Breaking the Rules Pt. 07

"I had some help with that re-ogre," Dayo said bashfully, tilting her head at Nuru.

"Credit where it's due, of course, but I'm certain you deserve most of it," Furaha said. "We both know he's no fighter."

"His lyena was, though. And to be honest, I wouldn't have taken it on had they both not been there."

"Was? Jaheem's alive and well, last I heard," Furaha said.

"Tusa's travelling with me now," Nuru said. "Jaheem's son. Jaheem is no longer my lyena."

"Ahaaa," Furaha nodded. "Younger, less experienced and levelled. Still, a good friend to have... and explains how you're not only not dead yet, but how everybody's so confused as to why that is. They've confirmed Jaheem has stayed behind, and can't believe you've made it on your own this long."

"Cripes. They're watching me? Like, right now?"

"You're not easy to follow, but let's be realistic, you're still a person of interest, and still making waves. They send somebody in after you're spotted somewhere and they're able to figure out that it's you, but they haven't caught up to you yet. I had my suspicions as well, and it's good to be proven right."

"This no-multiversal-travel thing is really going to doom me, then." Nuru frowned.

"Actually, I bet it's keeping you alive more than anything," Furaha said. "Travel service is all documented. Even if I was assisting you to cover it up, there's somebody at the other end keeping track, and they would know almost every move you make, geographically. All they'd have to do is watch the doors in and out of the travel offices. This way you've got to walk, but there's no way for them to know where unless they see you in person. They're going to be watching here once they figure out I'm still associating with you, which isn't an obvious move, but we can deal with that. I think it's about time for a few body doubles to start showing up in a few places. Just takes a bit of money or calling in a few favors."

"What are we going to do about flying mounts?" Dayo said. "They'll be able to track him for miles."

"Stick with the thick brush instead of the road. Also, use your own mount if it gets really dicey," Furaha said.

"Yeah, I don't know about that," Dayo said. "What do you know about my mount?"

"Enough to know it's a bit cramped," Furaha said. "Hope you're not claustrophobic, Nuru."

"What do you mean, 'cramped'?" Nuru said. "It's a mount. Cramped is for caves and buildings."

"We better get going," Dayo said. "I'll explain on the way. You said you had errands?"

"Yeah, I need some armor. Where's the best place to get a good codpiece?"

"Take care of him, Dayo. Don't make me come kick your ass," Furaha said with an unreadable look at Nuru.

*****

"So, why did you change your mind?" Dayo said. "We weren't supposed to meet up yet."

"Just wanted you along when I went out for this armor. Also figured maybe I could tag along and soak some EXP while you did your collecting."

"It's grindy, Nuru, I know you're not a fan of that."

"Maybe I just like watching you work," Nuru winked.

Dayo blushed again. "And what was with that message to Mesi while she was at the inn? We've already worked out a system, just drop it by my back door. Ace is allowed to know where I live."

"Uhm, so we're doing this open communication thing. Hoo boy. I will start by asking you a question. You know a guy named Chibale?"

The valkyrie stopped dead in their tracks. "I hate that-! Ahem. I don't work well with him. We necromancers sometimes get in each others' way. I've had occasion to learn that, with him."

"No need to soften it. We're friends, first and foremost, before anything your boss told you to do."

"I just... can't stand to be around him."

"Alright. So I sent you a note day before yesterday. He's the one that responded to it."

Dayo's jaw clenched angrily. "Did he say anything about why he was there in my place?"

"He said you were tied up with something and he was taking over."

"Typical. Always shoving his dick in where it's not wanted. Uh, metaphorically."

"Sanaa said it wasn't just metaphorical, maybe."

"That, too."

"Did he- you know what, nevermind. Not my business, open communication or not."

"Not to me, Nuru, we never so much as dated. But I've seen enough to suspect. Psh, you kidding me? I'd've chopped his nuts off, and he knows it."

"Leaving that unpleasant subject behind, he gave me the tour of his powers yesterday."

"Oh, shit, you went with him."

"Yeah, you told me I'd know the Chosen by the amulet, and it was about what I would have expected. Pretty impressive fight, I have to admit. He used some harpies to bag a griffin."

"And he didn't come back today?"

"Would have, but I told him I wouldn't meet him. He tried to insist and I weaseled out of it. Bet you anything he'll be back the moment I drop a note at your door, though."

"...why?"

"Why didn't I just invite him back? Because he didn't smell right. Literally, and figuratively."

"Literally?"

"Tusa says he smells undead."

