Riftside 2 - Chapter 56

When we entered the adventuring guild, a shared exhaustion fell over us like a shroud. We’d agreed on the way to the debrief. Our faces were grim and demeanour serious. Not a hint of our triumph showed. 

Not yet.

Harold, Vos, Corwin, and Mara’s expressions were unreadable as we filed in one after the other. A few other adventurers were scattered about the main hall, their conversations dying down as they took in the sight of our combined and rather battered group..

One of the adventurers stood. 

“Damn, Edwin? How did it go?”

Before Edwin could reply, Harold raised his voice, addressing the room at large. 

“Empty the hall, ladies and gentlemen. We need it for a debrief. Right now.” 

His tone brooked no argument, and the other adventurers, plus Madeleine and Petra, began filtering out. 

“You too, Sverr!” Harold called.

“But there might be gem-grams!” the man called back, sticking his head out his window. “Important ones!”

“If they’re that damn important, they’ll send them again when you don’t confirm! Now get!”

The man grumbled and cursed under his breath as he stomped out. I’d never seen him out of his chair, and was surprised to see he was as tall as me. He only weighed about a third with a frame so slim, though, and I made a note to get in my workouts. I needed the extra muscle.

He slammed the door shut behind him, leaving us in the sudden quiet.

Harold sighed and looked at me. 

“So? How bad is it?”

I nodded at Edwin, and a slow grin spread across the commander’s face.

“Oh, let me tell you, Harold, this was an interesting one,” he said and paused for dramatic effect. “Over two hundred monsters slain on our way in.” 

Mara whistled softly.

“Ash led us well,” Edwin continued. “The Crystalkin were dug in deep, but we pushed through deep underground. Easily a hundred yards deep, if you understand my meaning.” Another pause, but then his grin widened. “And we slew the crystal giant. Quarris, it called itself. The dead have been avenged and the Echoing Chasm is liberated. The killing blow?” He looked straight at me. “That honor went to Ash.”

I tried to keep calm at the direct praise in front of Vos and Mara’s as they eyed me intently No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t help but smile.

Harold seemed to visibly deflate, the tension draining from his shoulders as if a great weight had been lifted. 

“Thank the bells,” he breathed, his voice raspy with relief. “This is good, Edwin. Real good. The carcass—”

Corwin Rone adjusted his spectacles and interrupted. 

“The carcass, of course, will belong to Central Command, as per standard procedure for a Red-rated threat.”

Edwin didn’t even blink. 

“As agreed, Corwin, half the material yield will be turned over. The raid parties will retain the other half, with us relinquishing any gems to Ash’s party.” He then added, almost casually, “And my party has decided to donate our share of that half to Dawnwatch. To help the town through this crisis.”

“That is…very admirable of you, Commander,” Vos said after a brief pause. His gaze flicked to Corwin. “You’ve mentioned the unique properties of the Crystalkin materials before, Corwin. This is a strong victory for the Guild, make no mistake.”

Harold nodded emphatically. 

“And for Dawnwatch! Its prosperity hinges on the continued yield of that Rift. This success is vital to our very existence.”

Ming, ever enthusiastic about her craft, chimed in. 

“I think you’ll find the crystals will be even more valuable than previously expected. The Weavers’ crystals accepted my lightning, letting it rush through its channels. Quarris’s core material might be even more potent.”

“Big boom,” Knut said, making an exploding motion with his hands as a wide grin split his face.

Ming eyed him for a moment, and then turned back to the officials. 

“It did explode rather dramatically when my magic interacted directly with the Weavers’ own channeled energy. There might be even more opportunity available there if we find out how it worked.”

“We will call on you for a demonstration and detailed report, Ming,” Vos said, before turning his attention to me. “You’ve done a great job, Aldrich. With what you had.”

“What do you mean by that?” Eryn asked.

“Harold told me what was known of the giant after you had left. I would not have recommended engaging such a creature with a party of only nine, one of whom is, shall we say, recently classed, and four of whom are still shy of their second breakthrough.”

“We had Commander Edwin’s party with us,” Eryn pushed. “We were more than strong enough.”

“More than strong enough to defeat it, young Storm Warden?” Vos countered. “Or more than strong enough to do so safely, without undue risk of casualties? There is a world of difference between those two outcomes.”

