Crowhaven looked different under dawn’s early light.

  It sounded different too.

  Those seeking to lie in past sunup cursed the incessant cawing, and shot dark looks towards the black silhouettes in trees and on rooftops, outlined against the rising sun, but there were few still abed even at this early hour.

  The locals seemed to pay the birds no notice, but the corvids perched along walls and signposts were more than a little unnerving to Wei. He spooned down the porridge the innkeeper doled out as soon as it was cool enough to avoid singing the roof of his mouth, and bade the establishment farewell the minute Rohi had been fed and harnessed by a stableboy eager to earn a copper coin.

  A ratting of wheel on stone temporarily drowned out the crow’s chorus as Wei activated [Burst of Speed (Wagons)] and sped out of town westwards towards Stonecross.

  As the village faded from sight, so too did the sound of the birds, and ten minutes later the skies were clear of any living thing and blessedly quiet.

  The sense of unease faded, but Wei kept the pace up.

  Clouds scudded above, low and dark, and there was a pressure in the air, but from what he’d overheard last night, the locals’ Skills said it was unlikely to rain.

  A strong breeze blew, keeping the rising heat of the summer's day from baking him as he sat in the open driver’s seat and watched Rohi’s easy lope. He hadn’t put the covering up before he’d left, and with the speed they’d picked up he didn’t want to stop. There were miles to go before they reached their destination - villages and farms were more distant here than he was used to - and with the plan to break for lunch at the farm, and with the reset of [Teamster’s Momentum] that would bring, it was best to get ahead whilst they could.

  Regardless, it was pleasant enough in the open, despite the thickness to the air. A humidity that showed no signs of going away. It wasn’t as bad as it could get back home though, and though the roads here were far narrower than highways, they were smooth and bordered with fields. There were no clumps of trees or tall bushes to hide threats. No fog…

  —

  Wei was just beginning to sweat as he spotted the path leading north off the road.

  This time it’ll be the right one.

  They’d lost maybe half an hour of travel time heading down a track that had led to the wrong farm, and the same again when they’d taken a turning that had brought them to an abandoned mill, but he shrugged off the delay; it wasn’t yet ten o’clock by his reckoning, and they were ahead of schedule still.

  As long as we’re not too early for lunch…

  With that thought in mind, he eased up on Rohi. The great urshund had been bounding along the roads for hours now and the heat was surely worse for him under that thick fur coat.

  He got down off the driver's seat as they slowed to a walking pace and went to lead the bear-dog by the reins, taking his canteen and pouring out a generous slosh into the grateful creature’s panting mouth.

  The farm was only a mile or two from the road, if the innkeeper’s recollection was accurate, and he could do with stretching his legs for a bit; even with [Smooth Ride] and the spring suspension that Riselia had built in, sitting in one position for hours on end wasn’t comfortable, and he didn’t feel confident enough to move around the narrow driver’s section much whilst the cart was in motion, even with [Keep to the Path].

  It was calm and peaceful in the countryside. Wherever the farm workers were today, it wasn’t in the fields by the road, and Wei took a moment to appreciate the beauty of this place. Golden ears of wheat, patches of tall stalks topped with blue or yellow flowers. Furrowed fields ripe with leafy green and red vegetables.

  He patted Rohi’s neck as he gave the urshund another swig of water, though most of it ended up on the ground.

  “I’ll get you some beer when we get to the farm.”

  Rohi whuffed.

  “It’s nice out here. What do you say we make this a regular trip?”

  On the way out they’d taken a more northerly route - a more direct path to Halverwick, and one that included a number of villages that hadn’t been served by a [Merchant] recently. Going back via Stonecross might add a day to overall journey time, but if it was this pleasant and held more opportunities to trade…

  Rohi bounced on his front legs, letting out an enthusiastic yap, which Wei took for assent.

  “Of course you probably don’t care as long as we end up by the sea.”

  A lolling tongue was his only reply, and he snorted in amusement and ruffled the thick fur of the great beast’s mane.

