P2: Chapter Eleven

Ragnar

Ragnar paused at the crown of the hill, before heading down to the entrance of Camp Out. It looked as it had in the past, a door propped on a rocky hillside. As he walked toward that door he basked in the satisfaction of having completed both his bounties. He was a few steps from his destination when the door open,and aSTARTe came out. “Ragnar!” She cried when she saw him.

“Hi aSTARTe, how goes it?” Ragnar returned her greeting.

She smiled broadly, “It’s good to see you.”

She walked up to him and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back. Her hair moved, twisting, over her body reminded him that it was the only thing between him and her body. He stepped back before things could become awkward. “It’s good to see you too.” Then remembering that she was exting Camp Out when he had walked up he added, “Are you leaving?”

“Yes,” she looked down sadly. Suddenly she stepped in and hugged him again. Ragnar closed his arms around her. After a long moment she reached up and touched his cheek with a perfectly manicured fingernail, eyes flashing she said. “I have a bounty to go track down. Don’t worry, I don’t think it will take long.” Using her finger, she pulled his face down to hers. She kissed him. After she slipped out of his arms, tossed her head then walked away.

Ragnar stood still as if stunned. aSTARTe turned and yelled over her shoulder. “Word to the wise, careful in there, it’s getting tense.”

This shocked Ragnar out of his revery, “Wait, what do you mean?” But she was gone, he looked at the spot where she had disappeared for a long time. When it was clear that there would be no answers coming, he thought there was only one way to find out.

“I don’t need your protection! In fact, fine, have the whole place, I don’t want this!” Ragnar heard clearly through the closed door. Thinking that he should get in there to break up a fight, he almost collided with LizZard in the doorway. LizZard, looking as angry as a gecko can, firmly grabbed Ragnar’s arm. “You seem nice, but those two are snakes. Be careful, They are evil. Get out while you can.” Then turning his head, he shouted back into the room, “if we meet again it will be as enemies!” With that parting shot he patted Ragnar on the shoulder, licked his eye, pulled his hood up and turned to walk off.

“Where are you going to go?” Ragnar called after him.

LizZard turned and looked back over his shoulder, “I’m going to find a clan.” He said sadly then walked off sticking to the valley instead of going to the road.

Ragnar watched for a moment then walked through the open doorway into Camp Out not sure what he would find. The room was silent, and still. MoProbs, the only possible target for LizZard’s anger, sat at a table looking at Ragnar. “What was that all about?” Ragnar asked as he moved to a chair at MoProb’s table. Shocked because LizZard has always seemed so relaxed, chill.

MoProbs rubbed his forehead then sighed, “a difference of opinion, that’s all really.”

Ragnar sat down, “That didn’t sound like just a simple differing of opinions.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” MoProbs laughed then shrugged. “I wanted to expand our office space. I offered to pay for it. But I guess I insulted his delicate sensibilities, I don’t know.”

“What was that about protection?” Ragnar asked.

“Nothing!” MoProbs’ voice went high, he took a breath and continued in a more normal voice. “I only said that with a greater presence, The Band of the Golden Hand would be in a good position to protect Camp Out, that set him off. Never mind, I’ll talk with him, I’m sure we can work it out. Let’s move on, how did you do?”

Ragnar knew that there was more to this story. The kiss, the fight, and the warning all added up to something. But what? This was not the time to try and figure it out. “It went well, I got them both.”

“Nicely done! You’re building up quite a name for yourself aren’t you?”

“Wait, what do you mean?”

“You don’t know? No, you really don’t. Your name is ringing out, you are becoming the symbol against Tokening. That’s what we, LizZard and I, were talking about before he blew his stack.”

“You were talking about me?”

“Sort of, more about you reputation, or how we could profit from it. LizZard was very against that idea.”

“I guess so. I’m not so sure I like it either.”

“You don’t have a choice, my friend.”

“What do you mean? What did you do?”

MoProbs laughed, “It’s all you, my friend, I haven’t needed to do anything. They say that the statue of your fight against gNun45 has gotten so many likes it’s over twenty feet tall! Twenty feet! You’re a household name, do you get that. So yeah, I don’t see why we, you, shouldn’t take advantage of it. You shouldn't even think about like that. It’s not taking advantage, it’s just using the tools that are presented.”

“To make money.”

MoProbs shrugged, “Why not?”

“I have to think about all of this.” Ragnar’s head was spinning. “Are there any bounties that need hunting? Ideally one in the area of Ral’ya, I have to work a shift in the bank over there.”

MoProbs broke into a large grin. “It just so happens we do. It’s a special one, the principle who commissioned the bounty said he would pay double gold if you are the hunter who collects the bounty.”

“Why me?”

“I have no idea. He is willing to pay us more, I didn’t question it.”   

“Okay. I guess I’ll take it. You’re sure it’s near Ral’ya?”

“Yes, I’m sure. There is another in Rifka, if you want to swing through either on your way there or coming back.”

“Sure, that’s would be fine. I haven’t been there yet, do you have it on your map?”

“That’s fantastic. Yes I do, It’s here, between Sorka  and Ral’ya. Go ahead and load my map on to yours. I’ll add the information on your two bounties.” MoProbs unrolled his map worked quickly to highlight the two bounties.

Ragnar pulled hut and touched it to MoProbs’. “Thanks. I should actually be on my way,I have to go to the bank, and I think I need to find an alternate route around Sorka.”

