{"id":17327,"date":"2023-08-10T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/?p=17327"},"modified":"2023-07-11T15:09:03","modified_gmt":"2023-07-11T21:09:03","slug":"the-riches-of-xulthar-chapter-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/the-riches-of-xulthar-chapter-4\/","title":{"rendered":"The Riches of Xulthar: Chapter 4"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Laria<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They arrived at the next oasis an hour before dusk. Judging from the crumbling mud-brick ruins, it had once been a thriving settlement, where caravans had rested and merchants had traded exotic wares. Laria even recognized the remnants of an old slave auction block, like many she had been sold at before. But the oasis was now abandoned, the pool of water in its center reduced to little more than a large puddle. Still, it was enough for Laria to bathe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe must be cautious,\u201d Roderick urged. \u201cThe last time I was at an oasis like this, an undine nymph nearly killed me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cYou actually saw one of the fey?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes, and I have little doubt that she is watching us now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen should we move on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. If we do not water here, we will certainly die of thirst in the desert. It will be no worse if we incur her wrath.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut does that mean I should stay out of the water?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shrugged indifferently. \u201cDo as you will. If the undine nymph will let us fill our waterskins, she probably won\u2019t mind if you bathe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It had been so long since Laria had bathed that even the muddy waters looked tempting. Besides, it was an opportunity to please her new master. So as he led the thirsty camel to the pool\u2019s edge, she shed her clothes and waded into the pool. To her surprise, he turned away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy do you avert your eyes, Master Roderick?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause you are naked.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria\u2019s heart sank. This was not the reaction she had hoped from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoes my body displease you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said quickly, his gaze still turned away from her. \u201cOn the contrary, I find your beauty to be mesmerizing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen why do you look away?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo grant you some privacy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria cocked her head curiously. \u201cWhat is \u2018privacy\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick paused, as if taken aback by her question. But he quickly regained his composure and explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPrivacy is the freedom to have a space that is only for you. It matters a lot to people who are free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria gave a small nod, though the idea seemed very strange\u2014almost silly, in fact. She had been a slave almost since her birth, and was used to men\u2019s lusty stares. She hesitated, wondering if Roderick found her nakedness offensive, but though he averted his eyes, he otherwise didn\u2019t seem to mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She cupped the warm water with her hands and poured it over her. The thick layers of grime and sweat seemed to melt away, leaving her feeling wonderfully clean. After splashing the water all over herself and rubbing her skin down with her hands, she dipped her head in the pool and began to wash her dusty, matted hair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick finished filling their waterskins and sat in the shade of a scrubby tree. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled as their eyes met, though he quickly looked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLaria, where are you from?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Master Roderick. My parents sold me into slavery when I was just a child, and I\u2019ve never known any other way of life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He frowned. \u201cHow could any parent do such a thing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was during the plague years, Master Roderick. I suppose it was either sell me or starve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh.\u201d He shifted uncomfortably, and Laria, sensing his uneasiness, quickly changed the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat about yourself, Master Roderick? What brings you out to the desert?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI seek the lost city of Xulthar. The evil power that dwells within those walls has cursed my family and caused the downfall of my house. I am determined to find the source of that evil and defeat it if I can.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have heard about Xulthar. They say it was once a place of fabulous wealth. But why do you seek it alone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d he told her. \u201cTwo of my soldiering friends accompanied me out to the desert, but they cared little for honor\u2014only for the treasure itself. But when the journey grew too hard for them, they abandoned me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m very sorry to hear that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be. Deep down, I suppose I never expected them to come with me all of the way. No one who finds the lost city of Xulthar ever returns to the civilized world alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cNo one?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye. It is a cursed place, and I have little hope of succeeding. But if I somehow manage to defeat the dark evil that has cursed its fabulous riches, I will use them to restore my family\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow did your family fall?