The Dungeon Fairy: Two Choices: A Dungeon Core Escapade (The Hapless Dungeon Fairy Book 2) by Jonathan Brooks (bill gates books to read TXT) 📕

was practically starving – even if he had eaten quite a bit at lunch.  Constructing Inns was labor-intensive, and it worked up quite the appetite.

The three Raiders hesitated for a moment before they practically shoveled stew into their mouths and stuffed their cheeks full of bread.  Sterge was glad that he was able to help feed them, because it certainly did appear as though they were slowly starving.  They were finished eating before Sterge and Gwenda and sat back looking uncomfortable, likely having eaten more than they had in a while.

“So, you all need some coin?” he asked them when he was finished, himself.

Gwenda put her hand on his arm as if in warning.  “Sterge, you can’t just—”

“I know that,” he said softly, putting his hand on hers for reassurance.  He was pretty sure Gwenda thought he was going to give them some of their coins, out of the generosity and charity of his heart; truthfully, the idea had crossed his mind, because that was just who he was.  Sterge didn’t like to see anyone suffering unnecessarily – especially when he could do something about it; what he had in mind, though, wasn’t charity in any sense of the word.  “I have something else in mind.”

His friend understood immediately.  “You mean…?”

“Yes, I think I’m ready.  I never thought it would be the case, but I’ve actually been looking forward to it.”

“Good.  I didn’t want to mention it before because we’ve been so busy, but now with the construction done….”  She left her statement open, but Sterge knew exactly what she was talking about.  She wanted it just as much as he did.

“Uh…what are you two talking about?”  All three of the Raiders were staring at Sterge and Gwenda as if they were crazy.

“Sorry, I guess I should explain,” Sterge apologized.  “We’re talking about going into the dungeon—” he pointed in the general direction of where the dungeon was located in the mountains— “up there.”

“You two are part of the Delving Clan as well?” the Human asked with a hopeful look on his face, before he shook his head sadly.  “Doesn’t matter, though.  Even if we wanted to, the current wait list to get in is at least 5 weeks, and that’s even with all of the Merchants speeding up the process by paying groups to remove themselves from the list.”

Gwenda snorted disdainfully, showing her extreme dislike of the Merchants that had come.  Sterge knew that, ever since they had arrived, the Minister and/or his subordinates had been after her (as well as nearly every other villager) to sell the land’s lease to them; it was getting to the point where some of the villagers were refusing to come out of their houses so that they wouldn’t be accosted.  No violence or overt threat had been made as of yet, but he couldn’t help but worry that it was coming.

“That certainly is a long wait, but fortunately, we don’t have to abide by the list.  Be ready tomorrow morning, and we’ll head on up and do a delve through the dungeon.   By the way, what are your names?”

To say they looked skeptical was an understatement.  “You’re…not planning anything…illegal, are you?” the Gnome asked softly, which Sterge was just barely able to hear over the noise of the crowd in the common room.  The Raider was looking around nervously to see if anyone else was listening in.

Sterge and Gwenda looked at each other seriously and then laughed, before his friend finally answered the three now-uncomfortable-looking Raiders.  “No, of course not.  Nothing like that.  Let’s just say that we have…connections.  I don’t want to say any more here, though.”

Now it was the trio’s turn to look at each other for a long moment.  Eventually, the Elf turned to them and said, “Seeing as you bought us dinner, I think we’ll trust you enough to see what you have in mind.  We don’t want to get in trouble, though, so if you want us to do something…unethical or illegal…then we’re backing out.”

“Fair enough.”

“Okay, then.  Name’s Evy.  The Gnome on my right is Mordecai, and this bag o’ bones in a robe is William.  I hope you’re in need of a Melee, a Ranged, and a Healer Class.”

“Absolutely,” Sterge said, as he and Gwenda were getting up to leave.  They had to make some arrangements that night if they were going delving through the dungeon in the morning.  “Get some good rest, because we’re going up soon after dawn—you have somewhere to sleep?”

It was obvious by their expressions that they really didn’t; judging by their dirty clothes and armor, he wouldn’t be surprised to learn that they had been bedding down in the empty fields without much in the way of covering or protection.

“Head over to the new construction and let Maxine know that Sterge said you could stay in one of the newly completed rooms up top for the night.  They should be just about finished with them, and they weren’t going to be rented out until tomorrow.”

“What?  Why?  How do you know all of that, and who are you that can just order someone to do that?  Better yet, I didn’t see you pay for the meal; you’re not trying to stiff us with the bill, are you?” the Human said suspiciously.

It took Sterge a moment to realize what the Raider was talking about.  Then it hit him: They didn’t know who he or Gwenda were.  Granted, not everyone knew who they were, and their status as Raiders was even less known; almost no one knew they had been the ones to find the dungeon.

He hadn’t paid for their meals since the first few days, when they were still trying to figure everything out.  Now, none of the villagers had to pay to eat inside the common rooms of the Inns, though only a few actually took advantage of