that he could replicate it himself.

Sverre, on the other hand, fascinated him more. Despite what he always assumed with swordsmen like the Gaer, it was more intricate than just brute force. He certainly had raw strength, but he paired it with fluid movements, with one sword swing leading to the next. The steel whirlwind was almost enough to make him regret taking the path of magic instead. Almost.

The hunt was over in a minute. Dozens of bats had fled, abandoning their dead that littered the cliff's edge. Both Tomas and Sverre appeared fine as Tomas waved his mirror, signaling everyone to regroup.

With a sigh, Krarshe grabbed everyone's bags and trudged to the meeting spot.

"Oof, that was rough!" Tomas groaned once everyone was back together. His clothes were red with blood. "Daggers, not the best to kill those..."

"I feel I've heard you say that with a lot of things we've fought," Lycia quipped.

"... Look. They have their uses. When they're good, no other weapon can compare. They're just not good in..." He paused. "You get my point."

Sverre laughed. "Is okay. This where greatsword excel. I carry your... burden?"

"'Load' works better," Celine said.

"Carry your load," Sverre corrected.

"Did we do enough to complete the request?" Krarshe asked.

"Think so. We count proofs, then know. Culled enough that they not be problem, I think."

"Good work, everyone!" Celine said with a clap.

"Yeah, well done. That was good teamwork. And this wasn't an easy quest by any means," added Tomas.

"I still feel like my contribution is negligible..."

"Nonsense, Karshe! Without your spell, we'd have had no safe way to drive them out into the open."

Sverre agreed, "Tomas right. Horsebat too dangerous to fight in cave. Is why quest so difficult."

Celine nodded in concurrence.

"And you played a leading role against those stone elementals," Lycia commented.

"Yeah! I've never seen someone blow stone elementals to pieces like that!" Tomas said excitedly.

Celine placed a hand gently on Krarshe's shoulder and smiled. "Teva says we each have a role to play. No matter how big or small, each piece is equally important for success."

"That like Vinoldr, god of-"

"We should find a campsite before it gets too late," Lycia interjected.

"There's a common camp near here. We should see if someone has set up and is willing to let us join the encampment," said Tomas.

"Ugh, I don't like it there," Celine groaned, one of the rare times she expressed her displeasure. Unrelated to Christopher's mischief, at least.

Lycia cocked her head to the side, seemingly equally surprised at Katia's discontentment. "What? Where is it?"

"You'll see. The place feels... strange. I don't know how to say it."

Tomas shook his head. "It's just in your head. It makes for a perfect encampment. Come, let's get going."

They shouldered their packs and followed after Tomas, some more willingly than others.

"What makes this site a great encampment, exactly?" Lycia asked.

"Few monsters. Much safety."

"... Sverre, that doesn't really answer my question."

"It's pretty much just that," Celine said. "Most monsters and beasts don't approach it. No one's sure why though."

"It's pretty typical to have other travellers camp there, so there'll most likely be a fire already started," Tomas called back from ahead of them.

"Information exchange good too. Meet many friend at camp," said Sverre.

"I guess that makes sense..."

The party travelled across the rolling hills at the edge of the Molduhr Mountains, the sun quickly descending to the horizon. Just as the sky was turning to an orange-red, Krarshe noticed something in the distance. It was like a black sliver piercing the skin of the landscape with barren terrain around it, devoid of any trees or stones.

"What's that?"

With a smirk, Tomas said, "That, my dear Karshe, is our destination."

A moment later, a fire ignited. The encampment was clear as day but he somehow hadn't noticed it, distracted by the lone black monument.

As they approached the camp, the magnitude of this black aberration became obvious. The massive, smooth black stone must have been carved, given the uniformity of the sides and intentional edges and corners it formed. How, though, was the question. It appeared to be a single slab and must have been twice as tall as the walls of Remonnet, and wider than its turrets.

Once they got closer, he could see the stone was, in fact, not smooth, but had scratches across its surface. They were faded with time and weather, but they were visible nonetheless. Like deliberate scrawling. As he focused on the pillar, it seemed to pull him in, wanting to inspect it further. But, the greater part of him was screaming.

