Chapter 21: Liabilities (Patreon)

“I told you,” Celeste exclaimed triumphantly. “She’s a player!”

“As always, my dear,” Eoman murmured, “you’re right.” He turned to Soren, his gaze solemn. “What do you expect me to do with this information?”

There was nothing for it but to forge ahead now, I thought.

“Like Alon said, we wish to fight for the Raccoons,” I said, speaking up. “We’ve our own scores to settle with the Devils.”

His gaze still fixed on Soren, Eoman didn’t look at me.

My brother nodded imperceptibly.

Sighing, the gang leader turned to face me. “Thank you for your most generous offer, my dear, but regrettably my plans are finalized. The Raccoons don’t need help.”

I couldn’t believe it. Eoman was turning down the help of a player?

“You will,” I said firmly.

Eoman’s eyes glinted dangerously. “Is that a threat?”

I shook my head. “It isn’t. But how will you fare against the Devils’ players without any of your own?”

For the first time, I saw genuine surprise cross Eoman’s face. Even Celeste looked taken aback. “What proof do you have girl?” he asked softly, his mask of affability finally slipping.

I glanced pointedly at Soren, knowing the truth would come better from him. For whatever reason, Eoman seemed to respect my brother’s opinion.

“Elana speaks truly,” Soren said reluctantly. “We’ve run across them twice already. One was a rogue. The other a half-orc. Both were intent on killing Elana.”

“Thrice,” I corrected. “We’ve run across them thrice.”

Eoman looked at me questioningly.

“The first encounter was in the Black Sewers before Soren’s recovery.”

The gang leader’s gaze flickered shrewdly from me to Alon. “You two were the ones responsible for the ruckus in the Devils’ headquarters a few nights ago, weren’t you?”

Alon and I both nodded.

“That explains Cantos’ animosity then,” he said with a fleeting smile.

“What was the player doing in the Devils’ lair?” Celeste asked, a frown marring her face.

Alon and I exchanged glances. “I don’t know,” I said. “But when we saw him, he was in Cantos’ company.”

“And why were you in the Sewers?” Celeste probed.

I hesitated. “We were searching for a cure for Soren. He’d constricted Murkyl’s Blight.”

“Murkyl’s Blight,” the blonde woman mused, “that’s no easy thing to remedy. It would require strong magic to—” She broke off, her eyes narrowing. “What did you find in the Sewers?”

“A cure disease potion,” I replied. “Amongst other Game artifacts.”

Celeste sucked in a breath. “Were there many artifacts in the Sewers?”

I shrugged. “I’m not sure, we had no time to search the entire warehouse.”

She leaned forward. “So, the artifacts were in Cantos’ possession? Do you know where he got them from? Such things are not easy to come by.”

I shrugged. “He stole them from the goddess, or so we heard.”

She frowned but didn’t question me further on their source. “What happened to the artifacts? Are they still in the Devils’ lair?

“We burned them.”

“You did what? Celeste shrieked.

Eoman began laughing.

✵ ✵ ✵

“Oh my,” Eoman said when his laughter finally died down. Celeste, though, didn’t look nearly as amused. “I think I’m finally beginning to understand why the Butcher is so eager to get his hands on you.” He threw me and Alon pleased looks. “You two realize you’ve likely done more damage to the Devils with that one act than the Raccoons have managed for years?”

Looking down, Alon shrugged. “Cantos would’ve lost everything in the raid, anyway.”

“There was no raid,” Eoman said simply. “And even if there had been, the Devils’ loot would’ve been untouched.”

Alon looked as confused as I felt.

Eoman didn’t deign to explain. “Moving on, what levels were the players you faced?” he asked, looking squarely at me.

“One was level fourteen. Another level fifteen,” I replied. “The last, I don’t know.”

Eoman and Celeste exchanged glances, and the blonde woman seemed to shrug. “And what level are you?” the gang leader asked, turning back to me.

For a moment, I debated answering. “Level thirteen,” I said finally, seeing no harm in it.

“Then, I think, my original decision stands, my dear,” Eoman said gravely. “The Raccoons do not need your help.”