Dayo blanched. "Gods below. Reinstated as a singular soul in his body? Did he seem conflicted or unstable?"

"No, he was pretty comfortable in his own skin."

"Chibale, a reaver; he just keeps lowering my opinion of him. But that means... someone is helping him. The undead aren't supposed to retain their identity, Nuru, it's the Rule of Three. The Chosen keep only the Elders fully distinct, and they're not allowed to take physical form anymore, not even as spectres, in order to satisfy the Rules. We use magic to speak with them to hear their wisdom. Tumelo won't allow otherwise; it's well established there are no exceptions. The High Factions get quite militant when somebody gets too close to flaunting the Hundred-Year Rule."

"I can't imagine he meant to die."

"No, and if he had a Resurrection arranged, he wouldn't smell any different. He'd literally still be alive. I don't like this; I don't like it at all. He's setting us up for a war we're not ready for."

"Can you talk to Onyekachi about it?"

"Nuru, I don't have a way to sugar coat this, so I'm just going to say it. There is no scenario in which he doesn't deny everything and I'm the one that comes out being the one causing trouble; Onyekachi never listens to anything he doesn't want to hear, especially from me. Chibale is, I am forced to admit, the ranking field adventurer in the Chosen, the grand puppetmaster; and Onyekachi's right hand man, if there is one. He's almost ready for spectresmith; we haven't had one of those since our last high archon died and Onyekachi ascended to take his place, long before my time."

"The hell is he doing running around with a Level Eleven, then? Doesn't he have better things to do?"

"A great question. I beg your leave to investigate as soon as your primary objectives are done, with the shopping and showing my powers if you still want to see that."

"I really do. Let's make it a proper raid, just the three of us."

"Three? Oh, with Tusa."

"He's getting bored, wants to see some real action."

"Could invite Ace if he's not busy."

"I have a feeling he will be for awhile. But I would like to see that sometime, if we can pull it off."

Dayo blew out a long breath. "So, shopping then?"

"Yeah. Chibale mentioned low-faction-friendly smiths or shops would more likely have something more aggressive I may be looking for."

Dayo glanced down at his groin and smirked.

"I know the place he means. Fucker just wanted the referral credit to lower his equipment costs. You don't mind if I have it, do you?"

"I insist you do, in fact."

"Awesome. Much appreciated."

"Lead the way. Oh, before I forget... what was that you said about your mount?"

"Huh. Speaking of snakes, yeah; first Chibale, and now my mount. It's... erm... a diresnake."

"How do you ride a diresnake? Or should I drop my pants and let you show me?"

"Hey now, we've got places to be," Dayo giggled.

"I know, I'm joking. Mostly."

"Also, you don't ride a snake on its back. The scaley kind, that is."

"So you... what, let it eat you?"

"Kind of. I really don't have it for riding, I have it for storage. I preserve the leftover bodies and revived creatures I don't need again that day in eggs, and the snake swallows and carries them around for me; if they get too old, the snake digests it. Technically, you can get in an egg yourself and travel but it's not fun."

"Does it fight, too?"

"It's not venomous, but it can bite. I prefer it not to join combat; it was hard to get that Mount Charm to stick permanently, I don't want to go through that again for another one if it dies."

"I bet; I have got to see that sometime. Not today."

"I'll add it to the list. Can that be after my investigation of Chibale?"

"I suppose. Alright, I see your eyelids drooping, I'll shut up now."

"Thanks."

*****

"Hey Adebowale," Dayo said.

"Mm, Dayo. Many nights since you have been here. You have found a new supplier, no?"

"Of course not. I've just been farming the lower-level areas and haven't needed anything new. I suspect that time will soon be over."

"But what about this set you are wearing? Quite expensive, and well-matched."

"Quest reward. Never you mind that. You know what my preferences are."

"Good news for our humble shop."

"I've brought you a new customer. Go on, tell him what you are," Dayo giggled at the creature, man-height but twice as wide, hairy, and thickly bearded.

"Hmph. Always with the heritage. Adebowale is half dwarf, and half troll," the yeti-like creature said.

Dayo burst out laughing at the look on Nuru's face as he tried to process the implications.

"No words are necessary," the creature said, rolling his eyes. "We know. If anyone does not wish to imagine that joining the most, it is surely Adebowale, whose parents they are. May we move on to business?"

"You're such a great sport as usual," Dayo said. "I'll be tipping you myself before we leave, as always."

"We have been the butt of many a jest. For it not to be mean of spirit is always a welcome change. Not that tips are refused."

