Dungeon Runner
The Tiger Writes
sciencefiction
sciencefiction
31K5
Tibs survived by picking pockets; until he's caught.
Instead of losing a hand, he's sent away and told he must now survive a dungeon.
How is a kid who knew nothing more than his ...Bottom Rung, Chapter 24
Tibs spent the next three days barely conscious. When he wasn't at his morning lessons, or with Alistair, or with Bardik, he spent his time seated in his room staring at the tankard of water. He caught Jackal look at him oddly, but the fighter didn't comment. Tibs sensed the water in the tankard, as well as that on his hand, but as soon as he tried to move it, he lost grasp of the sense of what was in the tankard.
By the fourth day, Alistair ordered him to take a break because it was affecting the rest of his lessons, and as if his teacher had instructed Jackal, the fighter dragged Tibs out of their room to spend time at the Inn.
"You're looking better," the server said as he placed the plate and tankard.
"Thanks," Jackal said. "I've been—"
"Are you hearing something?" Kroseph asked Tibs. "I think I've been standing too close to the fire and ambers flew in my ears."
Tibs looked at the exasperated Jackal and their server. "I'm not going to get involved in this. I have too much to do already."
Kroseph winked at him. "And that marks you as the wise one of the team."
"I said I was sorry," Jackal grumbled as the server headed back to the kitchen. "You think he's going to be mad at me long?"
Tibs narrowed his eyes. "I don't know, and I'm not getting involved."
"It's just, I didn't know it was a special day. We've been—"
"Jackal," Tibs said.
"Yeah?"
"I don't want to know."
"But."
Tibs glared. "You pulled me away from my practice, I'm not exactly in a forgiving mood."
"You need a break. You're walking around like one of those undead monsters from stories. Just with this meal you're looking better, just like Kroseph said."
"Fine," Tibs grumbled. "It's just so hard and I want to get it."
"You're not going to tell me what that is, is it?"
Tibs shook his head. "You and Kroseph."
"We're friends."
"Like you and the merchant's daughter?"
Jackal chuckled. "Not quite."
Tibs nodded. "So you want to fix that with him?" He made sure not to react to the approaching server.
Jackal shrugged. "I'd be happy with him just talking with me. If he isn't interested in the rest, that's his choice." The slap at the back of the head barely made the fighter react.
With a curse, Kroseph shook his hand. "I know you're hard-headed, but did you have to be literal about it?" He dropped in the chair next to Jackal.
"Sort of. Are you talking to me now?"
"Of course I am. Just pay attention when I tell you stuff like what days are important to me."
"In my defense—"
Tibs took his plate and tankard and stood.
"Where are you going?" Jackal asked.
"Out of striking range."
"I'm not—" Jackal looked at Kroseph's darkening expression.
"In your defense?" the server asked.
"I'm an idiot?" Jackal offered.
Tibs sat back down. "What day was it?"
Kroseph studied Jackal, who gave him as innocent a look as he could manage. Tibs would have to give him pointers, he was trying too hard.