Grand Game 169: The Southeast Watchtower (Patreon)

A hostile entity has failed to detect you!

A hostile entity has failed to detect you!

...

The second ticked by, and still, the knights failed to see me.

“Get a bloody diviner up here!” an officer roared. “They must be here!”

“Should we get the Power?” a knight asked.

“Not yet,” the officer growled. “There is still time.”

Footfalls, casual and relaxed by the sounds of them, approached. A second officer? “Have you found the intruders yet, Stonebeard?”

“No,” the first officer replied in a clipped tone.

“Why not?” the second challenged. “This section of the wall has been flooded with lights and troops. You men can’t be that incompetent.”

There was a moment’s silence. The insult obviously grated on Stonebeard, but when he responded, his tone was even. “The intruders are hiding, Wilsh.”

Wilsh sighed. “If they aren’t located, I can assure you, Rampel will be… most displeased.” He paused. “With you.”

“I’m well aware of that, Captain Wilsh,” Stonebeard said emotionlessly. “Now, if you will leave my men and me to do our jobs, we can see this done.”

“This inner wall is yours to oversee, of course,” Wilsh continued, seemingly unable to let the matter lie. “How you conduct your search is your business, but if you let them escape, it will be on your head, Stonebeard. Not mine.”

“Enough, Wilsh,” Stonebeard snarled, his temper finally slipping free. “Your advice is both unwanted and unwarranted. Go see to your own responsibilities. The outer wall’s wards are still triggered. Have your people—”

Your invisibility potion has worn off.

I cursed softly as my hands began to materialize. The potion had chosen a poor time to dissipate. The two officers and a host of other knights were still close by.

A hostile entity has detected you! You are no longer hidden.

“Sir, I see one! He’s stuck in the outer wall wards!”

Luck was not with me today. I'd been spotted with almost a full minute remaining on my paralysis.

“Find the others!” Stonebeard ordered. “They can’t be far.”

“Well, well,” Wilsh remarked. “Looks like they’re using invisibility potions.”

Keep talking, I thought. There was still a way to go on my paralysis. The longer the officers took to act, the better my chances of escaping. I stared at the opposite end of the rampart. It was achingly close. Evading detection was no longer possible, but reaching the Dark quarter was still a possibility.

I'll worry about the consequences later. If I can—

“You two!” Wilsh barked. “Don't just stand there, gaping like fools. Kill the idiot!”

Uh-oh.

“Don't,” Stonebeard objected. “We should capture him alive. Then—”

“Ha! There's no chance of that,” Wilsh replied. “And as you pointed out earlier, the outer wall is my responsibility. I, at least, will have something to show when Rampel investigates this mess.”

There was a moment of silence. Then, “As you wish.”

“Stop dithering, you morons,” Wilsh yelled. “I gave you an order! Kill him!”

Well, this isn’t good, I thought inanely.

A heartbeat later, two arrows thudded into me.

A hostile entity has critically injured you!

A hostile entity has critically injured you!

Warning! Your health is dangerously low at 5%.

The archers were good. Both had struck me in the neck. Agony radiated outwards from the wounds, and if I could’ve, I  would be writhing on the ground.

Any hope I had of escaping had vanished. There was no point attempting to use the potion bracelet either. Even if it worked while I was paralyzed, it would only serve to prolong my suffering.

I was good as dead already. Making peace with my fate, I waited for the next volley.

I was not kept waiting long.

A hostile entity has critically injured you!