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A dark expression fell across his face. \u201cEver since the end of the plague years, the cursed coin of Xulthar has circulated throughout the land. For the cruel and the wicked, the coin seems to multiply, while just and honorable men can hardly set any aside. My father spoke openly of this, and for that crime he was falsely accused of practicing dark magic, and sent into exile.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am sorry to hear that,\u201d Laria said sympathetically, though she found his story difficult to understand. As a slave, she had never owned anything of herself, and found money to be a baffling subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy father\u2019s only crime was to speak the truth that no one wanted to hear,\u201d Roderick said grimly. \u201cThere is no honor or justice in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think the slaver was taking me to Xulthar as well,\u201d Laria said, hoping to distract him from his dark and brooding thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs that so?\u201d Roderick asked, suddenly interested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Laria told him. \u201cYesterday, he was mumbling and cursing to himself about it\u2014something about the pay not being worth the journey.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy was he taking you to Xulthar? The city has lain in ruins for more than a century.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His earnestness took Laria aback. She didn\u2019t know how to answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI am sorry, Master Roderick. I\u2019m just a slave, and don\u2019t know very much about these sorts of things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever mind,\u201d Roderick said gruffly. \u201cI\u2019ll be your guide, at least until the next town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria felt a twinge of disappointment that Roderick only thought of himself as her guide. She knew that if she failed to please him, he was likely to sell her to the first man who offered him any coin\u2014or worse, leave her to fend for herself. She had to do everything in her power to convince him to keep her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had hoped to accomplish that by pleasing him with her body, but since that strategy clearly wasn\u2019t going to work, she climbed out of the pool and donned her linen robe, not bothering to dry herself first. The sun would soon see to that. Hopefully, her clothes would set him at ease, and if the wetness made them cling to her skin, so much the better. Perhaps the key with men like her new master was to suggest more than she showed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick relaxed considerably once she was clothed. She walked over to his side and sat in the shade near his feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you wish me to bathe you, Master?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo,\u201d he said quickly. \u201cI\u2019ll stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sure? Not even your feet? Surely, they must be sore after walking for so\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy feet require no washing,\u201d he said curtly. \u201cNot by you, at least.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy not, Master Roderick? Aren\u2019t I your slave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, Laria. You are not a slave anymore. You are free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His words struck fear into Laria\u2019s heart. Of all the things he could have told her, this was by far the worst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut Master Roderick, I don\u2019t know how to live as a free person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen start by choosing your own path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d she asked hesitantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt means that you no longer have to answer to anyone but yourself,\u201d Roderick told her. \u201cYou may act for yourself now. You don\u2019t have to do anything you don\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria looked down at her bare, calloused feet. She had to admit, it would have been nice to be able to refuse the slaver. But a life of freedom was most certainly not what she wanted for herself. After all, what was the point of freedom if it made you into a beggar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut what if I want to please you, Master Roderick? What if I want to be your slave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He frowned and shook his head. \u201cI cannot be your master, Laria. The very thought of owning another person is detestable to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria stared at Roderick with confusion and a little awe. She had never met a man like him before. He was unlike all of her previous masters, except perhaps the first: kind and gentle, though his heart seemed encased in a hardened shell. And she had to admit, it was refreshing that he was capable of holding his lusts in check, unlike some of her previous masters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I am happy as a slave,\u201d she told him. \u201cIt gives me purpose and meaning to serve a good master. Without that, I am nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat isn\u2019t true, Laria. A man is defined by his thoughts and his deeds. That is as true for you as it is for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria hugged her knees against her chest, feeling more than a little lost. How could she fend for herself in a world so full of danger and uncertainty? She could not understand how any man could refuse to be her master. Why was Roderick so adamant about this freedom, this thing that only brought her confusion and fear?