Sweet Succulent Little Breadcrumbs

Romulus pulled his raptor to a halt, though they had covered a lot of ground, they just weren’t out of the capital region yet and still wouldn’t be by tomorrow. So they now had to stop in one of the villages, a place he’d never been. It’s just another boring town at the edge of the region, but we do need to eat so we’ll feast here. Everything is free anyway since the high up Mages don’t have to pay for food or even taverns if they were sent by the elite Mages and have an emblem.

Maybe these peasants have half decent food, unlike the last tavern... not like they knew how to cook spider. He walked inside, watching as the others followed. It was filled with the normal rabble of mixed races, though at one end of the serving bar was a human zombie, which was very strange to see at this time of day. Most undead only came to taverns to drink at night, as there was a drink they could have a digest even in skeleton form, though it glowed green and didn’t smell too nice.

He moved forward, sitting at the bar as he pulled out his emblem showing it to the orc bartender, who had a patched eye. “Breakfast for all four of us on the house, by order of the elite Mages palace….” The orc eyed the amulet as he sneered, then pointed to the chalk board above the bar. “Pick what you all want.” Romulus looked up, seeing it only for his eyes to turn to another board, which had two drawings on it. “Who is that woman, the rat and the ugly bull on your wanted posters?”

The orc stopped what he was doing as he moved over to them, pointing at the first. “Keira Greenward, the ugly little white maggot eater rat is Bastian Obranion; they are both wanted here along with their stupid Minotaur friend Agomais Bovatain.” Odessa looked at the posters. “If you know their names why don’t you just take them in?” The orc sneered again. “Because two of them work in the mines and Magnus, that red skinned asshole demon is very powerful magic wise. He never gives people up who are under his contracts even if they’ve done bad things as he profits from it.”

He pointed a clawed hand at the other image. “The Minotaur is from Dawn Star and his family being tavern owners makes it... difficult, due to the laws as taverns owners are not meant to attack each other.” Titus looked up slightly. “Can I see the poster… you said Greenward.” The Orc pulled the moving coloured image off the wall. “Yeah Greenward... you people know her?” Odessa eyed Titus who was studying the poster. “Something fit to you, outside the first name, though that woman is clearly not the one we want, no scar and the wrong hair colour.”

Titus breathed in deeply. “Greenward was Liliana’s second name.” Romulus moved over looking at him. “Was it now… how intriguing?” Titus eyed the poster. “Keira’s second name is Quatermaine, her family are bakers they have a baker’s guild seal. As everyone buys thing from them in the capital, they are protected as they supply to their designated area. Not that Keira could ever make bread, even at the school they never let her make it, as her bread is foul tasting I tried it once.”

Romulus looked at the tavern owner, as he put both images side by side seeing the similarity of the wanted posters compared to the one he had on him with her face scar. “What has this Greenward done to piss you people off along with the rat and bull?” The Orc looked up. “She and her friends stole our Mages staff, and gave it to the black female rat Seer in Dawn Star. “Odessa eyed him. “That is a very serious offence, did you report it?”

The Orc eyed them. “Yes, but nothing was done, so I put bounties on their heads as by law that is allowed.” Romulus smirked. “Well, we will now be paying Magnus a visit, along with Dawn Star, as we already on our way to Ramstad anyway.” The Orc looked up. “Well there is a second problem there, which is Dawn Star rat Seers son and his best friend are both dealing in spice and magic dust, though the Minotaur was ruining their operations in Ramstad.”

Odessa picked up her wooden spoon looking at him. “You know a lot for a tavern owner.” The Orc eased his collar down, slightly revealing glowing symbols. “Ex paladin, I just can’t deal with it myself because I have black sickness; it’s stopped my magic working right. It will kill me in the end but I’m making the most of my last years.” Cepos looked at him sadly. “I am sorry.” The Orc shrugged. “I had a very good run, so it’s okay; it’s just the state of this world, not all aliments can be cured, even with the best magic.”