“But why?” Alon blurted out before I could.

Eoman looked at him mildly. “I’ll explain. Just this once. Two—or even three—rank one players are of no concern.”

“There could be more,” I pointed out.

“Just so. There could. I will not base my plans on speculation, though. But both those things are beside the point. The truth?” He exhaled. “You’re a liability, my dear.”

Startled, I stared at him. A liability? And all because I was a player? How ironic.

Alon was scowling, and Soren wasn’t looking happy either. Both were offended on my behalf at the gang leader’s words.

“Cantos has tainted your name,” Eoman went on, “and if you fight beside the Raccoons, you will taint ours too.” He turned to face Soren and Alon. “However, I can always do with more strong fighters. You two are welcome to stay.”

My face burned. Eoman was rejecting my aid but accepting Soren’s and Alon’s. Never would I have imagined being a player would result in this.

The gang leader was doing more than simply rejecting me, though. While he had not come right out and said it, Eoman was telling me I was not welcome in the poor quarter.

But Soren and Alon were.

Soren was shaking his head. “I’m sorry, Eoman. Where Elana goes, we go. If she can’t stay, neither will we.” He rose to his feet. “Thank you for—”

“No,” I said abruptly. “Alon and Soren will accept your invitation. I will go.”

“No, El,” Alon said rushing to his feet. “We’re coming with—”

“You’re not.” I raised my chin. “Eoman is correct. I’m a liability. And this is your home. It’s only right that you stay and fight for it.”

“But… but where will you go?” Alon asked forlornly.

“To where I should have in the first place,” I said bitterly. “To Arinna.”

Soren’s face paled. “You can’t do that, El!”

“I can. And I must.” Kicking back my chair, I turned for the door.

Both Soren and Alon moved to block me.

“Stop!” Eoman commanded, his voice, cracking like a whip.

Soren froze as did Alon.

“Let her go,” the Racoon leader said, his void devoid of warmth.

Soren’s eyes darted helplessly from Eoman to me. Even Alon, dear Alon, was at a loss what to do. Neither dared disobey the gang leader in his own base.

“It’s her choice. Honor it.” Eoman met my eyes. “I’m sorry you didn’t find what you were looking for here, girl. But if you will allow me, can I offer you one piece of advice?”

I didn’t want anything from the Raccoon, not after he’d rejected me so bluntly, but he’d made Alon and Soren see sense, and for that I would hear him out at least. “Go on.”

“Before you throw yourself at the goddess’ feet, see Odenna,” Eoman said.

I stared at the gang leader. This again? Eoman knew Odenna too?

Even Celeste appeared puzzled by his words. “Who’s this now, Eo? Another old acquaintance?”

“Something like that,” Eoman said, not releasing me from his stare. “You could say she’s a friend of the family’s.” Scrutinizing my face, he read its stubborn lines. “It’s only advice, girl,” he said softly. “Use it or not as you please.

I nodded curtly, and turned on my heel, not so much as glancing at Soren or Alon. I feared if I did, my resolve would crumble.

Leaving the room, I fled the building.

✵ ✵ ✵

“Are we truly going to join Arinna’s people?” Adalinda asked the moment we were back on the street.

“No,” I said, wiping my eyes dry as I hurried away from the Raccoon’s base. I wasn’t sure where I was going yet, only that it was away.

“I thought not. Then you said all that to stop them from following you?”

“Yes.”

“Oh, El, you shouldn’t have.”

“Why not?” I demanded hotly.

“Soren and Alon have as much right to make their own decisions as you do,” the celestial pointed out.

“Not right now, they don’t. And not about this,” I retorted. My emotions were still running high, and I was in no mood for a lecture. “I am what’s endangering them. It’s me, Cantos wants. And Eoman was not wrong. The longer I stay with them, the more their names will be tainted by association.”

Adalinda said nothing.

“It’s better this way,” I added, not sure who I was arguing with. “A clean break is best.”

“Where will we go?”

“Where Soren wanted me to, and where Eoman suggested I should. To Odenna.” It seemed despite everything, all roads led back to the herbwoman.

