We were walking back to our tavern and I was silently cursing. We were coming back from the dungeon and, in my opinion, it was our worse dungeon hunt yet.

  We were attacked by shadow walkers. They were monster that looked like a mass of human shaped darkness, with long cws. Their cws could easily go pass any armor, and their touch froze human bodies and stole our life force.

  The only thing that could destroy them was light, but neither one of us could create light that would be strong enough to kill them. Swords covered with light turned out our best weapon. But only ones who could use such magic were me and Trevor. And our swords could only hurt and wound them. Nelly used her fire spells, but they were mostly useless against creatures who could hide in shadows, and dungeons middle floors were one big shadow. We barely escaped them, and were on our way to leave the dungeon, when we were attacked buy some flying squirrel monsters.

  Normally we would be able to easily kill them, but now we were half frozen, tired and had hard time concentrating, because shadow walkers stole most of our life force and strength with it.

  And the worse thing possible happened. I failed to notice one of the squirrels, and it chewed through my magic bag. Most artifacts could be repaired when damaged, but magic bags, once damaged, lost their magic properties. Also all things inside them disappeared forever. My most valuable things were inside my Magic purse, but a lot of supplies - some gold and silver coins, and most of magic stones that we gathered in the dungeon were lost. Not to mention my valuable and irrepceable magic bag. Well repceable, but I got used to it after so many years.

  I used up most of my mana and did not had enough to create water and wash myself properly. So I stank, was dirty, sweaty and in a worse mood possible.

  My party members were simirly miserable, and no one appreciated bunch of knights, who obstructed our way.

  - Well, well. Is it not our former knight? Leaving royal knights was the best thing that you ever did, peasant.

  - Captain Graig. Did not expect to meet you here, - answered Trevor, with a tired voice.

  - So, you became an adventurer again? Fitting pce for you.

  - Did you want something? If not, then get out of our way, - I snapped.

  - How dare you! - he turned towards me and felt silent staring at me.

  He looked at my sword. Usually I was keeping my Barrier destroyer sword in my Magic purse, but I completely forgot about it, and now was carrying both of my swords in my hands.

  - Where did you get that sword? - he pointed at Barrier destroyer.

  - Non of your business, - I went pass the knights. One of them tried to stop me, but I gred at him, and he did not dared to stop me. My party members followed me. I still felt Graig's stare on my sword, but ignored it.

  - Trevor, who was that? - I asked.

  - Did you not recognized him? - he looked questionably at me and Luara.

  - He looked familiar, but no, - Luara also shook her head.

  - His name is Graig. He is the son of archduke Kurgan. I defeated him in the final fight, between Adventurer academy and Knight academy.

  - Ou, him, - I remembered his sister, because we both were students in Magic academy, but the boy, who lost to Trevor, slipped my mind.

  - He was one of my superiors, when I served as a knight. But he never forgot or forgive me, what he considered a humiliation. He gave me hard time, when I was serving the king.

  - Just forget him.

  I did forget him almost immediately, but it turned out to be a mistake.

  * * *

  Two weeks ter we brought our test loot to Adventurer guild and were summoned by the guild master.

  - Did something happened? If you want to offer us some job, we are not interested, like I told you before.

  - It is not that, - shook his head Donar: - Your party and me were summoned by nobleman court.

  - What is that?

  - Is consists of some of the most powerful aristocrats in Ashgrin. They settle disputes and handle the punishment for nobles who committed crimes. They also sometimes settle disputes between aristocrats and high ranking adventurers, like you. Why did they summoned you?

  I looked at my friends, but they all shook their heads.

  - No idea, - I turned to Donar: - We were doing the usual. Hunting in the dungeon. Did they not say, what is it about?

  - No. But it could be serious. We are suppose to go there in three days. Please meet me in Adventurer guild. I am supposed to bring you there personally.

  - Fine. But I do not like that.

  - Neither do I, - sighed Donar.

  Three days ter we met Donar in Adventurer guild, and he took as to Nobleman court. It was located on the king's pace grounds, in one of the smaller buildings. Guards took our weapons, the ones that we did not keep in our magic bags, and armed escort took as inside.

  We were taken before seven aristocrats, who sat in front of us. They all were wearing golden chains, and Donar whispered to me that they represented all aristocrats of Ashgrin.

  I noticed Graig, who was standing on the side. He grinned menacingly, when Trevor noticed him.

  - You were brought here, because you are accused of stealing! - said the man, sitting in the middle.

  - Steeling what my lord? - asked guild master.

