Book Three Chapter Thirty: Set Chicken Intelligence=5

Book Three Chapter Thirty: Set Chicken Intelligence=5

Now, the Chosen One continued, taking the lead, Sencha Bard, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady, can you two go into the inn and get everyone to wait, that wont work. The Chosen One tapped his chin.

Go to your tower, the Hero said to Definitely Bad Guy, and check yourself for curses. Then you two go into the inn. Dont talk to Zakora, but see if you can persuade the others inside to leave. If you cant, dont worry about it. Squiggles, you keep doing what youre doing. Okay? Go!

The rest of the group scattered, leaving only Qube and the Chosen One. From inside the inn, indignant squawking indicated that the Bard and Hunter had been noticed. Squiggles had gone back to slorping around the plaza, and Definitely Bad Guy, after glancing at Qube for confirmation, left for his Wizards Tower.

The Chosen One looked at the castle, then back at Qube.

He knows that Zakora has the Temple gems! Qube said urgently. We need to protect her! And the gems! she added as an afterthought.

The Chosen One scratched his cheek in thought.

Her, yes. The gems, no, he said surprisingly.

But we need them to defeat the Evil Emperor! Qube protested. The Chosen One, voluntarily giving up loot? Was he possessed? Was that why hed seemed to have a brief bout of complex social skills?

The guys already got a bunch of them, the Chosen One pointed out. Qube blinked.

That doesnt mean we should let him just take more! she said, but with less heat than before.

Youre right, the Chosen One said. But what if we used this as a chance to see where hed stored the other ones?

You mean if we hid and secretly followed him back to his castle and watched him put these gems with the others? Qube asked, her eyes sparkling in admiration at how quickly the Chosen One had put that plan together.

...Sure, the Chosen One said. Whats the worst that could go wrong?

He could kill us and destroy the Golden Prophecy, thus depriving the world of its Chosen One and dooming the entire kingdom to forever remain under his oppressive heel, Qube helpfully supplied.

There was a beat of silence as the Hero stared at her.

Which is why we, personally, shouldnt be the ones to follow him, the Chosen One said cunningly. Instead, well send someone else.

But wont he just kill anyone who tries to follow him? Qube asked. Even I wouldnt be able to, since Im not invisible to him. The Chosen One, not understanding how curses worked, seemed to have been surprised that the Evil Emperor had been able to see her. But then he was a Fighter, not a Mage.

The Chosen One sank into deep thought. Qube nervously looked around. The Evil Emperor had to be arriving any minute; there was no way her perception of time had been off by this much!

Unless it was something about their last encounter that had alerted the Evil Emperor to both their and the gems presence in the inn?

Ive got it! the Chosen One shouted, making Qube jump.

I knew you would! she said automatically.

Well use chickens! he declared proudly.

Qube was suddenly less sure about his plan.

Squiggles! he called, making the sharktopus slorping laps around the plaza veer towards them.

Hey girl, he cooed as the pet reached them, can you talk to chickens? Or get them to do what I say?

Squiggles opened her mouth, revealing golden glitter still attached to her teeth. Shed yet to show any side effects of eating whatever unknown herbs the Chosen One had fed her in the sewers, but eating the Golden Slime seemed to have given her permanent teeth paint. Sexy Screamy Spider Lady said it was a fashion statement; Qube just thought it made the team mascot even more adorable.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Trust me, the Chosen One said sourly, its a thing bad guys love to do.

Then how can they possibly expect any kind of loyalty? Qube argued. No, it has to have been because of Definitely Bad Guy turning against him, otherwise the Evil Emperor wouldnt ever be able to reward anyone! Why would anyone do a good job if their reward was death?

I mean it tends to only be spies and stuff that get that kind of reward, the Chosen One said, watching Qubes indignation with an air of fascination.

But thats the worst kind of person for him to gain a reputation for punishing! Qube exclaimed. Then anyone whos sent to spy on a group of people would know that theyll get cursed when they return and immediately be in a position to defect! Even if they only suspected that would happen, theyd be more likely to fail their quest!

Hey, thats just what bad guys do in stories, the Chosen One said. Qube, mentally reviewing the stories shed grown up with, huffed.

Yes, she agreed begrudgingly, but that doesnt mean the Evil Emperor has to do what the stories say. I have no idea how he managed to take over the kingdom if he did such silly things. Even with prophecy magic at work.

The Chosen Ones look of amusement deepened.

Well, we could always test it, he offered. Get Definitely Bad Guy to act like hes still totally loyal and see what happens. If he curses him, we just rewind time.

Qube gave the Hero a look so withering it could have peeled paint.

No thank you, Chosen One, she said sweetly. Id rather not watch my friend cursed in front of me to prove a point, even if it only becomes a memory.

The Chosen One winced, and threw up a hand in surrender.

Youre right! he said, shielding himself from her expression. Youre totally right, put that face away, thats even worse than the smile!

Qube puffed her cheeks out at him, then returned to normal.

Thank you, the Chosen One said meekly, before sinking into thought.

Look, he said eventually, the way I see it, weve got a couple of options. We could hide him somewhere so the Evil Emperor doesnt find him, have him in his tower with you spamming [Revive] or [Minor Cleanse] if he does get cursed while I confront the Evil Emperor ormaybe

As the Hero followed his own chain of thought, Qube tried very hard not to picture herself standing over Definitely Bad Guy, drinking mana potions and repeatedly casting [Revive]. It wasnt a very appealing image.

There is something else we could try, the Chosen One said with a hint of hesitance.

What is it? Qube asked eagerly. The Chosen One coughed slightly.

Well, we could try breaking the Evil Emperor, he said. You know. The old classic. Your [Heal].

Qube looked at the Chosen One. The Chosen One looked back at her, and started to smile.

Wouldnt it be amazing? he asked her enticingly. Even if it doesnt work, we can just go back and try something different.

All right, Ill do it, Qube said. The Hero blinked at her.

Wait, thats it? Youre not going to ask any questions or anything? He seemed almost confused by her ready agreement.

That means well need to have Definitely Bad Guy here with us when it happens, just in case it doesnt work and the Evil Emperor still activates the curse on him. I dont want him alone in that tower with no one to help him. Unless you wanted to place him in the Royal Infirmary and tell the White Mage what was going on?

I dont think she can interact with him, the Chosen One said. Qube sighed internally. Of course, the White Mage would still think that Definitely Bad Guy was working for the Evil Emperor.

Which means hell have to be here. Which means he needs to tell the group. And then Ill [Heal] the Evil Emperor.