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease, Master Roderick. I don\u2019t know how to be free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen I will teach you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEnough,\u201d he said brusquely, rising to his feet. \u201cWe should not linger in this place any longer than we have to. Let\u2019s be going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria bit her lip and nodded. The hot desert air had already dried her clothes, even in the shade, and it would not be long before her hair was dry as well. She rose to her feet and ran her fingers through it for a comb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As she walked along the edge of the pool, her eyes suddenly caught a silvery glint beneath the surface. She waded out and reached into the sun-warm water to scoop it up. It was a silver locket, its surface engraved with intricate floral designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d she asked, showing it to Roderick. His eyes widened immediately in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI gave that locket to the nymph!\u201d he exclaimed. \u201cIt was my payment for freeing my friends. But how did it get here? I have never been to this oasis in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Master Roderick,\u201d Laria said softly. She was just as baffled as him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe undine nymph\u2019s powers must extend here, too,\u201d he mused aloud. \u201cPerhaps this is one of her tricks. Keep it, Laria. You found it. It\u2019s yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria stared at him in disbelief. She had never owned anything before, much less a piece of silver jewelry. What would she do with it? Besides, it clearly held more value for him than it did for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think I should give it back,\u201d she said, offering it back to him with trembling fingers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He hesitated for a moment, then took the proffered locket from her hands. \u201cIf that is what you wish,\u201d he mumbled, slipping it around his neck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without another word, she followed Roderick to the camel. \u201cLet us go,\u201d Roderick said curtly as he mounted the beast. Laria climbed up behind him, and together they set out across the burning desert sands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The desert stretched from the foothills of the Kevonas to the southern reaches of the Arabuli Basin and the westernmost shores of the Vilayan Sea. Once, these lands had been green and lush, or so the legends claimed. But so many empires had since risen, fallen, and faded into myth that the barren wastes now seemed as immutable and unrelenting as the burning sun itself. On the edges of the Arabuli basin, men still strove to eke out a meager existence, laboring to make the land bloom once more, but the plague years had wiped out nearly a century of work, and deserts had steadily reclaimed their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, the wastes were not entirely void of inhabitants, so long as the caravans crossed the wastes. They did so mainly to avoid the deadly pirates of the Vilayan and the punishing tolls of the southern principalities. Wherever they went, oasis towns sprung up to serve them, with mud-brick walls for protection from the bandits who followed in the caravans\u2019 wake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was to one of these walled towns that Roderick now brought the rescued slave girl. He did not wish to return the way he had come, so he led them several days\u2019 journey to the southeast, where a short range of age-weathered mountains offered some sparse grazing. The land was not fruitful enough to support anything more than the occasional walled town, but it did offer some respite from the desolate wastes of the deep desert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHave you been to this place before, Master Roderick?\u201d Laria asked as they approached the town gates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNay,\u201d Roderick admitted. \u201cBut I\u2019ve been to enough like them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tired plodding of their camel\u2019s hooves clopped monotonously on the dusty ground. \u201cForgive me, Master Roderick, but what do you intend to do here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not your master,\u201d Roderick gruffly replied. \u201cAnd as for what I intend, that depends on what we find. With luck, we\u2019ll find you some work soon enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He glanced over his shoulder, only to see her face fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut I don\u2019t want to leave you,\u201d she said with pleading eyes. \u201cBesides, I have a bad feeling about this place. Something tells me that we shouldn\u2019t stop here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNonsense,\u201d Roderick muttered. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing amiss about this quiet town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, Master. I\u2019ve never had a feeling like this that turned out to be wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He sighed and stopped the camel to dismount. After taking the beast of burden by the reins, he looked up at her and held her melancholy gaze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou cannot come with me to Xulthar, Laria. It\u2019s far too dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are not a slave anymore. You must learn to take charge of your own life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria\u2019s eyes filled with tears. \u201cI know that you think that life as a slave is miserable,\u201d she told him, \u201cand perhaps until you became my master, it was. But you are a good man, and I would be happy to serve as your slave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick shook his head in frustration and disbelief. He could not understand why Laria rejected her own freedom so adamantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook here, Laria,\u201d he said sternly. \u201cYou are not a dog, or a dumb beast of burden. You are a person, with thoughts and feelings of your own, and the power to take control of your own destiny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow can you expect me to do that, when all I\u2019ve ever known is life as a slave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick\u2019s expression softened. \u201cI know that a life of slavery is all you have ever known. But you must not think of it as your only opportunity for happiness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat if it is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is not,\u201d he said firmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria paused. \u201cFor a lord of a noble house, perhaps that is true. But for one such as myself, with no wealth or family, this world is dangerous and cruel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen we will find someplace safe where you can start over,\u201d Roderick told her. \u201cA place such as this town. Don\u2019t worry\u2014I will not simply abandon you here. I\u2019ll stay as long as it takes for you to settle down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou will?