The Secret of the Dark Forest ( (The Way of the Shaman: Book #3) (39 page)

"Don, why ask meaningless questions?" smiled the girl, "You know full well that I won't be answering that, so what's the point? Hmm ..." Anastaria turned to me and in all seriousness said: "When you offer Donotpunnik to join your clan, take me along too. You don't know how to bargain properly and Don here is an expert in the field. He'll have you for dinner; you’ll think you’ve done him a favor and before you know it, you’ll end up owing him instead."

."..?"

"You still don't get it? Our normally quiet and calm Death Knight, who’s barely been visible behind Undigit's back, suddenly starts to show his real self, and in your company, no less. This is nothing short of self-promotion." Anastaria turned to the Death Knight and continued, "Don, let me disappoint you straight away. I'm in Seathistles temporarily. In three months' time, just before the clan championship I'll return to Phoenix. There is a chance, of course, that I’ll stay, but it's so tiny that it isn't even worth mentioning."

"Typical," uttered Donotpunnik in feigned offence, "the moment you decide to join another clan, some reason is bound to pop up to make it totally impossible."

"You really think you have it all figured out," I parried, "what makes you think that I'm in such dire need of either of you? Anastaria and Donotpunnik, you are legends in your own clans, so that's where you belong. You will return in three months' time," I looked at Anastaria, "and I'm certain that I won't be wasting my wish on getting you to remain in the clan. I'll think of something really interesting instead. As for Donotpunnik," I turned towards the young man, "please don't take this personally, but I hadn't even met you before all this and don't really know who you are. Why would I need you? You could be an agent, just like this pretty lady. So you can relax and stop trying to sell yourself. I'm not buying."

"Overinflated ego?" Donotpunnik looked at Anastaria.

"I don't think so. He's just too certain about forgoing all the bonuses that would come with our presence. Doesn't seem like him."

"Guys, stop speaking about me in the third person in my presence. I've laid out my position; it doesn’t contradict any of the existing agreements. With all due respect, I really don't need ... "

'The Cleansing of the Dark Forest' quest has been completed. Please contact the Guardian for your reward.

The Tear of Eluna, the source of the taint, has been removed and soon the Cursed Forest will again revert to being the Dark Forest.

The quest is 65% complete.

Reward: +200 with all encountered factions, +40 to any main stat, +10 character levels.

Quest 'Restoration of a Holy Relic, Step 3: The Return of the Stone of Light' has been completed.

Please contact the High Priestess of Eluna for your reward.

The Stone of Light has been found.

The quest chain is 75% complete.

Reward for completing Step 3: +1 Level, +200 to Reputation with the Priestesses of Eluna, +50 to Reputation with Goddess Eluna.

Reward: 3 flasks of the Water of Life.

Ding! You've received 6822 new messages. Do you wish to view them?

When I realized what Plinto had done I wanted to howl. The second part of the Guardian's gift was as good as gone! We’d failed to complete his one request – the full cleansing of the forest from the taint. From the very start the Oak had said that if the Fallen were chased out of this forest they would just go and occupy another one, spreading their taint elsewhere. Plinto ... what have you done?!

"And that's it?" asked Anastaria in surprise after reading the messages, "Did they just decrease the Reputation reward without any further penalties? They didn't dock any stats or levels ... . Hmmm ... something isn't right here. '65% complete' ... I simply don't get it. What did we actually lose?"

"I did it!" Just a minute later a smiling Plinto ran up to us, holding the Tear of Eluna and the Stone of Light in his hands. "Both quests have been completed, we can leave now. The Fallen have been locked inside the castle, they can't get out! They've started trying to break through the wall, but according to my estimation, it will take them a couple of weeks. Pity about the Reputation reward dock, but that's not the end of the world. The main thing is that our levels and stats are intact, both in the first and the second quest. ... I don't get it, why the long faces? Didn't I just complete the quest?"

"You failed it!" I said, unable to restrain myself.

