Marin, Book 1 (The Xortha Chronicles)

Chapter 30: The Undead

Marin

Chapter 30: The Undead

One week before term started at the school, Marin and Abby were setting in the common room of The Stormhammer when Verina walked in.

"Hello, you two!" said Verina, "How are things?" Verina, Marin, and Abby chit-chatted for a few minutes about school, the weather, and assignments from Mr Malor.

"Speaking of Malor," said Verina, "I haven't gotten an assignment from him in sometime and I still need three hundred falcons to cover tuition for school. Is there any way you could lend it to me?"

"What assurance do we have of repayment?" asked Marin.

"I don't have anything I can offer but my word," said Verina, "I go to Malor's office everyday hoping he has something for me but so far, no luck! My last job I got from him, I had to ride to D'Marrith to chase down a bloke for questioning; it only payed two hundred gold and took four days round trip." Verina sighed, "I know we haven't been on the best of terms, but I have no one I can turn to for help, and if I don't get that coin I will have to save a whole other year to finish school next term. Please, Marin, will you help me?"

Marin knew what it's like to be completely alone with no one to help her. She sighed, "Hold on," Marin went to her room and got a Tiger's Eye out of her gem pouch and a spare scroll of Portal and took it to Verina.

"This gem is worth about five hundred falcons," said Marin, "sell it for the coin you need." Then Marin handed Verina the Portal scroll, "And copy this to your spell book, it will help you travel around so you're not riding for weeks just to get somewhere."

Verina was almost in tears, "I'll do my very best to pay you back for this, I swear!" Verina very nearly ran out of The Stormhammer.

"I hope you know what you're doing," said Abby, "There is a chance she won't pay you back for any of that."

"I don't expect her to pay us back," said Marin, "She's down on her luck and needs a hand up and I think it was the right thing to do to help her."

Abby smiled at Marin, then took her by the hand and led her back to their room.

The suns shined extra brightly that day.

It was the day before term started and Marin and Abby went to get their new books and dorm room assignment. Abby asked if they could get a private room since she and Marin were married but the dorm mistress said the school didn't have any and if they wanted a private room they would either need to go to an inn, or look for a house or tenement to live in.

"Let's just take a normal room for now and decide later on what to do," said Marin.

Marin and Abby went to their new room and Verina was there. "Looks like we're back together this term," said Abby with a smile.

Verina stood and hugged Marin and Abby. "Good to see both of you!" She rummaged around in her things and took out a coin purse then gave it to Marin. "Here's two hundred falcons. I got four fifty for that gem you gave me and Malor contacted me the next day with an assignment."

Marin smiled, "Go ahead and keep it. Buy something nice for yourself."

Verina hugged Marin, then thanked her and put the gold away.

They all chose their bunks and put their things away when a woman stepped into the room. She was shorter than Marin by half a hand, had long straight black hair, dark eyes, and pale skin.