TQG 53

It's kind of heavy on the info dump, but here you go.  It's going live on RR tomorrow.

53. Reunions

The door crashed open, and the sound of it slamming against the wall waking me.  I lifted my head off the desk, a piece of parchment stuck to my face that I quickly pulled off.  When I looked up, I saw Malkios storming over to me, a strange expression on his bearded face.  Well placed instinct had me immediately searching for whatever act I might have performed to earn his ire, but instead he dragged me from the desk chair and engulfed me in a furious hug.

You have taken 20 crushing damage

“Malkios, I need to breathe,” I squeaked after a moment, although it was another moment before I was released.

“You damn fool boy, making a deal with a deity,” Malkios complained, the stench of wine heavy on his breath.  “I thought I’d lost you and your grandpa in the same day.  Thank Thedum in his generosity for sending you back to me.”

“I didn’t know what else to do,” I admitted.  “Thedum offered to make me his avatar to get revenge and I accepted without even thinking it over.  Now everything is different, in ways that I don’t really understand.  I’m worried, Malkios.  While I was in the space between worlds, Grandfather told me a lot of things that he might never have told me if he hadn’t died.  He told me his plan for me, to have me set up a new noble house.  He thought, maybe, you would help--”

“My blade is yours,” Malkios declared without letting me finish.  “And my hammer and my ax for that matter.  Whatever you need from me, my loyalty for your grandfather has become my loyalty to you, for the faith you showed in avenging him.  Though it pains me that we cannot banish the kingslayer from this world entirely, branding him and his ilk is at least a start.”

“Is it widely known among the natives that I was the ‘Branding Boss,’ as the travelers are calling it?” I asked.

“No.  I have kept the silence, but I was there.  It was wise of Tarisha and Daemon to swear the others to secrecy and spread their disinformation.  I have done the same, except to those most loyal to your grandfather whom I trust to keep the faith.  Lady Gwen and the other Dungeon Busters know, but few others.”

“That’s a relief,” I said.  “I honestly wouldn’t know what to do if everyone knew that I’d become the Avatar.”

“That isn’t the only change.  You seem to have grown a bit from the scrawny former prince I remember,” Malkios commented.

“I know.  I’m not certain why, but Thedum changed my age on me.  I think it was necessary to make me his avatar, although I don’t know why,” I explained.  “I’m still getting used to the difference.  I feel so clumsy being this big.”

“Well, everyone goes through an awkward phase,” the guard captain admitted.

“Yes, well, hopefully I can stop bumping into stuff and tripping over my own feet soon,” I grumbled.  “Malkios, there’s something you should know.  My grandfather, King Rain, will be reborn as my younger brother.  It was his own choice, but I’m not certain why, except that he enjoyed being king in his past life, and this was the only way for him to inherit the crown again, although I worry that it puts him far down the line of succession.  He’ll be in the same place I was before I was declared a bastard, and everyone always said that it was unlikely I would ever inherit”

“Perhaps not as far as you think,” Malkios said, his face turning serious.  “Hail, two of your uncles and one of your great-uncles have died while you were between worlds.  Murdered by travelers of the traitorous assassin’s guild.”

“What?” I exclaimed.

“Grave news, I know.  It has thrown the entire question of succession into chaos.  Your youngest uncle Storm is claiming that the crown belongs to him, while your great-uncle Auroras is accusing him of fratricide and claiming that makes him the rightful heir.  Storm has returned Auroras’s accusation with one of his own.  That is as much as I know about the events, however.  You should speak with Lady Gwen as soon as possible, she will be the one to guide you through this mess,” Malkios said.

“My family is being murdered by the travelers,” I whispered.  “And the most I can do is brand them?  So, what, they can’t get the quest they want, or access the auction?”

Inside I seethed.  I had not been close with my uncles, they lived in their own estates and their visits while I had been growing were associated with being dressed for a formal presentation, followed by a boring party or feast of some sort.  The food had been good, but that was the only redeeming aspect of such visits.  But they were family, and they were being taken from me.

“My mother?  Is she safe?”

“I’ve had no word of an attempt on her life,” Malkios said, “I believe it is because it yet unknown whether she bears a prince or princess.  If she gives birth to a girl, then the child will be safe, but I fear for the safety of a boy.  Your own safety should be assured as you were removed from the line of succession two years ago, but even so you should be more careful with your life, Hail.”

“I do not believe that assassinating me would do any good,” I admitted.  “I am as immortal as the travelers are, Malkios.  Killing me would only cost me a level and leave me annoyed.”

“Are you certain?” Malkios asked.  “Or did Thedum simply bring you back for your service to his cause?”

“It is Mister Thomas the Administrator who told me that,” I said.

“I see.  That does not mean that you should be reckless, Hail.  If the travelers kill you until you are once again level one, then you will once more be as helpless as a [Child],” He reminded me.

“I know,” I said.  “I’m not planning on doing it on purpose or anything.  I need to get stronger, Malkios.  Strong enough that I don’t need to borrow power from Thedum to protect those I care about.  I need power that doesn’t come with a million fishhooks attached.”

