Talyn: Rebirth Ch. 16

Sorry this is late! I lost track of which day of the week it was, since my wife is on vacation.

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Chapter 16

“Gordon’s right, but another reason we make sure we get items appraised by the Mercenary Guild is that they’re oath-bound to only tell the truth about what they learn. I should stress that it’s a magical oath, and it extends as long as they’re employed by the guild.” Aslith explained. “So not only is it cheaper than most other appraisals, but you’re guaranteed to get an accurate summary of what the items can do or are worth.”

“Ah. If that’s the case, why don’t more people get their items appraised by the guild?” Talyn asked, frowning a little. Reagan chuckled softly, shaking his head.

“Simple enough. You have to be a member of the guild, and unless you’re a specialist they’ve employed, like a Guildmaster, Artificer, Alchemist, or similar profession they need, you have to pass a basic combat test and take regular requests. Most people aren’t willing to do that.” Reagan said, shrugging. “Beyond that, even some mercs aren’t willing to let them identify items for them. The guild keeps records of all the items they appraise, and some people aren’t comfortable with that. Nothing you found should be valuable enough to cause problems, but every so often there’s something that can cause issues.”

“Immortality elixir.” Aslith said grimly, nodding in agreement. “Not only would the guild try to pressure you into selling something like that to them, chances are that the information would leak and you’d get targeted. Most mercenaries try to find a trustworthy appraiser for things they suspect are particularly valuable… it’ll probably take us a few months once we reach Castra for that.”

They were out in front of the mercenary guild, and Talyn just nodded in understanding. Elda and Gordon had gone in to get Talyn’s items identified, so they were just waiting.

“I take it that’s more common than I’d like?” Talyn asked, prompting snorts from the two, both of them nodding.

“Better safe than sorry.” Aslith said, grimacing as she added. “If you did find something super-rare, I’d suggest selling it off fast. You don’t want the trouble it’d bring, not at your level. That said, you’re sure you want to go with us? You seemed a little hesitant last night.”

“I’d rather be someplace where I can learn without the Guildmaster disliking me than worrying constantly.” Talyn said, glancing over at Melody as she added. “Plus, Melody already threatened me if I stayed somewhere boring for ages.”

Aslith’s eyebrows rose, but Melody replied cheerfully.

“I did! I didn’t offer to come with you just to get stuck in a tiny village while you became a woodworker of something. Castra at least sounds interesting.” Melody said. There wasn’t a hint of irony in her voice, despite the fact she was whittling on a branch with a manifested dagger.

“I thought that guardian spirits couldn’t do anything harmful to their summoners?” Reagon said, his tone questioning.

“Within limits. We aren’t slaves or anything like that.” Melody said, shrugging. “If I really wanted, I probably could get replaced by another spirit, though. I don’t plan on it, but who knows what the future will bring?”

“Very true.” Talyn agreed, hiding the shadow that washed over her at the explanation.

“Well, we learn something new every day.” Aslith said, stretching. “Still how long are they going to—”

The elf shut up as the door opened and Elda appeared in it, accompanied by Gordon. Gordon was carrying the cloak-pin, while Elda had the robes in her arms, and was marching toward them briskly.

“You were saying, Aslith?” Reagan asked.

“Oh, shush. I swear they do that on purpose.” Aslith retorted, rolling her eyes and shoving him gently.

Talyn couldn’t help a hint of discomfort. The group was so tight knit that she couldn’t help feeling like she was intruding somehow. They were all close friends, and she… wasn’t. It made her think twice about her decision, but she shoved it aside. It was just until they reached Castra, after all. Plus, she had Elda bearing down on her, a determined look on her face.

“This. I wish to purchase it.” Elda said bluntly, pointing at the bundled robes under her arm. Talyn couldn’t help blinking at her.

“Um, what?” Talyn asked, looking at Gordon, who sighed heavily.

“Elda, you know you need to give better explanations than that.” Gordon said, glowering at the animus, who looked at him, narrowing her eyes.

“You tell. I want.” She insisted, causing Talyn’s eyebrows to rise still more at the possessive tone to her voice.

“Fine, fine… I’ll tell her.” Gordon said, and turned to Talyn, his expression turning more serious as he continued. “So… for a beginner you struck a damned gold mine, Talyn. Sure, these aren’t that valuable in the grand scheme of things, but both items are good, better than I would’ve expected even from a cult with a level thirteen leader.”

“Oh?” Talyn asked, her eyebrows rising.

“Yup. Take the cloak pin, for instance. It isn’t that impressive, really, but it has an enchantment which causes your clothing to repel water and keeps them clean. Worth right around a gold on its own, two if you bought it from a shop. Have to say I’m tempted by it myself, since there’s a lot of me to keep dry when it rains.” Gordon explained, offering it to Talyn as he spoke. “If you want to sell it, I’d be happy to talk about it, though I suspect both Aslith and Reagan might be interested themselves.”

“Mm, you could say that again. The idea of not having my clothing stink after a couple of days in the field is nice.” Reagan murmured, and Aslith nodded in agreement.

