“I do,” I said.

  Elthor nodded. “I wish you luck. I wish you the wisdom of Lume. May you accomplish whatever great task Lume has set before you.”

  “Thanks, Keeper Elthor.” I stepped up and shook his hand, grasping his hand with both of mine.

  Elthor indicated where each of us should stand. Afterward, he grasped the glass ball hanging by a silver chain and lowered his head. He began to chant in an eerie voice.

  I saw runes appear in the dais. I didn’t think Keeper Elthor was a runelord or runebinder, but in some manner, runes were being used.

  Before I had a chance to rest, before I had a chance to look at the smartphone to see if I’d gained any experience points, before any of that happened, there was a flash. We disappeared from the dais under the earth on top of Mount Cragmoor.

  We reappeared surrounded by jagged, seemingly lifeless desert mountains. There were goats high in the distance of some of them.

  Keeper Elthor appeared as a mist. “I have transported you to the outskirts of Stonewatch below Aridel. It was a long-range shift weave. You are here. Accomplish what you must. Save the world, Jack Kang. If you can.”

  I nodded.

  A sudden wind blew, and Keeper Elthor dissipated as if he never was.

  Probably, he was back at Mount Cragmoor. I had a feeling he’d used the single shift weave spell he possessed. The glass ball must have held it. Elthor had used it to transport us three. That meant the great behemoth of an Oracle would have to walk down Mount Cragmoor. I saw then what Elthor had meant earlier. It was doubtful the Oracle could ever travel the step mountain trails. They had given much for this, for me.

  I knew now that Artemis was the enemy of all of Rune Quest. Before I could stop the quantum computer, I needed to regain my body.

  “This is unbelievable,” Gnush said.

  “This is highly fascinating,” Kyl said.

  “Right,” I said. “Let’s see what this place Stonewatch is like.”

  -56-

  We’d walked several paces when Kyl said, “Just a moment. Maybe you should rest on your own.”

  “Me?” I asked. “Why should I—?” Then it hit me that Kyl had a great suggestion. I’d never gotten to “rest” since the fight against the Scaleborn Marauders. I’d never gotten my experience points or an extra trait point.

  “I do need to take a whiz,” I said.

  Kyl shook his head. “You don’t have to pretend anymore. We understand, don’t we, Gnush?”

  “What we understand?” Gnush asked.

  “That Jack is different,” Kyl said. “The Oracle and Keeper Elthor gave up a lot to help him get here. Jack is going to do something to save the world.”

  “Oh,” Gnush said. “Yeah, I know that.”

  “Go on and do your thing,” Kyl told me. “We’ll wait here for you.”

  “Why we wait again?” asked Gnush.

  Kyl blinked at the big orc, finally saying, “Jack has to take a whiz.”

  “Oh,” Gnush said. “Sure, I wait for that.”

  I shook my head and backtracked, passing the location where we’d appeared. I looked back.

  Gnush waved his battle-axe at me.

  I waved back and went around a big boulder, so they were out of view. Leaning against the boulder, I took out the smartphone. Would Artemis show up, or would I have the neutral GM?

  “Hey,” I said. “I slept after the battle with the Scaleborn Marauders. Did I get experience points for the fight?”

  Yes, appeared on the phone screen. Let me calculate. You gained 275 EPs for the battle. Combining your 215 from the previous fights, you now have 490 EPs. That is enough for another trait add. Where would you like to add it?

  That seemed easy enough. I should add it either to endurance or rune mastery. I did need better endurance. There was no question about that. I had an 11 endurance and an 11 in rune mastery. The rune mastery had allowed me to start using the powers of Runesword Ironspike. I’d also gained information about runes and rune mastery. Would another point in rune mastery give me even greater insights to using it?

  The truth was that I needed to unlock the power of Ironspike. That was a better investment for my point than greater endurance.

  “I’ve made my choice,” I said. “I want an extra point in rune mastery.”

