She was eating breakfast, looking over her latest lesson. It was probably her last for a while, paper was expensive, when she noticed her companions go still.

“There is something very wrong going on in this city,” Voekeer said. The adventurers all looked stern.

“Yes, even the shrine has been feeling off,” Barika said.

“We haven’t been out of our room for more than a few hours a day, but the staff have been short with each other, and everyone seems paranoid about something,” Elaine said.

Anna looked around, and instead of the normally joyful atmosphere of an inn, there were suspicious stares from other patrons, quickly looking away when she made eye contact.

“We should stay in today. Maybe whatever it is will blow over by the morning. If not, we will decide if we should stay the rest of the week or leave early,” Voekeer said.

“I’ll go check it out. Nothing can happen to me anyway,” Anna said.

“Aye, but the lass can be hurt,” Thokri said, pointing at Elaine.

Anna handed the paperwork to Lyreen. “It just describes me as a young woman. As long as the guards that saw us don’t come in here, you should be fine,” Anna said.

“Be careful,” Barika said.

She nodded and then left.

The others were right. This didn’t even feel like the same city they had arrived it. Everyone was in a foul mood, losing their temper over the smallest things, and no one seemed willing to talk. There were no friendly merchants trying to sell their wares; no food carts. There weren’t even catcalls and whistles as she walked by. Everyone seemed on edge, like they were just waiting for something to happen.

She walked around the city trying to figure out what was going on when she happened upon a woman that was talking to a guard. She seemed upset.

“Why won’t you do anything?” she asked.

“He probably just ran off with a whore. Don’t waste my time,” the guard replied.

“He’s not like that, but even if he was, why haven’t any of them returned?” she asked, sounding more desperate.

The guard shoved her away. “Get out of here. I don’t have time for this,” he said.

The woman turned and walked away sobbing.

“Miss, maybe I can help. I’m an adventurer,” Anna said. The woman looked at her suspiciously. Anna made her necklace glow. She had started wearing it again while they were in the city.

“I’m a mage,” Anna said, pointing at the necklace. The woman brightened.

“My husband went into the underground a few days ago with a group of men, and he hasn’t returned,” she said, the worried look returning to her face.

“What were they doing down there?” Anna asked.

“Well, they usually just keep the sewers clean, but sometimes they find hidden paths that lead to treasure. But they have never been gone this long. Would you, could you go look for him?” she asked.

“Let me talk it over with my party. We might be willing to go look.” Anna replied. The woman hugged her, and Anna walked her home.

It was dark when Anna returned to the inn. The group decided to meet in her room.

“Hmmm, we need to take a look,” Voekeer said.

“I say we just leave,” Elaine said.

“We can’t, lass. Our contract is from the crown. Even though we are looking for ruins, if we walk away and something happens to the biggest city on the frontier, we won’t get paid,” Thokri said.

“Oh,” Elaine replied.

“It’s getting late. Let’s all get some sleep,” Voekeer said.

They met in her room again the next morning. The mood had fouled even further, and the common room was all but abandoned. The few inn employees just stared at anyone in view.

“I was going to go to the shrine, but I don’t think it’s safe to be out alone,” Barika said.

Anna didn’t feel anything odd herself, but she could tell by the way everyone was acting that something was going on.

They made their way to the sewer entrance, Anna having learn its location from the woman she walked home yesterday.

The city was nearing a riot at this point. Men were shouting, and fights were breaking out all over.

“What in the name of the Stone One has gotten into them?” Thokri asked.

“It’s nothing natural, that’s for sure,” Lyreen answered.

The rioting started, and it was pandemonium in the city. They were nearing the entrance, and Anna simply knocked out anyone in their path, man or woman, by this point.

They entered the sewers through a set of stairs that led to a door. Thankfully it was unlocked; however, the stench they encountered when they opened the door made the rest of the party’s eyes water.

“Someone owes me a bath after this,” Anna said. The party voiced their agreement.

