Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

Chapter 157 - 157 - Having an audience

I swallow hard as I turn to face the direction the slow clapping is coming from, primed to launch myself into another fight I can't possibly win. Not given my current state. The first strike to hit me would probably end me then and there before I can catch a second wind. The prospects are … sobering. What I get to behold gives me pause though.

There, sitting on one of the nearby, nameless grave markers in between the trees covering much of the hill sits another ghost. She isn't anything like the ones I have dealt with so far though. She isn't anything like Barad the butcher either. Sure she is translucent and emits the same ghostly glow, but that's where the similarities end.

Shoulder length reddish blonde hair, a hint of freckles, a dress that actually looks nice and the banjo she is holding, none of it matches the ragtag impression I got from the other ghosts so far. And of course she doesn't display any gruesome wounds hinting at the way she might have met her end.

I'm still on guard though. Looks can deceive and there are probably few people more familiar with that particular pearl of wisdom than me. What really makes me relax in the end is, that my danger sense doesn't stir in the slightest.

Before I can ask any questions she jumps up from where she was sitting to walk over any join me, apparently not inconvenienced or even just bothered by my magical lights in the slightest. She must have noticed my surprise as she is quick to explain.

"That kind of light spell only works on ghosts that are pretty weak. So, not that hulking brute and most certainly not me. The names, Báine by the way."

She is speaking Arngarm and not the more common, around here, Syld, thus I replay using the same language.

"What are you?"

That, of course, is not exactly a very tactful question to ask. It's not the most diplomatic way to ask it either. Thankfully she doesn't seem to mind in a bad way. Either that or she is making allowances for my most recent experiences with the spectral undead. Her answer surprises me anyway.

"A bard. Isn't it pretty obvious?"

Is … is this humor? Well, alright, why shouldn't she have a sense of humor. It's common enough trait. Not everyone can be a murderous asshole both in life and undeath, right? I blush and rub the back of my neck, actually embarrassed for once.

"Ah, yes, a bard. The banjo should have tipped me off. But, no, I meant … well, you are a ghost of some kind. But you obviously aren't anything like the ones I dealt with here."

My words still don't seem to disturb her. She happily nods along with them.

"Sure, sure. I get what you are trying to say. I'm a banshee. Goes surprisingly well with being a bard. And yes, I'm nothing like the ghosts from this gruesome hill because I'm not from around here."

I listen quietly and as she mentions that she is a banshee I do actually shiver a little. That sounds considerably more dangerous than the average ghost. And where is she from if she isn't from around here? For that matter, what is she doing here? Before I can actually voice any of those thoughts she speaks up again though.

"Don't worry. I don't go around wailing and dropping people dead left and right for miles around. I actually followed you here because Sezemat asked me to have an eye on you."

"She did?"

The cheerful, spectral appearance nods happily.

"She sure did. Wanted me to make sure you don't get yourself killed."

My gaze briefly wanders to where the last remains of ectoplasm, the only thing left over after the end of Barad the butcher, are evaporating. The question is at the tip of my tongue, but I don't get to actually ask it. It's probably obvious what's on my mind.

"Oh, don't worry, I would have stepped in if there had been any need, but you did pretty well on your own. Can't exactly deprive you of your chance to grow and prosper in good conscience. Anyway, we should get going, now that you have dealt with that ugly brute."

I have no reply to that, not at first anyway. Getting out of here is pretty high on the list of my priorities too after all. I doubt it will be this easy though and decide to say as much in the end.

"There were plenty more ghosts encircling me before that hulking brute decided to make his presence known. A dozen at least, two, more likely, even accounting for the ones he and I destroyed."

She looks at me for a moment. Then she shrugs.

"More like fifty. Only a sparse few actually manifested themselves to confront you."

She pauses to look around, as if there were things only she could see, and considering her revelation there might just be plenty of things beyond my senses surrounding us. Finally she speaks up again.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"I doubt any of them will be a problem. Not right now anyway. You destroyed the asshole to whom they each owe their own gruesome fates. I wouldn't be too surprised if most begin to fade in the following days once they come to terms with it. They really hated and feared that Barad chump. And the rest … well I doubt they will dare come close to us as long as I'm around. So, no problem in that regard. I can still wait though, if you need another moment to catch your breath."

I can't help but gape. In the end I nod. Her words are meant to reassure me, no doubt, but I still want to catch a second wind first, before I leave the comforting light shed by my spells. Now, how do I best go about it? It probably will be best if I use one of my hedge witch class skills. In the end the choice is easy.

"I hope you don't mind if I cast another light spell?"

The playful banshee bard shakes her head.