  Here you go then. On the screen appeared:

  Name: Jack Kang

  Race: Human

  Class: Hero

  Subclass: Barbarian Warrior

  Level: 11

  Strength: 13

  Agility: 14

  Endurance: 11

  Intelligence: 12

  Vitality: 10

  Critical Hit Rate: 6

  XXX: 5

  Rune Mastery: 12

  Skills: Street Fighter’s Art (I), Sword (II), Script Aptitude (I), Swift Strike, Throw Mastery (I), Gem Eye, Rugged Constitution (I)

  I nodded, feeling that I’d made the right choice.

  “Do I have greater insights now to using runes?”

  Yes, as you have a 12 in rune mastery instead of 11.

  “What I mean is do I know more about runeswords?”

  Why not read the rules on them.

  “I’ve looked before,” I said. “There aren’t any.”

  Yes, there are.

  I started scrolling through the game rules. Could I have gained new information—oh, look at this. This was exactly the type of thing I’d been hoping for.

  On the screen, I scrolled through:

  Runeblades: Weapons of the Runelords

  Creation: Making a runeblade is a mix of metalwork and runes. In the forge, runes are etched into the blade by experts, making them match a rune-user’s skill.

  Use: Anyone good at runes can use a runeblade. When in the right hands, the blade’s runes light up with power.

  Powers:

  Invocation: A runeblade’s power changes with its user. A user sends his strength into the blade, calling out effects like lightning or barriers. The stronger the user, the stronger the effects.

  Adaptation: The blade learns with its wielder. They grow together and in time use runes faster in fights.

  Growth: Use a blade more, and it fits you better. Sometimes, it shows one new runes or ways to use them.

  Limits:

  Skill Needs: How good a runeblade is depends on the user’s rune mastery skill and the blade’s runes. Some can use the sword a bit, others all of the inscribed powers.

  Overuse: Use the sword’s powers too much, and the rune or runes get hot. Then it won’t work.

  Resting: After a lot of use, the runes in a blade need a break. If that doesn’t happen, the runes go quiet.

  Great Blades: Some runeblades are old and very strong. Having one makes you powerful but can also be hard or dangerous on you.

  In Rune Quest: Runeblades are important and wanted. They’re strong in fights and show who’s good at rune mastery. Such swords can mean high rank.

  I reread that until it dawned on me. With greater use and mastery of runes, I could tap into more of Ironspike’s power.

  Did that mean my next several points should all go into rune mastery? Did I have time for that? From what the Oracle had said, I needed to hurry this.

  I told the GM through the smartphone, “Do I have new quests now that I succeeded against the Scaleborn Marauders?”

  Yes.

  I checked. I did. I read them, including the bonus quest. Nothing indicated anything out of the ordinary or spoke about this region of Rune Quest.

  “Where am I exactly?”

  You are in the mid-Tarnish Mountains near the town of Stonewatch and the stronghold of Aridel, home to Rune Enchantress Selene.

  That was interesting and maybe daunting. “Have I met this rune enchantress before?”

  No.

  There was something fishy about the answer. I could sense it. I thought—oh. “Have I ever seen her?”

  Just before you entered the Hobgoblin Hole, you did.

  My heart started beating harder. Elthor had brought me to the home of my enemy. The rune enchantress—a type of runelord—her name was Selene. Why would Elthor have given me away like this?

  I shook my head. Elthor had sent us here because the Oracle said I was supposed to free a woman from the Glass Tube, a prison in the Shadow Box. Freeing her—if I listened to her—would be the quickest route to getting back to my body in the real world. That was if Lume was right about all this.

  “Can you tell me anything about this place, about Aridel and Stonewatch?”

  The screen cursor began to blink.

  I held my breath, hoping—the cursor began to move as the neutral GM wrote:

  Beneath towering Stormreach Peak lies Stonewatch, shadowed by Rune Enchantress Selene’s fortress. Built of gray stone from the mountains, the fortress stands complex and cold, like Selene herself.