You have died.

~~~

I returned to awareness with shocking suddenness.

I’d died.

I remembered that much, but nothing else. But my memories would return, I knew. And painfully. Gasping quietly, I steeled myself for what would come next.

Images cascaded through my mind.

Gut-wrenching agony followed quickly on its heels.

Convulsing, I curled in a ball, legs tucked in and head bowed, as I once more experienced the sensation of dying. From my prior death, I knew there was nothing to do but bear through it.

However, that did not make the experience any less unpleasant.

Impatiently, I waited for my mind to accept the truth. I'm not dead, I told myself. I'm not dead. Reluctantly, the waves of torment holding me captive released their hold.

Breathing easier, I turned my attention to the waiting Game message.

You have been reborn. Lives remaining: 2. Time lost during resurrection: 8 hours. Rebirth location: sector 1 safe zone. One soul bond item has been restored.

Your task: Heist in the Dark! has been updated. You have failed to enter the Dark quarter. Objective revised: Before you can attempt your robbery, find a viable means of entry into the Dark Quarter.

I opened my eyes.

I was in a rebirth well—and I was not alone. Ignoring the liquid lapping at my face from the shallow pool and the silent figure I sensed standing nearby, I sat up and took in my surroundings.

I was in a cell. Stone walls bordered the rebirth well on three sides, while wrought iron rods barred the way out on the fourth.

The sight took me aback. I was in the safe zone, and while I expected my circumstances to be dire, I had not expected to awake a prisoner.

Glancing down at myself, I saw I was clothed in a white newbie shirt and shorts. Ebonheart was in the pool, too, lying next to me. I retrieved the sword but, with nowhere to sheathe it, was forced to hold the bare blade.

Damn, what now?

I turned my attention to the figure standing opposite me—on the other side of the bars. Dressed in unrelieved black, he studied me inquisitively. Seeing that I was alert, he turned to his right and called out. “Sirs! The prisoner is awake.”

I examined my guard just as curiously as I walked up to the bars. He was not dressed like a knight. If it was not the Triumvirate holding me prisoner, then who? Reaching out with my will, I cast analyze.

The target is Liam, a level 140 fighter and human. He is a player and bears a Mark of Major Dark and a Mark of Rampel.

My lips twisted sourly. A Dark player. Could this get any worse? Well, I could’ve landed in the Awakened Dead’s hands, I thought blackly. At that, my lips stretched in a thin smile.

“What are you grinning at?” someone asked.

I recognize that voice. It was the second officer who had been present at my killing. I glanced to my left. A long corridor ran across the entrance of my cell, and striding down it were two players.

One was Wilsh, and the other, a dwarf. I didn't respond to the officer’s question and instead studied the newcomers as they drew to a halt before my cell. The dwarf was in full plate mail and clearly a Triumvirate knight. Wilsh, on the other hand, was dressed in a similar fashion to the guard—in reinforced black leather armor.

I analyzed both players.

The target is Stonebeard, a level 169 shadow paladin and dwarf. He is a player and bears a Mark of Greater Shadow and a Mark of Mydas.

The target is Wilsh, a level 165 sorcerer and human. He is a player and bears a Mark of Supreme Dark and a Mark of Rampel.

“Well?” Wilsh demanded again.

I stayed silent.

Wilsh’s face tightened, but before he could admonish me, the dwarf spoke. “I'm Captain Stonebeard, commander of the east Triumvirate guard contingent.”

I nodded in acknowledgment.

Stonebeard looked at his companion, and reluctantly Wilsh introduced himself. “Wilsh. Blackguard Captain,” he said curtly. “And who are you?”

Ignoring the question, I glared at the two captains. “What am I doing here?”

“You are being detained,” Stonebeard said, stating the obvious.

My eyes narrowed into slits. “Detained? Why?”

“We are not here to answer your questions,” Wilsh snapped. “You are here to answer ours. Now tell me who you are?”

I folded my arms and stared at him.

Wilsh’s face reddened at my insolence, but he didn’t repeat the question. His gaze flickered to the bare blade in my hand. “You are no legionnaire,” he stated with conviction. “Where did you get that sword?”

Ignoring the blackguard captain’s question once more, I let a slow smile spread across my face.

Wilsh scowled, and a moment later, I felt an interrogatory ripple wash over me.

You have passed a mental resistance check! An analyze attempt by Wilsh has failed.

Wilsh growled in frustration and spun to face his companion. “I still can't analyze him. You try.”

The dwarf cast his fellow captain an opaque look before turning back to me. A second later, I felt the effect of another analyzed attempt.

An analyze attempt by Stonebeard has failed.

“I can't either,” the knight said.

I smiled thinly at my two captors. “Will either of you tell me why I am being held?”

“No, we bloody well won’t!” Wilsh barked out. “Not until—”

“You are being detained because you have committed multiple infractions against the laws governing Nexus,” Stonebeard said, speaking heedlessly over his companion.

Infractions? That didn't sound too bad.

Wilsh glared at the dwarf. “Don't answer him!”

“City law is clear,” the dwarf replied evenly. “Every criminal has a right to know the offenses of which they have been convicted.”

“But you don't have to bloody well tell him right now!” Wilsh said in exasperation.

