“Oh, I don’t know!” Kaylin looked over at Vexx. “What do you think, Vexx? Do you think we’ll need two health potions for one goblin? Why’s everyone laughing?”
“Just the one, thanks,” Vexx said between gritted teeth. They might laugh now, but soon they’ll know my name when I’m on par with Dred Wyrm.
“Hmm…” the gnome slid a small red potion across the stall but kept his gaze locked on Vexx. “You’re a mage, aren’t you?”
“I am, indeed.”
The gnome tapped a small blue vial, the sound ringing out. “Why don’t you get one of these bad boys? I bet they never let you use mana potions in the Academy. I see you’re wearing Initiate’s robes. Let me guess, you dropped out?”
Vexx grimaced. “The instructors just couldn’t handle my brilliance…oh, never mind. And yes, I’ve tried mana potion before. It’s like drinking ectoplasm mixed with dwarven moonshine.”
“Well, I add spearmint in mine. How’s your stamina?” the gnome looked over at Kaylin and gave her a lecherous wink. “I’ll bet he could use more with you around, am I right?”
“Hmm?” She blinked. “Yes, I suppose Vexx could use more stamina.”
Vexx muttered something unintelligible and wished for the ground to open up and swallow him.
“Oh, don’t worry,” she said with a smile. “I was also exhausted last night! By the time you put me to bed—”
“That’s not…she’s just…”
“Don’t worry, partner, I’ll get this one,” Kaylin said as she carefully set out a few copper pieces. “I forgot I had these little bits of metal.”
The gnome smiled. “Aren’t you a darling? Any time you get more bits of metal, come back and see Doctor Fansee’s Pick-Me-Ups. Any potions you want; competitively priced, guaranteed 99% poison free!”
“Sure. Who’s that?”
The gnome frowned in confusion and pointed up at his sign. Kaylin tilted her head as she squinted at it.
“Doc…tor…”
“You’re a lucky man,” the gnome said in a quiet voice as he slid over the vial. “Just keep in mind, the Church doesn’t like interracial interc—”
“I’m not,” Vexx sputtered, glancing at Kaylin, who was still sounding out the sign. “I’m not sleeping with her,” he said in a quieter voice.
The gnome nodded, clearly unconvinced. “Do I look like a paladin to you, buddy? I don’t care what you do. Just let me know if it lasts for more than four hours. Sometimes I mess up the dosage.”
10
Pollander’s Sheep
“A right up here,” Kaylin said for the tenth time as they strode along the main road outside Cloudbury.
“I know, I know,” Vexx snapped.
“Okay, because last time—”
“I know!”
They turned and continued in silence, passing the three scattered homesteads that Pollander described. Based on the tranquil scene, it was hard to imagine that any goblin raiding had happened around here. At least, not lately. Though I’ve always heard it’s a rough country near the Lifeless Hills. As if farming and ranching wasn’t hard enough.
Kaylin’s left ear twitched. “There are some sheep up ahead. They sound scared.”
By the time they reached the third house, Vexx could make out the bleating with his own ears. They were penned in a small enclosure, a pitchfork sticking out of a pile of hay nearby, but the area was otherwise quiet. The two dungeoneers separated and approached the area in silence, though it didn’t take long before the two of them met again in the close-cropped field.
Flies buzzed around the half-devoured carcass of a sheep. Blood and drag marks indicated that at least a second sheep had been killed, though the trail of blood disappeared into the underbrush leading up to the Lifeless Hills. Vexx let out a whistle as he squatted down beside the sheep.
“Looks like our little fella had himself a meal here and took another one away for later.”
“Really?” Kaylin asked. “You asked the sheep that?”
“What?”
“You said you trained in the Dark Arts, right? Are you asking the sheep’s ghost questions?”
Vexx blinked in surprise…then looked down at the sheep. A thought rose in his mind. That elf might be the dumbest person I’ve ever come across. And yet…his hand hovered over the sheep’s skull. And yet…
Vexx bit his lip and stood up. “No. I’m just guessing based on the blood trail. Do you see the way the grass is bent over in one direction? He carried the second sheep away.”
“Oh, right,” Kaylin said, nodding agreeably. “I guess that could be it.”
“No time like the present,” Vexx said, already trotting away and following the trail of upturned grass and drops of blood. He felt excitement rising in him as he continued the hunt. To kill or be killed…and we have an advantage over our foe. A goblin might be starting out small, but if we hurry, we’ll be back well before nightfall, and then I can leave this damned village for good.
He glanced over at Kaylin as they walked, the lithe elf stepping lightly through the bushes and scattered trees. Her tanned skin and dull leather armor blended in well here, the earthy browns would hide her easily as the colors of the grass shifted from greens to yellows. Vexx tried to recall what he knew of the elves.
They live in tree villages, like she’d said. I wonder, though, are they all as naive as her? She’s handy with a bow, at least, and moves with an athletic gra—
“Oof!”
Kaylin tripped, sliding down a sloping hill, her bow jutting out as it caught on branches and rocks. Vexx snickered despite himself, then kept his face blank as he carefully stepped down the slope, bits of dirt falling around him. Kaylin cursed and muttered as she slowly got to her feet.
“Careful here,” Vexx said. “It's a rocky country outside of Cloudbury.”
Kaylin nodded. “The Lifeless Hills, right? You’re from around here, aren’t you, Vexx? Why are they called that?”
Vexx let out a long sigh. “Well, it’s true there are goblins and wild animals around, but it’s no place for humans to make a living. Not for long. We just stick around the edge of the forest.”
“The logging camps,” Kaylin said, nodding to herself. “They’re not so far from my tree village.”
“Why’d you leave, anyway?” Vexx asked as Kaylin dusted off her knees. They began walking down the trail again. The trail was harder to follow now, with only the occasional drag marks and spots of blood to guide them. The air seemed thinner as well, Vexx took in long breaths as he continually scanned the trees and brush around them.
“To seek fame and fortune,” Kaylin said. “What about you?”
“Ah, well...” Vexx trailed off, unpleasant memories of his time at the Academy coming back to him. It hadn’t been all bad, of course, and he’d learned magic. Not a lot of people had the kind of talent he had, or the drive to learn more…even if that very ambition was what brought his time at the Academy to an end.