章 12: New comrades
Two days later, at the adventurers' guild, Gregor is conversing with Reginald while the five friends go down the stairs leading to the first floor room. Not having many savings, they still sleep on the floor.
Once reunited, Gregor is the first to speak "As promised I have come to confirm that you have done your job very well. Reginald already has your pay. I think with the money I gave you, you can buy yourself some new weapon and maybe start sleeping in a real bed."
Excited George says "I finally get payday. We'll have a nice steak tonight! "
Simon amused answers "Thanks Gergor, it was a pleasure to work for you. The merit of much of the work is up to your daughter though. She found the right path the first time and she always saved us from the white wolves."
"About my daughter. My wife and I have to organize the caravan and Selin gets very bored on these occasions. So she asked me if she could temporarily join your group of adventurers. What do you say, Simon, do you have room for her?"
"Of course, more than willingly, she will be a great reinforcement!"
The father back "Ok deal done then, but if I find out that you have done something inappropriate, I skin you alive, ok?"
Swallowing "Obviously!"
Shimmer, Selin and Igor await them outside the dilapidated building. Igor approaches Simon and beats his hand on his back "Good morning boy! Have you decided to accept the young Selin in the group?"
"Sure!" Hearing this word the girl literally changes color and approaching the group says "I will not be a burden indeed you will see that after having known me well you will not want me to leave."
The dwarf adds "I would not be the old man who spoils the party but you do not even have room for an adult in your group? I would like to stay with you a bit. As anticipated to Gregor, I still have some business to settle for my village."
A thoughtful Simon mumbles something. Everyone looks at him waiting for an answer, not knowing that he is talking to the deity of Fate.
Elza "Fantastic! That dwarf is strong, if he decides to follow you your strength would increase significantly."
"I know, but why should an experienced dwarf like him be commanded by someone like me?"
"Good question, he will be crazy or maybe he likes skinny guys like you."
Simon, wide-eyed, realizes he is being watched by everyone else. "Sorry I was thinking aloud, it would be an honor to have a rune master like you with us. I only have a request for both. If you want to stay with us I need you to guarantee me to follow my orders even if you do not understand them. Obviously I do not expect you to respond to an absurd command but if I make sure you know what I do I don't want any surprises. Do you swear to follow me?"
The dwarf and the girl look at each other and shrug their shoulders reply "I do not see the problem, we swear it!"
Instantly the whole group is blessed with new bonuses. Simon among all greatly increases strength and spirit, probably thanks to the contribution of Igor. It also acquires "minor runes" and "minor heat". As a result, others suddenly find themselves more energetic. The only one to notice something is the dwarf.
Before starting the discussion he deliberately placed a rune at the point where everyone stopped to talk. The rune allows him to see the characteristics and abilities of those who touch it. In this moment, besides noticing the anomalous quantity of Simon's ability, he realizes the increase of his own characteristics.
"What a phenomenal skill this 'Emperor', not only increases the strength of Simon but also of all those who follow him. Maybe I found the person who can help my village. I need more information before continuing though." euphoric Igor thinks.
After a quick lunch offered by the couple of merchants, the two groups are divided. Gregor and Shimmer leave to organize their trades while the boys accompanied by the dwarf head for the Zacharias residence.
Selin is the first to fail to contain curiosity "Can we really get into a nobleman's house like that?"
Simon "Of course, he was our first customer as well as patron, so there is no problem. We have to organize. Soon we will get to the heart of a big job."
After greeting the butler the adventurers are accompanied in the dining room where after a few minutes the nobleman arrives.
"Welcome young, do you have any good news for me? Or will I have to consider you as part of my armed forces to make up for your failure?"
Selin turns to look at Simon. The boy does not seem at all impressed by the noble rather than this morning seems even more robust, strong and with aura of security.
Simon kindly replied "My lord, not to brag, but we not only bring good news but also a plan that will allow to solve everything in a few weeks."
"I really want to hear this!"
"The plan is simple and can be divided into three phases that must be carried out in a precise order."
Moving towards the window and pointing to the mountains Simon continues.
"The first phase is the simplest one. The rebels will have to make their existence public by challenging the count. It must be something striking so that the lord of this city must resort to the help of the royal army to solve the problem. The second phase is to stay well hidden to wait for reinforcements to arrive. Third phase hit the reinforcements so that the army follows them up into the mountains and ... "
"Are you crazy? Do you want to be exterminated by the royal army?"
"Let me finish. I want them to follow us to the mountains so that they can see with their own eyes the path of slavers we have found. Better still if they could get them with their hands in the bag." pointing to the others "At this point we will deal with the most delicate matter, free the hostages. When the result of all these actions converges to a point, the solution to Vanein's problem will no longer exist."
Zacharias walking agitated back and forth comments "This plan can work. Sure! The rebels would not defeat the Count but the laws of the kingdom itself. Slavery will force the same reinforcements to take care of my lord. The latter without hostages will have to surrender or be killed."
Simon "All true but every action must be performed without the slightest mistake. That's why I want the rebels to be coordinated by two of my own. Michael and Igor."
Igor readily answers "Of course, we know the path and we can communicate with you in real time with my runes."
Simon continues "At that point, I and the others will take care of letting your sons escape from the castle."
After the small meeting the morale of Zacharias is skyrocketing and after talking to the butler he gives the boys a small amount of money.
"If we talk about a few weeks, I will not need the money from the mine, but you will need to prepare yourself, the life of my sons depends on you."
After thinking about all the details of the plan, Simon instructs Desmond, George and Selin to take care of the purchases. Michael, on the other hand, is responsible for finding cheap accommodation. He and Igor instead have to talk.
Coming out of the nobleman's villa, the boy and the dwarf begin to argue "Elza told me that you know who I am?"
"Well I don't know who Elza is but I understand a couple of things about your skill."
"Believe it or not, Elza is the deity of Fate. I need your help to learn how to use the runes. Of course, my skill will be limited to a very low number of runes compared to those you can use."
"I already knew you would ask me. My skill is not like 'quick step' that can only be handled by training. The runes must be learned carefully to be able to use them. It will take years. But to start, we will focus on the most useful ones for the plan. What do you say?"
"I say that your power and your experience are truly a gift of destiny. But I also believe that you did not join us because you like skinny guys, right?"
"Oh holy anvil, but what are you talking about, of course not! I need you to help me. My village has instructed me to find the solution to our problem. I do not know if you are the solution but I would say that with your strange way of thinking you could help me find it."
The dwarf stops in front of Simon and looks up at the sky "A piece of advice from someone who has lived a few years. Do not choose to stay alone with a man talking about who likes whom. You should have stayed alone with the girl instead." A loud laugh echoes through the alleyways of the city as the embarrassed boy discovers that his cheeks can turn redder than fire just thinking of a girl.
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