Torwin stood on a stone patio, hands on his hips, and glared out over a flower garden flanked by two big shade trees. Wood benches stood over the flower beds on the edges of brick paths, and everything was in full bloom. Small bees flitted from flower to flower, their gentle buzzing almost hypnotic.

And of course Velik couldn’t just sit still for an hour and enjoy it.

The young hunter was nowhere to be found, because of course he wasn’t. He almost seemed to delight in making everything difficult. It was a shame, because Velik had tremendous potential to do a lot of good for the world. It was clear he had a passion for defending humanity from the monsters—a quality a lot of hunters lacked—but at the same time, he seemed to hate actually having to talk to another human being.

Torwin tried to be understanding. Velik had basically raised himself in the woods and spent his childhood fighting monsters while being ostracized by the community that should have cared for him. Having a few hang ups was perfectly reasonable. That did not make it any easier to deal with the kid.

He turned to walk back into the huge house Jensen had rented out, probably at a price Torwin did not want to know. Even cut off from his father’s money, Jensen still had no scale for what a normal person considered a reasonable expenditure. Just as he touched the door handle, he heard the snap of a stick.

Rolling his eyes, Torwin turned around to see Velik standing in the middle of the garden, holding a dried stick in his hands. He’d broken it to get Torwin’s attention. “Are you training [Stealth] now?” the old [Ranger] asked.

“I don’t have it anymore. It folded into another skill a long time ago,” Velik said. “I just wanted to see how good your own perception skills were.”

“Not good enough, apparently. You were hiding in one of the trees?”

“On the other side of the trunk, half way up.”

Velik must have held his breath the entire time, too, because Torwin hadn’t heard anything. And he could from that close. If he’d walked out into the middle of the garden, he’d probably have heard Velik’s heartbeat. I’m getting too old, he thought. Amateur kid sneaking up on me like that.

“Impressive,” Torwin said, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. “You’re going to need that where we’re going.”

“We’re going somewhere?” Velik asked. “I don’t remember agreeing to that.”

“Oh, you’re welcome to stay behind, but I thought you might want to join me.”

Velik scowled at him, then begrudgingly asked, “Going where?”

“Remember how you wanted to travel to Slokara, to the Verdant Belt?”

“Because of that flesh beast, yes. But the country closed its borders.”

“They did,” Torwin agreed. “And they still haven’t opened them.”

“But you’re going anyway. Maybe one of the mountain passes? Dangerous, but you’re willing to risk it. Someone found something out, something that makes it worth taking a chance.”

Can’t say he’s not smart when he wants to be. Too bad he’s not motivated to be this clever when he deals with the guild.

“One of Sildra’s new druids gained an interesting skill. I’m not clear on all the details, but apparently it’s some kind of targeted search skill, kind of like [Treasure Hunter]. The difference is that it doesn’t look for lost valuables. It’s something to do with monsters or dungeons or something. Anyway, the point is Aria was able to work in tandem with the guy and they started poking around the Verdant Belt for you.”

Velik leaned forward. “They found something?”

“They think so. If they’re right, it’s a dungeon seed. A live one. Getting hold of it would give us a chance to study it, maybe learn something from it.”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“When do we leave?” Velik asked.

“As soon as you’re ready. I’m already packed. I was just waiting for you to get back so I could extend the invitation.”

“Let’s go.”

Torwin blinked. “What? Right now?”

“Right now,” Velik said.

“Well, alright. I’ll have to stop by the room I rented to grab my pack, then we can go.”

* * *

“I’ll try to have your money for you when you get back,” Jensen said. “Depending on how long it takes. I’ll have something at least.”

“I’ve already told you that it’s fine. I’ve got plenty of money and I don’t need more right now. Just pay me when you can.”

Jensen gave up. Velik was just like that. “If you’re sure. I’m not going to keep arguing with you to get you to take your own money. Let me know when you need some, and I’ll make sure you get paid. Oh, or if you’ve got time, we could go set up an account and I could deposit the money in that for you. Monthly payments?”

