Book 1: Chapter 30

Book 1: Chapter 30

“Hey. Hey.” Someone shook Kay’s shoulder. “I’d leave you napping if I could, but it’s time to wake up.”

Kay slowly opened his eyes. It had been mid-day when he had closed them, and the sun was starting to go down as he pushed himself up to his feet.

“There ya are,” The mayor’s wife helped him up. “Sorry about leavin’ ya there, but we had some stuff to do.” She chuckled.

Kay stretched and worked at the knots forming in his back and shoulders. “It’s fine, I understand.” He glanced around and noticed that nothing was burning anymore.

She laughed and smacked him on the back. “Good! Now, c’mon. Gerald wants to talk to ya.”

He followed her to what looked like a general store near the village center. Most of the store was empty, the contents presumably used or distributed to help the village. The mayor was talking with a short man as they entered.

“Gerald,” The short human cut off the mayor, “It’s fine. I know that you won’t stiff me. Stop yammering about it. It takes however long it takes to make the money back. I’m not some bastard of a merchant to demand payment this instant and hit you with all kinds of interest when you don’t. People needed the stuff after that mess,” He waved a hand at the door, “And I’m more than happy to have it used. Calm down.”

The mayor, Gerald, sighed. “Thanks Tam.”

“Don’t worry about it.” The shopkeep noticed Kay come in. “The adventurer’s here.”

The mayor spun around, his posture straightening. There was a hint of worry in his eyes. “Ah! You’re awake good!” He glanced back at the shopkeep. “Tam, can we borrow your back room?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

The mayor nodded at Kay and led him through into the back of the empty store. He closed the door behind them and looked at Kay for a few moments. “Look, I’m just going to be honest with you. We can’t afford to pay you for this. With the rebuilding fees and everything else, we’re broke.” He started talking faster and faster, “We have to rebuild two buildings completely, including my house, and there’s another two that need repairs. We have to pay back Tam and the other’s here that put up goods and services to help us recover, and that’s not including anything else that’s going to-”

“Whoa!” Kay grabbed Gerald’s shoulders. “Stop. It’s alright. I’m not going to demand some payment from you for taking out the Blood Mage. I’m not that mercenary.”

“Truly?” The mayor stared into Kay’s eyes, a hint of desperation lurking in the back of his gaze. “We honestly can’t afford to give you anything. Not even a feast in thanks.”

“Seriously. I understand. You need everything you have to rebuild and recover. I’m not going to take anything from you when you can’t afford it.” Kay grinned, “That, and I still expect to get paid. If there isn’t a bounty on the asshole’s head from the city I’ll eat my socks.”

Gerald almost collapsed in relief. “Oh, thank you! You’re a literal lifesaver... I’m so sorry, but in everything that’s happened I’ve totally forgotten your name.”

Kay grinned. “It’s Kay, Mr. Mayor.”

“Please, after everything you’ve done, it’s Gerald to you.”

Kay spent a little longer talking things over with Gerald and his wife Kathleen. Mostly just sorting out what happened and taking a bit of a breather.

The Blood Mage had come through the same gate Kay did, killing one of the two guards there and injuring the other. Surprisingly, while there were a number of injured people, that guard had been the only causality. They insisted that without Kay it would have been much worse, and after they were entirely sure Kay wouldn’t demand some payment they couldn’t give, they were effusive in their thanks.

When Kathleen noticed that it was getting close to dark she took over the conversation, effectively shooing Kay back to the city with two bodies in tow on his sled and two of the villagers as escorts. With multiple homes being completely destroyed, or damaged to uselessness, they didn’t have a place for Kay to sleep. The two villagers coming with him were part witnesses to events when he reported everything, but mostly they were being sent to stay with relatives in Tumbling Rapids that could put them up for a time while buildings were repaired.

Kay gestured the guard who’d spoke to step closer.

He raised a brow, but did take a few steps in. His partner watched with a mildly suspicious look on her face.

“It’s the Blood Mage that’s been attacking villages in the area. I came back from hunting the bird and caught him attacking their village.” He pointed at the two men from the village behind him. “They’re here as witnesses.”

The guard snapped upright and his partner immediately went for her weapon. The first guard waved her down. “Oi! Rookie!”

A young man ran over from somewhere. “Yeah? What’s up?”

“Go get the Sergeant, fast!”

The way the first guard snapped had the younger man sprinting off immediately.

The guard pointed off to the side of the gate. “Go over there. We’re going to need to bring some higher ups over, and there’s no point in blocking the gate.” He stopped in place. “No, wait. Drag that inside.” He gestured them through the gate, then over to one side inside the wall. “Wait there for the Sergeant.” He whirled towards a small guard house inside the wall. “Bena, Dein!”

Two more guards poked their heads out.

“Watch these three!” He pointed at Kay and the villagers. “They need to wait for the Sergeant!”

They nodded and pulled out a pair of stools, where they sat and started watching them warily.

“Ed!” The other guard speed walked over. “What’s going on?” She hissed.

Ed the guard leaned over and whispered to her.

“Seriously!?” She snapped her head over to stare at them.

Kay and the villagers all nodded.

“Well... Fuck, that’s fantastic isn’t it?”

Ed nodded. “Yeah, but they still need to talk to the Sergeant, and maybe a Captain. It’s a big deal, and we need to follow procedure to the letter.”

She grimaced. “Ah, shit. You’re right, they’re totally going to be asses about it.”

“Um, what?” Kay asked, a bit concerned.

Ed shook his head. “Can’t talk about it. Political bullshit we’re not even supposed to know about. Don’t worry about it though, you did a great job. It shouldn’t effect you at all.”

Kay nodded, but inwardly started to worry. He was already peripherally involved in the political stuff happening in the city, or at least some of it. He wasn’t sure that the guard was right that he didn’t need to worry about it here.