Sharp

The adventuring day went by without a hitch. I spent most of it with Nkwe. I did leave for an hour to brew some poisons and then another couple of hours to make some tanning dip. Normally, it would take about ten days to turn hide into leather, but with the right alchemical mixture, this can be halved, and you can add or enhance properties. My first attempt turned hide into scrap. This should be a better brew.

I had left my arch up in Nkwe’s stall, and when I returned, I really appreciated the smell of Ardisia’s flowers after the harsh alchemical smells I had just been subject to. The arch didn’t even look like an arch; it was just vines growing against the wall with dark red flowers and dark green leaves. They parted to let me through.

I was not bringing my alchemy into my garden. My garden was for peace and growth, and I am sure if I use it for purposes it is not designed for, it will stop levelling. I prefer peace and growth.

How can I bring peace to Jabari? Right now, I am looking after Nkwe. I hope Val will be back at the academy next week for the start of lectures.

I didn’t go to the temples on my day off. I spent it with Nkwe. I read and pottered in my garden. I would need to go to the Temple of the Lost soon as the fresh produce is starting to pile up.

Val did arrive on time for the first lectures of the week, but I shared so few classes with her that I couldn’t find her until lunchtime. I sat down with a plate of food at her table and raised an eyebrow at her.

She glanced at all the people around us as if to say it was hardly private.

I nodded and indicated she should follow me. We picked up our plates, and I led her to the stables. She stopped in shock when she saw Nkwe.

“That is not good,” she said.

Two Kai’s poked their nose out of Nkwe’s fur, smelling my lunch.

“Do you want to tell me what is happening out there?” I squatted against the wall and fed Kai a piece of broccoli.

She moved in and sat down far from Nkwe. She noted my Arch, and I think she knew Ardisia was there.

“It was pretty bad. The Inquisitor and the Priest were throwing their weight around, but it was obvious all four attackers were not local, although where they are from is an investigation in progress.”

“They were all caught?” I asked.

“Yes, but none survived. We were accused of killing them, so they couldn’t be questioned. The Kekie King arrived, and all the nobles had to attend court. My mom is the Duchess, so she had to go.

“She said the King was obviously frustrated as Vitesse is home to three Diamond Rankers, plus Roland Remore is here at the moment. Mom said she thinks the Kekie King is used to being the strongest present and became quite frustrated. Apparently, there is civil unrest around the borders of his kingdom. He is a strong proponent of the old ways of living, and there is some opposition to that. They were getting some of the blame, but most of it was around opposition to this Prophecy that came out of the Temple of the Dark Moon.”

“Do you know what this prophecy is?” I asked.

“Not beyond some coming disaster. Apparently, the Temple of the Dark Moon is known for their prophecies of doom and gloom.”

“But it is being taken seriously,” I said. I wondered why there was a High Priest of the Full Moon here rather than the Dark Moon. Or maybe there is, and they are operating out of sight. “What about Jabari?”

“There is a lot of talk saying she should be killed for failing her duty to her husband. They are searching the city and countryside for him,” she indicated toward Nkwe, “and she is not saying where he is. I think they are at least planning to break the bond, as she is not worthy of him.”

“If they kill her, that would do it,” I said.

“Yes, but I think they want to take him back with them, as sabertooth tigers are revered there, and he was a wedding present or something like that.”

I looked at Nkwe. “He is obviously not interested in going back.” I thought about permanently losing one of my bonds. “The bond is two-way. They are doing their best to protect each other and their bond. Nkwe still thinks she is worthy.” I thought for a minute. “Where is Jabari, do you know?”

Val shook her head, “No, but probably the embassy, which they are packing up. They will all be gone within a week.”

“Jabari with them?”

“I don’t know. Nobody there is less than silver rank, you know. Just in case you were thinking of doing something stupid.”

“Could she get some sort of asylum or protection from Vitesse?”

Val thought about it, “I don’t think there is such a thing. She is not a citizen or has any ties here.”

“Your family wouldn’t help?”

“Not in the current circumstances,”

“She is a member of the Adventure Society.”

“A one-star, iron-rank adventurer. Not a lot of weight to pull there,” Val said. “What about the churches?”

“I believe she worships the God of the Hunt. I don’t know anything about him.”

“Sounds like a God that recognises strength and overcomes opposition,” Val said. “What about your church? You are here and caring for Nkwe, and you are a Cleric.”