“Why? Traffic?”

Ragnar laughed, “No, that place is like the wild west, I don’t have time to fight my way through the town.”

“Well I guess you better get a move on then. Do you have time for a quick glass of TZ?” MoProbs asked already filling two glasses from a pitcher on his table.

“Sure, should make the walk more interesting,” Ragnar accepted the offered glass.

“More cerebral for sure.” MoProbs mused.

“Cheers!” They touched glasses, and drank.

Returning his glass to the table Ragnar left the tavern. Outside he was quickly past the tense anger of CampOut. The air was fresh and sweet, warmed by the sun. He breathed deep into his stomach, let it out slowly feeling his legs working like pistons. In one slice of his mind was completely in those legs, moving with each bone, tendon, and muscle. The rest of his mind had moved on, a passenger in this machine. While another slice of mind contemplated these dueling consciousnesses, or is is it consiousi?

The rest of his mind was caught up in analyzing what had just happened. Trying to understand what it all meant. What was the fight really about? Was MoProbs telling the truth? Why would he lie? What about LizZard’s warning? If MoProbs lied, maybe he was a snake. What about aSTARTe? What about the kiss?

What about the kiss? As much as he tried to keep his mind focused on the fight and the warning, Ragnar couldn’t help returning to the kiss. What did it mean? Why did she do it? What was her relationship with MoProbs? What did that matter?

“Ragnar!”

Hearing his name pulled him from his revery. Looking around he found he had stumbled into the outskirts of Sorka. Ragnar cursed himself under his breath, he had wanted to find a way around the town.That wasn’t going to happen now, now he would have to fight.

“Ragnar’s here!”   

Hearing his name for the second time stopped his hand from going to his weapon. Sorka differed from the Norka and Orup, both socially and in layout. While the other towns were built around large social halls resulting in many principles in small areas. Sorka in contrast seemed to have a tiny lean-to for every principle. There was no discernible street, no pattern or method that Ragnar could see. As he took in the mass of people coming towards, it represented an unknown number of principles from and unknown expanse of land. At this moment it looked as if every lean-to had emptied and all the principles were walking towards him calling his name. The crowd drew closer.

Ragnar took a breath to calm his nerves. The TZ had set him on edge, maybe even clouded his vision. After a second deep breath he could see it was not a horde that approached merely a large handful. What he saw when he looked past the principles, caused him to take a third deep breath.

P2: Chapter Ten

KnightShade

KnightShade followed the principle more with his ear then his eyes. It was making no effort to hide as it ran through the woods. As had been his custom since entering AntruA, KnightShade was hiding in the upper branches of a tree. The sound of the running principle had sparked his curiosity.

As it came into view, KnightShade saw that it was female and she seemed to be fleeing as opposed to just out for a run in the woods. Her hair, flying out behind her as she ran caught on her face as she turned her head to look behind. She reached up to pull the hair from her face still running full speed. These few moments of distraction were enough and she clipped a tree trunk with her shoulder. The blow sent her spinning to the ground with a cry of pain.

She struggled to her feet, her armor clattering, as the reason for her flight walked into KnightShade's view. A man and a woman stepped out of the woods. The woman was dressed in tight black body suit, the man was a thin gold skinned elf holding a sword. As they drew closer to the fallen woman, the elf’s sword began to burn.

The women struggled to turn over and face her pursuers. She was blond and curvy, with legs so long she struggled to get them under herself to rise. KnightShade almost scoffed out loud when he saw her name.

Barbie

Level 3

Wallet-5Au

Using a tree to reach her feet she spoke tremulously, “What do you want? Why are you chasing me. I don’t even know you!”

“You’re right you don’t know us.” The golden skinned elf spoke, “My associate,” he gestured to the woman standing next to him, “and I were hired to hunt you down..and kill you.” He shrugged as his sword flared up, “We’ve accomplished the first part.”

KnightShade in the tree above could see Barbie shaking in how she held her sword before her. “Wait! Hired? Someone hired you to kill Me? Who? Nobody knows me, I don’t know anyone. Who wants me dead?” There was a bit of hysteria in her voice as she finished speaking.

“We’re hunters with The Band of the Golden hand, we are executing a bounty taken out by one KnotKen.” As he spoke the elf, who KnightShade saw was called MoProbs, raised his hand and the woman, whose name was aSTARTe, dropped into a fighting stance. Barbie’s face drained of blood.

“Ken? No way. I mean, I guess…” From the way her sword now pointed limply to the ground KnightShade knew Barbie was defeated. Without her help he didn’t think he could take both bounty hunters. But maybe there was still a chance she would rise up if he attacked.

As soon as MoProbs’ arm dropped, this stopped being a possibility. As the arm came down aSTARTe’s arm snapped forward whipping a black lash around Barbie’s neck. Barbie dropped her sword bringing her hands up to her throat. Then aSTARTe’s arm whipped back pulling Barbie to her knees and elbows who hands were still frantically trying to free her neck from the cruel lash.

“I’ll make this quick.” KnightShade heard aSTARTe say as she stepped forward and drove her short sword though Barbie’s neck. As soon a the body was still aSTARTe started looting it. In a few short moments the light show that indicated a tokening began. KnightShade felt a slight spark of fear thinking that the bright lights would show his shadow and reveal his presence. Apparently he had nothing to fear as the two bounty hunters put their heads together, and walked off whispering. KnightShade gave one last thought on dropping out of the tree and attacking them, but he felt that the chance they would win was way too high. Annoying.

