Realm of Monsters

Chapter 617: Trade District Outing

  The scent of potions, herbs, and an underlying hint of freshly clean sheets filled Aurelia’s room. Silence permeated the space, save for her quiet breathing and Stryg’s. He sat next to her bed and watched her still face as her chest rose and fell. He’d been in her room all night and the early light of dawn was beginning to peek through the windows.

  The white mages had done all they could for Aurelia. She appeared healthy, they said. But whatever wound the dragonbane’s void flames had inflicted on her had left its mark. She hadn’t awoken ever since that night.

  He wrapped Blossom around her, the white petals wrapping snugly around her. He hoped the cloak would help her like it had the night she almost died, but it seemed even the fairy’s cloak could not heal her.

  “I failed, mom. I tried to do what I thought you’d want. Protect the tribe, protect the people. But nothing seems to be going the way I hoped.” He grabbed her hand. “I wish you were here. You’d know what to do. I feel like everything I do keeps reminding me of how different I am, how unequipped I am to deal with— people. They all look at me like I’m some leader they’ve been waiting centuries for, but I’m just me. I’m just a goblin that keeps getting people killed…”

  Stryg bowed his head and sighed. “I’m really trying here, but I feel so out of my depth. What would you do?”

  He looked at his mother, hoping beyond hope that she would open her eyes and respond, but she lay still, sleeping in silence. Stryg glanced at the window. The sky was a blend of dark blue and orange in the light of dawn, but he could still make out the faint hints of stars. “Was it like this for you, Father? Did you know what to do when they looked at you for answers? Or were you as lost as I am? Or did you simply never care? About anyone? About me? I was defective, right? Unworthy. That’s what they all saw when they looked at me.” He closed and exhaled a deep breath, “Well, fuck you too then.”

  “Damn, I just came to check on you,” Plum winced from the doorway.

  “Plum? What are you—? Sorry, I was just talking to myself.”

  “May I come in?”

  He nodded.

  Plum stood next to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “Any change?”

  “No, she hasn’t moved. The white mages feed her elixirs to keep her body from wasting away, but that’s about it.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault. It’s mine.”

  “Stryg, you can’t blame yourself—”

  “She could have escaped on her own, but she protected me instead. All because I refused to retreat. So, yes, it’s my fault.”

  “The dragonbane is the one at fault and you killed it. Your mother would be proud. I know I am.”

  “If you knew what happened yesterday you wouldn’t be.”

  “I heard about the Cairn Tribe. Gale told me everything. She’s actually the one who told me where you were.”

  Stryg’s shoulders dropped and he hung his head in defeat. “You must hate me.”

  “What? Why?”

  “You wanted me to end this war and not massacre the Cairn, but that is exactly what ended up happening anyway. And now the Valley Tribes will never stop fighting. All because of me.”

  “Stryg, ugh,” Plum groaned. “You have a terrible habit of taking all the blame on yourself. Those fuckers back at your village blamed you for everything when you were a kid and you began to believe it was true, but it’s not. None of this is. You didn’t ask for any of this. But you still tried to make the best of the situation, that’s all any of us can do. You tried to make peace with the Valley Tribes. It isn’t your fault it all went to shit.”

  “So you’re not angry with me?”

  “I will be if you keep trying to take the blame for everyone’s problems.”

  “Noted,” he said, a little more energy in his otherwise despondent voice. “So what do we do now?”

  “In the long term? We face whatever challenges we can head-on. It won’t be easy, but you’re not alone in this, Stryg. Not anymore. You have a tribe that cares about you, please remember that. It’s okay to rely on others.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “Well, try. And as for right now? You should probably get some rest.”

  “I don’t want to sleep.”

  “Then at least get something to eat. Actually,” her eyes lit up with an idea. “As your official advisor, I order you to come with me.”

  “I don’t think advisors can order their lords around.”

  “Well, this one can.” She grinned, “We’re going shopping.”

  “Shopping?”

  “Trust me, it’ll make us both feel better. When was the last time you had a run through the Trade District? The bazaars are practically endless.”

  The two of them used to visit the Trade District all the time back when they were at the academy. Plum had introduced him to all sorts of delicious foods and various stores with all sorts of different wares he had never heard of before.

  “That doesn’t sound too bad,” he admitted.

  “Pfft. My sweet, naive, lord, I believe you’re missing the most crucial point.”

  “Oh? And what’s that?”

  “You’re rich now and we’re going to spend your money without holding back, baby! I’ve always wanted to try everything in Whimsy Honey but we could only ever afford one or two of their sweets.” 

  “You always got a slice of their pies,” Stryg recalled.

  “Not anymore. Today I’m going to finally put my theory to the test!”

  “And what theory is that?”

  Her lips curled in a smug smirk. “Can someone get drunk on sugar. Wanna find out?”