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Roderick reluctantly promised. He had hoped to leave her at the next tavern and continue on his quest, but clearly he could expect her to establish herself in this place. No\u2014he would help her to secure employment, or perhaps an apprenticeship with the town weaver or midwife. It would take more time to do so than he would have liked, but time was not something he had in short supply, and he hated the thought of her falling back into slavery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll find you an apprenticeship,\u201d he said, walking the camel by the reins. \u201cAfter you\u2019ve learned some useful skills, you\u2019ll have no trouble making a new life for yourself in your place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Laria said dubiously. \u201cFor your sake, Master Roderick, I will try. But I have seen what money can do to people, and I fear\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid,\u201d he said, cutting her off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They traveled the rest of the way to the town\u2019s main gate in silence. The ramparts of the rough stone walls were empty, but a guard stood beside the heavy iron doors, which hung open. The guard on duty rose from his bench as they approached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHo there!\u201d he called out to them. \u201cWho goes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe seek a place to rest and spend the night,\u201d Roderick answered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guard squinted at him skeptically. The sun was just beginning to crest the horizon off by the western wastes, and soon it would be dark. Night always fell swiftly in the desert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd what business do you have here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are travelers from a distant land,\u201d Roderick told him. \u201cMy companion is looking to settle down in these parts. As for myself, I am a seasoned warrior looking to hire out my sword.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That last part wasn\u2019t exactly true, but if Roderick was to spend some time in this place, he would have to employ himself somehow. Besides, he sensed that if he told the guard of his quest for the lost city of Xulthar, it would raise more questions than he cared to answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The guard squinted at Laria in the rapidly dimming light before turning to Roderick again. \u201cAsk at the tavern,\u201d he said brusquely. \u201cIt\u2019s down the main street, fifty paces from the wall. There\u2019s a trough by the gate where you can tie and water your camel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d said Roderick, following the guard through the gate. After tying the thirsty camel, he helped Laria to dismount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI still have a bad feeling about this place,\u201d she told him as she glanced warily at the mud-brick houses and dusty alleys. The town\u2019s main thoroughfare was unpaved, and the windows were all shuttered against the coming night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll be safe with me,\u201d Roderick reassured her. \u201cCome, let us find this tavern.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The tavern was a seedy establishment, filled with rough-looking men who eyed Laria lustily. They reminded her of some of her worst masters. The smell of stale beer and greasy food hung heavy in the air, and the sound of raucous laughter made her wish she was anywhere else. If the rest of the town was anything like this tavern, then her premonitions were likely correct and they\u2019d made a mistake by stopping here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She tugged on Roderick\u2019s sleeve, trying to pull him aside so they could discuss the matter in private, but he ignored her and walked up to the barkeep on the far side of the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGood evening,\u201d he said genially. \u201cWe are looking for a room for the night. And perhaps, if possible, a job for my companion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No!<\/em> Laria wanted to scream. Can\u2019t you see how dangerous this place is for me?<\/em> She would be like a sheep in the midst of wolves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The barkeep gave them both a once-over, then nodded. \u201cAye, friends. We have a room for you. As for a job,\u201d he glanced at Laria with a suggestive smirk, \u201cI\u2019m sure we can find something for her to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria recoiled from his gaze, glancing at Roderick to gauge his reaction. But he seemed totally oblivious to the subtext beneath the barkeep\u2019s words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will take the room. And perhaps a meal as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019ll be one silver and three coppers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick reached for the pouch of money at his belt, then frowned and cursed slightly under his breath. Laria had seen him fill it with the coins the slaver had been carrying, but now it seemed almost empty. He withdrew his hand and opened it to reveal a single silver coin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll take the room, anyway,\u201d he muttered darkly. \u201cBut hold the meal for now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The barkeep smoothly pocketed the coin in his food-stained apron. \u201cDown the hall, third door to your left.