The misadventures of the necromancer

Seres looks at the clearing around them where they have been staying. The week they were supposed to wait has turned into two.

During that time, rumours about what happened in Pinetop began to spread. Eventually, they reached the inn they had been using to stay in contact with the two men who now worked for Nero.

The rumours themselves were incredibly contradictory. Everything from things that were actually true, such as Eran being defeated by a mage, to claims that the man who had introduced himself as Eran wasn't actually Eran at all, and that the fight had been a farce, that would quickly bring by the real Bane of Mages.

There were even people saying that a group of cultists was trying to take over Pinetop, and that this was what had caused all these strange events.

In the end, the only thing certain was that something important had happened in the city, and that it was connected to a strange mage who had disappeared.

That brings a smile to his lips whenever he thinks about how Nero alone defeated someone like the Bane of Mages. The only thing he doesn't like is that he wasn't able to witness the battle.

But all of this had made them worried about the attention they might attract. So, they started avoiding the inn and changed their meeting place to this clearing.

Supposedly, they were here exploring the surrounding forest in an attempt to find herbs for potions.

Which, in reality, wasn't even a lie, since Nero had wisely decided that if they were going to stay here waiting, they might as well use the opportunity to try to find Angel's Tears so they could replenish their potion supplies.

Unfortunately, as they had already seen since arriving in the region of this plateau, the abundance of the herb that was practically a weed where they came from left much to be desired here.

And the quality of the little they had found left Nero grumbling that they needed more and more herbs for each potion.

In the end, even after thoroughly searching the woods, their potion stock had only increased to seven, which was better than what they had before.

But nobody exactly felt like celebrating.

Devastatingly, Adar complained that instead of throwing themselves into this adventure Nero was planning, perhaps they should try selling potions instead.

Of course, Nero had immediately pointed out that even if the two assassins helped them sell potions, people with a real interest in buying them wouldn't pay them much, at least not at first.

And to make the amount of money they needed, they would risk influencing the potion market enough to attract a great deal of attention.

The only way they could make serious money from potions would be if a war broke out nearby.

Even Adar had to agree with that, especially considering that this had been an old discussion on what the best way for them to make money was.

But at that moment Seres notices the mule approaching the tree line in a way that makes him think it had noticed something.

“Nero, Adar!” he calls, pointing toward the undead mule.

Adar, who had been sitting beside the campfire, immediately turns toward where he is pointing. He seems to notice the mule's behaviour as well and heads toward Seres.

Nero, meanwhile, who had been lying on the ground, apparently lost in his own thoughts.

He raises his head slightly and looks directly at Seres.

“What is it, Blondie?”

“Trouble,” Adar answers as he walks past him.

That makes Nero sigh while beginning to get up, but without showing any urgency or anxiety.

That said, Seres notices that, in an instant, a pale light surrounds him.

The mule, meanwhile, remains focused on an area where he can now hear branches snapping and something large moving.

Seres exchanges a tense look with Adar, even knowing that whatever it is would hardly pose a real threat to Nero. And that the mule would protect them.

When he looks back to the mule, two figures emerge from the vegetation.

One is a man whose size reminds him of the old warrior who accompanied Sorana, Grint. Only this one is younger and carrying an axe.

Beside him, almost completely overlooked because of her companion's massive size, is a young woman.

She appears exotic and has what looks like to be some sort of mark on her forehead, with hair cut to around neck length.

For a few moments, everyone remains silent, watching one another.

Neither of the newcomers even glances at the undead mule standing nearby.

Eventually, however, the man takes a step forward and says:

“Well, this may sound a little strange, but...”

“We were sent by the Brothers of the Eternal Night.”

Seres looks at Nero. For unless he's very much mistaken, that is the phrase the adventurers they were expecting were supposed to use.

Nero simply nods and comments:

“Finally.”

Adar steps forward and greets the newcomers.

“Welcome.”

Seres himself gives them a small nod and a brief smile.

He thinks about how they're going to have new companions and how nice it will be to learn more about them, especially the woman, who seems so distinctive.

“So, what do you two do?” Nero suddenly asks without any sympathy or friendliness.

His irritation at the delay is more than obvious.