"So, I need a good armored codpiece," Nuru said, regaining his composure.

"A codpiece, by itself? We hate to break up a set," the shopkeep said.

"Come on, there've gotta be plenty of people who skip that part of the set, you've gotta have extra," Nuru said.

"And so fewer of them are made to begin with. The sets are all the more rare and precious, and few extras to be found."

"Hate to or not, will you refuse my money?" Nuru said.

The shopkeep sighed. "No."

"Great! So, what do you have?"

"Nothing with stamina buff, we must first warn you."

"That's fine- oh. I see. Yeah, no worries on that front," Nuru chuckled. "Besides, wouldn't you have to remove it when you're needing stamina there, and thus render it pointless?"

"You'd be surprised how many people just want to brag," the shopkeep said. "Yes, armor buffs are instantaneous-effect only."

"Anyway. What's the gaudiest, most ridiculous one for sale?"

The shopkeep stroked his giant chin for a minute. "I know the one."

He rummaged in a back room for awhile and returned with an object vaguely resembling a small fruit basket with a carrot sticking straight out, with the end rounded off and straps on either side to go around the wearer's legs and torso. Nuru held it up anyway.

"Hmm. Festive, but I see it getting too much in the way," Nuru said.

"I'll take it," Dayo said.

"No, no, it's just too-" Nuru started.

"I didn't say 'we'll take it.' I said 'I'll take it'," Dayo corrected him.

"You? What do you need with...?"

"I'll explain later," Dayo said sheepishly. "Or... ask your friend."

"We did not realize Dayo has a girlfriend," the shopkeep rumbled pleasantly. "Or a boyfriend that...?"

"Times change, eh?" Dayo said.

"Truth. We shall find another piece to show you."

Nuru looked back and forth between them.

(Hey! What did I miss?)

/Oh, Nuru, Dayo's going to wear it and put it into Mesi like a cock. Maybe the other way around, once or twice. Technically she could use it on you, but I don't see you being into that. Keep an open mind though, will ya?/

"But then you won't be able to feel... ohhhhhhh. You can take turns."

Dayo winked at him. "We get pretty inventive. I didn't realize these things came this way or I'd have one already. Codpieces have been out of style for awhile, in favor of loincloths and fluffy trousers, so I haven't really thought about it."

"This is more typical of this armor type," the shop keeper said. "And here we have another tribute to excess."

He dropped a curved bit of metal, also with straps, on the counter. Then another one was a large bulbous assembly, painted black, with claw marks through the paint.

"Uh... just how gently used was this?" Nuru asked.

"We are told this was how it was commissioned," Adebowale said. "The commisioner wished to let everyone know at a glance that the contents were fought over by women like wild animals, I am told."

Nuru snorted. "I'm sure he wished a lot of things. This is too wide, I can't walk with it on."

"So, you wish to use this regularly? Practicality is of concern after all?"

"Yeah."

"And this one?" he indicated the second one he'd brought out.

"A little bit _too_ practical. It needs to, er, stand out. So to speak."

"Mmm. Mmmmmm. Mmmmm. Let us see what else we have."

He went back and rummaged for awhile.

"...What?" Nuru said.

"I didn't say anything," Dayo said.

"You're looking at me funny."

"I'm trying to decide if I want to know why you're looking for something barely practical, the male equivalent of a chain mail bikini."

"It's supposed to help with my thief problem. The one I met past the gate, you remember."

"Think it'll slow her down enough for you to get something from her?"

"Oh, I know better than to believe I'm going to beat her at her own game. It's more of a distraction, to give me time to get her thinking on a different track than killing me."

"You think she's going to shoot you in that spot?"

"Gods, I hope not. No, it's supposed to catch her eyes, remind her of things to do besides shooting me."

"Aha. Now I can't decide if I hope it's effective at that or not."

"Why?"

"Because it might work with me, too."

"Heh. Now I really hope it's effective."

"I'll remind you, next time I'm slow in battle and you get mauled, that it's your fault. I hear victim-blaming goes over real well."

"Maybe I'll get a loincloth to put over it, just for battles. The rest of the time..."

"Loincloths we have in abundance," the shopkeeper said. "Here, these are the two which might meet your needs."

One of them was fairly plain, but protruded substantially; the other was styled like the front of a ship, complete with the carving of a woman, except as a skeleton.

"What do you think? Eye-catching enough?" Nuru said, holding the skeletal one in the right place.

"No offense, it's *really* not your style," Dayo said.

