Chapter 8

I figured everybody had permissions to use that portal like I did, so I was surprised when Fel took my hand as we walked through from the capital to the forests near Highspire. The rumor was that the Duke had won it in a bet. In another rumor, he'd gotten his ass beat and lost a bet. To make him feel better about having to marry the daughter, they'd given Inneshys the land and dungeon. I'd met the Duke, and no way had he lost a bet. Nuh-uh.

And his third wife, Elle? Most guys would leap over each other just to talk to her, let alone spar with her. That's why I took so many hand to hand classes. Blackthorne, her sister Neera, Elle, and the Duke would all work with us on hand to hand stuff. I may, for a while, have had a teeny tiny crush on Neera, but she'd never got too close to any one guy, even though she was nice and awesome.

"You ok?" I asked as I felt Fel crushing my hand, even though we'd come out the other side.

"Yeah, why?" she asked, her voice quivering.

I looked down. "I might need a potion for my fingers soon if you break them."

She looked down and quickly let go, jerking her hand back to the front of her robes, wiping them off as if they had something nasty on them. Ok, so that hurt about as much as my fingers and ego.

"First time here?" I asked her.

She just nodded.

"I know the place and its people well," I told her.

She just put a hand on my shoulder and walked slightly behind me. I was slightly annoyed until I realized she was using me as a shield. I paused and looked around. The streets were cobblestone, and most of the buildings here were timber framed and sided. Sure, there were a lot of people here, but... then it hit me.

"Is it the people?" I asked her.

"Sort of," Fel whispered.

"Ok, well, let's get off the street then. Shop's right here."

It was a two story affair, almost like a small two story warehouse and storefronts smooshed together. The apothecary side and potions side of the shop was in front, then in the back were the storerooms for both, and a potion making area. Upstairs was where the apprentices and goblins lived while working there and getting their instruction. They also helped make the potions and run the storefronts, so it was always a busy place. It became even busier since Liandra had discovered a cheaper way of making dirt cheap, greater healing potions, with a dungeon mushroom nobody had ever tried before. The young lady was a prodigy, but she was— "Oh, shit. It's creepy McFuckface. Everybody run, he's going to steal your soul." The voice was loud, but without emotion.

I looked up and just shook my head.

"I surely was holding up a mirror for you to be staring at me so. Yes?"

Liandra let out a snort, and walked into the back room. A moment later, a new apprentice and a goblin came out of the back. The goblin's eyes opened wide when she saw me, and she hopped from the stool to the counter.

"Morgan! Pippa Girl miss you!"

"Miss you too, Pippa Girl! Have you been staying out of trouble?"

Pippa Girl was her full name. I don't know why or how Girl was her last name but... it was. She seemed simple, and her language was limited, but she was nothing at all like any goblin from the stories on earth.

"Hugs?" she asked.

I walked up and leaned in, giving her a one armed hug. She rested her head on my shoulder a moment, as she was standing taller than me on the counter.

"I always have hugs for my buddy. Where's your human husband?" I asked her.

Pippa Girl coughed, then looked to the side, her skin darkening from the effects of green skin blushing. "Big Ben is not Pippa Girl's husband.

Wicked to tease."

I let her go, laughing. It was an old joke between us. She was friendly to me, but she adored Ben. Not in a husband sort of way either, it was like they'd been birthed by the same parents, but grown up in different worlds. I knew Ben, or used to. He was an Earther orphan like me, who'd grown up here.

"Sorry. I actually came in to see about getting some supplies," I told her.

"Pippa Girl notices Morgan forgot to introduce his betrothed."

I heard a gagging sound behind me and turned to see Fel actually... not playing around.

"Sorry, Pippa Girl, this is Felicity Nesbit. She's a member of my party.

We go to the Mages' Academy together. We're not together that way though, not relationship-wise."

"Oh, hello Felicity Nesbit. Pippa Girl happy to meet friend of Morgan.

Morgan good friend to goblins, good friend to Pippa Girl. Good friend to you?"

"I think so?" Felicity said, wiping her mouth as her near puking fit wore off.

"Great. So... do I still get the discount, or have there been any changes?" I asked her.

"No changes. Tell Pippa Girl what you need."

I did and she started a box, putting vials on the counter. I started doing the mental math, and knew I was about to spend the rest of the coins I'd saved up. After last night though? Worth it. That's when I remembered the coin pouch the captain had given me. I pulled it out and opened it up and just...

"I thought you only had a couple of gold at most?" Felicity said.

"Forgot to open this last night. This is what I got paid for my spell work."

