Beers and Beards-Chapter 30Book 4: : Chosen Roundtable

I grabbed a mug of ale and chugged it, still rattled. “Somethin’ about me partyin’ it up while others were struggling.”

Joseph shook his head. “Someone will always be struggling. We take what joy we can when we can.”

Berry nodded. “And screw the haters!”

I grunted. “... Thanks Berry.”

She gave me a thumbs up, then went back to eating cheese.

“This really has been a lovely party Pete. I really have been isolating myself. You know, I haven’t been to a gathering of more than fifteen people in, oh, at least two years.” Mirelda sighed.

I gave her a nod as I finished off my beer and then ran my arm over my foamy moustache. “Aye. And speakin’ of years, I called you all here cause we’re now just over halfway through the eight years time limit on the Great Game.”

There was some uncomfortable shuffling at my words as everyone deliberately didn’t look around and size each other up.

I continued, “And nobody seated at this table is planning on killing everyone to win it. I don’t think.”

“Who even cares?” Berry asked, rolling her eyes. “I can cast magic spells, I’m dating a sexy elven hunk, and I’m a world famous superstar. What more could I want? And besides, I’m probably winning at influencing people anyways.”

Joseph nodded contentedly. “Indeed. This is quite nearly like home, but I get to live for several thousand more years, and am nearly impossible to kill. And the vision of beauty waiting for me backstage after every show is simply the tomato atop the pasta.”

The two of them held hands.

Mirelda and I glanced at each other and mimed gagging, then laughed. Seriously, the two of them had gotten worse with time. Especially when the bards had started yapping up their relationship to the locals.

“You’re seriously telling me there’s nothing you want from a Godly wish?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Berry shuffled uncomfortably, and Joseph remained blank.

“Uh huh,” I sniffed.

Berry snapped. “Hey, Joseph would like to do magic. Not all of us got fancy cheat Abilities you know, Pete.”

New novel 𝓬hapters are published on ƒreewebɳovel.com.

“Hey, I earned that [Mana Sense]!”

“It sounds more like Barck sacrificed for it!”

“Ugh, don’t make me defend Barck of all Gods!”

“Then maybe you should be more thankful for the things you got, ingrate!”

“Now, now,” Joseph interceded, placing a palm on the table. “Pete is correct. There definitely are things I would wish for. However, none of them are important enough for me to jeopardize my livelihood and place in Awemedinand. Pete remains under the protection of the [Mother Tree] so long as he doesn’t do anything that threatens harm to the city.”

Mirelda whistled. “Oooh, that’s a flag.”

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

We all looked at her and she blushed.

“A… flag?” Berry asked.

Mirelda took a deep breath, then explained, “A flag is a literary device for when something is said or a trope is introduced that commonly leads to a terrible event. Like when the police officer says, ‘I’m only two weeks from retirement’. Or the sidekick says, ‘I’m going to propose to her when we get back. Those are called ‘raising flags’.”

I considered it. “So, like, Chekov’s gun?”

She shook her head. “No, Chekov’s Gun is Chekov’s Gun. It tells authors not to introduce or describe something in detail if it’s not relevant to the story. Though It’s like ‘show, don’t tell’ in that it can mess some authors up. Seriously, It’s fine to have background detail that never becomes relevant, that’s just worldbuilding! And don’t get me started on ‘show don’t tell’!”

Her cheeks were red with irritation when she finished. She huffed, and brushed a lock of hair off her ear.

“Oh! Like when the only brother in the horror flick decides to go off on their own?” Berry said enthusiastically. “Is that a flag?”

“Erm…” Mirelda considered it. “I… guess so?”

“I’m afraid I’m completely lost,” Joseph said with a note of amusement in his voice. “Chekov? Horror Flick?”

“I’ll explain it to you later.” Berry said, giving him a pat on the shoulder. “Nether, you might enjoy some of ‘em.”

I eyed Berry. “Did you complete the hidden ‘one of body and mind’ achievement?”

She grinned. “Yep.”

Well then, I could believe that she didn’t care about the Game anymore. Her driving force for a while had been going back home because she missed it, but, well…

Love could make us do crazy things.

“What about you, Peter,” Joseph asked, gesturing in my direction. “You’ve been quite pointed in your questioning of us. Do you have any reason to turn hostile and see us all dead?”

I blinked. “Uh, no.”

“He used to talk a lot about his wife and kid,” Berry frowned. “I know he still misses ‘em.”

I felt a pang in my heart, but not a strong one. I gulped as Mirelda gave me a sad look. “I… do miss ‘em. But honestly, my daughter’ll be fine, and Caroline had my life insurance money and the business. They –”

I choked down a ‘They probably barely miss me’ both because I knew it wasn’t true, and it hurt too much to say.

“It’s not a factor,” I finished, sighing. “I’ve moved on, and they’re strong. If anything I’d wish fer Barck ta forever have split ends in his beard.”

