The Secret of the Dark Forest ( (The Way of the Shaman: Book #3) by Vasily Mahanenko Page A
Authors: Vasily Mahanenko
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otherwise. I didn't think that it would take me quite so long to retell six months of my life spent in the Game and I was also surprised by just how eventful this time had been.
"And that's how I became such a brash 'big shot' throwing money around," I concluded, having revealed all. "Now you know what happened to me. My current appearance doesn't make me any better or worse than you. I'm the same. I just got lucky in opening up the Kartoss scenario and striking it big, as they say. Stopping is completely out of the question right now. You have to keep it up, or your luck will run out and it's back to the everyday grind. Catch the description of the High Priestess quest." I shared Beth's assignment with the others. "We'll have to set out towards the Free Lands for the search as soon as possible. We need some more people, but I have three reliable guys, with whom I've spent enough time adventuring in my day. So, are you in?"
"Why didn't you join Phoenix?" Clutzer was still trying to get to the bottom of things. "When Rastor, Phoenix's chief recruiter, found us, he spun the tale of how Mahan was already in the clan and couldn't wait to see us there as well. We even went through some tests necessary for being accepted into Phoenix, but then decided to wait a bit before joining."
"That's why I didn't join ... Hellfire – you probably know who that is – told me exactly the same thing: that you guys were already in Phoenix and were just waiting for me to join. I was pretty upset with you at the time. If Anastaria hadn't made the slip-up that I mentioned, I may have even bought it. To be more precise ... I'm a Shaman and function on the level of intuition. So my instincts tell me that I must avoid joining other clans at all costs. I know it sounds stupid, but in three months my instincts have brought me all that you can see right now, so I try my best to follow them. And why did you decide not to join if they were trying so hard to recruit you?"
"We're no deserters and don't go back on our words." Clutzer's face relaxed. "Other clans invited us only on account of the First Kill, they didn't really need us otherwise. Protection from PK-ers? That's a bit of a joke; besides, even more would've ended up hunting us if we joined Phoenix of Legion. There was little point joining a smaller clan and we simply lacked the gold to create our own." Clutzer turned to the others and asked: "Has Mahan passed the test? Are we with him or do we part ways?"
"He passed," said Eric. "No tricks and he's not sticking up his nose at us. He seems to be the same as he was three months ago. The clan gets my vote. Leite?"
"Mine too. I thought at first the bastard came to have a laugh at us, but I see that I was wrong. I'm in.”
"Then send us the invite," concluded Clutzer. "Have you already decided who will be what?"
"Yes. If there are no objections, I will remain the head. I've picked up a good number of quests and as the head they'll spread to the rest of the clan through me. Plus I have Moneybags – take a look at the description – which is another big bonus for the clan. Clutzer will be my deputy. What do you say?" I selected each of the players and sent them an invite.
"I won't be the deputy." Clutzer declined my invite. "Perhaps Eric would take it, but I won't do it. Make me an ordinary fighter."
"Why?" I asked, surprised.
"It's just not my thing. Thinking stuff up, figuring out a way to get in somewhere – I'm your man – but I don't want to be in the limelight all the time."
"I won't do it either," said Eric. "Becoming a deputy after Anastaria is just too risky. What if she decided to come back and the place was already taken? No, I'll pass."
"All right then," I said, once Seathistles clan sported three extra players. "Guys, you probably know each other quite well by now – can you tell me what you're doing time for?"
"Tell us about yourself first."
"I'm here for hacking." I briefly told them about the bet with Marina and the
"And that's how I became such a brash 'big shot' throwing money around," I concluded, having revealed all. "Now you know what happened to me. My current appearance doesn't make me any better or worse than you. I'm the same. I just got lucky in opening up the Kartoss scenario and striking it big, as they say. Stopping is completely out of the question right now. You have to keep it up, or your luck will run out and it's back to the everyday grind. Catch the description of the High Priestess quest." I shared Beth's assignment with the others. "We'll have to set out towards the Free Lands for the search as soon as possible. We need some more people, but I have three reliable guys, with whom I've spent enough time adventuring in my day. So, are you in?"
"Why didn't you join Phoenix?" Clutzer was still trying to get to the bottom of things. "When Rastor, Phoenix's chief recruiter, found us, he spun the tale of how Mahan was already in the clan and couldn't wait to see us there as well. We even went through some tests necessary for being accepted into Phoenix, but then decided to wait a bit before joining."
"That's why I didn't join ... Hellfire – you probably know who that is – told me exactly the same thing: that you guys were already in Phoenix and were just waiting for me to join. I was pretty upset with you at the time. If Anastaria hadn't made the slip-up that I mentioned, I may have even bought it. To be more precise ... I'm a Shaman and function on the level of intuition. So my instincts tell me that I must avoid joining other clans at all costs. I know it sounds stupid, but in three months my instincts have brought me all that you can see right now, so I try my best to follow them. And why did you decide not to join if they were trying so hard to recruit you?"
"We're no deserters and don't go back on our words." Clutzer's face relaxed. "Other clans invited us only on account of the First Kill, they didn't really need us otherwise. Protection from PK-ers? That's a bit of a joke; besides, even more would've ended up hunting us if we joined Phoenix of Legion. There was little point joining a smaller clan and we simply lacked the gold to create our own." Clutzer turned to the others and asked: "Has Mahan passed the test? Are we with him or do we part ways?"
"He passed," said Eric. "No tricks and he's not sticking up his nose at us. He seems to be the same as he was three months ago. The clan gets my vote. Leite?"
"Mine too. I thought at first the bastard came to have a laugh at us, but I see that I was wrong. I'm in.”
"Then send us the invite," concluded Clutzer. "Have you already decided who will be what?"
"Yes. If there are no objections, I will remain the head. I've picked up a good number of quests and as the head they'll spread to the rest of the clan through me. Plus I have Moneybags – take a look at the description – which is another big bonus for the clan. Clutzer will be my deputy. What do you say?" I selected each of the players and sent them an invite.
"I won't be the deputy." Clutzer declined my invite. "Perhaps Eric would take it, but I won't do it. Make me an ordinary fighter."
"Why?" I asked, surprised.
"It's just not my thing. Thinking stuff up, figuring out a way to get in somewhere – I'm your man – but I don't want to be in the limelight all the time."
"I won't do it either," said Eric. "Becoming a deputy after Anastaria is just too risky. What if she decided to come back and the place was already taken? No, I'll pass."
"All right then," I said, once Seathistles clan sported three extra players. "Guys, you probably know each other quite well by now – can you tell me what you're doing time for?"
"Tell us about yourself first."
"I'm here for hacking." I briefly told them about the bet with Marina and the
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