Contrary to the smell, the sewer was surprisingly clean. Looking around, she saw no markings. In fact, there didn’t seem to be any way to tell direction down here.

Barika lit her staff again for her and Elaine’s benefit.

“Any clues?” Lyreen asked.

Anna summoned an eye.

“Good idea,” Voekeer said.

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The sewer was filled with a strange mist, its colors shifting oddly. She led them towards its source.

“Did anyone hear that?” Voekeer asked. Everyone shook their head no. Farther they walked.

“Someone is whispering,” Voekeer said. He seemed nervous.

“I thought I heard something as well,” Elaine said, staring off into space.

They found the men, or at least what was left of them. Days in the sewer hadn’t been kind.

“They killed each other,” Thokri said, inspecting the bodies.

“Looks like they found something. Help me out here,” Voekeer said, sounding frantic. He started to tear at a part of the wall.

Anna walked over to look. It may have been an additional tunnel, or maybe a door, but at some point, it had been bricked over.

Lyreen pulled at Voekeer’s hand. He jerked it away.

“I need to get in there!” he shouted.

Lyreen stepped back with a hurt look on her face.

Thokri picked up one of the men’s discarded tools and swung it at the brickwork. The pick smashed through.

“Wait. Stop. Why are you doing this?” Lyreen asked. The men rushed into the room.

“Something is controlling them. It tried to control me, but my tattoos kept it out. We have to stop them!” Elaine yelled.

Lyreen rushed after them. She was followed by the other two women. Anna went in last.

As she entered the space, she saw the two men fighting. They didn’t have weapons, and the women were trying to pry them apart.

She stepped in to help, but then saw something with the eye. She had forgotten it until now.

“That must be it,” she thought, and ran to the source.

“Stop her!” Elaine shouted, but no one was fast enough.

There was a skeleton laying on the floor near the back of the room. Something glimmered in its hand. She picked up the shiny thing. It was a ring. It was made from a strange substance she had never seen before, changing color randomly as she looked at it.

“It’s so pretty,” she thought, and put it on. It shrank to fit her finger when she did. She turned around to show her friends. They had all stopped moving and looked at her in horror.

“Are you ok Anna?” Elaine asked.

“Is it you?” Thokri said.

“WHY WOULD YOU PUT THAT ON!!??” Lyreen screamed at her.

“I liked the way it looked,” Anna said shocked.

“IT’S CURSED YOU IDIOT!!” Lyreen continued.

Anna walked down to the woman and stared. “What did you call me?” Anna said coldly.

“I just, you just, sorry,” she said, her eyes growing wide.

“Lass, don’t be mad at the elf girl. She’s just scared. That ring is what made us act the way we did. She was just worried for you,” Thokri said.

“Oh,” Anna replied. She held out her hand and looked at the ring with the eye. It had odd writing on it all the way around the outside, but it was getting dimmer for some reason.

“I think I’m breaking it,” she said, telling the group what she saw.

“It tried to take you over but couldn’t, so it burned out or went dormant. Don’t take it off until we can study it safely,” Elaine said.

They searched the room and found nothing of value.

“Let’s get out of here. It stinks,” Lyreen said. They all agreed.

Exiting the sewer, they found a large group of armed men being led by an older man in resplendent armor.

“Who are you?” he asked.

“Adventurers. We were passing through the city when this madness started,” Voekeer replied.

“Come back to my office. We have much to discuss,” he said and turned. They followed.

“That explains the riot. Are you sure it’s safe now?” the mayor asked. He had explained who he was along the way.

“Yes. It’s completely dead now. I’m going to keep it on just in case,” Anna answered.

“Don’t lose it, and I don’t want to hear that some thief slipped away with it,” the mayor said sighing.

“There isn’t a thief alive who could take that from her,” Voekeer said. He looked much better now that Barika had healed both men, Voekeer having the worst of the fight.

“Well, it’s settled then. How much longer will you be staying?” he asked.

“Another week. We need to rest after that,” Voekeer replied.

