- 129 -

  Skill Upgrade: [Speak common lvl 10]

  Charisma +1

  Helda laughed heartily.

  “You really dropped a bed on your head?” She said after catching her breath.

  Drew cackled along too before answering.

  “No he dropped two beds on his head!”

  William blushed from his collar bones up to his ears.

  The afternoon had moved into evening and a new wave of patrons started to flow in and with them, the evening’s entertainment.

  Drew recognized three identical men each carrying their own Golanh shaped case.

  “Well brother!” The first John cheered as he caught sight of William and Drew. “Look what the wind blew in!”

  “Our favorite feather head!” The second John cheered.

  “And a handsome young blacksmith! Watch out for this one Helda! He’s a handful!” The third John said with a conspiratorial wink.

  “Oh I don’t know about that,” Helda said with a wink. “He doesn’t seem to have learned any of your bad habits John!”

  William stood to excuse himself.

  “Sorry Helda, nice to meet you, but I really must go.”

  “So suddenly?” A John asked with a smile. “We are about to go on.”

  “Unfortunately. Yes. The smith around the corner was willing to close an hour before dark and let me use his forge for a fee.” William said quickly.

  Andie was there to clean his table and collect his eleven coppers for the meal and ales.

  “I’m happy to come along.” Drew offered. “I could grind out some crafting exp.”

  William waved him off.

  “Don’t bother, I can melt down all the scrap myself.”

  With that, William left in a hurry. He held his box of scrap over one shoulder and nearly ran out through the door. The Johns smiled at each other knowingly.

  “Now Drew, how is Valoria treating you?” A John asked. “Any pretty birds ruffling your feathers?”

  “Actually. We’ve had more drama than I care for.” Drew said and quickly relayed the events of the previous night and this morning.

  “You don’t take a day off do you little guy,” A John said.

  “It all will work out in the end.” Another John assured him. “As long as you don’t see our man D’Aeggett, things are working out well enough.”

  Helda had left the Johns with a nod to finish her ale at the bar. She chatted with the patroness like an old friend.

  While Drew spoke with the Johns, A man accompanied by two children, a boy and a girl, were having a loud discussion just outside the door of the Garnt’s Hoof. By the time Drew had finished telling his story, he had recognized the group.

  Those are the kids from Reandre’s!

  The man left the kids out front and found himself a seat at the bar.

  “Marie! Three strong ales!” He said confidently.

  The patroness, Marie, pulled up three mugs and didn’t move to pour them until he put a stack of coins on the bar.

  Outside, the children laid out a blanket near the corner of the building while they waited for their uncle. The boy played a small drum with his palms while the girl danced in smooth fluid motions. The rhythm wafted in through the open window, slow and calm.

  “Those kids better move along soon,” A John said.

  The other two brothers paused a moment to watch the duo perform through the window.

  “They aren’t in the way are they?” Drew asked.

  “The city guards will take them away for peddling.” The first John said.

  “Those are Albus’s kids, I think.” Helda said as she returned to her table by the stage. “I’ve seen him in here before, not often, only when he has the coin.”

  Albus had already finished off his ales and ordered a second round and a couple plates of food to go.

  Those kids have it hard. A drunk like him for a father? Do they even have a mother? Maybe they would be better off if the guards did look into their care. Someone should make sure those kids are okay.

  Drew quickly made up his mind and said goodnight to the group before he flew over to the window.

  -

  Drew perched on the open window and watched the kids perform.

  He plays that drum with his hands like a bongo. Was there any slow bongo music on earth?

  The girl danced in small circles and her twirls caused the knit shawl she wore to fling out in graceful waves.

  Their small dish for coins already had three lonely copper coins shining expectantly inside.

  Dancing and playing music like this couldn’t possibly get them arrested could it? In this strange city, I could see a stickler for the rules charging them a fine for not having a permit, maybe.

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  “Hey kids!” Drew whispered loudly to them.

  The boy looked around for whomever was speaking, but the girl was the first to notice Drew.

  “Oh! It’s the friendly bird that was with Segniture D’Aeggett!” She said to her brother.

