CHAPTER 21
They thought they were smart, ripping us off. Now we know that there are only four of them. A Healer, an Elf, an Orc and a Gand. Not too difficult. We take out the Elf and the Orc and then threaten the Gand to give us back our money or the mage gets it.
-Bandit Mage coming up with a plan
“When are you leaving?” the woman asked.
“We will continue clinic all day today, all day tomorrow and then we are leaving the morning after,” Gand replied. “Anything else that I can help you with?”
“No, I will see you then,” the woman said as she left.
“Is that her?” Ryan asked.
“Yep,” Gand said. “She is the one handing all of the information over to the bandits.”
“Once we get our coin home I am going to show out,” Tezen said. “And rest. Your humans are wearing me out. Even the Elf is tired.”
“They don't belong to me,” Ryan said. “And think about how I feel. I have been invited into practically every home and I am sure that the council threatened me because I don't plan on living here permanently. They know how to reach me but that isn't good enough for them.”
“We have been right along with you human and more than enough people have been keeping us happy while you do whatever it is that you do,” Tezen said.
“Then I spend the evening and night with all your friends that visited us.
You should be happy that I haven't had another go with Lemara.
I can tell that she wants it even if she is trying to get you to marry her.
I bet even the elf could get him some here.
I wouldn't if I was him though. That little quiet one seemed pissed when the other humans were giving him attention.
We know how it goes. They can't show in front of the other humans that they like you but you know what it is when you both are alone. She speak to you, elf?”
“She wants to see me whenever she heads back but she doesn't have a reason to head back,” Raylen said. “Ryan is going to be with either Lemara or whatever other girls he met while here.”
“The Mikel family offered me a decent dowry,” Ryan replied.
“But they still need to meet my parents. It is weird going from Glendale where I am not really all that special to here. I mean, sure in Glendale girls want to meet me. Not like it is here though. Most of the people here are wealthier than my parents are.”
“Why are we even here?” Tezen asked. “You have coin. We should be resting up somewhere getting food fed to us by naked women.”
“Because if I am not here the rulers of this place will be angry,” Ryan said.
“And I would have to go visit with someone else during the day.
As is, they want me to see them right now if I could.
The Mikel family aren't happy about it and if I am truthful, I really don't care.
I thought Lemara was the best that I could hope for and now I know differently.
I just don't know how to tell Glorie that I opened us up to a lot more visitors. A lot of these girls have male family members and they wanted to know about Glorie.”
“As long as they bring the good times with them,” Tezen said. “I am going to get a large house built and stock it with human servants just because I can. Julix isn't going to know what to do with herself. I'm going to live it up and that will be that.”
“Let's pick this up later,” Gand said. We are about to get a visitor who doesn't like the fact that we never visited her.”
“Laura?” Ryan asked.
“And she is with two other people,” Gand said.
“She doesn't want me,” Ryan said. “She definitely wants you. Deven told me that she has always wanted one of the other races. Her first pick would be an Elven Wizard followed by a Dwarven Runemaster. She would still give you a chance if you wanted. Vaeri was just around and shut all of that down.”
“That and I am not moving here,” Gand said. “I might not stay forever in Glendale but I am building a life there. Now that I really don't have to work, things are really looking up.”
“How long until Laura comes in?” Ryan asked as his door opened. Laura stuck her head in and then frowned for a moment.
“Hello Laura,” Ryan said. “How are you?”
“You have been here for a week and haven't come to see me?” Laura said.
“It wouldn't be right since you have made it clear that you weren't really interested,” Ryan said. “And we didn't want to get you in trouble. We don't know how your family would act if a bunch of men came by to see you.”
“Especially men like us,” Tezen smiled.
“Is this a social visit or are you injured?” Ryan asked.
“Ryan, I would like for you to meet my brother Souches,” Laura said. “And my cousin Lentin.”
“You are the one with the Seer sister?” said a blonde man from behind Laura.
Gand had seen the man before using his magic and had talked to him a few times.
He was conceited, not quite as much as Delano but still was full of himself.
He didn't have the body or muscles of Delano and his magic was as poor as his sister’s was.
He still had a beautiful face and flawless skin.
He thought that he walked on water and the rest were beneath him.
“My cousin is a seer,” Ryan said.
“Well, where is she?” Souches asked.
“Back in Glendale,” Ryan replied.
“For what reason?” Souches said as he rolled his eyes.
“Because she wants to be there,” Ryan said, getting a bit angry.
“She probably is a troll or something judging from the rest of you,” Souches said. “I am probably not missing much.”
“I don't think I like you,” Ryan said.
“So what, you are a healer,” Souches said. “It isn't like you can do something about it.”
“Forgive him,” Laura said as she looked at her brother. “He wants to meet Glorie since he heard about her and thinks that she should come to him.”