  “Well, let’s see if Stonecross lives up to its reputation later, but if the roads are this much better round these parts then I think we have a winner. Honestly, given the state of the ones on the way out, it’s no wonder they don’t get many traders coming through.”

  —

  They smelled the farmhouse before they saw it.

  From a distance, he’d mistaken the trail of smoke drifting up from the chimney for a cloud, and as they passed a small orchard, and the hedges and fences surrounding the clustered buildings came into view, Wei’s stomach began to rumble at the thought of the spread he’d been promised.

  “Looks like we’re not too early boy!”

  As the cart wheels turned he wondered what sort of fresh, juicy home-produce they’d be treated to. Corn? Potatoes?

  Perhaps he could purchase some fresh vegetables to take back to Troston.

  “It’s been a while since I cooked.” He confided in his four-legged companion.

  Do they grow soya beans? We could ferment some soy sauce and make proper chow mei-

  His thoughts trailed off as he drew up by the farmyard gate.

  It was open.

  He stepped inside, leading the urshund and cart.

  Smoke billowed up, but it wasn’t from the chimney; a whole corner of the roof was open to the sky, timbers turned to charcoal stuck out like blackened teeth, and beams around the edges glowed orange as flames licked across them.

  His eyes darted over the scene in front of him.

  Splashes of red inside the windows and on the walls - blood or burning embers.

  A body slumped in the doorway, limp and lifeless.

  Another in the middle of the yard, sprawled out as if it had been trying to crawl towards the gate.

  Wei was frozen, hands trembling on the reins. Even Rohi was still.

  It was a woman.

  She might have been young, but the swollen flesh of her face and the raised black veins and dark tendrils that twisted through her skin made it impossible to tell from this distance.

  Her glassy eyes had bled, and a pool of bloody vomit covered the dirt in front of her pale face.

  Wei felt himself stammering, but his brain couldn’t work out what his mouth was trying to say.

  Images flashed into his mind.

  Something twitched.

  With a sudden yell he hauled on the reins.

  [Quick Turn]!

  Rohi yelped and lept away from the gate, half dragging Wei behind as the young man scrambled for his seat.

  “[Burst of Speed], [Burst of Speed], [Burst of Speed]!”

  The cart spun as the great urshund exploded back down the path towards the main road, leaving a trail of dust and the crackling of a burning farmstead in its wake.

  —

  Thunder rattled as Wei raced down the Stonecross road.

  Blood! Blood and death! Bodies!

  Barrels lashed to the back of the cart rolled and crashed into each other, held in place only by a few ropes.

  Not again. Not again.

  Rohi’s feet flew - a blur of muscle and fur.

  They’d not slowed since they’d fled the farm.

  Wei jounced in the driver's seat, neither the cart’s suspension nor any of his Skills sparing him from the roughness of the ride and the toll it was taking on his body. But it didn’t register.

  His face was set in a grimace. Hands clutching the reins so tight they were white. One thing flashed in his mind over and over.

  Danger! Danger! Danger!

  They sped past empty fields, a pair of terrified rabbits sprinting out of their way.

  Wei stared ahead, wide-eyed, unseeing, teeth clenched, rattling at every jostle of wheel on stone.

  A buzzing filled his ears. Something tried to break through, but the panic was too strong, and then…

  “Hey, boy, I told you to stop! Grab him, Gun.”

  For a second, the thunder stopped, and so did the cart’s forward momentum as Wei found himself forcibly ejected from his fugue state and spinning with the cart as gravity temporarily became horizontal.

  Wei reeled as he was set back down to earth with a thud, along with the cart, Rohi wavering in the traces.

  His head spun as he looked to his left with uncomprehending eyes. His vision wavered.

  A hand the size of a dinnerplate released the side of the cart, and a rattle of metal and a whine of dismay came as a second similarly-oversized appendage released its grip on Rohi’s saddle.

  He looked up, focusing, and found himself staring at the solemn face of the goliath who’d just lifted the entire cart, Rohi and all, and gently spun it in almost a full circle, negating their momentum and bringing them to a standstill.

