Chapter 48 — Enchantments
Above his pay grade was how Toren wanted to treat the information from Vim. Lizardmen plotting with a powerful criminal organization wasn’t something he could stop. Vim knew that, and Toren understood what the boy was telling him just fine: don’t be in the wrong place when whatever was being planned reached the action phase.
That wasn’t the only information he got out of the boy. The bounty on him and Warnel was 50 rods each—nowhere near enough to cover Lord Hanoval’s murder fee should the deed doer get caught now that they qualified as steaders.
The other good news was that the [Assassin] hadn’t reported the location of the stead or their identities back to the Conclave before making his attempt. Grabbing the ledger had kept the Hatterwicks unknown, and all they had to go on were the weapons Toren had carried and the presence of an exceedingly beautiful blond-haired mother and daughters trio.
The bad news was more troubling. Vim warned that the murdered [Nightblade]’s enchanted sword was conspicuous enough that wearing it openly might eventually lead to him being tracked back to his stead with enough asking around.
Hells, with Kota’s big mouth, the damage might have already been done. Even so, Toren tied a length of ratty cloth around the sword’s fancy scabbard before leaving Vielle’s. He would’ve stashed the sword in his pack, if not for the enchanted blade still being his best chance to get through a tier-2 threat’s mana-reinforced body.
As for his other weapons, he doubted he was the only [Hunter]-type to carry a metal club and bandolier of knives. Most [Hunters] knew that clubs were good for killing while limiting damage to the pelt, and knives were always useful. The problem was everything he was carrying taken all together.
Unfortunately, with the coming high-tide he had bigger problems to worry about than [Assassins], and the solution to all of them was the same: more levels.
Still, maybe he should give the club to one of the girls to carry. He was already planning to pick up something heftier for himself in light of his new Ability. A brief testing of [Flurry of Blows] before they left the stead had confirmed his earlier suppositions: to make the most use of the Ability, he needed to get himself a big heavy hammer with a long two-handed shaft.
A pole-arm would give longer reach, but hammers counted as a type of club as far as his weapon Skill was concerned—same as maces. Maces with their spikes and flanges were brutal and effective weapons, just less good for getting sellable pelts and meat.
Of course, the larger the weapon’s head, the more metal it would use. Getting something huge and heavy at a decent price was surely going to be expensive…
Toren looked up and found a sign with a bird flopped in mud, wings drooping. The Bouncer-guy’s directions had been spot on.
Having reached the Wallowing Warbler, he ducked through the inn’s doorway. His eyes took a moment to adjust to the interior gloom, but with [Mana Sensing], he was already counting the people inside.
Smells of food and drink made clear the direction to the common room even without using Skills or Abilities. He nodded to the Professioned teen working the inn’s counter and ducked under a support beam to enter the space with crowded long-tables.
No nobles. Families and workers catching lunch, mostly. A few [Hunter] and [Warrior] types. No obvious eyes for the Conclave. He would’ve thought the Conclave would want this place watched, especially during midday when people would be gathering for lunch.
Ah-. The young cultist lurking in a shadowed corner barely noticeable to [Mana Sensing] might be the reason for that.
It didn’t take him long to spot the Hatterwicks nearby, the family’s bowls already empty and Warnel drumming his fingers, annoyed. Toren tipped his hood in discreet appreciation to [Initiate] Nahm in passing. Amusingly, the teen seemed shocked at having been noticed.
“Toren, you smell like pellara oil,” Emina said with a disapproving frown as he took his seat at their table.
Laiya’s hooded face snapped in his direction with an expression that the girl quickly hid, looking away after their eyes briefly met.
“What’s pellara oil?” Falma asked.
“Not something you need to know about,” Emina gently answered.
Warnel gave him hooded eyes. “Thought you were taking care of our credits?”
“I did.” Toren slid over the sack of coins entrusted to him on their behalf. “Afterward, I was invited to share a meal with someone I knew from Greenvale—someone who’s good at getting useful information.”
