Curselock

Chapter 19: Spoils

The monster’s hulking size left plenty of things to remove. Hide, scale, leather, eyes, teeth, organs, even its tail for proof of kill. Leland watched Glenny skin the most usable parts of the lion-toad , most of which were peppered with small cuts and gashes.

While the monster parts would surely catch a large price, the real treasure was the item it dropped when it died. Monster drops, while strictly a dungeon phenomenon, were vastly known.

Stories of valiant knights slaying heretical bosses and returning with the key item to save their town were repeated for children across the world. Dreams of delvers becoming unfathomably rich overnight. Rumors of nobles paying hefty prices behind closed doors for the obscure or occult.

It was a gamble, however, with more things than one. Delving was dangerous. Monsters kill, people betray, and sometimes people simply don’t make it out. All for the chance at an item. There was no guarantee anything would work out or that the item wouldn’t be cursed and unstable.

Still, Leland had high hopes. After all, the dungeon had been uncleared for many years, thus making the potential output that much more. Rewards were likely going to be spilling.

As Glenny cut apart the monster and Leland recovered his lifeforce, Jude was tasked with treading through the lake looking for the items. Eventually, after an hour, they reconvened. Even Alkin looked interested.

A bone gauntlet, a black glistening cloak, and a lit candle with a blue flame were all Jude found – and after Leland and Glenny waded through the water as well, they decided that was all they were getting.

Each would need appraising but they all agreed that the cloak looked to be the most unique item of the three. It was the odd void-like pattern that shifted throughout the fabric, something about it blazed power and uncertainty.

“Could be cursed,” Jude said.

“Still, maybe because… you know.”

And Leland did. But he still thought, even with his Legacy in mind, a cursed item was simply too rare.

“It’s probably a low-ranking artifact,” Glenny added.

That drew Alkin’s eye but only for a moment. Instead his gaze fell on the candle. “Any idea about that?” he asked.

“Could be anything really,” Leland answered with a shrug. “A candle that never burns away. A candle that increases fire magic potency. Items that are a bit… different usually are hit or miss.”

“I understand. When we get it appraised, then we will know more.”

They all raised an eyebrow. Jude scoffed. “’We?’”

Alkin’s demeanor changed in that moment. The rich noble brat façade crumbled, revealing what Leland saw when he freed the young Master from his icy restraints. Fear. Fear of how powerless he truly was. Fear of the future for the fourth son of a House in debt. Fear that more enemies hid within the shadows. His family had taken the title of noble from a crime ridden family. Who’s to say there were not people out looking for revenge.

Icewillow certainly had, why would there not be more?

It took him a moment but eventually Alkin’s face turned back to his mask. “What if I wish to buy the item from you? I would think our adventure together would give me the rite of first bid.”

“That’s not a real rite.”

Alkin chewed his lip. “Please. I can feel the candle. It speaks to me. I think our power is one and the same.”

That got a second look from Leland. “You think this candle is spirit fire? That would make it very valuable.”

“Only to someone like me. And I should happen to mention, the Lord of Spirits is a decently rare Legacy to accept.”

Leland could agree to that. Illusion magic was known for lack of power, especially in the early ranks. Most simply didn’t have the time or resources to cultivate such an art.

“Fine. If we do not want it, you will have first bid. If you do not reach our asking price, then it will go to auction.”

Alkin nodded slowly to that. “Thank you. Actually no, thank you for everything. For saving my life, I mean.”

“Oh? Change of heart?” Jude hummed, his hands clenched together and covering his own heart. He batted his eyebrows for good measure as well.

“Truthfully, I didn’t know if you three were trustworthy until now. You can’t exactly call your treatment of me… accommodating.”

That quickly made Jude’s smile drop. “We almost died to save you!”

“And I, and my House, are thankful. In fact, why don’t I offer to hire your services. I need a protective guard watching my back through the wilds on the way back home.”

“And where is your home again?”

It was Glenny that answered. “Shoutwell.”

Leland tsked. “Not much to do in Shoutwell. For adventurers, I mean.”

Just then, the crow tattoo on his hand pecked him. He looked at it angrily but it didn’t give any hints on why it just hurt him. There was no blood, so that was a positive.

“Please,” Alkin said. “M-my guard that died. While he was only the help, I still trusted him. That I could not say for some random group of adventurers I hired from the Guild.”

“We’re a random group of adventurers and we were literally in the Guild yesterday!” Jude huffed.

