The trees around him began to thin and get more widely spaced, and the way ahead clearer glad that he made it through the forest without any further incidents Kadin was in a relatively good mood, he had caught glimpses of a few more forest creatures but none disturbed him – the wisp he

encountered before confronting the spiders had seemed to have taken an interest in him though and Kadin would often catch movement and see the light green blur dimming away as he turned towards it, when he was setting up camp on his second night the wisp must have been feeling particularly brave as Kadin got a good look at it peering at him from behind a tree its small triangular shaped head with a tiny slit of a mouth towards the bottom point, a tiny nose that looked almost like a knot in a piece of wood, little eyes that were a dark amber not the black Kadin first thought, The wisp blinked at him once before darting away. As the woodland around him thinned to a rough grassland with the occasional sparse crops of trees Kadin hear the light sounds of what he would best describe as the sound of tiny bells chiming he turned again to see a green glow streak back into the forest ‘a way of waving him good bye’ he assumed. He still had a couple of more hours of light to travel by and all being well he should make it to Turin before mid day the next day, another reason for his good mood as it meant only one more day of sleeping by the side of a road. As the woodland had ended the path became smoother and so he could trot the horse for a time as well, he would occasionally pass another track or path intersecting his own and the path he was on getting wider and more travelled as the sun was starting to get low he noticed a small cluster of trees ahead and he decided to make camp there for the night as he got closer he also spotted a small stream running from the hills behind and through the small crop a good place to rest for the night, as he got through the trees he found a space that had been used many times before as a camping ground there was a stone set fire pit that looked a little weather worn but still serviceable a flat patch of soft ground that had a good and strong foliage from several trees above and good wind break in the form of several thickets of bushes and thorns, a fallen tree trunk that seemed to deliberately placed near the fire pit for it to be an accident and the stream also quietly running just off to one side. Kadin dismounted and unpacked his horse he grabbed a few handfuls of dry grass and gave the horse a rub down before leading it over to the stream for a drink while there he also filled his own water skins after making sure the water was drinkable. Once done he went back to the fire pit and repaired it before building a small fire and cooking some of the dried meat with some root vegetables to make what he thought was an almost eatable stew, it was however still the best meal he had since leaving the safe house. As night fully set in Kadin was unrolling his bedroll the scene around with the lightly reflective amber light of the fire on the trees around everything was quiet and peaceful – Kadin suddenly felt very on edge everything seemed too quiet and too peaceful, he embraced his magical powers and used them to sense out around him as far as he could, looking for anything strange or unusual but he could feel nothing could find nothing, he sensed the life forms of a few nearby animals a rabbit or hare and an owl or some such in the trees above but nothing to explain his sudden tension, he checked on the horse made sure it was tethered he also drew some basic protection runes on the ground around the camp and a detection and flash trap the he set as far as he could extend the boundary, anything larger than a fox would trigger it sounding a loud alarmed whistle and a bright flash, finally he moved his bed roll away from the fire and against the fallen trunk in the night he would be almost invisible against it. Nothing else for it Kadin tried to sleep, he lay down and tried to force himself to rest, but he was still using his magic to actively scan the area around him, still finding nothing after a time he let his connection to his mana drop and eventually felt his eyes start to pull themselves closed.

Kadin was in a forest, he was running, he was being chased – No, he was being hunted. There was no time for stealth... ‘No... Stop’ Kadin screamed to himself ‘I have just left a forest’ he told himself and forcing himself to turn towards whatever was chasing him, he turned and there was just an empty

