TQG 56

56. Protocol

The strange sensations of displacement and movement that accompanied fast-travel faded, and I found myself standing outside the market in the eastern districts.  I was promptly enveloped in a powerful protective shield cast by a high-level [Cleric] and surrounded by Tarisha, Marvin of Cincinnati, and Lloyd, the tank who had faced Gyudue with me.

“Stay back!  <Peasant’s Revenge> will Pee Kay anyone who approaches Lord Hail at this time!” Tarisha declared, her voice amplified by a magic choker she’d equipped.  I noticed that aside from my inner layer of protection there was another circle of members of Tarisha’s guild.  Outside of that layer was a mass of Travelers.  Most of them appeared normal, glowing neither blue nor red, although there were several players who bore the [Mark of Sin].

“What’s going on?” Someone shouted.  “Is this some sort of event?  Come on, at least tell us what’s happening.”

“I am visiting my uncle,” I declared.  “That is all.  I have learned some distressing news since Thedum allowed me to return to the city, and I am in a hurry to discuss things with my dear Uncle Storm.  I am sorry for the disturbance, but please--”

Abruptly one of the red players cast a spell at me.  I tried to dodge, but it impacted the protection spell.  Fortunately the magical barrier held against the fire, which was immediately refreshed by the healer who had cast it.  Lloyd moved to block the follow up attack, intercepting the fireball with his shield, while three of the warriors in the outer ring converged upon the assassin.

Tarisha grabbed my arm and we both blurred for a second as she tried to activate [Wind Walk], but it seems that she could no longer carry me with that spell as she could when I’d been smaller.  She could still drag me along the traditional way, however, and I ran after her towards the carriage while Lloyd and Marvin ran in formation with us.  The crowd erupted into chaos, with many of the gathered low level players scattering to avoid the clash between the endgamers.  Most of the red players vanished into the crowd, while two of them stood as though debating what action to take.

“Kill those two as well!” I shouted, pointing at the lingering threats.

“Quest accepted!” my guards from <Peasant’s Revenge> said almost in unison, and more split off from the outer ring.

“Wait, we weren’t going to do anything!” one of the players declared, “We were just --”

Multiple spells of fire, frost, and lightning converged upon him, and a moment later he was run through by a spear wielding member of <Peasant’s Revenge>.  Even impaled, it took a moment for him to vanish into motes of red light.

The other player I had pointed to immediately drew a pair of daggers and began battling with Tarisha’s guildmates.  I did not see the conclusion of the fighting, as I was bodily thrown into the carriage.

“Go, go, now!” Tarisha shouted, and the driver whipped the horses.  The healer jumped into the moving carriage with me, maintaining her protective shield the entire way.  Corinth, who had been waiting for me inside the carriage, blocked my view of the receding fight as he eagerly stared out the rear window.

“Oh man, that was awesome,” he exclaimed.  “Why’d you single out those two guys?”

“They deserved it,” I said, collapsing into the upholstered seat.  I looked out to the side and saw three mounted members of <Peasant’s Revenge> riding with me, while two rode on the other side of the carriage.  After we were some distance away, I heard a wyvern cry, and then a thud on the roof of the carriage.

“At ease, it’s me,” Tarisha said, and she swooped down from the roof into the carriage with us.  “I’m sorry, Lord Hail.  This was mostly my fault.  Ever since the incident, <Peasant’s Revenge> has been attracting crowds whenever we appear in groups larger than three.  When it was obvious that we had drawn attention, I made the call to bring in everyone who could make it on short notice as a show of force.  It seems that was not enough to dissuade everyone.”

“I suppose that I was lucky that I wasn’t murdered on my way home from the temple,” I said, sighing.

“Indeed, most fortunate,” she agreed.  “I wish that you would have waited for us to get in position.”

“And what?” I asked.  “Get chased through the city on my way to the Guild Hall?  Tarisha, what is this?  This is Zhesa City!  How is it not safe for me to walk down the street in my own hometown?  We’re in the very heart of the Heartlands, and yet--”

“The world is changing, Lord Hail, and most unfortunately you are at the center of it,” she said sadly.  “I’m very sorry.  For everything.  Perhaps things would be better if you were to become an anonymous Traveler, or a random Native.”

“No!” I said immediately.  “If anything, I’ve been away too long wallowing in my self-pity.  My country needs me.  My mother needs me, and my future little brother needs me.  I don’t know, I mean, I am just an Earl, but, but I need to do something.  If I just disappear and let everything go to the seven hells, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“I’m very happy you feel that way,” Tarisha said.  “I also must inform you that I just received a quest.  It is to support you in your efforts to right the course and save your country from succumbing to darkness.  It appears that it is an ongoing quest that will conclude when the next king is crowned.  The rewards are . . . they appears to scale with the amount of effort put into the quest, and if I’m interpreting things correctly they could grow to be substantial.  It appears to be shareable, and with your permission I would spread it to everyone in my guild and to those in <Nethersong Mavericks> who would take it.”

“Oh.  Yeah, of course.  Please do,” I said absently.  I looked out the window as we quickly passed through the city.  “Oh, and <Ragtag Muffin>.  I mean, if they want it.”