I used a finger to dig through there, and was surprised to see six gold and probably twenty silver coins inside. Cha-ching!

"Wow. Um..." Fel started to say.

"Pippa Girl, how about we double up on the mana potions?" I told her.

She nodded, and pulled more out, while I started stacking coins. It'd be two gold and two silver, if my math was right. There was something there that I'd always wanted, but could never afford before...

"Has the price for the starter home potions set and cauldron stayed the same?" I asked her.

"It's gone down," the apprentice I'd not met yet said. "One gold, five silver."

"Good, I'll take that too then," I told them, pulling six more coins out, and stacking them on the counter.

As I started storing the potions, the kit was brought out and put on the table in front of me. I opened it up. It was a weird combination, like a sewing machine table that unfolded and flipped, and then you could use everything. This was like that, but in a wood and leather wrapped case meant to work on a tabletop. The cauldron was separate of course, but it was a small one, big enough to hold maybe two tankards of ingredients.

"Will that be all?" the apprentice asked.

"Thank you, yes. Pippa Girl, don't get into any more trouble. I remember the cookie caper."

"Shhhhh! No! No caper, this one is innocent!" she yelled as I laughed and stored the rest of my purchases in my bag of holding.

"She's a sweetheart, don't listen to me," I told the slack-jawed apprentice, and gave Fel a tug as I walked out the door.

She followed a moment later and wrapped both arms around herself, then sat down. I was going to head to the enchanter's shop, but she needed a moment. I sat down a little in front of her and to the side, on the steps to the shop.

"We can go back if you want?" I told her.

"She's... a goblin. You hugged her."

"I did. She's older than me by a lot, but I think she's... I dunno. Like twelve in human years, mentally? She's smart as hell, but her maturity?"

"I get that, it just... this surprised me. Then you pull out several years' worth of gold and just... spend it?"

"Yeah, I was only going to get the potions at first. Remembering that coin pouch though... I should have just bought the kit a long time ago."

"You can make potions too?"

"Well, yeah. You can't work here without picking up the basics. Health, stamina, mana, and I know some poisons too. I'm not very good at it though, I never got a skill in it from the system."

Which reminded me, I was going to have to ask Samantha about that.

"You were an orphan? Truly?"

"Yes," I told her.

I saw doubt in her eyes, and hurt. Did she think I'd lied to her?

"I just feel like maybe, despite growing up in a rich merchant's family, that I ended up being the sheltered one, poorer for the experience."

"I thought your parents worked for the Blackmans?"

"They're indentured to the Blackmans. Both of them. I was born in their household. They actually held my schooling back so I could attend the same time Missy did, and it sounds like in a few short years you have done so much, much more."

"You're stronger than I am, higher leveled than I am," I pointed out.

"What's the difference? I have no practical experience. Not where it counts."

"Well, that's why we're going in the dungeon, right?"

She grabbed my shoulder and pulled herself to her feet. I stood up and got off the stairs as a group approached the shop to head in. We both moved out of the way, and wandered over to the enchanter's shop.

"I suppose you're right. You know, I knew that after the academy that I was going to have to pledge my life and indenture myself to Missy. That changed. You've... given me a measure of freedom I really have never had before. Thank you for being a friend, and I truly hope and pray this isn't some sort of prank."

"It's not. That'd have to come from the mind of a devious, evil, demented—" "Oh, hey." The words startled us, and I caught a whiff of cigarette smoke. "I remember you."

I turned, and a red skinned woman with horns was standing there. She was wearing tight black leather pants, and a vest that barely held in her oversized assets. She was puffing on what looked to be an Earth cigarette.

"Likewise. In line at the Ragged Flagon, yeah?" I asked.

Fel just fell silent.

"You got it," she said. "Coming in to shop?"

"We're waiting for some friends, but we were going to head inside when they got here," I told her. "You don't have to put that out on my account."

"Oh, I wouldn't. I have apprentices running the desk right now anyways," she said, blowing a perfect smoke ring. "Marlboros. I so love it when an Earther brings me my favorite vice. Well, almost favorite." She dropped me a wink, and I just chuckled.

She was a summoned. A succubus. I'd learned about them, and had been told there was one who had won her independence recently. This must be her. The enchanter?

"Fair enough. Oh hey, there they are." I pointed.

Gavin, Seery, and Myra had just come out of the portal arm in arm.

They were laughing at something Gavin had said, then looked up and saw us. The girls waved with their free arms, and Gav shot us a thumbs up. The succubus finished her cigarette, and tossed it into a planter full of sand and turned to go into the store.

