Chapter 10: The Horse and the Stone

  “Are you sure we have to leave already?” Shryke whined. “We just got everything built! Can’t we take another week or two to just relax?”

  “Not unless you’ve got more Cats hidden away that we don’t know about,” Frelka answered.

  Shryke frowned as she stared desperately around their new home. As its name implied, the L-House was a two-story building in the shape of a squat ‘L.’ The front part of their home housed the adventuring essentials: weapons crate, armor lockers, and chests for unsorted loot and saved goods.

  The back wall across from the door housed their kitchen and a large, round table. Thanks to Shryke’s research in Mongrel, they were able to set up a sink, stove, and bread oven, along with storage for their extra food. They were also able to craft a small wind turbine and research station on the roof. Given World’s End’s elevation, they were able to generate enough electricity to power the lights in their home.

  The left side of the first floor, which was cordoned off by wooden dividers, was reserved for their living space. Four beds, an indoor fire, and a few sitting cushions decorated the area, giving their home a very real and warm, welcoming feel.

  Even Frelka felt the pull to stay and relax. But they were low on Cats and running low on their food reserves. And unless they wanted to try opening a shop–without suppliers–they would have to venture out in search of goods to loot. Besides, Frelka thought, the cannibals aren’t going to kill themselves after all…unless they got hungry, that is.

  “Fine, you spoilsport,” Shryke sighed, putting Spite away and adjusting her pack. “Everyone have a set of bandages and a first aid kit?” They all nodded. “Good, and I’ve got our rations. Do we know where we’re going yet?”

  “Beep wants to go to the fishing village to the north!” Beep interjected.

  “Right,” Shryke sighed, rubbing her temples. “And why do you want to go there again? I was with you when you found out. It’s just an old, practically abandoned village with a couple of docks and a shitload of depressed people. Why are you so interested in it?”

  Beep’s eyes widened and he gave Shryke a determined look. “Beep feels a pull to this village. My Skeleton double-ninja senses tell me we should travel here!”

  Shryke groaned and rolled her eyes. “Oh gods, we’re back to the double-ninja Skeleton crap again.” She threw up her hands and walked toward the door. “Alright, you win, let’s go!”

  ~~

  “Well,” said Shryke’s nasally voice as she pinched her nose, “now you’ve seen it. Can we please go? It reeks out here!”

  She wasn’t wrong, the entire settlement reeked of rotting fish. Every shack store they stopped at only had a meager offering of fish for sale. And the domed bar that made up the most attractive feature here only sold grog and dried fish.

  “Be glad you can’t smell this,” Frelka whispered to Burn.

  Despite the area’s olfactory issues, Beep continued to wear a large grin as he walked to the bar and ordered a grog for them all. As he sat down with them, he said, “Beep knows this place may smell funny, but I can just tell there’s something for us here!”

  Beep’s demeanor reminded Frelka of a child who was about to receive a gift; he couldn’t help but smile at the young Hiver’s enthusiasm. “Very well, ja,” he said, “let’s go und find our big surprise!”

  “Good luck with that,” Shryke responded unenthusiastically. “Come get me when you two idiots are ready to leave.” She took a swig and made a face. “Gods, even their grog tastes like a fish’s ass. Can’t believe there’s a place that makes me miss Mongrel…Woah, Shryke, too far. Nothing’s worse than that hell.” She stared down at her tankard before pushing it aside. “But this place comes pretty close.”

  With her dubious blessing, Frelka and Beep spread out to talk to the denizens of the bar. Despite the settlement’s size, there was a surprisingly large number of people present. Frelka approached the bartender: a female Scorchlander with dark red hair.

  “Hello, ma’am,” Frelka said as he approached the bar and sat down. “I am Frelka, ja, und I am looking for the most interesting person in this bar!”

  The bartender stared at him, chewing on something that never seemed to be finished. Finally, she said, “You came here…looking for someone interesting?”

  Frelka nodded, his smile never faltering.

  She gave Frelka a confused look. “You poor creature. Where must you be from to think that anyone interesting would be in this shithole?” She rolled her eyes and scanned the bar. “I guess we’ve got some passing mercenary groups and travelers.” She continued to scan before pointing at a figure in the corner. “I guess he looks kind of interesting. He’s been here for a couple of weeks now. Pretty quiet. Keeps talking about how he knows the location of some treasure. Says his name is Horse. Never pays his tab,” she finished with a scowl.