Telling him to flee.

"Shiri-ano!" Tomas hailed the people tending the fire with an outstretched hand.

Krarshe's ears perked up as the word pulled him back to his senses.

One of the people, a dwarf, mirrored the gesture. "Shiri-ano!"

"We were wondering if we could share your fire?"

"'Course! How many are yeh?" If Krarshe hadn't been looking directly at the dwarf, he wouldn't have been able to tell he was the one talking. The thick beard barely moved, and there was no evidence of a mouth under it aside from the words being spoken. His eyebrow braids hung low, practically dragging through the dirt. How he didn't trip over them was anyone's guess.

While Tomas negotiated their stay, Krarshe messaged Lycia, "What was that they said?"

"I have no idea, though I've heard my mother say it a few times. Back when we would travel."

"Of course we can help with the night watch. And we have provisions to share, if you're willing to share yours as well," Tomas said, still negotiating.

"Then, by the Mother, we'll have yeh!" said the dwarf, offering a stubby, burly hand.

"Excellent! My name's Tomas," he said, clasping the dwarf's outstretched hand.

What followed was your typical introductions. Per usual, they all got confused by Krarshe's name, but he just accepted it while pondering if he should adopt an alias. While he was afraid at first of joining another's camp, his worries quickly abated as the dwarf's party proceeded to drink on the far side of the fire, and his party had their own gathering. What was even the point of introductions? he wondered.

Once settled and tents assembled, next came cooking duty. Tomas' efforts to get Krarshe to take a turn in cooking, which he was happy to do, were immediately thwarted by Lycia. Her repeated insistence, citing how catastrophically bad it was, and Tomas' assurance that it couldn't be that bad lasted longer than setting up camp did. In the end, they agreed to let Krarshe cook Tomas' meal alone while the rest ate Sverre's.

After one look at Krarshe's charred "food", Tomas, too, partook of Sverre's simple meal. Krarshe was fairly certain that he'd never be asked to cook for them again.

After they'd had their leisurely meal, Tomas said, "If you girls want, we can take care of the night watch."

"You don't have to handle it alone. We'll help," Celine said.

"No, no. Let us handle this. Three is more than enough to rotate through the night."

Celine and Lycia looked at each other. "Well, if you insist. Guess we'll just have our own, private girls' talk, hmm?"

Tomas laughed. "Perfect. We'll have our mens' talk then!"

Celine giggled. "Sure... Or more likely, Sverre will regale you with stories about the gods."

"Oh! Have many story!"

"Celine!"

With a mischievous smile and wave, she guided Lycia into the so-designated womens' tent.

Sverre kept rambling on for a minute as Tomas covered his face in anguish. This must be some kind of ritual for them, Krarshe thought.

But, suddenly, Tomas lifted his head and looked at the tent. "Okay, I think we're in the clear."

Sverre stopped talking and leaned back. "Ha! Let men talk begin," he said quietly.

"Wait, you were serious?" Krarshe was more confused than usual.

"Didn't believe me?"

"..."

"So, tell me the truth, Karshe," Tomas said in hushed tones. "What's really going on with you and Lycia?"

"Huh?!"

"You can't hide it from us. We know there's something going on there. Right, Sverre?"

Sverre gave a single, confident nod.

Krarshe could feel his face warm with embarrassment. "N-no, I don't know what you're talking about, but we're just f-fellow pupils." He took a sip from his water pouch, more driven by awkwardness than thirst.

"No?" Sverre asked, raising an eyebrow. "Must be catfolk girl then."

The water from Krarshe's mouth sprayed all over the fire as he choked and coughed.

"Is right then?" Sverre's smirk, evidenced by the slight rise of his mustache, just annoyed Krarshe as he continued to cough.

"You might be onto something, Sverre."

"You're *cough* both wrong," Krarshe croaked through his coughing fit.

"Sure? Seem very intimate."

Krarshe could only manage a nod.

"Must be Ari then!" Tomas said, as though he ascertained the truth.

