The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) by Garrett Robinson (elon musk reading list TXT) 📕

“Do you remember? When we first arrived, she told us to inform her before we left. I imagine no one has been able to leave or reach Lan Shui since the vampire arrived. We only managed it because we came from the Greatrocks, into which the creature will not tread.”

“And why would it?” I said. “It has plenty of food here.”

“We must help these people,” said Mag. “Though I have never fought a vampire before.”

I cocked my head as I regarded her. “I am glad to hear you say so. I feared you might wish to pursue the weremage.”

Mag scoffed. “The weremage is well beyond our reach, and we have little hope of finding out where until we can get our hands on that boy. But even if I knew she was just over the next horizon, I would not abandon these people to the slaughter. Do you think me heartless?”

“I do not, and I am glad to be proven right,” I said. “Very well. Like you, I have never hunted a vampire before. But we may have to pursue it regardless, even without information. Time is not on our side. Yue has made it clear that she wants us gone.”

“Have you heard tales of them?”

I snapped my fingers, for her words had given me an idea. “I have not. Yet there is one here who knows far more tales than I do. That old singer, Dryleaf. He said we should poke around the town and tell him what we found. I have a feeling this is what he meant.”

Mag’s mouth twisted. “I wish he had spoken plainly to us, rather than leading us on with such games. But mayhap he had his reasons. Let us find him, then, and ask.”

Together we went down to the common room and found the barman. I feared he might not wish to tell us where Dryleaf’s room was, but he offered no resistance whatsoever. It seemed it was not uncommon for the townsfolk to seek the old man’s wisdom.

Dryleaf had a room on the first floor, towards the back of the inn and just next to the door leading to the privy. The smell was rather awful, but mayhap he did not mind. Or mayhap he appreciated the ability to relieve himself at a moment’s notice—often a requirement for older folk, as I can now tell you from experience.

He appeared soon after our two brief knocks, and when he opened the door he stood there for a moment blinking over our shoulders, pulling his blue robes closer about himself.

“Yes?” he said at last. His voice was bright, but weary, and I wondered if we had woken him. “Who is it, and how can I help you?”

“Good day, Dryleaf,” I said. “It is Albern. We spoke yesterday. My friend and I are the visitors from the Greatrocks?”

“Ah, yes, of course,” he said, wrinkles deepening in a wide smile. “How can I help you both?”

“That is rather a long conversation,” said Mag. “Mayhap we could take you to the common room and buy you a meal?”

“I do not pay for my food here, but of course I will accompany you,” said Dryleaf. “A moment.”

He turned back to his room, but I held the door open. “Can I help at all?”

“Oh, sky no,” he said. “I have it all arranged, you see. Can find everything by touch. But bless your path for offering. No, go sit, and I will see you shortly. Or at least, we will speak shortly.” He gave a little chuckle at his own joke.

Mag and I went to the common room and sat. Neither of us was hungry, but we both ordered ale, and Mag even managed not to turn her nose up at it when the barman was looking. Soon Dryleaf emerged from the back of the inn. I called to him, and he used his stick to poke his way over to us. I helped him into a seat.

“How has your morning been?” he said, once he had settled himself.

“I will not say ‘good,’ but certainly eventful,” said Mag. “We found some in this town who were up to evil deeds.”

“Ah,” said Dryleaf carefully, folding one hand over the other. “I may have heard something of them. And what did you do when you found them?”

“We fought,” I said. “They lost. They will do no more harm.”

Dryleaf’s face went somewhat paler. “I … please tell me, friends. There was a boy—”

“Pantu,” said Mag, cutting him off gently. “He is fine. Frightened, I am sure, but unharmed.”

Dryleaf gave a deep sigh of relief. “Thank the sky. He is not a bad child at heart, but he has often landed himself in trouble. He is a poor judge when it comes to choosing companions.”

I leaned in closer. “We learned something else today, Dryleaf. When you and I spoke yesterday, why did you not speak of the vampire? Why has no one spoken about the vampire?”

Dryleaf shrugged. “I told you as much yesterday: you two are strangers here, and these are uncertain times. I said nothing, for I thought you might be one of those ruffians, aiming to see how much I knew about your doings here in town. I did not think so, for you did not sound the sort—but I could not be sure. As for the rest of the townsfolk, can you blame them? You are strangers from beyond the walls. Seeing a town weak and afraid, some might try to take advantage of the situation. You would not be the first highway robbers to think they could leave Lan Shui with more gold than they brought.”

“Well, that is not our aim,” I said. “We seek a weremage who attacked our home in Northwood.”

Mag cocked her head at me, and I frowned at her. Only after a moment did I notice what she had: I had called Northwood our home without thinking of it. A flush crept into my cheeks, and I turned back to Dryleaf.

“She attacked Northwood and killed