Romulus watched as the Zombie finished his glowing drink, leaving quickly, closing the door behind him. “I don’t see many undead during the day, why is he here?” The Orc eyed him. “He has living family here and one of those huge maggots inside his chest that keep him from rotting. He wants to stay until his children are old enough to do their own thing, and ensure his wife is well cared for and can find someone new after he leaves for the land of the dead. He says the land calls to him every night but he will not leave until his task is done and he looks after the parasite in his chest, it’s a pet of sorts.”

He raised a clawed hand. “Harmless bastard though, just loves to tell his story about how he saw a huge demon werewolf once kill a massive bugbear and eat it… we all laugh at it. Because no such creature exists, and we think he was probably high on spice or magic dust.” Odessa eyes met Romulus’s for a long moment. “Yes... well we may have to talk to him, you know, small talk, we are interested in illegal magic.” The Orc pointed. “He lives in town, can’t miss his house, it brings in the viper ravens who live on his roof, it means the Mogwai leave his and his wife’s house alone, as even they don’t bother with them as they spit poison.”

8

We are lost, we have to be lost, this village isn’t even in the map; maybe this map is old or not updated. Either way we’ve had to stop and check our bearings, as it’s not clear where we are meant to go from here in terms of going towards the jungle. It’s a quiet little village with not much to see, just a tavern stalls, houses, and it looks new, like it’s been built up in the last ten seasons. It’s surrounded by the thick forest but the light is still sweeping in as it’s a bright sunny day you can see the light bouncing off the houses windows.

It has a beautiful deep lake, but it’s some distance away, and water mills which are churning the water of two rivers going through the place. They are clearly making some form of textiles here, which is why they are using these mills, which are being run by magic. I can see the children opposite playing with toys, and some distance away a half elf woman with long white hair and wooden horns spouting from her head and a staff with purple crystal who is moving towards the huge lake.

You can always tell half elf from elves, they’re shorter in height and have more human features, and can get scars that don’t heal as well. They also don’t live as long, normal elf’s can live a five hundred years if they are lucky, half elf’s live to be two hundred years old. They’re also very good looking like normal elves and they are very pleasurable in bed. Though I know now Liliana never loved me even though she told me she did, she just used me and it hurts... though it clearly wasn’t just me, Elysande got stung as well.

I’m just sitting here, drinking very weak ale at a wooden table as they argue over the map route. It’s not like I can be of any help anyway, I’ve never been this far from Moss Tempest, everything from here on out is new to me. So I just wouldn’t be of any great help so all I can do is watch them correct the map and watch the villagers as they work. Keira took another slow drink from the leather tankard, since it might be her last as they’d have to brew any drink going forward with magic.

Bastian pointed a claw at the map. “This is so confusing, the rivers didn’t used to be here seasons ago, like I don’t get how they built this place so fast.” Agomais leaned over the map. “Probably those asshole up at the capital, they want constant tributes of food, items and everything else, they’ve been squeezing everyone for eons with their greed.” Elysande eyed the map in annoyance. Truth be told, she had not passed through this way before so this was annoying, she hated outdated maps.

Bastian eyed the two rivers the village was using. “I’m guessing they are funnelling this river water down here from Anacaona Narah. So if we follow one of those rivers up we can get there.” Agomais looked around him. “I mean they don’t have any Paladin guards here, or a Mage, just a few warriors and clerics, so it all must really recent." Bastian looked up slightly as he finished using his dark stone to grind his teeth as his whiskers twitched. “Do you all smell sulphur?”

Keira lowered her drink. “Yes…” Agomais stood up pulling his huge sword free. “Yes I do…its coming from the lake over there.” Elysande looked at them in confusion, as they all started to draw their weapons. “Sulphur, why is that bad? I don’t understand” Keira ignored the villagers who suddenly looked uncertain. “Because Moss Hydra’s stink of it as they spit it out of their mouths… which means one is hiding in that lake…”

Agomais eyed the half elf who was looking at the waters totality unaware of how much danger she was now in. “They go underwater and wait till someone gets to close then strike!” Bastian was running faster than the others, on all fours, as he ran towards the white haired elf, grabbing her at the last second before her hands could touch the water. He leapt to one side only to hear her cry out in annoyance as her voice hit the air. “What are you doing? Put me down!”