  “Just ignore it.” Her brother said without stopping his drumming. “It will lose interest and leave us alone.”

  They have it so hard they don’t know they need help. These poor kids! How many adults have pretended to help them only to let them down or betray them?

  “Wait, just listen a minute. Are you two okay? Do you need help?” Drew asked. He hopped along the the window but stayed well out of the boy’s reach.

  The boy jerked back and glared at Drew.

  “We are fine! Even if you aren’t a demon, we won’t make any deals with you.” He snapped.

  The girl gave Drew a longer look.

  “A-“ she started to say her brother’s name but thought better of it. “brother, it wouldn’t hurt to hear what he has to say.”

  “No you are right to be cautious. I wanted to offer my help building out your skills or gaining crafting experience.” Drew said quickly. “Would either of you want to learn an Adventure Guild skill? I happen to know Mana Regeneration, and Stamina Regeneration. And I could teach them to you.”

  “You would?” The sister asked hopefully. “We fetch rats for a pie maker in the lows, stamina gen would help greatly, those rats are so fast and tricky!”

  “How much would it cost us?” The brother said cautiously. “We got no money.”

  The children looked at each-other passing a shared thought between them.

  “I wouldn’t charge you anything. It doesn’t cost me anything to teach you,” Drew said. “In fact it gives me piece of mind.”

  “A piece of mind!” The brother accused. “A piece of whose’s mind?”

  “No it’s just a thing people say. It just means I wouldn’t worry as much.” Drew said. “Where I come from we help kids out before sending them out to survive in their own.”

  “I thought birds had chicks?” The boy said a bit confused.

  “This is wonderful! The adventurers all refuse to teach any skills unless you have a day’s ale money for them.” She said excitedly.

  “That’s right!” The brother said, he restrained his sister with a hand. “No one does anything for free.”

  “Well Adventurers could teach you for free, if they wanted to. I’m something of an adventurer myself, and I share the skills for free.”

  The children both looked uncertain.

  “Anyways, in the city I’m from, kids learn a craft like fletching arrows or basket weaving or something else useful to generate exp. Helps to have a few levels to your name before you go hunting rats or charge off to fight monsters.”

  “We can’t without having a crafter license. We’d be scooped up for peddling same as we would for begging.” The boy scowled up at the closest tower.

  Before the boy could tell Drew to buzz off, uncle Albus staggered out of the Garnt’s Hoof.

  “Pack it up kids.” He said gruffly. “Time to head home.”

  Uncle Albus didn’t notice him, and Drew kept his beak shut.

  The boy slung the rope strap of the drum over his shoulder and picked up their thin mat.

  The girl held her uncle’s arm to steady him. With one last look at Drew she led her uncle away.

  He’s wasted and they have to take him home. What a jerk, one paycheck from D’Aeggett and this guy goes back to the bottle in 24 hours. D’Aeggett got what he wanted from them for his own perfect day, and yet their situation is still crap? How is that a perfect day?

  Drew followed discretely as the kids led their tipsy uncle away. The wind easily held him aloft as he quietly floated behind them.

  Drew flew to a lamppost at end of the block and watched the family turn the corner.

  I’ll see them here tomorrow. Their uncle has enough coin for a round of drinks every night this week.

  He did not notice the carriage rolling by until Seraphina called out to him.

  “Drew!” Seraphina said cheerfully. “Oh Drew!”

  Drew watched the ice mage step from her carriage before the Garnt’s Hoof.

  She must be here to see the John’s perform! Is it already so late?

  With one last look over his shoulder at the family, he hopped off the light post and glided back to the Garnt’s Hoof.

  “I knew it was you,” Seraphina said.

  “I’m your friendly neighborhood Gallows Bird, the only one in town.” Drew said cheerfully.

  “You certainly are.” She said.

  “Is Damien with you?” Drew asked, and tried to look further into the carriage.

  “On no, his council business is not yet complete, he is still at the tower.” She said with a sour face. “They are taking him downstairs to the vault to collect a few things. It would be best if you could join him and register with the court as soon as possible.”

  Drew turned his head to look at the tower that housed the council offices.

