The shout drew the attention of the room. Targosa looked over to the entrance door where one of the orcs had grabbed one of the other patrons. SJ didn’t let her concentration drop from Olivia as she turned towards the sound. Her vision allowed her the flexibility to look away.
“That’s it, you’re out of here,” the orc growled. It wasn’t Harf who had answered the door initially but the other one. He was larger and more foreboding. The dwarf he had grabbed by his collar and was now manhandling towards the door was crying his innocence.
“I didn’t do anything,” he pleaded as the orc dragged him to the exit.
“Don’t tell me I didn’t see what I just did,” the orc replied.
The movement was subtle, with everyone’s attention drawn to the exit door and the struggling dwarf, but SJ didn’t miss it. This time, it was a flick of Olivia’s other wrist and a card was immediately placed on the top of the deck.
“Did you see it?” Dave asked.
‘I did. She just topped the deck with an emperor. It has to be as from her other sleeve. They don’t appear to like people beating the house.’
“I still can’t believe how quickly you have been recalculating the probabilities. Any other being wouldn’t be able to do the mental maths involved.”
‘If I manage to run this hand through, then I will stop.’
SJ had noticed Targosa glance at Olivia as the commotion had started. It had to be planned as a distraction. SJ casually picked up her honey wine while the dwarf was forcefully removed from the premises. Taking a sip she placed it down on the table as the dwarf’s pleads were lost as the door closed behind them.
“Apologies all for the disturbance,” Targosa said.
“Shall we continue?” Olivia asked, a smile back on her face. The attention of those now drawn back to the card table. The empress was face up and the last turned card.
“Let’s,” SJ said as she reached and moved her stack of coins to the higher position.
“NOT AGAIN,” Ulyian cried.
“I just have a feeling,” SJ said, not failing to notice the very slight narrowing of Targosa’s gaze and the fleeting look of panic that flashed across Olivia’s face. The number of easy turn cards at the end of a round had to be a deliberate ploy to try and make many patrons continue playing. Then, finishing them with an emperor or ace wouldn’t look as suspicious. As SJ had been monitoring and counting all the cards played, she knew how many should have been left in the deck and knew that with three emperors of each suit and three aces of each suit in the packs, most beings would never be able to keep count of what had been played. She was finding it very easy to monitor everything.
Even she had to admit to herself that although she was good with numbers, the manner in which she was able to calculate everything so quickly was taking her by surprise. She had been getting more confident as the game had continued, and the odds had kept switching depending upon the face-up card.
Olivia turned the card.
The stalwart face of an emperor screamed at SJ, and she couldn’t help but smirk.
“I don’t believe it,” Ulyian said as he almost fell where he stood, his knees shaking. “How can you be so lucky?”
“I am just doing what feels right,” SJ said, shrugging.
Targosa’s smile was present, but this time, it wasn’t reaching her eyes. The beads of sweat that Olivia had dabbed away had returned as she asked for SJ’s choice. It had to be low with an emperor, and the game continued once she moved her stack. There was a clear tremble in Olivia’s hands now as she continued to turn the cards after SJ’s calls. As the final card was turned on the hand again, the room filled with cheers in celebration of SJ’s luck.
Ulyian slapped her on the shoulder. “This is amazing, congratulations.”
SJ’s winnings were counted out, and she now had three gold, twenty-seven silver, and sixty-eight copper stacked in front of her. That had completed the 15th straight hand. SJ knew that there were still enough cards for another nine hands.
‘I am tempted to continue,’ SJ thought.
“DON’T,” Dave almost made SJ wince. He was that loud. “You have gone far enough.”
The fact Dave was telling SJ to stop when he was a gambling addict hit home to her.
‘Okay,' she replied to Dave before looking at Olivia. “I think I will stop there,” SJ said as she reached for her coins.
“Are you sure? You are doing so well,” Targosa said.
“Yes. I am sure. I think I have pushed my luck far enough for now,” SJ said as she drew the coin into her inventory, removing it from the table. SJ wasn’t sure if Targosa was relieved by her reply or not.
Several of the beings congratulated SJ on her win, and SJ, in response, offered to buy the patrons a drink in celebration. There were only twelve beings, so it wouldn’t even cost a silver coin. That brought more cheers as beings filtered away back to other gaming tables. SJ wasn’t sure if what she had done was a good or a bad thing. Some now appeared overly enthusiastic to try their luck.
Olivia stepped back from the table. As she turned, SJ noticed Targosa gripping her arm and whispering something to her. Olivia’s back stiffened, and SJ knew it had to be a threat.