Krarshe took another gulp of water which seemed to settle his cough. "Ari and I are friends. Just friends. Why are you two pushing this so much?" he asked, annoyed.

Sverre and Tomas laughed. "We're just having fun with you."

"More like at my expense..."

"Same thing."

"It really isn't..."

"Good fun, Krarshe. Mean no harm."

"In all seriousness, though. It's so obvious you two are interested in each other, beyond just 'fellow pupils'."

Krarshe's heart felt as though it had leapt into his throat. Tomas' words made him both embarrassed and elated.

"Mmm. Yes. Quite undeniable," Sverre agreed.

Krarshe was hesitant but forced himself to ask, "A-are you... sure?"

"No question!" Tomas said. Perhaps too loudly, as he quickly checked over his shoulder at the tent. "Honestly, I'd recognize those glances she gives you anywhere. It's just like Celine used to give me."

"Not as unambiguous as catfolk girl, but certain still," Sverre added.

"I'm not with you on the waitress," Tomas said. "Catfolk always get affectionate with people they're close with."

"And close lead to what?" Sverre laughed.

"Are... you sure? About Lycia..." Krarshe asked bashfully.

"Oh? Is someone interested in her feelings?" Tomas teased. After his self-satisfied grin softened, he continued, "Absolutely. Again, just like Celine years ago. Though, she used to get angry and hit me. But it was when I flirted with other girls that I got the worst of it."

"So same as now?" Sverre asked.

"Oh, it's worse now. She used to pout more after hitting me back then. Now, I just get subjected to her tirade. Ah, those were the days..." He looked off wistfully for a moment. "But yeah, those glances all the time are obvious clues. I never noticed her glances early on, but watching as an outside observer, it's clear as a cloudless day. Don't you worry, I'll find a way to get you two some alone time."

"Then... If you were so oblivious... how'd you wind up pairing with her?" Krarshe asked. More for his own interest than curiosity.

"Pairing?"

"Umm... Get together in a... relationship?" Terminology like this was still not something Krarshe was familiar with, aside from a few conversations he'd overheard over the past few years.

"Oh. I figured that's what you meant. Umm... Well, actually, she courted me..."

"That so?" Sverre said.

"Like I said, I wasn't aware of her feelings for me at the time. I was... a bit oblivious to her. We'd always been friends. But as she was getting ready to leave to train as a cleric, she confessed how she felt. Honestly, I was caught off guard, but filled with the greatest joy I've ever experienced..." He paused. "I... can't even find the words to express it. But, despite me having considered her 'just a friend' for so long, it felt so right. Does... does that make sense?"

Krarshe stared at him blankly. Sverre just nodded knowingly.

"Umm... Yeah... That's... how it happened, I guess. Though we... We weren't official until after her return. I wasn't... really sure if she still felt the same way after years in training... Finally got over my nervousness after some time adventuring... Hmm... I don't like being the center of attention on this topic..."

"So, when children?" Sverre asked with a mighty laugh.

"Ah- I- Umm..."

"Want children, yes?"

"Yeah, you two seemed to really enjoy playing with the children in the village," Krarshe added.

"I... mean... yeah... eventually..."

"Good! Good! Children great."

"I agree. Where I'm from, children are like a blessing. To the whole clan, not just the parents. Everyone ends up helping raise them, such is the blessing they are," Krarshe said.

"Hmm. Not guess elfs view children so high. In Gaer village, children way to pass lessons. Knowledge. Honor elder by continue lineage."

"Like swordsmanship?"

"Yes, Krarshe, but more. History, farming, many gods."

"I don't think we have such grand views on children here, really..." Tomas said. "I just... like the idea of having a child with the one I love. That's it."

Krarshe thought for a moment. "Y-yeah... I think that'd be wonderful too..." Krarshe could feel himself getting flustered by the fantasy in his mind.

"And which girl got you blushing like that, Karshe?" Tomas laughed.

To Krarshe's joy, Sverre saved him with a question. "You wed Celine?"

Tomas shrunk back again now that the focus was on him. "I mean... I'd... like to..."

