Elven Blight: A Katrina Baker Novel 02 Read online

  Elven Blight

  A Katrina Baker novel 02

  Author: D. L. Harrison

  Copyright 2017. This is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, Places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Afterword:

  About the Author

  Other books by D. L. Harrison:

  Book Description

  Chapter One

  The water was hot, almost too hot, and I sighed in pleasure as the steam rose from bath. The bubble jets against my skin felt decadent, and would have been relaxing, if I hadn’t been concentrating so hard using aqua-kinesis to make this medieval tub into a massaging whirlpool tub.

  I gave up, and just enjoyed the heat instead, and tried to relax.

  It was the second bath I’d taken since getting back to Magehaven yesterday afternoon. Last night had involved a long boring debrief with the king, James the royal historian, and the mage advisor, Andrew. We’d gone over everything in detail, from when we’d left the city, to teleporting back after I destroyed the lich’s heart within the artifact.

  Gerard had minimized our capture, and the political implications during our debriefing. At first I thought he was trying to spin it, but I should have known better. Right now, he was going through a second debrief, alone. Apparently, since I didn’t work for the king, the political ramifications and implications wouldn’t be discussed in front of me.

  I’d be upset by that, if it hadn’t gotten me out of another boring debriefing session.

  I sighed, and used a little pyro-kinesis to warm the water back up, and started to clean up. It felt good, and the soaps in the palace were decent and had a nice scent. It almost felt like a bath back home. Almost.

  I felt the tears gather in my eyes, as a wave of grief overwhelmed me for a moment, until the sharp pain of it gradually passed, and a deep sorrow settled in its place. Things were slowing down. I didn’t have the end of the human race on this world on my shoulders, there were no emergencies, nothing that drew out my stubbornness and compassion, my need to help.

  My need to be a hero.

  The shock of winding up on another world also started wearing off, it’d been a couple of weeks now. I still missed Facebook, my phone, my friends, air conditioning, electricity, and plumbing. But this world felt… real to me now. It no longer held that surreal edge for me, and my mind had mostly adjusted. I was even used to at least the idea of being a paladin, even if the concept that the Goddess Arella loved me was still confusing.

  I didn’t think I was that lovable, especially by a goddess with powers that dwarfed my imagination, never mind my understanding.

  Not to mention the mages, clerics, witches, elves, dwarves, and monster races. Magic was real in this crazy world.

  In short, all of those things had contributed to a layer of insulation against the grief. I missed my world, technology, and friends. But I grieved for my parents. It physically hurt inside, and the only thing keeping me from completely flipping out, and becoming worthless was my very disciplined mind, and Gerard.

  Gerard’s love to be specific. As far as my mind, to control all my powers my mind had to be disciplined and controlled, or a lot of random and possibly bad things could happen. I was also a little freaked out by the fact that I was about to get married, at eighteen, to a man I’d met just two weeks ago.

  Granted, I’d spent every minute of it with him, and I’d seen into his mind and heart with my super powers, I was beyond sure he loved me, and that not only did I love him, but he was a good man worthy of that love. He was far from perfect, and rough around the edges, but his integrity and heart were beyond strong and true. I’d never felt or read anyone quite like him before.

  Plus, he was gorgeous, I was insanely attracted to him physically, and he felt the same way about me. Our mutual attraction had never been a problem.

  Still, eighteen.

  I wasn’t quite panicking, my heart and mind were actually on the same page for this, but my expectations from the world I grew up in said I was crazy and far too young. Okay, maybe I wasn’t used to this world yet.

  I took a deep breath.

  The sorrow turned into another wave of intense grief, and I let it roll over me. More tears. Was I doing the right thing trying to control it? Push it down when I had to? It’s what heroes did right? Suck it up while saving the day? I’d have made a terrible supervillain, but apparently, I made a half-way decent hero. If it could be called that on this world, where so often death seemed to be the answer. No lawyers or judges, just life and death decisions on the spot.

  Okay, accepting I was on another world, but I was still a mess inside my head.

  Life goes on, but that seemed trite and stupid to me right now. It didn’t even help that it was probable they’d lived long full lives together, and died of old age.

  My grief wasn’t about them, grief was a natural but selfish emotion, it was about me missing them in my life. I was more than clean, so I stood and stepped out of the tub, and used aqua-kinesis to leave the water behind in the tub. I needed something to focus on or I’d go nuts, and drown in what ifs and grief. I had a list of things to do that Gerard suggested I take care of this morning while he was closeted with the king, James, and Andrew.

  I sighed, no deodorant in this world either. My only consolation was I’d be a lot cleaner than most other people. I picked out one of the perfumes available in the guest room, and put a little on my wrists.

  I slipped into my clothes, I’d chosen to wear the green dress that Gerard really liked, in anticipation of our wedding later. I looked into the mirror as I brushed my long reddish blonde hair, my puffy red eyes were already going down, a benefit of super healing, not even grief would leave a mark. I pushed that all down and stared at my holy sword. It was a longsword, and the scabbard was rather fancy. Most paladins walked around in armor all the time, at least the men did. I hadn’t met a female paladin yet.