“That kind of power does not come easily,” Malkios cautioned.  “I am level one-seventy and I still failed to protect or avenge your grandfather.”

“It was not your fault, Malkios.  Neither Grandfather nor I blame you for what happened,” I assured him.  “Although if you’re willing, there is a task I would have you do.”

“Name it.”

“Journey to Eolstree and keep Mother and my unborn brother safe from assassins,” I said.

Malkios paused, then bowed.  “I shall leave on the morrow.  Let me spend the rest of the day with you, at least.  Seeing you alive helps me to feel less of a failure.”

I nodded, and I turned back to my writing.  I had gotten through half of the letters that I was supposed to write before drifting off, but the one that I had been working on was smudged by my face.  A wave of panic went through me as I pulled a hand mirror out of my inventory and saw that my face was blotched with ink.

Malkios snorted in amusement.  “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice until much later,” he teased.

“That’s not funny!” I protested.  I looked about, but we were in a traveler’s building and they required no water for drink or bathing, so there was no basin to try to wash off the ink.  I double checked my inventory, but the only liquids I possessed were health and mana potions.  Frustrated, I realized that I would have to venture out to find a way to clean my face.

Shooting Malkios another glare for his silent amusement, I stormed out of the room and, immediately outside the door, bumped into Tarisha.  I blushed a bit at my awkwardness and the stain on my face, which she immediately noticed and chuckled over.

“I heard you were writing.  I thought that would involve paper, not skin,” she teased.

“I fell asleep, okay?” I said.  Then I hugged her.  “I missed you these last few weeks.  Strange, because we haven’t known each other that long.  But of all of my traveler friends I missed you and Laurant the most.  I wonder if that’s because I’ve spent the most time with you, or if it’s because you have the most reputation.  Because of everyone I’ve seen, you are glowing the most brightly.”

Tarisha examined her hands.  “Glowing?  I do not understand, My Lord.”

“Since I returned I’ve become able to see reputation, Tarisha,” I explained.  “Or, at least I’ve become able to see my own.  Those who fought against me when I was a worldboss are glowing either red or orange, while those who helped with the dungeon outbreak or completed my other quests are some shade of blue.  You are very, very blue.”

“I see,” she said.  “That is … I suppose it will become useful to know who is aligned for and against you at a glance.  You’ve handed out so many quests with reputation as a reward I doubt you’ll be able to keep track very soon, and so many people have either unwittingly or intentionally taken stances against you.”

“I kind of wish that you weren’t glowing though,” I admitted.  “I mean, I’ll never forget about – oh, you stopped glowing when I said that.  Convenient.”

“I’m glad.  While it’s a useful function, I don’t exactly wear the color blue very well,” she said.  “Of the primaries, I prefer wearing red, as you may have noticed.”

“I don’t care what you wear, I’m just glad you’re on my side,” I said.  “I don’t know what I would do if you suddenly started glowing red.”

“That will never happen, My Lord.  I will never, ever go over to the dark side,” she vowed.

“I believe you,” I said.

“My lord … how cognizant are you of reputation?  Do you base all of your decision on it, or only some, or are you able to form attachments based on emotion alone?  I’m sorry if that’s an oh oh see question, but the answer is important to me for a number of reasons.

“I couldn’t see it before like four hours ago,” I reminded her.  “I honestly don’t know if it was affecting me before that or not.  I was never aware of it, but it could have been affecting me like it does other Natives.  Does it matter?”

“It does to me.  I would be sad if your affection was so easily won by simply completing a few fetch and carry quests,” she admitted.  “And I have future considerations which I must bear in mind as well.  Laurant has yet to make up his mind on the matter, but if not him, I will find another partner.”

“What?” I asked.

“Never mind.  That slipped out, it’s not something I’m ready to discuss with you yet.  Soon, once it is closer to being a reality I will seek your aide for something, but until I am certain that it will truly happen I do not wish to get either of our hopes up.”

“Oh.  Well, if it’s something I can help with, please let me know.  Now I really must find something to wash my face.”

Daemon cleared his throat, and I noticed him for the first time standing a respectful distance away down the hallway.

“Lord Hail, a missive arrived a moment ago.  A native courier delivered it and put great importance on it reaching you immediately, though he could not come within our instance of the guild hall himself.  It is from your uncle, I believe.”

“Oh,” I took the proffered letter and examined the seal.  It was Storm’s, and it was addressed to me with markings declaring it to be of great importance, and to bear regal authority.

“Malkios, the succession hasn’t been decided yet, has it?” I asked.

“It has not,” Malkios declared emphatically, having noticed the same markings that I had.  “But Storm has always been presumptuous.  His nature is now his biggest detriment, as many believe that he is guilty of the crimes he has been accused of.”

I sighed and broke the seal.  My frown grew more serious as I examined the contents of the letter.

“I have been summoned for a regal audience immediately,” I declared.  “Which is strange, since there is no king to summon me or hold a regal audience.