"No problem. I'm quite alright with light. Always have been. In fact I have been able to manifest in bright daylight from the very start."

Her chatty nature earns me some progress for my [Gather Information] skill, thus I don't complain. Instead I focus on a spot above us to create another sphere of magical light. Once again some of my Mana drains away to fuel the spell and a moment later the desired orb of light comes into existence, followed by a very welcome set of notifications and the clatter of dice.

[*Ding!* Your skill Light has leveled up to level 5!]

[*Ding!* Your class Hedge Witch leveled up to level 6!]

[*Clatter!* Your Health increased by 4!]

The invigorating feeling, as my third class levels up, my second wind, feels better than ever before. My Mana reserves refill and all the aches that have been plaguing me due to the various ghosts fade and disappear entirely, as if they were gone with the wind.

Báine chuckles, the effect obviously not lost on her.

"You'll have to be careful, that will stop working eventually. Or close enough anyway, when your next level up in all of your classes is years away at times. Do try to come up with other options before you eventually get in over your head. Anyway, ready to get going?"

I'm ready, but there is something else I need to do before I can return to town.

"I'll need to head a little uphill first to retrieve my pack."

Once again the spectral bard is not surprised in the slightest.

"I know."

Just as I'm about to take my first step I sop dead in my tracks again.

"You? Know?"

She shrugs nonchalantly.

"Of course I do. I have been following you around ever since you met the lady Sezemat at the theater."

My eyebrow twitches a little. In the end I simply groan and resume walking even as I talk.

"You did, didn't you? And I didn't even have the slightest inkling."

The ghostly bard starts plucking a little tune on her instrument, truly hauntingly beautiful, as we follow the way back to the depression, still marked by another magical light, where I dropped off my pack.

I have to admit, it makes the trek across the still spooky hill somewhat more bearable. If I didn't know that there are still other ghosts around, too spooked to show themselves right now, this might actually be a pleasant midnight stroll. Well a midnight stroll across a haunted graveyard right. So, almost a date? A real weird one? I can't help but snort in amusement at the thought. It certainly could be worse though.

Anyway, what matters is, that we reach the spot where I dropped my things without being interrupted or outright attacked. As I shoulder my pack, sheathe my sword and put my buckler back on my belt too, I decide to take the opportunity to ask some more questions, even though it means that I have to interrupt the benevolent banshee who is still strumming a lighthearted melody on her spectral instrument.

"I hope you don't mind me asking. Sezemat asked you to watch out for me?"

"No problem and yes, she did. You coming here wasn't exactly a very well kept secret, you know. And since the lady's younger brother seems to care about you and she cares about him … well, here we are."

I nod. It makes sense. Of course the dragon didn't just ask the banshee to watch my back out of the goodness of her heart, but her reason is one I can relate with. Either way, I'm not quite done asking questions, thus I quickly continue, as I readjust everything one last time.

"And you and lady Sezemat? I take it there is a story there too. Or am I wrong?"

The banshee chuckles. A sound that gives me goosebumps, but surprisingly enough not in a bad way. A wistful smile plays across her lips as she answers.

"Of course there is. But that's a story for another day. It's rather long and not exactly recent history. With her caravan I get to travel and perform all over the frontier. Drop by the circus some time, stay after the actual show to catch my performance if you feel like it."

A little grin finds its way onto my lips, as I nod. An additional performance as a kind of hidden bonus after the actual circus show? It sounds neat. I might just do that. As I get going I pick a way that will let us circle around the haunted hill.

"That's probably not all though. Am I right?"

She really doesn't mind my continued prodding. She doesn't disagree with the path I have picked either. She simply answers the question without providing any real details.

"Of course not. Long story short, I owe her. Thus, if she asks me to look out for one of her brother's acquaintances, I do so. And besides, now Fox owes me too."

It's then, that another notification tickles my mind. It's a welcome surprise.

[*Ding!* Your skill Arngarm (Language & Script) has leveled up to level 4!]

This one counts towards the progress of my masked mediator class, which will take a while to level up again, but that's quite alright. No, it's more than just alright, considering how rarely these language skills seem to make progress. Belatedly her last statement registers with me as more than a casual statement.

"Wait … you. How?"

She snorts and laughs a bright, honest laugh, a sound almost like a ghostly chime.

"I followed you around ever since the theater? That includes your visit to the temple. Don't worry too much though. You can bet the last coin in your purse that Fox was aware of my presence too."

I groan and roll my eyes. Of curse Fox would have been aware. And of course Fox wouldn't have told me. That sounds exactly like the kind of prank my divine sponsor would enjoy.