  “Let’s try that again shall we… Hello there, traveller. Would you mind terribly not trying to run us down, and instead answering a couple of questions?”

  The giant’s face hadn’t moved and Wei, still dazed, searched for the speaker.

  He had to look down and back to spot a slender and handsome man, immaculately done up and wearing a suit of armour that practically sparkled in the sun.

  It was almost impossible to miss, especially as he stepped up and waved a hand in Wei’s face.

  “Hello? Boy?”

  Wei started.

  “I-I’m sorry.” He tried to ignore the churning in his stomach.

  “No matter. Now perhaps you’d mind telling me why you were speeding down the road and why you ignored my first hailing.”

  Wei glanced over his shoulder.

  “I…I didn’t see…” He swallowed. “There’s… bodies...”

  Instantly the man’s friendly demeanour vanished and a hand dropped to a sword at his side.

  “What? Where? What happened? Were you attacked? Is there danger?”

  Still trembling, Wei pointed behind him.

  “Farm. Back there. Fire… Blood. People. Dead.”

  The man held up a hand, brows drawing in.

  “Don’t move.”

  He called the huge goliath in to him, and Wei flinched as a second figure rose up from the grass and joined the two.

  He hadn’t seen the firbolg. He hadn’t seen any of them until a moment before. But the sight of the floppy-eared person alongside the giant and the armour warrior made something flicker in his memory.

  The three held their heads together in murmured discussion before the fine-featured man - their apparent leader - stepped forwards with a serious expression.

  “Boy, I understand you may have been frightened by something, but we need to know if there’s danger nearby. Adventurers are duty-bound to investigate threats they come across. Can you tell us exactly what you saw and where it was?”

  His heart was hammering, but he tried not to stammer his response.

  “I’m… not sure. I didn’t get a good look and I d-don’t know how long we’ve been running.”

  The man frowned.

  “You were going fast. Can you tell us anything about where it was? A description? A name?”

  His wits began to return.

  “It was the T-thornley farmstead. A few hours outside Crowhaven. By cart.”

  The man hesitated.

  “This side of Crowhaven?”

  We nodded.

  The man thought for a second.

  “That’s quite the distance you’ve come then…” he looked round to his two companions, then up at the cart and the barrels barely hanging onto the back, “I know this may be a big ask of a child such as yourself, but...would you be willing to take on passengers?”

  —

  “We appreciate the ride. I wouldn’t have asked if it didn’t sound so urgent. I assure you, you need not fear anything whilst we’re with you.” The slender man said. In his head, Wei thought of him as a knight.

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

  In literal shining armour.

  The knight was perched on the driver’s seat next to him. The firbolg was hanging off the back of the cart with no apparent qualms, whilst the goliath took up the entirety of the rear bed. They’d had to leave the barrels at the side of the road.

  Rohi panted and strained to get up to speed, but with the quick push the goliath had given before he’d jumped in, the great urshound was slowly building momentum.

  “We’re Eryndor’s Legacy,” the knight said, “you may have heard of us.” He looked down at Wei for a second and waited for recognition, then shrugged. “No matter. Just know that we’re a highly rated team; I’m Platinum-rank myself.” He paused for another second and seemed to give up when Wei just stared up at him. “Well, just know that nothing short of a dragon will trouble you whilst we’re around.”

  It seemed like the man was waiting for a response, and Wei managed to stammer something out.

  A minute of awkward silence passed with only the huffing of Rohi and the clattering of wheels on stone to break it, the knight cleared his throat.

  “I’m sure this is all quite a lot to take in - a lowly [Wagon Driver] such as yourself stumbling across a frightful scene, and then having a trio of powerful adventurers asking you to return to it, but on my honour you won’t be in any danger. Here, why don’t I introduce us properly.” He pressed a gloved hand to his chest, the faint squeak of leather on metal accompanying a slight bend at the waist. “I’m Morníciel. [Swordmaster]. I reached level 40 a few years ago and started leading Eryndor’s Legacy - that’s us - across the northern continents looking for worthy causes.”

