(World of Valdira 01) The Way of the Clan (9 page)

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And about those two?

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I was like frozen, I couldn’t make a step because of fear. I only noticed that the second stranger stopped in his tracks and the first moaned strenuously like his viscera was coming out then stood on his feet clumsily and ran away. He was limping, stumbling and falling over in a step but he was still running away! I had just woken from a stupor when the second stirred, turned around himself on the spot, crouched as if he was looking for trails and then rushed away in the same direction. And so fast – he disappeared in a moment… oh… when I’m thinking about it, it gives me the creeps… Such a story, Rosgard. That’s the way I lost my oaklings. And I nearly lost my mind and my life as well. Thanks heaven, it doesn’t let it happen, it saved me.

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What happened next? – I couldn’t help but ask.

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Who knows… - the hostess shrugged her shoulders. – As soon as I fetched my second wind, I went home, locked the door tightly, supported the door by the bench and was shaking with fright till the morning. Only the sun-rise brought me some relief. I didn’t tell anyone about what I had seen to play it safe. No one would believe me anyway, it could just lead to gossips.

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I believe you, auntie! – said I firmly. And looking forward to quests I tried to look serious when asking the next question, - dear Vlasilena, would you like me to find out everything for you? To know who was at your house that gloomy night and who is responsible for the death of your oaklings?

The reply actually shocked me to the bottom of my heart.

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No way! No way, Rosgard! – Vlasilena flourished her arms. – Stop thinking about it! I don’t want to know anything about them! Don’t you think I want you to die? No way! It was long ago and long forgotten. That’s all! Oh, it’s so late… we shouldn’t have stayed here so long. I’ll go to bed. I’ll have to get up very early tomorrow. Saying it Vlasilena stood up and disappeared in the house leaving me alone dumbfounded. The door banged sullenly, the latch snapped, and my jaw snapped when I forced myself to shut it.

There won’t be any quest. It’s as clear as daylight. I leaned to the table to blow out half-burnt candles subconsciously, then I tore candle-ends from the bowl and put them directly into my knapsack. I’m a provident person. I would take the bowl too, but I’m afraid Vlasilena would notice the missing plate.

I spent some more minutes sitting in the darkness, then stood up without any enthusiasm and went to the barn where my bed was waiting for me. A sack thrown over itchy straw and a thin blanket is the best a naïve idiot like me could deserve. I hoped, you see, to get something peculiar, a cool quest of the private type, something really faery and phantasmagoric… but all I got was a usual scary story before going to bed.  

Closing my eyes I reached for the hidden game interface.

Exit

Opening the lid of the game cocoon wide I stayed lying for a while looking at the ceiling blindly, then shook my head angrily and got out. The first thing I did was to sit at the computer although my bladder happy to feel that his master was awake started dropping a broad hint at going to the restroom.

Entering the game forum of Valdira, I found the search box and typed some key words in: the Cradle, Vlasilena, quest, to fell withered trees.

As I had expected a lot of appropriate topics appeared on the screen and I had to read everything separating the wheat from the chaff. I wasted an hour on that silly stuff and when I took a break I clicked my tongue thoughtfully.

There wasn’t anything. There wasn’t a single word about the story, I had heard from Vlasilena, on the forum. They didn’t even mention Vlasilena’s name under most topics. She was called an uptown lady, a hostess of the house, ‘a local at the entrance’, a quest NPC. Only in two topics from fifty two most meticulous gamers had found out the name of the hostess and informed others about that fact. But no one seemed to know the scary story about two strangers and harsh frost. In the informal and in the detailed guide for beginners that quest was marked as unprofitable and it was advised to ignore it and not to waste your time on it or as an alternative to fell one tree and proceed stomping away. Stamina and strength increase by one point (in the process of cutting down) and mending of start clothes were set as an award for that quest.

That’s all.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it; I came into the restroom subconsciously, and then cooked dinner on automatic pilot. I didn’t want to sleep at all. I looked around my neglected shelter skeptically I decided to tidy it a bit. Just to kill the time. First I collected rubbish from all the corners, stuffed it into two huge sacks and left them next to the entrance door. Then I washed all my humble plates and put them on the shelf. That’s the point when my enthusiasm faded away and I went to bed.

I was lying peacefully for about a quarter of an hour but then I was hit like a ton of bricks. Gosha had promised that a female-gamer would have appeared in the Cradle by tomorrow noon. And I’ll have to take part in a tournament together with her and win it. And this tournament is obviously a fight. It won’t be a quiz show for sure!

I had two days left to complete the most profitable quests – plums in the Cradle, to level up and to choose some gear and armor. But instead of it I spent two days on useless fuss around Vlasilena’s yard…

‘A noob and an imbecile’ – I came to a bitter conclusion. Tomorrow in the early morning I’ll get down to developing my character.

There is one good news – my future partner will be also a feeble beginner without any gear.          

Chapter 5

The Cradle. Day Three…Damn It All!

A telephone call woke me up. I picked up the receiver by disobedient groggy fingers and croaked:

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Hello?

Gosha’s disgustingly bright voice replied:

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Hey, Ros! Are you sleeping?

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No more… hello,Gosha. What time is it?

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6 a.m.

