Nevertheless, I was tempted to let him into my party.
“I can understand the hesitation, but rest assured, I know my way around Thalian. With her days dwindling down, I insist you allow me to continue my work, while at the same time, assisting you in helping prevent the destruction of us all. You may utilize me as your Mavriel guide. I am a dictionary of precious knowledge! Honestly, it’s a win-win situation, our partnership! And you’d be a fool not to consider…”
“I don’t know… something about your story isn’t exactly adding up.”
“If you are referring to my hesitation in assisting the scouts, I am not fond of bloodshed.”
“So, exactly what do you think we are doing here? Frolicking in the meadows?”
He snickered. “I admire your sarcasm, but I am well aware of the dangers of trekking outside of Senterrian safe zones.”
“So why the change of heart?”
“Like I said, we are running out of time. And it’s about high time I quit hiding in the shadows and spread the good word to others, helping with the goddess’ work.”
“And taking down names if need be?”
“If it comes to that, I may lay a few enemies to rest, as a last resort of course.”
“Pass.”
“Perfect choice! Now, we c–ugh, ehm-ex-excuse me, I beg your pardon?” he stuttered.
“I slip up sometimes, but I like to think that I’m a pretty good reader of people, and there’s something about you that’s seriously rubbing me the wrong way. At first, I thought that maybe it was just your power, but it’s more than that. If you’re a serious devoted holy man, you wouldn’t sit back and do nothing for the people. Despite your fears, you’d go out there and help. Now I don’t know how long you were down there, but something about you smells like fraud. People are starving, and you don’t bat an eye. You turn the other way. But hell, I don’t know, maybe you have been sharing your rations and helping the sick and the young. I know just about everyone in Prism Point, and no one had ever brought your name up or even the notion of a priest being in our mist.”
“But—”
“So tell me, what kind of priest are you?” I smiled smugly. “If you tell me you’re a fraud now, I might reconsider. As long as you’re honest with me. A relationship based off a lie is doomed to fail.”
He sighed. “All right. I am an unconventional priest. I am an appointed blood knight, with the ability to slay dragons.”
“A bloody priest?”
“Well, the priest part isn’t my official title, but I do in fact spread the good word. Knights are considered men of divine oath, you know.”
“Not going to lie, something like that would come in handy… So, why didn’t you say that outright?”
He shrugged. “I don’t exactly have an appointed blade, heh!”
I deadpanned him. “So you’re useless, at least as far as slaying dragons go.”
“I’d prefer others not know of my capabilities. Could you imagine the chaos that would ensue if everyone in Prism Point knew that a supposed ‘blood knight’ was living among them?” His voice grew serious as he leaned in closer. “I dread the thought.”
“Right, people wouldn’t shut up about you going out there and taking down the entire dragon kingdom. Because you hate bloodshed, right?” I scratched my chin, pacing back and forth while I thought about everything he’d told me thus far. Something still wasn’t adding up, and I didn’t think he realized he screwed up in his fabricated story.
First questionable factor was his rep. A level 60 human with no gear and no credibility. If he’s been here long enough, Jezz would have mentioned him to me. She had told me about Recka, her friend, whose level pretty much matched hers. She was part of her exclusive party, one of the strongest of the bunch. So because Jezz had never brought him up, that meant that he was most likely a recent rescue.
A new member of the underground, capping at level 60 for a human. That was an impressive and rare feat, which meant that if he’d crossed paths with anyone, word would have broken out in a heartbeat. Someone in the town meeting would have suggested this guy join me, or at the very least, suggest him joining the scouts. Again, more proof that no one knew about him, and that he’d been hiding.
Then there was the mention of being a blood knight. Blood knights slay dragons. According to Jezz, killing was what they did. So how was this guy squeamish?
He was bouncing stories around, trying to play me for a fool. First, a traveling priest, wanting to join me to spread the good word, then a cover up for lacking in priest etiquette, saying that he was some type of blood knight. Nothing that came out of his mouth felt real.
“Listen, I may not have a sword, but I do have connections. Powerful connections that could help us immensely,” he interjected my train of thought, and I entertained his bullshit.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What kind of connections?”
“Let’s just say that I have friends in high places. People who owe me favors. I could get an appointed sword in Mavriel.”
I leaned back, crossing my arms. “Is that the real reason you want to join me in Mavriel?”
His face churned, that once friendly demeanor melting away as I continued to ask him those hard questions. “I do not understand the skepticism. You need help with the dragons. In fact, you need help with the fae! I doubt someone like you could simply waltz into fae territory and scale down the opposition! You need me. I am doing you a favor here by risking my life out there in the badlands with someone as low leveled as you!”
“Oh really?”
“This is a fact!”
I grinned. “Well see now, I feel that you’re insisting too much, and that you actually need me,” I said, giving him my back as I walked away from him. “So you can go fish for your divine dragon slaying sword on your own.”
“You stubborn—” he stopped, checking himself. With a deep sigh, he changed his tone, this Rufian guy finally being honest with me for the first time since we’d met. “All right, you win.”
I looked at him over my shoulder, waiting for him to tip the can of beans over the table.
“I am not a traveling priest, nor am I a blood knight.”
“I am listening…”
“I am but a man with a simple request…”