“I am going to have to consult. I was waiting to talk to you because you would know more about what is happening. I will go out tonight.”

“Be careful. I was escorted here. There are people who want to ask us questions, and they are not used to being told no.”

I nodded. We went back to classes, and then I found Junior and bought some Iron-rank tranquiliser from him. I went out after dark and used every stealth technique I could. That meant I took over an hour to get to the Temple of Death, as I kept to a speed Blend could work at. Dodging silver rankers was going to be more luck than skill.

The High Priest taught me much more about the God of the Hunt. He was not a god of mercy. His followers strived to hunt bigger game and improve themselves, but he also had a different side. He was known to reward clever hunters. It was not all big game hunting either, but treasure hunting. Finding one of his shrines involved hunting for it. Nobody would tell you where it was, and they would shift. He didn’t have a priesthood as such. I couldn’t see him acting for one of his followers, even if she was bonded to one of his symbols.

The High Priest got the temple carriage out, one of the ones used to transport bodies. One of the silver-ranked priests drove me to the Temple of the Lost and Outcast. I spent a lot of time discussing Jabari with Davu. Davu was only bronze rank, but he was the temple's High Priest, not that they had such ranks. He managed it, and that was how he saw himself as a project manager, and his current project was this temple.

Davu knew more about the Temple of the Moon, which had four temples, one for each aspect of the moon. The Temple of the First Quarter Moon was their recruitment and training temple. All priests went through the First Quarter Temple before specialising in one of the other three temples. The Full Moon was their public face and their international relations. It was the preachers and noble advisors. The Temple of the Last Quarter was their military arm, their enforcers and protectors. The Temple of the Dark Moon were their prophets and assassins. It sounded to me like the Dark Moon was running the show, although each Temple was equal in name, and the four High Priests together ruled the church.

“Absolutely, there will be a Dark Moon Priest slinking about the city—maybe more than one,” Davu said. “They will probably stay behind once everybody else makes a public exit.”

“You know a lot about them?”

“I visited Kekie once. They are picky about which gods they let into their territory. They don’t like the weak gods, so I had to stay on the fringes. Dominion is revered there, and War, but finding a healer will be a problem.” He shrugged, “There are many lost and outcasts there, but my goddess is persecuted.”

“Would you help a lost Kekie Hunter?” I asked.

“We help anyone in need,” Davu replied.

The problem was that the Goddess of the Lost and Outcast was not a powerful group. They did have plenty of information and ways to get people out of the city, but getting someone away from the ‘protection’ of silver rankers was another story.

The carriage dropped me back at the academy after I spoke to Davu. I went to Nkwe’s stall and set up the trap I had in mind. I should be good against a bronze ranker, but I was not sure against a silver ranker. The iron rank tranquiliser was on a shelf next to half a dozen bronze rank potions and two silver rank potions. The next time they check, they will be missing a silver rank potion. The problem was the delivery method. It had to get into the blood. Silver rankers had resistance against bronze rank damage, let alone Iron rankers like me.

I had acquired some silver rank darts from my temple, but even holding them for more than a minute, they started to give me mana poisoning. They were that strong. I couldn’t even Sharpen them. I really need to rank up. I put a couple in My Hunters Pack. They made the pack feel… heavy.

Simple is best. Keep the stable trap simple. Hopefully, it is never used.

How do I get her free? I am an Iron ranker against Silver. Davu will scout the embassy for me. For now, I can only wait and see.

The next day, I went to classes. A package with a map of the embassy with the address was left for me at reception. They announced they would portal out the next day. Why make such an obvious announcement? The gold and diamond Rankers will be following your every move.

To cover for the Dark Moon. Why and where?

Did that mean I needed to act tonight? Then Kai returned with a message from Davu. “Put everything on hold. Jabari will be at the Temple of the Outcast and Lost by tomorrow night. You have the word of a Priest. Beware the Dark Moon.”

I assume he put the bit in from his role as a priest to give me confidence. I will assume that if Jabari is free, she is bait. How badly do they want Nkwe? Bad enough.

“Val. I need to go out tomorrow night. If you come with me, could you arrange a silver ranker to protect you?”

“Probably, but won’t the threat have left by then?”

I just looked at her and cocked my head to one side.

“You don’t think so. Where are we going?”

“Temple of the Outcast and Lost.”

“What have you done?”

“What I could.”

She frowned. “We will go after the last class.”

I nodded.