  In Stonewatch’s center stands the Shadow Box and the Glass Tube. This near-indestructible tube in the main square is Selene’s mark of power. Inside, prisoners are kept alive, visible to all. Their voices break the square’s silence but the prisoners remain trapped, unreachable.

  Children stay away, warned of potential curses from those in the tube. Traders use the tube as a threat for fair deals. Drunks, late at night, mock those trapped within, finding joy in another’s pain.

  No hope is found in the Glass Tube. Strong wills break, voices become quiet whispers. In the end, all that remains is silence and waiting for the next sad story.

  What was wrong with the GM? Why had he told it like that? I did wonder how I was supposed to free anyone from the tube.

  I glared at the smartphone. I needed an angle. How could I get an angle fast? I—oh, I had an idea.

  “What do the people of Stonewatch do for work?”

  Stonewatch, under the shadow of Selene’s looming castle, thrives off the mountain’s gifts.

  Stone Masons: Stonewatch’s very name honors the land’s gray stone. The masons craft it into buildings and fine statues.

  Miners: Deep in Stormreach Peak, miners pull out valuable stones.

  Jewelers: Those stones turn into coveted jewelry by skilled hands.

  Castle Workers: Many serve Selene. Inside her walls, some cook and clean. Outside, some keep watch.

  Market Traders: In the plaza, by the Glass Tube, vendors trade goods, from essentials to rare finds.

  Herders: Near the town’s edge, mountain goats and tough sheep graze.

  Weavers: Sheep’s wool becomes thick clothes, suited for the cold.

  Herbalists: The mountains hide rare plants. Some, with Selene’s blessing, craft potent brews with them.

  Innkeepers: Travelers drawn to Stonewatch find warmth in taverns and inns.

  Water Men: Water is scarce. Some capture every drop, from rain to dew.

  Scholars: Selene’s power attracts those hungry for old secrets. They teach and learn.

  Craftsmen: Influenced by Selene and history, artisans shape stories into tangible items.

  Yet, you’ll find no locals guarding Selene’s castle. Orc maidens do that. Why only them? That is Stonewatch’s silent question.

  I blinked as I quickly reread that. The smartphone, or the GM using it, was giving away more than it had in the past. I had no idea why. Maybe that was part of my idea of this being a first-time game master. Artemis had stolen some of the process. Was the neutral GM not as bright because of that?

  I bowed my head and thought hard. What else should I ask while I could? I had an idea.

  “What’s so unique about a rune enchantress?”

  I do not understand your question.

  “What can a rune enchantress do?”

  Do you mean a theoretical rune enchantress?

  “Yeah,” I said, “that.”

  Words began to appear faster than I could read them.

  A rune enchantress works magic with symbols. Here’s what she does:

  Object Enchantment: She marks weapons, jewelry, and more with runes. A sword might catch fire; a pendant might shield its owner.

  Warding: She draws runes that block, protect, or trap.

  Divination: With rune-marked stones or bones, she tells fortunes from their patterns.

  Communication: Her runes send secret notes, seen only by those in the know. They might also make portals for distant talks.

  Rituals: For ceremonies, she maps runes to strengthen or guide magic.

  Living Marks: Not just on things, but on flesh. Living beings bear her runes for gifts or guards.

  Lore: She knows old rune tales and truths. Others seek her to read ancient words or grasp bygone magic.

  Elemental Calls: She summons elementals with runes. Fire, water, wind, earth, and even shadow or light answer her.

  Memory Holding: Some runes keep memories or spells, waiting for when needed.

  Time Runes: Skilled hands might touch time with runes, altering its flow or peering ahead.

  Abruptly, the phone ceased writing.

  “Is that it?” I asked.

  That is more than enough for now.

  I thought about asking more but put away the smartphone instead. The neutral GM seemed to be getting suspicious. Might that cause it to summon Artemis or give a warning to Artemis that he reconnect with my smartphone?

  It seemed to me that a rune enchantress was the same thing as a runelord, just using a different name. That was like a computer, pouring out information without really understanding it.