Eryn shifted uncomfortably and looked down to the floor. I stepped in before she could reply and draw more ire. 

“In adventuring, Official Vos, there are never any guarantees of safety. Even weaker monsters can get in a lucky strike and kill a higher level adventurer.”

Vos took a slow breath and demonstrably glanced at the various freshly healed wounds and damaged gear. 

“That may be true, Aldrich, but it does not excuse unnecessary risks. The adventurers who reach level sixty, those who achieve the most for humanity, are the ones who meticulously stack the deck in their favor. Who is most worthy, would you say, between a level twenty to flee a monster who is of equal strength to herself and a level thirty who sacrifices her life in taking down a monster of equal strength to herself, stopping it from heading through the Rift?”

“The one who stops the monster,” I said, shifting my shield and wishing I could cross my arms, but my spatial was full and I’d had to carry it all the way back.

“Not so. If the level twenty keeps living, continues hunting, she may reach level forty and slay a hundred level thirty monsters.” He frowned and shook his head. “This is what frustrates me with adventurers. You do not see the future value of your lives, and if you would just focus on living, then we wouldn’t be having these conversations. Anywhere, mind you, not just here.”

I shifted, not comfortable with the logic of his point. Had Madrigal Ironweave fled, or had he picked and won every fight from level one to sixty? If he’d taken on a fight he shouldn’t, would he have been alive to save my family and I?

“The best adventurers remove every conceivable uncertainty and account for every possible detail and angle before a fight. Did you?” Vos asked.

I swallowed, the question hanging heavy in the air. Before I found my words, Vos turned to Edwin. 

“Commander, did you come close to losing anyone on this venture?”

“Yes, we did,” Edwin said. “Ming and Isaac were both  badly injured, but not due to being unprepared, Vos. The foe was powerful, its abilities unknown until encountered.”

Vos gave a slow, deliberate nod. 

“I look forward to reading the detailed after-action report, Commander.”

“We just won, Vos,” I said. “We took down a rift rotten Red-rated monster that’s killed adventurers and been hiding and growing for who knows how long! Why are you giving us trouble? We should be celebrating!”

Vos’ eyebrows rose. 

“Trouble? This is not trouble, young adventurer. You would know if you were in trouble. This is advice, which you would be wise to take.” He paused, then added, “This is also a compliment and congratulations on a quest well done.”

I stared at him, taken aback. 

“A compliment? Are you… sure? Because this sounds more like a whole forge-full of criticism.”

A sudden laugh, loud and clear, burst from Mara. She clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Vos turned his gaze to her, one eyebrow arching slowly. She just waved a dismissive hand at him, still suppressing a smile.

Vos looked back at me. 

“Yes, Aldrich. I am sure. You have done well. I want you to continue to do well.”

I managed a nod, still trying to reconcile his words with his tone. 

“Thank you for the… well wishes, then. It was a tough fight. If Ming hadn’t figured out how to use her lightning against their crystal network, we might have been forced to retreat.” I paused, then dropped the real bomb. “Oh, and the monster talked.”

They all froze for a second, before reacting in most peculiar ways.

Harold’s jaw dropped, Mara’s amusement vanished, replaced by sharp attention, Corwin’s glasses nearly slid off his nose, and Even Vos’s stoic expression flickered with surprise.

Edwin seized the moment. 

“Which is proof! My theory is correct. There’s more to the monsters Riftside than we understand. The giant, Quarris, specifically mentioned the Hive Mind! Asked if we were sent by it, said it refuses to—”

“Edwin, enough!” Mara’s voice cut through his words, sharp as a razor. “Your wild theories will be discussed later. Privately.”

Edwin opened his mouth to object, but Mara’s gaze was firm, her authority undeniable. 

“That is a command, Commander. Do not disobey me.”

He snapped his mouth shut, a flush rising on his neck and cheeks.

I started to add my own observations about Quarris’s words, but a single, pointed glare from Mara silenced me just as effectively. 

“The rest of you are not to breathe a word of this to anyone. The guild is not served by confusion among the adventurers. Tell me you understand and accept this. Now. All of you.”

After we all did, I decided a change of subject was wise. 

“Speaking of…things… the quest reward?”

Corwin, recovering his composure, adjusted his glasses. 

“Proof of kill, if you please.”

