Rook didn't have the seventh sense to detect emotions from another person, But if Alderion was as accurate as Rook thought he was, a small platoon of soldiers meant trouble. Maybe Phane will know.

  “It spells trouble, but also theres a sense of safety about having a patrol marching within the street,” Mara said, watching the group.

  Reina shot her a glance. “Mara, their not even from this place. They travelled through the stone pass, through Stain and nearly a week through the Hellish Forest to get here.”

  Mara nodded, giving Reina a look as if she wanted to say more, but thought better of it.

  Rook's eyes were fixed on the platoon as they walked away. Their Armored boots chinked and their staff butts tapped down the cobble. Native gnomes to Ollar eyed the lot as they passed, many with suspicion twisted into their faces. Children nearby laughed at them, pretending to be soldiers themselves. Rook knew better, he took history. He knew about the massacres that armies would commit and if these were mage soldiers, it meant danger.

  He handed Reina the small piece of parchment and rolled his shoulders. “Well, might as well get going. Where to first?”

  She peered at the street and then up toward some of the hanging signs posted at the intersection corners. “There.” She pointed. “We need to stop or to gather some herbs from one of the shops.”

  They pressed forward down the road in front of a small hovel sized wooden building with a sign that said Mary's cauldron. Inside were neatly stacked shelves of herbs hanging from window sills sprawled across the countertops and tomes lining the back wall. There was something screaming. A faint, muffled noise and to the unbothered it could've been confused for a teapot.

  “What the hell’s that?” Rook asked, peering around the place.

  “Most likely a Mandrake plant,” Reina responded, sifting through a box of potions. “We’re going to need to stock up on health and mana. Rook can we use some of the money from the mine?”

  “We’re a party right? I'll buy anything you guys need, we have enough to go around,” he said, not wanting to tell anyone just yet that he had an astronomical amount of money, thanks to Burrlegast's loot bonus.

  “Indeed they are mandrake plants,” a voice behind the counter said. “Funny enough they're actually ripe for the picking. Allow me to give you a show.” A dwarven woman stepped from behind the counter. Her long platinum blonde hair was tied into braids that trailed down past her waist. “Watch this,” she said, pulling up one of the plants. It was ugly root version of a premature baby. Dirty, specked with knots and bumps like a root vegetable. Growing out on top of its crying face in long stems were blue veiny leaves. The thing moaned in pain and Rook was not sure what to do with this information. He was no alchemist, and he definitely was no boy wizard.

  “Perfect, we will take one of those,” Reina said.

  The dwarf packed up one of the creatures into a burlap sack, as well as the rest of the basket Reina had placed on the counter.

  Why the hell would we need one of these? Rook regarded Reina, but left it alone.

  “Well, pay the woman,” Reina said, looking at him with a wry smile.

  Rook then looked at Al, waiting for any additional items. But the elf just fiddled with a set of dangling carrots hanging on a thin string.

  “These carrots, they smell unusual.” Alderion rubbed his fingers together.

  “Well, that is because they are soaked in a flammable liquid, which is very useful to cut up and make exploding potions,” the dwarf answered poignantly. “You can also just toss them towards an enemy.” She made an explosion motion with her hands.

  Rook plucked one, smelled it and wrinkled his nose at the familiar smell of oil. He plucked the bunch and placed them on the countertop. “I'll take all of these as well,” he said wiping his hands on his pants. “Can’t have too many, even though I always forget I have them.”

  “These will be useful in a pinch, I'm sure.” Mara wrinkled her nose at the carrots.

  After two more stops Rook's inventory was almost full of herbs, rice, chicken, and other miscellaneous tavern items, including soaps and oils. They passed a group of children playing with wooden dolls and Rook frowned at them. The dolls' intricately carved designs included joints, clothes, and accessories. I wonder if Brianna's boy would like one of these. He walked over and asked the group where they got those toys. One of the children pointed over to a small vendor. Sure enough, the man looked like a shopkeeper, in fact he looked like Geppetto. He was carving wooden dolls. Rook thanked the children and headed over.

  “What are you doing?” Reina asked. “We should get back to the tavern. You can easily explore the town after we get what we need.”

  “I felt it'd be nice to repay the kindness to not just Brianna, but her son as well.” He picked out two toys, a fish whose tail moved to left and right with a flexing joint and the other was what looked like a torokin with a battle axe. I hope he likes these.

  Reina looked at him and gave him a warm smile. “Every day you surprise me.” She frowned at Alderion who was giving her an amused look. “Don’t say anything, Let's be done already so we can get back to the Stumbling Ogre.”

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “I never doubted your kindness,” Mara chimed.

  “Thank you, Mara. Always there to pick me up if I need it.”

  Rook smiled to himself as he bagged his items. Movement caught his attention. The type of movement someone made when they were sneaking around. I can’t catch a break can I? Out of the corner of his eye, two black robed figures seemed to be watching the group beneath hoods that cloaked their face. Well, that's menacing. Rook stared back and the two moved the opposite direction. Strange.

  They returned to the Stumbling Ogre, where they found Phane outside waiting. “I apologize for not showing up sooner. I’ll make it up to you,” The guard captain said. His normal cheery face looked gaunt and haggard, as if he wasn’t sleeping well.