“Maybe later,” Velik said.

That was code for ‘never,’ Jensen knew. Velik wasn’t interested in putting his decarmas in a bank because, well… because he was Velik. He didn’t care about the money, and the idea of leaving it behind for someone else if he died had probably never occurred to him. Jensen couldn’t understand it.

“Alright. Just the maps and the counterfeit identification, then?”

“Unless you can get legitimate border passes?”

“I cannot. Even the fake ones aren’t going to do much good. Any competent soldier is going to try to haul you in for questioning at minimum.”

“We’ll probably just avoid cities and towns then,” Velik said, utterly unconcerned with the idea of being captured or killed by foreign soldiers.

“You know Ghestal doesn’t have a monopoly on powerful people, right? People like Emberson are rare, but there are still at least a hundred of them, especially here in the capital where the royal guard is stationed. You’re not always going to be the strongest guy in the fight.”

“I’ll worry about it if it happens. I’m not really looking to pick a fight with random humans, anyway.”

“Just… Just do me a favor and let Torwin take the lead, okay?” Jensen said. “I’d like to see you come back from this in one piece.”

“You don’t really need me anymore,” Velik said. “I’m sure you’ve got enough money now to fund the next expedition without my help.”

“That’s not the point, you jackass. Despite everything, I… I do think of you as a friend, you know? We’ve helped each other a lot. I want you to succeed.”

“Oh.”

Jensen rolled his eyes and shoved the papers at Velik’s chest. “Get out of here. Good luck. Come by when you get back and let me know that you’re still alive, will you?”

* * *

They didn’t actually leave Ashala until the sun was going down, despite Torwin’s promise that he only needed half an hour to settle business. Upon questioning where Velik’s supply bag was, the old hunter had discovered the existence of the spatial storage bracelet. After securing a promise to loan him some of the space, Torwin had promptly gone on a shopping spree.

The assumption that he’d be purchasing extra rations or spare quivers of arrows was quickly shattered, and now the bracelet was loaded down with no less than eight casks of high-quality ale, the kind of stuff specially brewed to work on someone with an abnormally high physical rating. Velik wasn’t cheap by any means, but the price tag associated with those casks was appalling.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” Torwin asked.

“Are you?” Velik shot back.

“I’ve got what I need,” the old man said, patting a flask tucked into the pocket of his coat. “Even got enough to share. You’ll appreciate that in a few days.”

Doubtful.

Velik kept that thought to himself. His own preparations had included a resupply on food to stave off the need to forage so they could make better time—not a necessity, but since Torwin was dragging him all over the market anyway, Velik had decided to take advantage of being there. Beyond that, he’d picked up some cheap healing potions and antivenoms. He’d also purchased three blue glowing potions that promised to help him recover his mana with the intention of drinking one should he need to go into a tough battle in wolf form.

The final thing was something Torwin had brought with him: two outfits in local Slokaran style. That was safely tucked away in spatial storage, as well. It wouldn’t be needed for the first half of the journey. Velik wasn’t sold on wearing that, though. His own outfit was heavily enchanted and he was reluctant to give up what was essentially a cloth suit of armor that also protected him from heat or cold.

“Are you sure you’re up for an all-nighter?” Velik asked.

“Please. Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m not that old,” Torwin said. “Just try to keep up.”

Velik glanced at the setting sun, just now touching the horizon. “Oh, I don’t think that’ll be a problem.”

Torwin followed his gaze and snorted. “Cheater.”

“Better claim the early lead while you can,” Velik advised.

“I would, but you’d just get lost if I’m not there to keep you on the trail.”

“Now that sounds like a challenge.”

Torwin opened his mouth to say something, then looked past Velik toward Ashala’s gates and frowned. Velik turned to follow his gaze, but there was nothing unusual in sight. Before he could ask Torwin what the problem was, he heard the sound of feet slapping against the road and the old man cackling as he sprinted down the road.

“Son of a bitch!” Velik yelled as he dashed after Torwin. “And you call me a cheater?!”

“If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying hard enough!”