  He twisted and spread a hand out to encompass the goliath, who was dozing off, his head resting against the back of the driver’s seat and his feet hanging off the end of the cart. Despite having his eyes closed, he grunted as Morníciel gestured to him.

  “This is Gundemar. [Mountainborn Colossus]. Not so keen on conversation but probably the toughest and strongest bastard you’re likely to meet. Reached level 39 recently but can’t seem to tip over that next milestone. Hard to find a suitable challenge when you can take out an urrox with one punch to the head. Honestly, I’ve seen him do it.”

  He straightened up and hiked a thumb over his shoulder.

  “The somewhat shabby fellow hanging onto the back of the cart is Zamril. He’s not quite as high-levelled as Gun and myself, but every group needs someone to deal with any magic nonsense that rears its head, and he’s the [Druid] for it…

  We’ve all been adventuring for a while, although only together as Eryndor’s Legacy for the past decade or so. I’m surprised you haven’t heard of us, although as I said we’ve been in Nyvora for a while. They found a new dungeon on the south coast. It was fun for a while, but at the end of the day, nothing there was worth our time, except for this one monster we encountered in a side chamber so deep it may have extended under the sea. Have you ever heard of a Charana-.”

  Morníciel kept up the steady and one-sided conversation the entire time, telling tales of dungeons conquered and enemies slain that did nothing to ease Wei’s nerves, and as the sun passed its zenith, Wei was almost relieved to see the turning for Thornley Farm coming up ahead.

  At the [Swordmaster]’s urging, he turned up the track and brought them closer, but as the plume of smoke grew larger in the sky and they came to the last half-mile, Wei started shaking so much that the reins jangled and Rohi refused to go further.

  The leather-gloved hand of the leader clapped him on the shoulder.

  “It’s fine, boy. We’ll take it from here.” Without turning he called out instructions. “Zam, head to the farmhouse and see if you can work out what happened, but if you see trouble don’t get too close. I’ll circle round through the fields and look for any threats. Gun you stay here and make sure our new friend is safe. Fifteen minutes out, and then we return and regroup here. Go.”

  Wood creaked as the firbolg dropped off and began to jog down the path, then the whole cart raised half a dozen inches, suspension springs groaning in relief as the goliath got up and stood guard, alert for the first time.

  Wei didn’t even notice Morníciel leaping down and slipping into the fields until he looked and found him gone, and then all he was left with was silence, and the smell of smoke drifting through the air.

  —

  Rohi was panting, and shaking as whatever adrenaline had infused him wore off. Wei managed to open the one chest that remained in the back of the cart - one Gundemar had been treating as a pillow - and brought out a parcel of wrapped meat and a cask of beer for the urshund.

  The goliath’s stomach rumbled as Wei passed him, and once he’d seen to Rohi he retrieved a few rations and offered them to the [Colossus], who took them with a grateful grunt. They disappeared down his throat in one go, then the goliath took a canteen the size of Wei’s head from his belt and drained it.

  There was no conversation as they waited, the sun beating down, but as he stood and stroked Rohi’s mane, watching for the return of the other two, Wei found his tremors fading as the mountain of a warrior stood guard. The man was so… solid, unruffled, that it made it seem like there couldn’t possibly be anything to worry about.

  Zamril was the first to appear, the firbolg’s shuffling gait surprisingly brisk yet almost without urgency, and by the time he’d arrived back at the cart and accepted a drink from Gundemar with a grateful nod, Morníciel was striding out of the field further up the path and heading back to report.

  Everyone turned to the [Druid] first. He spoke with a soft tone, but his voice carried on the breeze.