“Hopefully she has more class than that,” Gand said as he looked down at Souches. “Feel free to be offended. I know how this ends up.”
“Whoa,” said Lentin. “Are you the Seer, uh Mystic? The one who can tell the future.”
“I am,” Gand replied.
“What am I…,” Lentin began.
“You are thinking of the color red and your question was to ask me what number you are thinking of. Since I guessed red, you are now thinking of the number 4.”
“You should leave this one alone, Souches,” Lentin said. “My, you are a big one. Two giants and I am guessing that you are an Elf.”
“I am an Elf,” Raylen replied.
“My family is rich,” Laura said. “Why wouldn't any man want to join my family instead of hanging around girls with no money, future or magic.”
“Plenty of girls here have all of that,” Ryan said. “At least they pretend to.”
“The people in Glendale do not,” Laura said. “No matter how pretty they may be.”
“I think this is a jab at Vaeri,” Raylen said.
“Shut up Elf,” Laura said. “I'm not Gwen, I don't find you charming.”
“Ouch,” Tezen laughed.
“I don't find you charming either,” Laura said.
“Who is Vaeri?” Souches asked.
“Doesn't matter,” Ryan said. “Do any of you have anything that you need healed?”
“I do,” Lentin said. “It is the reason that we came down here. I just didn't know that Laura could just walk up and get us to the front of the line. I have something going on with my foot.”
Gand walked out the door and stood in what was posing as the holding area for the patients.
The Baker had been making a third of whatever Ryan brought in so he was happy giving up his business for a little while.
The Mages there just stared at him and Tezen who followed him out.
The pair rarely spoke while they were there, they just acted as huge mountains of muscle.
Laura eventually followed them out and stood in front of Gand. Gand looked down and gave her a smile.
“You know that my girlfriend doesn't trust you,” Gand said.
“And you probably know that I can't speak freely out here,” Laura said. “When is the healer leaving?”
“We have one full day tomorrow and then the next morning we will be packing up,” Gand said. “We should be gone by noon.”
“Are you still staying with the Jelanis?” Laura asked.
“Yes,” Gand replied. “Although we have been offered a place with others. I was even offered a job here.”
“You can see the future, who wouldn't offer you a job,” Laura said. “How many Mystics are there? You are the only one that I met.”
“I don't know,” Gand replied. “I was raised in the Orc lands. I was found by an Orc Shaman and raised in tribe Nevus. I have never even seen another Gand before.”
“You know, there are Desians here who said that we shouldn't trust you,” Laura said.
“I am sure that he said more than that,” Gand replied.
“They are currently getting throttled and are under siege.
I don't even know how they are getting in and out of Desia. I heard that they started it all and the few Gand there mobilized everyone and have been attacking. They naturally blame me for their ignorant actions. At least they have made a lot of people rich while they have been out seeking supplies.”
“They are going to get Mage help to bring their items in but that's it,” Laura said. “At least from my family. I don't want anything to do with fighting any Gand.”
“I wouldn't either,” Gand said.
“My family would hire you,” Laura said. “You would have to move here. I am sure that they could find a place for Tezen too.”
“I already got coin now,” Tezen said. “I'm not working for anyone, I'm going to be the boss and have half naked women tending to my every need. If Gand was smart, he would do the same.”
“You two don't have any real coin,” Laura said.
“Keep telling yourself that,” Tezen said as Souches and Lentin walked out.
Gand knew the conversation was over and stood his post. They would start packing up a little before midnight and get out of there early.
The next morning when everyone awoke, they would be gone.
The bandits wouldn't find out until noon and then try to ride them down but wouldn't ever catch up to them.
Gand and Tezen had bought themselves some horses, wagons and other things while they were there and together they would ride the horses hard for a few days.
The Bandits would give up the chase after day three.
Gand had waited for them in various places many times and knew how far they would get before they turned around.
They would forget to pack sufficiently for a few nights out and curse as they had to turn around.
Gand and his group wouldn't care. Ryan would help Tezen buy his home so he wouldn't get cheated but Tezen would be unsatisfied and unable to purchase what he wanted, where he wanted it.
He would eventually buy four run down places next to each other and get them torn down and have to start from scratch.
He wanted a much larger version of what Gand had and Gand would get the job to build it.
Nearly every elf that Gand could find would be put on it along with any poor humans that needed the coin.
They would all get the same pay which would make the humans angry but not angry enough to turn down coin.
Gand was now wealthy enough on his own after his haul and would take the job only because Tezen didn't have anyone else.
Orcs would be put to work as well, destroying things was something that they were good at and Tezen would offer them better pay since they would do most of the heavy hauling.
All of this would happen immediately once they arrived home.
Gand would have two days to himself and then his visitor would come.