  - Of my families sword, - got up Graig: - I recognized her sword! It is my uncle's nephew's grandfather's sword. It belonged to ser Christian, great knight and adventurer. I saw his sword on his portrait many times. Legendary Armor ssher belongs to my family. This adventurer, - he pointed at me: - Was supposed to inform the guild about finding her sword. Buy not doing so, and preventing my families right, given to us by the w, to buy it from her, she stole the sword. And as such she must be punished, and sword must be returned to my family.

  - There must be a mistake, - objected Donar.

  - There is no mistake. And as a local guild master you are also responsible for this theft.

  - Even if she found a sword, sir Christian disappeared years ago. She may have not know about him or his sword.

  - There is no adventurer, who has not heard about his Armor ssher sword. Do you wish to cover the crime of your adventurer?

  - I do not! But you need to consider that...

  - That lieutenant is wrong, - I interrupted them.

  - I am captain you fool.

  - This fool cims that I have a sword called Armor ssher. I do not possess such sword.

  - How dare you insult me! And do you wish to say that you do not have a sword with red crown on the tip of its hilt?

  - I have such a sword. But it is an artifact from the dungeon. And it is not called Armor hitter.

  - Armor ssher!

  - Whatever. I do not have it, and to cim otherwise is a lie, and accusing me of stealing is an insult. Baseless, since I do not have such sword.

  - Do you have the sword with you? - asked one of the nobleman.

  - Yes.- Then show it to us.

  I took out the sword and demonstrated it to them.

  - You see! It is the Armor ssher! I would not mistake the sword. It belongs to my family.

  - No, it is not!

  - The matter could be easily settled. I could appraise the sword? - offered Donar.

  - Are we suppose to trust another adventurer, who shares the bme for stealing my sword, - objected Graig.

  - Then me and another appraiser, impartial, but trustworthy, - offered Donar.

  - I do not agree, - I objected: - My sword's secrets are for me to know, not for all the world. I am adventurer and my weapons abilities help me to survive. All soldiers and adventurers keep their skills and artifacts a secret for a reason. I do not want to expose mine.

  - You do not want to expose your crime!

  - I will agree to let you appraise my sword, but when this lieutenants cims are proven false, I demand a compensation. Thousand orichalcum coins should be enough.

  - You will get nothing. And punishment for thieves is cutting off thieves arm.

  - No crime has been proven. Even if it is the sword that captain Graig says it is.

  - Of course it is.

  - Even then, - started Donar, but the nobleman who was sitting in the center interrupted him.

  - Enough. I decree that sword will be appraised. If it is legendary Armor ssher, we will continue, but if not, then captain Graig will have to admit his mistake. But first, captain, is this the sword that you saw. Is this the sword that you cim to be Armor ssher, property of departed ser Christian.

  - And if he is wrong? - I asked.

  - We will see then. But perhaps before we do that, you would like to admit that it is the Armor ssher, and you did not report that you find it by mistake.

  - No, I do not.

  - As you wish, - he sighed: - Donar if you please, appraise her sword.

  - I object, but I will let Donar see it, if he swears to keep swords abilities secret.

  - I swear. I swear on my honor.

  I gave him the sword and he carefully looked at it.

  - It is not Armor ssher, - he nodded relieved and returned sword to me.

  - He is lying! - jumped up Graig: - I demand that someone else appraises it.

  - I am satisfied with Donar's words. But if captain Graig insists, let us ask for another appraiser. Who do you suggest?

  - Royal appraiser. I think that we all can trust him.

  - We cannot order him, but perhaps he will agree to do it, considering the circumstances. Guard, please ask royal appraiser for his presents.

  We waited a while, and Graig was eyeing me, Donar and Trevor. He was convinced that he was right and waited for the confirmation of his cims.

  The guard returned with young looking man in dirty shirt.

  - You asked for my help Forman? - he addressed nobleman.

  - Yes. Thank you for finding the time. Captain Graig cims that the sword that this adventurer possesses belongs to his family and is called Armor ssher. Adventurer says that he is mistaken. Could you please appraise the sword and tell us if it is called Armor ssher or not.

  - Why did you not asked Donar?

  - He already did appraise the sword, but we need second opinion. If you please.

  - I do not know or trust this man, - I objected.

  - Could you please give as your word, that you will not disclose swords abilities, - sighed Forman.

  - You can trust Brian, - whispered to me Donar: - I know this man, and he is trustworthy.

  - Fine I promise. May I? - he extended his arm. I pced sword in it, and he squinted. Then he whistled: - Impressive!

  - Is it Armor ssher or not? - asked Forman.

  - No it is not, - he returned the sword to me: - Is that all?

  - Yes, thank you Brian.

  Brian nodded and left.