"Yeah, I know," Nuru sighed. "Probably the one Chibale would tell me to get."

"New recruit?" the shopkeeper said. "Congrats!"

"Not exactly," Nuru said. "We're negotiating certain agreements, but I'm not a Chosen."

"Oh. Many apologies. Adebowale has enough problems without giving offense," the shopkeeper bowed his head.

"None taken," Dayo said. "I can certainly see how you'd think that with him knowing two of us."

"I will accept the breaking of this set by way of apology though, if it makes you feel better," Nuru said, holding up the first of the two armor bits. "And a loincloth, to match the pants."

"Thirty-three currency and we are agreed."

"Easy come, easy go," Nuru muttered.

"The right armor will enable you to much more easily refill your purse," the shopkeep said. "Although in your case, Dayo, we can only suggest, it is simply money worth spending. Fifty for that one, if you please."

"It's cute. I think Mesi will like it. But, can I get the referral discount added for Nuru here?"

"Oh, of course. Forty-five for you."

"Done!" Dayo said, slapping the coins down on the countertop. "And the tip, as promised."

Nuru counted out his own. "This count for ten?" he said, hefting a gold chain for its approximate coin-weight equivalent.

"Agreed."

"Adebowale, a pleasure doing business, as always," the valkyrie said.

"We have missed your face. Be well, honored Dayo."

"Blessings and prosperity," Nuru said.

"Git good," the shopkeeper responded. "And return often."

"So what have we got time for today, demonstration-wise?" Nuru said as they left. He tucked the loincloth into the codpiece and cinched it into place, so he could pull the loincloth out later as needed.

"Gods below, I still can't believe you're doing that. Uh, we need a plan of attack, I suppose. Then we can determine which parts of it we have time for. Where are you staying tonight?"

"I guess I can't just stay at Quartz Port forever, they're going to track me down. I know Furaha has plans to help, but we can't make it too easy; she can only do so much. Let's go find a cave or something to clear out near there. I'll make it a home until I find something else better."

*****

They cut across country back the way they'd come. Dayo was lost in thought, considering the options for what he was looking for in a new base, and Tusa was scouting ahead. It had to be something close enough, but not obvious. The valkyrie looked up suddenly.

"Nuru, get d-!"

But it was too late, and Nuru found himself scooped up roughly into the air. He heard Dayo screaming something. The ground receded at a terrifying rate.

"Fires of manticore venom, that hurt!" Nuru growled. "Katlego, is that you?"

"I can't watch you die, Nuru. But up here, you see... I won't!"

"Wait, before you drop me, let's taaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!!" Nuru screamed as the talons holding him retracted and he fell.

(HELP!)

/Sorry, Nuru! Even Weightless Foot won't save you at this height. It was a pleasure. Bless it all to heaven!/

SkreeeeEEEEEEEE

"Aaaaugh! Shit.!Kafa Mara Nauyi!" He looked at the much smaller talons now clutched painfully into his leg of the ethereal purple hawk that was struggling to slow his rapid descent.

He quickly stuffed his purse into his drum and let them both fall along with his pack. He tore off his shirt and dropped that too. The treeline reached up to grab him, the hawk was levelling him out but it wouldn't be in time. A giant branch reached out in the way, and Nuru braced himself for impact. The hawk expired and misted away at the last moment.

"Ooo'huargh!" Nuru choked out as the tree swayed with the impact at the large branch, far less gently than he would have liked.

"Down... oh gods... got to get down... before I fall," he moaned.

One leg was almost useless below the ankle from the hawk's grapple, and he nearly slipped and fell with every movement; in his daze he wasn't even quite sure how he did it, but he pulled himself along the branch to the trunk. Distant shrieks filled the air, and Nuru saw at least two more ethereal hawks darting and striking at Katlego's receding mount. He slipped down the trunk upside-down, holding close to the tree with his hands. He reached the bottom and kicked away with his good leg, flopping on his back to the ground onto the roots instead of flipping and landing on his feet as he'd intended.

"Owww..."

He lay there a minute as the world spun around him, then slowly sat up. Belatedly, he activated Tusa's oath, and waited. The lyena finally bounded into view, and sniffed at him.

"Ugh... Dayo... go find Dayo. Bring them here."

Tusa rushed away again. Minutes passed, and he caught his breath.

"Gods, Nuru!"

"Dayo, I'm hurt."

"Let me see."

"Tusa... go find my drum, will you? Bring it back, if you can. And the purse that might be in it. And the pack, if you can manage all that."