The tread of heavy footsteps pounding across the ground drew my attention. Someone was running, approaching fast from the rear.

I spun around, pulse racing. Was I about to be attacked? But my hood was up, leaving me unrecognizable. That could only mean…

I licked my lips. Is this—? Could it be?

Vigil came into view and my shoulders sagged.

“Excepting someone else?” Adalinda asked quietly.

“Thanks to all that’s holy, I caught you,” the Raccoons’ door guard exclaimed as he drew to a stop before me.

Folding my arms, I glared at him. “Why are you here?” I hissed. “Your boss made it clear the Raccoons want nothing to do with me.”

Holding up his hand for patience, Vigil panted for breath. Finally, straightening, he held out a note. “Take it.”

I made no move to do so. “What’s that?”

“A message from Eoman. He bade me bring it.”

My eyes narrowing, I snatched the thin film of paper and flipped it open.

Elana,

Visit Odenna. And if things don’t turn out as you hope, return here. I promise you will find a home in the Raccoons.

The old man.

“Well, that’s cryptic,” Adalinda remarked.

“And confusing,” I muttered. I glared at Vigil. “What the hell does this mean?”

The bald man shrugged. “The old man was worried you might do something foolish.” He sniffed. “Like going to Arinna as you stupidly threatened. You’re not doing that, are you?”

I stared at him. “You heard all that?”

He nodded. “There are many eyes and ears in the headquarters. Someone is always listening.” He threw me a pointed look. “Which is why Eoman said all those things. As it is, I feared he revealed too much. You pushed him too hard, girl.”

I blinked, trying to parse his meaning. “Are you saying Eoman does want my help?”

“No,” Vigil conceded. “That part was true. It is better if you are not seen siding with the Raccoons in the coming war.”

I threw up my hands. “Then what does your boss want?”

He looked at me gravely. “For you to know he isn’t throwing you to the wolves. For you to know you can return once you’ve seen you-know-who. And finally, to let you know he will do his best to keep Soren and Alon safe.”

Despite the emotions that threatened at his last bit, I kept my face stiff. “But he won’t tell me why he wants all those things?”

Vigil shook his head. “It’s not his place to do so.”

I ground my teeth in frustration. “Right. That makes so much sense.”

He sighed. “You’re young, girl. There are some things you don’t understand yet. Trust that Eoman is looking out for you.”

I grunted. “Is that all?”

“I’m to give you this, too,” Vigil said, holding out what looked like a roll of parchment and a key.

I took both items. “What are they?”

“The parchment is a map of some of the lesser-used smuggling routes running through the city. Only the internal routes, mind you. How were you planning on leaving the poor quarter?”

The poor quarter was a city within a city, walled off and separated from the rest of Mesina—or the ‘new city’ as the poor quarter’s denizens fondly referred to it. While traffic between the two was not exactly prohibited, it was monitored.

I shrugged. “Through one of the usual gates.”

“Don’t. Cantos will have people watching them.” He tapped the rolled-up parchment in my hand. “Use the gutter highway instead. It’s a network of old tunnels and sewers that run beneath the city. The key will get you in—don’t lose it, it’s a master key and will unlock most of the sewer entrances. And please, stay on the marked routes. It’s a maze down there, and you can get lost easily if you’re not careful.”

I nodded thoughtfully. I’d heard of the gutter highway, of course, most people had, but few except the Raccoons themselves ever traversed it. The map was a not-inconsiderable gift, even if it wouldn’t take me out of the city entirely.

Perhaps, there is something to what Vigil says after all. Perhaps, Eoman does mean well.

“Thank you,” I said as graciously as I could manage.

“You’re welcome, girl.” He turned to go, then paused. “Are there any messages you want me to pass along?”

I contemplated his tacit offer in silence for a moment, thinking about what Adalinda had said earlier.

“Yes,” I said finally, “tell Soren and Alon I’ve gone to see Odenna and that I’ll return as soon as I can.” I exhaled. “Tell them we’ll talk when I get back, and I’m sorry for leaving so abruptly.”

“I’ll do that,” Vigil said sincerely. “May the ancients guide you, girl.”

And with that strange farewell, he turned about and left.