“I can’t believe you just did that,” Ulyian said, standing with a silver coin in his hand and spinning it between his fingers.
“Where did you get that from?”
“Targosa. She loans to regulars.”
“Go and give it back to her now,” SJ snapped.
“But, you have just won and...”
“And nothing. I just cleared a twelve silver debt for you, and you will do as I say, and don’t think you won’t be paying me back either.”
“But I thought...”
“Thought what? That I would give you twelve silver and forget about it? Twelve silver is enough for some to live off for months.”
“Yes, but...” Ulyian said as SJ flashed him a look that caused him to close his mouth rapidly.
SJ suddenly felt lightheaded. She had initially picked her honey wine up from the table when she had stood but now placed it on another empty table.
‘I think the wine is drugged,’ SJ thought.
“Any notifications?” Dave said.
‘Nothing.’
“Umm. If it isn’t harmful to you, then it probably won’t register. It could have been a sleeping tonic.”
‘I better get out of here before it takes effect,’ SJ thought as she could feel panic rising in her chest.
“We are leaving now,” SJ said to Ulyian.
“We are?”
“Yes, now,” SJ said as she felt a wave of dizziness hit her.
“Okay. If you say so,” Ulyian said, “I will give the silver back, and then we can...”
“No. Pay it back later,” SJ hissed.
Ulyian looked surprised but wasn’t going to question SJ. He really wasn’t the most intelligent being she had met since arriving in Amathera. As they reached the door to leave, Harf walked towards them.
“Leaving so soon?” he asked.
“Yes, I have an appointment to attend,” SJ said. She needed to leave, as the effects of whatever had been in the drink were getting worse.
‘I wish Jay were here,’ SJ thought.
“You have me, don’t worry,” Dave said.
‘You can’t protect me if I fall unconscious.’
Harf reached for the door latch and begrudgingly unlocked it, allowing her to pass with Ulyian. SJ wasn’t sure how she was managing to stay on her feet. Her head was spinning now, and she was pretty sure it must have been her boots and their sure step ability allowing her to stay upright. She noticed Harf turn and look towards Targosa as she left. SJ couldn’t tell Targosa’s response. Her vision was now causing more of an impairment with the dizziness.
As SJ reached the bottom of the steps, Ulyian was in front of her leading, and she stumbled slightly into his back.
“Are you okay?” Ulyian asked. He appeared to have genuine concern on his face.
“Feeling a little dizzy. Maybe because of the excitement at winning,” SJ strained to smile. “I just need some fresh air.”
Ulyian led them from the bar as SJ grabbed his arm and leaned against him. Her legs felt like blocks of stone.
“Keep with it, SJ,” Dave said.
‘I’m trying,’ she replied.
“There’s a travel cart; it’s one of the tower stables ones,” Dave said.
SJ could see the shape of a cart across the street from the inn; it was moving, or at least she thought it was.
“Grab that cart,” SJ said to Ulyian.
Ulyian looked where SJ pointed and called to the driver. With help from Ulyian, she reached the cart and climbed into it. Struggling to get her thoughts in order, she gave her address to the driver as she lost all sense of her surroundings.
The next while was not clear to SJ, but she had a vague recollection of arriving somewhere and being assisted from the cart before she had completely lost consciousness.
“You’re awake again,” Dave said.
‘Where am I?’ SJ asked. She didn’t recognise the room she was in.
“Don’t panic. You are at home. Lurtew and Ulyian managed to carry you upstairs and put you in Cristy’s room rather than all the way to the top floor.”
‘Oh,’ SJ thought as her eyes adjusted to the darkened room, and she started to make out familiar surroundings. As she went to sit up, her head throbbed painfully. ‘Whatever that drug was, I was lucky I left when I did.’
“You are also lucky you had Ulyian with you. He really took care of you,” Dave said.
‘What?’ SJ said, surprised.
“You were pretty much unconscious from the moment you were in the cart. He made sure you got home safely and was so worried that he stayed. I think he is still in the lounge with Yawnee and Lurtew.”
‘How long was I out?’
“About two hours.”
SJ rolled from the bed and stood, her head spinning slightly as she did. She was so thirsty her throat felt parched. The door opened, and Yawnee stood in it.
“Thank the Gods. You are awake again. I was going to get a healer after Ulyian explained what happened," Yawnee said.
“Ulyian explained?”
“He is in the lounge and would be best to explain.”