  Frelka turned and looked at the Shek sitting against the wall. The two horns that protruded from his cheekbone and jawbone were long–a symbol that Frelka knew meant he had never been beaten in combat. The ringed, bone-white horns were painted with an uncharacteristic red paint. Similarly, the Shek’s purple-hued face was painted with the same red paint as his horns. Frelka had seen a few Sheks in his day, but none that utilized war paint. He wore a duster and large rice hat. He had no weapon equipped from what Frelka could see. Still, this had to be what Beep was sensing! He looked around but couldn’t find the Hiver anywhere.

  His loss, he shrugged as he walked to greet the mysterious man.

  “Hello Horse,” Frelka said as he approached the Shek and sat down on a neighboring sitting cushion. “My name is Frelka, und I hear you have knowledge of a certain treasure?”

  Horse looked up from his drink, eyeing Frelka and sizing him up. After a few moments, he said, “Here’s the deal, drifter. I’m a treasure hunter, and I got a real juicy tip on a valuable looting spot. Thing is, my squad went and got killed off by those damned cannibals. I managed to fight my way out of the slaughter, but without a team, I’m stuck. So here I sit, recuperating in this dusty old snore-fest of a village, waiting on some tough-looking adventurin’ folk like yourself to help me.”

  Frelka felt a surge of excitement. A valuable looting spot was exactly what they needed, and they were already heading into the cannibals’ territory. If they could find this place, they could stand to make a small fortune!

  “That sounds very exciting, ja,” Frelka said, trying to mask some of his excitement. “Where can we find this spot?”

  Horse shook his head. “‘Fraid it doesn’t work that way. Here’s the deal: you pay my tab here at the Flophouse and I’ll join your team. Like I said, I’m a treasure hunter by trade, so I can help identify what junk is dead weight and what’s worth luggin’ around. Plus, as a pugilist, I’m not too bad in a fight. What say you?”

  Frelka hesitated. He remembered the bartender’s final comment, but it wasn’t just the tab that made him hesitant; he didn’t like the idea of paying for someone to join his team. He preferred anyone that joined to do so because their values aligned enough to want to join…but this guy seemed like he knew what he was talking about. It’s just paying his bar tab, ja, Frelka thought. It’s not like I’m paying him to join us…besides, how bad could it be?

  “How much is your tab?” he asked.

  “Forty-five hundred Cats,” Horse answered.

  Frelka choked on his grog, sending half of what was in his mouth on the cushion beneath him, and the other half through his nose. “How did you run up a tab that high?”

  Horse shrugged. “Doesn’t really matter. We got a deal?”

  Frelka looked at his pouch. Shryke had been insistent on her new rule about keeping half of their Cats, but from what he could tell, he had just a little over five thousand on him now. He rolled his eyes and looked back toward Shryke. When she looked in his direction, he waved her over. He could see her groan as she stood up and trudged toward them.

  “What? You find Beep’s ‘good feeling’?”

  Frelka smiled. “Ja, this is Horse. He’s a treasure hunter.”

  “Hooray,” Shryke said, her sarcasm thick.

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  “Und he knows where we can find a good looting spot.”

  “Say it ain’t so!” Shryke’s sarcasm continued unabated.

  Frelka rolled his eyes. “Come on, Shryke, work with me, ja. He says he can lead us to the location, but he needs us to pay off his tab.”

  Shryke laughed. “And you want to pay it off so he can tell you some bogus location and disappear before you can hold him accountable?”

  Frelka laughed. “Shows what you know; he wants to join us.”

  Shryke’s sarcastic gaze lightened, and her brows shot up in surprise. “Seriously? Well, I have to admit, that does surprise me.” She turned to Horse. “How much is your tab?”

  “Forty-five hundred Cats,” Horse replied.

  “Narko’s nipples!” She turned to Frelka. “You really think this is a good idea? We only have about ten thousand Cats between the two of us, and Beep just asked to borrow my purse.”

  “What for?” Frelka asked.