"What do you mean?" Plinto froze, staring at me.

"Exactly that!" I was shouting now, "We just had to block the entrance and change all the Vampires! But you went and ..."

"Mahan," Undigit interrupted my angry rant, "the quest has been completed and I see no sense in dying to mobs just for Experience, so the Azure Dragons clan thanks you for access to the quest and, if you get anything similar, do write – we'll negotiate a price. Donotpunnik, let's go, we still have a lot to do."

"The Heirs of the Titans are also going back." This came from Etamzilat: "I agree with Undigit. There's no First Kill on the books and there won't be much Experience gained just from mobs alone ... we're going. If you get another quest like this, let us know, we'll talk it over ..."

In just a few minutes twenty-seven people packed up, got on their mounts and sped away towards the Guardian's glade.

"The quest is finished, Mahan," said Ehkiller, who was suddenly standing next to me. "I agree with Undigit and Etamzilat; there's nothing left for us to do in this forest. I understand that it is important for you and your clan to gain levels, so I offer you a two-month-long boost at our base. For free, for your entire clan. We'll write it off as 'payment for incomplete quest in the Dark Forest'. We're taking in recruits at the moment and the training should start in three days, giving us just enough time to get to Anhurs if we open a portal now. We'll be able to protect you from the Dark Legion, which is still out for your blood, and Plinto won't be going anywhere either. By the way, how would you like to complete our obstacle course?" Ehkiller asked the Rogue, "It would be interesting to see the results."

"Whatever the clan leader says," was Plinto's short reply, but I could see from his eyes that the idea caught his interest. It was easy to guess why: it would mean completing the obstacle course of a clan which had been a long-time, bitter rival and showing their Rogues what incompetent and altogether rubbish players they were. ... From where I was standing, though, it looked like Ehkiller was blatantly trying to buy everyone off ... and quite thoroughly at that ... .

"In any case, whatever Mahan's decision is," the leader (or the shadow leader, I was beginning to lose track who this guy was) of the best clan in Malabar continued, "Phoenix, is leaving the Dark Forest. I'm grateful for your invitation and if you get another quest like this, I'm prepared to discuss the price of our taking part. Hellfire!" Ehkiller shouted, "Get ready, we're off to hand in the quest and then return to Rastrum! Mahan, Anastaria," 'Killer nodded and headed off towards the gathering players.

"Hold on!" I stopped him, trying to get a handle on my emotions, "Do please take all of my guys and send them for training once they hand in the quest. To what level will you be boosting them?"

"The course is designed for leveling up from the twentieth to a hundred and twentieth level. What about you? Aren't you coming with us?"

"No. I'll stay here for a bit – spend some time strolling around by myself, watch those mobs breaking down the walls ..."

"I don't see any sense in stubbornly respawning again and again." Ehkiller looked at me, surprised. "You won't be able to do anything on your own. You can't do anything as a Shaman for another week and I believe Plinto when he says that the castle will be open again in two weeks' time. Can you tell me what the point of you staying here is?"

"What's the difference? Everyone got what they wanted and no-one owes anyone anything. The raid is finished, and all obligations have been met. Plinto," I turned to the Rogue, "I have a special job for you. Show Phoenix how to complete that obstacle course properly. I would be very disappointed if you don't set a new record – both in speed and the number of attempts."

"Consider it done, boss." A smile flashed across Plinto's face. “I realize what I've done by bringing these damn stones here, but no point crying over spilt milk. There's no time limit on playing, so things are bound to work out for you sooner rather than later. But you're right about the chickens ... it would be sheer pleasure to show them the proper way of playing the Game. Thank you!"