“I need a drink.”
“I will get you one. You go and speak to Ulyian.”
SJ left the room and went to the lounge. As she approached, she could hear laughter. When she entered, Lurtew was laughing at something Ulyian had said.
“You are up again,” Lurtew smiled.
“Yes. I believe I owe you thanks,” SJ said to Ulyian.
“Only right after what you did for me,” he shrugged as if it was nothing special. “How do you feel?”
“My head throbs like an ogre is stomping in it.”
“I was right then,” Ulyian said, grinning with pride.
“Right about what?” SJ asked.
“It was when you lost it outside in the cart that I got concerned. I have had suspicions about other winners at the bar before. I had a similar thing happen to me when I suddenly collapsed one night. The next morning, I found myself down an alley with no coin after a winning night.”
“How come you had no coin? Didn’t you have it in your inventory?”
Ulyian’s cheeks coloured. “No. I can’t remember leaving the bar. When I went back the following day, they said I had left after drinking in celebration of my win, and that was nothing compared to what you won today.”
“You need to get some antidote potions,” Dave said. “You can’t chance being caught out like that again. You were lucky today.”
‘I will. I need to find Caperca’s shop and see what he sells, considering I need to get something for Joel as well.’
“Where are the children, and has Holly been back?” SJ asked as Yawnee entered with a pot of coffee and a glass of water. SJ picked the water up and downed it instantly.
“The children are playing in the yard,” Yawnee said. “And Holly hasn’t returned yet.”
“Thanks for looking after them,” SJ said.
“They have been a great help today,” Lurtew said. “So what will you do about this bar?”
“I may have to have a conversation at the tower,” SJ said.
“The tower?” Ulyian frowned.
“Oh, you don’t know, do you? SJ is an ambassador,” Lurtew replied. SJ grimaced slightly at the comment. She hadn’t really wanted Ulyian to know anything about her. She had even given him a false name.
“What’s an ambassador? And why are they calling you SJ,” Ulyian said, utterly confused.
“Yes. I am an ambassador for a town to the south of Asterfal.”
“I see,” Ulyian said, although it was pretty obvious by the look on his face that he really didn’t comprehend.
‘I always imagined elves to be intelligent,’ SJ thought. ‘I have no idea how he has managed to reach the level he has.’
“All races have their own, and you seem to have picked an elven one,” Dave chuckled.
“Ulyian. What do you do for a job?”
“This and that. Nothing special. I usually pick up bits of work here and there as I need to.”
“Such as?”
“Whatever the boss asks me to do. Usually deliveries.”
“Who is your boss?”
“Palor. He is a big thing in District 10. Holds a lot of power,” Ulyian said with pride.
“What power does he hold?”
“He is a member of the sanction. They control many dealings in District 10.”
SJ couldn’t quite believe that Ulyian was sitting boasting about working for someone from a gang.
“I don’t think your boss would be happy knowing you are talking about him,” SJ said.
“Why not? Anyone who is anybody in District 10 knows the sanction.”
“So he is a leader of sanction?”
“He looks after the streets where I live, so I guess he is quite powerful.”
SJ could imagine Palor getting Ulyian to do the most simplistic tasks imaginable. The fact that he was willing to brag about working for a gang made little sense, and she was pretty sure if they knew he was, he would be in serious trouble. Then again, she also knew that District 3 had allowed gangs to work unchallenged, and she could imagine that many of the guards turned a blind eye to the proper coin being distributed. It was just another level of corruption that Asterfal faced.
SJ shook her head in disbelief. “This city,” she sighed.
“Yawnee. I don’t suppose you know where Caperca’s shop is in District 12. He said it was on Lerwisk Street.”
“I know the street.”
“Do you mind taking me there?”
“Of course not. Did you wish to go now?”
SJ checked her display; she hadn’t realised the time after the events at the bar and her spell of unconsciousness, but it was already late afternoon, soon to be early evening.
“I’m not sure he will still be open.”
“Probably. It’s still early enough.”
“Okay. Then let’s head over. Ulyian. I appreciate your help today. You may call your debt cleared.”
Ulyian’s grin faded at the comment. “Really?”
“Yes, why?” SJ asked.
“Oh, no reason,” he replied forlornly.
“What is it?”
“I was hoping I could escort you back to the bar again. I would love to watch you play again. You were unbelievable.”