He waited till he was sure they were gone, the moment before he dropped from the tree a new principle walked into sight. Knightshade froze,the principle looked directly at him, it smiled then waved. Not one muscle moved as KnightShade examined the principle, when he saw her name he recognized her. DreamCatCher86 cocked her hip holding her bow with one hand, she glared at him. She lifted her free hand to her mouth whistling sharply. “I know you’re there. Come down here, we need to speak. Don’t make me shoot you, I just want to talk.” She said loudly.      

KnightShade, thinking that if it came down to it he could take her, dropped from his perch and stood up straight looking at her silently. Waiting to see if she would recognize him, waiting to see what the next move was. While she examined him, he note a small tattooed tear below her right eye. The moment didn’t last long, recognition reflected in her eyes as they took in his mask. “You! Why am I not surprised. You were mute in the bank, is that still your thing?”

KnightShade nodded affirmative.

“Oh that’s good, you answer yes or no questions?”

Again he nodded.

She smiled, “I can work with that,” She paused as if thinking then said, “if you don’t speak, have you spent any time with, uh I guess, anyone?”

Shakes his head no.

“So you don’t know anything about what’s going on, in AnturA I mean.”

No.

“It seems you found out about Tokening just fine.”

Nod, yes.

“Well, I’d say that’s the most pertinent matter for us. There is other stuff, like the color war between the Red and Blue army, and TZ. But it’s the Tokening that bring us together. Those bounty hunter, they are with the Band of the Golden Hand, they have everyone riled up against us. Man they hate us. It happened fast, first I was respected, feared yes, but also respected and left to my own devices. Then one day everyone is talking about this Band of the Golden Hand, I could feel the attention then, I heard people whispering. The next day they attacked, I barely escaped with my life and my Token. I waited a few hours and went back. They attacked again, they wouldn’t let me back into the town at all. I had to quit my job at the bank.”

KnightShade pointed to the tattoo high on her cheek.

“Yeah,” DreamCatCher86 touched the tattoo softly with the tips of the fingers on her right hand. She smiled sadly, “my Token item. By the way I think that your cape, it’s pretty cool.”

He touched it.

“Right, so after Norca was closed to me I started to look for other Tokeners,” she said. “I was trying to talk with Barbie before the hunters came for her. You saw how well that went. Then I saw you hiding. So here we are, what I want is to work together.” She paused and looked at KnightShade, he shrugged. “I can’t offer you anything, just some level of protection. I’m a range fighter so I can support you, also I can see principles’ heat signature that’s how I found you. Here’s the best part Tokeners burn hotter than other principles, I’m the perfect look out, So what do you say?”

KnightShade rubbed his chin with his right hand to indicate he was thinking. It was a lot to consider. On one hand he didn’t like being around other principles, but DreamCatCher86 was cute, even more with the tattoo. Her offer was good. He nodded.

Her face lit up , “great! We stand such a better chance together and I really don’t want to be Tokened.”

He nodded.

“Right,” She smiled, “I Think we need to set up a home base or a safe house, a place to go. I heard rumors that there you can find places that will allow you to sculpt buildings out the landscape. Uh do you want to pick the direction we go in?”                 

KnightShade didn’t think about it for long before pointing to the north east. DreamCatCher86 agreed and they set off in that direction. It wasn’t long before the could hear the river. Before they could see the river they heard another sound, this one was definitely not a natural sound. At first it was just shouting, as they moved closer they could hear the sounds of weapons striking weapons, the conconphiny of battle. KnightShade put his paw on DreamCatCher86’s shoulder, stopping her.

When she turned to him, he pointed his finger to the tree top above them then pointed with two fingers to the eye-holes in his mask. She nodded and he was quickly perched on branch looking down on a three on three battle on the banks of the river. With half the combatants  wearing red and the other half dressed in blue, KnightShade figured this must be that color war that DreamCatCher86 had spoken about.

She was seated, waiting, at the base of the tree when he dropped down. “How many?” she asked.

He held up six claws.

“Was it three against three?”

Yes

“Red versus blue, right?”

Yes.

“I don’t see any reason to get involved, do you?”

No.

Okay, good. Let’s just give them some space, they seem pretty occupied at moment I doubt that they would notice us. Then, I think, we should find a way to ford the river. I have never been across it, have you?”

No.

“Oh! Let’s go! I can’t wait to see what’s on the other shore.” She grabbed his arm and almost pulled him off his feet as the started the hike around the small battle. As she hurried them on, KnightShade was surprised to find that he wasn’t annoyed by DreamCatCher86. If any other principle had grabbed his arm like this, he would have killed them without a second thought. But he found DreamCatCher86’s energy infectious. She was so caught up in her story, her drama; he was finding himself caught up in it, and that didn’t annoy him.

She let go of his arm when they reached shallow banks on the river. She skipped across the river leaping from one exposed stone to the next. KnightShade seeing that the trees on the far bank had big branches high up unlike the pine trees on this side which had it biggest branches low to the ground. He quickly scampered up the tree closest to the river and out to the highest branch that he thought would hold his weight. He should have taken a few more moments to chose his route, because the gap between this branch and the corresponding branch across the river was big. Maybe too big. But he was committed, running full speed along the branch, As the branch got thinner it began to bend under his weight. Waiting till he was sure it was about to drop him unceremoniously into the river, he lept.