Whatever she was about to say next was cut off, as a huge snake like head came flying out of the water, its horns rising high and it’s jaws snapped shut right where she had been standing. Bastian carried on running, not looking back as more heads broke the surface. “No time to explain!” He didn’t think as he put her down on the wooden table. “Stay here! You will be safe!” Agomais watched as his weapon lit up with magenta coloured light and he swung it at its face, hitting it with enough force to smash it in to another head opposite.

The rest of the heads broke the surface screeching, all with moss covered spines and long heads of horns and reflective skin, fish-like skin so it could hide in the deep waters and blend in. “How do we kill this fucker!?” Bastian moved as one of the heads came down striking at him. “Don’t cut of its heads! It will grow two more in their place! Aim for that armoured plated chest cavity, break it open!”

He turned, seeing that the villages were all running now, as the huge snake-like beast slithered out and the village clerics started to shoot fire and ice beams at the heads, while the warriors tried to guard them. He could see Elysande raising her sword and shield as they both lit up with green flames. If anything, they needed to all work as a team in this moment, it was the only way to bring one of these things down and ether make it leave or kill it.

Keira pulled her weapons free looking at them, feeling the deep uncertainty as she started to channel, watching as they both lit up with red and blue flames. It had been so long since she had used her magic, and a part of her was afraid. Not of the hydra but off her own magic, she took in a slow deep breath, steading herself... she was a Paladin, it was time she started acting like one, in battle if nothing else.

Today had been the first day she had not woken up feeling tired, or feeling like her head was being smashed with a really painful headache that kept coming and going. Her mind felt much clearer and her emotions felt less in turmoil, that serenity sphere had for the first time in a long time given her a good night sleep, even if she had not had any dreams. She felt her clawed armoured boots hit the floor as she ran at it going for the long tail end, and it broke the water swinging around violently.

She ducked as the spiked tail swung over her head, only for one of its heads to be smashed by green flames from Elysande, who raised her flaming shield as burning hot sulphur was blasted in her direction, only to fly outwards as it struck it narrowly missing everyone. Bastian watched as the hydra pulled back, roaring and hissing its many red and yellow eyes glowed brighter, as all its mouths opened as it got ready to spit at everyone, only for a huge red tree to bend to suddenly come down, slamming it in the side, hard throwing it sideways.

He turned realizing it was the half elf behind them was doing it, much to his surprise. She was a druid and he could now see her bending all the trees, causing them to sway as they started to come down, smashing at the hydra who avoided them as it started to get up. It pulled its tail up as it slammed the points down in to the ground hard, as everyone tried to stay out of the way off them.

Only for Agomais huge blade to slam into its tail, cutting in deep, sending red blood everywhere, knocking a warrior over who was to close. Keira watched as vines from the lake shot up, wrapping around the huge hydra pulling it back. She could see the warrior getting up as she felt her power fully channel, while she ran towards him, seeing his half lowered shield not thinking as she jumped on it, her clawed armour shoes digging in as she leapt off, raising both weapons as red and blue fire covered everything. Her animalist roar hit the air as she brought the swords forward, their flames hitting its chest.

The next moments turned to agony, as the tail smashed into her, sending her flying backwards only to hit one of the trees opposite, shattering it and setting it alight with purple flames as she hit the ground hard, unable to move, her weapon hands carried on shaking violently and painfully as everything went in and out of focus. Bastian blinked “Was that smite? Had Kiera just tried to smite?” It was meant to be the paladin’s most powerful weapon.

He looked up seeing that the bone had cracked around the hydra’s chest, but not fully. He pulled up his axe as it blasted in to red flames, not thinking as he threw it with all the force he had, watching as it spun and shattering the cracked bone, hitting its target imbedding itself right in its chest, followed by the cleric firing their ice bolts to drive it in deeper, only for Agomais’s huge sword to slam in above as it let out a roar of agony raising up, only to come crashing down as death slowly took over.