The two newcomers look at each other as if deciding how to handle the situation.

Seres sees Adar open his mouth to say something when the man's voice sounds again.

“Axe. Fighter. Specialised in close-range combat. I'm the one you want if we come across creatures that need to be taken down up close.”

His tone is smooth and highly professional, giving no indication that he takes issue with Nero's question.

Then the girl speaks, her voice rougher than Seres expected.

“Carrion. Mage. I'm the back-line support.”

He can't help being intrigued.

A mage.

They normally don't encounter mages, much less ones who aren't fighting Nero. Having a proper conversation with her will certainly be fascinating.

Still, even he has to admit that recruiting another magic user when Nero is around is somewhat ridiculous.

Looking at Adar, he can see that his friend has some reservations about it as well.

“A mage... and an Axe. Okay!” Nero's voice reveals just how unimpressed he is as he makes fun of the man being called Axe.

“That isn't what I asked for!”

The two newcomers seem surprised by this.

But the man, Axe, answers:

“I know some people who know other people. They told me that was important.”

Nero nods.

He must be the contact who can help them sell the crystals.

“While I was told my knowledge of the animal life in this region might be important,” Carrion adds.

“You!?” Nero looks at her with some surprise before shrugging and saying

“Okay. If that's the case.”

“And what about you? Other than telling us there was a job and where to find you, they didn't tell us much,” the man announces, giving them an assessing look that doesn't suggest he is particularly impressed.

“I'm Seres,” he begins, figuring that this is the part where they introduce themselves.

“This is Adar,” he says, pointing at his friend.

Adar looks at him in shock and starts shaking his head, for some strange reason.

“And this is Nero!” he finishes.

“Blondie!” Nero exclaims, while Adar brings a hand to his face in frustration.

Seres can't understand it. They're preparing to reveal the location of those mines to these people. That will require trust from both sides.

How is hiding their identities supposed to help with that?

“Nero? Where have I heard that name before?” asks Carrion, intrigued.

“Doesn't matter! As long as they can get the job done, the rest doesn't matter,” Nero grumbles, shaking his head.

“Yes, which brings me to the fact that we're supposed to get some money up front,” the man announces, extending his hand.

Nero responds with:

“Grumpy.”

Adar, in turn, wears a pained expression as he takes out a gold coin.

That will leave them with only one other gold coin and a few silver ones.

What had once seemed like a fortune they had never seen before now feels like they are becoming poor.

With more than a little reluctance, Adar tosses the coin toward the man, who catches it in the air.

“Hey, I still haven't agreed to this job...” Carrion suddenly says.

Which is a little strange, considering she's already here. Besides, what kind of mage wouldn't want to work with Nero?

“What do you mean?” asks Nero, his expression completely blank.

“We haven't received any details about the job yet. I was only told I might be able to find some animals.”

Nero sighs before explaining.

“We're going to travel about three or four days north. To a specific valley where there should be some caves containing animals and, perhaps, a few other valuable things.”

The man and woman look at each other as they take in what they've heard.

“What kind of animals?” the man asks, receiving a nod of agreement from the woman.

But Seres can't help noticing that they apparently ignored the other valuable things part.

Adar, meanwhile, seems pleased with the question.

“Some animals that look like six-legged dogs with long fangs,” Nero explains, wearing the expression of someone trying to remember details that have become somewhat hazy.

“Rockhounds?” she asks.

Nero shrugs.

“Maybe. Are they valuable?”

“The meat is worth something. Some people like it. And the hide as well. But they're not worth that much,” she answers almost immediately.

“Okay. That's to be expected,” Nero comments.

“There are also some giant blue beetles that love digging.”

“What?” the woman asks, apparently confused.

“You don't recognise them? That's a shame. I was hoping the jelly was still worth some money,” Nero comments with a shrug.

“Other than that, I only remember the bats, but they're just annoying.”

“What kind of bats? There's a species around here whose wings are worth good money to alchemists,” she says, suddenly more animated upon hearing this.

“How am I supposed to know? That's what you're here for,” he replies.

“But I think we can assume you're in.”

She hesitates an instant before nodding.

“Good. Then, Grumpy, Blondie, let's break camp. We've wasted enough time already.”

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