  Shryke shrugged. “I don’t know. He seemed very excited, and he kept bouncing, and I just wanted him to go away…gods, I hope I haven’t made a mistake.”

  Frelka laughed. “Beep is good with his money. I’m sure he just wanted to buy whoever he was talking to a drink. So, are you okay if I pay this man’s tab?”

  Shryke looked at Horse, then back at Frelka. “You trust him?”

  Frelka shrugged. “Everyone deserves a chance to be trusted.”

  Shryke groaned. “I was afraid you’d say that.” She turned to Horse. “Listen you, if you’re lying, I’m going to have this oversized gorillo break you in half. Then, I’m going to put you to work mining whatever I can find until you work off enough to pay us back. Have I made myself clear?”

  Horse’s expression never wavered. “I understand.”

  Shryke continued to stare silently at the Shek for another minute before finally sighing and shrugging. “Fine. If you think this is a good idea, Frelka, go ahead. But I’m keeping my half still.”

  Frelka smiled and nodded. “Welcome aboard, Horse. Let’s go pay off that tab!”

  ~~

  “Good luck with that,” Shryke responded unenthusiastically.

  As she began to mutter to herself, Beep wandered away, looking for what it was that drew him here. A Scorchlander sitting at one of the nearby tables sat nursing their drink. He approached the man and sat down.

  “Greetings, traveler. You have the privilege of speaking with Beep, the double-ninja Skeleton legend of Mongrel.”

  The man looked Beep up and down. “You ain’t no Skeleton, Hiver. Hells, you’re barely a Hiver. But you know what, I’m tired of waitin’ ’round this area. Name’s Neko, and a fishing village is no place for a farmer. How’s ’bout this: you give me six thousand Cats, and I’ll join your crew. Everyone needs a good farmer.”

  Beep’s spirits dampened. “Sorry, we don’t pay for others to join us.”

  Neko shrugged. “Whatever.” He got up and walked away.

  “Well, that didn’t go as planned,” Beep muttered to himself. He took a deep breath and tried to summon his inner Frelka again. How does he manage so much energy and confidence all the time?

  As he began to look around the bar again, a nearby Shek cleared his throat and scooted closer to him at the table.

  “H-Hello, sir,” the Shek said. “My name is Stone. You’re a master swordslinger, right?” he asked, nodding at the katana on Beep’s hip.

  Beep puffed out his chest and placed his hands on his hips. “Of course Beep is!”

  Stone, his horns shaved short, stared at Beep with his golden yellow eyes. “Please, take me with you!”

  Beep felt a surge of excitement. As he looked at the Shek, armored in a white mercenary plate and gray pants, a similar katana strapped to his side, Beep could have sworn he was staring into a mirror of the. He fought his smile and put on his sternest face.

  “You don’t look very strong, Stone. What type of skills do you have?”

  Stone shook his head. “I’m afraid I don’t. I’ve always wanted to learn the way of the blade, but my father forbade me. He wanted to keep me from it, but I knew, when I found this old blade in the sand, I knew it was fate. And when I heard you talking to that Scorchlander, I knew that you should be the one to teach me. Who would be better to teach me than a legend from Mongrel? I’ll serve under you, do whatever you tell me–please, Master, take me with you!”

  Beep nearly jumped from his seat. This is what called him here. Just as Frelka had taken him in, now he would take in Stone. He’d teach him all he knew. He took a deep breath and put on his best Frelka face again.

  “Sure. Yeah, you can join us. Only, we don’t serve under, we serve with.”

  Stone’s expression brightened in an instant as he stared in wonder at him. “Great! I’ll do anything, really!” His expression dampened just as quickly as it brightened. “Only,” he paused, guilt weighing his brow down as he hung his head. “No. No. Never mind.”

  Beep stood quickly. “What? What’s wrong, my young pupil?”

  Stone looked up at Beep. “It’s just…my father’s old. I can’t just leave the guy with nothing, even if he’s nothin’ but a drunk. Can you pass some Cats his way? Say three thousand? Just enough to keep him afloat. I’d really appreciate it.”

  Beep followed Stone’s gaze to look at the elderly Shek who was dozing in a dark corner of the bar, his tankard lying next to him.

  How honorable of him to take care of his father!