  “It appears that everyone from the farm is dead. The fire has spread but it is not what killed them. I did not risk getting too close to the bodies but I saw gashes - as if from a knife or tusk - and from the patterns on their skin I suspect perhaps whatever caused it was poisonous in nature. The place does not appear to have been looted, so banditry seems unlikely, but the bodies have not been eaten, so an attack by monster or beast seems equally odd. My best guess is that they were killed for jealousy or revenge, though without an actual investigation I cannot say.”

  Morníciel nodded.

  “That tracks with my observation. No damage to the fields around - no trace of monstrous or human activity beyond the farming that would have been going on.” He turned to Wei. “Did you see anyone on the roads on your journey here?”

  Wei shook his head.

  “It’s been quiet the whole time. The [Innkeeper] in Crowhaven said everyone was in the fields…they’d just got married recently; I was supposed to deliver a parcel…”

  Morníciel bit his lip as his gaze drifted back up the path.

  “A jealous ex-lover perhaps? Or spurned suitor?”

  “From the condition of the bodies, they may have been dead a while.” Zamril said. “Two or three days perhaps. Probably happened in the evening or at night. The attacker leaves. A candle left on a table burns down and the table catches alight. Or perhaps a pot is left on the stove and the food eventually dries and burns, setting light to the kitchen. It’s well made, and mostly stone, but it spreads…”

  He gestured over to where the smoke was still rising.

  Morníciel frowned.

  “You couldn’t do something about that could you?”

  “Of course.”

  The [Druid] pulled out a short staff from a voluminous, shabby sleeve. It was dark brown and warped and covered in patches of moss with what looked like a cluster of seaweed on the end. He began to move it in a circular pattern and chanted under his breath.

  The spell continued for a minute, and Wei felt the breeze pick up, and for the first time since leaving Troston he shivered from the cool. Moisture seemed to vanish from the air and, little by little, the day turned from humid to a balmy summer afternoon.

  As the [Druid] finished his ritual, the clouds above gathered thicker, drawing in close above the pillar of smoke. They grew dark, and then suddenly burst, unleashing a torrent of rain that lasted a full thirty seconds.

  Wei blinked at the firbolg’s magical mastery over the weather, but the three adventurers paid no mind to it. Morníciel was already talking to his two companions, and had taken his helmet off to run a gloved hand through his hair, shaking it out in the fresh breeze.

  It was only then that Wei noticed the pointed ears.

  Wait…is he an elf?

  “-e need to report this to the authorities. We’re closer to Crowhaven but they don’t have a guild. I think it makes sense to head for Stonecross still. Agreed?”

  His companions nodded, and the goliath spoke for the first time.

  “Lunch first.”

  —

  They pulled back to the main road to eat, Gundemar pulling an impossible amount of provisions from a small sack he carried at his side, until Wei realised it was enchanted in the same manner as the chest he had hidden under the driver’s seat.

  The trio invited Wei and Rohi to join them, and following as large a meal as he could ever remember eating, it seemed only polite to offer to take them to their destination. An offer they happily accepted.

  It was only as they passed the barrels of fruit on the side of the road an hour later that any of them remembered Wei’s original cargo, but Zamril had a solution on hand, and after a quick spell they were back on track, the adventurers in the cart, the barrels skittering along behind on slightly unsettling wooden limbs that the [Druid] had caused them to sprout.

  Morníciel had leaned over to Wei as they took off again.

  “That’s the kind of thing you need these magic folk for.”

  By the time the outline of Stonecross peeked above the horizon in the early evening, the elf’s constant chatter and regaling of the exploits of Eryndor’s Legacy, and the occasional interjection from Zamril on some point of arcane lore, had entirely distracted Wei from the trauma of the morning, which, he realised as he remembered why he was transporting them, was perhaps the [Swordmaster]’s plan.

  Ringed by a wall a hundred feet high, Stonecross was built on a miniature mountain, or into a miniature mountain. The outer wall encompassed the entire field of vision of anyone who approached, but before they got that close Wei saw further ring walls rising up inside.

