I was led down a wooden hall that was filled with doors. These must be the Guild member's rooms, so I wonder whose room I got put into and where they were.
Lesha slipped her hand into mine and I turned to smile at her. Our group headed down a twisting set of stairs to the bottom level where there were a bunch of people sitting around talking and eating.
I was pulled over to the bar that wasn't a lot different than the one back home. Lesha ordered us both omelets, but I just leaned into her the entire time.
I was already starting to feel tired and regretting not taking Lesha up on the off to rest more. After she was done ordering, we went and found a large empty table, and sat down.
"You look awful, K," Lesha said sitting down beside me.
"Thank you, I think you look beautiful," I said sarcastically, laying my head down on the table. "I just need to get some food into me and I will feel a lot better, I hope."
I really did hope the food made me feel better. This felt like I had drunk a whole bottle of sweet wine to myself. I heard a cup clunk down on the wooden table, and the sound made my head pound.
I lifted my head, about to give one of the girls shit, but a man was sitting there that I had never met before. He looked to be in about his mid-thirties, and a lean rouge type. The thing that I noticed the most was the long scars that ran horizontally under each of his eyes.
"Hey! A pleasure to meet you, Miss K, my name is Dean, and I am just another one of the ruffians in this fine establishment," Dean paused, and got a laugh out of the close men. "Anyways, I can tell you look rough from a hangover or something close to it, so here."
Dean reached his hand out and handed me a small mesh pouch. I took it, unsure of what else to do.
Why was this person so keen to help me? Had Jester told them to suck up to me? That wasn't going to win favor with me, but the man seemed to read my expression and explained himself.
"Aye, I just wanted to do it as thanks for getting rid of half the Ground Pounders! Those bastards cause a lot of trouble, and the city covers for anything they do. People want to call us a despicable Guild just because we kill people, but at least we do it for a purpose. I just wanted to tip my hat to you, Miss, for doing something I couldn't."
Dean stood up and then explained what to do with the package he just gave me. It was a tea bag, and it would taste bad, but with a bit of honey and holding my nose I would be feeling better in no time.
His words, not mine, and just knowing that he thought it was going to be disgusting made me wonder if it was worth it. Maybe I should just stick with the gross and run-over feeling.
There was a call from the bar and Lesha got up and went to get our food, taking Mei with her. She came back with our food, and Mei brought over a hot mug of water and some biscuit that the bartender had given them.
I thanked Mei for the watch and biscuits, then she went back and sat down with Gloria. T and Candi were digging into a very large stack of pancakes that had been stacked six high, but we're almost done.
The two seemed to be in a better mood now that they had some food in them. It was strange to see them so close right off the hope, but Trinity had said something about forbidden love or something like that.
I would have to talk to them about it later, for now, I had a beautiful omelet with cheese, mushrooms, onions, and some red peppers. Before I started eating Lesha stopped me and told me to steep my tea and let it sit while I ate.
I grumbled, but did as I was told, but then scolded Lesha when she pulled open my omelet and started to pull the peppers out.
"Hey! I like peppers! The sweetness goes good with the rest!" I complained, momentarily distracted from the horror that was leaking into my cup from the bag I was given.
"These are spicy peppers babe, like the sauce that we made you eat. You don't want to eat these," Lesha said, continuing to pick them off.
I loved this woman, but I don't know if picking things out of my food for me in front of a bunch of tough killer types was really sending the right message. Still, it was cute to see her do it and she gave me a kiss after, going back to her meal like nothing had happened.
"Awe," Said so many voices that it felt like I was hearing from everything direction.
When I looked up, everyone was concentrating on their food or whatever else they were doing. They all looked to be concentrating a bit too hard, and I could see some barely hidden smiles, but I didn't care that my girlfriend was cute.
I leaned over and kissed her cheek and thanked her for that and started to dig into my food. The other girls had finished eating, and the two monsters were cuddled together with their eyes closed.
Soon, I finished eating and I finally got to the dread cup of not tea. I pulled it over and almost gagged, pushing it away.
"Nope, that looks like someone took a shit in it, I am not putting that in my mouth!" I complained, but Lesha's hand started to crawl up the inside of my leg, but she didn't even bother to learn close or be cute.
Instead, she turned and looked at me.
