Announcement

I will be taking a break for Christmas, meaning no new chapters next week. The story will resume the regular schedule the following week.

Since Humphrey lacked extended movement powers and Jason’s stomach lacked a tolerance for movement powers, they hitched a ride into the delta on a trade wagon for a spirit coin each. Using supply crates as furniture, they bounced along in the back of the wagon, Jason looking decidedly peaky.

They had stopped at Jory’s clinic to pick up potions, at which point Jason discovered there was no easy hangover cure. Jory explained that he had one for regular hangovers, but trying it on a hangover from iron or bronze rank booze would only make things worse. It was akin to using a potion too soon after already having used one, or using a potion right after using a high-ranked spirit coin. Jason had experienced that himself, which had felt even worse than he did from the hangover.

“I think I’ve been spoiled by the cloud palace,” Sophie said, shifting uncomfortably on her crate.

“I’d love to take a real look,” Humphrey said. “I’ve only seen it at a distance during the memorials.”

“I'm pretty sure Emir wouldn't mind you having a look around," Jason said. “What were you saying earlier, about Jonah quitting Ricks team?”

“There were five people in the expedition whose tracking stones failed,” Humphrey said. “They were all found, but close to death.”

“I know the ones,” Jason said. “Emir wanted them watched at the recovery camp but never said why. Everything was chaos. It was Jonah, Thadwick Mercer and three I don’t know. Cassandra told me about the rumours. Back before she dumped me. Were these rumours just because of the tracking stone thing?”

“It was where they started,” Humphrey said. “Severe injuries have been known to change people’s aura, though. Enough that it no longer matches the imprint on their badge and they can’t be tracked until they get a new one.”

“Is that common?” Jason asked.

“Not at all,” Humphrey said. “One person experiencing that would be extraordinary. Five all at once? Beyond unlikely.”

“So people think something was done to them,” Jason said.

“Yes,” Humphrey said. “It started on the way back to the city. They were all behaving differently to how they were before. You could pass it off as an  after-effect of a brush with death, but the changes became more prominent over time, not less.”

“I helped peel what was left of their clothes off them,” Jason said. “They went through the kind of damage you shouldn't walk away from. It would be weird if they weren't affected.”

“This wasn’t just trauma,” Humphrey said. “Jonah was like a different person. He was always loyal to his team, which was what happened to him in the astral space. He held off the enemy to buy time. Now he looks at them and it’s like he doesn’t see them. He left the team without so much as a word; he just went to the Adventure Society and had his name stricken from the team listing. He and the other four formed a new team of their own, spending all their time together.

“I will acknowledge that’s waving a few pod-people red flags,” Jason said.

“Pod people?” Sophie asked.

“You know. Creepy parasite thing that gets inside you and takes over.”

“Is that something that happens?” she asked in horror.

“Nothing is impossible with magic,” Humphrey said.

“Surely they got checked out?” Jason asked.

“They all refused,” Humphrey said. “Neither the Adventure Society or the Magic Society has the right to forcibly subject them to examination without some complicated legal wrangling.”

“I can’t believe your mother would let it rest at that. Not when it involves a family member or an expedition she was in charge of.”

“No,” Humphrey said. “She didn’t tell me much, beyond that steps are being taken. Before it came together, though, all five up and vanished. They were found a week later in Hornis, on a boat bound for distant shores.”

“They were making a run for it?” Sophie asked. “You can’t just slip out of the city and make off to Hornis when people are watching you. Believe me, I’ve looked into it. You either have to get passage through the port here or make an overland run through some very empty and inhospitable territory.”

“Beaufort Mercer was facilitating them,” Humphrey said.

“Thadwick’s father,” Jason said.

“Yes,” Humphrey said. “My mother didn’t say it explicitly, but she at least implied that Beaufort’s wife was the one who tipped her off. They’ve been friends since they were young and I think she’s at least as concerned for her son as Mother is for Jonah.”

“Less interested in the family reputation than whether something is wrong with her child,” Jason surmised. “Good on her.”

“The Adventure Society sent that portal user who works for Emir Bahadir to send them back, although I'm not sure how willingly,” Humphrey said. “In the meantime, Mother wants me to replace Jonah on Rick's team.”

“Doesn’t Rick himself already fill the armoured striker role?” Jason asked.

“Yes. They lost a ranged damage-dealer and a specialised defender. I'm not what they need. I have no idea why Mother wants me to join.”

Humphrey looked inquisitively at Jason.

“You do better than most at recognising her intentions,” Humphrey said. “What do you think?”

“I think she doesn’t want you to join Rick’s team at all.”

Humphrey let out a frustrated sigh.

“Always a lesson with her. So what does she really want me to do?”

“Best guess? Form your own team. Whoever it was you fought in the astral space, re still out there. I reckon she wants people you can rely on around you for the next disaster. Also, she probably wants you to find a new front-liner for Rick.”

“She could do that herself; she doesn’t need me.”

“And have you miss the chance to make some adventurer connections? Come on, Humphrey.”

Humphrey let out a groan.

“You know you sound like her sometimes,” he said.

“So who can fill the slot in Rick’s team?” Jason asked.

