Book Three Chapter Twenty Seven: FinalTemp_EE_Flag

Book Three Chapter Twenty Seven: FinalTemp_EE_Flag

Of course he has the Golden Prophecy with him, Qube said cheerfully. Im sure hed be more than happy to show everyone. After all, it affects us all!Updated from novelbIn.(c)om

Of course, the Bard echoed somewhat faintly.

Hey guys, the subject of their conversation called, you have to come check this out!

The duo hurried to catch up with the rest of the group clustered around the entrance to the Thieves Guild. Looking into the shadowy rotunda, Qube gasped in alarm. The entire area was filled with thieves (which was to be expected) and giant rats!

Oh no! she said, instantly flashing back to the last time shed entered the guild, only to encounter the thieves and rats engaged in a never-ending battle. Shed thought theyd defeated the unusually large rodents! Before she could act, however, her now-well-trained mind caught some subtle differences between then and now.

Firstly, there was no battle music. Instead, it was just a low, creaking hum, with a few deep notes every now and then but no trace of the normal heart-pumping tunes.

Secondly, there was no active fighting, even though they were all huddled together.

And thirdly, some of the thieves seemed to be trying to teach the rats how to play card games.

Fourthly, she was pretty sure that one of the rats was winning, judging from the pile of coins in front of it.

While there were weapons drawn, all of them seemed engaged in such traditional thief tasks like the stabbing between your own fingers as fast as you can game, or being used as ineffective toothpicks, or being handled by a mix of people and rats over in the training area. The rats, while still diseased-looking, didnt seem in pain, and were instead enjoying themselves enormously with their new friends.

The leader of the Thieves Guild looked up as the party entered, his eyes brightening as he spotted the Chosen One.

Ah, welcome, welcome! he said, much more cheerful than the last time Qube had seen him. He glanced over the group, then hesitated when he looked in Qubes direction. Ah! he exclaimed. I think I recognise that outline! Youre the one who helped us last time, arent you?

The Chosen One looked surprised as Qube blushed slightly.

Remember, when I got us the house? Qube reminded the Hero. She nodded at the empty mount on the wall where the quest item had once sat. She hoped that the rest of the thieves wouldnt suddenly get mad at her that it had been stolen again.

Oh, the Chosen One said. Well, thats not strange at all.

It is a little strange, Chosen One, Qube said reproachfully. Since I only used [Lesser Haste] and [Lesser Shield] on the leader and his second in command, I think that the invisibility curse hasnt been completely broken for them but they can still somewhat see me.

The Hero rubbed his eyes and looked at Qube.

Sure, he said uncertainty. Im sure that makes sense. For some reason. Qube nodded at his confusion. Curses were very difficult to understand sometimes.

Idly she wondered if she would be better at casting spells if she used her magical staff.

Anyway, we got the Golden Slime, so reward please, the Chosen One said, holding out his hand to the Thieve' Guild leader.

Sure thing, lad, just hand it over, the leader replied, holding out his own hand.

The Chosen One stared at his outstretched hand, then down at Squiggles, who grinned. Her teeth shimmered with a golden sheen. He scratched his cheek.

Well, guess its worth a shot, he said with a shrug and awkwardly picked up the sharktopus. Come on, up you get, he said.

Chosen One, thats not how you carry her! Qube scolded, reaching to correct his grip.

Stop moving, he told Squiggles. She flailed harder, indignant at the undignified treatment. No, Squiggles, stop, let meah!

The Chosen One, who had been attempting to gently rest the large sharktopus on top of the leaders palm, lost control of the wriggling pet, who knocked aside the leader and fell onto the floor. Instantly, she sprung back up onto her tentacles, hissing at everyone as she rapidly slorped away and hid under an occupied table.

Squiggles, no! the Hero said as she fled.

My darling! Sexy Screamy Spider Lady cried and nearly shoved the Hero out of the way to follow Squiggles. Several rats and thieves who were playing cards at the table looked up as the giant arachnid rushed them, before returning to their game as she knelt down beside the sharktopus.

Lady Squiggles! Sewer Bard (Sencha?) said, striding after the Hunter and eyeing the players with suspicion. The cage hed been held in was right next to the table.

Sewer Bard was thoughtfully strumming on his lute.

While I am loath to discard the moniker bestowed upon me by my Noble Patron, I believe I have a solution, he said, as if making a grand decree. I shall blend the two, and henceforth be known as Sencha Bard, both in this realm and any other.

You just dont want the word sewer in your name, do you? the Chosen One asked, cutting through the pomp.

Would you? the newly-named Sencha Bard asked.

Point, the Chosen One conceded.

---

Having completed one of the citys quests, and somewhat settled on what everyone was called, the team made short work of the few remaining quests. Qube had even managed to persuade the Chosen One to swing by their house, so she could spend some time in their garden, picking herbs, and brewing in their alchemy room.

True to his word, the Chosen One let her do whatever she wanted, only groaning a little when she said she wanted to go to the Royal Library.

It wasnt until they were halfway to the paradise of books that Qube suddenly realised the flaw in her plan.

Chosen One, she asked, looking at the man walking beside her, do you still have the Royal Library token, or did you give that to Zakora?

Im sure itll be fine, the Chosen One said, waving off her worries, or at the very least entertaining. Weve gotten in there before so I cant imagine we would need to keep it on us. Otherwise I never would have been allowed to hand it over.

The medallion cant stop you from handing it over, Qube reproached the Hero. Not unless its magically bound to whoever holds it. And I dont want to break into the libraryagain.

The Chosen One started to object, but paused as a thought struck him.

Oh, actually, yeah, then I can get her to mark the location of the Time Temple on my map. It never actually updated after we handed our stuff in. Probably because of the whole making it rain tokens deal. The Hero turned, and started heading towards the inn as he spoke.

Making it rain tokens? Qube repeated as the rest of the party swerved to follow their leader.

Like when theres so many gold coins being thrown at you its like a rainstorm, the Chosen One said casually as they made the short journey to the still chicken-infested inn.

That would be amazing! Qube said, her eyes sparkling as she imagined just how many places they would be able to access if they were showered in enough tokens to make it seem like rain. Why, theyd practically be able to make their own city with that many Royal areas! It wouldnt be a Cobbletown, but rather a CobbleKingdom!

Yeah, I should try pulling out all our gold coins and making a pile out of them, the Chosen One enthused, his own eyes sparkling with a very different kind of emotion. Then I could try using them as a bed, like a dragon!

Qube, being a very well-trained Companion, didnt point out how uncomfortable that would be, but instead nodded along, bending her mind to how they could contain the mountain of coins and stop them from spilling everywhere, thus destroying the mountain effect.

So busy was she with this vision that she barely paid attention to the Chosen One swiping a Save Point, entering the inn and borrowing back the Royal Library medallion hed lent Zakora, or the dutiful marking of his invisible map with the location of the final Temple.

In fact, it wasnt until they were leaving the inn and shed just started to tell the Chosen One about her plan, which involved them finding some planter boxes, or a wide trough and filling them up for his golden nap time, that she was forcibly brought back to awareness of her surroundings.

Which is to say that the inn behind them exploded.

Again.

And a mass of troops made of shadows swarmed over every available space.

Again.

As into the plaza strode a figure dipped in darkness, the despot of the kingdom, and murderer of most of Qubes loved ones, the Evil Emperor.

Again.

But this time, something new occurred. The Evil Emperor looked not at the Chosen One, or even at Qube. Instead, his horned helmet swivelled and fixed

On Definitely Bad Guy.