  The gates were empty, but inside the city was bustling, even with the lack of incoming traffic. Wei was pulled over by a [Guard] as they entered, but a quick flash of Morníciel’s adventurer’s badge got them waved through the checkpoint and into the city proper, which suited Wei just fine as towering statue looming in the gatehouse recess shifted position and he realised he was looking at a golem that was bigger than Gundemar.

  The [Mountainborn Colossus] looked over it with an appraising eye too, and Wei wasn’t entirely sure that he liked the smirk that passed across the goliath’s face.

  I’ll find a different tavern from them to stay at tonight.

  But the guardian golem was only the first of many. Animated stone statues in scores of styles and sizes roamed the bustling market that greeted their entry.

  The streets and buildings and the walls themselves were all made of a sandy-coloured stone, but pennants of bronze and green hung everywhere, and the open area before the mountain began to rise up and the second ring emerged from the rock was wide enough and clean enough that light was no issue, even as they stood in the shadow of the gatehouse.

  “First time in Stonecross, boy?”

  Wei glanced up at Morníciel and nodded.

  “Well, we need to report in to the adventurer’s guild, but unless you get a pass they won’t let you through. If all you’re looking for is a market though, they’re mostly down here in the Bronze Ward. Not much to buy higher up unless you’re looking for a specific commission or a golem yourself!” He gave a silvery laugh. “Well, that was the case last time we came through, but I doubt it’s changed much.” He tossed a small pouch to Wei, who caught it. “For the ride, and your bravery.”

  Inside was a handful of gold.

  “Thank you!” Wei stammered.

  “Don’t mention it. Do you think you’ll be staying here long?”

  “No, Sir. I’ll probably get back on the road to Troston in the morning.”

  “In that case, if you can fit us on board, Eryndor’s Legacy would like to hire you to take us along.”

  “Oh, certainly Sir! I’ll try and make room. I’ll just need to see what I can do about the barrels…”

  “Don’t worry about them; Zamril can take care of those. One day he’ll learn a more powerful version of the spell and I’ll have him animate a cart of our own, but until then… it’s about a four day journey?”

  “About that, Sir, yes.”

  “So for the three of us, I suppose Gundemar counts as tw-three people by himself. How does… fifty gold sound? With a tip if you get us there sooner?” He looked around. “Honestly, I’d pay ten times that to get to a place with some action. I wonder if the Floriana dungeon has spewed anything out recently…”

  Wei’s eyes had gone round, and the rest of what Morníciel said failed to register. That was more than a week's pay for a simple transportation job, and the three adventurers would be better protection than the walls of the villages he’d been planning to stop at if anything happened. He could even do the journey faster - press on through the day and into the night if he made sure Rohi was fed. Make real use of [Teamster’s Momentum]. He had Xian’toth’s old goggles which let him see in the dark, and [Keep to the Path]. If he could do it in three… or even two days…

  A ten foot tall golem thudding past carrying a crate of rocks brought him out of his daze, and he snapped back to attention as Morníciel turned to address him again. Gundemar and Zamril had already wandered off.

  “So, we’ll meet you at the Western gate around dawn?”

  Wei offered a low bow.

  “I’ll be there, Sir. Don’t you worry.”

  He began to make a list as the elf strode towards the second tier of walls. Scouring the market, examining a golem, possibly some trading.

  First though: sort by weight, act by need...

  —

  Rohi buried his snout in a trough full of dark red barleywine, which, according to the rotund proprietor of the closest inn, was a type of beer. Why they called it that then he didn’t know; he only knew that five gallons had cost him a full gold coin, but the urshund had earned it.

  “They’re going to bring you out a platter of trout too. Rest up and I’ll get you the same again for breakfast. We’ve got a long journey tomorrow.”

  The great urshund had his head buried in the trough of beer and paid him no attention, but Wei patted him on the back and wandered off back to the market.

  Stalls bedecked in every colour lined the street, though above all of them hung the banners of green and bronze. He eyed the closest shop - a tailor’s - and pushed further into the crowds, passing carpenters and potters and food stalls and trinket sellers.