"See you kids inside," she said.

"She is so hot," Fel whispered.

"Literally," I told her. "She's a summoned from Hell."

"Wait, she's not a cambion?" Fel asked.

"She's a succubus," I told her. "I know they look similar."

"How do you know?" she hissed.

"Smell the sulphur?"

"The rotten egg smell?" Fel asked me.

"Exactly. Plus, she's an enchanter. Cambions aren't known to be big magic users, are they?"

"I don't know," Fel said.

"Either way, you're not wrong. I wouldn't kick her out of bed if I found her there one morning."

Fel snorted, then shoved me as the three of them walked up.

"You already done at the potion shop?" Gavin asked.

"All set. Let's go in, I think we met the master enchanter a moment ago."

Seery and Myra rolled their eyes at Gavin as he waggled his eyebrows.

We all headed in together and... I was not expecting it to look like a machine shop and a pawn shop all smashed together. Except for what looked to be an adjustable table with straps on it. That... creeped me out.

Swords, shields, armor, daggers, and everyday items. Clothing. Tools.

There was literally almost anything and everything you could think of. I passed a glass pitcher with curved glyphs on it that claimed it'd keep any liquid inside of it ice cold. I saw a hat that would help grow back your hair.

A mustache care kit that would keep the gray out. It was just...

"Help you find something you like?" The red skinned woman popped up, and Fel stepped back right into me.

I chuckled and gave room by backing up.

"I'm not sure. My master would know better," Fel said, moving to stand beside me.

"Master, huh? I've had a few of those over the years. Tell me girl, is he a good master?" Her words were smoky, husky, and the double entendre was obvious to everybody who could hear her.

"He keeps me well," Fel said softly in a small voice.

"Good. I got no patience for slavers and arseholes. Is he either of those?"

"No, Miss," Fel said softly.

Myra was grinning, nudging Gavin to look our way. He did and smirked at the awestruck look Felicity was giving the woman.

"Your magic is working a little too well on her right now," I told her.

"I... oh shit. Sorry. Fuck. Let me dial it back. Phew. Sorry about that," she said.

Suddenly the air seemed easier to breathe, and I saw Felicity take a deep breath, shuddering.

"You have to restrict it normally?" I asked her curious.

She nodded. "I turn the restriction off when I'm outside by myself. It gets tiring and a drain on my mana. You figured it out right away. How do I know you again? Beyond the restaurant last night."

"I think that's it. I was an orphan at the Duke's keep for a few years. I'm pretty sure I would have remembered seeing you before though, ma'am.

Morgan Lovecraft."

"Lovecraft? You're an Earther, yeah?"

"Yup," I told her.

"Pick your own last name?"

"No, I was born with it," I told her, seeing my friends starting to drift off, wanting to shop around.

"Fel, do you want to shop?" I asked her.

She just grabbed the back of my cloak, shaking her head.

"It seems it's more than just magic that's captivated your indentured here." She dropped a wink in Fel's direction. "Bamera Demonblade.

Greater Summoned, won my freedom to remain on this plane of existence.

Nice to meet you."

"Pleasure is all mine, and if Fel could speak complete sentences right now—" I winced as she pinched the back of my arm hard enough to leave an instant bruise.

"Excuse me." A guardsman pushed in the door, his sword drawn.

"Morgan Lovecraft, come with me."

WE ALL SPUN to see the room filling up with armored guardsmen with weapons drawn, and a group of six came in the very end. It made the claustrophobic shop even more cramped than it already was.

"I'm sorry, I'm not going to make trouble. What's this about?" I asked.

"Come with us, we'll discuss it after you cool your heels in the dungeon for a day or two," the speaker of the group said with a sneer.

"Excuse me, he asked a valid question, Guard Johnson. What is he accused of doing?"

"I'm not asking for your lip devil—" "I personally know Duke Matthew Kinson and his wives, James Madder, and many of the barons within the lands. I'm the royal enchanter to the Duchy and the country of Inneshys. Now, do you want to finish that sentence, or answer my question first?"

"What's going on, guys?" I asked, hearing a murmur from the guards that many of them did in fact know Bamera and who she was friends with.

The speaker snarled soundlessly, his face twisting.

"We have witnesses to a theft and burglary that name him the culprit," he said after a moment.

"Really, when did this supposedly happen?" I asked him, getting a sinking feeling about this.

"Last night, between the hours of nine and ten," he said. "Our witnesses are beyond reproach, so come on. You've not got an alibi more trustworthy."

"Wait, I was in public during that time frame," I said. "I have witnesses, likely dozens."

