QuestWright BK2 C14: Rescue Plan(II) (Patreon)

It took another minute to convince the healer that not only did she not have brain damage, but that she could also leave of her own free will. After what felt like far too long in her mind, the woman told her where to find Bella.

Traveling across the city was a callback to a torrent of emotions she couldn’t put words to. People cried over lost loved ones, grievous injuries, or just lost business and the need to rebuild. It was more than a little heartbreaking, and for the second time in twenty-four hours, she turned off Observation.

But as she finally made it to the Guildhall stables, the sounds inside brought a smile to her face.

Bella’s stall was a study of equine anger as she kicked out at a profoundly sturdy gate. It seemed that the stablehands had decided that latching it wouldn’t be enough. Several heavy items had been placed in front of the oft-dented wood, blocking the gate from moving in the slightest. 

As Adya approached and their emotions began to bounce off of each other, miraculously, she calmed down.

Rage, fear, anxiety, lots and lots of rage, Adya concluded. I feel you, girl.

Outloud she said, “We’re going to go get him.” When Bella hit the gate again, as if calling her a liar, she tried to inject more confidence into her voice. “I’m serious. You and I are going after him. There’s no way in hell we’re letting the capital, or the Sovereign, or anyone else just take him away.”

The draft-horse stopped attacking the gate and looked at her. There was still a sense of distrust in her eyes, but after a long staring contest, she whuffed and nodded once. Adya couldn’t read her the way Cass could, but a nod was a nod, and she took that as confirmation.

Moving the objects out of the way, however, was not a smart endeavor. Her body was despairingly weak at the moment, and no matter how she pushed, the blockade didn’t budge.

Not like that would stop her from trying.

Still leaning against a large metal box, she was shoving with everything she had when, suddenly, it began to move. Pushing it over to the next area, where a wide-eyed horse kept its gaze fixed on the stall next to it, she stopped. But it didn’t.

The box moved two more inches before she realized someone was next to her. He straightened up and looked at her with dark shadows under his eyes and blood staining his clothes.

“Adya, right?” Gary said with a frown. “Why are you here?”

He’s Cass’s best friend since they were kids. He has a right to know.

She took a short breath of air, “I’m going after him.”

“Who, Cass? How’re you going to find him? Everyone’s looking right now, and I haven’t heard a peep.”

Adya hooked a thumb at the stall, “She can find him.”

Gary, of course, didn’t look convinced, “Hah, very funny.” She didn’t blink. 

“Come on, there’s no way that a horse…oh, you’re serious. You think Bella can bring us to Cass?” When he looked at the draft-horse, she nodded once at him. 

Rolling his eyes, Gary glanced at Adya again. “You really think she can find him? One hundred percent guaranteed, no reservations held?”

Taking a breath at the scope of what she was about to say, Adya squared her shoulders and stood up straight, though it hurt her ribs something fierce.

“Yes. Together, we can find him and get him the hell out of whatever situation he’s in. I’m sure of it. He’d do the same for us, I have no doubt about that. Wherever he is, I’m going there.”

“Then I’m going with you.” The big man replied. “You’re not going to do it alone, and you could use my help.”

“No offense, Gary. But you’re a Baker.”

“That’s right, I am,” Gary confirmed. “A Baker who killed twenty-eight monsters last night.”

It was Adya’s turn to look unconvinced. “I’m sorry. I know last evening was terrible, but there’s no way a Baker killed so many monsters.”

“You should tell the System that, since my Monster Sense went haywire the moment I got it, and the title that comes with it. Even if you say no, I’m still going to follow you. Aside from breaking my legs, you can’t keep me here. I’ll just be out there, wandering through the wild and tracking you down.”

Adya shook her head, “You live in the city, there’s no way you know how to track anything.”

Gary smiled, though it looked out of place considering his condition and the splashes of clear blood across his clothes, “Maybe not, but also maybe, if I figure it out, I’ll get another Achievement. The System’s funny that way. So, what do you say?”

Adya tried one last ploy, “Don’t you have people here you need to take care of?”

“Gladys is old, but she’ll rebuild the Golden Crust, and her nephew is about to get his Calling. It wouldn’t shock me if he got Baker, too.”

“What about family? I thought Cass told me your mother-”

“She didn’t make it.” Gary looked down and around, not meeting her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it, but it was mercifully fast.”