  He cracked a smile. “Yeah, I think I’d like that.”

~~~

  “I can’t eat another bite.” Plum wobbled from side to side and held her stomach with a grimace. “You’re going to have to go on without me. Remember me. Tell all the beautiful men and women my story.”

  They had just walked out of another sweets shop and Plum had ordered another crate of sweets to be delivered back to the manor, all the while tasting everything she could get her honey-covered fingers on.

  Stryg gave her a flat look. “You’re fine.”

  “No, I think I’m gonna be sick.” Her grey cheeks looked a little blue.

  “I can help if you want.” He raised his hand.

  Plum straightened up. “Yes, please. Gods, it’s nice to have a healer as a friend— uagh!?”

  Stryg stabbed two fingers into the back of her mouth. She coughed and abruptly began vomiting all over the sidewalk. Stryg stepped back, careful not to get his cloak dirty. He had left Blossom back with his mother. Stellan Gale had immediately offered Stryg his cloak when they had left the manor.

  “You fucking asshole,” Plum said between heaved breaths.

  “Healing magic can’t fix a bloated stomach. Let me see.” Stryg lifted her chin and cast a simple Torrent spell. A small stream of water manifested around his finger, and he guided it across her mouth, wiping away any remnants of vomit. “There, feeling better?”

  “My throat burns from the acid you made me vomit.” She glared at him.

  Stryg channeled White and placed his hand over her neck. She sighed in relief after a moment and her tense muscles relaxed.

  “Better?”

  “Better.”

  “Good, now where to next?”

  “Hm, well, we already visited the wineries and several enchanter and blacksmith shops… So next is— Jewelry!”

  “Lead the way.” Stryg gestured ahead of them.

  Plum grinned and skipped her way down the street. 

  “She is a cheerful one,” noted Stellan as he walked up to Stryg.

  “She’s different from anyone I’ve ever met,” replied Stryg.

  “Is that why she’s your friend and advisor?”

  “She’s my first friend. She befriended me when no one else would.”

  “Ah, a true genuine soul,” Stellan nodded.

  Stryg glanced at the vampire and the several cloth-wrapped packages he carried in his arms. “Thanks for carrying all our stuff, I know it’s not your usual task as my bodyguard.”

  He made a wry expression. “It is my fault. A simple miscalculation on my part. Next time, I’ll bring a porter or two along. We should hurry, my lord, she is getting away.”

  “I have her scent, I won’t lose her.” Stryg walked into the crowded street and made his way to Plum. Stellan followed from a respectable distance, content to watch and not interfere unless necessary.

  They had already been shopping for hours and the sun was hanging high in the noon sky. Stryg had taken to buying gifts for the people in his life. 

  For Rhian, he bought her a spear, her recently favored weapon of choice. She had been training with Jahn ever since he had displayed his martial prowess in the Gale training ground. 

  He had bought Jahn a pair of enchanted bracers and Aurelia a beautiful blue silk scarf. His mother would have preferred a more practical gift, but she was in a coma, and there was little she could use. At least a scarf would keep her warm in the coming colder months. Not that she ever left her room, but Stryg liked to crack her windows open to get some fresh air in.

  As for Karen and the Cinder Tribe, Stryg had ordered a crate of sweets. He found a very interesting book on Blue Storm magic in a mage’s shop and picked it up for Nora. Though she had never officially married Clypeus, Stryg still considered her his sister-in-law. He hoped she would like the gift. Stryg was still trying to figure out what to get for Kamilo and Lunae. What did one gift a baby and a goddess?

  Gale and Uncle Gian had been easier. Plum had shown him a winery and Stryg had picked up a couple of expensive bloodwine bottles. Stryg had even picked up a bottle for Loh, though he wasn’t sure how he’d get around to gifting it to her. 

  Loh had hurt him in ways no one else ever had. Stryg had trusted her, believed in her, loved her. She was his mentor, the older sister he had never had. Though he supposed the last part was no longer true. But what still rang true, despite how much he tried to ignore it, was that he missed Loh. 

  Plum’s words today had reminded him that Clypeus’ death was not Loh’s fault, Marek and Nokti had killed him, and they were both dead. Nonetheless, Loh held some of the blame, and she had hid the truth from him. Even if the lie had been her grandfather’s order, the betrayal had still cut deep. And yet, Stryg found himself missing her. The last few weeks had reminded Stryg how little was truly promised. Loh and him had spent so much time together and now she was gone from his life. The two of them were in a strange place right now, it was fragile, but the connection was still there, and he didn’t want to let it go. Stryg wasn’t sure what to do. He hoped a gift could help.

  The last three gifts for Maeve, Tauri, and Feli were a little harder or simpler, depending on how one looked at it. He had no idea what to get them, the three were all so different, but Plum insisted on buying them jewelry. Stryg didn’t know if they’d care, Feli might, but Tauri had been raised in a martial House full of warriors. Tauri enjoyed going to balls and fancy parties, but she always preferred to dress practically for everyday life; he couldn’t recall seeing her wear any jewelry outside of noble gatherings.

  Maeve on the other hand was always dressed in gold and precious stones. The merchant queen never left her home without it. Stryg didn’t think she’d notice one more trinket added to the gallery of jewelry she already owned.

  Nonetheless, he let Plum take the lead in their shopping. If the three didn’t like the gifts, Stryg could always blame it on Plum.

  As he walked through the streets of vendors, a particular stall caught his eye. On display was an assortment of trinkets and random goods with no particular order, but there was one that stood out to him. A small emerald pendant in the shape of a fox’s head.

  The owner seemed asleep; leaning back on his chair that seemed about to fall. But he stirred when Stryg approached and sat up. He brushed his grey beard and tilted his hat back, revealing an old goblin with a missing eye. “Welcome to ‘The Bauble & Bane.’ What can old Fenwick do for ya?”

  “That pendant, where did you get it?” Stryg asked.

  The old goblin’s green lips split in a toothy grin. Several teeth were missing while the rest were stained yellow and had seen better days. “Interested, ey? Well, do I have a story for you, laddie.”