woodland behind him – then a bright flash and he jerked awake. Back in a peaceful and quite camp ground back resting against a tree, his senses were slower to return than normal – it felt he had only just closed his eyes by there was a pale glow of the false dawn in the air, shaking his head to try and clear and focus his thoughts – he looked around but noticed nothing strange or unusual his head was still foggy and his movements seemed sluggish, but his caution of the previous night came crashing back, so he quickly reached out with his mana for the area around him – there was something different – but he couldn’t quite focus on it, growing more concerned he rested his hand on the hilt of his blade and checked the trap he had set everything was fine within its boundaries still strong nothing had been triggered even the runes and enchantments around camp were undisturbed , as his pulse started to settle and his thought started to slowly clear he realised what it was – something wasn’t different something was missing he looked over to where he tethered the horse and there was nothing, the saddle and saddle bags were still resting at the base of the trunk close to where the horse was tethered , he quickly scanned the area again making sure there was nothing or no one around, things in the clearing still felt heavy and thick but there was no sense of alarm or uncertainty, he created a glowing orb of white magic and cast it to stick to the trunk of the tree by where the horse should be he then created a second one that hovered slightly above his outraised hand he walked over to where the horse was paying close attention to the ground for any tracks or traces, he followed the track the horse made as he lead it to the stream and then to where he tethered it, but then the track just ended. He reached out with his mind again scanning for anything inside and outside the barrier of his trap and there was nothing no creatures, no birds not even any insects as far as he could feel. Kadin slept rolled up in his cloak for multiple reasons one it was warm, two it had easy reach to a good few weapons, three it had a various array of defensive spells, enchantments and runes on it, he checked the cloak to ensure everything was still there and all the defences were working which they were but the shield sigils were substantially weaker than they should have been, and didn’t seem to be regenerating Kadin was trying to piece things together something had happened during the night something that did not set off any traps or detections spells, something that drained magical energy and it would seem life energy - but that wouldn’t explain why there were no bodies Kadin thought, still on guard he checked and looked around until dawn was on the horizons but could still find nothing at that stage he thought he should start to head on even on foot he should make it to Turin by nightfall. He withdrew the protective spells and dropped the barrier trap as he did this he could feel a change coming, then it hit him – like someone opening a door or window on a sunny day a breeze of air that felt so clean and fresh that he wondered how he had not noticed how stale the air was before, this was one of the most strange events he had never experienced, he wished he could have the five to speak too about that particularly Sorcery she would doubtless have had some insight – that’s when he remembered the warning he received from her before leaving the chamber with them back at the guild hall. Kadin hesitated for a moment before picking up his saddle bags the saddle its self he left, he had more than enough gold to buy a new horse and saddle if needed and he didn’t need the extra weight especially as he now had a day of walking ahead of him. As he made his way through the small crops of trees he still had a hand rested on the hilt of his sword and was using his mana so he could both visually look for threats and magically scan the area using a simple detect life spell, it was only a few minutes till he came out of the trees and seen the road a little way ahead, however off in the distance he could also see something that did not improve his mood – giant black storm clouds covered a good portion of the horizon ‘ thats just great’ Kadin thought to himself, he usually liked the rain as people tended to be less observant with their heads down, hoods up and most people

just stayed indoors. For himself Kadin projected a bubble spell around himself, paper thin and crystal clear the spell would not stop anything like and arrow, or sword swing or even a person could walk through and shatter it but it did mean the rain would look and act like it had hit a glass shell around him and run down the bubble to the ground keeping Kadin mostly dry, mostly as the spell would not affect the already wet roads ... that were not yet paved. As the day wore on and he progressed on his journey the land around him continued to grow less wild, every now and then he would see a patch of land cleared by foresters or wood cutters then he started noticing the occasional hunting cabin or even the occasional small home with what looked like vegetable patches in front of or beside them, the road as well continued to grow smother and wider... unfortunately it also continued to grow wetter, the rain enveloped him shortly after he got back on the road and it had continued unabashed for the whole morning it which caused the occasional mud puddle that seemed to vary in size from tiny to small ocean. His footing also became more treacherous as the rutted tracks cause by wagons would cause the mud to slip and squelch, the occasional stone hidden just under the surface to seemed to be placed at the worst place to try and trip him, it was closer to midday and Turin was still several miles off, Kadin still hoped to make it that day so he could at least spend the night in a bed, the lashing rain was running in small steams down the side of his bubble shield but the wind was cold and biting. The land around him was continuing to become more lived on with the occasional pasture and field and other small farming plots, due to this there were also less and less trees around that could provided some shelter from the wind and rain so he pushed on at the best pace he could manage. The wind was not quite blowing into his face but a little off to the right which meant that every time he pulled up the hood of his clock the wind would catch it and it would either whip the side of his face or blow off completely - so he had left it down after the first few futile attempts whenever the wind died down he would try again only to have the wind tauntingly mock him a few moments later. Kadin was just about to flip off one of his travel bags and look for something he could eat while still on the move when he heard someone call out behind him.

