ERIC

  Eric’s heart stopped when he saw the stable door of the shop. Or rather, saw the empty space where the door used to be. He clenched his fist and stepped through. Darkness and the musk of hay were all that remained.

  Daisy was gone.

  He felt a deep hollow in his soul, the kind that never fills back up. He’d felt it once before, and he’d vowed never to again. Shaking, he wiped a single tear from his cheek.

  The gentle hum of Rose’s backpack came up behind him and a small hand laid itself on his shoulder.

  ‘I’m sorry, Eric,’ said Rose. ‘This was all my fault. We should never have tried to be adventurers.’

  Eric spat on the ground. ‘I’m just as sorry, don’t you worry.’

  A moment of silence passed between them.

  Rose straightened her back and spoke resolutely. ‘Well, you didn’t need to punch Wise Wally like that. It wasn’t his fault.’

  ‘I’d say it was. I never wanted a stupid Main Quest. And he’s been making adventurers, so he deserved it.’

  Something caught Eric’s eye. He reached out and pulled off the note pinned to the wall. Holding back his rage, he read the scrap of paper.

  Dear ERIC425,

  We have your dear DAISY in our possession. Please pay us 937 gold pieces within the week or we will chop off his/her head. Bring the money to North Porkwood and we will rob you of it.

  All the best,

  The Bandit King

  The letter had been made using an official-looking font, but the words, Eric, Daisy and 937 had been written in by hand. Eric crumpled the note and stormed through to the Beast Be Gone shop.

  The door slammed behind him. Larry, in chair form, burst awake and sprung forward, his wooden legs clomping on the bare floor. ‘Oh, you’re back already. That was quick. Found the bad guys?’

  Eric scowled at the plush chair. ‘Larry, I thought you were supposed to be watching the shop?’

  ‘I have been! And a good job too, if I don’t say so myself.’ He pushed himself upwards as if proud. ‘Not a soul’s been by.’

  ‘Even in the stable?’

  ‘There’s a stable?’

  Eric sighed and went over to his desk, one of the last pieces of furniture he owned. He took out the single glass and whisky bottle from the bottom drawer, then poured himself a drink.

  Rose entered the shop and smiled weakly at Larry.

  ‘What’s got his goat?’ said Larry through the gap between the cushioning and the wood.

  Rose pulled a lever to turn off her metal backpack, the chugging stopped. ‘They took his mule so we could have an adventuring quest.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Larry. ‘But did you find out who’s behind the adventuring?’

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  ‘We think so. Seems like the Doom Bank has a lot to do with it.’

  ‘Excellent, then off you go!’

  Eric took a deep slug of his whisky. ‘You two can go after them, I’m done with that nonsense. I’ve gotta get Daisy.’

  Rose crossed her arms. ‘Stopping the adventurers is a little more important than a donkey, Eric. Once we stop them, I’m sure they’ll let Daisy go.’

  Eric saw Daisy’s eyes, full of simple joy. She was the only creature he knew that was truly content in this wretched world. ‘This is more important.’

  ‘What is she, like fifty?’

  Eric sniffed. ‘Probably around that.’ He finished his drink and stood up. ‘You don’t understand, Daisy’s the only family I have left.’ She was also the only one who really understood him, stayed by him. If that wasn’t family, he didn’t know what was.

  ‘We don’t have much time!’ Rose pleaded. ‘We need to get to the bottom of these adventurers.’

  Eric stopped midway through pouring himself another drink. ‘All you’ve been going on about is stopping adventurers, right from the start. I’m beginning to think you don’t want to be in pest control after all.’

  Rose’s face was impassive. ‘Of course, I do. It’s just, you know, after you saved my father from… the things. I had to apprentice with you.’

  ‘Things?’ Eric narrowed his gaze on her. ‘How close are you with your father?’

  Rose pulled a weak smile. ‘Well, he raised me. Why’d you ask?’

  ‘How old is he?’

  ‘He’s about sixty… three?’