Right away he knew he was going to be short. Cursing himself for being a show off, he stretched out and just managed to grab the branch with both paws. Though now he held the branch, he held the very end of it, where it was thinner than the branch he had just left. Miraculously it didn’t break, it bent swinging him like a pendulum, depositing him almost gracefully on the far bank.

DreamCatCher86 walked up to him, laughing. “That was amazing! Don’t tell me you planned that?”

KnightShade shrugged.

She laughed again. “Right that’s what I thought.” He looked around them thinking that the deciduous trees opened up the forest. Then suddenly DreamCatCher86 moved and she was off running through the woods, her laughter floating back to him like the sound of small bells.  He took off after her, as he caught up she started running even faster, he kept pace and soon they were both running at full sprints, dodging trees, ducking branches, leaping fallen trunks and rocks. As he ran he could hear her laughter tinkling in the crisp forest air, he thought it was beautiful.  

When she stopped suddenly it took all of his control to not run her over. He needed to stop short to avoid knocking them both into a small pond. As it was he managed to halt his momentum just shy of bumping her, ending his run pressed up against her back. She didn’t move. She stood still looking out at the pond as it sparked merrily in the sun.

In the stillness of the woods KnightShade could hear the sound of falling water. The pond DeamCatCher86 stopped at was in a small clearing, roots of the trees growing into the water, barely big enough that the forest canopy didn’t meet above, it letting the sun stream in. At the north end of the clearing a wall of stone rose almost vertically from the relatively flat the forest floor. Way up the cliff face a waterfall fell in a flashing curtin, upsetting the surface of the pond reflecting the sun in a million bright flashes,

“How beautiful,” DreamCatCher86 breathed.

KnightShade nodded. She couldn’t see it, she still stood with her back pressed against him. They stood like this for a little while, the beauty all encompassing, leaving no room for awkward silence. Reluctantly he stepped back and without a word she took his hand and led him along the shore to the waterfall. Upon reaching it she slipped behind it, disappearing. A tug on his arm pulled him through.

If the clearing had been beautiful, than the cavern he found himself in was transcendent. What on the other side if the falls had been bright flashes came through the water as dancing rainbows. The small rainbows moved on all the surfaces making it difficult to tell the actual dimensions of the cavern. He got the feeling it was plenty big. It was empty and devoid of anything, just three stone walls, a ceiling and floor also stone. They took the first step further in together, then separated as DreamCatCher86 walked to the back wall. He turned and watched the waterfall, it was hypnotic, like fire, and his mind wondered. his thoughts examining how a waterfall could be like a flame. “‘Shade!” DreamCatCher86 suddenly called, and he spun thinking she was being attacked. Her face glowing she waved him over, “Come over here, quick!”

It only took a few steps to reach her, when he did he immediately saw what has gotten her so excited. Being that the light was all filtered through the waterfall, the pedestal had no shadow and with it being formed from the same material as the walls was invisible from entrance of the cavern. Up close KnightShade could see it clearly, a rectangular block of stone. It was almost as tall as his belt buckle, the surface was smooth, wider than it was long. Spread across the pedestal’s surface, as if it was a desk, was an unrolled scroll.

DreamCatCher86 was engrossed in the scroll and ignored him when he stepped behind her. Peeking over her shoulder, KnightShade saw what looked to be a blueprint. Specifically the floor print of the cavern, that is to say a horseshoe shape the waterfall entrance labeled at the open end. Really it was just two lines, one curved like a U the other a ~. The border of the scroll was made up of icons which were slightly moving, dancing in place. The majority of the icons we symbols for furniture, tables and chairs of various designs. The rest were hammers with a secondary emblem; a hammer with a sword, a hammer and a shield, there were a few more that took more than a single glance to recognize.

DreamCatCher86 leaned back, resting her body against his. She wasn’t heavy, but the physical contact almost staggered him. She twisted slightly to find a more comfortable position, “This is it! We found our hideout! Look, are for crafting don’t you think?” she said.

He nodded.

“Okay! So, what do you think we should first?”

He shrugged.

“No, that’s not going to work for me. I can deal with the silent thing. But I’m going to need you to participate. Okay?” She reached her hand up and placed it behind his head.

He nodded.

“Good.” she scratched him behind his ear,

He almost purred, instead he reached over her and touched the scroll a few times. Behind them there was the grinding of stone. As DreamCatCher86 sunk into the couch her laughter echoed off the walls, KnightShade thought it was beautiful. KnightShade sat down on the couch next to her, a grin on his face behind the mask. She signed then casually reached over and scratched him behind the ear again. He didn’t pull away.

“This,” she said gesturing to the couch in which they sat, “this was brilliant,”   

P2: Chapter Nine

BeAutyBrokEn

The path was empty, peaceful and calm yes, but also boring. For the last few days BeAutyBrokEn had rained violence down upon this stretch of path. But today traffic has slowed, now the path was empty and that was boring. She was up in a palm tree with the trunk to her back, sitting on a platform, hidden by the large floppy leaves. She had started using the tree because of it’s proximity to the road. She quickly found it to be an excellent perch for ambushing passing principie.

Once when she returned from a fight she found the platform had formed. At first it had only been a simple bench, but as she continued to return it had evolved. The bench becoming more comfortable and some of the leaves seemed to shift, giving her better cover while also giving a better range of sight.