"What's that?" Krarshe asked.

"What's what?"

"To 'wed'?"

Tomas gave him a confused look.

"'Wed' mean 'to marry'," Sverre explained.

There's that marriage thing again. "O-oh. Y-yeah. Of course. I knew that." He laughed stiffly.

"So, how ask marriage?"

"... I'm not sure yet... I want to do something special for her. Not just casually propose it. Especially since I've never gotten to match the way she confessed..." Tomas sat contemplatively. "Any ideas?"

With him looking at Krarshe first, Krarshe felt compelled to answer first. "N-not really. My- my people don't really conduct this 'marriage', so I don't even understand what you mean. We just kind of find partners we love..."

Tomas' eyes narrowed. Krarshe thought he was upset until he said, "You know, Karshe, your homeland is... odd."

Krarshe wasn't sure how to respond. Luck would find that it was unnecessary, as Tomas quickly turned to Sverre.

"Gaer men oft present ring of metal or jewel to woman."

"A ring?"

"Mmm. Pretty, like her. But not get in way in fight and not used against them. Necklace used to choke, catch on thing. Very dangerous."

"Hmm... That could be good. I think I've seen some Kaelians with similar rings."

"Ha! They take from Gaer tradition. Plus, our ring, more beautiful."

As Tomas thought on it, he nodded more and more. "I like it!" he said finally. "I'll get her a ring then. Just need to find a time to do it without her noticing."

"Maybe when tend to affairs in city," Sverre said.

"Hmm... Maybe. So, about the ring itself..."

The two continued to discuss the particulars of the plan, with Krarshe just listening quietly. He could feel his eyelids getting heavier, but with it the oppressive atmosphere around the black obelisk became more and more pronounced. He envied how unaffected everyone else seemed to be.

In the end, he volunteered for first watch. How he wished to slip off to dreams of the earlier conversations and of Lycia, but it was to no avail. Instead, a long, sleepless night awaited him.

* * *

The guild in Remonnet was busier than usual when they'd returned. Electing to send Sverre to the counter to turn in the multitude of bat proofs, the rest of the party sat idly at the table they'd practically fought to claim. Krarshe wished he'd gone with Sverre though after the quick wink from Tomas and subsequent, open flirting he did with Celine had commenced. Sitting side by side with Lycia, this romantic display before him made him shift uncomfortably. Lycia appeared to feel the same, as her eyes darted around the room everywhere except for the couple in front of her.

With a clink, a satchel of coins fell onto the table and a handful of silver roses spilled from it.

"Two-hundred and eighty-three silver," Sverre said, sitting down at the table.

"That's it?" asked Tomas, finally bringing his flirting to an end.

"Fewer proof than asked. They plan new request to scout if sufficient culling."

Tomas rested his face in his hands with a sigh.

"This'll be enough," Lycia said. "I wasn't looking for a holiday from adventuring anyway. This IS my training, after all."

"Same," Krarshe quickly agreed. He wasn't sure what possessed him to respond that way, just felt he didn't want Lycia to stand alone with that opinion.

"I was hoping for a little rest..." Tomas muttered sheepishly, pouting with his arms crossed.

"Look at shiny side! Teamwork good now. We find better quest."

Tomas sighed again. "Well, guess I'll slip over to the request board then. I'll see what high paying ones there are for our party's experience level."

"Don't just pick one on your own!" Celine called to him as he glided through the crowd. "Teva's mercy, I hope he listens this time."

"It be fine," Sverre said, counting out the quest reward on the table. "Fifty-six, Krarshe." He slid a few stacks of silver coins to Krarshe.

Krarshe watched as Sverre quickly counted and stacked the coins. The speed and deftness he exhibited caught him off guard, especially for such a hulking man. Whatever that stacking or counting technique he was using, Krarshe wanted to learn it.

Tomas returned with three sheets of parchment as Sverre slid the final stack of coins to Tomas' vacant spot. "Okay, this is what I found."

"Marsh slugs? Ugh!" Katia's face contorted in disgust. "In no way am I doing this request."

"What's a marsh slug?" Lycia asked.