“I, um, yes.  Okay, Milord, I shall also share it with them,” Tarisha agreed.  “I was hoping to keep it somewhat exclusive and I doubt that the children of Ragtag will treat it that way, but I suppose the more people working on this project the better the end result will be for everyone.  I will contact one of their administrators to set up an opportunity to give it to those who want it.”

“Thank you, Tarisha.  One of these days I’m going to have to reward you for everything you’ve done for me, and I can’t imagine how I’ll be able to afford it,” I said.

It took five minutes from the nexus point to reach my uncle’s estate.  The guard at the gate challenged us, but quickly pulled the wrought iron gates open when I was announced.  As we passed into the substantial manicured lawn that few in the city could afford, I noticed behind us a magical flair being launched into the sky, no doubt informing the main house of my arrival.  The servants appeared to have been waiting for the signal, as a line of valets promptly appeared from the main door, lining up to receive us.

I shook my head at the display.  My uncle had a wife and two children.  Five if you counted the bastards, of course.  Which I did, and he didn’t.  If it weren’t for my grandfather, I’m quite certain they would have been cast into the streets.  Instead, my illegitimate cousins were being educated in country estates far from court.  I’d never been allowed to meet them, although we had secretly exchanged letters when I’d been younger with the help of my mother.  Somewhat ironically, I was much more fond of Storm’s bastards than I was of his heirs, and that had been before my own disgrace.

But however you counted, my uncle did not require nine valets.

The head butler appeared at the door a moment later, a stern looking man with a trim suit and a mustache.  He had tormented me in my younger days, on those few occasions when I had been forced to visit my Uncle Storm, but I refused to be intimidated.  His name was Filo.

“Hello again, Hail,” the butler said.  “You are expected, but I’m afraid your body guards must wait outside.”

“Tarisha comes with me,” I insisted.

“I’m afraid I really must insist, little goblin,” the man said.  Annoyed, I turned him into a toad with a [Swiftcast] [Polymorph].

“I am an Earl.  The proper term of address for my station is ‘My Lord.’  If I see Filo again on this visit I will challenge him to a duel, and then I will kill him.  And the next time that I see him after that, I expect him to immediately apologize for his actions tonight.  Who is next in charge?” I inquired.

One of the Valets jumped over, scooped up the [Polymorphed] Filo, and ran into the house.  Another stepped forward, somewhat shaken by my display of magic and authority.  “I’m head valet, My Lord.  However, I’m afraid that Duke Storm truly does insist that you do not bring any Traveler over level fifty into his home.  After what happened to his father, and the assassinations, including the attempts which our guards have foiled, you must understand his caution.”

“Then you may tell my uncle that I will not be entering his house without Tarisha of Miami at my side.  If he has a problem with that, he can either join me in the yard and we can discus our business as we watch the sunset, or I will view this journey as a waste of time, and I will return home.”

The head valet paled further, and he abruptly delegated the task to his junior, who looked like he had just been told that he was to be hanged on the morrow.  But the younger man obediently disappeared into the house.  I sighed and walked over to one of the statues lining the drive.  It was clearly of elven make, a young girl in a dress made of flowers, her arms raised as though inviting the viewer to dance with her.  However, the ears had been rounded off, and whoever had mutilated the poor elf had botched the job.

I sighed.  The statue had probably cost a thousand gold or more, and another two hundred to import.  And yet not only had my uncle defaced it, he had probably accepted the lowest bidder when doing so.  It had would be a masterpiece, but for the ears.

“His Royal Majesty has granted dispensation for the presence of Tarisha of Miami to enter his home in her capacity as your lordship’s body guard,” the returning valet said, sounding out of breath.  I [Analyzed] him, and saw that he was level three.  I wondered what his [Endurance] was.

“My Uncle Storm Teoran is a Duke,” I said.  “The proper term for a Duke is ‘His Grace.’  Not his royal majesty.  To call him anything else before a coronation is performed is a breech of protocol, and perhaps an act of rebellion, should he not be the one to ascend to the throne.”

The valet’s collectively stiffened at my words.  I was quite certain they were correct, as they had been drilled into me since I was five years old.  However, with those words, I had declared a stance on the succession, and the men before me were smart enough to realize it.  Idid not recognize Storm Teoran as my de facto king, and although I hadn’t said so yet, I would not be swearing my allegiance to Uncle Storm during this visit.

“As you say, Your Lordship,” the head valet said nervously.  “You and your bodyguard may enter at your leisure.”

“Right.  Tarisha, Corinth?  Let’s go,” I said.

“M-me?” Corinth exclaimed.  “I mean, quest accepted, but what?”

The valet’s eyes went wide as well.  “My lord, you can’t--”

“You said that the level limit on Travelers who may accompany me to visit my uncle is level fifty.  Corinth, what level are you?”

“I’m thirty-three.”

I looked at him in surprise.

“I got quite a bit of experience from our sparring session,” he explained.

“Congratulations.  Now then, since we have cleared up that Corinth is under the acceptable level to join me in visiting my uncle, and we have received dispensation for Tarisha of Miami will you please show the way mister … I’m sorry, what is your name?”

“Hender,” the head valet said, sweating profusely.  “I, um, yes okay.”

“Lead the way, Mister Hender,” I said, and I followed the valet into the mansion.