World Witout Wizards: Guard

"How are you?" I asked Lyska, under the healer's gaze.

"OK, at least I can move on my own and I'm not dying." Defector Lysandra smiled; I remembered that it was necessary to change her nickname. Maybe the Flower Witch didn't spend thirty silver coins on her treatment, but she must have spent at least ten. And most importantly she cured Lysandra in time.

"Okay, let's go then. We need to buy the right shoes and clothes. You look n.a.k.e.d in that shirt."

"Our master is so caring and thoughtful," Vasilisa whispered standing on the doorstep."

"Our?" the former warlock's disciple asked in surprise. Then she looked at me sternly and at the peasant girl again.

"Well, I haven't felt special for a long time. Does your soul belong to you, girl?"

"Of course!" Vasilisa replied immediately and added, "obviously you are much older and wiser than me!"

"You're right I'm obviously much smarter than you and quite a bit older..."

"Girls, stop quarreling! We must hurry to buy new clothes for you!"

"You're right. We've really got a lot of work to do."

I was instantly tired of their arguments and discontent. Although a few days ago, I would have given my finger for a chance to be intimate with Lysandra. The girls treated each other differently. Lyska was sad to learn about the second slave, and the peasant's daughter was delighted. It was interesting to understand the reasons. I'll think about it later. In any case, I'll take them home to my parents, and then go to the Baron for service.

"Whole bear liver. One piece. Two silver coins." a short, balding man mumbled, successively bending over a stationery book and the huge carcass of the beast I'd killed. "Whole bear heart. One piece. Five silver coins. Kidneys…"

He slowly filled line after line, without being distracted by other people. He didn't cut the carcass but just examined it through the strange glass.

"Excuse me," I coughed, but the appraiser didn't seem to notice me. I wanted to tap the man on the shoulder but Polozoob stopped me.

"Don't disturb him. You better let the appraiser work. He knows his business well. Others would take days to appraise a carcass, and this guy can do it in half an hour."

Soon the man really filled the last line with relief and sat up. He gazed at us as if we had just arrived, and it only took him a few seconds to look around and step forward, bowing slightly.

"Gentlemen, ladies! You're welcome. It's a p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e to meet you. I'm Rokbar—appraiser and treasurer." He stared straight at me with his small, tenacious eyes. "You must be the owner and master of this magnificent beast."

"Yes, you're absolutely right. How did you know?"

"Elementarily. You're covered in its blood. You're holding in your hands the sword that killed it."

"Wow, you're very observant!"

"It's simple logic," Lysandra snorted.

"Oh, you are certainly very smart," the appraiser smiled. "Your delicate fingers have never done any rough work. However, it didn't help you very much, because I see a slave leash on you."

"It's none of your business," she snapped. She wanted to add something, but didn't say anything.

"I'm not going to argue with you. You're right. I prefer numbers. Can I go on?" I nodded impatiently.

"Appraising the carcass, I figured out forty-three items for a total amount of seventy-five silver and fourteen copper coins. Accordingly, you owe me seven silver and fifty-two copper coins. So, after paying the fee, you'll get sixty-seven silver and sixty-two copper coins. The tanner will cost…"

"I'm taking the whole carcass. Is that right, dear? Don't worry, your debt will be paid and you'll receive eighteen silver coins!"

Intelligence Check

Base 0

Bonus +1

Dice Roll 1

Requirement 2

Success

I was alarmed by her burning eyes and astonished by their excessive greed. It seemed to me that there must be a catch.

"The chief must pay me for killing the beast, so I can pay you in installments."

"I'll give you twenty coins and take the whole carcass."

"I have to think it over," I muttered. Why does she want to possess the whole carcass? "You may not need all the bear, take everything except…"

"Twenty-two silver coins! I can't pay more. That's all I've got."

"I agree."

The old woman was very glad. She put her hand in the pocket, quickly counting out the large white coins, and rushed to sniff the carcass.

I paid to the appraiser and went outside. Finally, I had money in my wallet. In the same market, we bought inexpensive road clothes for Lysandra and shoes for Vasilisa. I was worried that Vasilisa would twist her ankle on the way home, and I'd have to spend money on a potion.

"Trouble! Trouble!" a man was running through the market and shouting, pushing the passers-by away. He was on his way to the warlock's house, like me; I was going to take the reward before I'd go to the tavern to finally celebrate such a good day. We came in just behind the messenger...

"Mister warlock, have mercy, don't execute me for the bad news!"

"Speak, peasant, what happened?" the warlock grunted with disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e.

"The village of half-bloods is completely burned! Almost all the inhabitants have been killed!"

"What are you talking about?" the chief banged his staff on the floor. "The village is protected by a Black guard and a few ordinary soldiers. Oulsast is an experienced warlock and could take care of the inhabitants."

"All of them are dead, sir. They've been killed by the fanatics. The cultists of the sleeping God."

"It's impossible," Vagol whispered. He didn't believe it, and neither did I. The magic MESSAGE emerged faster than we realized that the messenger wasn't lying.

Village of half-bloods

To find survivors, to find and execute the guilty—Priority task

The rest of the tasks are suspended

Variants of execution:

— leave immediately, there's a chance to find more survivors;

— wait for the Baron's men; there is less risk of facing resistance;

— gather the militia and move together; intermediate variant