She waited for a target, none came. She waited longer, still no one came. She was bored, and a little lonely. This was new, she mused, after the accident the presence of people grated on her, their uncomfortable conversations had only remined her what she had lost. When she had found her way to AntruA she had quickly lost herself in these wilds where her only interactions were transacted in the language of violence. Now she found she was missing conversation; any connection with others. She had leveled up maybe it was time to head back to town and catch up with BuTTherKupp. It surprised her how curious she was to see what everyone else was up to. Maybe interacting with other principie didn’t seem that bad.

She dropped to the path and began walking slowly, sticking to the shadows. Walking like this it wasn’t long before the buildings of the town could be seen over the treetops. She had no idea that she had been so close. When she saw the first building she gave up the pretense and walked casually down the middle of the path into town. The noise level rose noticeably as though passing through some invisible boundary.

Where it entered town the path she was on interested a much wider path. It was this other street which was built up. All the buildings that BeAutyBrokEn could see faced this main street. The path she was on lay mostly hidden in the space, alley, between two buildings. principie moved in noisy clumps, predominantly around two buildings on either end of the main street. Stepping onto the main street, principie seemed to take notice of her. One in particular was quick to turn and walk towards her. As it neared she was startled to see what looked like two heads. As she looked to his cloths she saw it wore the same black shirt of the three who she had defeated when she was last with BuTTherKupp.

“Did you come down that path? Does that mean it’s safe?” The principle asked, She focused on him.

VicTim2020

Level 2

Wallet 3AU

VicTim2020 looked like a regular six foot tall human man, just with two identical bald heads. BeAutyBrokEn wasn’t sure how to respond, or even which head to respond to. She tried remembering which head had spoke, but she couldn’t, so no help there. He was waiting, she had to say something. She spoke to the space between both heads trying to look at both at the same time. “I did come from that path. But I don’t know what you mean by safe.” She said not at all sure how he might react. “I’m sorry I don’t want to be rude. Which head should I be talking to?”

She braced herself for him to hit her, but she must be have done something right because he answered her both mouths moving in concert. “No no, don’t worry! You are doing all the right things. I ask about that path because there are rumors of a coven of witches down that way, No one can say for sure because they have been killing everyone who has gone down that path for the last week or so. I wonder why they let you pass? Maybe it was you coming from the other direction or maybe it was your level.” he said sounding uncertain.

“I wonder.” BeAutyBrokEn tried to sound innocent, pretty easy with her face covered,  she thought he must be talking about me. She was pretty tickled by the idea. Hiding her amusement she said, “I didn’t see any witches on my way here. Have they been a big problem?”

VicTim2020 seemed satisfied with her with innocence so he didn’t press her on the issue. “I only heard about them recently. But they were enough of a problem that principie have been finding ways to go around that path.”

“That’s good to know, I guess I’ll leave a diffrent way.” BeAutyBrokEn had to pause to avoid laughing, when she could continue, “Can I ask you another question?” She softened her voice and spoke in a higher tone. Both heads nodded. “I’m looking to find my friend, do you know where people might meet up around here?”

Both of VicTim2020’s heads looked down the main street to his left, “If she has any smarts, she would have joined the Thunder88, like me, and she will be over there at TeDome?” One head then looked to right and the other only the right head spoke, “if she didn’t join, then she might be in that dive.” he said with obvious derision. “If she’s not there, I couldn’t guess where she might be. You should go to TeDome and join the Thunder88 if you do I bet they will tell you if she did too, or if she tried.”

“Oh, you mean I have to join if I want to get any info?” BeAutyBrokEn asked, “and there is a chance I won’t be allowed to join.”

“Yeah, they won’t even let you into TeDome if you don’t join up. But you totally should, at your level you would have no problem getting in and would be very respected. They might even make you a squad leader” He said both heads nodding enthusiastically.

“Why did you join?” she asked trying to get a sense of what this clan was all about.

He shrugged, “All my friends did it, by joining I always know where to find them, even if they are not here I always have homies to roll with” He blushed and continued, “I like having a clubhouse to go to, and I, I like.” She had thought he had blushed before but now his blush really  bloomed, exploding from under his black shirt, spreading up both necks till all four cheeks were a rosy red. “I guess I like the shirt too.” He finished.

BeAutyBrokEn couldn’t help but laugh at that, both heads looked so bashful. “You joined up for the shirt?!” She asked trying to keep the mocking out of her voice.

“This shirt is fierce!” Suddenly VicTim2020 was angry.

“It’s a great shirt, very fashion forward.” BeAutyBrokEn held her hands before her in a placating gesture. “Black is the new...black? Right? Look I meant no offence, really. Actually I was thinking that maybe you are right, I should join a clan and why not one with such fierce duds.”

VicTim’s face lit up at her words. “Oh good! You won’t regret it. When you get accepted they give you a new weapon. Uh, actually they will give us both new weapons. I was heading that way. I could accompany you, and introduce you to ThElder404, he’s the our leader. He’ll be the one who will let you join or not.”

“I couldn’t figure out why you were being so nice, I get it now, you just want the weapon. Thats cool, are the weapons any good?” She felt a little more comfortable with VicTim2020 now that she knew what he was after. She stepped on to the main path and he fell in besides her. “They must be if you want it, right? Does everybody who recruits someone into the Thunder88 get a weapon? Or am I special?” BeAutyBrokEn said with a laugh trying to convey that she joked.

“Oh no, you’re special.” he said blushing again.