“Oh? But are we? I think yourselves and I have more connections than you three randomly finding evidence of my kidnapping.”

“Oh really?”

“Indeed,” Alkin said, then pointed at Leland. “First, we have the son of the Inquisitor’s Silver. Then we have a brute of a young man, one who is obviously a Legacy of Berserkers. Then, and more interestingly, we have a rogue that can elongate his tongue. If I’m not mistaken, that ability is a hallmark of the Legacy of Chameleon.”

“What are you getting at?” Leland said with narrow eyes.

“That you three are the children of the Royal Inquisitor team that brought down the Icewillows. Which puts you,” he pointed to Glenny. “as the son of the fallen Inquisitor.”

Glenny swallowed. “That’s right. But what does it matter to you? Our arrival here was nothing more than chance.”

“It's fate! That’s why!”

All three boys groaned. “Fate doesn’t exist,” Leland said.

“Oh but it does. Simply look at the coincidence. I needed help otherwise I would be killed. You three happen to arrive at the same town as I. And you three happen to come to my rescue? It is fate- Wait! Where are you going? We are having a conversation.”

All three of the boys had gathered their belongings and walked off towards the dungeon core. Without the lion-toad, the lake’s gentle waves had washed away most of the mud fort, revealing the final prize for the deadly trial.

The core was a small orb, one of glowing blue and yellow spirals. It fit in the palm of a hand but, at the same time, was untouchable. It was ethereal, just like Leland’s crows. Only special tools or abilities could interact with the heart of the dungeon, and only improper things would come of such actions.

“We could destroy it,” Leland said, his mind on the lion-toads dying woes. “I have my crows. I think they’d be able to break it.”

Glenny shook his head. “Do that and a whole town suffers. Lives would be ruined.”

Leland nodded. “I know. I’m just thinking aloud. Come on, we still need to get that golden orb in the cave. Hopefully the ice melted enough.”

They walked through a blue shimmer floating harmlessly next to the core. In an instant, the group had teleported across the highlands, over the plateau, and back to the entrance. Then Jude dropped off his packs and sprinted down the path. Fifteen minutes later, he returned out of breath but clutching another monster drop.

“Shame the Mana Lion alpha didn’t drop anything,” Leland said, placing the orb into his pack. “Jude’s kill was pretty sweet. Thought he’d earn style points.”

“Haha yeah,” Jude replied, his eyes looking off. “Wait! Is that a real thing? Do more items drop if we kill the monsters in cool ways?!”

Leland and Glenny both smiled. They wanted to laugh, but their aching legs and bodies didn’t allow such things.

“Time to go,” Leland said. “You first Alkin.”

The noble nodded, stepping through the dungeon exit. The others did the same right after and entered the vault room where the entrance lay. Instantly, weapons were drawn and spears were shoved in their faces. The room was crowded with guards and soldiers alike, each listening for commands.

“Lay down your weapons and expel your tattoos and you will not be harmed. You four are under arrest for a double murder and entering a locked dungeon without clearance.”

The voice was feminine but strikingly powerful – an ability, one that compelled even the toughest criminals. Alkin and, oddly enough, Jude, were the first on their knees. Each had surrendered their legacies, a battle axe in Jude’s case and a black glove in Alkin’s.

Glenny collapsed under the pressure next, having given up his mirror to the nearest guard.

Leland scanned the room with confused impatience. The Royal colors of red and silver made up a few of the guardsmen, signaling to him that this was no town law. It was the Inquisitors, more specifically the Royal Inquisitors.

And yet, despite the obvious difference in rank, age, and experience, Leland didn’t feel the need to surrender himself. He did so anyway, but he wasn’t compelled against his will. He felt the same slight pull as when Alkin pushed his spirit fire at him. It was noticeable but not absolute like how he figured it was supposed to be.

He slowly placed his grimoire on the floor and fell to his knees. Within moments, each of them were cuffed and moved out into the main part of the building. It was then Leland saw the leadership of this particular Inquisitor team.

His parents had told him stories of a ruthless Inquisitor with multiple successful high profile cases under her belt. She wore her rank with authority and longevity, often pushing the limits of the law with brutal tactics. Strapped with a longbow forged from countless victories, The Huntress stood with her chin held high.

The Huntress, while a title befitting of the fear she produced, paled in comparison to the simple rank Leland knew she carried.

The woman before him was a Witchhunter.