  “I better go find him then,” Drew said.

  - Interlude -

  The Vault operator stopped turning the brass key in the ornate door. Damien breathed a heavy sign as the antechamber before the vault was silent.

  “Does no one maintain these vault doors?” Damien asked. “It sounds like the gears are made of gravel.”

  “I cannot recall the last time this vault was even opened.” The operator said with a shrug. “It’s my 5th week tomorrow.”

  Damien scowled and made a hurry up motion with his hands.

  The operator pulled a scrap of paper from the inside pocket of his robes and read it to himself quietly.

  “Three eggs… four paw paw fruit… one pony keg of sour ale… a liter of red vinegar…” he mumbled to him self then stuffed it back in his pocket.

  “Will this take much longer?” Damien huffed.

  The operator ignored him and turned the brass key three quarters of the way anti clockwise, then pushed it in one click deeper to the lock and turned it all the way around clockwise once. The seal between the three meter round beveled door and the jamb released.

  “Welcome to the Crystal Vault.” The Vault operator said blandly.

  Damien looked past the operator and forgot to breathe. Before him was a cavernous vault that belonged to the Winter court. Each court had one carved into the very foundation of the city, accessible only through tightly guarded tunnels, behind a magically warded vault door requiring two keys and a complex combination code to open.

  “What…” Damien managed to say dumbly.

  Before him, where the Winter court’s vast reserves of gold, artifacts, and materials, reagents, and skill books were supposed to be; there was only a single stack of three run down wooden crates with a large leather-bound book resting on top.

  “You were not robbed, it was auctioned off and sold to pay the Winter court’s debts.”

  Damien sucked in a sharp breath at the interruption.

  He turned, wand in hand, to face the woman who had appeared behind him. She wore the trimmed robes of a librarian, stitched from luxury fabrics in floral patterns the colors of autumn leaves.

  “Seer Thae Morrane, Keeper of the Fourth Whisper.” Damien said through clenched teeth.

  The vault operator bowed deeply to the council member of the Fall court and took his leave. He would return to lock the vault once Damien’s court business was complete.

  “The Winter court failed to bare the burden, they failed to carry their weight. The other courts needed to compensate.” She said sagely.

  “It is all gone.” Damien said.

  “I am certain it was not all sold, merely nearly. There is much you will have to rebuild if you wish to sit on the council,” She said.

  Damien could feel the intent of the Winter court’s Grimoire reaching out to him. It would give him access to the necessary quests to rebuild the court.

  “I do not enjoy the veiled political discourse. Please speak plainly, honored council member.” Damien said as he lowered his wand a fraction.

  “You do not have it. The beast the Observatory seeks. The one you proposed to Deepwhisper. The one you will have lost before long.”

  “The Skurr is not a simple bargaining chit,” Damien said carefully. “I do not foresee bartering him away to the observatory for naught but bandy words.”

  Seer Thae Morrane, Keeper of the Fourth Whisper lifted her hands up implying they were empty and harmless. Damien did not let his guard down. She shrugged.

  “You will not sit on the council if you keep all your cards off the table.” She said lazily.

  Damien looked past her, up the stairs, he could hear their conversation echoing off the empty vault walls.

  “We will see,” He said, dismissing her with a polite nod. “Now. If you would please go. I have the hard work of building this court up from nearly nothing.”

  He kept one eye on the mage as she turned and left. Once he was certain he was alone Damien entered the vault and lifted up the Grimoire.

  You are eligible to claim stewardship of the Crystal Grimoire. Claim it and rebuild the Winter court. Yes / No

  He selected yes when it prompted him to accept stewardship of it and all the quest lines within.

  “There is much to be done before anyone can claim the seat on the council,” Damien said.

  “Lady Frostwind is more than interested in the seat.” He mused to himself as he opened the first ledger and ran his finger down the list of countless sales and debts paid. “One man does not need every headache this city has to offer.”

  Thank you everyone who's been leaving comments and questions. A couple folks on the RR discord have let me know I should dole out more level ups and share Drew's Character sheet more. I'm going back and deciding what and where etc, and will roll out revisions soon. Stay tuned!