  Still, the sword would look ridiculous to belt on around a dress, so I settled for just slipping my knife into the boot sheath. The bottom of my dress covered it, but with TK it was still very accessible. I was fairly sure I wouldn’t run into any undead in the city, so I should be good. Then I left my room, and navigated my way through the castle and out the front doors.

  I partially closed my empathic sense, the further I got away from the castle, the busier the streets were. I could still feel the emotions around me, but they were greatly dulled, like the background noise of all the conversations around me were to my hearing. I’d still be able to detect a threat, since it would stick out like a yelling person in the street.

  It was a beautiful day out, the sun was bright just above the eastern horizon, and the air had a crispness to it, without being too cold. I pushed down the wave of grief that came for me, grieving was a private thing, and I wouldn’t break down in public. My hand, perhaps unconsciously, reached up and caressed the
silver medallion right below my throat, the holy symbol of the Goddess Arella, and it helped to soothe me.

  I reached the end of the noble quarter, the market was before me, the temple district to my right, and I turned left into the merchant district. There were a few high-end stores in this part of the city, among rather nice housing. Jewelers, a mage shop, a bank, and a high-end tailor shop for rich merchants and the nobles. A few nice places to eat, and there was even a theatre. Everything else I’d have to go get at the regular market which ran all the way to the southern gate of the city.

  I went into the bank first, with a tentative smile on my face.

  The man behind the counter gave me a measuring look.

  He said gruffly, “What can I do for you miss?” as if I was obviously in the wrong place.

  “I need to open an account.”

  He frowned, “The bank is used for the convenience of merchants, for high cost transfers of goods and money.”

  I already knew that. Gerard had explained most people didn’t use banks, as they only ever had enough coin to buy what they wanted from stores in the market. But for large scale transactions for hundreds of gold, or more, people used the banks and script notes. It was easier than carrying around all that gold, and being a target for thieves.

  I smiled as I thought about all the pieces of obsidian crystal in my leather pack. Gerard said the stuff was like crack to mages. Well, he didn’t really say that, but that was how I translated it in my head. They didn’t have crack on this world, thank the gods. Regardless, I’d be very rich, if I could get this idiot to let me open an account that is. I could feel waves of annoyance rolling off the man. Apparently, I wasn’t dressed richly enough, or something. Maybe I was too young?

  “I’m aware of that sir, that’s why I need the account. Can you help me, and explain how it works please?”

  He said, “Fine, ten gold is the cost to open an account with us.”

  He looked at me smugly, until I pulled out ten gold and stacked them on his counter. Then he smiled at me as he realized his mistake, but it didn’t reach his eyes. The old guy was a real grump.

  “I see, well then let me explain how it works.”

  He turned and opened a drawer, and withdrew a silver object with what looked like a diamond on the end of it. It was also suspiciously shaped like a pen. When he held it out, I took the pen carefully.

  “Don’t be alarmed, I need to pair the device with you.”

  Then he stared to cast a spell, strange words fell from his mouth as he moved his hands in patterns. I was a bit surprised, he wasn’t dressed like a mage. Then I felt the object tingle in my hand, as he finished the last few words.

  He finally explained, “The enchanted object is tied to you, and can’t be used by anyone else. How it works is one person will fill out a short bank script form with their enchanted writing device from the bank. Then you have thirty seconds, or the other person does if you write it out, to sign the same piece of parchment. If it isn’t done in that time window, the magic fades and the script is void. If you do sign, the magic will recognize the other enchanted object’s magic, and bind the agreement. That way we avoid fraudulent scripts, and it will be impossible for someone to steal from your account.

  “Just bring any scripts back here, that is always the seller’s responsibility, since the money would be going to the seller it just makes sense. The bank charges a quarter of a percent on every transaction.”

  That wasn’t bad, they got one gold for every four hundred. I could live with that, and imagined it would be far more expensive to deal with moving large amounts of physical gold around. Wagons, horses, feed, a driver, it would all add up.

  I held up the pen, “How long does it last?”

  He replied, “It’s very complex magic, but also not much of a draw magic wise. The magic stored in the diamond will last three or more years with normal use. That said, we recommend you come into the bank at least once a year for a recharge, which is free and only takes moments. However, if you lose the writing instrument, or its stolen, it’s ten more gold to replace.”

  I frowned, “But the thief couldn’t get to my funds, right?”

  He nodded, “That’s right, but the diamond could make a thief four or five gold from a fence, so that fact won’t stop a thief from stealing it if you leave it out, or unsecured.”

  Good point, I blushed feeling rather stupid. Just more proof that I’d make a terrible supervillain. I slipped it into the hidden compartment of my leather bag.

  He had me fill out a form, a very short one, and affixed it to an empty ledger. That was it, bank account opened.

