Ruberm was waiting for me in my private office, just sitting on the couch. I was only slightly surprised to see him here. If the Earl was going on the expedition, Ruberm would do all that he could to ensure its success. And that is why he is here. I joined him on the couch.

  “Good day, Trevor. I hope all is well with you and your House.” He said house with a capital H, so I knew he was serious.

  “All is fine, Ruberm. How are you and yours doing?”

  Gabriel brought in tea. Poured each of us a cup and retired from the room. I was sure he was listening just outside. Nothing nefarious, just so that if I needed anything he would be right there.

  “So, you know about the expedition, then?” Ruberm asked.

  “Yes, Gorver just asked me to join. It appears even the Earl is going. I understand that it can be very lucrative for Forest Glen.”

  “It’s not the spoils that the Earl and I are interested in, Trevor. It’s the safety. If Gorver didn’t tell you, then let me. Forest Glen will not survive 5 years, unless that dungeon is cleared. That is the simple overriding fact driving the Earl and myself. The waves have been getting progressively stronger and stronger over the years. We had been hoping they would level out, but there has been no sign of it. Forest Glen is doomed, if we don’t clear that dungeon. The Earl has put together the strongest team he can, which includes you, to clear it. But the outcome is still up in the air.” Ruberm paused. “I am going to cast a privacy spell known only to a few people before I continue.”

  “Go ahead” I said. I had never seen Ruberm cast a spell. Hell, I didn’t even know he could.

  Ruberm made a hand gesture, and I felt the spell take hold. My magic sight showed a small thin barrier encompassing both Ruberm and me.

  “This is known to only a few people. The Earl, Justinian, and two others. Now you will know. It is a small circle of people I trust.” Ruberm paused here gathering his courage. I have to admit I was quite curious as to what could be such a closely held secret.

  “I am an Oracle. It is my class.” Ruberm waited for my response.

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Not sure what to say, except. What’s an Oracle?”

  Ruberm seemed stunned but recovered quickly.

  “Oracle’s can see the possible and probable futures. The further out, the murkier the vision, the nearer the clearer. Nothing I see is guaranteed, but I do see path with extremely high probabilities, and right now Forest Glen is a ruin in 5 years. The Earl is doing everything he can to prevent that future. Which is why he is on the expedition, and why he will be part of the first clear.”

  “Wow, just wow. I don’t know what to say. Seeing the future can be good and bad. I mean seeing tragedies that you can’t stop must be horrible.”

  “It is, but right now there is one I can stop. If you don’t go on the expedition and the first clear. Everyone in the party will die. The vision is clear, meaning it has a high probability. Only Justinian lives to fight the dungeon boss, and he fails. He will be torn limb from limb, trying to kill the boss until the last. But that can change. If you go with the party, I see the entire party surviving to reach the boss. My vision past that point is blocked, so I can’t guarantee you win, but it’s the only chance we have. “

  Okay, this must be so important. First Gorver giving me the hard sell. Then Ruberm coming out about his being an Oracle.

  If Ruberm is right, then I don’t really have a choice in the matter. While the Earl is not exactly a friend, I do believe I owe him. Not just for Covern House, but for accepting me into Forest Glen knowing my background. I find it hard to believe others would be so accepting.

  Ruberm is a friend, and I can see he is in distress over the expedition. His future sight of probabilities notwithstanding, he has been right in almost everything I have seen. That makes me wonder about the dinner and the duel, but that’s not the point today. He has helped me immensely throughout my time in Forest Glen and never asked for anything in return.

  Gorver acts the tough guy, tries to get free healing for his guild, and can be a jerk sometimes. Especially when he was first starting to ‘train’ me in adventurer fighting. However, he took me under his wing with that training and made me a better adventurer. Even if I only take gathering quests. His training was essential to my surviving the monster wave.

  It looks like I have very little choice. If I don’t go, then I have to leave. Nobody will want me around because most will think I am coward. I would probably have to leave Donnert County completely, maybe even the Kingdom. I don’t my staff would be willing to leave the Kingdom. Which means Gabriel, Chef, and the rest would have to be left behind.

  Having to leave behind those close to me was the final straw. I don’t think I could bear to start over again. Overcoming my death, finding a new family, starting my healing store were all momentous events in this life, and I don’t want to have to do any of it again.

  “Okay Ruberm. I will join the expedition and be part of the first clear.” I said solemnly.

  Looks like I am going dungeon diving, I thought to myself.