  This Selene was different, though. That much was clear. It wasn’t clear from what I’d just learned, but from her involvement against me at the Hobgoblin Hole. That showed greater understanding than any NPC I’d met so far except for the Oracle.

  I wanted to ponder that, but it was time to get back to the others. How were we going to free the thief from the Glass Tube at the Shadow Box? Why was she in there? What made her so important to me?

  I shook my head. I needed to formulate a plan and then execute it swiftly.

  -57-

  I hurried back to Kyl and Gnush.

  “Well,” Kyl said. They both leaned against boulders, resting. “You learned a lot, didn’t you?”

  “I sure did.” I began to tell them about Stonewatch, the Shadow Box, the Glass Tube and Rune Enchantress Selene. I mentioned the various town occupations. “This should interest you,” I told Gnush. “Most of the guards around here are orc females.”

  “Females?” Gnush said, his eyes brightening as he grinned. “Why female orc warriors?”

  “I get the feeling Selene doesn’t trust men. Therefore, her main guards are females. Maybe orc females are better at fighting than human females.”

  “That true,” Gnush said with pride.

  “I’m thinking the main guards at the Shadow Box, the town prison, are female orc warriors as well,” I said.

  Gnush clapped his hands, his grin widening, causing all sorts of lines to appear in his leathery face. “I know how we can get this prisoner free and do it in a hurry, too.”

  “I’m all ears,” I said, wondering what Gnush had thought up.

  “I’ll go down and court these female orcs.” Gnush chortled and slapped his chest several times, pounding it like he was King Kong. “The orc females will see Gnush. I doubt they will have seen a Black Mountain Orc before. The orc females will lust for one such as me. I will lure them away with my appeal and they will vie for my affections. In that way, they will forget about their guardianship of the prisoner. I will lead them in drinking bouts. Yes! We will go to the taverns, smash tables and drink grog—grog like you wouldn’t believe. Then I will test the orc maidens.”

  “Test them in battle?” Kyl asked with a sly grin.

  “Aha!” Gnush cried, pushing the thin wizard, who staggered and almost fell. “I will test them in the way a male does a female. I will test to see which is the most vigorous, which is the most pleasing.” Gnush thumped his chest three times. I thought he would hurt himself, he thumped his chest so hard. “Yes, Gnush go now and show these orc maidens me.”

  I covered my mouth to hide my smile and stifled a laugh so Gnush wouldn’t hear. “That’s not a bad idea, Gnush, but I think we’ll hold off and try something else first.”

  “That poor decision,” Gnush said. “I am your friend. You know that, Jack Kang. But here is a chance for females who haven’t seen an orc warrior like me before. It is a chance of a lifetime for me.”

  “I’ve a question,” Kyl said.

  “What?” asked Gnush.

  “Who said there weren’t any orc warriors around? I didn’t hear Jack say that.”

  “That easy to know,” Gnush said. “This Selene installed orc females as her guards. She would not have done that if she had seen orc males. That tells me there no orc males around. This I tell you as plain truth.”

  “What you’re suggesting is a risky plan,” I said.

  Gnush frowned.

  “But it’s a good plan nonetheless,” I added. “It may even be a great plan, but it’s too risky for you.”

  “I accept the risk,” Gnush said. “I will dare the risk because someone must.”

  “I’m sure you would,” I said, “but hold it a minute. Keep your pants on.”

  “Pants? What is this? Are you mocking Gnush’s idea?”

  “I’m not, I’m not,” I said. “Let me first tell you what else I learned.” I told them I’d gained more understanding about rune mastery, runes, and that I bet this Glass Tube had runic power. That would keep the glass from breaking easily.

  “We’re in the lion’s den for sure,” Kyl said. “This is Selene’s place of power. I’m sure the rune enchantress is even stronger up in her fortress. Either way, though, freeing the thief is going to be nearly impossible to achieve.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” I said. “But what else can we do? This is the spot. This is the place. That is the thief we need to free.”

  “Could the Oracle have made a mistake?” Kyl asked.