"Likely story," he said. "Come on, don't make me hurt you."

"Actually, Sergeant Johnson, how about you slow your roll before you get yourself into a hole you can't dig yourself out of," Bamera said. "Who are these witnesses, and actually, I was at the Ragged Flagon between nine and ten last night. The same inn that Morgan had his date at. I'm a witness to his whereabouts. So who are these witnesses that are 'beyond reproach'?"

Her fingers made air quotes at the end there, and I had to snort back a laugh. I'd just had eyes for Samantha once we were seated.

"Yeah? Now I can hardly call one witness—" "How about Helga and Harner, the owners? Chuck, the maître d'? How about the Captain of the Guard?"

"It's true," I said with a smirk.

"I... excuse me?" the man said, taking a step back, his face going pale.

Bamera made a motion, and the doors that had been slightly open swung shut, and heavy bolts slid into place.

"What did you do?" a guard asked.

"This farce has gone on long enough," Bamera said. "Sergeant Johnson, contact the Captain of the Guard this instant. Confirm my story, and arrest the false accusers. As for what I've done? I've locked my shop down until I'm satisfied that you're not some pig headed fascist thug with an agenda.

How dare you threaten to toss somebody in a dungeon to soften them up for questioning? In public, even? In front of people of station, who can have you and your entire family exiled? You lot; who the fuck is in on this plot?"

There was a lot of shuffling about, and the group that weren't armored were pushed to the front. I wasn't surprised, ok maybe just a little. I saw Missy, a man who had to have been her father, and four of her friends from school; two guys and two gals in various bits of garb, more on-the-town type of clothing than anything else.

"Open the doors and we can confirm this story once we've secured—" "Oh, we're secured. In fact, those doors and beams are enchanted. The walls and roof are enchanted against fire. Nobody will be going anywhere unless I say so." She finished this with a snap of her fingers, and two suits of armor I'd figured were decorations or props for sale stood upright, holding their polearms straight up and down. They marched over and stood on either side of Bamera.

"I think I just peed a little," Myra said from somewhere behind me.

"Dude, so did I. So did I..." Gavin muttered.

"Golems," Missy said, panic in her voice.

"Now, Sergeant Johnson, contact the captain right here. Right now. If you don't, I'll just get the Duke to come down here to sort this lot out, and you know he hates overbearing assholes much more than pineapple on pizza."

"What's pizza?" Fel asked softly.

Everybody was staring between Bamera and Sergeant Johnson, the man who wanted to toss me in a dungeon. With a sigh, he pulled off his gauntlets. There was a jewel on a leather glove on his left hand which he pressed with his right until it started to glow. I'd heard of these crystals before. A new thing that had recently been invented...

"Yes, Sergeant Johnson?" The Captain of the Guard's voice came through loud and clear, like he was right in the middle of the room with us.

"I'm doing a theft and burglary investigation. The accused and a witness say you can give them an alibi for between nine and ten last night."

"Who's the accused?" the captain asked.

"Morgan Lovecraft, Necromancer."

"Yes, I can in fact give the accused an alibi. It was with great regret that I had to interrupt Morgan's first date with a heartbreakingly beautiful woman to assist the Duchy at the request of the Duke."

"I... he requested him?" Johnson said.

"Am I known for mincing words? What is this about?" the captain asked suddenly.

"Captain, this is Bamera Demonblade, I believe we spoke briefly last night."

"Ah yes, lovely to hear your voice again, dear," he said with a hint of amusement. "What can I do for you?"

"I was wondering when or if it's become the norm for the city guard to throw people in the dungeon for a day or few before they're ever questioned?"

"No..." Johnson said softly.

"If I find that's happening, they lose their position, pension... wait...

Sergeant Johnson...?"

"They're Blackman's family. Their word is as good as gold..." Johnson stammered.

"I have my shop closed down hard, Captain. I have my... own security measures already activated. Would you be so kind as to come with some of your men to secure the false accusers, and the criminal guardsmen who have overstepped their place?"

"Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't just kill them out of hand," the captain said in a monotone. "Very well. Give me a few minutes."

I could feel it when the connection closed.

"You lot, weapons in sheaths or on the ground. Line up in front of the windows, shoulder to shoulder. Sergeant Johnson, you stay here with these six," Bamera ordered.

"She's so hot when she's angry," Fel said behind me.

Bamera shot her a smirk, then turned back to the six of them there.

"Five fledgling mages, and a former merchant king. Do you realize it was my own master who defeated your brother and disbanded your guild? Do you really think it was good to make up lies, here in this place especially?"

