Dream by RW Krpoun Read Free Book Online

experience.”
    “Interesting point,” Shad conceded. “So, what sort of work do we look for?”
    “We’re first level,” Fred muttered. “Simple stuff.”
    “Dude, we are in a tavern looking for adventure ,” Derek grinned madly.
    “Not me,” Shad shook his head. “I’m looking to make a fast…Mark, and to find a way out of this trap.”
     
     
    Chapter Three
    They all had a mess-kit in their gear, and a penny each filled it with a very good fish stew, and a fifth penny brought a loaf of fresh rye bread to the table.
    “Not bad at all,” Jeff gathered everyone’s bowls after they had finished. “I’ll do KP today.”
    “A shilling for a room with a good lock, until sun-down tomorrow,” Shad mused, examining the iron key. “We’re not in desperate straits, money-wise, but we’re far from flush. Everybody stay sober.”
    The Mermaid’s clientele seemed to lean towards riverboat men and a couple travelers. Jeff circulated while the rest of the group nursed their ale and discussed the day’s events.
    Shad examined a shilling. “This is a milled coin, and it is press-stamped, both features which should be a couple hundred years after of this time period.”
    “Dwarves,” Fred shrugged. “That’s a skill base that would bring a lot of innovation with it. The Norse dwarves were supposed to have nearly magical craftsman skills.”
    “OK, got some intel,” Jeff slid back into his seat and motioned for a passing girl to fill his tankard. “Bravos, as we guessed, are close to what we might call adventurers. Not exactly an socially esteemed profession, but a profitable one if you survive.”
    “So where’s the work?” Shad asked.
    “Well, there the usual business of recovering loot from abandoned holds. Apparently certain Orc and Goblin tribes can bore through stone like butter using shamanistic magic. There’s underground warrens all over. Places like this have to have wards in place to keep them from burrowing in.”
    “We’re not up to a crawl,” Fred objected.
    “No need. The regular paychecks come from mages. Guys like Derek are just slacker tactical guys, community college geeks who take the easy road. Mages are the serious stuff, Ivy League guys who spend years working on their arts.”
    “If they’re so powerful, why do they need us?” Shad asked.
    Derek, who was annoyed by Jeff’s reference, held up his hand. “Just got it. Class knowledge. The key to magic is power. You learn spells, but they’re just words unless you’ve got the juice to make ‘em come to life. The various ‘mancers all take the simpler route, drawing power in different methods. Mages are the purists, the pros.” Derek took a drink. “They do magic by way of items, material components. Very specific components.”
    “And that’s where we come in,” Jeff nodded. “Plus, I bet they’re pack-rats. You depend on materials to do your job, you’re going to make damn sure you’ve got a full supply plus extras.”
    “Actually, Shad’s closer to a mage than I am. Thing is, he uses junk and produces small-scale stuff,” Derek pointed out. “Mages build permanent stuff, or long-lasting things like the wards Jeff mentioned. I bet a full mage has job offers flowing in like an A-list actor in Hollywood.”
    “So how do we find a mage who needs something?” Fred asked.
    “We don’t,” Jeff grinned. “They’re VIPs. Alchemists are our ticket, an entire industry built up around obtaining quality materials for the discerning user. Mages deal with them. Because of various local issues, alchemists are restricted to a couple streets.”
    “Good work. How the hell did you get that much information that fast?” Shad asked.
    “It’s no secret,” Jeff shrugged. “One of the guys I was talking to is a buyer, goes around buying specific herbs from farmwives; it’s not all unicorn horn and dragon eyelashes. One of the riverboat men had a brother who was a bravo for a while before joining the City Guard. In a