Hive Queen by Sinclair, Grayson (positive books to read .txt) 📕

had reached the wall. It rose from chest high at the gate to at least eight feet of stone that we had to clamber over.

“How’re we getting over this?” Mika asked.

“I’ve got an idea.” I grabbed the rope from my inventory and cut about a foot and a half off it. “Boost me up and then wrap the rope around your hand. I’ll fall, and you use the momentum to climb the wall.”

Mika laughed and crouched. “You always were quick on your feet.”

“Yeah, too bad I’m an idiot, or I’d be really dangerous,” I said and stepped into his hand.

He lifted me up, and I hauled myself over the wall and wrapped part of the rope tightly over my fist while Mika did the same. I dropped over the ledge, and Mika climbed over it. When we were both safely over the wall, we jogged a short distance and took shelter in the alleyway.

“Man, it’s always fun working with you. What are you going to do, now?” he asked when we’d caught our breath.

“Thinking about risking the surface, but I don’t know how smart that plan is.”

“Raven has the Heart, right? Where’s she at?”

“Heading back to the surface to deliver it. If I can just get topside, I can teleport away, but I’m sure humans are going to be stopped and questioned leaving Aldrust.

“I touched the Heart; it had a curse on it. Even though I don’t have it anymore, I think it left its mark on me. No way I get clear if they stop and check me. I might just head back to the Low Road, lie low for a few days till security lightens up.”

“I think I’m going to risk it. I never even saw the Heart. They’ve got nothing on me, so they can’t hold me.” He nodded and offered me his hand. “I guess I’ll be going, then, before it gets crazy. It was good seeing you again, Duran, truly.”

I took his hand firmly and shook it. “Same. I’ll see you around.”

He took off, but before he rounded the corner a thought struck me, and I yelled at him. “Hey, you looking for a guild?”

Mika paused and leaned against the wall of a nobleman’s manse. “Not, not looking. You got a spot you need filled in the Gloom Knights?”

“A few.”

“Every adventurer worth their rank knows to stay away from Gloom-Harbor territory if they know what’s good for them. Your guild’s got quite the nasty reputation, but I think we’ve come a long ways since our time in the Swords.”

“That mean you’re in?”

“We’ll see. I’ll stop by and see what’s what,” he said, walking away.

“You remember the passphrase?” I asked.

Mika waved me off. “If you haven’t changed it in fifteen years, yeah,” he replied as he disappeared from view.

I smiled at his back. He certainly hasn’t changed.

“I bet his blood tastes bitter. Why don’t you follow and find out?”

Pass. You already had Raven’s blood. Isn’t that enough for you?

“Worth a shot. And I did help you today. I do like to be rewarded, you know.”

Maybe if you were less psychotic, I’d reward you.

Giving Mika a few minutes to get a head start, I leaned against the stone wall and pulled up my interface to check my notifications.

Combat Results!

5 Killed (Dwarf): 9000 Exp!

1 downed: 1800 Exp!

Mercy Penalty: -600

Total Exp Gain: 10200 Exp!

Exp: 5400/5400

Level Up! (X2)

4500/5600

Level: 56

20 Stat Points Available!

Best bet is to keep pushing my sub-stats since I’m still under penalty. I added ten points to Durability and ten to Attack Damage. I changed out of my armor and donned my nicest set of clothes. A set Magnus had made for me. It was the solid white silken set I’d first worn when I met him. And it would at least help me blend in, or at least not stick out.

I sauntered around Hightown for a while. Even at this time of night, there were still a few places open. I stopped and had an expensive dinner at the restaurant Raven and I had gone to. I had a lovely meal, and after, I took my time getting back to Lowtown.

By the time I returned to the Low Road, it was late by Aldrustian standards, and the bar had been long closed. I didn’t have any elemental scrolls to enter, so I had no choice but to head back to the safe house and wait until morning.

There wasn’t a single soul on the streets as I made my way to the house and used the specific scroll I had for the house to lower the door. I went over to the fridge and took out an ale. I sighed in bliss as I drained half of it and sat back on the stone couch.

Shit. Can’t believe we managed to pull that off. Hope Raven got out okay.

I hadn’t been home for more than two minutes when a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.

Orryn stood perched in the doorway, hand raised as he tapped lightly on the stone. “Can I come in?”

I shrugged and finished the ale. The glass bottle clinked as I set it down and eyed Orryn. “What’re you doing here?”

“Just came to congratulate you on a job well done. It’s not reached the public yet, but Balthazar and his council are abuzz with finding out who took the Heart.”

I feigned surprise. “Lachrymal’s Heart was stolen? That’s awful.”

He laughed and ambled over to the fridge, grabbing a beer and offering it to me. I nodded and as he was walking back, I glanced over at the door that he’d left open.

“Could at least shut the─“ I began but stopped as the clink of metal against metal drifted in from the street. Soft, but unmistakable.

Orryn noticed my