My brain itched. I’d spent all night awake as we planned and schemed, offering everything I knew about the Divine Cultivator threat. Captain Ban had wrung me dry for anything he could use, and that had got me worked up to no end. I had been very lucky that nothing had bothered me on the walk over here. Bard or not, if some Noble Squire had asked for a duel I'd have taken him up on the offer. Thankfully I'd had Lancelot with me which had warded off any attention.

Lancelot had been read in on the issue and then spent the rest of the night helping Elaine call on dreams to answer some questions. The eerie way they whistled in unison had not helped me focus. It helped us understand the problem immensely and informed our roles for the day.

I was executing stage one of my role in the plan, visiting Miss Peaches and reading her in on the threat and our plans. Elaine would be meeting her afterwards to provide further details, using the meeting they'd agreed on yesterday as cover. Ban had been very clear that he didn't want any of us doing anything that might imply we knew something was wrong.

“Thrice cursed cultists, and right under my nose too. Must you continue to rack up my debts to you? Can't let those monsters near my girls!”

“This debt is at least easy to settle, any help in defeating them would be much appreciated.”

“I cannot wipe debt like that, it'd be like asking you to wipe a debt by singing, you will do it anyway so it is not of commensurate value.” She pulled out a book from her desk and began leafing through it. “What does that rust bucket have to say for himself? To let his brother fall so far?”

“He's going to handle the brother, but would appreciate any support you might offer.” Captain Ban took the rise of this corruption under his nose personally. He'd left early in the morning to quietly marshal his troops. He'd arranged for a 'fugitive' to break out of the gaol, so he and some of his Knights could disappear to 'chase them down'. The reality was that he was in a hidden location, busy breaking through to Steel, a process I was surprised to learn he'd been putting off. Lance had let me know that both her mother and father could've broken through, but due to the politics of Fosburg had been waiting till the patriarch returned as they feared the brothers would take poorly to be finding a power couple to contend with.

“And you?”

“I'll be escorting Lancelot to see Sir Bors, and if you're willing to work with our deception, will be delivering something to the Noble Knight on Miss Peaches' behalf. A delivery for you will give us an excuse to be clear of the town.” That had caused a flaming row, Lance had taken poorly to being sidelined. I'd been excused for a while and eventually, a tearful Lance had come to me to explain she'd agreed to come with me.

She wanted to stay close but spare Iron level cultivators we could trust were thin on the ground. Those allied to the Captain would be needed for the fight. What no one said was that if things went wrong having her far from town would at least mean they'd saved her.

“Sensible, if I was protecting her directly she'd be in my debt and the girl has enough potential to tempt me to see she doesn't work her way free of it.” She looked over to Lancelot who was exiled to one of the empty alchemy rooms, currently checking her gear blessedly unaware of the monster sizing her up. I didn't shiver, I'd heard far worse but it was a reminder that as much as I liked the older witch she was still a powerful cultivator with her own goals. “Not that I'm against purging such filth, but why is this so urgent?”

“It seems Roland believes his father, the lord, is dead. Apparently, he always sends some kind of message or manifestation of power at the festival. Ban, while confident that his adopted father lives, feels worried that the festival will be a starting whistle for whatever they're planning. If there's no sign from the Bear then Roland acts. If there is a sign of the Lord there's a chance the Divine Cultivators do a ton of damage as they flee.”

“Dang fool betting against the Bear of Fos. The young'un may be many things but easy to kill ain't one of them.” Miss Peaches said, casually referring to a several century-old cultivator who was questing to rise to Mithril as she might a teenager. Then she sighed and made a couple of notes. “I'll spare some time to get this cleaned up, can't have rats like these running around near my girls. Now I believe you're here for a demonstration and my little witches are waiting. They can then put together your delivery as well.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

She seemed totally unbothered like I'd told her about a minor disruption and a delay in her deliveries. I couldn't help it. “Miss Nimue, the Divine Cultivators are no joke.”

“I'd expect a Bard to know that jokes are all about your audience, and I, little Taliesin, who bears the gifts of the Lady of Lake, who reeks of death, and clearly has fooled those demons masquerading as gods, I can laugh at most anything.” The edge of her evil eye whipped me reminding me of my station and the fact she had my full measure. She knew the threat and found it wanting.

To illustrate her point the Steel rank witch left the room cackling. As she left a forgotten memory thawed and dripped knowledge down my spine. Alexis had told me witches who left their coven would often give up knowledge, lowering their level of cultivation and had told me her mistress was in that category. I shuddered what manner of ancient monster had I stumbled across now.

“Come, boy, just your shirt off this time.” She called up the stairs.

“Yes, Miss Peaches.” I could almost hear the laughter of the Lady in my ears, feel those eyes bearing down on me. Of course, she had more planned for me.