“Please,” she said sarcastically, “you just met me.”

He blushed again, this time to the tips of his four ears.  He stopped and turned to her, “You are a level three! Do you know any other level three’s? I only know one, and that’s ThElder404! So yeah you’re special. It’s a clan wide competition, the first to bring in anybody above a level two gets a weapon”

“Why aren’t other principie leveling up?” It hadn’t been too difficult. Suddenly she felt a spike of fear, maybe there was a consequence of leveling up she hadn’t thought of.

“At least here everyone was afraid of being Tokened. Me and every principle I know just leaves our Tokens at safe houses. That is one of the main reason that principle sign with Thunder88, they provide a safe place to leave your Token. We’re here to see ThElder404.” This was said to the principle standing at the door.

BeAutyBrokEn hadn’t noticed that they had arrived until VicTim2020 was talking to another principle. The two spoke quietly, she stepped back to look at the building. The sign above the door set the template for the decor of the bar, spelling the name in metal scrap and gears. Not so much of a steampunk as junk punk.

The indoors was dimly lit, she had to stop and let her eyes adjust from the bright sky outdoors. VicTim2020 took her arm and guided her through the room as her vision cleared. The aesthetic of junk yard reuse from the sign was fully realized in the decor. The seating she could see were axles stood upright like stools, the tables were a collection of barrels and wheels topped with stained, jagged boards.

ThElder404 sat behind the largest of these cobbled together tables. He was easy to identify; clothed in a long white robe, with a long white beard and long white hair, he seemed to glow in the dark room. VicTim2020 left her to whisper to ThElder404, who asked a quiet question then listened to the answer before saying.  “Victim, please get our guest a glass of TZ.” His voice was deep, warm, and kind. “Please, sit.” He smiled at BeAutyBrokEn with his fluffy white eyebrows, his face matched his voice, kind. He gestured to a chair across the table from himself. She pulled it out and sat without breaking eye contact.

She started a little, then recovered quickly, when VicTim2020 placed a glass down in front of her. He stepped back, behind her, out of sight but not mind, ThElder404 spoke. “My dear, I am so pleased that you are here. I have had my minions out looking for someone like you. Now that we have found you, we have work to do. Here’s to you!” He raised his glass, so BeAutyBrokEn raised her’s, they clinked them together. He drank deeply, she looked in her glass but in the dark room this told her nothing. She drank, it was a little sweet, dry, leaving her with a metallic taste on the back of her mouth.

She cleared her throat, her head swelled for a moment, then it was as if she came up for air from deep underwater. It was as if the drink broke over her head like a wave. She took a deep breath to steady herself. “What was that?” She asked, all her thoughts running wild. Maybe the door was open because she found that she could now see much of what had been hidden in shadow, including a few principie standing against the back wall.

ThElder404 drained his glass then placed it on the table, where it was immediately refilled. “This is TonicZ, or TZ. I’m a little surprised that you don’t know about it, it’s not that new. Victim said you were kind of a noob, I see what he meant now. It does make me curious, how did you get to you level and still seem to know so little of what’s going on?”

“I’m not sure really. I guess when I got to AnturA I wasn’t feeling very social. I got out of town and killed every principle that came my way.” BeAutyBrokEn paused for ahad moment, her thoughts flying she decided to lay it all out, she spoke. “Your peon, VicTim2020 standing behind me, said there was a coven of witches that had stopped travel on that road.”

“That’s true.” ThElder404 said.

Her head was spinning a little, maybe because of the drink. Though her head spun, her thoughts were clear. She could see all the angles, she needed if she wanted to join this clan. Did she want to join this clan? This was a good question. A good question that became a mute point as she heard herself say. “That was me.”

ThElder404 stood up, the hum of conversation stopped like it had been cut with a knife. In the silence BeAutyBrokEn clearly heard VicTim2020 behind her breath, “oh no.”

Committed to her course of action, BeAutyBrokEn looked ThElder404 in the eyes through her many layered vail and said, “when I came to AnturA, I wasn’t feeling social. I left town right away, I enjoy fighting and I guess I’m good at it because I have only won. This is my first time back in town, VicTim2020 has been very friendly and helpful in introducing me to some of the things that have been going on. He is the reason I’m here, I had no plans to join a clan, I’m not sure that I really do for that matter. I was, and am, just looking for my friend.”

The whole room seemed to holding their breath, or at least the whole room exhaled when ThElder404 sat back down. “A coven never made much sense to me. But if you caused so much a ruckus on you own, that is pretty impressive. You say you’re looking for your friend, what’s their name I’d be happy to look and see if they’ve joined up with us. If you want to join, we have a place for both of you. It’s pretty good positions too.”

“What do you mean positions?” BeAutyBrokEn asked, surprised.

“I have an idea for an elite unit. If you join with us, I would like to put you in command of this unit.” As ThElder404’s spoke, the room gradually filled with chatter as the principie in the room started debating his meaning.

Aware of every eye on her, BeAutyBrokEn was glad her face was vailed. With that wall between her and everyone else she had the confidence to keep her resolve. Her back straight she asked, “why me? Is it just that I’m level three? I mean you have never seen me fight. Why would you want me to command anyone?”

