Chapter 26
A Foundation of Stone and Sinew
The next morning dawned clear and cold. In the common room of The Gilded Quill, Renly laid out the day's plan over a simple breakfast of oats and dried fruit.
"Lyra," he began, "your task today is to find us a house. We'll be here for more than a few weeks. Look in the outer skirts, near the northern gate if possible. Something with a small stable or yard for Aethon and the mules. Secure it for three months. We can always extend if needed." He handed her a pouch containing five silvers. "Use this for the first month's rent and a deposit. Be prudent, but don't be afraid to spend for something secure and clean."
Lyra's eyes widened at the responsibility and the trust, but she nodded firmly, her practical nature taking over. "I will find us a good place, my lord."
"Will, you're with me," Renly said, turning to the young man. "We have a beast to hunt. Bring the skinning knives and the large pack."
An hour later, Renly and Will passed through the northern gate, the morning sun casting long shadows behind them. The "northern farmlands" were a patchwork of fields and woodlots on the city's outskirts. They quickly found the affected area: a swath of crushed barley and trampled fencing, the ground churned by massive, distinctive hoofprints.
"Rock-Tusker," Will whispered, his voice a mix of fear and excitement.
Renly nodded, his senses alert. "It's a solitary creature. We'll track it to its daytime resting place."
The tracking was a lesson in patience and observation. Renly pointed out broken branches, disturbed leaf litter, and the unique, cloven shape of the prints. Kaelen's analytical mind, honed by data patterns, found the beast's logic—it was moving towards a dense thicket near a stream, a place for cover and water.
They found the beast nestled in a clearing, a massive, shaggy bovine the size of a small wagon, its namesake stone-like tusks looking like geological formations. It was asleep, its sides rising and falling rhythmically.
"Wait here," Renly instructed Will. "If it charges, climb a tree."
He didn't charge in. Instead, he used the environment. He found a game trail leading into the thicket and carefully set a simple snare, not to hold the beast, but to startle and slow it. Then, he gathered several large, heavy stones.
Positioning himself downwind, he took aim and hurled a stone with all his Enhanced strength. It struck the beast's thick flank with a solid thump. The Rock-Tusker lurched to its feet with a surprised, angry bellow. It charged blindly in the direction of the attack, right into the snare. The rope snapped taut around its foreleg, not stopping it, but causing it to stumble and crash into a tree, disoriented and enraged.
This was the moment. Renly didn't give it time to recover. He sprinted from his cover, his movements a blur. As the beast shook its head and focused on him, he closed the distance. It lowered its head and charged, tusks glowing with earthen energy, preparing to trigger a tremor.
Renly didn't retreat. He ran straight at it, then at the last possible second, used the Electric Surge. The world sharpened. He leaped, not over the beast, but to the side, his boot connecting with its shoulder for a moment of purchase. As his hand touched its hide, he released a controlled jolt of energy.
The beast convulsed, its charge faltering, the building tremor dissipating harmlessly. It wasn't a killing blow, but a stunning one. In that second of paralysis, Renly's sword found its mark, driving deep into the vulnerable spot behind its shoulder, piercing its heart. The fight was over in less than a minute, a testament to precision over power.
Will emerged, eyes wide. "That was... incredible, my lord!"
The rest of the day was hard, bloody work. They field-dressed the massive creature, salvaging the valuable tusks, the thick hide, and several bundles of prime meat. Will, despite his youth, worked tirelessly, learning the gruesome but essential skills of a hunter. They loaded the mule with their spoils and returned to the city as the afternoon sun began to wane.
Their first stop was the Mercenary Guild. The sight of the massive Rock-Tusker tusks laid on Mistress Cora's counter drew appreciative nods from the veterans in the hall.
"Contract fulfilled," Renly stated.
Mistress Cora inspected the tusks, then stamped his guild charter, adding entry next to his name. She counted out fifteen silvers. "Efficient work, Ser Renly. The farmers will be relieved."
Next, they went to the market, selling the hide and meat to a tanner and a butcher respectively, adding another eight silvers to their purse.
They found Lyra waiting for them at the inn, her face flushed with success. "I found a place, my lord! It's a bit small, but it has two bedrooms, a main room, and a small stable out back. It's on Oak Lane, near the northern wall. The landlord is asking two silvers a month. I paid for the first month."
She led them to a quiet, cobbled lane. The house was a modest, two-story stone cottage with a slanted roof and a chimney. It was simple, but sturdy and private. The landlord, a retired carpenter named Harwin, was waiting.
"Ser Knight," Harwin said, shaking Renly's hand. "Your girl drives a hard bargain. Two silvers a month, three-month lease. I'll need one month in advance."
Renly handed over the two silvers. "It will do nicely. We'll move in tonight."
As they transferred their belongings from the inn and settled Aethon and the mules into the small stable, Renly overheard two neighbors talking by a well.
"...so it's official. Lady Elara is now an apprentice to Great Shaman Velyn himself. The Count announced it this morning."
"And have you seen? The Rose Chamber of Commerce is opening three new 'Velyn's Elixirs' shops in the inner city. The Count's putting his gold where his daughter's future is."
"A bold strategy. Betting on shamanism. But they say the tall trees suffer the strongest winds. With the Demon Core gift to the Princess, he's made powerful enemies. No wonder bandits are getting bold on his roads—enemies don't always wear another lord's colors."
The comments painted a clearer picture: the Count was consolidating a new power base through his daughter and a lucrative new business, all while navigating the perilous royal succession.
That evening, they ate a simple dinner of the Rock-Tusker meat stew in their new home. The house was sparsely furnished, but it was theirs. A hearth, a roof, and a door that locked.
As Will banked the fire for the night and Lyra arranged their few possessions, Renly sat in the main room, the events of the day settling around him. He had a base of operations, a small but growing income, and a foothold in the Mercenary Guild. But the overheard gossip reinforced the scale of the game being played. To acquire the resources he needed, he would have to navigate this world of thorns and roses.
Tomorrow, he decided, he would look for a local, trustworthy person to manage the stable and help Lyra with the house. He needed his small team focused on his goals, not on daily chores. Lying in his bed later, listening to the unfamiliar sounds of the city at night, he felt a sense of momentum. He was no longer just a visitor. He was a player, however small, and he was learning the rules of the game.