n

n

nKrow shook his head at Ebry.

"They're his horses.

"

n

"But the waste, Krow! Think of it.

"

n

"Not our waste.

"

n

"I came to you for support,

" Ebry all but whined, theatrically pressing the back of his hand to his eyes.

nHe really was related to Morumain.

n

"I support the view that a person can do whatever they want with their belongings.

" Krow felt whole organizations of animal conservators on Earth look around suspiciously, feeling the need take up arms at the blasphemy that came out of his mouth.

nHe made a mental note to delete that clip from his personal database as soon as he logged out.

nHe looked around.

nThe vid-owl appeared to have gone up a level in Stealth; he couldn't see it anywhere.

nHis video records would always be pinned to the same three angles, plus the avatar perspective, so the lurking thing should be around somewhere.

nA hand clamped on Krow's shoulder.

n

"My friend,

" came a wet voice.

"Your words are a balm!

"

nKrow glanced behind him. The runaway Avan Fresland was staring at him with teary eyes.

nBaffled, he looked at Ebry, who huffed and looked away.

nBro, you're not my girlfriend, alright?

nWhy are you acting like a wronged maiden?

n

"Krow,

" Calon said immediately.

"As you and our guest have a philosophical connection, you'll be assigned to his security until we reach Tvarglad.

"

nShkav, no.

nThat bastard.

nIn another life, he'd done escort jobs.

nAvan Fresland seemed to be the worst kind of protectee ever. Flaky, airheaded, convinced of his own greatness, and a talker.

nCalon had taken the opportunity to dump all that on him.

nHe opened his mouth to protest, but Calon strode away stiffly.

nTsk.

nHe hoped the escort leader retained that road rash for days.

nHe shoved his revolver into its holster.

n

"You are Krow? Have you ever been to Baraldore? It is a city of great beauty, you must visit. I once traveled your sky-cities, you know. Excellent, but somehow I always felt a yearning for home.

"

nKrow leaned back, murmured to Ebry.

"How long until Tvarglad again?

"

n

"Three hours.

"

nThree hours. He could deal.

n

"Great.

" He smiled grandly at Avan.

"What are your favorite places in Baraldore, may I ask?

"

n

"Oh! I'm glad you asked, there are so many! There's the Palace, of course, do you know it has two thousand and two hundred rooms in total and over nine smaller interconnected palaces? You must see the Palace Gardens when you visit, it has many more specimens than the gardens you have in your skies, haha! Then there are the conservatories, by the Eighteen, they can't be missed! Better than your morning songs, I hear, eh?

"

nHe couldn't deal.

nEbry brought Krow a horse, patted him on the shoulder with a smug smile, and quickly left.

nHe cursed at the siren in his head.

nHe'd been planning to sit his new protectee by Ebry.

nBecause if he was to be tormented, then others should share in the torment too!

nKrow was part of the protection detail, but he was only technically under the command of Calon, alright?

nIf the leader slacked off, his subordinates suffered.

nAvan nimbly mounted the horse, still talking.

"Have you heard of the Crystal Baths in the south of Baraldore? Refreshing, I say. Refreshing! Like a morning ride, hm? What a morning. I am ever grateful that you all came by, did I say? Oh, you are the one I threw the dagger at? I must apologize, I was distraught. So distraught I could not answer when you spoke.

"

nWas there something that can be done to make the man descend into distraughtness again?

nKrow looked around in consideration.

nHe was surely not the only one thinking it.

nWho would make a good accomplice?

nUnfortunately, the riders moved away from them. Ebry glared at Krow as he and Avan stayed by his wagon.

nHe smiled sunnily back.

"Are we there yet?

"

nEbry twitched, face falling as he understood Krow wasn't moving from his post.

"Two hours and three quarters.

"

nOnly fifteen minutes had passed? It felt longer.

nThat forsaken Norge, what kind of twisted mind came up with an escort quest like this?

n

"Oh, I almost forgot, next month there is the Aska Stakes at the Breness Racecourse. You know the Breness, certainly! I've never met anyone who didn't. I…someone I know has a horse in the running, so you must bet on Garblue Lightning! Best out of the Grayesand Stables yet!

"

nKrow endured, nodding when the man turned to him during a particular enthusiastic recommendation.

nCity key, he told himself. The Enchanter's Library.

nTo enter the Enchanter's Library, a player needed to know someone who was a part of the Tvarglad Enchanters' Association or work their way up the ranks of the organization.

nEither way would take time that Krow didn't have to spare.

nHis papers from the application for the Bloodright Gauntlet returned, and with it a Unique quest. He had to be at least Lvl 30 to participate.

nThere were two level brackets. The lower bracket had a minimum of Lvl 30.

nKrow had a feeling that just gaining Lvl 30 wouldn't be enough to fully take advantage of the opportunity. That was why his goal was the next tier, which started on Lvl 45.

nHe had two and a half months to prepare.

nThat was cutting it close.

nOne reason why he was making this trip now: once he started going deeper into the Forest, most of his time would be spent on his gear.

nThe quest he was after was 'The Lost Tigercat' quest in Galbrane.

nBut since the route was going through Tvarglad, how could he pass up the opportunity to acquire something for his future Enchanting career?

nDespite the draculkar despising the vargvir race, vargvir were actually some of the best enchanters in Redlands.

nTvarglad was, in another life, one of his favorite cities to explore.

nFinally, he would see something familiar and dear with his own eyes. Virtual eyes, but still.

nKrow was looking forward to it.

n