ThElder404 laughed, a great cheerful booming sound. “I may not have seen you fight, but I have been hearing all about your fights for a few weeks now.” He held up his hand to stop her next question. “I’m sure that every story I’ve heard has been wildly exaggerated. But just the fact that everyone you defeated felt the need to lie, they said you were a coven of witches! Like you were many people. That tells me all I need to know about your skill. As far your leadership ability, I will let you build the unit anyway you want. You can pick your friend or anyone else you want, you can even do it alone if you want. If you join and you know your mission we can talk more about how you want to make up your team. What do you say?”

“If I join you will tell if you know where my friend is and let her join if she wants, right?”

ThElder404 unrolled a scroll and said, “Just tell me her name.”

“BuTTherKupp,” BeAutyBrokEn said, sealing her choice.

“Interesting,” ThElder404 stroked his beard with one hand slowly, then he rolled the scroll back up. “I don’t have to look at my scroll. I know BuTTherKupp. She sat in the chair you sit in now, three days ago. She joined the Eighty Eight a week ago, she is one of our most productive explorers. I can’t tell you where she is, because I truly don’t know where she is. She was heading west, exploring and looking for treasure. I expect her back in two days. You are welcome to recruit her to join your unit, however she choose her role, and I doubt she’ll want to change. She told me you might show up.”

“You knew who I was?” It was the one of many questions that lept to BeAutyBrokEn’s mind, just happened to be the first the one that came out her mouth.

“I wasn’t sure, until you said her name.” ThElder404 replied. “She spoke highly of you, I’m glad you joined. I need a hunter. Based on what she told me, and the fact that you terrorised that road as a ‘coven.’ I want you to be that hunter.”

“Sure, but uh, what do you want me to hunt?”

“Tokeners.”

P2: Chapter Eight

TifTwo

Without the barrels the cart was much lighter and TifTwo was finding he could push it faster. The green goblin, Adam, lounging in the bed of the cart must have felt the increase in speed as he popped up and shouted, “Get us back to the castle now! I know you can go faster you lazy lump!”

So TifTwo gave him what he wanted and started to push much harder.  Soon the cart was rumbling and bouncing along at a pretty good pace. Tiftwo looked ahead of the cart and saw a root sticking up. Giving it a little more speed he aimed for the root. The front wheels struck the root squarely. The whole cart left the ground, but not for long, with a bang it slammed back to earth. Adam was almost thrown from the cart, squawked as he landed in a tumble. Holding the swaying side of the cart he rose, painfully to his knees and began to berate TifTwo.

TifTwo wasn't paying him any mind, he was lining the cart up with the next root. Which the cart hit going full speed. Once again all four wheels left the ground, only to come crashing down. Another root and another shuddering crash. The goblin being thrown all over the bed of the cart was having a bad time. He tried to hang on to one of the sides of the cart, only to end up upside down against the opposite side. Any pause brought a flood of insults, curses, and threats. At one such moment Adam managed to get out, “this isn’t a game you blockhead!” He was wrong.

In fact as soon as TifTwo heard that, that is exactly what it became. The ultimate goal was get the goblin fully ou…

Then the smell  of mint       

The cart slowly came to a stop in the courtyard, boxed in by the four stone walls. The goblin sat groaning in the bed of the cart, rubbing at numerous purple bruises. A brown goblin was walking towards them, when Adam saw this he stood up. “This one is defective.” He shouted, then awkwardly climbed to the ground. “He is lazy and doesn't listen. He’s useless. It’s like he’s laughing at me.”

The brown goblin walked up and slapped Adam across the face. “It doesn’t matter,” he said coldly, “you completed your mission right? You set up a route, correct? So you’re done with him. It doesn’t matter.”

Adam rubbed the bruise on the back of his head. “This guy is going to be a problem. I don’t think we can send him out unsupervised. I’m serious this guy is thinking.”

Then the smell of mint.

“You. are you there?” the brown goblin was very close to TifTwo’s face when he spoke; Adam was nowhere in sight.. TifTwo blinked. “Ahh, good,” The brown goblin said. “Now listen well, I’m only going to tell you this once. You will first push your cart to that loading bay. Blink if you see the bay I’m talking about. Good. Once it’s been loaded, arrows will lead you to the buildings where you are to deliver the barrels of Tonic. Payments get placed in the box in the cart at each stop, your are not responsible for the payment. After the fourth stop you will return here. Blink if you followed all that. Good, when your cart is loaded you will be given a treat.” He smiled thinly then turned on his heel and stalked back into the castle.

TifTwo wasted no time in pushing the cart to the indicated bay, he was hoping they would give him that drink again. But first he needed to load the cart. He pushed the cart into the bay. Its was a simple door set in one of the tall walls. The door was hinged so the cart pushed it open. The bay was perfectly sized to the cart and it fit snugly with just the back side of the cart emerging from the wall. There was a rumble, the cart shook on its wheels. When there had been a few minutes of silence TifTwo pulled the cart out of the bay to see that it had been loaded with twelve barrels, a small box with four slots was now attached to the cart. A mug was sitting on top of one of the barrels. He pick it up carefully and then drank deep.

Delicious. Incredible, light refreshing. Then at the end, a slightly metallic finish. The name of the drink returned to him as he drank,Tonic: the goblin had called it Tonic. He finished the Tonic and placed the mug in front of the door to the loading bay. As he straightened, the world twisted a little, everything moved. He looked at the empty courtyard.

