DYLAN & KARNNA

  “Thanks. We used to have better, but the Anvilhands kicked us out when our father and my mother died in a dungeon.”

  “My mother and father both died during a dungeon split. Gran took care of me for a couple of years, then she died and I went to an orphanage. Sometimes life sucks for a while, then it gets better.”

  “We should all sit down over ale and tell our life stories.”

  “I’d like that Karnna. We can call it a team building exercise.”

  “Tanner can I ask how you and Claire got so strong? Is it some secret training? If it is you don’t have to tell me.”

  “Not secret just hard work, really hard work. We will get you there too.” Karnna’s eyes gleam.

  Dylan rushes to his door and runs in shouting, “Ma I got you a healer. Ma? You hear me?” the rest hear a female voice telling him to calm down. She hears him. Karnna invites everyone in to the small rundown apartment. The spotless room is divided into a small kitchen in one corner. Open curtains are hung in the opposite corner, with a bed on each side. The room’s sole closed door clearly marks a bathroom. Three wooden chairs and a rickety table stand by the kitchen area. Despite age and disrepair, it’s impeccably clean. The one redeeming factor for the small apartment, crude shelves line the walls, filled with growing plants of all types.

  Rhys walks up to the ill woman and introduces himself, and begins asking her several questions about herself and her illness. “I would like to examine you, I have two young ladies with me that want to take up the healing arts. Do you mind if they are present?”

  “No, of course not. I hope they can learn a few things. The most private we can get is behind the curtain I’m afraid.”

  “No worries I will cast a privacy ward.” The woman leads the three to the bed she shares with her daughter.

  Penny tells Karnna, “your mother will be starving soon. If Rhys can heal her, we should make some food for her.”

  Karnna panics, “We have no food in the house.”

  Penny pats her on the shoulder. “Not to worry, I brought plenty. A little help in the kitchen please.” Penny and Karnna cook while the rest talk to Dylan.

  Dylan explains his mother is an herbalist, and she grew all the plants in the apartment. Their recovery and move were interrupted when she became ill and unable to work. Then she lost her job, and they were getting pretty desperate. “Ma wanted us to go to the school today. Made us go, really. We were going to try our luck getting a delver’s license. Ma gave us hell this morning about it, she was worried we would waste our scholarship. None of what happened today will get us money or put food on the table, but it is a hope for the future.” He smiles a little.

  Penny tells the young man, “We are always looking for talented people at the palace. If she has managed all of this while, she is ill. I believe we can find her a job with the healers. Rhys and I will also sit down with all of you and offer to sponsor you both while in school. This is not charity, it’s a loan and you will pay me back when you start delving. I will sponsor you for a few reasons. One, your Affinity is a Prime, and you have it ranked at Epic. Two, you are planning to join Claire and Tanner’s party. Three, I watched you today. You have been carrying a crushing weight for a while now and did not quit. You are both fighters. It’s very common for promising scholarship students to have a sponsor. You are very promising. This means I will help you out with your expenses. We keep track of moneys spent and owed. There will be a contract between us, witnessed by the dean and an imperial law enforcer. I will cover all expenses over and above your tuition fees. You will repay me from your delves until you have paid off the debt. If you are agreeable. Run this by anyone you like. Rhys and I sponsor several students, both new and older. Several banks, businesses, and individuals engage in this practice. Rhys and I always offer the best rates. The dean will also agree with that statement.” Penny pauses, thinking for a moment.

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  “You are now a minor noble. You will have to fulfill certain obligations as a minor noble. Claire will guide you. She will also help with the social aspects. We will meet tomorrow after your appointment to have your status sheets recorded. Rhys and I are also willing to meet with you Rasumun twins, for the same reasons. Lilli, the offer is open to you and your sister if you need it.”

  Lilli replies, “We can talk to dad about that. He’s got a successful business built up. I know Darton is expensive, Iris and I don’t want to burden him more than we have to.”

  Rhys dispels the ward and moves into the room. “Guys I need to talk to Karnna and Dylan privately. Please.”

  The gang leaves the apartment to wait outside. Penny squats on her heals and motions Lilli to join her. “So your father is Master Smith Jhaeros? I have been meaning to commission a sword and shield set from him.”

