Dungeon Life

Chapter Three-Hundred

Freddie

The young orc paladin hums a quiet hymn as he walks down the street with Rhonda, both of their minds more on the upcoming delve than in making conversation right now. Of course, that doesn’t extend to Fiona and Lucas, and the two spiders constantly chitter at each other as they ride their masters.

Honestly, he prefers Fiona chatting with Lucas to constantly fussing over his shield. She seems to have decided that the bottom half will feature one of her webs, and aside from the occasional check to ensure it’s in pristine condition, she doesn’t fiddle with it as she rides his back.

As they near the Mayor’s manor, the guards out front spot them and wave. With their frequent visits to their friend, the other guards all recognize them on sight. Not that Freddie imagines that would be difficult. He, Rhonda, Fiona, and Lucas are a pretty unique group, after all.

As they get closer, Mr. Miller steps out to talk with the guards, who head inside before the group can get there. The ashen elf cuts an imposing figure, and a lot of the adults are clearly intimidated by the man, but Freddie can see the glint of amusement in his eyes with every interaction. He’s definitely more than just a butler, but what’s the point in calling him out on it? He’s some special guard for the Lord Mayor, and he’s certainly not evil, so there’s no point in starting drama over something he can’t even prove in the first place.

“Hello, Mr. Miller!” greets Rhonda, and Freddie echoes her a moment after. The elf smiles at them and their spiders before speaking.

“Ah, come to steal away one of the young master’s guards once more?”

Freddie smiles and nods with zero shame. “Yes. If he’s available, at least?”

Mr. Miller gives a small smile and motions for them to come through the gates. “His shift will be over shortly. Would you mind accompanying me while he finishes up?”

Freddie doesn’t mind, and a glance at Rhonda shows she’s not opposed, either. Returning his attention to the tall elf, he nods. “That’s fine with us. Did you need anything, Mr. Miller?”

His eyes sparkle with mischief as he gives a small nod. “Just to talk, young sir and miss. At my age, an elf often finds himself wanting to hear the sound of his own voice, and is generally discouraged from simply talking to the mirror.”

Rhonda giggles as Freddie nods, and the two fall in behind Mr. Miller as he leads them around the grounds of the manor.

“Thank you two for indulging me. I wanted to thank you two, actually, and now I get the chance to be verbose about it.”

“Thank us?” asks Freddie, with Rhonda looking just as confused. Mr. Miller takes their confusion in stride as he nods, still walking.

“Indeed. Though the young master is taking a more active role in the management of the town, it’s my personal duty to see to the management of his household, and that includes the guards. Most are rather rough and tumble, you see, the sort that I would think would intimidate young Larrez. He’s skilled and observant, but you two know how quiet he can be around those he doesn’t know.”

Freddie nods at that, as does Rhonda, with the goblin finding her reply before he can. “And high-strung! When we first met him, he was so jumpy and nervous!”

“Yeah, he was usually pretty focused in a fight, but after, he’d be jumping at shadows and stammering whenever we’d try to talk with him.”

Mr. Miller nods at that with a fond smile. “Indeed. But thanks to you two, he’s become much more confident in himself. He’s taken to his duties with aplomb, and is much happier for it. Not to mention how well you five all work together while delving. I used to worry he’d have a nervous breakdown and never leave his cot in the barracks, but now I find myself wondering if he’ll simply take up the mantle of an adventurer full-time!” he jokes, before letting his mirth fade.

“You two really have been a great help to him, and through him, to the young master. While I know you two befriended him simply because that’s who you are, I find myself still in your debts.” He holds up a hand as the two try to protest, the ghost of a smirk at a corner of his mouth. “I don’t do something so extravagant as gifts, and I think young Larrez would perish from embarrassment if I were to offer something like that besides. Still, I have my own honor.”

He stops and turns, meeting their gaze with an air of authority and significance. “If there is anything you two ever need, ask me, and it will be yours.” The sudden shift in mood vanishes like smoke in the wind as he smirks at the two. “Within reason, of course. But you two are reasonable, so I’m sure there won’t be any issue. I’d offer the same to your two arachnid companions, but spiderspeak was never my forte, I’m afraid.”

He turns and resumes walking, with the two rushing to catch up after trying to figure out what just happened. “Oh, and please don’t mention this to him. Young Larrez would feel awkward about this at best, you understand.”

The two nod, able to process at least that easily. Larrez always looks uncomfortable whenever they’d offer to cover his meal or get him some potion or other thing that might help him. Freddie thinks he doesn’t like having debts, maybe from living on the streets or some other harsh upbringing. A gift from a friend isn’t a debt, but that’s all Freddie can think of for why Larrez always looks guilty for accepting help like that.

Larrez doesn’t talk about his past much.

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Freddie doesn’t get to speculate much either, as he soon sees the wood elf hurry out the door to the gardens. Shock, then happiness, then more shock flash across his face before he heads for the group.

“Miller! Uh, sir! I hope my friends haven’t been bothering you? I wouldn’t want to throw off your schedule.”

Mr. Miller chuckles and shakes his head. “Think nothing of it, young Larrez. I can show them the winter tulips while making my own rounds. They are most agreeable company, as I’m sure you’d agree.”

“Then uh… interior patrol concluded, nothing out of the ordinary, sir.” Larrez stands at attention, and Mr. Miller runs an appraising eye over him before speaking.

“Nothing?”

Larrez slowly nods. “Yes?”

The older elf frowns for a moment before shaking his head. “Ah, that was rescheduled to 7. You’re dismissed. Go have fun, and don’t mention that to the others.”