Nothing moved, the walls were so tall they even blocked the wind. Impossibly high. He looked low, the grass lay unnaturally still. Then the grass breathed. In, out. TifTwo breathed with the grass. In, out. The silence hung over the courtyard like a blanket, almost visible in its completeness.A blue arrow hung in the air before him, pointing to the open gateway out of the castle. TifTwo found that with a full  load he couldn’t simply push the cart with his hands. It took pushing with his shoulder to get the cart moving. A second arrow hung in the gateway beckoning him out into outside world. He left the castle without a backwards glance, on a mission following the arrows without a thought of where they might be taking him.

It was on this mindless Tonic fueled thought-path that found some memories, memories that had been left, these were selective memories. The first was the building where he was to make the delivery in the town of Orup. The next were the two stone towers that was his second delivery point. There was something about this memory that stuck him. Literally, it was as if he had walked through something shocking. He stopped short and again tried to focus his thoughts. He thought back to that second delivery point. It was there in the shadow of the tower he saw what he knew was there, The person he knew was there. It was her face is was familiar, he knew that face. Somewhere/time he knew that face. He knew that face and it meant the world to him            

Then the smell of mint.

Soon the arrows led him into the town of Orup. Continuing to follow the arrows TifTwo found the building he had stuck in his memory. Two principles who had been leaning against the building, approached the cart as it neared. TifTwo stopped the cart and tapped the money box, one of the principles came forward and dropped some coins into the box, the stepped back. TifTwo casually reached into the cart and pulled three barrels out one after the other stacking them into a small pyramid next to the building. With the delivery complete, and cries of thanks sounding behind him, he pushed the cart out of town.

The arrows led him ever forward. The Tonic focused him, driving him forward relentlessly to the next arrow. ever forward. Contrary to this he found himself more easily distracted. Looking at a leaf took down a spiral of thoughts some concerning the wonder of photosynthesis, he pondered the different patterns the leaves formed and how that affected the amount  of sun which was able to reach the forest floor, and on and on.

In this way the time and distance passed quickly and soon he could see his second delivery spot. His pulse quickened as he remembered that this was where he’d seen that face. A face he knew a face he loved. He looked carefully at each principle he saw as he made the delivery. She wasn’t here, her absence like a blow. Then it was time to move on to the next delivery.

So it was in a bit of a funk that he and the cart trundled across the bridge and down the path. A few minutes of mindless pushing passed the path turned. Following the curve Tiftwo saw that ahead there was a principle on the road. It was standing arms crossed, giving no indication that it was going to move out of the way of the cart. This did nothing to help his funk, which right now felt more like simmering anger. He contemplated running the principle over until it put it’s hand out in the universal stop sign. Out of curiosity, more than any other emotion, TifTwo stopped.

Now three more principles emerged on to the path. The original stepped forward with an ugly sneer. “Thank you for stopping. To show our appreciation we are only going to take your cart. You get to keep your pathetic life. Now if you would please step back, we will be on our way.” As he spoke he climbed up on the cart. When TifTwo made no move he drew a sword from his hip, sounds from the direction of the other principles indicated that they too were drawing weapons. “Look you seem kind of simple, but nice enough,” The principle on the cart gestured with his arms in a dismissive gesture as he spoke. “We don’t want to hurt you. Just step away from the cart.”

TifTwo breathed heavily through his nose, almost a snort. He pointed to the ground. The

principle in the cart didn’t take the hint. So TifTwo punched it, in the face. The principle saw the punch coming and tried to raise its sword. It didn’t help him. The big fist hit with a crunch, with a muffled squawk the principle went tumbling heels over head. Coming to a limp, limbs splayed stop. 1 kill +1 xp.

There was a slight irritation on TifTwo’s hand. Who, upon investigation, found that the sword had stabbed between two knuckles. He pulled it out then turned his attention back to the principles who were trying to rob him. Two had run to their fallen comrade, the others were slowly advancing slowly on TifTwo their weapons drawn.

TifTwo holding the sword with two big fingers, flipped it end over end towards the principles who were now pretty close to him. The hilt of the flying sword struck one of them in the head, it collapsed in a heap. In two quick steps TifTwo was on the inert body. He picked up the body with one hand and the sword with the other. The other principle who had been menacing him was now backing away. TifTwo placed the body against the front of the cart and then slammed the sword through the body pinning it to the cart. 1 kill +1 xp.

TifTwo then spun to glower at the remaining would be thieves. Only one was still standing, and that one wouldn’t be standing long. A new figure spun and twirled around the staggering survivor. Sparks literally flew as the mystery figure rained blows upon the over matched thief. It was over in a moment, the new figure stepped away and all four wannabe thieves were down.

TifTwo stoically watched as the figure approached. He found he was holding his breath, he was pretty sure he knew who it was. His heart beat increased, it was pounding in his ears. Now she was close enough that he could see. It was her. That face that stuck in his mind. Of all the principles he had seen, this was the only one he could see clearly. That face held some deep meaning for him he knew it, if only he could put it together.

She was speaking to him softly. “Calm, be calm. I don’t want to fight you. I’m not with those Red Army guys. Calm, calm.” When she finished speaking she was very close, their eyes locked together; searching beyond the pupils, looking for the mind deeper. She reached one hand and maintaining eye contact, she stroked his cheek. “Is that you? Could it be you? How? What did they do to you?”

TifTwo heard the pain in her voice. It struck something deep in him, it broke something. He knew who she was, and with that a whole flood of memories struck him full force. He was on his knees trying to speak,but nothing came out. He touched her face gently with one finger.

Then the smell of mint.