\u201d From a large ring of keys on his belt, he procured one and handed it to Roderick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The room was about what she expected: an old rug on the hard dirt floor, a crudely fashioned table with two wooden stools for chairs, a single, tightly-shuttered window, and a large, foul-smelling mattress with stained sheets. Laria had never been forced to play the harlot (thank the fates), but from stories she\u2019d heard from those who plied the trade, it was clear that this room was frequented by women of their profession. Laria had little doubt that if Roderick left her here, she would ultimately be forced to join them. How could he be so oblivious to such things?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a mistake to come here,\u201d she told him boldly as he shut the door. \u201cThis town isn\u2019t safe for me, Master Roderick, and I don\u2019t think it\u2019s safe for you either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye,\u201d he said softly. \u201cI\u2019m beginning to believe you are right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She brightened a little at his answer. Perhaps he wasn\u2019t as oblivious as she\u2019d thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat must we do?\u201d she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He grunted and unstrapped his belt, laying it on the table with his sword and scabbard. \u201cI\u2019ve already paid for the room, so we might as well stay here for the night. We\u2019ll leave in the morning and find another town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His answer stunned her. If coming to this place was a mistake, then why didn\u2019t they leave right now? True, the hills were almost certainly harboring bandits, but the town seemed no less dangerous, and the solitary desert was only a short hour\u2019s ride away. Then she remembered Roderick\u2019s coin pouch, and how distraught he had seemed upon finding it nearly empty. But how could he let money be his master, especially if he was supposed to be free? What was the point of freedom if it meant being a slave to one\u2019s money?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease, Master Roderick,\u201d she urged him. \u201cYou\u2019re not going to bring back that silver by spending the night in this place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick turned his back to her and mumbled something inaudible as he began to unstrap his armor. Perhaps she had pushed him too far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cForgive me, Master. I spoke too\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor the hundredth time, I am not your master!\u201d he growled moodily. \u201cThe entire purpose of bringing you here was to help you to be free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She frowned. \u201cBut didn\u2019t you tell me that I don\u2019t have to do anything I don\u2019t want to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes,\u201d he conceded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, I\u2019ve already told you that I don\u2019t want to leave you. So even if you will not have me to be your slave, the least you can do is allow me to go with you to Xulthar.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot so loud!\u201d he hissed, glancing over his shoulder. \u201cWe can\u2019t risk letting these ruffians overhear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does that mean I\u2019m coming with you?<\/em> she thought but did not ask. No sense in pressing her luck just yet. Even if he only saw her as a traveling companion, that was better than before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just at that moment, a knock came at the door to their room. Laria and Roderick looked at each other, her in confusion, him in alarm. Had she made a mistake by mentioning the name of Xulthar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho is it?\u201d Roderick asked, hastily redoing the straps of his armor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy name is Jamal,\u201d came the voice from the hall. \u201cI\u2019m a merchant of sorts, and the richest man in this town. I have come to make you a proposition.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instantly, Laria disliked the man. She shook her head at Roderick, but he motioned for her to stay quiet as he opened the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat sort of proposition?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jamal casually stepped past him into the room. He was a tall, spindly man, with a dark red cape and a thick, black goatee. His deeply set eyes scanned the room before resting inexorably upon her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo this is your \u2018traveling companion.\u2019 I hear from the barkeep that you are looking for some, ah, employment<\/em> for this girl.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His words sent an uncomfortable chill down Laria\u2019s spine. She\u2019d seen his type before: there was always at least one of them at the slave auctions, scrutinizing her carefully with his cold, calculating eyes. While most men regarded her as little more than livestock, his type saw her as meat to be slaughtered. She had no idea what he intended for her, but she knew it could not be good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In desperation, she looked to Roderick, whose hand moved reflexively for his sword. It was not on his waist, though; he had left it lying on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The man turned smoothly to face him, though if he had noticed the gesture, he made no sign of it. He was dangerously difficult to read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHere is my proposition,\u201d he said, reaching for his bulging money pouch. \u201cI am more than willing to take her off of your hands, and can compensate you generously for the privilege.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick frowned. \u201cYou mean, you want to buy her? As a slave?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jamal paused, as if measuring Roderick\u2019s reaction. \u201cI see you are a plain-speaking man of action,\u201d he answered at length. \u201cI like that. It is something I can respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou haven\u2019t answered my question.