  “Wait,” I’d thought of a question, “If I lose this or it’s stolen, how do you prove its me before issuing another enchanted pen… I mean, writing instrument.”

  He smiled genuinely, for the first time he didn’t seem impatient or grumpy, “Good question, most folks never ask. The custom spell I cast, which is only known to mages that work in the bank by the way, also affected the ledger we’ll use to track your transactions. It will recognize you, and only you.”

  That… magic was kind of cool. At least the kind that wasn’t a fireball aimed in my direction, or the dead coming to life to consume the world. It made me curious to visit a mage shop and browse, but I had enough on my list already today.

  I said thanks, and left the store, and made my way over to the jewelers. I couldn’t sell the obsidian directly to the mage store, even if I’d get more gold skipping the middle man. The obsidian needed to be cut up into precisely measured gems first, before it would be useful. Still, I wasn’t that worried about it, or that greedy.

  The jeweler smiled at me, and I could feel she meant it, it also reached her eyes.

  “Hi, I’m Marney. What can I do for you?”

  I knew from what Gerard said, that I shouldn’t try and sell it all at once, just what was in my pack would last a very long time. I pulled out two of the smallest pieces, which were the size of rocks about one inch in diameter. I had at least twenty times that volume in my bag. Eventually, I’d need my own place, so I could buy a larger wardrobe, but of course that would have to wait.

  I just hoped Gerard wasn’t thinking he’d have me in the castle with him, as a wife I supposed it was possible, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to live there. I wanted my own space, and to install plumbing. It was something else we just hadn’t discussed yet.

  “Nice to meet you Marney, I’d like to sell these.”

  I saw her eyes widen, but she recovered quickly and a mask dropped over her face. Not that it helped, I could feel her excitement and avarice. She picked up the stones one at a time, and examined them with a monocle. I cheated a bit, not wanting to get ripped off, and let my telepathy out, just to read her surface thoughts.

  She looked up at me, “I can give you two thousand for them.”

  I froze, and knew she wanted to cut each one up into five obsidian gems, which would go for one thousand gold a piece. Which meant she was trying to make a five-hundred percent profit on the turn around. Greedy.

  I replied firmly, “Five thousand, and not one gold less. We both know you can make twice that, so agree or I’m gone.”

  I probably could have held out for more even, but that was more gold than I could spend in years, and I had twenty times that to sell when I did run out. Not to mention the whole obsidian castle I could teleport back to. I was willing to give her a great deal, but I wasn’t willing to be ripped off.

  She frowned, but after a paused she finally said, “Done. Give me a moment.”

  She went into the back for a moment, and came back out with the enchanted bank writing instrument, and filled out a bank script. I read it to verify she’d written five thousand gold in the payer part of the script, and then signed the payee line.

  That had been easy.

  I said goodbye, and headed back to the bank. I enjoyed the look on the old man’s face when I handed him the script. It didn’t take long for him to modify two of the l
edgers, and I walked back outside a very rich woman…

  Chapter Two

  I felt a surge of paranoia as my mind did the math. The obsidian I had in my pack was worth about a hundred thousand gold coins. A gold coin was about a quarter ounce, which meant twenty-five thousand ounces of gold. To put it in perspective, in my world that was worth about thirty million dollars.

  Of course, gold wasn’t worth the same here as it was on my old world, but it was close. Most stuff like soaps, food, clothes, and other basic necessities, gold was actually worth more. But for stuff like swords, and other things that took a high amount of effort, it was worth far less. A decent stainless-steel knife on my world could go for ten bucks, but here it went for the equivalent of ten thousand. There were no mining machines, or factories. It was all done starting with picks and shovels, and finishing with hours of work at a forge by a professional blacksmith. A lot of effort, and a lot of people to pay along the way.

  Still, it evened out.

  Point was, I felt like I was wearing a big sign that said mug me. Not that I was truly afraid of a common thief, or thought anyone could possibly know what I had in my pack. It was the principle of the thing, it was stupid to walk around with thirty million dollars in a backpack. Period.

  Hell, they’d probably mug me if they knew I was carrying just the ten gold.

  It would probably offend the king to hear it, but I wasn’t excited about the possibility of leaving it in his guest room either. It was probably safe there, but I couldn’t be sure. While stupid, it was probably safest right where it was, at least, for my current understanding of this world. What I really needed was a home with the equivalent of a wall safe, or something like a safety deposit box at a bank. I needed advice though, and Gerard would probably be busy for the rest of the morning at least, if not into the afternoon. The sun was still low on the eastern horizon, it hadn’t taken long to run those two errands.

  Was it pathetic that I missed him? I’d woken up with him just two hours ago.

  I thought of Danielle after Gerard, for being a good person to ask, it would kill some time, and she was also supposed to help me with those paladin classes, although I’m sure they didn’t call them that. I still had a lot to learn about my new world, and where I fit in it.