Dungeon of Chance: Even Odds: A Dungeon Core Novel (Serious Probabilities Book 1) Jonathan Brooks (book recommendations txt) 📖

though one of our new ‘Heroes’ has something to say.” Rosara’s father cut Bertun off short with exaggerated sarcasm at the word ‘Heroes’, and he didn’t look especially pleased with having to do that.  While Jeska’s own father didn’t hold any political power, he was still a very highly influential member of the city; in terms of wealth, their family was probably wealthier than anyone else in attendance, but they also didn’t flaunt that wealth.  It was that last fact (as well as her father being quite generous with that money) that endeared all of them to the majority of the people of the city, whom the Mayor wanted to keep on his side; and if he wanted to keep them on his side, he was occasionally forced to accede to the whims of the eccentric entrepreneur.  Up to a point, of course.

It didn’t take long for her to feel more than a bit self-conscious as everyone turned to look at her with varying expressions on their faces, ranging from curious to bored to angry.  That last mainly came from those that were most opposed to the introduction of Heroes to their community, including Bertun and the majority of the wealthier individuals in residence.  Well, sorry to break it to all of you, but the world doesn’t revolve around you and your concerns.  We’ve got bigger fish to catch.

“Yes, thank you, Mayor,” she started, her voice a bit quiet to her ears, so she tried to increase in volume so everyone could hear.  “I’ve heard tell that you all are unaware of what new Heroes popping up here should mean…not only to Chardelia, but to all of Sunfall Island.  Does anyone know why there are Heroes in the first place?” she asked the crowd.

As expected, she could see that everyone had some sort of vague idea, but no one spoke up…except for one of the beggars.  She didn’t know his name, but she vowed to learn it as soon as possible.  “My mother always said it was to combat some sort of threat, but I’ve never seen them.”

“That’s true—none of us have.”  She was starting to warm up to the crowd, and now that she had their attention, somehow a good portion of her nervousness drained away.  She started walking around, bringing herself to the front as she spoke so that everyone could see her better without having to turn around.  “Scarlete,” she asked one of the sailors she recognized, “you’ve visited dozens of ports around the mainland, I’ve heard tell – have you seen one of these threats?”

“Nah, I ain’t seen them – but I’s heard about dem from hundreds of people who has,” she said, a bit of an accent from someplace Jeska knew not coloring her voice.

“Exactly,” she said with emphasis.  “I would wager to guess that very few non-Heroes have seen these ‘threats’…but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.  I’m sure you’ve all heard the stories of giant monsters descending upon unsuspecting towns and cities, destroying buildings and killing hundreds or even thousands of people.  Heroes, including myself and those here who have accepted the position, have the duty of preventing these ‘World Threats’ from wreaking uncontested havoc over the land.  Deep down, I can feel it.  Can you feel it?” she asked of the seamstress, who reluctantly nodded.  “Can you feel it?” she asked again of one of the merchant sons, and then one of the sailors, who all nodded or acknowledged it verbally.

“Yeah, so what?  Are we just supposed to sit by while our family members are taken away to the mainland to fight these ‘World Threats’?!” Bertun stood up and shouted, startling Jeska for a moment.  “We don’t have these Threats here, so why should we care?  They can take care of themselves!”

She turned around and nodded at the shipping businessman.  “You’re absolutely right – we don’t have these Threats here, do we?”  She shook her head thankfully, which was echoed by most of the crowd.  But then she hardened her eyes as she looked at Bertun and said, “But what if our presence here isn’t just some sort of accident?  Don’t you think it strange that so many of us became Heroes essentially overnight?”

“What are you getting at, girl?” the Mayor asked testily.  Jeska wasn’t intentionally trying to be dramatic (she hated that kind of thing), but she needed them to understand a little more of where she was coming from.  If she had just stood up and shouted, “We’re all doomed!”, that probably wouldn’t have gone over well.  As it was, she had to improvise, but it seemed to be working.

“What I’m saying, Mayor, is that like what was mentioned earlier, there has to be a reason for all of this.”  Here we go….  “And there is: A World Threat is headed to Sunfall Island.”

As she had also expected, there was an uproar in the room, though the nature of it wasn’t exactly what she thought it would be.  A third of the people in attendance were angry and dismissive, calling her ridiculous and a fool; another third were panicked, screaming in hysterical nonsense as they took her words for truth; the last third were nearly silent, and were composed mainly of the new Heroes as they contemplated what she said.

“Young lady; you can’t go around spreading these lies, or you’ll start a riot!” the Mayor angrily shouted when the hubbub from her announcement simmered down to a murmur.  “Where did you get this false information, anyway?  Or are you just making it up?” he accused savagely, practically frothing at the mouth.

She answered as promptly and as truthfully as she could.  “I saw the looming presence of this Threat when I accepted the position of Hero, along with all of the other information that the Class Orb imparted to me.  And before you dismiss that as some sort of fancy hallucination,” she continued, seeing that the Mayor