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVery well. To put it plainly, yes, that is what I propose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For an instant, Laria feared that Roderick would take the trade. Thankfully, he did not disappoint her. His lips curled back in a snarl, and he quickly stepped between her and Jamal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe\u2019s not for sale,\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jamal raised an eyebrow. \u201cYou are a solitary traveler in a strange country, with a conspicuously empty purse. Without any money, you will not make it far in the caravan towns of these parts. Or perhaps you would try your luck in the deep desert, from which few men ever return?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick drew himself up to his full height and glared at the man. \u201cShe\u2019s not for sale,\u201d he repeated, his voice dangerously low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a pity,\u201d Jamal replied. \u201cIt would not be wise of you to reject my offer, as you may not get another one after I leave this room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick clenched his fists in a manner that made Laria worry he would do something even more unwise than rejecting Jamal\u2019s offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are not welcome here,\u201d he said through gritted teeth. \u201cLeave now before I do something we will both regret.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt seems you already have,\u201d said Jamal, narrowing his gaze. Then, with one last bone-chilling glance at Laria, he turned and left the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as he was gone, Roderick shut the door. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d he asked her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria nodded, releasing a long breath as the tension melted out of her. \u201cThank you, Master Roderick, for protecting me from that man. I have a feeling that he would have made for a terrifying master.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYour days of having any master are over,\u201d Roderick said gruffly as he helped her to her feet. \u201cCome, let us leave this town. It clearly isn\u2019t safe for either of us anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Roderick and Laria crept quietly out into the hall and turned away from the main room, seeking some other way out to the street. Fortunately, a back door by the kitchen led to an alley behind the tavern. Roderick paused only long enough to make sure no one had seen them escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outside, the sun had already set and the stars were starting to shine through the purple light of dusk, leaving the streets and alleys shrouded in darkness. No torches had been lit yet, if indeed any of the lowlife scum of this town bothered with such civilized amenities. Roderick should have known that nothing good could come from these greedy caravan towns. He could see now that he\u2019d been a fool to try and leave Laria in a place such as this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He kept a tight grip on his sword hilt as they hurried toward the wall. Thankfully, the town was small enough that it was impossible to get lost, though if it were much bigger, these dangerous alleys and darkened streets would have made for a veritable maze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walls were in sight when three cloaked figures emerged from the shadows ahead of them. Laria gasped and shrank closer to Roderick as he unsheathed his sword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHo there,\u201d Roderick called, his voice carrying a hint of menace. \u201cWhat do you want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have business with you,\u201d one of them said in a gravelly voice. He gestured toward Laria with a gauntleted hand. \u201cGive us the girl and you can go on your way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNay,\u201d said Roderick, placing himself between her and them. \u201cShe is under my protection. I will not let you take her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first man laughed as the other two drew swords and daggers. \u201cYou certainly are brave, but we cannot simply allow you to leave\u2014not after how you defied our employer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick struck first, lunging at the man who was their leader. He drew his blade with impressive speed, parrying the blow while his comrades countered Roderick\u2019s attack. They all were clearly skilled fighters, and with three against one, Roderick was dangerously outmatched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria screamed as one of the cloaked figures grabbed her from behind, dropping his dagger to do so. She struggled valiantly against her captor\u2019s grip, kicking his feet and biting his gloved hand. She was too weak to have much of an effect, though her struggles made it impossible for the man to carry her off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Roderick soon saw that that was not their aim. They only wanted to prevent Laria from escaping before they had finished him. Even in the dusky shadows, he could see the bloodlust in their eyes, and could feel that their blows were calculated to kill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did not come this far to die in this accursed den of desert thieves,<\/em> Roderick thought as he barely managed to parry a ferocious attack. The riposte sent his would-be murderer stumbling backward, but the other man renewed his attack, forcing Roderick to turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were trying to circle around him, one to the left, the other to the right. Roderick had to step quickly to keep them from doing so. If he were facing only one of them, his broadsword could easily shatter their narrow and flimsy blades, but against two, speed made them formidable. As soon as one of them managed to get behind his back, they would surely make grisly work of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoderick!\u201d Laria shouted, her eyes wide with terror. The henchman who held her tightened his grip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet her go!