“I don’t know,” Humphrey said. “There are plenty of specialist defenders around but the only one I can think of who could stack up to Jonah is Hudson Kettering. There’s no chance of peeling him out of Beth Cavendish’s team.”

“No one else?” Jason asked.

“The only other person who might stack up would be Hudson's cousin, Dustin, but he's…”

Realisation dawned on Humphrey’s face.

“He’s what?” Jason asked.

“He’s been stuck following Thadwick around,” Humphrey said. “Thadwick formally annulled that team, though.”

“One of Thadwick’s lackeys? Even Rufus thinks they’ve got the goods. You should snatch him up for Rick before Thadwick’s stink washes off and people start knocking on his door.”

Humphrey frowned.

“I wish I’d realised,” he said. “I could have spoken to Dustin before I met up with you, and now we’re heading out into the delta.”

“We’re still pretty close to the city,” Jason said. “Let me see what I can do.”

Jason checked his contacts list, which consisted of anyone he had a reasonable interaction with. This made for a long list, which he could, fortunately, organise into groups. Hudson Kettering had appeared on the adventurers list, along with the rest of Beth Cavendish’s team, when Jason had temporarily joined it for the sand barge assault. They were close enough to the city that Hudson was in range and Jason sent a voice chat request.

“Jason,” Hudson said by way of greeting. He had used Jason’s voice chat before and wasn’t surprised by it. Humphrey and Sophie were is Jason’s party and could hear his voice as well.

“Morning, Hudson,” Jason said. “I’m here with Humphrey Geller. He wants to talk to you about your cousin.”

“Dustin? If this is about probing him over Thadwick being mind-controlled or whatever, he doesn’t want to hear it.”

“That's not it,” Humphrey said. “Good morning, Hudson. I was wondering if Dustin would have any interest in joining Rick Geller's team. They need a quality frontman and they understand what it's like to have one of their team members placed under suspicion.”

“Join a Geller team?” Hudson pondered. “That’s a good name to be attached to, but so was Mercer. He really took a hit for the family, being stuck to Thadwick, so we only want the best for him this time around. Real adventurers.”

“Rick is the real thing,” Humphrey said. “He’s practically obsessed with becoming stronger. I should point out that it isn’t really a Geller team anymore, though. One left to join Thadwick and they lost someone during the expedition. That leaves Rick and a pair of elf sisters.”

“Sorry to hear it,” Hudson said soberly. “We got lucky; those Vitesse adventurers covered us and paid the price. They’re friends of yours, right, Jason?”

“Yes.”

“There wasn’t a memorial for her,” Hudson said. “Her standing strong  is the reason my team all got out alive and we wanted to pay our respects.”

“They’re taking her home for that,” Jason said. “We’re going to have an informal wake once things calm down, though. I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks. Humphrey, I’ll put it to Dustin and see what he thinks. I think you’ll pretty much have him once I tell him about the elf sisters.”

While Jason and Humphrey were off introducing Sophie to monster hunting, Rufus marched through the Adventure Society administration building. In the main lobby he made for the elevating platform to the upper levels. Standing next to the platform was a man in the robes of the church of knowledge, waiting patiently.

“Mr Remore,” the priest greeted him.

Rufus sighed.

“I’m busy, but your goddess knows that. State your purpose.”

“Your business is in pursuit of the people who struck down your precious team mate,” the priest said. He had a friendly look about him, his bronze rank and middle-aged appearance meant he was likely sixty or seventy years old. His voice had a sympathy that sounded completely genuine; the empathy of a clergyman.

“Unless your goddess wants to tell me who they are and where to find them, we have no business.”

“She has offered that and more to someone you count as a friend, yet that friend spurned her offer.”

The frown on Rufus’ face told the priest that Rufus was far from willing to be jerked around.

“You have my attention,” Rufus said.

“Jason Asano was offered all the answers you seek, but he refused.”

“Why?”

“You know the man,” the priest said. “You know he can be mistrusting toward figures of authority.”

“What was the condition?” Rufus asked.

“Condition?” the priest asked.

“He wouldn’t refuse if all she did was offer. What did she ask in return.”

“The goddess knows all. There are tribulations ahead and Asano will need guidance to navigate them successfully. She wishes to offer that guidance.”

“Worship,” Rufus said. “She offered to hand Farrah’s killers up on a plate in return for worship.”

“This goes well beyond the people who killed your friend,” the priest said. “You have heard about incursions in other astral spaces around the world.”

“And what?” Rufus asked tersely. “Your goddess will give up all the answers in return for the worship of one iron-ranker in a provincial city?”

“She sees what others do not. Patterns too large for mortals to notice. For such a small price, she offers such great gains. She was refused but remains patient. The counsel of a friend could do so much good.”

The backhand strike from Rufus landed square on the priest’s mouth, sending him tumbling to the floor. Rufus moved to stand right over him as he looked up, his expression of surprise mirrored by everyone in the lobby. He spoke to the priest in a voice as cold and hard as ice.

“If your goddess is willing to hand over such information, then by what moral stricture does she not? Instead, she looks to ransom a man’s principles. You just tried to turn me on my friend, a man who saved my life, and you have the gall to lay there looking surprised? If you want to help me, then help me. Bring your self-serving ways to me again and you’ll get worse than you got today.”

Rufus strode away, riding the elevation platform up into the building.