“Hah!” Berry laughed. “You really don’t get along well with him, do you! I’ve never had any issues with Archis! I’d wish for, I dunno, to live as long as Jo.”

“All of my interactions with Tiara have been quite pleasant.” Joseph nodded. “And I’d probably just wish for [Mana Sense]. The possibilities of Magic are quite intriguing.”

“My last meeting with Midna involved a lot of crying and yelling.” Mirelda grumped. “Because I told her I was giving up on trying to write with everything happening. So I don’t foresee any wishes in my future.”

“So you’re saying you’re the most trustworthy person here?” Berry asked. “Why aren’t you running this meeting?”

Joseph looked Mirelda up and down. “We don’t know that she’s telling the truth about that, cara mia.”

I snorted. I’d been the first to meet Mirelda, by complete happenstance, and had gotten Joseph to look into her. Her story checked out, as far as we could tell. So he was either being disingenuous or overly cautious. I personally still considered him the most dangerous of the local Chosen.

“You know. I have a one time use Ability called ‘[Deific Revelation]’, we could just ask,” I said. “That, or ask the local [Prophet] to help us see the Gods again.”

Joseph’s eyes narrowed. “I have that Ability available for my level eight influence quest. You already have it? Where are you in your influence quests?”

I glanced to the side. “Uh…. I’m on nine fer dwarves, eight for gnomes, and truckin’ on the others.”

Joseph snorted. “You really are doing better than the rest of us.”

I shrugged. “Music and magic are more niche than food and drink, I think. The fact that ‘usin’ beer in cooking’ and tech like tha Whistlemugs counts is pushin’ me ahead, methinks.”

Joseph gave me a hard look. “I see. And no, you shouldn’t waste your [Deific Revelation] on something like that. We can all see that miss Mirelda isn’t influencing very much. I believe her story.”

Mirelda blushed again, and took another swig of cider.

I cleared my throat and changed the subject. “On the topic of single use Abilities. Do you all know what the [Karmic Reversal] does? Do you all have one?”

“I used one on myself,” Mirelda said, shivering. She touched her left ribs. “I got shot with an arrow, and it let me get to a [Healer]. I don’t have any uses left.”

“I’ve got a couple,” Berry said. “Haven’t had a need to use mine yet. The instructions on how to use it weren’t very clear, but Joseph figured it out.”

I gave him a questioning glance and he just smirked and didn’t clarify

My lips thinned. “Hold onto them if you can. I’m not sure if they go away when the Game is over, but it may save your life or someone you care about.”

I went on to explain the events with Tourmaline and how we’d used it to save her mother. Mirelda really got into it, asking me the fine details and smiling with pleasure when I finished the story.

“Like a prince in a fairytale,” she sighed.

“Pete? A prince?” Berry scoffed. “Who ever heard of a prince with a beard wider than he is tall?”

“You’re just jealous that your boyfriend can’t grow a magnificent piece like this,” I shot back, brushing my beard.

“To finish the thread of conversation that Peter has lost,” Joseph interrupted. “Things are comfortable right now, but we still don’t know about three of the Chosen – Aaron, Solen, and Yearns’. Lunara’s Chosen, Lord Harmsson is now sequestered in a prison mine, and will not be out before the eight years are up, I am assured. But, there is a chance, especially with Yearn and Aaron’s Chosen, that they may cause enough chaos that we’ll be glad for having some [Karmic Reversals] saved up.”

There was silence for a moment as Berry and Mirelda considered that. Berry looked thoughtful, but Mirelda turned white. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair, and got that shell-shocked look again. I shot Joseph an accusing glare and he subtly shrugged.

Berry noticed and frowned. She looked Mirelda’s way and her face softened. “Well, if it comes to that, I’m certain Awemedinand and Crack will have our backs. Jo and I are both sworn to the King, and you’re practically royalty yourself, aren’t you Pete. We’ll look after you sister, don’t you worry!” She reached across the table and patted Mirelda on the arm.

Mirelda looked up and brightened. “Thank you, Berry.”

I cleared my throat, again. “One of the things I wanted ta talk about is what our plans are in an emergency. Joseph, there are enough Greybough associated locations around tha city that yer our best bet. I always have access ta Cascadia, but I donnae always want ta use it.”

Joseph nodded. “Yes. I have already arranged several safe houses. I can share some of them with you. I’ll get a map, and ask you to memorize them.”

Mirelda smiled. “That’s kind of you.”

“Notice he said ‘some’,” I muttered.

“So… three more years?” Berry mused, staring down at the table. “And then this’ll all be over and we can go on with our lives?”

“From what I’ve heard, yes.” Joseph nodded. “That’s what previous Chosen have said.”

“Any other ones around?” I asked. “Other than [Mother Tree]?”

Joseph frowned and stooped forward on the table. We all leaned in to hear.

In a foreboding voice, he whispered. “No. As far as I can find, other than the [Mother Tree], there’s not a single other previous Chosen. Anywhere on Erd.”

I shivered.

Now there was a flag.