  Hundreds of people bustled round the lowest ring of the city, mostly human, but with a smattering of animal-headed beastkin, a handful of dwarves and a couple of tabaxi. They all failed to stand out though with the dozens of golems that plodded past.

  The ground shook when the largest passed by.

  The constructs had different forms: a few looked human - almost as though terracotta warriors had come to life - whereas others were more featureless, with pincer hands and forked legs and just a dome where the head would be. Others had more animal-esque forms. Some could have been shishi, but guarding gaping caverns that ran down under the inner city rather than temples, and with the heads of birds and insects and predators rather than just lions. A couple even looked like they’d walked out of a medieval-themed series of Gundam.

  How much does something like that cost?

  One in a blacksmith pumped a set of bellows in a steady and unceasing rhythm. Another one that stood twelve feet tall was lifting crates directly into the second storey window of a building. They looked expensive, covered in glowing sigils and crafted from smooth stone and metal for the most part, but there was one, no larger than he was, simply sweeping the streets with a broom.

  He couldn’t see a pattern to where they were being put to work, but by far the majority of them were moving cargo.

  The largest came in through the gates, or tunnels that descended below the centre of the city. Barrels and boxes and sacks were piled higher than any human worker could manage, and they went about their tasks without pause or rest. There was even a quadrupedal one whose back was loaded with crates, carrying more than Wei could on the cart.

  If they could move any faster, my business would be in danger.

  His stomach rumbled, despite the feast he’d had earlier. He purchased a pair of skewers and a bowl of dipping sauce that proved to be a mixture of some sort of nuts and fruits, with a kick to them he hadn't expected, but once he’d cooled down with a chilled drink courtesy of a vendor who knew {Flash Freeze}, he set about exploring the place properly.

  There were more stonemasons than he’d ever seen in one place, and at least twice the number of jewelers that Troston had. There were still crafters and tanners and leatherworkers and herbalists and the like, but you couldn’t go more than a minute without hearing the sounds of chisel on stone or splitting rocks.

  Space was currently at a premium in his cart, or would be over the next few days, and he didn’t want to impose on Zamril by asking him to animate any more of his cargo, and as such he hesitated as he weighed the shouts of the [Merchants] and [Shopkeepers] bidding him to come consider their wares.

  Although perhaps it would be worth selling the fruit from one of the barrels, and filling it with something else? Stone? Ore? Gems? What would sell well in Troston?

  It was a question he realised he didn’t really know the answer to. He’d gone out to the markets there a handful of times but it wasn’t as if he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the place.

  Something to check when we go back, although, it’s only a few days away - surely people already have this stuff locked down. Rohi and I can move quite quickly though…

  …no. Maintain focus. Smaller, luxury goods.

  Gems were more likely to be worth transporting, but he only had [Rudimentary Market Valuation] and no contacts with which to leverage [Better Trading Through Friends]...yet.

  Maybe they have a scrapyard.

  It was something to keep an eye out for, but for this evening he now had two main goals: browsing for potential item prices to compare when he got back to Troston, and finding out more about these golems…

  —

  “Aha - surely ye’r yanking moi tail!”

  Wei frowned up at the golem maker. The spines on the beastkin’s back rattled as he laughed.

  “I was only asking-”

  “Nay, oi be sorry. Don’ be minding me.” The hedgehog-headed man slapped the arm of the golem standing next to him with a clang. “Oi jus’ forget not ever’one is a local. Here, oi’ll explain.”

  They were stood under an awning in the street as the sun began to set, a lamp-lighter golem plodding past with a burning taper as the market shifted from day- to night-mode. The beastkin ushered him inside the workshop that was built up against the outer wall.

  Inside was lit by glass spheres that ranged from the size of Wei’s fist to the size of his head, and benches covered in tools and partially-worked metal and stone took up most of the space.

  He kept quiet as the hedgehog-man took him round, pointing out various implements and projects as he went.

