Chapter 2004: Kingdom of Telvaren

Quinlan chuckled as she turned back to the plants. "So the alchemists in the market stalls are just distributors, while this family has the recipes on lock." His alchemist had marked the unfamiliar varieties in her notes, leaving spaces beside them for the answers she still wanted. "Must be nice."

"Would be a shame if someone got their hands on it," Vex smiled.

Telvaren lay east of Sarthal, an old kingdom of fey and gnomes with its own crown. The powerful noble families known as its Great Houses competed to sponsor the kingdom’s finest work. Even the catalogue’s illustrations of workshops and performance halls displayed the crests of the families funding them.

"They own estates, towns, workshops..." Jallen said. "If you can make something impressive, they’ll want everyone to know whose money paid for it. We’ve been looking at their offers too."

Aurora turned to an illustration of the estate’s alchemy workshop.

"I want to go there and get their recipes," she said. "And I’d like to meet the people doing the work. Some of them might be willing to come back with us."

Quinlan’s grin spread as she angled the catalogue toward him.

"The alchemists?"

"And the growers, if they’re good."

She tapped the painted beds beneath the workshop windows.

"I’d like to find out what their best people want. Better equipment, more freedom to experiment... We might be able to give them a reason to leave."

"Or just slap a collar around their throats," Seraphiel offered with an angelic smile.

"...That works too. But it’s best if they come willingly," Aurora smiled.

Beside Aurora, Kaelira leaned closer to examine an illustration of a smithy in the catalogue.

"I’d like to visit their forges," she said. "See what they’re making, and how."

"The hammer tomboy wants to see a smithy," Kitsara nodded sagely at Kaelira. "Color me surprised."

"I’m sorry for having a hobby and not revolving my entire life around getting ravaged in bed."

"..."

For a moment, nobody spoke. Every face around the table turned toward Kaelira, whose fingers remained on the picture of the smithy.

Kitsara stared at her with eyes as round as saucers.

"Pff...!"

Seraphiel tried to cover her mouth, but the laugh escaped through her fingers. Then she doubled over in her chair, laughing so hard she could barely get the words out.

"Kaeli, what the hell?! Ahahaha! I’m so proud of you!"

That set off most of the table. Beside Quinlan, Aurora folded over the catalogue while the others laughed, and Kaelira’s ears went scarlet beneath all the attention.

"I only said..."

"Quinnieee!"

With crocodile tears spilling down her cheeks, Kitsara came hurrying around the table toward him, her arms outstretched. Quinlan caught her at the waist and drew her onto his lap, where she promptly buried her face against his chest.

"Kaelira bullied me! Kaelira! Of all people!"

"Yeah." He wrapped his other arm around her shoulders, holding her protectively while she sniffled into his shirt. "There, there."

The sight of the foxkin being cradled after a single insult only made Sera laugh harder.

"I’m not just a cumdump," Kitsara whimpered. "I might love getting destroyed in bed, but I... I have other interests!"

"I know. I know."

Quinlan stroked her hair with immense care. Against his chest, the foxkin gave another wounded little sniffle, her tails spilling over his knees as she clung to him.

"I’m useful outside the bedroom too!"

"Very useful."

"And clever!"

"Of course."

Kitsara lifted her tearful face from his shirt.

"Then why are you shaking?"

He pressed his lips together, but the laugh she’d been feeling in his chest finally escaped. Kitsara stared up at him in fresh betrayal before hiding her face beneath his chin.

"Cruel... All of you bitches are cruel!"

"My poor, poor foxy." Still chuckling, he kissed her forehead and held her closer. "I apologize."

"Well, you’re not forgiven!" Kitsara pouted, refusing to meet his gaze.

"This guy is the conqueror of Iskaris, right? The women around him are the most influential women in the continent, right?" Lilith muttered under her breath.

"Yes," Scar replied with a flat tone. "And the owners of your sister’s life."

"... Thanks for the reminder, friend."

"You’re welcome."

"..."

It took another kiss and considerably more stroking before the Slutty Foxy was willing to leave Quinlan’s lap. When she finally returned to her chair, Kitsara gave Kaelira a deeply injured look, which the smith endured with a perfectly straight face.

As the laughter subsided, Quinlan looked back at the forge illustration beneath Kaelira’s hand.

"We’ll find time for it," he promised.

Aurora left the catalogue open between herself and Kaelira while Quinlan returned his attention to the map.

The Continent of Avaranth had four great powers. Sarthal lay on the western coast, ruled by the dragonkin. It was a mere city-state defending itself against the aggression of its much larger neighbours.

To the south lay the Empire of Nharum, whose undead rulers governed a naga heartland and provinces populated by Fomorians and giants. Its living subjects worked alongside the tireless dead, then joined their ranks after death.

The northern highlands belonged to the Sacred Custodianship of Orathis, a drow nation ruled by the priests of Nemerys. Its priesthood preached eternal holy war against a world of traitors.

Inland to the east, the Kingdom of Telvaren was home to fey and gnomes. Beneath its crown, wealthy Great Houses competed for prestige through the gardens, workshops, and talented people they sponsored.

All four lay beneath the True Dragon Vorzatha’s claim.

"I’d rather spend some more time around Sarthal before visiting the undead empire," Ayame said. "Or those lunatics in Orathis. There’s plenty left to see here. If we decide to leave, Telvaren sounds interesting."

"Agreed. I’d like us to get considerably stronger before we involve ourselves with either of those countries," Quinlan said. "Let’s aim to hit at least level 100 before we involve ourselves with continental politics."

He called up his level in the systemic interface.

[Level: 65 ? 67]

His grin returned. The spider nest and their week of adventuring had carried him through two more levels.

He’d left Iskaris to grow stronger with them. Seeing that progress made him want to get straight back out there.

’Sixty-seven.’

"I like it here," he murmured.

Behind him, Serika laughed and squeezed his shoulders.

"You’ve certainly been enjoying yourself."

"Very much. But I want more fights like the one against that pirate captain. Some of our quests have been disappointingly swift and small scale."

The Fomorian had forced him to work for his openings. Quinlan remembered the water lance striking his thigh, the weight of the captain’s attacks, and the satisfaction of finally killing him. He wanted opponents who made him use everything he had, with rewards to match.

"So do we," Lilith said. "These quick jobs are getting tedious. Most of the day goes into reaching the place."

"Then it’s over before I’ve had any fun," Bronnya grumbled.

Jallen looked across the table at her.

"I’m delighted that you haven’t needed me to put your insides back where they belong."

"See? You’re bored too."

The healer’s eyes narrowed at her, and Bronnya grinned back without a hint of remorse.

Quinlan grinned as he dismissed the window.

"We’ll keep the inn for now. There’s no reason we can’t travel out from here whenever we find something worthwhile."

"And visit Telvaren when we get the chance," Aurora added, closing her catalogue.

"Of course."

They were gathering their notes when a knock came at the dining-room door.

"Adventurer Black?" the innkeeper called from the corridor. "Captain Veshara of the harbour guard is here to see you."