  ‘No, he isn’t. He’d be eighty-five now, at least.’

  ‘Why yes, now you say it. That was awfully silly of me. Of course, he’s eighty-five.’

  ‘Wrong again, he’s fifty-two.’

  Rose gulped. ‘Ah good one.’ She pretended to laugh. ‘You got me.’

  Eric towered over Rose, she backed away towards the wall. Eric prodded her in the stomach. ‘You don’t know the Governor of Murica at all do you?’

  ‘He’s my dad… don’t be ridiculous.’

  Eric raised his voice. ‘Don’t play dumb. Why are you really here?’

  ‘I...I…’ Rose sighed and dropped her head. ‘Freddy sent me.’

  ‘Freddy Glorp?!’ Eric couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His business rival, Freddy Glorp was interfering with his life. What’s worse is he’d fallen for it, hook line and sinker. ‘But… why?’

  ‘It’s not important. We should get back to finding Daisy.’

  ‘Why?’

  Rose hesitated. ‘He hired me to apprentice with you, then find out how you’re managing to stay in business when he’s been struggling so much. And if I could, also get you to stop the adventurers. You’d been one before, after all.’

  ‘I thought he was doing fine? All he does is boast about the work he gets clearing out dungeons and trapping minions.’

  ‘He thought you were the same. It’s all an act. He’s as bad off as you are.’

  Eric’s mind raced. ‘So what are you then, an actress? Are you even a Westerner?’

  ‘Of course I’m a Westerner!’ Rose tutted. ‘I’m just a girl who’s down on her luck, like everyone else in this town. I came to Fen-Tessai looking for work, only to find adventuring is worse here than it is back home.’

  ‘So it was all for nothing.’ Eric rubbed his temples.

  This is why you don’t get your hopes up. This is why you don’t trust people. This is why you keep to your bleeding self and stay out of trouble. Trouble is trouble. And the less trouble you have, the better.

  Rose smiled weakly. ‘We could still try to stop them you know?’

  ‘Who?’

  ‘The Doom Bank. The bad guys. I’m sure it’s them. It has to be.’

  ‘I’ll pass.’ Eric went back and slumped into his chair. ‘Why don’t you and Freddy go and do it. You’ve already wasted enough of my time.’ He could imagine Freddy’s face when Rose ran back to him and told him the news. They’d probably all have a good old laugh about poor old Eric.

  Now he had nothing. Not even Daisy.

  ‘For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.’ Rose tried to put her hand on Eric’s arm, but he flinched away.

  ‘Get out of my shop.’

  Rose turned her backpack on. Its chugging sounded melancholic. She walked out, then stopped in the doorway and turned back. ‘There was one part that was true though. My brother did die trying to adventure. I still want adventurers gone.’

  Eric grunted and sipped his whisky.

  ‘If you ever change your mind, I’ll be at Freddy’s. I don’t have anywhere else to go.’ Rose continued. ‘I’m sure we could use your help.’

  The door closed behind her, Eric didn’t look up. He finished his drink slowly, and in silence.

  ‘I’m a little confused.’ Larry spoke from his hiding spot in the corner, now shaped like a lamp. The lampshade tassels wobbled with his voice. ‘Why did you two fall out? I thought you were inseparable.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’ Eric got up, picked up his crossbow and slung it over his shoulder. ‘I’m off to hunt bandits. Wanna come?’

  ‘Ah, no,’ said Larry, quivering. ‘I think I’m better off… home. Staying hidden. That’s kind of my thing. The outdoors is a little daunting for our kind. If you know what I mean.’

  ‘Fair enough.’ A part of him was relieved, he deserved to be alone. ‘Same deal again? You stay here and watch out for the bailiffs.’

  ‘Right you are,’ said the lampshade. ‘Good luck.’

  Eric nodded. He had a hunch that he’d need all the luck he could get. It was a shame he couldn’t afford to buy any at Adventurer’s Supply.