Adya placed her hand on his shoulder, “I’m sorry, Gary. Cass spoke fondly of her.”

He nodded, a ghost of a smile on his lips, “She liked him better than me. At least, that’s what he always said.” Something firmed within him. Adya turned Observation back on just in time to see it update Profile with a new label for the man. 

Stubborn.

“I’m going with you. Cass is the last bit of family I have. I won’t rest until he’s safe and back in Liora.”

Adya smiled, “Knowing him, he’s probably already neck deep in trouble, trying to find a way to save the world.”

“Hah, yeah. Hopefully, there aren’t any bullies wherever he is. That never goes over too well.”

Adya finally agreed to bring Gary on. From what she knew of him, he and Cass were like brothers. Making him follow on his own out in the wilderness was a surefire way to let him die. It was better to have him with her, where she could protect him, than otherwise.

Together, they moved the rest of the items blocking the way, then pulled Bella out of her stall. Neither of them had ever saddled an animal before, so with the help of the Guild Stablemaster, Delphine, she was all kitted out and very excited to leave. That’s when things hit a snag.

“What’s he going to ride?” The woman in the brown apron asked. “He’s a hefty boy. I don’t think you should two-time poor Bella, Draft-horse or not.”

“Ummm.” They said at the same time.

“Young people,” The Stablemaster shook her head and walked back into the stalls. A few minutes later, she came back out, a sturdy pale horse behind her, a saddle already on its back. 

“This is Champion. He belonged to a visitor who, I know for a fact, will never be here to take him back. I’m assuming, as you have Guildmaster Vale’s horse in hand, you’re planning on finding him?”

When both Gary and Adya gave her a blank look, she chuckled, “Word gets around, even here. Nobody knows where he is, but I’m thinking you two have an idea. Go on, take him, and grab some supplies from that shed over there. You’ll need ‘em. I’ll just take the cost out of Guildmaster Vale’s salary. He won’t mind.” 

She gave them a wink, then turned around and began walking away, “Good luck out there.”

They watched her go, glancing at each other, then Bella and Champion in turn.

“How nice of her,” Gary said as he grabbed the reins. “Never thought I’d have my own horse, or have to learn how to ride one.”

“Gary, I have a feeling we’re going to do a lot of things you never thought you’d do before this is all over. Come on.”

Gathering what Adya guessed would be needed for a long trip, as well as a set of saddlebags, they mounted up and began the ride out of the Guildhall. 

Bella was more than a little feisty, constantly trying to speed up, but Adya kept a firm hand and continued to whisper in the horse's ear. As for Gary, his large frame repeatedly flailed around on his horse, causing it to spook left and right as he tried to get a handle on horseback riding.

“Did you train in this?” He asked as they entered the Entrance Hall.

“A little. Dev, my mentor, thought it would be smart. Not a lot of living Scouts who’ve had to go long distances on foot. Horses are just faster.”

“It’s unnatural,” The big man complained, as he swung Champion again to the side, bumping a man walking by. “Sorry!”

As they broke out of downtown and entered the road toward the Forge, Adya took a breath of air. They were really going to do it. They were going to leave the city and save Cass. She couldn’t wait to see him, hopefully with no more parts of him missing.

Please be safe.

As they entered the area holding the western gate, Liora’s only System Engineer rushed toward them. He waved a hand, his face flustered and cheeks rosy-red.

“Hold on there, hold on!”

Bella gave him some side eye as the man bent over and caught his breath, “Why do you have Bella?”

“I can’t let him stay kidnapped, Pellin. I’m his Guardian.”

Bella whuffed.

“We’re his Guardians,” She amended. It was never a good idea to piss off the horse currently holding you so high off the ground.

“Can you take one more?” Pellin asked in all seriousness.

“No!”

“Sure!” Gary said right after. 

When she looked at him sharply, he shrugged, “I’m a Baker, and while you’re a Combatant, you’re also a Scout, not some beastly bastard. No offense, Bella. Having a few more people with us before setting off into the wilderness would probably be for the best, don’t cha think?”

Adya rolled her eyes, “And how is he going to get there?”

“Oh, Oh! I have a solution for that. Give me 5, no…twenty minutes. Just twenty more minutes, please!” Pellin said, waving a hand in the air. “I have some money!”