Larrez looks concerned about whatever is going to happen at 7, but Freddie steps up to help distract him, easily greeting his friend. “You heard him, let’s go! I hope your shift wasn’t too strenuous?”

Larrez shakes his head as he lets his friends lead him toward the front of the manor and the gate. “No, not really. There’s a few auditors from the capital, but they’re polite… almost to the point of boredom.” he admits.

“Better than then being jerks, right?” asks Rhonda, but Larrez doesn’t look so sure.

“Maybe, but shouldn’t they be at least a little hostile? The Crown doesn’t call an audit as a favor to whoever’s getting audited.”

Freddie shrugs. “Maybe they just don’t see any point in making the process more painful than it needs to be. And it’s probably a good sign that they haven’t found anything. If they did, they’d probably act like it at least a little?”

Larrez sighs. “Maybe. Either way, I shouldn't worry about it, right? Anything wrong will be on the Mayor, not me.”

“Do you think he’d try to sneak anything through the ledgers?” asks Rhonda, earning a quick shake of the head from Larrez.

“No!”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about,” points out Freddie. “Anyway, if you’re not too tired from your patrols, we were going to go do some delving.”

Larrez brightens at that. “That does sound nice. Can we stop by the guild hall, first? I’d like to relax and maybe eat something first.” The two are fine with that, and Larrez continues as they exit the manor. “So, are you two excited for Rocky’s challenger?”

Freddie gives him a confused look as Rhonda brightens at the reminder. “Oh yes! Master Staiven suggested I go talk to him! I’m feeling comfortable with fire now, and I can feel there’s something I’m close to…”

“Someone is challenging Rocky?” asks Freddie, apparently the only one not in the loop. Reading the histories in the archives is interesting, but he guesses it’s easy to miss out on things happening now if he stays down there.

Larrez nods. “There’s a big retired adventurer helping the Dungeoneers with their spring delves. He’s supposed to be really strong, stronger than the other adventurers, so Thedeim challenged him to fight Rocky. There’s even a betting pool at the guild.”

“Huh.” Freddie has trouble imagining someone who could actually fight Rocky. The zombie is just too good! “What’re the odds like?”

Larrez shrugs. “I haven’t been keeping track too much, but I think they’re an even split. Everyone knows how strong Rocky is, but Olander is supposed to be one of the strongest delvers to come through Fourdock in a while. They say he’s more used to belligerents around the capital, so to be from there and be able to basically retire…”

He leaves it unsaid as Freddie and Rhonda both nod. You don’t get to retire from adventuring by being weak. Some people even say adventurers only retire once they run out of things to challenge them! If there’s nothing to compete with him in the capital, can Rocky step up to provide it?

“If any dungeon can give him a challenge, it’s Thedeim, and if anyone can give Rocky a challenge, it’d be someone who can handle the dungeons around the capital,” comments Freddie to the nods of his friends.

“I think I’ll check the challenge book while we eat, see what tricks he’s picked up since we last saw him.”

Freddie nods as they enter the guild, and find it pretty quiet at this time of day. The most active delvers are already off to Thedeim or the other dungeons by now, with only a few stragglers relaxing in the common area. Guildmaster Karn waves at the group as they enter, smiling and motioning for them to have a seat at the bar.

“Hey strangers! You three finally found room in your schedules to come do a delve?”

Freddie chuckles as they all three nod. “Yeah. Rhonda and I have been busy with our studies. But you know, keep a blade at the wheel too long and you’ll have nothing, so we’re taking a break.”

“Winter is a good time for extra training and drills at the manor, too,” offers Larrez, which Karn accepts without comment.

“So, you three looking for a quest before going?”

“Lunch, actually,” corrects Freddie, earning a wide smile from the Guildmaster.

“Ah, of course! You two are probably eating your mentors into the poorhouse, heh. Well, the evening stew is still morning soup, but there is one upside to getting here at this time.” He pauses for dramatic effect before turning and reaching into a basket behind him, then revealing what he has with a flourish.

“It’s not hot and steaming, but it’s still a long way from stale! Even stale, I’d take a Cobble Bread roll over any of my cooking, heh. Three soups and three rolls, then?”

The group all nod before Rhonda makes to hop off her stool. “I’ma check the library before we tuck in.”

“Hold up a second, Rhonda,” says Karn, much less jovial than before. Rhonda awkwardly tries to get back onto the stool properly as Karn motions for the three to lean in, where he lowers his voice. “There’s a new librarian, and she’s looking for you.”

Rhonda and Larrez look confused, but Freddie frowns, his protective instincts already kicking him into gear. “Why?”

Karn shakes his head. “I can guess, but I won’t say it out loud. She doesn’t know she’s looking for Rhonda, though. She’s a follower of the Great Mother, who told her to seek the Ice Sage.”

Rhonda’s eyes widen at that, and Freddie fights the urge to draw his hatchet. Even Larrez has to consciously move his hand away from the hilt of his rapier. Karn nods at their reactions before continuing.

“She doesn’t know what it is, and doesn’t know about you. I don’t think she’s bad news, but it’s on you how to handle this. Heh, just without violence. She’s a good librarian. You’d probably all get along with her. Just making sure you know.”

With that, he quickly gets their meals in front of them, though they all eat slower than usual as they think. A follower of the goddess of magic? Freddie doesn’t understand the specifics of Rhonda’s class, but he’s not surprised a deity like that would be interested in his friend. He glances at her as they all eat, trying to figure out what she wants to do about this.

Whatever she decides, he’ll be there for her.

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