Deidra kept the short sword. She also took a bow and arrows, before she slowly backed toward the door. Asha followed her example, backing toward the open door.
"I'm an elven ranger, so can kill a fly on an apple at a hundred paces," Deidra said with menace. "Remember that before you run out the door calling for the Watch."
With that, they turned and raced out the door. Deidra headed for the main gate, which Asha really didn't want to pass through again so quickly. The guards might remember them as slaves, and try to stop their escape. But the ranger turned down a side street and ran straight to a stable.
A pair of stablehands had just finished saddling two horses, a gray and a blonde. Deidra literally leapt over the rump of the gray and into the saddle. Asha had to use the stirrup to mount the other horse. They yanked the reins free of the hitching posts, and turned the mighty steeds toward the gate as the stablehands shouted angrily.
"Horse thieves!"
"I bet they hang horse thieves around here," Asha said.
"No, beheading is their preferred method of execution," Deidra said. "Ride like the wind!"
The crowd didn't so much part for them as rush in and try to stop them. Asha didn't understand why they cared, but she kicked the horse to greater efforts while slashing left and right with her swords. And then they raced through the gate and away.
Moments after passing through the shantytown, Asha's prompts started popping up.
Congratulations! You have won the Staff of Dark Dominion! Capture your enemies and make them your minions. Must be -5 Dark and level 20 or higher to use.
Congratulations! You have won the Shield Ring! Protects against attacks mundane and magical. It costs one mana point per minute to use.
Congratulations! You've learned the Beastmaster skill of Equestrian!
Congratulations! You've earned 2 Player Kills and won a Dark Object of Power, thus taking you to Neutral!
"At least I didn't go Dark again," Asha said.
Deidra glanced at her, eyes glazing over a second. "Yes. That would be unfortunate. What are you going to do with that Dark Object? I can take it to be destroyed."
"Destroyed? No. It's worth a lot of money," Asha said, reining her mount to a stop on a hill overlooking the farmlands. They paused to see if there was any pursuit. "And I really need that money." She held up four purses. "Speaking of, you want to stop and divide up the loot?"
No one was coming out of the gate. Then Asha noticed the portcullis was down. It might take a while to get that back up.
"Keep it," Deidra said. "I'm part of a Community, so money is never an issue for me. I'll just keep the horse, bow, and sword." She gave the town a wary look when the portcullis began to rise and a bell started to toll. "I think they plan to give chase. Let's get out of here."
"Thank god for fresh mounts," Asha said as they kicked their horses into a run again. "Head for the Forest Road. My friends are waiting for me in Knaresburg."
Chapter 24
The Raging Bull's common room was empty save for the table with an elven ranger, human thief, and dwarven warrior. And another with a pair of mobs sipping morning beers. The battle-mage stepped off the stairs as they all turned to regard him.
"Wow. You're alive and don't look crippled," Fergus said. "And, by the way, no one appreciates that shit eating grin on your face."
"You're just jealous," Killum said. He glanced at the open door, a cool breeze coming through it. "Shouldn't one of us be outside watching for Asha?"
"I hired three urchins to keep an eye out for her," Fergus said. "I promised them each a silver bit if they bring her to us."
A serving wench asked if he wanted breakfast, and then hurried into the kitchen to fetch it. Killum wore his black warrior's leathers, but carried his arms and armor. He dumped it all in a pile next to the wall behind the table and next to everyone else's piles.
"I want to be disgusted with you," Tiana said. "But you look so damn happy."
"So, talk," Rand said. "I've never been with an ork babe. What was it like?"
"Like any woman," he said. "Except she is a level 100 bedroom acrobat or something. Wow." He paused, glanced at Tiana uncertainly. "I don't want to offend Tiana or be too crude, but in this realm sex is magical. Literally. Even guys can do it over and over and over again."
"We can?" Fergus said.
The elf and dwarf looked eagerly at Tiana. She flushed red. "Don't look at me, you stupid dogs. I'm a woman. I could already do it over and over again." She lowered her voice, leaning in. "Besides, I asked another player last night, and I can get pregnant and have babies in this realm."
Killum just stared at her a long moment. That hadn't occurred to him. Leave it to a woman to seek out the facts before committing herself to the act.
"This realm is a real game changer," Rand said. "Do they have birth control pills here?"
"No," the serving wench said. She made them all jump. The blonde beauty set a wooden platter down before Killum, filled with cold cuts, cheese, and freshly baked bread, before continuing. "But birth control spells and talismans are pretty cheap. Both men and women can buy and use them."
She was a pretty blonde, with big green eyes and a body to die for. Killum was amazed at how attractive the vast majority of the population actually was, at least among the characters that traditionally were objects of male fantasy. All serving wenches were hot babes.
Alisara. Human warrior (Lvl 26). +9 Light. PK: 4.
"You're a player," Killum blurted out.
"And I started out as a warrior," she said with an embarrassed shrug. "Now, I'm a serving wench of easy virtue."
Tiana looked concerned. "You're still a level 26 warrior. Why are you working here and selling your body?"
The serving wench looked a little offended. But she was the one that mentioned "easy virtue" after all. Killum worried she'd leave and refuse to speak with them, but she finally frowned and shrugged.
"I was working as a mercenary for the Warlord. Lord Seth is, or was, the Duke of Highcliff, Warlord of the Southern Reaches, and Governor of Malvurn Province. He is still trying to regain his lost castle, titles, and lands. Four deaths in battle made me stop and take this job," Alisara said. "That was six months ago. I guess I kind of got used to the job, and being manhandled a lot. I can't afford to buy any weapons or gear to go on adventures, and honestly this job has sucked me in. It's relatively easy and safe. I haven't been killed once since taking it."
Killum shared a concerned look with Fergus. Tiana looked super uncomfortable, while even Rand was struggling to comprehend. They understood her predicament, and Killum wondered if he could be made to give up and take a mundane job like any other everyday mob.
"Is there some significance to four deaths?" Killum asked. "I've been killed once, and I understand why no one wants to be killed. It's not just annoying and inconvenient, but actually horrific."