Steamforged Sorcery - Chapter 27 (Patreon)

Angel’s search didn’t last long. He spotted a merchant under the shadow of a two story tent with a dozen mechanical parts on the carpet before him. There were a few people milling about the area, but they weren’t speaking with the man.

The tent beside the merchant had a steady flow of traffic going in and out of it, and the drunken yelling and laughter coming from within it made it quite clear that it was a tavern. Angel strode up to the man.

“G’day,” the merchant said, inclining his head. “Interested in something?”

“I’m looking for a Tinkerer kit,” Angel said. “Something for beginners. I don’t suppose you’ve got one?”

“You can get that kind of thing anywhere,” the merchant said, laughing as he stroked his bearded chin. “I wouldn’t keep the cheap things in stock if I didn’t sell so many of them to idiots who think they can teach themselves Tinkering.”

“Doesn’t seem like a wise thing to tell a customer trying to buy one,” Angel observed.

The merchant shrugged, shifting a large disc of metal to the side and rooting around some spare parts. He pulled out a small, stained pouch. It looked to be made of some form of synthetic leather. The man held it out to Angel.

He took it, popping open the buttoned top and glancing inside. There were a few bronze tools, all slightly tarnished by wear and age. However, despite the impurities, the kit seemed to be in good shape.

“This’ll do,” Angel said. “How much?”

“Two Vex.”

“It’s hardly worth one,” Angel said, clicking the kit closed and raising an eyebrow. “The rust will need to be removed or it’ll interfere with the magic. These tools need to be perfectly pure to avoid accidentally interfering with your work.”

The merchant sighed. “Something about the way you carried yourself told me that you knew what you were doing, but a man can dream. One Vex is fine.”

Angel took the coin out and tossed it to the man. It vanished into his baggy clothes and he gave Angel a wide grin that told the Seeker that he’d just overpaid for the set.

“Seeker, are you?” the merchant asked before Angel could leave.

“How’d you know?”

“All the artifacts you’ve got. That board on your back is a dead giveaway, not to mention that your arm is all wrapped up. You aren’t carrying a weapon, so you aren’t a Hunter. Tinkerers barely ever even leave their workshops, and they certainly don’t come to Silver Sands. Hence – Seeker.”

“Good assessment,” Angel said. “You’ve got me. Any reason why you care?”

“Just a warning,” the merchant said, his grin fading slightly. “You might want to take a look in the Hunter’s Guild. There’s have been reports of a Great Catacomb in the area.”

Angel swallowed. “Seriously? At the edge of the Barren? I thought they were usually more localized near the center?”

“Not this one. I haven’t seen it myself, but one of my partners did. The sand collapsed, forming a massive hole nearly the size of a small city. Swallowed a party right up, then closed right after.”

“That’s dire news indeed,” Angel said. “And certainly news worth following up on. Could you direct me to the Hunter’s Guild?”

The Hunter nodded over at the loud tavern beside them. “You’re standing next to it.”

“Ah,” Angel said. “Convenient. I appreciate the help.”

“No problem,” the merchant replied. “Enjoy your stay in Silver Sands, and keep it short if you know what’s good for you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Angel gave the man a nod and, after a moment of consideration, walked over to the large tent. He pushed the flap open, grimacing as the smell of strong spirits assaulted his nostrils, and stepped inside.

About a dozen people milled around the center of the tent, talking loudly. Most of them held large metal tankards in their hands. At the far end of the room, a short woman that couldn’t have been much older than Angel leaned against one of the tent’s supports. An apron marked her as either a waitress or the bartender.

Angel circled around the crowd, trying not to curl his lip in distaste. He reached the woman, who scanned him from the feet up in an instant. Her position shifted, revealing the hilt of a short blade at her side.

“Can I help you?”

“I hope so,” Angel said. “I heard rumors of a Great Catacomb?”

The woman pressed her lips together. “There have been some sightings of it. Don’t tell me – you’re a Seeker?”

“You aren’t the first person to have guessed that today,” Angel said, laughing. “And, before you ask, I don’t want to find the damn thing. I want to avoid it.”

She blinked. A grin tugged at the edge of her lips and she let out a breath. “Good. You have no idea how many stupid Seekers have come through here in the past week or two, all trying to find the Great Catacomb. It’s like watching a bunch of children run off to jump off a cliff because there might be some gold at the bottom.”

“It’s part of the job description,” Angel said with a shrug. “Normally, I’d be jumping off that cliff right along with them. Unfortunately, I’m currently preoccupied. Do you know what general area it tends to show up in? I don’t want to get caught unawares.”

“Mostly to the northeast of Silver Sands,” she replied, lowering her voice a little. “And I hope for your sake that you’re really trying to avoid it and not just tricking the answer out of me. I really don’t care either way, but it does weigh a bit on my consciousness knowing how many of you idiots are going to get themselves killed.”

“After you deal with enough Seekers, you’ll get used to us getting killed,” Angel said, his grin flickering. “As a general rule of thumb, don’t get too attached to a Seeker. It won’t end well.”

“Damn,” the woman said, brushing her apron off. “Sounds like you got something personal there.”

“Just old grievances,” Angel said, shaking his head and chuckling. “Thanks for the advice, miss. I’ll do my best to avoid the Catacomb for now.”