"Your master?" Seamus Blackman asked.

"Duke Kinson," she spat, "paid my wages with more than coin. He has my loyalty for life. That means a stain upon the Duchy by your actions is a stain on him, and if he was at fault... he would fix it and make it better.

Well, he's not here yet, but I'm willing to bet, Mister Blackman, that he will be when he hears your name on James Madder's lips."

"Dear God, Melissa, what did you do?" Seamus said.

"Sergeant Johnson," I began, "if a magistrate were here, how would he normally punish those who bear false witness and testimony?"

"They suffer the same fate as the accused would have," he said in a soft voice.

Two of the girls looked like they wanted to faint. "Isn't that either loss of a hand, or the hangman's noose? For thieves, what they accused me of being?"

"I'm sure it is for common criminals. This is a special case you see, these are important people here—" "Ahhhh, so because they're rich, they are on the upper tier of the law, right? They have money, they can get away with it? You do realize that Duke Kinson, James Madder, and the Captain of the Guard are all likely coming right now. Is there going to be a two tiered justice system then?"

"I'll not see them hang for this," Bamera told me.

"Yeah, that'd make us just as much dicks as they are," Myra said.

"Fel. Felicity. Surely, you know I could have been mistaken. You've known me your entire life," Missy said to Fel, who moved to stand behind me.

"Don't talk to me," she said.

"You've broken her! I knew she was a strong fighter, but somehow you got to her..." Missy sighed.

"I didn't break her. I befriended her. Say, Sergeant Johnson, if the ones who bore false witness and testimony were to remunerate me for this travesty, I might be able to forget their role in being 'absolutely certain'.

Would this be something the magistrate would accept?"

"Yes!" Seamus said, nearly startling us all with the shout.

"Fine. I want three things. One, I want Felicity's parents' indenture either cancelled, or turned over to me. Two, I want these five here to leave the academy. I'm sure you're all rich enough to make do with private tutors, you rich bastards. Third... because you're rich, how about we make you pay us for the inconvenience and pain you could have potentially caused?"

"I... that's a lot," Seamus said.

Fel was tugging my arm. I turned and she pointed to a couple that was peering in. They had a familiar look.

"Your parents?" I asked her.

She just nodded.

"What were you thinking, coin wise?" Johnson asked, hoping his part in this would be forgiven as well, I'm sure.

"Thirty coin per person. A small sum for ones so wealthy," I finished.

Seamus turned back to me, fire in his eyes. "And you'll not press charges against my daughter and her friends?"

"Or you, since you're mixed up in this, so don't try to cheap out," I told him.

His body trembled in rage. "Daddy, no," Missy said.

He walked to the counter and started making stacks of coins appear from a spatial storage item. When there were 18 stacks of coins, he dug in a small satchel at his side and pulled out two scrolls. I watched as he unrolled them, then used a dagger to prick his thumb. This was different than a system contract, then. He put a bloody thumb print on the bottom of each scroll, and they flashed for a moment, and then he was shoving them my way. I grabbed them as the golems interpreted his move as threatening.

Bamera waved them off as I took the scrolls and gold, and stored them in my bag of holding.

"Come on Missy, we apparently have some openings to fill, and tutors to find. You lot," he nodded to her friends, "owe me thirty gold apiece."

"Are you satisfied?" Bamera asked.

"Yes," I told her.

"Fine," she said, disappointment in her voice.

She snapped her fingers and the doors unlocked. The couple that had been standing outside rushed in, and seemed torn on what to do. They stood between the Blackman group and me.

"Fel, are you ok?" the man asked.

"Dad..."

"Your services have been transferred to the boy in the black cloak," Seamus said, then hurried out of there, nearly tripping on his way out.

"I... truly?" he asked.

"Dad, Mom..." Felicity said, moving to beside me. "This is Morgan Lovecraft. My... master."

"Our Master now," her mom said. "Have you been kind to our daughter?"

I didn't answer, but was surprised when Seery did. "We've all known each other for a week now. Honestly, I think it's funny. She's older than him, but he treats her like a kid sister. They're so stinking hilarious when they argue, it's like having two old bachelor men griping at each other."

"Dude, it's true," Gavin said.

The sound of clanking armor became loud, and I turned to see a good two dozen armored guardsmen coming our way. Bamera snapped her fingers.

"Back to guard duty," she told the golems. They moved back to the spots they had been in before.

"So, can we talk about remuneration for me?" Sergeant Johnson asked.

"Might be a little too late for that," Bamera told him as the Captain of the Guard charged through the door of the shop.