Page 16 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
CHAPTER 5
World Player Indeed!
Rufus
Rufus went to bed, but he didn’t go to sleep. Instead, he tossed and turned, both excited for and dreading the travel ahead. His thoughts drifted back to when he’d first met the bard; it was hard to believe that it was only a year ago that his obsession with her music had begun.
One Year Ago
“Rufus!” Chloe Watercress yelled at me from the doorway of my very comfortable dungeon office in the Black Fortress. The enchanted prison cells were partially underground, letting in the sunlight from the outside. The front half remained usable for the prisoners of the Dark Lord—if Keith ever bothered to have prisoners—while the back had been converted into a cozy living space for me after I’d decided to move down here.
“Yes, Chloe?” I didn’t look up from my book, knowing that would irritate the necromancer all the more. Also,The Duchess of North Berkshirewas a very interesting read, and I didn’t want to stop midscene. Miss Hana had just been found poisoned, and her knight escort was missing … though I highly suspected the butler had something to do with that.
Chloe announced, “I just thought I’d let you know that I’m leaving.”
That got my attention.
“Where to?” I sat up quickly, taking the tiny reading glasses off my midsize canine snout. I slotted them as a makeshift bookmark into my romance novel before placing both on the small table beside my reclined daybed. A tinge of worry about where our illustrious king would send her this time crept into my voice. “How many dead?”
It was Chloe’s job to [Resurrect], [Revive], or [Raise] those who could be saved around the Dark Enchanted Forest. A flood? She went to fish out the nonsurvivors. A dungeon break? Cleaning up the mess. When the entire forest tended to shift around all the time, travelers never knew if they would wake up in the middle of dire wolf–infested woods or beside the beautiful shores of Lake Loria, where a dragon lay sleeping.
“I’m going to Servalt to enjoy their Annual Spell Script Collegium.”
I did a double take, raising one eyebrow. “But … why? You get the subscription scrolls every year.”
“I’m taking a vacation.”
I eyed the woman. Chloe flipped her long blonde curls over her shoulder dramatically, as if nothing bothered her and my opinion didn’t actually matter. It must, though, or else she wouldn’t be here. In my dungeon. Telling me about it.
“Does Keith—?”
“He approved my leave of absence,” she countered. “I’m going for three weeks. I’ve left two full crates of potions that should last until after I get back.”
“Alright.” I didn’t want to do this, but my notification tabs were going off in the corner of my eye, and I decided I could use the help. I much preferred patience to hitting the problem with a hammer, but judging by the nervous energy and masked uncertainty radiating from my friend, she wasn’t likely to open up on her own.
[Passive Skill:Mediatorhas been activated by yourPatientChloe Watercress. Primary emotion: Surprise, Startled. Subject may act irrationally. Threat Level: 1]
[Passive Skill:Patienthas been activated. APatientwithin the area of your Skill is in need of counsel. Warning:PatientChloe Watercress is under the influence of aWorld Player. Threat Level: 1]
The system blinked with more messages that I ignored. There were always more messages. When I refocused on Chloe, she was pretending to be unaffected, waiting patiently for my verdict.
“Who did you talk to?” While I’d never heard of a World Player before, I could only assume it was a high-level, Rogue-class title. And not someone I wanted influencing my friends—let alone the right hand of the Dark Lord.
Chloe deflated and let out a rare, simple sigh, devoid of her usual dramatic flair. “I received a letter.”
Fishing out the scroll, she passed it over. It had a tiny broken seal in the shape of a teacup.
Dear Necromancer Chloe,
Thank you so much for resurrecting me. To return the favor, I would like to pass along this special pass to the Annual Spell Script Collegium. It is a wonderful event held every year that shares all of the latest magical spells and theorems.
I’ve heard there is even going to be a surprise presentation by the Grand Duchess of North Sumbria on her latest invention, something called an “elevator.”
I hope this finds you well, and that you’re able to go. And thanks again.
Yours Truly,
Madame Potts