Elysande watched as the hydra let out its last breath, only to find herself running toward the burning tree of flames which suddenly exploded, sending bark and silver leaves everywhere. She watched as Keira came in to view as she was lying on the floor, but could not release her weapons as her hands were high. She dropped her sword and shield grabbing her hands. “You need to let go off your weapons Keira!”

She looked up as Agomais moved over, instantly pulling out his clawed hand as pure blue light came out, which was clearly to take away Keira’s pain. His face turned to utter confusion as nothing happened. “What’s going on, my healing magic is not working!?” Elysande turned sharply. “Cleric magic does not work on us… it never has... trust me I know, I had part of my leg ripped off by a sand grab worm once… had to wait for it to grow back.”

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She grabbed Keira’s hands tighter seeing her green eyes glow brighter. “It’s one of the few upsides of being a vampire.” She didn’t think as she pulled the other woman’s weapons free, since they’d be the next thing she’d destroy, as she’d done it herself. She put her hand inside the other woman’s armour, pulling out her serenity sphere which had now locked to her soul and was safe for others to pick up, as she forced it in to the other woman’s hands.

She watched as the other woman started to calm down, as the red and blue fire faded out, her green eyes becoming still. “She suppressed her magic, as she couldn’t control it, and when it’s out of control you get spikes that can destroy things just by touch, including people.” Agomais eyed the dead hydra that the village was now looking over as everyone became calm. “I’ve seen Paladins smite… but not like that, that was way more powerful than normal.”

Elysande eyed the paladin, who had closed her eyes now, and had become fully calm as her self-healing process was probably kicking in, though it would take a night or two to get better. “I have no idea what type of Paladin she is, or even what she is capable of doing.” She paused. “The rot though is still in her brain and not her body anymore as I can’t feel any more suppression potion, so her mind is now clearly holding her back, plus she just isn’t channelling right with her weapons, they keep rejecting her.”

She eyed the axe and sword. “Those are clearly not the shield and sword all Paladins normally get, these are just brought or found weapons.” Agomais breathed in deeply. “I see, I thought maybe she was being selfish with her magic.” Elysande shook her head, putting away the glowing ball back in the dark red haired woman’s armour. Now she was fully calm. “I think it’s more she didn’t want to kill both of you with her magic, she may have died long ago after becoming this, had it not been for the werewolf side.”

She paused. “It’s the only thing that stops her being really badly injured every time her magic goes wrong. I know this as it’s the same for me, I had accidents in the beginning.” She watched as Keira started to get up only to push her down gently. “Take it slow and easy, you just got smashed in to a tree.” She looked up as moss veins wrapped around the damaged burning tree slowly putting out its purple flames, as a light voice spoke behind her. “Is she okay?”

Agomais eyed the half elf that was looking over, her glowing blue eyes filled with curiosity. “She’s fine, she’s part werewolf, she can take a beating.” Elysande turned looking at the elf in annoyance. “How do you not know Moss hydras are dangerous?! You’re an elf; you were going to stick your hand in the water?” The elf looked at her for a long moment. “I thought it was coming up to pet my hand... where I come in, Morgue Ragnar, the swamp region, they are herbivores and fish eaters and you can pet and ride them.”

Elysande turned sneering at her. “Well here they don’t! Here they eat people as life stock!” She watched as the other woman pulled back, surprised by her anger. “Elf’s and half elf live a very long time how could you not know this?” The white haired woman looked up slightly. “I’m only twenty three seasons old! I just left my region and my guild; I was on my way to the capital. I wanted to see it as they say it’s very beautiful.”

Agomais snorted in disgust. “Yeah... if you like beautiful buildings filled with horse shit.” He ignored the half elf’s confusion look as he leaned over; helping Keira get on to her feet though she was being helped up by Elysande, clearly in a lot of pain. “If I were you I’d go elsewhere, way more fun to be had in other regions.” He paused sniffing the air. “You don’t smell like a regular half elf.”

