Guild Wars_ Ghosts of Ascalon - Matt Forbeck [50]
Gullik leaned down and spoke to Dougal in a confidential tone. “My regrets for yesterday,” he said. “Bear’s tongue, I haven’t drunk that much since I had to barricade myself inside the Busted Flagon tavern in Divinity’s Reach. They threatened to banish me forever.”
“And when was that?”
The norn rubbed his stubble-dotted chin as he thought about this. “A month ago. No, maybe last year. It’s been a while. In any case, I hope I didn’t do anything earlier that I might regret.”
“You passed out right after you failed to kill me,” Dougal said.
“Excellent!” Gullik placed a massive hand on Dougal’s shoulder, and for a moment Dougal wondered if he were about to be strangled to death. “I remember every bit of that. Well, most of it. Enough to know I was being hasty and happy to give you a chance to make amends on our way to Ascalon City.”
Riona breathed in and out through her nose to compose herself, then explained. “When Gullik finally woke up, he was brought to General Soulkeeper. She asked him personally to not interfere further with you, as you are on a vital mission for the Vigil. When he learned that, he insisted on joining us.” From Riona’s expression, she did not approve of this new addition at all, and was seriously looking to Dougal for support in rejecting his offer.
Soulkeeper said calmly, “You could use some more muscle.” She looked up at the norn, who gave her a little laugh. “Even with Doomforge along as your guide, you’re sure to have plenty of fighting ahead of you.”
“I do not need his help,” Ember said, but did not press the point. It was clear that the charr had been fully cowed and would not challenge the general further. Riona didn’t say anything, but glared at Dougal again.
Dougal, for his part, held his tongue. Even on best behavior, a charr in the party would be problematic, and the presence of a norn, even a norn like Gullik, would work to their advantage. Riona saw he was not going to enter into the discussion and let out a deep, frustrated sigh.
“You need more help than even a single norn can provide,” Soulkeeper said, “but you will make do with his. At the very least, Gullik Oddsson here should be able to provide you with an excellent distraction for your foes.”
“Hey-ho!” the norn shouted in response, raising his fist into the ceiling. “I am nothing if not distracting.”
Soulkeeper caught Dougal’s eye and gave a very human-looking shrug. “I was going to offer him his freedom in return for joining your mission, but he volunteered before I could get that far.”
“Speaking of offers,” Dougal said, “we were talking about a sword earlier. Among other things.”
“Indeed.” Soulkeeper scratched the side of her muzzle and glanced at the empty scabbard still hanging from Dougal’s belt. “You’re like a declawed charr. We can’t send a human out into the world without a proper blade, can we?”
Dougal shook his head. Riona said, “A proper blade that he won’t break, I hope.”
Soulkeeper gestured for Naugatl, who was lurking in the shadows of the hallway. The frog-man hopped forward on long, rubbery legs, bearing a long bundle in his thin arms.
“You made a good choice, dryskin!” the hylek boomed in a gravelly voice. “This blade, she is too good for you!”
“But the mission isn’t?” said Dougal, scowling at the hylek.
“No.” The hylek winked a transparent eyelid at Dougal as he unwrapped the sword and handed it over. “That is too bad for you.”
Dougal took the blade and unsheathed it in a single movement. It leaped silently from its scabbard as if on springs. The blade glistened in the firelight, black and oily. The ebony color seemed to have not been applied to the metal but to run straight through it.
“What does it do?” Dougal asked as he hefted it and gave it a few swings to test its balance. It felt natural, like an extension of his arm.
“What? You mean, does it shoot lightning or burst into flame or something like that?” General Soulkeeper bared her teeth in a smile.
“Something like that.”
“I am afraid not,” said