  “You say you be interested in a golem for defence; tha’s no an unreasonable request, nor an odd one in Stonecross; problem you got is, you ain’t going to be in Stonecross.” They stopped by a table covered in faintly glowing orbs that appeared to be made from different coloured gemstones. “See these ‘ere? These be mana cores; they be what power the golems... unless you be a [Mage]-type wi’ a surplus o’ mana an’ ye’r set on dedicatin’ it to animatin’ the thing ‘stead o’ castin’ spells.”

  Wei shook his head, and the beastkin continued.

  “Well then, norm’ly you’d be needin’ cores triple this size an’ at tenfold the cost t’ run sum’nk big ‘nuff fer a bodyguard. Makes ‘em a bit un-efficient too… ‘less you be in Stonecross.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “‘Cos we got a [Lord]’s Skills buffing the city’s golemancers - that be folks like me what build and run golems. Oi actually got a few Skills o’ moi own as lets me run a couple by meself - [Efficient Motion], [Ambient Recharge] an’ the like - most of us do, but they be ten times more effective in Lord Eisen’s domain.”

  “So I’d have to become a [Mage] or a… [Golemancer] to make it viable?”

  “Well, if yer got a treasure chest full o’ platinum, daresay one o’ the crafters in Gold Ward or higher could make sum’nk to suit yer needs, but at that point I’d be wonderin’ why ye’d bother being’ a [Trader] at all, or oi’d advoise ye t’ hire a small merc’nary comp’ny instead. Bein’ a [Golemancer]’d work, but it means pickin’ up [Mage], an’ [Sculptor] or [Crafter], an’ [Runecarver] Classes and combinin’ ‘em, and even then it takes years ‘fore ye progress beyond minor golems. It be the work of a lifetime, no’ a quick path for, an’ I don’ deny it, an excellent guard.”

  Wei sighed.

  “So golems are too expensive to buy, and too inefficient to function without being able to make and maintain them yourself.”

  “Hey now, I don’t be saying that ‘xactly…”

  —

  Two hours later, having sold one of the barrels of sunberries to a local grocer, or the fruit contents at least, Wei walked back from the [Golemancer]’s workshop with his arms full.

  Six miniature golems were clutched tight to his chest, though they were sturdy enough to survive the fall even onto stone streets.

  It turned out that the hedgehog-beastkin, Harrik, had a number of apprentices, and half of them had been working on their first real projects. These golems were only eight-inches high, and could perform only the most basic tasks, but they did work… for a few hours, before they’d shut down to slowly absorb mana for the rest of the day.

  Still, they could move and lift and carry and set down, and a pair of them were even programmed to mock-fight. It was a bit of a risk, but they were undeniably cute. Besides, Harrik had just been going to scrap them to recover the mana crystal shards that powered them, and the [Golemancer] hadn’t asked for too much -.

  Note to self: check local scrapyards if we come back through here.

  He was almost certain his [Sympathetic Negotiation] had put in some good work - and he was just as certain that he could find a buyer for them back in Troston.

  For most of them maybe…I like the rust-coloured one. Red for success. It’ll bring me luck…

  That was the excuse he was going with at least.

  He returned to the inn to find Rohi asleep. He was feeling exhausted himself - an early start and processing so many new sights and sounds and smells and information on top of the stress of the ride and frayed nerves had hit him like a club to the head - but he managed to store the golems in the hidden chest beneath the driver’s seat of the cart, and wandered back out into the market to pick up a few small trade goods he’d noticed to fill up the one empty barrel he had, and his [Scavenger’s Satchel] too. It was worth a shot, and it was all good practice...

  It was pushing midnight when he finally returned to the inn and collapsed into bed. He didn’t even have the energy to undress, but the cart was ready, and with a good night’s sleep, he and Rohi would be too.

  They’d have to be, if they wanted to get back to Troston in two days.

  [Wagon Driver Level 17!]

  [Skill - Cushioned Seats gained!]

  [Skill - Harnessed Endurance gained!]

  [Salvage Trader Level 16!]

  [Skill Improvement – Salvager’s -> Merchant’s Eye gained!]

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