  Lilli tells her, “He is in high demand for that sort of thing. I don’t know how long you would wait but we can ask him when we stop to ask him about joining Claire’s party.” Lilli looks at the rest of her new friends and asks, “Who is the party leader anyway?”

  Claire and Connie look at each other and say “Tanner.”.

  Jackson nods his head and says, “Tanner.”

  Milly thinks for a second longer, then with a slight blush, says, “Tanner, he seems very confidant,”

  Mick nods, “I agree with sis.”

  Iris and Lilli exchanges looks in silence, then nod at each other. Lilli says, “Tanner it is.”

  Tanner looks at the others, “If you want me to I will but Karnna and Dylan need to agree also.”

  Penny nods. “That is fair. Have you talked about what your party make up will be? Also The classes you want can dictate your role and your party’s tactics, Your individual weapons choices can play a big role as well.”

  Tanner says to her, “One reason I want to visit the Combat Center, is to maybe get some advice for the others as far as weapons and fighting styles for the team. With luck we may get a couple of training spots.”

  Penny stands and claps Tanner on the shoulder. “Good plan, Claire has had some weapons training from all of the Imps but has not settled on anything yet. Jackson as a Utian I would think spear for you?” Jackson nods his head.

  “Father trained us.” Lilli answers, “Benicaw for Iris, Kawansice for me.”

  “I have never used or trained weapons other than a big stick to keep the livestock safe.” Connie gives a small laugh. “Pretty sure dungeon monsters would not be impressed.”

  Mick and Milly grin at that. Milly chimes in with, “We just carried a cudgel when we delivered goods. Never had to use them.”

  Tanner asks “Lilli what is a Kawansice? I am not familiar with that weapon name.”

  Lilli, eyes gleaming, laughs, “Elven long sword, single-edged, has a slight curve and a chisel point. The blade is for stabbing and slashing for the most part, although one made by my father can cut through a full grown Orc. The style I use has a blade a little over 3 feet long. Can be used one handed or two handed. The shorter ones are called Kawansace, they look the same only they are half the size. Those are often used in pairs. There is a large two handed version around six feet long that is called Kawansine. Kawan is elvish for sword.”

  Tanner, looking as eager as Lilli, says, “Got it, we should spar sometime. I practice the Menoct fighting arts.”

  Penny laughing says, “Get a room you two, who gets hot and bothered over weapons?”

  The rest of the group laugh as Karnna calls them back inside. The group reenters back into the apartment, the group still chuckling.

  Dylan asks, “What did we miss? Ma is going to be fine.”

  “Dylan I can speak for myself, Thank you.” Dylan’s mother says from the tabled where she is eating.

  Rhys, looking over the plants growing in the house, asks, “Mrs. Chainbreaker did you grow these?”

  “I did, I am a trained herbalist, I was just about to get us back on our feet when I got sick. Then lost my job. I told the kids to stay with the scholarship program no matter what. We would get things figured out.”

  Rhys tells her, “I see a few hard to grow herbs here. Arrive at the palace tomorrow you have a healing position. Housing provided. I have a brown thumb, everything I plant dies. I recognize some of these and they are difficult to grow under normal circumstances.”

  “That would be wonderful who do I report to tomorrow?”

  Rhys smiles and says, “Me, I run the palace's healing staff. Just report to the east gate. A page will be waiting to guide you. We can discuss all the details tomorrow. Our young charges want to talk you.”

  Karnna sits beside the hungry woman. “Ma, we have found a party we want to join. I know it is a big step, but we all have our Gates opened at Rare ranking, and all of us have Epic ranked Affinities. We will be a ten person party so as safe as delving gets. We both want this.”

  Claire steps forward and begins introductions. As she names the group members, they step forward and give a brief speech about themselves. Dylan’s mom questions their desires regarding life and the party. She agrees to sign their contract.

  After getting directions, Penny and the rest, stop to look over weapons in the market. Tanner and Jackson continue to follow Lilli and Iris home. The four young adults walk into the smithy, Lilli announces, “Dad we want you to meet someone.”