"In a word? Gross."

"They're slugs about the size of this table that lay submerged in the mud of some marshes to the north," Tomas explained, slipping his share of the quest rewards into the coin purse on his belt. "Well, they might be elsewhere, but this quest is for near the Talyran border. You find them by poking around in the mud."

"And they eject this foul-smelling muck all over you! And you can't get the smell out for a whole cycle!" Celine shouted hysterically.

"Eww."

"Exactly! We're not taking this quest!"

"Ladies have spoken," Sverre said, sliding the parchment aside.

"Curses. I was hoping we could get an easy payout for that one," Tomas said.

"Is the pay that good?" Krarshe asked. He looked at the parchment and his eyes grew wide. "Eight hundred silver roses?!"

"Because no one wants to fight those disgusting things!"

"Okay, okay, calm down, Celine. We won't do that one," said Tomas, rubbing her shoulders.

"What else did you find?" Lycia asked, pulling the next parchment over. "Oh, gryphons? This might not be too bad."

"No," Sverre said flatly.

"... Why not?"

Tomas took a deep breath. "I figured you'd say that." He took the parchment from Lycia and put it on top of the marsh slugs request. "Gryphon nests are in the mountainous region around Dher Molduhr. Usually on precarious ledges. I figured it'd be a stretch to do this one, but Sverre's right, it's probably too dangerous at this point."

"High places. Bad."

"... And Sverre is afraid of heights."

"Only height where high. Die if fall," Sverre said, glaring at Tomas.

"Well... What's the last one then?" Lycia asked.

"That one's a little different. More of an investigation than combat," said Tomas.

Lycia's eyes scanned the page. As she did, her expression soured and brow furrowed.

"What is it?" Krarshe asked. He leaned over and read. He understood her change in mood the moment he read it: missing people.

"Should I take that as a no as well?" Tomas asked.

"Huh?"

"You're both making the same face. I figured that one would be easier."

Krarshe hadn't even realized how his face had contorted. "Oh. Umm... It's just..."

"We had... a bit of trouble... With a similar quest, I mean," Lycia explained.

"Is that a no then?"

Lycia and Krarshe exchanged looks. "It's probably not a necromancer again, right?"

"I doubt it," Krarshe answered. Or hope, at least, he thought.

"I guess we could... Part of me thinks it might involve illegal slavers," Lycia said.

"Why's that?" Celine asked.

"Just an incident we had not too long before meeting you all." She gnawed on her thumbnail. "It kind of bothers me to think it could be people like that."

"All the more reason to tackle this request then!" Tomas said excitedly.

"You just like the reward..." Celine said, giving him a sideways look.

Tomas laughed. "Well, anyone opposed?"

The table sat quiet.

"Great! We'll set out first thing tomorrow then!"

"Now, food!" Sverre said as he stood from the table.

"Onward, to The Easy Lute!" Tomas said, following Sverre's example.

As the two marched off, arm in arm, Celine shook her head and sighed. "Shall we?"

Krarshe and Lycia got up from the table.

"Oh, let me register our quest and return these to the counter," Krarshe said as he grabbed the quest parchments. "You two head on over there."

He quickly made his way to the reception counter.

"I wanted to return these and register this one," Krarshe said, waving the sheets around.

"Very well. Did you find a request suitable for you?" the receptionist said with a smile as she took the two requests they abstained from.

Krarshe slid the missing persons quest across the counter.

Her friendly smile turned dour. "Oh... That one."

"Something wrong with this one?"

She shook her head. "It's a valid request. Just... We've had similar ones recently. A lot, in fact. And they all come up... lacking."

Krarshe cocked his head. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, it's nothing." She took a breath, returning to her usual smile. "I have faith in your party to ACTUALLY solve it. Nonetheless... I wish you and your party luck."

Krarshe paused for a moment, considering what she'd said to this point. "R-right... Thank you."

As he left the guild hall, he took one look back. The receptionist was still focused on him, smiling. An empty, emotionless smile.

He wondered if, perhaps, they'd become entangled in an unsolvable investigation.