The elf woman raised her hand. “My name is Fayeth, my mother is a full orc and my father is a full elf.” Agomais felt a smile form. “I thought you were like me, as my mother is a Minotaur but my father is from the Barbarian tribes in the snow region of Ethereal Tusken.” He took her hand shaking it. Elysande raised an eyebrow. “Orcs don’t normally marry elves.” Fayeth felt a smile form. “Morgue Ragnar is very open to it; it’s the place where life and death live together in harmony at least before your called to the land of the dead.”

She looked up seeing the armoured white rat man who was being surrounded by the villagers. “I think they’re grateful to your friend who killed the hydra.” Agomais raised his eyebrow. “Yeah, we’ll need to chat about that, as that’s the first time I’ve seen him throw a burning axe.” Fayeth felt her smile widen as the group got closer. “What is his name? He saved my life.”

Agomais turned to her. “His name is Bastian, the vampire here is Elysande and the werewolf is Keira, who we really need to get to a safe place to heal up.” Fayeth turned looking at the dark red haired woman who was out of it and not paying attention to them. “Is she a new type of Paladin? Because I’ve never seen a Paladin with that kind of armour, it’s normally always silver or gold plated and she has working claw grips on her armoured gloves and feet, I mean I saw her jump off that warrior’s shield like it was nothing.”

Elysande breathed in deeply. “It’s very complicated.” She watched as Bastian moved towards them, though an old human man was with him as he brought back Agomais’s weapon, handing it to him as he put his own on his back. “Is Keira okay?” Elysande looked up slightly. “She’s fine; she just needs rest again, like last time.” The human man with the long bushy black beard moved towards them all. “Thank you for saving our village, the capital told us here is safe.”

Bastian raised a clawed hand. “This place is not safe, hydras love to hunt people, but I know Agomais can make a magic signal with metal bells on trees, I’ve seen him do it.” Agomais nodded. “Yeah I can do that, as they are a huge problem around here, and until you get Paladins and Mages to protect you, you need to keep them away. Also, they make for good eating, so I wouldn’t waste the one we killed. Plus the hide is great for weapons and armour, just be careful of the sulphur sack in the throat, it’s very explosive.”

Bastian smiled. “We could set up camp here, as our mounts are close, help them set up everything.” The old man eyed the Paladin who was being held up. “We can get her some healing salve, and we can give you food, for your trip.” Bastian turned pointing to the lakes. “Do you know which one of them leads to Anacaona Narah? Because they weren’t here, when I was here last time.”

The old man smiled. “Both were made by one of the Boa Quetzal guardians from the jungle region, as they wanted to help us set up, the right one is the faster route.” He turned pointing at the other. “That left leads to Lake Osogai; sleeping place of one of the water dragons, but the trip to the jungle is longer.” Bastian blinked. “Oh you mean Linevern, he wakes up now and again to fly around, or so legend has it.” The man nodded. “We hope to see him and receive his blessing.”

He paused. “You set up and I’ll have them bring food.” Bastian put his clawed hands together as he left. “That went well.” Fayeth walked over to him putting hand gently on his arm. “Thank you so much for saving me.” Bastian turned to her feeling a wide smile form. “You’re welcome, thank you so much for helping us fight that thing.” He turned to the others. “She should come with us, more magic the better wouldn’t you agree?”

Elysande put Keira down on one of the bed rolls as Agomais started to magically pull up the tent. Great just what she needed another half elf to remind her that she’d already been fucked over by Lilliana. Who had also told her that she loved her, she knew it was very wrong to think this way as this half elf was clearly from a very different background, but the thought wouldn’t go away at all. “It’s fine.”

Agomais finished putting up the tent, as he moved his clawed hand causing all the pots and pans to shift out in the backpack as he lit the fire. “Welcome to the team.” He eyed Bastian. “Please ask them if they have eggs and fish, I’m hungry.” Bastian sat by the fire as the others did the same. “Yes, but you’re cooking them.” Agomais raised his hand as he sat down. “You know, it’s your turn to cook tomorrow.” Bastian raised his clawed hands. “I know, I know, just make sure you leave some for Keira when she finally wakes up.” Agomais turned. “Yeah I know.”