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What?

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Haven’t you slept enough?

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On the contrary – I muttered indistinctly – I overslept. Is it high time?

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Where are you going?

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Well… to Valdira. To meet the girl.

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That’s the reason of my call, Ros. We can’t make it today. She is still in the war.

Blinking for a while, I reproduced what I had just heard in my mind and realized that I was obviously sleeping and watching a stupid dream.

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Gosha, can you repeat it, please? Where is she?

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At war! – the fireplug said once again distinctly. – Well, I see what you mean. She’s in Valdira, at the clan’s war. We’ve been defending the clan’s citadel from Archangels. They’re constantly storming, bloody beasts. Besides, they’ve concluded a combat alliance with the clan of Dusky Shadows and we’re in a big trouble now. That’s why I’m calling – she won’t make it today. Each fighter is valuable and fighters like she is are worth their weight in gold. So now you’re in the know. Don’t wait for anyone today and… I suppose tomorrow. Run around on your own, ok?

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Ok – I muttered fatefully struggling against the desire to crash the phone against the wall.

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You haven’t done anything stupid yet, I hope? Joining parties, spoiling relationships…

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No way. I’m a disciplined baby.

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And is our baby still in the Cradle where all babies must be? – humor was trickling through Gosha’s voice.

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Yes, still in the Cradle.

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That’s my boy! By the way here’s new info about additional conditions. In short – don’t even think of dying. No deaths until you win the tournament. Or… have you yet?

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No, I’m still alive, I have never died. Gosha, are you kidding me? Where in the Cradle have I got a chance to die? I must do my best to kick the bucket there.

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Well, you’re a talented guy – sniffed Gosha. – I haven’t known about deaths as well, this info came from a very reliable source just yesterday. Ok, I have to hurry up. In general I explained the situation to you; wait for my call in the nearest future. Have you got enough money?

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Yes, I have – I assured him.

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See you. Good luck! And I nearly forgot… if you can, please, find an appropriate sword for her, but not third-rate, ok? Anyway you’ve got plenty of time. Do some quests, save a few coppers. As far as I remember, there is an arms shop… Sorry, I must go.

I didn’t manage to answer – there were short beeps in the receiver. I dropped it on the phone-set very carefully and then inhaled and exhaled a couple of times. So… find a sword for her! Don’t you want a complete mithril armor? No? But I can find it! Don’t you forget I’m a talented guy, do you?

I should calm down right now… and I know one awesome method!

A flash.

Hello, sickly rainbow.

Entrance

I pulled the first stump out of the ground without cutting off the roots properly. I just grasped the main part of the thickest side roots, forcing all my muscles I tore out the stump lopped monstrously with a cracked groan and threw it far away. My fatigue level jumped up to the limit but on the plus side I calmed down and recovered partially. The game responded immediately to such a furious effort and presented me another bonus:

Your strength has increased by 1 point.

So, what have we got now?

Your character’s basic attributes:

Strength – 5

Intelligence – 1

Agility – 1

Stamina – 7

Wisdom – 1

‘It looks really lopsided somehow’ - I came to the conclusion after studying the attributes properly. A trivial development of a beginner as a warrior. But defective – as any experienced physio-gamer would increase agility at least by some points. On the other hand, I haven’t increased the level and it makes it easier to level off the situation. Besides, additional life points at the very beginning are very useful. I can easily stand six-eight strikes by a weak enemy.

In two hours all the stumps were pulled out and brought to the barn where they joined a huge pile of wood. I didn’t get any goodies for that work but actually I hadn’t expected any. I was working without any extra efforts at all. First, the stumps were not big and not very wide-rooting. Second, four points of strength plus an axe handling skill and a lumberman skills increased by three points didn’t let me pay great pains even if I intended to do it.

Anyway, the work was done. I did everything that I had promised. Although I could chop some billets but in fact I supposed I wouldn’t have enough patience for that. I stayed here late as it is.

Having washed myself at the well, I came back to the table standing in the middle of the yard where Vlasilena had been waiting for me.

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The work is done, auntie!

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And it is done perfectly – nodded Vlasilena in agreement and handed me my clothes. – Take them, Rosgard. You did more than you had promised, so I decided to decorate your clothes a bit. I don’t have anything else to present you.

Unfolding the shirt I found something new – a very nice but not complicated blue and yellow ornament appeared on the collar and on the sleeve cuffs. I put on a shirt and pants that had become much smarter not to waste time. I got surprised to see the emergence of a tiny but still plus attribute:

Look + 1 point

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Did I please you? – Vlasilena wondered with a pure female slyness, I hurried to nod.

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Hell yeah!

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All right, - the hostess smiled while giving me a small package – I’ve put some food for you, flintstone, touchwood and tinderbox. They will be useful on your way.

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Thank you again – I bowed taking the gift and feeling that my good mood was coming back.

Congratulations!

The quest ‘To help around the yard’ is completed.

Award: mended clothes

Not bad! I have a good supply of food for the beginning, it’s not a problem to find water in the area, as for flintstone and tinderbox, they must be always in the bag. You can gain fire by several primitive ways in Valdira – for example, by rubbing one dry wooden stick against another, but it’s much easier with anvil.