\u201d Roderick bellowed. The leader of the thugs lowered his sword and laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou want us to release her? Very well. Surrender, and we will let her go free. You will make a fine galley slave on the Vilayan Sea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI thought we were to make an example of him,\u201d the third man said. With the lull in the fighting, Roderick saw that the man\u2019s brow was dripping with sweat. He must have been doing better against these thugs than he had thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd so we shall,\u201d sneered the leader. \u201cWhat will it be? Make your choice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick braced himself, his muscles ready to explode into action. Suddenly, he remembered how the slaver in the desert had been distracted before his death. He smiled and stabbed his sword into the dirt of the unpaved street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere,\u201d said the leader, relaxing his guard. \u201cWise decision. If only you had\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUse your magic, Laria!\u201d Roderick shouted as he tossed her the claw talisman. Her captor was momentarily distracted, and she used that moment to break free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Catching the talisman in her outstretched hands, she lifted it into the air and began to chant. The henchman hesitated, uncertain whether to grab her again or to fall back. The other two froze as well, their eyes fixated on the talisman as if it were the key to their doom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in a sense, it was\u2014just not in the way they expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick seized the opportunity and charged at the leader, snatching his sword and swinging it with all his strength. The man crossed blades in an effort to stop the strike, but he was caught off guard, and fear of Laria\u2019s non-existent magic made him slow and clumsy. Roderick\u2019s sword easily broke his flimsy defense, slicing open his chest and spilling his guts onto the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other man lunged, but Roderick parried the strike and sent a devastating riposte that slashed his arm. He screamed in agony and dropped his sword. \u201cYield!\u201d he shouted, falling to his knees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roderick spun to face the last remaining henchman, who found himself at a severe disadvantage. Whatever Jamal paid his men, it wasn\u2019t enough to keep this one in the fight. He turned and fled down the darkened alley, abandoning his comrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With rage still burning in his heart and adrenaline still coursing through his veins, Roderick now turned to the wounded man who knelt quivering on the rough, uneven ground. It would be so easy to slit his throat. The gods knew that he deserved it, and in an unruly town like this one, Roderick did not think he would be missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that was not Roderick\u2019s way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGet out of here,\u201d he said, knocking the man to the ground with the flat of his blade. The would-be murderer scurried hastily into the shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laria looked in horror at the man that Roderick had slain. His corpse lay prone in his own gore, and his blood was seeping rapidly into the thirsty ground. But when she turned and looked at Roderick, her face bore much the same expression as it had when he\u2019d slain the slaver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou saved me again,\u201d she said, her voice full of gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He took the claw talisman from her hand. \u201cYou fared well enough for yourself, Laria. Was that a real spell you chanted, or gibberish?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGibberish,\u201d she told him. \u201cI might not be strong, but I can think fast on my feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAye, that you can. Now we\u2019d best get out of this place before Jamal learns that we\u2019ve slain his men. Come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He hastily wiped his blade on the shirt of the dead man before sheathing it, then took Laria by the hand. They followed the wall to the watering trough where their camel still waited. Thankfully, no one had stolen it yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaster Roderick,\u201d Laria asked him as he helped her mount the beast. \u201cWe make a good team, don\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He grunted noncommittally as he mounted the camel with her. The guard on duty made no move to stop them, and within a few moments they were free of the town, riding out into the darkness of a moonless desert night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<< Chapter 3 <<<\/a> The Riches of Xulthar<\/a> >> Chapter 5 >><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Laria They arrived at the next oasis an hour before dusk. Judging from the crumbling mud-brick ruins, it had once been a thriving settlement, where caravans had rested and merchants had traded exotic wares. Laria even recognized the remnants of an old slave auction block, like many she had been sold at before. But the… Continue reading The Riches of Xulthar: Chapter 4<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1688],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-riches-of-xulthar","entry"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7iXK-4vt","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17327","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17327"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17327\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17376,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17327\/revisions\/17376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17327"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17327"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onelowerlight.com\/writing\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17327"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}