8

Romulus eyed the little house, which was a quaint little cottage. He breathed in, banging the door noticing the ugly black viper ravens slithering around, hissing at them. He felt a smile form as the door opened and a dwarf woman answered, she had two children who were hanging back as she spoke. “Yes how can I help you?” Romulus eased up the seal. “I want to speak to your husband, very personal matter.”

He watched as she stepped aside, the concern and uncertainty in her eyes as they all walked in. He smiled as he caught sight of the zombie sitting at the table working with a wood tool, carefully carving a miniature for a tavern game that the drunk and idiotic liked to play. He watched as Odessa moved to the other side of the table, slamming her staff down, making him look up his green glowing eyes blinking.

He had the semi rotten look, but didn’t smell bad, though it was clear that something was moving under his tunic. He formed a smile as best he could and spoke calmly. “How can I help you all?” Romulus watched as Titus moved behind the zombie’s chair, folding his arms as the frogman shut the door. “The tavern owner tells me you saw a big monster once?” The zombie looked around him nervously. “Oh that… yes you should pay no mind I was probably high on spice, when you turn at first it’s hard, but I don’t do spice anymore.”

Romulus breathed in deeply. “Let me say again... would you tell us what you saw that night?” The zombie shrugged. “Some animal but as I said I was high, you don’t see clearly on spice.” Odessa rolled her eyes. “Titus would you please loosen the rotten corpse lips…” Romulus watched as Titus grabbed the zombie, smashing him back first onto the table, and ripped his tunic back, only for a huge glowing green worm to fly out from inside his rib cage, which he grabbed with one clawed hand, ignoring its screeches of pain holding it tight.

He raised his staff seeing that the dwarf was moving her hands toward her huge axe. “I wouldn’t, I can fry your undead husband to a crisp in front of his children, and we both would not want that now would we?” He watched as the dark haired woman with dark skin and piercing white glowing eyes gave him a cold look, pushing the children further back to protect them, even though one was taller than her while the other was a dwarf child. “Good woman, don’t want a blood bath now.”

He walked over to the zombie. “What did you see? You rotten corpse bag.” He eyed Titus. “Unless you want your ugly maggot pet that keeps you from rotting dead you’ll tell us.” The zombie looked up. “It was a huge werewolf! It just wasn’t like any werewolf I ever saw before! It had huge demonic wings and a long spiked tail and horns burning fur amber red in colour it also had glowing green eyes that kept shifting purple, and a scar on its face, big one, going right through its left eye!”

Romulus tapped his hoof on the floor. “What was this huge thing doing?” The zombie turned blinking. “Eating a bugbear, it killed it with its tail... I hid up a tree and I watched it feed. It ate everything down to bones, never seen a creature eat like that before. That night was also a blood moon; it’s why I was out as the pet needs to feed off it!” He raised his bony hand. “It saw me and was watching me the whole time, it never attacked me.”

He paused. “It was so full by the end it kind of waddled off.” Romulus raised his clawed finger, watching as Titus let go of the zombie and its pet, which screeched as it went back inside his tunic. “Good rotting corpse, now tell me which direction did it go?” The zombie got off the table painfully. “It went towards the mines of Estros, when it finally managed to flyaway.” Romulus eyed Titus who was grinning darkly. “These mines just get better and better.”

He paused. “Now pay the corpse for his time.” He watched as Titus smashed the zombie in the face, sending him tumbling painfully to the floor, which almost dislocated his jaw and would need healing. He walked over to him, looking down smugly, ignoring his dwarf wife’s utter rage. “We’ll be leaving now, next time you don’t tell the truth to anyone, know it will mean your pet’s death and you’ll be forced to drag your corpse to the land of the dead.

He raised a clawed finger. “I hope you and I never meet again.” The dwarf woman spoke darkly. “My husband has told you all he knows, you can leave now.” She watched as they left, closing the door behind them. She ran up to her husband, who had fixed his jaw and was looking down at all the wooden figures, two of which had been smashed by the lizard man’s foot as he spoke, though it was gargled. “They broke my game pieces…I needed them to sell at the tavern.”