  “Everything ok?” Rook asked. “You look burnt out and stressed. As if you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders more than usual.

  Phane gave him a sad smile. “I will be, Jody’s funeral tomorrow and all. Not only that, it's unusually busy in Ollar. Something is happening in Numeriksden and representatives have been speaking to King Ollar and his war council.” He looked at them conspiratorially. “I'm not supposed to be telling you this, but I think a war is brewing in Centrulia and it has something to do with the Infernal.”

  Command Presence Activated

  He shot his head around, assessing for threats within the area, it didn’t make sense. He wasn't in a fight, there were people passing by without even giving them a second glance. People wore travelling clothes, enjoyed vendor foods and window shopped. Rook himself wore a nice set of scale mail, so he blended into any adventuring party and Alderion had his hood up. Who's there? Out of the corner of his eye, two more of the robed figures slipped into an alleyway.

  “Did you guys see them?” Rook pointed at the alleyway. “Those people dressed in black robes, I don’t know what they are doing, but I think they are following me. His heart was racing, thumping rapidly in his chest and pounding in his ears.

  “I didn't catch anything,” Phane said, looking around the streets.

  “Nevermind.”

  “You sure they weren’t stonists?” Reina asked.

  At the name Mara tensed, clenching her fists. The elf looked curiously at her, opened his mouth but then closed it. They looked confused as Rook continued his shifting gaze around. Eventually he lamented, thinking the situation was resolved. Brianna walked out with a trash bag and nodded for them to follow.

  She glanced back again at them and frowned, but still led them into the basement nonetheless. “Rook, I really hope you have a secret basket somewhere, because I don’t see anything in your dirty damned hands.”

  Rook put his hands up defensively. “Yes, it’s in my inventory, I thought I told you.” Rook saw the basket he was meant to take on the errand and put it out in front of him on the bartop. Strike was behind sweeping and looked less than pleased that he would have to wipe down the counter again. “Sorry.” Rook began summoning items and placing them in the basket. They looked in shock at the feat, as if he was doing magic. Once the basket was full he slid it over to Brianna. “It’s all there, also I have these for your son.” He handed her the toys.

  Brianna stared at the display, mouth agape. “Thank you, Rook.” Her eyes moistened. “I always mean to buy him toys, I just… forget or get too busy each time I run my errands. Honey, look what mommy’s friend got you.” She handed the toys to the child and he reluctantly took them.

  “Are you sure I can play with them?” her son asked Rook. “I won’t hurt them I promise.”

  Rook's chest tightened, his inner child was sobbing at the kind gesture. “They’re yours forever half squat. It's because your awesome mother gave us a place to stay.”

  His face lit up and he began playing with the fish and torokin warrior. “Look mommy, it looks just like daddy did.”

  Everyone was moved by the child. Rook felt a small squeeze on his shoulder from Reina. “I think I might cry.” She sniffed.

  “Good, I would hate to cry alone.” Rook mentally swore that he would fix this place, bit by bit with small gestures. I swear I'll make it to where you can play out in the sun with the other kids.

  After a quick goodbye, they decided to head to Mimics.

  ***

  Following the cobble to the end of the long trading district, they found themselves at the Mimic chest building that stood out like a sore thumb amongst the square. I can't wait to tell the old man all about my new powers.

  They entered Mimics and the command presence came back, bringing the analytical side in full force. Something’s wrong. A shout followed by grunts of pain and more commotion indicated that maybe they should hurry the fuck up and step inside.

  “Hurry, we gotta go inside,” Rook said, rushing inside.

  He pulled the door open with more force than he meant to and Al stumbled in after him. The cold temperature nearly floored him and he slipped on his way in and pitched into something hard. Pain radiated through his cheek and into the top of his head.

  “Shit, what is this?!” Rook asked, peeling his face away from a wall of ice.

  Al pulled him up with one hand, and Rook was surprised to see his other holding the Dawn Blade. Why did you draw? He looked around at the carnage. The shop was in tatters, fresh red blood mixed with icy slurry to create a gruesome slushy. Frozen shelves and items scatter about the bursts of cold.

  “Up there!” Mara said.

  Rook craned his head up to see there were several red bladed swords frozen to the ceiling. “Fuck!” Fear hit him like a freight train. “Jinxor! You good, old man?” Rook called out.

  “There’s dangerous magic afoot.” Al answered gently, pushing him forward deeper into the shop.

  Rook pulled his mace out, holding it forward in a middle guard. The door slammed open behind them causing Rook to jump. Reina was last to enter with her sword drawn a moment later.

  “Watch out for the frozen-,” Rook began but was interrupted as Reina fell flat on her ass and slid a few feet. “What is this anyway?” He leaned down to inspect the ice and helped her to her feet.

  Rook swallowed hard upon realization. The ice was actually a puddle of frozen blood, there were bits of viscera and an eyeball. It reminded him of a call for a man who suffered from a self inflicted gunshot wound, only he used a 12 gauge. Two things happened that day, Rook threw up outside his patrol car, and he could never eat bloomin 'onion again.