  - What! I do not agree.

  - Captain Graig, my I remind you that you chose Brian as your appraiser.

  Graig was red with anger, but could not find a way to object.

  - You my leave, - he addressed us: - This matter is settled.

  - What about my compensation? - I asked, but Donar grabbed my arm and with the help of my party members dragged me out.

  - Thank god it is over, - sighed Donar, when we left that pace grounds: - Even if it would have been Christian's sword, the matter could have been settled peacefully. But I got a feeling that captain Graig wanted to use it as opportunity to punish you.

  - It is my fault, - said Trevor: - He always saw me as his enemy and used any opportunity to humiliate me.

  - Well not much he can do to B rank adventurer party. But watch your backs, just in case.

  - We will, - nodded Luara.

  After Donar left we returned to the tavern and gathered in my room, to discuss our pns.

  - By the way, did you not say that the sword used to belong to sir Christian? - asked Nelly.

  - Did I? Who can remember the small staff, - I shrugged: - More importantly are our pns for the future.

  We still had two and a half month that we could spend hunting in the dungeon, but it would not change much. In two years our gains were not that big. Trevor did managed to break the level cup and reached level twenty as a knight. Nelly and Luara gained two levels, but I increased my level only by one. I also managed two increase number of my magic gems to seven low ranking magic gems and one middle ranking one. Two month dungeon hunting will earn us some money, but will not make us stronger.

  - What do you have in mind? - asked Luara.

  - We will leave capitol and return to Grimsburg. After we deal with Hugo, we will leave the kingdom and you will spread rumors in meantime that we were offended by Graig's accusation and the way we were threaded, and that is why we are leaving.

  - His father is archduke, such rumors will not mean much to him. And were we not pnning to spend two more month exploring the dungeon? - objected Trevor.

  - Three weeks ago her coffee powder ended, - said Nelly: - She was compining about it a lot. Probably that's why Avone wants to go to Grimsburg.

  - No, I am not, - well, I totally was.

  - Yes, that is the reason, - nodded Luara.

  - No argument there, - agreed Trevor.

  They knew my weaknesses. Only matter of time till they use them against me.

  - If you would be able to use Guild portal spell, we would not have such problems, - I accused Nelly: - We could just use a single spell to go to Grimsburg and back in a matter of hours.

  She just rolled her eyes. I had necessary skills to cast that spell too, but just like Nelly needed to increase my skills in order to learn it. I sighed.

  - Even so. It does not mean that I am wrong. Why invite trouble, when we can avoid it. We will not be able to increase our levels anyway. Better to spend time practicing our spells and preparing for a fight. Besides we went as deep as we could. As we are now we will not be able to get past shadow walkers anyway. It was never our goal to reach dungeons deepest floor. I think that we accomplished all that we could here, and do not see any compelling reasons to stay?

  Luara sighed: - I do agree with that.

  - So it is decided. We are returning to Grimsburg.

  Three weeks ter I finally was sitting in my rocking chair, admiring my pntation. It officially belonged to Mage guild, but actually was mine, and I was using Mesmer to hide that fact. Things in pntation were going well. After Milligan bought coffee from pntation, word started to slowly spread, and more clients expressed desire to buy coffee. Mesmer kept the price and was regurly hiring adventurers to protect the pntation. Half of it consisted of cofea trees, while the rest was left for fruit trees, sugarcanes and small part of it was left for the personal use of families, who took care of the pnts.

  Harvest was good, and trees were healthy. I renewed my spells that increased fruitfulness of the nd. Life magic used many spells of Nature magic, which were meant to protect and help the pnt growth and were helpful in gardening and farming.

  Luara paid Ashurga and he engraved runes on her adamantium short sword and dagger, turning them into magic weapons. Luara spent most of the money that she earned, but now she had two weapons on the level of artifacts.

  Luara and Trevor were ordered to spread rumors about Graig's bad behavior, while Nelly was practicing magic in Mage guild, and I worked in my farm. We also met regurly and practiced fighting and spell casting. The small farm house inside the pntation was closest thing to a home that I had. I liked it, but did not felt much attachment to it. Just like the rest of my party members, we had little or none personal things and could leave with all our things and relocate to another town or even kingdom with all our property. Most of adventurers did, and many of them became adventurers, so they could travel and see the world. We were supposed to leave Ashgrin and relocate to Northern gremlin kingdom, and may not return for many years. Among us Nelly was the only one who had home in Grimsburg, but even Mage guild, where she lived, was not her real home. So leaving the kingdom came easy to us. But before we had to fight a powerful warlord to the death. Time was approaching, and I prepared for it as good as I could.