His wife gave him a wide smile as his children hugged him. “Better your pieces than your pet or your neck.” She paused. “Let’s get you up and get you to a cleric, they can fix your jaw bone.” Her husband got up painfully holding his broken jaw. “That means what I saw was real, the monster was never in my head.” His wife eyed him. “Well I always believed you dear, even if no one else did, as my people have some strange myths about creatures like that.”

8

Keira opened her eyes slowly and painfully, as everything came back to focus, and she sat up only to be pushed down slightly be a gentle hand, as Elysande’s voice hit the air. “Easy now... you need to take it slowly, you really hurt yourself.” Keira eyed her, seeing that she was inside the tent someway back while the others were outside, though now the same half elf who had gotten too close to the lake was with them. “Where are we and why is that elf here?”

Elysande took in a deep breath. “We are still in the village; they wanted to feed us as a thank you for killing the hydra... well more Bastian killing the hydra.” She eased up the plate of cooked food, gently rewarming it with a spell before passing it to the dark red haired woman. “Everyone agreed that Fayeth should stay since she helped defeat the hydra.” Keira took a bite as she spoke coldly. “Fantastic, just what I always wanted... another half elf to remind me of the one who slept me and fucked me over…”

Elysande sat opposite her as she started to sharpen her sword with a wet stone. “I know how you feel.” She paused. “I saw that your weapons don’t channel with you, my mother and father in the land of the dead can resolve that. I had the same issue though... I managed to ruin a clock tower with one of the magic spikes.” Keira looked at her for a long moment. “Can I ask when you had no control over your other form, did you wake up with your stomach so full it was going to burst, and that you didn’t want to eat for the next three days?”

Elysande nodded calmly, as she finished her sword and moved to cleaning her shield. “Yes, every black moon I changed, whether I wanted to or not. I can suppress it now, but it hurts a lot.” Keira looked at her palms which had a healing bandage wrapped around them. “For me it is always the blood moon, black moons have no effect.” She was about to say more only for Bastian to come inside the tent, a wide smile on his face. “You’re awake! We were getting worried!”

Keira looked at him, moving her shoulders and ignoring the pain. “I’m part werewolf, I’ll be fine tomorrow.” She paused speaking slightly louder. “Your new friend though will have to get a mount in the next town and ride on someone else’s.” A light voice suddenly hit the air. “Oh I’m good I don’t need a mount!” Bastian pulled back his grin, widening even more. “Oh yes, you should see this, it’s really something.”

He moved well back as the half elf stood up. “Show Keira!” Keira moved forward, as the woman body blasted into light, only for it to fade away, leaving a white and green glowing coloured, moss-covered horse, which had two wooden horns in place of the single one which unicorns normally had. The horse rose its head as spoke. “I’m my own mount, you don’t need you to carry me anywhere; I can change in to many things but this one’s my favourite.”

Keira looked at her for a very long moment. “You know looking like a unicorns is illegal right?” The two horned horse smirked. “Two horns and covered in glowing moss, not a unicorn.” Keira raised her hand to speak, only to stop. “Okay... well can you just make the horns bigger, more horn like, with a curve so no one locks us up?!” The light blasted out as the woman changed back. “Yes I can do that.”

Bastian turned, following Fayeth as she walked away from the camp and out of ear shot. “Is your paladin always this grumpy?” Bastian raised a clawed hand. “She is a friend, she is just going through something big right now and we need to get her to the land of the dead to resolve it.” He eyed Agomais who was cleaning his weapons. “I’m sure she’ll come around to you. Her and Elysande just have a difficult history with half elves.”

He paused. “They both slept with the same one, and that half elf woman betrayed them both badly, messing up their lives.” Fayeth looked up in surprise. “I see, well elves and half elf’s view that behaviour as very dishonourable, so do orcs, so they have nothing to fear from me.” She leaned closer. “Are Keira and Elysande a couple?” Bastian laughed as he shook his head. “No, they do have a lot in common though, but I’m sure they’ll tell you when there both ready.”

End of part 12

Silvermoonlight