A collective groan seemed to emanate from both my party and Edwin’s. We all just stared at him.

Corwin looked around, looking perplexed. 

“The Guild cannot disburse payment without verified proof. This is standard operational procedure.”

I shrugged. 

“Sure. We can give you your requested samples of the smaller Crystalkin now. As for Quarris, you’ll have to join us at the Steel & Scale…” I let my voice trail off, enjoying the suspense. “We don’t quite know what to expect when I pull him from storage.”

“What do you mean?” Corwin asked.

“He was a giant,” I said. “But during the fight, he… changed. Reformed. We’re not sure what state he’ll be in. Better to do it behind the smithy. There’s a larger plot of land there, less chance of damaging anything.”

Vos frowned. 

“I recall the Titanfang carcass was butchered here at the Guild.”

“I took that monstrosity out of inventory well outside the city walls, Vos,” Edwin said. “We carved it into several pieces there before bringing them back in.”

Corwin nodded slowly. 

“Very well. I will accompany you to the smithy.”

“I’ll stay back,” Mara said, her gaze fixed on Edwin. “The Commander and I have matters to discuss.”

“I’d love to be a part of that conversation, Mara,” I said.

Mara’s smile was all teeth. 

“And once you become a commander of a Rift, Aldrich, I’ll consider including you in such discussions.”

I gave a tight smile of my own. Touché. 

“Right then. To the Guild storage first, to deliver the other carcasses.”

*

The space behind the smithy was more crowded than I’d ever experienced it, even without Edwin and Mara. Besides our two parties, Pa, Ma, Torsten, and even Lysander Wilkens had gathered to see the giant, together with Vos, Harold, and Corwin. 

Ma finished giving me several pieces of her mind about not informing her before heading off on a hunt, her glare still potent even after I’d mumbled my apologies.

“Crisis, fine, I understand you have to run,” she’d said, her voice low but firm enough for everyone to hear. “But a planned quest to hunt for a rift rotten crystal giant, Ash Aldrich? You let us know. That’s the deal. Next time this happens, I’m coming to the Guild and having this chat with you in front of all your new friends and colleagues.”

I sighed, knowing better than to argue when she used my full name. 

“Yes, Ma. I’m sorry, Ma. Again. Could we perhaps discuss this later, when we don’t have… well, quite such an audience?”

She gave me one last glare before nodding curtly. 

“Fine. If only because you all came back in one piece.”

Knut chuckled beside me. 

“Be grateful for mother’s love, Ash. Miss mine.” He glanced at Torsten, his expression softening. “Pardon, brother. Our mother.”

“Of course,” I said. “I am. It’s just, you know…” I looked around at the twelve people watching Ma and I. But not one of them looked annoyed, just amused.

Torsten offered a sad smile. 

“In our world of high mountains, she stood the tallest, and was the gentle hand that healed the cracks in our lives.”

“She sounds lovely,” Eryn said softly and touched Knut’s shoulder. 

“Better than we deserved,” Knut said, his voice gruff with emotion. “Made world less ugly.”

“What happened to her?” Vos asked, his unexpected question startling us all. I wouldn’t have pegged him for the type to care about personal histories.

Knut and Torsten exchanged a quick, fierce glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Knut shook his head almost imperceptibly.

“It is a tale for another time, Official Vos,” Torsten said, his voice regaining its composure first. “Not for a moment of triumph such as this.”

“Barrel of ale type story,” Knut rumbled, his brow low. “Murder, treason, and two lost orphans.”

“Don’t say that, Knut. There’s no proof Dad’s gone,” Torsten corrected quietly, then clapped his hands together, forcing a brighter tone. “But enough of that! I am eager to see this giant you’ve felled!”

Lysander, his voice calm, chimed in. 

“Indeed. Perhaps my second project of Dawnwatch will reveal itself among its glimmering shape, like the carp in a sunlit stream.” 

Isaac sidled over to him, introducing himself and murmuring something about discussing bowyery later. Lysander agreed with a serene nod, though he pointed out, “Any commissions undertaken whilst I am a guest of Steel & Scale must, of course, be processed through them.”

I gave Lysander a grateful nod before stepping away from the others, then surveyed the open plot of land between the smithy’s backyard and the next ring road. My hand hesitated over the rune on my wrist. I could almost picture it – in a few years, a dozen houses might stand here, lining newly laid lanes. 