Tilting my head slightly, I listened to the pair argue. The two officers did not appear united in their approach.

“He asked,” the dwarf said, unfazed by his companion’s anger. Stonebeard held the taller human’s gaze. “Now, will you let me do my duty? I must warn you that if you continue to interfere, I will be forced to lodge an objection with—”

“Very well. Go ahead,” the blackguard captain said, his face a picture of disgust. Folding his arms, he fumed in silence while Stonebeard turned back to me.

“Where am I?” I asked, testing the limits of what the Triumvirate knight was willing to tell me.

“You are being held in the prison level of the southeast watchtower,” Stonebeard replied immediately. He glanced sideways at the other captain. “The tower is under the command of the blackguards.”

My lips turn down at that. Given what I had heard so far, I'd rather be in Triumvirate custody than in the hands of the blackguards, whatever they were. “What infractions did I commit?” I asked although I thought they were pretty obvious.

“You broke city laws four, twenty-nine, twelve, and sixteen. Attempting to illegally enter the Dark quarter. Failure to identify yourself. Trespassing in a restricted zone. And damaging of city property.”

I frowned. Three of my infractions were self-explanatory. The fourth was less clear. “I didn't damage anything.”

“You did,” Stonebeard said equably. “You triggered a tier twelve ward. The ward will have to be reset.”

I opened my mouth to object. Surely a spell could not be considered property?

But before I could speak, the Triumvirate captain went on, “Tier twelve wards are expensive and can only be set by one of the supreme Powers. The services of one will have to be procured.”

I closed my mouth with a snap, not missing the implications. Interesting. So a tier twelve spell could only be cast by a Power. If nothing else, that little tidbit of information let me better understand the difference in levels between players and Powers.

“How long will I be held for?” I asked.

“For your crimes, three months,” Stonebeard answered.

My heart sank. Three months? That seemed like forever. I contemplated trying to escape. Both captains stood in clear line of sight. All it would take was a single shadow blink to leave.

But I restrained myself. I'd already been dealt one harsh lesson for underestimating the knights. Even if I did manage to escape my cell, there was no telling what other defenses I would have to overcome before escaping the prison entirely.

Meanwhile, the Triumvirate captain continued speaking. “... earlier for a fee.”

My ears perked up as I caught the tail end of his words. “What was that?” I asked sharply.

“I was explaining that you may either serve the time or pay a fee in lieu of your jail time,” Stonebeard said patiently.

“How much?”

“Five hundred gold.”

I groaned at the cost, but before I could respond, another player entered the room. If his uniform was anything to go by, he, too, was a blackguard.

The new entrant saluted Wilsh. “Sir! The diviner is on his way. He will be here soon.”

“Excellent,” Wilsh murmured, almost rubbing his hands in glee. At his companion’s look of silent reproach, the blackguard captain scowled. “What? The law does not stop me from learning what I can of our prisoner, now does it?”

Stonebeard shook his head. “It doesn't.”

Wilsh smiled in satisfaction and glanced at me. “Despite your poor attempts to conceal your identity, I will soon find out who you are. Rest assured, my diviner will unearth your secrets.” His voice trailed off. “There is something familiar about your face...” He muttered under his breath. “Something I feel I should remember.”

I was sure I was not meant to overhear the captain's last words, but he had not accounted for my acute hearing. I spun back to the Triumvirate captain. “Five hundred gold, you said? And if I pay the fine, can I leave immediately?”

“Of course,” that dwarf replied. “Can you pay?”

“Yes,” I said shortly. “I only need access to my bank account.”

Wordlessly, Stonebeard shoved his right hand through the bars, revealing a keystone in his palm.

Wilsh’s eyes widened. “Wait! Only a few minutes at least.”

A small smile twitched at the corners of the impassive dwarf’s mouth. “I can't do that,” he rumbled. “The prisoner is prepared to pay his fines, and the law is clear on that score. He must be released immediately.”

Ignoring Wilsh’s sputtered protests, I stepped forward and slapped my hand onto the keystone, willing the funds to transfer.

You have lost 500 gold.

You have paid 500 gold in fines to Captain Stonebeard, a representative of the Triumvirate faction. Your infractions have been struck from the city’s records.

An instant later, the bars of the cell retracted, and I stepped out a free man. I grinned at the Triumvirate knight. “Thank you,” I murmured.

He inclined his head in acknowledgment.

“What about my gear?” I asked quickly, knowing I had to get out of the prison fast. “Can I get it back?”

Stonebeard shook his head. “That is not for me to decide. You were killed on the outer wall, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Dark quarter. To retrieve your items, you must apply to the blackguards.”

My gaze flickered to Wilsh. His smile was back. “Of course, you may have your gear back.” He paused. “For a price,” he added, a victorious smile on his lips.

I didn't have time to negotiate, and if the glint in Wilsh’s eyes was anything to go by, revealing my identity would be part of the price I'd have to pay.

Leaving my gear behind hurt, but I had no choice. “No thanks,” I replied and dashed out of the room.