"So, is this it then?" When Plinto left to get ready and describe the task at hand to Eric, Leite, Clutzer and Barsina (incidentally it was interesting to note how quickly they all accepted him as their leader: for them Plinto was the second in terms of authority after myself – at least I hoped that he was the second ... ) Antsinthepantsa came up to me. "The quest is finished and everyone's leaving ... Mahan, I'll go too ... I understand that not everything is finished here and the forest is yet to be completely cleansed, but I have a strong feeling that there is nothing more to be done here. To keep respawning just to clear out the mobs ... I think I'll pass. So, my sincere thanks for inviting me and if you get another quest like this, do give me a shout. By the way, Kalatea has decided to meet you in person and will fly to Anhurs in a week. It turns out that Harbingers may only teleport freely within their own continent. Try not to be late."

Why is everyone repeating the same thing: 'thanks; if you get another quest, call us and we'll come'? And yet no-one has any inclination at all to help finish off the crowd of enemies still remaining ... I was left quite speechless. ...

"You know, I will probably stay": Anastaria shared the happy news after all the gathering was done and what was left of the raid headed back to the Guardian to hand in the quest. "There's nothing for me to do in Anhurs and I can hand in the High Priestess's and Guardian's quests any time, so I'll stay with you for a bit. The tent is big enough and it wouldn't be right to leave you alone with just Slate around, would it?"

"Stacey ..."

"What?

"Why don't you go, eh? I don't really feel like talking right now ... I might just lose it and scream my head off at you only to regret it later. ... I had such a great plan all laid out, came up with these pinecones and daggers ... and it was all for nothing. ... I need some time alone, to scream it all out at the trees or something ..."

"What did you expect? You made the most common mistake of any manager: failure to give clear instructions to a subordinate. If you told Plinto that he should not touch the Stones under any circumstances, this situation wouldn't have arisen. Experience, Mahan. You need experience in managing people. I'm prepared to stay with you and deconstruct our raid in detail, figuring out where we went wrong and why, and what we got right. And anyway, abandoning a clan leader, all alone in a forest ... well, no point beating about the bush ... I think that you may still manage to do something with the castle and I too want to get the full reward for the quests. I'm not a fan of half-hearted solutions."

"You think?" Could Anastaria also have a habit of following her intuition?

"Either way, you've managed to get it right so far, perhaps you'll get it right now too. I leveled up only recently, so respawn isn't much of a threat to me. I'll stay with you and help you stave off the boredom. You still won't be able to summon Spirits for a week, right? So we can wait for that. I'll wander around the forest, try to find the Patriarch and have a chat with him. ... The Fallen ones are trapped in the castle in any case ... and you haven't told me about the Prince yet. ... I'll find things to keep me busy, don't you worry."

"All right, stick around then ... although I don't see the p–"

"It's a deal then," the girl interrupted me, "I'm off to scout out the forest. I'll be back soon and then we'll have that chat about the raid. Don't get bored now."

After finding myself alone, I tiredly sat by the tent and let out a subdued howl, not wishing to disturb Slate. How could it all start out so well and end so stupidly?

"So it's just the two of us now, eh?" After some time Slate came out of the tent and sat next to me. "You're a free citizen and are certain to return from the Grey Lands. ... Can you please take this to my family ...?" With these words the Prince handed me the round shield that he’d received from the Guardian. "For my race this is a very important object and if it's returned, I will be given back my rightful place in the tribe. I will become Princess's equal and the Emperor will no longer have a reason to forbid our marriage ... ."

Update to the 'Escorting the Prince' quest. Return the ritual disc to the Werebeasts, even if Slate dies.

Reward: none.

Penalty for failing or refusing the quest: none.

Time limit for completing the quest: 2 months 23 days.

"You're a bit pessimistic about making it out of here alive," I replied to the Werebeast, taking the disc, "Why don't we send you back to Anhurs, while the raid hasn't gotten very far."

"No!" Slate firmly rejected my idea, "What kind of a Prince would I be if I took fright and abandoned the person whom Tisha asked me to protect? I don't need to fear permanent death, since – while I was still back in the palace – the Emperor put the Death Seal on me. In four months' time the Priests will bring me back, but for my people that is too long. The disc has to be returned before that."