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Lancelot was saying a tearful farewell with her mother just inside ‘The Cottage’. I distracted myself from the scene by focusing on the collection of items Alexis and Elsa were laying out for me and Bors. She'd recognized I had a spatial ring and was loading me down with an entire cupboard full of ingredients plus a collection of alchemy essentials. I could also see some cultivation brews for Bors and a collection of healing brews for us all.

“This is very generous Miss Peaches.” I looked it over, the collected items weren't a sign of incredible wealth but they'd been carefully collected and arranged. It wasn't just ingredients but she was sharing a whole system of how she arranged and performed alchemy, there were even a couple of books.

“Pah this is just clearing out the back room. I have something for you and something for Bors.” She summoned me over to her side.

“This is a book with some guidance on your gift, an Illuminated text with a cultivation method and technique that I think will suit you and make us even for the help you've brought me.” She passed it to me discreetly, but I got a look at the title before I slipped it into my storage ring.

“Miss Peaches, I can't help but notice the title is ‘Lesser Death Curses’, I must say I am touched you trust me so much.” Witches didn't share much about their curse techniques, I was shocked to think I was worthy of such a gift and such trust.

“Don't get a big head child, they are lesser curses after all. This piece is for that Bors boy." She pulled out a pendant, a short metal tube that with a small window of glass through which I could see something that looked like a finger bone.

“This is a Reliquary, a bone from a powerful earth-gifted fae…beast, I defeated long ago.” She grinned as I caught the pause and nearly dropped the Reliquary. “If he cultivates wearing this it should accelerate his growth a little bit until he hits Steel.”

That was a treasure that was worthy of a petty king's ransom, even as a Harkley I'd rarely seen a Reliquary that lasted beyond Bronze. It smelt of wet earth and clay, and just being near it made me feel more grounded and settled. That Miss Peaches valued her girls so much calmed my chaotic mind. As rattled as I was to be standing beside the possibly Mithril rank cultivator, knowing she valued her people's safety reminded me that she wasn't anything like the Harkley's Patriarch. That there was some kind of balance among the high-ranking cultivators of this world.

“I will keep it safe and deliver it.”

“Good I shall send Alexis to escort you two to the gate, she'll give you some parcels there that should make it clear you're running errands for me. I also have some potions I've made that work particularly well to help you use your Levity techniques, so you should be able to get clear quickly.”

“That'd be good then we can see him before the day is out.”

“Also it'll get that golden-haired minx away from my girls quickly.” Miss Peaches eyes narrowed as Lance started to help Elsa pack some things, the apprentice witch was already blushing.

“Not worried about Alexis?” I chuckled as we moved to safer topics.

“She's not tall enough for Alexis, besides she's still hung up on the ‘Titan’ and will be for some time I imagine.” She said with a grin. I didn't know how well Bors would handle knowing an Elder Witch was paying attention to his love life. “Now do come and visit again, I'll be mightily frustrated if all this fussing about ends up with you dead by the roadside.”

“Please if I'm dying it'll be in bed, ideally someone else's.” He heard the old woman chuckle, at least part of his day was going right.

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“And give Bors my best will you, let him know he is welcome to say hello anytime. He better not leave that bridge and not at least come say goodbye! Miss Peaches did say she wanted to meet him sometime.” Alexis grinned, seemingly unaware she'd just said something that would make most cultivators run for the hills.

“It's been a pleasure Alexis, and I wish I could stay longer but my mother told me never to keep a witch waiting.” The words spilt out of me, my truth magic surprised me there. Not the common phrase which was frankly good advice for any cultivator but in that, I was certain I did remember my mother telling me that. A rarity for me as those memories were clouded by time.

“You too Taliesin, I expect a visit.” She smiled and passed the items to me casually. Alexis was a smart woman and could tell there was more to this than just a simple delivery run but played the role of an apprentice seeing off her mistress’s couriers well.

Lance was already ahead negotiating our passage. The guards on duty seemed upset on her behalf that she was being sent out so close to Founders Day, but when she mentioned ‘The Lady in Peach’ they all nodded. I followed and was given a piece of paper that outlined I'd be welcomed back in the future should I return. My heart fluttered at the offer, the idea I'd be welcome back made the stakes of the coming battle within those walls all the higher in my mind.

“Right let's get going if we run the whole way with those potions we should be there before midnight.” What had taken me four days of slow plodding with the caravan was going to be eaten up in barely any time at all.

I took the ‘Swiftness Brew’ the flavour was face puckeringly sour, but it worked a treat. We began to peel away from the town. Lance setting a fast pace that surprised me.

“Shouldn't we pace ourselves?” I caught up to her as she pounded down the empty road, quickly blowing past the rough ramshackle buildings that sat just beyond the wall.

“We were being followed in town and the guards told me that Barclay was just seen entering Stonetown with a few of his lackeys.” Her voice was sharp and her eyes watched the woods.

“Fast it is then.”