(World of Valdira 01) The Way of the Clan (17 page)

My head was buzzing because of too much information gained today. I started feeling exhausted. I forced myself to brisk up my pace and finally reached the bushwood where I had spent the previous night and almost fell on the ground. The only thing I could do after that was to tuck both rucksacks under my head and cover myself with one of the cloaks. That will do for today. Basta! Where’s the exit?

Exit.

Chapter 7

Zar’graad as a Shark’s Bait. The Cradle. Day Five. Everything in the Name of the Clan!

I woke up easily. And I could explain it – just let myself sleep some extra hours. I hadn’t set the alarm-clock on purpose. Not just because I had burnt out rushing about the Cradle all day like a mad gopher. Actually I was waiting until the vortex of thoughts settled down in my head and all the emotions calmed down as well.

I had such an irritating habit to do some stupid things driven by emotional impulse. And such things as a rule tend to be wrong.

For example, my marriage… giggling, silly jokes, rash promises and then, bang, here it is, a ring on my finger. My marriage didn’t survive longer than a month. From the second of December till the thirtieth of the same month. After that Elena left for her snobbish parents, banging the door to end it. What a nice New-Year gift! I took it with a quiet acknowledgement. The only souvenir left was a thin wedding ring. A useless piece of metal. In Valdira a wedding ring has got some plus characteristics at least, it can protect against some specific combat skills and spells. I stayed in bed a little longer, then got up slowly and surprised myself by making my bed neatly. After that I walked around the room to pick up dirty plates and glasses, brought them to the kitchen and keeping the same slow speed, did the proper washing up and set everything in their places. Then wiped off the table and put the kettle on the cooker.

Finding myself in the hall, I stood there for a moment, then stroke a pose ‘front plank’ and started doing push-ups. Push-ups! I lost my breath at twenty-three, dropped on the dirty linoleum like a sack exhaling with a whistle. After lying for three minutes on the floor I forced my hands to stretch straight and did another twelve push-ups with great difficulty. Well, now it’s time for a contrast shower. I came back to the kitchen fresh, dressed in clean underwear and smelling after-shave. I must go mad… I had some problems with my mind before, but today I must eventually have lost it.

I sat at the computer only after a substantial and properly chewed breakfast. Logged in Valdira’s forum and all my half-mad calmness vanished away.

The forum was being torn into pieces, bended, bulged and fevered by a great number of new topics. And each topic title contained one and the same word – Zar’graad. Even columns of multiple-paged topics, catchy titles, rows of exclamation and question marks. Besides question marks prevailed. I clicked the title of one of the topic and began reading:

‘To the person who found and read Zar’graad’s spell! Please, respond!’

‘I, Thunderbird, the head of the Archangels’ clan, announce officially that I’m ready to enroll you into our clan! I guarantee you the provision of the prime class gear! Help in level advancement as a member of elite force unit! And that’s not all! I’m open to discuss your demands any time! Approach any member of our clan or PM me directly!’

I skipped the posts below and came back to the main page instead to click the next topic.

‘Zar’graad! Guys, who read the scroll?! Name the nickname!!!’

‘Who knows the nickname of the gamer who got Zar’graad’s spell?!! Name! give me his name! And why there isn’t a picture of him in the inn? That’s an achievement, isn’t it?’

Well… the next topic.

‘Zar’graad!!! I can offer a great award to a person who will tell me the nickname of the gamer who got the status of Navigator! Pay gold or real!!!’

‘It’s clear from the title! But I can explain again – a person who will provide me with the true info about Navigator will be paid darn well! Offer is negotiable! I can pay either real money or gold. High-level ‘legendary’ stuff is available! I’m here in the game every day! Plus, I guarantee you access to my ship! My nickname: Black Tornado!’

I swallowed noisily and clicked again:

‘Zar’graad! Business offer from Baroness, the head of the Sleepless clan!’

‘Hey, stranger! My congratulations! You’re a lucky one! Now you’re unique. I’m not going to promise you anything, just know – I’ve got a very serious business offer for you. Contact me in the game and say – I’m Navigator to Zar’graad. I’ll find you wherever you are. Then we’ll talk. Believe me – you WON’T be disappointed. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!’

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…. My shaking finger hardly found the mouse’s button.

‘Go to Zar’graad! I announce admission to the shipyard of White Panthers clan! Double pay!’

‘All gamers, attention, please! Everyone who wants to earn some money and increase their skills! I announce labor recruitment to work at the shipyard of White Panthers clan! A complete package. Protection of laborers by the clan’s best members! The best at the construction site will gain special awards! Those who will contribute all their time into ship-building will get a warranted ticket to one of the ships! Please, contact the gamer nicknamed Leopard!’

I sat back in the arm-chair, hardly controlling my hands that were reaching to the keyboard eager to type ‘It’s me!!! It’s me who learnt the spell! It’s me! Me! Me! Me!’ I was able to return to the forum only after defeating my vain alter ego as a safe winner. It’s too early to dive into that still water as still water runs deep.

I didn’t study all the topics just scrolled down the whole forum to make sure that there were over two hundreds of similar topics with almost identical titles. It seemed that all the dwellers of the world of Valdira were interested in just two things: to reveal my incognito and to construct ships. Ships to go to Zar’graad.

Now I saw it clearly that Zar’graad wasn’t a person but a place which could be reached only by ship. Hrmph… and what about achilots? They don’t need any ships. I don’t understand. Although they do need ships. Achilots are keen swimmers but to use breaststroke swimming across the ocean is a doubtful entertainment. And sea predators are still alive. But it’s not the most essential at the moment. It’s high time to find out what Zar’graad is in fact.

