Mavec's brows furrowed momentarily as his mind raced to catch up with Alvec. "You're not wrong." He said after a moment's pause. "We need to figure out if the last abomination was a coincidence or if Kavaas was gunning for us. So we'd need to go back to the spot where we were sleepwalking and see if there was any evidence of an intruder." Mavec said.
"Aye, but can we be leaving Naya right now?" Illaria asked as she joined the boys.
The three of them argued about the ethics of leaving Naya to her own devices as they pursued the lead. It boring. Bait just go. He crept low and quiet as he headed off into the woods again. It didn't take him too long to find his way back towards the section where they had been sleepwalking. Bait good tracker, get back to most places he had been without too much trouble.
Walking through the clearing they had slept in, Bait see lots of strange things. Big monsters- VERY BIG monsters- come through and fight something else very big. Bait not sure dey intruder, but it strange if not. Scorch marks on trees make Bait think of his horny and angry wizards. Dey both shoot lightning, and dis look like lightning, but MORE lightning. Bait definitely need to tell them soon! With little more striking his curiosity, Bait ran back towards the farm. When he arrived, he found Naya sitting on the back of one of the wagons, her hands bandaged and somewhat clean. Her clothing, however, was still caked with dirt and mud from where her blood had mixed with the soil.
He jogged over to Illaria. "Bait need Wizards to follow him. Bait, go where we slepts. See lightning and signs of big creatures. Need wizards to see, too."
"Well, that explains why it's been so quiet," Illaria said with a grin. "I'll let them know. Can you lead them back there?" Illaria asked.
"K, Bye." Bait said as he jogged over to Alvec and Mavec, who were both using spells to push the mounds of dirt back into place.
"Wizards, follow Bait! Found things at the place we slept outside." The pair of wizards exchanged looks and followed their eccentric goblin friend into the woods. Once they arrived, Alvec let out a whistle. This was some serious magic and one seriously large monster. It was impossible for them to tell if it was an intruder, but it seemed like a safe bet.
"This is sixth circle magic," Mavec confirmed. "Someone very powerful came through here, and if they encountered the intruder, I think they dealt with it."
"Do you think it was Tivix? He's head of evocation at Sha-Laial's academy; he might be able to cast sixth circle magic." Alvec suggested.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"At this point, we can almost cast sixth circle magic, " Mavec said, smiling at his companion. "Soon we might be able to solo one of these things."
"That would be nice. I like the implications of this here, though. Some of these trees look like they were pitted by acid. It means that Kavaas may not be exclusively targeting us. Our last pass through the fields in Tsuhomma Downs may have just been a coincidence." Alvec said.
"Dat good." Bait nodded in agreement. "We go eat cheese?" He asked as he pointed his head back the way the trio had come. They departed and found that by the time they had returned Mel's family had assembled some food, and finished filling in the pit that Echo and Naya had dug out of their property. The group enjoyed a meal, and discussed how Sarbie had given the family a clean bill of health. Shortly after the group departed.
Naya road on the back of the wagon leaning against the frame. Echo slunk beside her head, downtrodden as well. He may not have been able to discuss sorrow and anger with her, but he could certainly feel it.
The wagons came to an abrupt stop, and Illaria called out. "Friends, where be everyone? Archer's Market does seem to be deserted."
"Please don't let them be sleepwalking!" Mavec exclaimed.
"Or lets hope its not an infestation of intruders." Alvec said as he quickly donned his arcane armor.
"I think... I hear singing?" Sarbie said as she pointed down the road to a tavern.
Illaria narrowed her eyes and set her ears to the wind. Sarbie was right; as perplexing as this was, she was right. "Aye, to the tavern then." The group continued their trek down the road, parking both wagons outside. The sound of the violin and a strong voice reverberated through the very door. The group entered and were greeted by a sea of bodies packed tight into the building. It looked like the entire town had gathered here for some reason. Standing on the very bar counter was a halfling who they had not seen in some time. Still dressed in the richest purples and plush blacks, Cellocht, armed with a violin, led the crowd in singing a bawdy song about who the mother of Ageneon's heir could be... with the conclusion of each chorus rejecting the notions they'd just established.
Alvec let out a sigh of relief, not just for the lack of need to participate in any combats but also for the fact that the man had taken the bait. With any luck, they'd end this day with a powerful ally. All the more important since they needed the Emperor to dance upon the small mount.
The group, minus Echo, who whined at the door, squeezed into the overcrowded tavern, their bodies packed tightly together as Cellocht downed a pint of ale offered to him by the barkeep. He dramatically made a satisfied sigh as he firmly slapped the pint onto the table next to him and launched into a ballad about the early days of the war, riding through the empire with both Ageneon and Ghol. The song carried on for a few minutes. Alvec's heart sank a bit; if Ghol was compromised, it would be a hell of a task to make the Emperor see it. The man, by all accounts, was both one of his strongest confidants and also a father figure to him when his own failed him.
When the crowds began to filter out of the tavern, Cellocht announced his impromptu concert was over, and the group made their way over to him.