“I may call in again at some point, and I know where to find you now if I need you for anything,” SJ said, standing. SJ was definitely going back to the bar, but it wouldn’t be on the terms that Ulyian had expected. Her next visit may not be as pleasant as her first. She had to see Olivia. She hadn’t learned her surname, and her reaction when Targosa spoke to her told its own story.
SJ escorted Ulyian downstairs. Eventually, after he pleaded with her to meet him at the bar again, she partially succumbed, saying she would if she had time. He walked off with a childish grin on his face.
‘He really is a strange one,’ SJ thought.
Yawnee had met them downstairs, and they headed towards Caperca’s.
The store was a three-storey building. It had a narrow frontage like many buildings in Asterfal but made up for it by the floors. The shop had a picture of a cauldron with bright gems being poured into it. The shop had no name over it, but it was the only one on Lerwisk Street that looked anything like an alchemist and jeweller. The street itself wasn’t a main street of the district, tucked away behind two large buildings they had passed.
SJ entered with Yawnee. The face of an avian looked up from where it was sitting. It wore a magnifying monocle on one of its large eyes. It had to be Caperca’s wife.
“Hello. How can I help you?” it said.
“I was looking for Caperca. Is he here?” The shop downstairs was filled with small trinkets and chains. SJ recognised many of the items as charms she had seen several beings wearing to show their support for the various gods of Amathera.
“His shop is on the first floor,” she bluntly replied.
There was obviously no difference in the manner in which they directly spoke.
“I am going to browse,” Yawnee said as SJ turned and headed to the stairs at the side of the shop.
The upstairs was what could only be described as organised chaos. Everywhere she looked, stacks of boxes held various small bottles of liquid. Some were miniature vials, while other display stands held larger bottles and ointment jars. Due to the displays and box stacks, SJ couldn’t see Caperca from the top of the stairs.
“Hello?” she called.
The head of Caperca appeared around from near the base of a stand.
“Hello again,” Caperca said.
“Hi Caperca. I came to see if you have anything that could help cure illnesses.”
“I do. What is the illness?” his tone was matter-of-fact.
“I am not sure. General weakness and tiredness, and a cough as well.”
“Umm. I have several healing tonics. I am not sure which would be best, but I can suggest a few different ones.”
“That would be great. I also need some antidotes if you have them.”
“General poisons?”
“Yes. Also anti tiredness ones.”
“Umm. The best would be these. Single dose, antivenoms. They are sold as antivenoms but will negate most effects. They usually take about five minutes to work.”
“I see. How much are they?”
“They are a silver each.”
“Okay. What about the healing ones?”
“They vary.” He had stood from where he had been stacking the bottom of a display and walked over to her. He collected various bottles and jars and carried them to a counter that stood off to the side near the top of the stairs. SJ followed him.
“How many antivenoms would you like?”
‘Do they stack?’ SJ thought.
“The same should stack in your inventory, yes,” Dave said. “You can also get potion bags for your inventory; they are specialist alchemy items that allow for more potions to be stored. If I remember rightly, the usual stack limit is ten per slot.”
‘Thanks.’
“Please give me ten antivenoms. I would also like a selection of your healing tonics,” SJ said.
“Okay,” Caperca said as he collected ten of the miniature vials from a box. “These will be ten silver, and then if I add in one of each of the main healing tonics, that will be a further six silver.”
“That would be great. What other potions do you do?”
“What do you want? I have many options for various applications.” Caperca turned around the counter again and went to another stand.
“Here, I have giant strength; it will add +3 to your strength for three hours. I also have some feather fall potions. These last for thirty seconds. I have several other options for minor attribute boosts. The only major potion booster I have is a potion of intellect. It will grant whoever drinks it double intelligence for a limited time.”
“What do the minors do?”
“They add between +1 and +3 to an attribute and usually last three hours.”
“I see. I think, for now, I will just go with the ones I have selected.”
“No problem. That will be sixteen silver.”
SJ counted out the coin and placed it on the counter.
“I spoke to the guild today. They are interested in meeting with your friends.”
“Sorry?” SJ said, confused.
“About work. We spoke this morning about other work rather than working for the Brewers Guild.”
“You have spoken to them already.”
“Yes. I was going to call on our way home this evening and let them know. They said to call in at the guild anytime with a sample of their work.”
“I see. I can let Yawnee and Lurtew know. Yawnee is downstairs. Actually, I will go and get her, and you can explain the details to her.”
“Fine,” Caperca said.
SJ collected the bottles, adding them to her inventory before she headed back downstairs to tell Yawnee. ‘They really don’t waste their words,’ SJ thought as she walked down the stairs.