  Beep nodded to Stone. “Give me one second.”

  He returned a moment later with Shryke’s purse in hand, counting out three thousand Cats to Stone.

  As he finished his count, Stone smiled, his eyes glossy and squinting. “Thank you, Master Beep. This means a lot to me.”

  He walked to the bar and handed the bag to the bartender. When he came back and saw Beep’s questioning look, he explained, “Unfortunately, he’s also a compulsive gambler. If I gave the Cats to him, they’d be gone by tomorrow. I know Frieda though. She’s a kind sort. She’ll make sure to pace him.”

  Beep smiled at the new member. Frelka’s going to be so proud of me. “Come on, Stone. Let’s go say hey to the rest of the crew! To your new Hive!”

  They stood and walked back to the table where they left Burn as Shryke, Frelka, and another Shek were sitting back down.

  “Beep,” Frelka said enthusiastically, “I’ve found your strong feeling! This is Horse, martial artist and treasure hunter. He’s going to lead us to a secret treasure in the Cannibal Plains.”

  Beep held up his hand. “No need, Frelka, for I have found the source of my feeling.” He stepped aside and gestured for Stone to sit down. “This is Stone! He wants to be a master swordsman, just like Beep! He’s going to be joining us.”

  Frelka and Shryke looked at each other, then back to Beep.

  “Beep,” Shryke began, “does this have anything to do with why you asked to borrow my purse?”

  Beep nodded. “Stone needed Cats for his drunken father. So Beep gave him three thousand Cats. Now Stone can travel with us, knowing his father is taken care of! Isn’t that amazing?”

  Shryke stared at him, mouth slightly open. “Three thousand Cats? Did you not think that you should have at least checked with me first?”

  “Beep did,” he defended, weakly. “Beep asked you for your purse, and you gave it to Beep.”

  “That doesn’t– I mean, that isn’t–” She looked at Frelka. “So that leaves us with, what, barely three thousand Cats?!” She turned to Horse. “That treasure better be damned worth it! And Beep,” she turned to face the Hiver, whose smile had been replaced with worry. When she saw how she had killed his enthusiasm, she felt a pang of regret. Don’t be your mother, she thought to herself. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. It’s just Cats. She opened them back up and said as gently as she could, “Good job on this find. If you have a good feeling about him, I’m sure it’ll work out.”

  Beep’s expression softened, though his trepidation remained. Tentatively, he smiled and said, “Thank you, Shryke.”

  A silence fell over the table as they all stared at their mugs.

  “I am okay with it too, I suppose, just in case anyone was wondering,” Burn added.

  Frelka, Shryke, and Beep all burst into laughter. Despite the monotone voice, the three of them felt like they could hear the sass underneath.

  Once the laughter had died down, Frelka said, “Sorry Burn, we didn’t consult with you at all, did we?” He turned to look at their newly expanded family. “Okay, from now on, any new additions are unanimously voted on, ja?”

  Shryke, Beep, and Burn nodded; followed by two reluctant and unsure nods from Horse and Stone.

  Frelka smiled. “Good! With that out of the way, Horse, why don’t you tell us about this treasure.”

  Horse finished his swig of grog and placed it on the table. “Gods, I’ll be happy to taste grog that doesn’t taste like fish again!” He cleared his throat and pushed the tankard aside. “Okay, so, rumor has it there’s a tower made entirely of sand! It’s located north of the painted cannibal lair, marked by a flock of birds. But,” he paused and looked around at them one by one, “it’s protected by a giant beast that sleeps inside.

  “If we find it, we’ll have to be sure we’re ready for a tough fight. But if we manage it, the whole place is supposed to be full of lost tech from the ancients. Not just relics either, books too! Books that can teach us all kinds of things–things that others hoard.”

  “Like how to make Skeleton beds?” Shryke asked.

  Horse shrugged. “I suppose. Sure. But we have to get there first. Then, we have to beat whatever’s guarding it.”

  Frelka smiled. “Well, by the time we finish ridding the Cannibal Plains of its denizens, we’ll all be über strong, ja!”

  Frelka stood and flexed his muscles, knocking over a few tankards as his torso hit the edge of the table. The others dove out of the way of the oncoming fish-tinged grog as he laughed boisterously.