“Good. Let me know if you need anything. You can ask a guard. They will relay the message,” the mayor said.

“We don’t need your help,” Anna said coldly. She was still angry about the magistrate and wanted nothing more to do with the guards.

“Did I say something to offend you, Miss?” he said, surprised by the sudden change in mood.

She told him of her dealings with the gate guards and the magistrate. He rubbed his head.

“We did get a letter from Lord Ender, but it was just to inform us of the sentence. You weren’t supposed to be split up, and certainly not stripped,” he said apologetically. “Tell me, do you have the paperwork with you?” he asked.

“Here. We were told to carry it or she would be executed,” she said, handing him the paperwork.

“What? That’s nonsense,” he replied, taking the document. “That damned fool. I’ll have him in the stocks for this,” the mayor muttered while reading the paperwork. “Elaine, am I to understand you voluntarily chose servitude over the alternative punishment?” the mayor asked.

“Yes,” she said with a shudder, remembering the alternative.

“Very well. This paperwork is wrong. I’ll draw up some new documents for you,” he said, tearing the paper in half, the seal popping when broken. He took a piece of paper and grabbed a quill. He dipped it into an ink well nearby then began to write. His hand sparkled as it moved on the page. She’s never seen someone write so fast.

Soon he was done with both documents. “Miss Anna, take this one. You don’t have to keep it with you, but try to keep it in a safe place, and Miss Elaine, keep this copy. You will need to carry it when you are away from Miss Anna. Also, you will need a pass from her if you leave the town she is in,” the mayor said, handing them the new documents.

They headed back to the inn. The city was full of people cleaning up from the riot. The inn was empty this time due to the cleanup instead of some ill magic.

Sitting at a table, she read the new paperwork. She liked this version much better. Elaine was basically free to do as she pleased as long as she carried a letter around from Anna which wasn’t a problem. They would still share the room at the inn because they didn’t want to pay for another one. Anna rolled the paper back up and put it away.

“Time to go tent shopping,” she said.

“YESSSS!” Elaine said excitedly. Anna looked at her curiously.

“Oh, I, umm, it’s not you. I was just starting to feel inadequate looking at you every night,” Elaine replied, crossing her arms on her chest.

Anna just shrugged. She was used to it by this point.

As she slept that night, she heard a screaming in the distance. She walked through the fields of tentacles to find its source. They had a multicolored smokey thing and were tossing it back and forth. She smiled at the sight.

“Oh, they are playing with it,” she thought. It screamed and screamed. The eyes twinkling at the sight.

The party spent the next day helping around the city. Being made from stone, the few fires hadn’t spread. That was the only blessing. Everything that could be smashed seemed to have been smashed with carts overturned in the road. The market had been ransacked, but most of the looted goods were simply destroyed and strewn randomly about.

After everything had been cleaned up, they walked through the city.

“It took them a while to repair the buildings,” Thokri said.

“A lot of people died because of that ring,” Barika said.

“Greed killed them, not the ring,” Lyreen added.

“Are we any different? We are poking around in ancient ruins, ones far older than this cities foundation, looking for valuables,” Voekeer said.

“We aren’t doing it underneath a city full of people. Ours are the only lives at risk,” Barika said. The others seemed satisfied with this.

They ended up in the city center and noticed a platform had been erected. There was a wooden structure of some kind on it. They walked closer to investigate.

Elaine started smiling at the sight on the platform. The former Magistrate was bolted into a set of stocks.

Thokri went to a young boy selling rotten fruit. Tossing him a coin, he selected the largest most disgusting one. He reared back and flung it, hitting the man on his bald head with a thud, the fruit exploding.

“Thank you, Thokri. I couldn’t have done better myself,” Elaine said.

“Lads got more. Who’s up for some fun?” Thokri asked. They all were it turned out and spent the next fifteen minutes pelting the man with all manner of horrible things.

After an enjoyable day, they returned to the inn and slept soundly that night.