"Remember, we have plans later, and if you fall asleep on me," Lesha let my imagination finish the sentence, and I grabbed the cup and held it at arm's length.
I took a deep breath and downed the contents.
It was every bit as bad as it looked, and only Lesha tipping the cup up made me finish, but I scowled at her after. There were no immediate changes to me, but it was a cup of sewage, I didn't hold many expectations.
After I finished, we headed to the back of the hall to a set of stairs that led down. Even as I started to walk, I could feel the difference, and it was like a wave of relief washed most of the fatigue away.
The hall we all walked down into was made of stones and mortar, and there were five doors. Two on each side and one at the end, and that was the one that Lesha knocked on.
"Come in," called a rough male voice.
Lesha opened the door and we all walked inside. The place was a lot nicer than I thought it was going to be; there were wooden walls with pictures on them, but they were of only one person.
I turned away from them and looked at the man standing at the end of the room. He was sitting in front of a fireplace in a comfy-looking red chair, and there were two other couches. There was also another chair similar to the one he sat on beside him, with a simple wooden end table between them.
There was a bed in the corner, and that was where the heaviest concentration of pictures was. We walked forward to join the man, and then I noticed that there was a lantern that was like the ones used to signal other ships at sea.
This was one of the few things I did know about; my father had gotten one from a man for fixing some weapons. It had a cover and you could use it to direct light or open and close it for signals.
It was like using the Calling Drums, but at short range. Still, I wasn't sure why it was on the table, but it did look ornamental and nice, so I wasn't sure what to make of it.
"It's good to see that you have finally woken up, it has only been a day, but the sooner you are up and going the better. My name is Jester for all Guild things, but you can call me Milo while we are here. Please, sit down, you must still be tired," Milo said, gesturing to the couches.
I turned to Lesha and gave her a kiss before going to sit down in the vacant red chair beside Milo. My party took the whole place up, but then that made me think about the boys.
"Where is Tim, and Corbit?" I asked turning to Lesha, but Milo was the one that answered.
"I have them working with Hersal and another member, Braum. Those two will help get them into better fighting shape. I know you are probably wondering, why?" Milo said with a smile as I turned back to him.
"Yes, that is a very good question, but I expect that you already have the answer for me. So, Milo, Leader of The Laughing Ravens Guild, what can I do for you that would make you want to help me so much?"
"Unlike you, I haven't been bestowed a great power, more of a great item. Not useless, but by no means does it increase my physical or even magical aptitudes. I have one purpose left while I remain in this world. I will see Dyster pay for the people he took from me and so many others with his games and powers. We fought wars, and people died, but it was always one nation trying to climb to the top to rule. These Gods don't care about us or the world, we are just toys in their rise to the top."
Only the crackle of the burning logs on the fire filled the room until I broke the silence.
"So, you think that I can kill him? A god that can level an entire city block, just by being there?" I asked with incredulity.
"Not yet, but all the reports of you coming from my trusted sources can't be wrong. You are more than just a person that got something from the Dungeon Core. The level of Mind Control you used on so many men is astounding, even if it puts you in bed for three days! Kal said that all the men had just crawled onto the fire and only two of them were wounded," Milo praised me.
I didn't know if that was something I wanted to be praised for, but they had crossed a line, and I would do it again if anyone touched the girls again. I still didn't understand what he meant by more; was he talking about Lishtani?
"So, you think that I can become strong enough to kill a god?" I asked.
"I believe with the right training and enough experience, you would definitely have a fighting chance, but that brings me to the next topic. What you did to the Ground Pounders is sung with praise, but I am sure that you know just as well as I do that Granvel isn't going to just leave you alone after wiping out half his guild, and the members are hot for your blood," Milo explained.
"Yes, I figured as much, but they will get another round of cleaning if they interfere with what I have come to do. You do know why I am here don't you?" I asked.
"Yes, I don't like the gods, but Healia, doesn't sound that bad, and she is the one that told me to come to get you. I have a Waystone that you can use to communicate with her, but it is upstairs. It isn't like the small amulets you have seen, but we will go thereafter. I have a few questions I would like to ask you with this," Milo said pointing to the Lantern.
"You're going to ask me questions with that?" I asked in confusion, looking at the lantern again thinking I had missed something.
"This is the Item I got from the Dungeon Core, The Guarding Watch Light."
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GOT IT