“What’s this?” Emina asked and worked the drawstrings loose enough to check inside.
“The property owned by the thugs who abducted you was sold by order of the lord. This is yours and Laiya’s share of the sale—as given to me by [Guard] Kale, every chit.”
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Emina’s shoulders slumped slightly while stowing the coins to keep them from wandering eyes. “Toren, I wouldn’t accuse you of taking a cut of the coin, and even if you did, I wouldn’t complain. I just don’t want such things around the girls. I’m sure you can understand that.”
“You might not be accusing him, Emy, but we’re going to need every chit if we’re to ride out this high-tide,” Warnel sharply objected.
“Speaking of the high-tide, how did things go with the [Enchanter]?” Toren redirected. The smell from visiting the brothel—most likely from whatever Madam Vielle was smoking—wasn’t something within his skill or Skills to explain away.
Warnel eyed him at the obvious dodge but relented. “The higher-level zoot cores are apparently useful to make camouflage cloaks that are popular with local [Hunters]. Thanks to that and the quantity of cores we had, we were able to get enchantments done on our armors like you advised in addition to the mana wards for the fruit crates and a few Tier-2-ranked fire, ice, and lightning stones. Emina and Falma got enchanted heartplates added to their arming coats. Laiya and I got protective arrays added to the steel plates inside our brigandine. He’s agreed to have his apprentices do the same for yours, Toren, though it would have been better if you could have gotten back sooner. With the ongoing rush, they might have already taken other work.”
Toren nodded. It wouldn’t be good if he missed out, but there wasn’t anything that could be done about that now. “The tier-2 arrows?”
Warnel shook his head. “Expensive. Best to make sure you can use them before we commit to the purchase.”
“Alright.” Toren turned his attention to Emina. “And the food situation?”
Emina motioned to the full packs on the benches beside them. “Prices were high but I secured enough that we won’t starve in the next 3 tendays even if hunting is poor due to flooding. Housewares and tools were more reasonably priced, and we’ve also secured such sufficient to make our new life more comfortable.”
If Emina was happy with the purchases, he was sure they would be fine on that front. “Good work, Warnel, Emina. If you’re ready to go, let’s collect the wagon and finish up with the [Enchanter] before more trouble decides to find us.”
As they were leaving, two men, features hidden in the shadows of their hoods, entered and paused to let Toren’s group pass. The men’s eyes seemed to count the number of women, maybe trying to work out the features and hair color hidden under hoods pulled deep.
[Danger Sensing] wasn’t warning of any growing or imminent threat. Neither did Toren sense a waiting ambush where Nahm had stealthily positioned himself outside. Priorities decided, he kept himself between the Hatterwicks and the shady-looking men by calmly and casually ushering the family out the door.
Until they were safely away from Farharbor, it was going to be hard to not see potential threats everywhere.
~~~
『Name: Toren of Theravos
Race: Human
Age: 20
Profession 1: Level 5 Burningblood Berserker (4300/10000)
Mana: 72/72
Strength: 16
Constitution: 13
Dexterity: 14
Agility: 12
Wisdom: 12
Intellect: 8
Will Power: 18
Perception 15
Appearance: 8
Charisma: 8
Luck: 10
Attribute Upgrade Points: 4
Traits:
Sacrificial Guardian
Abilities:
Burning Blood (Rank 1) Proficiency: Mid
Control Blood (Rank 1) Proficiency: Low
Flurry of Blows (Rank 1) Proficiency: Low
Ability Upgrade Points: 4
Profession Skills:
Severe Wound Recovery 5
Focus Rage 3
Combat Awareness 3
Berserker Knife Arts 1
Spear 9
Club 8
Pain Tolerance 5
Intimidate 3
Skills:
Danger Sensing 1
Stealth 18
Mana Sensing 14
Wilderness Harvesting 12
Theravos Language 11
Religion 10
Meditation 5
Bone Strengthening 3
Divided Focus 1
Hunting 20
Archery 19
Running 12
Wound Binding 8
Physical Conditioning 5
Arithmetic 4』
