Chapter 20 - Always read the fine print
"A real one?" Kat asked incredulously, staring at the strange lamp in Scarlett's hands. "Like from the story of the Nine Samaritan Thieves?"
Scarlett glanced at Kat. Her companions in the game had had dialogue that made it seem like they knew of magic lamps too, so the concept clearly wasn't too foreign in this world. "Something like that, yes," she said and looked back at the lamp. It had been buried in this cave for a long time. Thick grime coated it, but the gold beneath shimmered through on some spots.
"Are you gonna use it?"
"That was my intention."
The lamp felt strangely hot to the touch. Scarlett turned it around and lightly shook it. There was no sound. "Step back," she told Kat, placing the lamp on the pile of rocks in front of them.
"Wait, you're using it now?!"
"Indeed," she said and took a step up to the Shielder. She reached towards the woman's hip and put her hand into the black pouch hanging there, pulling out a large bottle filled with a thick, dark-red liquid.
"Hold this," she said and handed it to Kat, who stared at it with a confused expression.
"Is this blood?"
"Yes. But there is no need for worry. It is hogs' blood." That seemed to assuage the woman's confusion somewhat. Maybe. Scarlett hadn't been sure that she would have enough time to visit this place before having to return to Freybrook, but she had asked Garside to procure a flask of blood from the butchers just to be safe. Bless that man for not even raising an eyebrow at the request.
Stepping back to the pile of rocks, she eyed the lamp for a moment. "After I use this, it is vital that you do not speak a word until I say you can. Is that understood?" she asked Kat.
"Sure...But why?"