“That sounds useful. Though I could see you wanting it as well, since you’ve only got one set of clothing at the moment.” Melody said, looking away from her stick with interest.

“Yeah, it might not be a bad idea. Once I have more clothing it might be less useful, though.” Talyn said, examining the amulet. She saw Gordon grimace and tug on his beard. “What about the robes? Why does Elda want them?”

“I was afraid of something like that. Might need to find a tailor for you.” Gordon muttered, then continued more loudly. “The robes are better. They’re made of wool from warsheep, and cushion against blunt impacts well, which is what you ran into, and they’re high-quality enough to take enchantments up to level fifty. If that wasn’t enough, they’re currently enchanted with the same type of effect as that amulet, repelling water and cleaning themselves. Plus, by using ten coppers you can reweave them to change appearances and fit a new wearer. Just selling them you’d make eight gold on the low end. Buying a set like that would probably run twenty, twenty-five gold. The appraiser was drooling over them.”

Talyn’s eyebrows were rising as the explanation progressed, and by the end she was looking at the robes the animus was holding close curiously. She was surprised by how possessive Elda was being. And why the others seemed impressed as well.

“Um, why are they so expensive? And why are all of you so impressed?” Talyn asked, frowning.

“Warsheep are territorial, aggressive, and a pain in the ass to take care of. They aren’t herd animals, either, so getting the wool for robes like that is tough.” Aslith explained. “While it’s really good for the level, the amount of effort to get the wool drives up the price, and it’s not high-quality enough for higher-tier equipment, so there isn’t a huge supply of it. You might look for it for the better part of a year before finding clothing made from it, if you’re lucky.

“The main supply of warsheep wool comes from low-end mercs finding them in the wild, knocking them out, then hauling them to a nearby shepherd to shear.” Gordon volunteered. “My dad did that when he was younger. He didn’t recommend it, unless you were bored and short on cash.”

“Alright. Well, I can say that I don’t intend to use robes. Melody?” Talyn said, examining them after a moment. The idea of the robes being able to reweave themselves to fit intrigued her, but she doubted they’d turn into trousers and a tunic, and even if they did, that would be awkward. How would she get them off?

“We haven’t chosen our classes yet, but I doubt I’ll be planning to use something like that, either.” Melody said, shrugging. “If you want to sell them, I think the gold would be able to set you up better. Maybe get better training or equipment.”

“An excellent point.” Talyn agreed, considering for a couple of seconds, then focused on Elda. “How much are you offering?”

The animus seemed to consider for a moment, then said. “Eighteen gold.”

“Elda! That’s practically everything you have! What about lodging and gear for the dungeon!” Reagan protested immediately, overwhelming Talyn’s brief surge of greed. “That could get you killed!”

“I want. Better than other options.” Elda replied stubbornly, hugging the robes closer.

Talyn raised her hand before Reagan could argue, looking at Aslith and Gordon as she asked. “Um, how much would you say is necessary for your preparations?”

“Well, there’s lodging, of course, but that shouldn’t be too expensive. Might take… a month to get our feet under us and be ready?” Gordon asked, to a hesitant nod from Aslith. He spoke a little more confidently at that point. “So just for lodging, that would be about half a silver, plus food… call it a silver there. Preparation is trickier, could be as little as fifty silver, or as much as five gold, depending on how many potions and other consumables we need.”

“More is better. I know that Elda has been saving for a good set of robes for a while, which is why she has so much on-hand.” Aslith said, shrugging.

“Mm. Fair enough. How about this, then. Ten gold, but you all help me find someplace to live and train once we reach Castra, and pay me another five as you can?” Talyn offered, resisting her instinct to push for as much money as possible.

“That’s rather generous of—” Gordon began.

“No.” Elda said firmly, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Talyn, considering, then continued. “Ten, then ten. Not ten and five.”

Talyn’s eyebrows rose slightly, then she inclined her head slightly. “If you insist, I’m certainly not going to argue. It’d certainly make my life easier! I hope, anyway.”

“Well, if the two of you are certain…” Reagan said slowly, then shrugged. “In any case, we likely should get moving. The sooner we leave, the more likely we are to get to the next town before nightfall.”

Talyn nodded and let out a sigh, stretching a little as she glanced at Melody, inclining her head. Elda just smiled, quickly shoving the robes into her pack for the moment.

“Hm?” Melody murmured, arching an eyebrow elegantly. Talyn wondered how she could do that, since she had trouble not moving both.

“I just wondered… with your name, are you good at music?” Talyn asked.

Melody laughed, nodding. “Of course! I suspect I wouldn’t be as good now, but I doubt I’ll be bad. Not that I’m going to do it while we travel. It seems like a good way to get ourselves ambushed.”

“Fair, I was just curious.” Talyn said, looking at the others as she smiled. “Anyway, I have food, a bedroll, and water, so… I think I’m ready to go.”

“Alright! Time to get ourselves miserable on the open road!” Gordon replied cheerfully, to a chorus of laughter.

Unfortunately, Talyn suspected he was simply telling the truth.