I closed the forum and logged in the game portal. I didn’t have to search for a long time – the breaking news was on the main page.

Ahoy! I see the ground! Zar’graad is on the horizon. It happened! Way to the lost continent Zar’graad can be open! The spell considered lost has been found and learnt! Get ready for colonization! Navigator came to the world. He can lead ships through raging seas right to Zar’graad and chase away the magic veil set by the ancient race of the Great over it! A huge continent where no creature of sense has stepped for ages! Abandoned towns and castles, forsaken mines, endless forests and valleys, deep underwater ravines, islands submerged into seas, dark caves with terrible monsters, ancient treasure and artifacts, legendary weapon and armor, unique sets and runes, magic scrolls with unfamiliar spells and, surely, crazy adventures! All that and even more is waiting for you on Zar’graad!

The only thing to do is to reach the lost continent!

So take your hammers and saws!

Start building ships at shipyards! And then set off to adventure the unknown under sail filled with favorable winds!

Voyage to the world’s end! Journey to Zar’graad!

Further information is available in the portal special section (click here).

Oh my god…

Stop… I’ve already heard about this mega-advent – the discovery of a new continent in the world of Valdira which isn’t small even without it. But the name slipped out of my mind. No wonder – such a tricky word hard to pronounce, let alone remember it… And the main idea is that it hasn’t been breaking news for a long time. Rather a fairy-tale. A legend about another Atlantis. Three years passed since Zar’graad was mentioned for the first time. I didn’t play then. And I when I joined the game, the fuss had already decreased long time ago. Well… just rare phrases on the forum and gamers’ discussions. But there you are… the fairy-tale came true.

I’m Navigator to Zar’graad.

‘Shall I phone daddy? I always wanted me to be a sailor. Let him get proud of his son’ – an absolutely crazy idea occurred in my mind.

A sudden telephone rang made me jumped up.

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Hello?

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Hey, Ros! Do you recognize me?

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Yup, I do. Hi, Gosha.

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So be prepared today. She’ll come to the Cradle about in an hour give or take ten minutes. Can you meet her at the entrance?

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Sure, as we agreed.

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Good. Then get ready for immergence.

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Hey, why aren’t you at work? It’s already ten a.m. – I asked having looked at the alarm-clock face – Are you calling from the office?  

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What? Nope, from home. I’m on holiday – Gosha informed me – For a month plus day-offs for three weeks. Don’t you know what’s happening? Log in the portal and read! Such events are going on! All Valdira is turned inside out! Damn that bloody work!

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What’s going on? – I wondered in an innocent voice – You know I’m still hanging about in the Cradle. Advancing there slowly. Besides I’ve just waken up and logged in the game portal just a minute ago.

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You amaze me! Forget about advancement! Zar’graad is open! – Gosha usually as cool as a cucumber must be shivering with excitement fever. He spat out words fast than burst of machine-gun fire.

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Ah! Zar’graad… yeah, I’ve read about it. Avout Navigator and crazy adventure on a new continent…

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Damn this adventure! Damn bloody Navigator! – Gosha suddenly roared so angrily that I put the receiver aside from my ear. – I’d choke off this son of bitch! Why has he learnt the spell these days? Could he wait for another half a year until we boost our positions… damn it! Now we’ll have to spread into two directions! To fight against clans and to build ships! You know how much is it to rent a shipyard? I’m ready to take off my armor and put it out for bids! And resources?! You won’t buy them even if increase the price three times plus everybody seems to take up robbing caravans! And he period designated for ship-building is as short as a month and a half!

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E-e-er… I’m sorry, Gosha – I uttered carefully – Well, no matter how much the rent is, your clan’s treasury can afford more. Yours is one of the best clans anyway. You’ll scrape up the gold required.

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Do you know what amounts they are talking about? And ships aren’t rubber ducks. We’ll need at least five of them. And it’s a poorest alternative, a ticket to failure! Well, forget about it. It’s not your headache. You’ve got another task. Don’t let me down, Ros! Please, at least cope with the first step!

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I’ll do my best – I said as serious as I could – And even more. I promise.

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And I promise you, Ros, if you complete both quests successfully, I personally will hand you a ticket to one of our ships! You’ll sail to Zar’graad with us!

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Oh… thank you, Gosha. I told you – I’d do my best. Thank you for a ticket!

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You bet – the hefty fellow grumbled charitably – Otherwise you don’t have a chance to get there.

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Absolutely! Otherwise no chance – I agreed – Ok, I must go now. Or I can be late for the meeting. What’s her nickname, by the way?

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I don’t know her new name. It doesn’t matter much. She’ll find you. I told her your nickname. Your task is to wait her at the entrance not to miss each other. That’s all. Bye.

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See you…

Making sure there were short beeps heard in the receiver, I hanged up and looking at the ceiling drawled thoughtfully:

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We-e-ell, what a mess…

A flash…

Nice to see you again, rainbow…

Green branches penetrated by sunny beams were dancing over my head. Merry babble of birds was blurring with a grasshopper’s clicking. Stretching my body, I sat down slowly and gave a sleepy smile. A tender sunny beam ran over my face to make me screw up my eyes. Good morning, Valdira. Ok, that will do for lounging, it’s time to get down to urgent business. In real world I’ve got much fewer things to do than here! First I shook out the content of both rucksacks and started sorting out the pile. I sorted according to the principle: to you – to me, to you – to me, to me – to me, to me – to me, and this one definitely goes to me…