An hour later, four riders, including an exasperated Adya and Bella, left Liora. They were five minutes out of the city, the draft-horse’s nose pointing north, when she already felt like she’d had enough.

“Can you please be quiet! I’m trying to listen for monsters!”

“Hey!” Orla yelled back at her, not backing down in the slightest. “I’m the one funding this little trip, and I talk to myself when I’m figuring out business plans. So you can just keep your angry tirades to yourself while I try to come to terms with how we’re going to get any food where we’re going. Or hay!”

“Did we have to bring her?” Gary asked.

“I completely blame you,” Adya said with a glare. “Once you told Pellin he could come, I should’ve just left then and put you all far behind. There’s no way they’re going to keep up.”

“Please, Scout. I’ve been riding horses in caravans since long before you ever got your Calling. You should be asking yourself if you can keep up. Besides, you need me. I’m the money.”

“She’s the money,” Pellin confirmed from the rear.

“Exxxactly. And, besides, look at this.” She jiggled a series of saddlebags across her horse. “this is holding a bunch of goods that my father gave us for the trip. It’s literally FREE MONEY! He said something about Cass being a good investment, but I stopped listening when he brought up marriage. Anyways, this is our excuse for wherever we’re going. We’re a trade caravan, just minus the CART THAT WOULD’VE BEEN GREAT!.”

“We’re going to save Cass,” Adya said matter-of-factly, “and we’re not going to get there if you continue to be so loud. Having a cart would’ve slowed us down immeasurably. Better that it’s just four riders out on a stroll.”

“A stroll, she says. When monsters, portals, and dungeons could be around any corner.” Pellin offered.

“If you’re that scared, you can always turn back,” Gary said, getting a glare from Bella, Adya, and Orla at the same time.

“No, I’m in this now. Whatever happens, happens.”

“I don’t know how you all talked me into this,” Adya complained. “ Me and Bella would already be miles ahead by now if we’d just left on our own.”

“And how would you survive when you got there?” Orla asked. “Feed off the land? After the Reshaping? No! My hypothetical money will get us through this. You just see.”

“Are you really planning on starting an enterprise wherever we go?” Gary asked.

Orla nodded from atop her horse, “Look, it’s good business. Plus, Pellin has finally joined Common Solutions-”

“Did not.”

“And we’re going to make a killing selling the Whisprnet.”

“It’s not for sale.”

“And there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Adya looked at her, turning Bella even though the draft-horse only wanted to go faster, then looked at the rest of the troupe. “How many of you want to leave Orla behind and rush to save Cass with speed? Raise your hands.”

When every hand was raised, Orla snorted, “Fine, I’ll pipe down. But if I don’t have everything perfectly planned, you’ll be sorry. Cass could be anywhere, and if it’s one of the BIG cities in the Guild, you’ll be happy you brought Pellin and me along.”

“Just do your planning quietly, or you’ll find my threat to be one of action,” Adya confirmed with a glare, then she turned Bella back and pushed ahead of the group again.

While Orla mumbled to herself, semi-quietly, Adya looked at her notification again. It had been the first thing she’d seen when waking up that morning, but with Cass in danger, she hadn’t thought of it since.

[System Record- Subject: Adya Korring]

Status: Unaffiliated Scout

Age: 16

Level: 10

[SCOUT TIER UPGRADE QUEST UNLOCKED]

Required objectives:

Enter an active threat zone alone and gain vital intelligence: 1/1

Observe over one-thousand individuals: 1000/1000

Travel over 1000 miles on foot and by traversal abilities: 789/1000

Track a high-threat entity for over thirty minutes without engagement: 1/1

Slay ten monsters: 10/10

Optional objectives:

Fight while outnumbered and withdraw safely: 2/3

Correctly identify disguised threats: 2/2

Protect bonded partner from immediate danger: 1/1

Reach Level 50 in your Observation skill: 32/50

Fight while injured: 1/2

System note: All experience is held in abeyance until the Tier Upgrade Quest is complete.

Hopping off Bella, she held the reins loosely while jogging beside her. Gary pulled up next to her, already doing better on a horse, even if he winced every third step.

“What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry about it, Gary. Hey, let me know if you see a big group of monsters.”

“Why?”

“Just let me know, please.”

The big man mumbled that he would as his horse pulled away. Meanwhile, Adya counted her steps.

I’m…no, we’re coming, Cass. Just hold on.