Dawnwatch was growing, and fast. This wouldn’t slow it down.

With a private chuckle, I swiped my hand.

“Alright, Quarris. Time for your public debut.” 

I mentally directed the placement, away from us and the smithy.

The ground beneath our feet shuddered violently as Quarris’s carcass materialized and slammed down with a sound like a runaway stone. Dust billowed outwards.

Vos let out a sharp curse. Corwin gasped, 

“Oh my.” 

Ma clutched Pa’s arm, her eyes wide, while Pa just let out a thoughtful “Hmm,” and headed for the carcass.

Torsten whooped, pumping a fist in the air before engulfing Knut in a hug. 

“That’s my big brother!” he roared. “Bringing down the massive ones and taking names!”

Harold, on the other hand, just started laughing, great booming peals of it.

“What’s so funny, Guild Leader?” I asked, bewildered, looking between the carcass and Harold, as Torsten joined Pa.

Harold couldn’t speak for a moment, just pointed a shaking finger at Corwin, whose face slowly turned into a mask of controlled annoyance. 

Finally, he managed to talk again.

“Corwin, I hope you brought an extra ledger! Ash here got you good! Half the carcass to Central Command, but any gems from the kill are theirs, and Central Command will still walk away fat and happy from the raw materials. I’d say you owe us all a round at the Timberline for this!”

Corwin adjusted his glasses. 

“We are, of course, gratified to support the continued prosperity of frontier settlements such as Dawnwatch. Though it does appear our initial investment in this venture has yielded rather… unbalanced dividends in certain respects.”

I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. 

“That’s what happens when you play fair out here on the edge, Corwin. We all get a little something, even if some of us get a bit more than others.”

Harold’s laughter subsided into a satisfied chuckle. 

“If this isn’t enough to keep Central Command’s purse strings loosened for Dawnwatch, Corwin, then you don’t deserve your title or your fancy ledgers. I think it’s time we revisited our earlier discussions regarding the rationing of arrows and the unfortunate reduction in quest payouts, eh?”

Vos, his face deadpan, added, “It will certainly be more challenging for anyone at Central to argue against Dawnwatch’s relevance and relative success now. You might even say the scales are… weighted in your favor now, Harold. Keep this up and we will happily visit you again under better circumstances.”

Corwin managed a thin smile. 

“I will, of course, be reviewing the relevant balance sheets with the outcome of this quest prominently in mind. I trust you will provide full and comprehensive documentation, Harold. For now… congratulations are in order.”

“Oh, I’ll document it,” Harold said. “By the Rift’s own shimmering green surface, I’ll make two copies and frame one for my office wall!”

Corwin sighed, then addressed me. 

“You’ll receive half the gold for the quest completion today, Aldrich, one hundred and twenty-five gold. The remainder will be disbursed tomorrow, upon receipt of Commander Edwin’s written report.”

We shouted and jumped into the air, and I rushed over to pull Eryn into a tight hug before giving her a quick kiss. 

“Congratulations,” she whispered. “And good job, handsome.”

Ma came over and held her arms out. I gave her a hug next. 

“Good job, son,” she said. “Though this doesn’t mean you’re not in trouble. I’ll give you an earful later on.”

“I know, Ma,” I said, enjoying the hug, especially after Knut’s reminder of how precious mothers were.

“I’ll make sure Edwin writes up the report tonight,” Ming said. “Before we even think about heading to the Timberline.”

Alex chuckled beside her. 

“Edwin’s going to love that. Which means I love it. We will all make sure the report is done right away.”

I laughed, then turned to Pa, who leaned on Quarris’s remains, looking a little unsteady on his feet from the news. 

“Well, Pa? What do you think of our little souvenir?”

Pa straightened, and then swallowed, twice, before taking a slow breath and getting his emotions under control. He glanced to the Guild officials and then back to me. 

“Do you want my initial analysis in front of our esteemed guests, Ash? Or shall we wait until we have a measure of privacy?”

A thrill went through me. 

Pa wouldn’t ask that unless he’d already spotted something fun. 

“You know what, Pa?” I said, a wide grin spreading across my face. “I think it’s high time we took this opportunity to show our leaders from Central Command exactly what makes Steel & Scale so unique.”