“Ho! There traveller” the voice shouted, Kadin spun hand immediately going to the hilt of his sword, he had let his magical scanning stop some time ago as everything seemed well and with the wind blowing away from him it also carried the sound, so he was surprised to see not just a man but a horse and a covered wagon being led up the track behind him, the man who had yelled was a large well fed and joyful looking man, with bright red hair and big shaggy beard rosy cheeks and twinkling blue eyes that had a few laughter lines around the edges. He was wearing simple garb of a farmer or local merchant a pair of brown working pants and a red and black checked shirt with a good brown woollen cloak covering his wide and well muscled shoulders, he pulled up behind Kadin and asked in a deep happy voice “Where be you heading friend?”

Kadin removed his hand from his hilt he had looked at the man and wagon the man had on a simple belt knife but no other visible weapons, the horse looked like a working animal used to drag a plow or cart, a simple beast of burden. The cart too looked like it was well used to travelling the roads again Kadin guessed for short hauls – from the farm to town and back, the man seemed genuine and friendly so Kadin answered

“Heading to Turin - looking for news of someone.” The man smiled in response and said

“Well I am heading there too, to trade some goods.” He said nodding his head towards the back of the wagon the went on “Would you like to keep an old man company on the road to town?” he asked indicating the seat next to him.

“Yes, Thank you.” Kadin accepted graciously as he walked around in front of the horse he let it sniff at and nuzzle his hand before Kadin gave it a scratch behind the ear, he then climbed the small wooden step in to the cart and sitting next to the drive noticing then the small ledge of a roof, the drive gave him a quick and curious look up and down before asking

“Been rainin near half the day – why er ye no wet?”

Almost everyone had some degree of magical ability in them, but most never focused on or learnt how to use it properly so Kadin was open in his answer when he said.

“Weather shield spell.” The mans smile returned as he responded

“Ahh – you be one of them magic casters then?” as he asked this he also pulled on the reigns and clicked his horse forwards again. There was a gentle creaking sound of the axle as the wagon started moving again.

“ I know a little, not as much as some of the people I know.” Kadin answered, thinking back to some of the things he had seen Aurora do .. or even more impressive Sorcery who he had once saw stop an erupting volcano with no more than a mere glance and wave of her hand as if she was shooing a fly.

“Aye, never could get the hang of that there magic me self, gie me plain ol tools and honest hard work any day - ye’ll get all ye need fe that.” Realising that Kadin may have taken that as an insult his cheeks flushed an even deeper red before he quickly changed the subject.

“Ma names’ Thom Bastion – I work the farm ye may ha seen a few miles back, me friends call me Tom, what be your name stranger?”

“My names Kadin, its good to meet you Tom” Kadin answered holding out his hand

“Good ti meet you to Kadin.” Tom said shaking Kadin’s outstretched hand. Kadin felt his rough and callus hands and his grip was like Iron then Tom went on.

“So you be headin to town” he said nodding his head forwards then said “Where you be comin from, the mountains or the forest?” he asked jerking his head first to the right then back and to the left as he spoke. The man seemed friendly enough and Kadin always considered himself a good judge of a person, he didn’t see anything in Tom but a good honest farmer so he answered truthfully

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“Came from the capital, through the forest” he answered jerking his thumb behind him and back along the trail. Tom whistled at that and said

“That be a fair distance to travel on foot, take ye more than a week to do that trip.”

Again Kadin could detect nothing off about that man so answered.

“This is day four, I had a horse but I came to a small brush of trees last night and set up camp there – looked like it’s been used a few times, when I awoke this morning the horse had gone”

“Aye I know the ground, use it meself actually – when I go huntin in the forest with me boys, shouldn’t be nothing there to scare away a horse though, did ye no find any tracks of it?”

“I didn’t see any tracks, but I didn’t have much time to look – I am trying to catch up to someone, he may have passed through Turin a day or two ago, a man, black cloak lined in green, clean shaven very pale skin, blue eyes and short dark hair. Maybe you’ve seen him?” Kadin asked Tom was looking thoughtful as he scratched the back of his head but after a moment answered

“Nah – I aint seen anyone like that, but truth be told I don’t get in to town that much, aint been there for a good few days now, but ye might want to ask Bernard – he be the Innkeeper in town. A good man is Bernard he’ll know if yer stranger has passed through.”

As the day wore on Tom chatted and Kadin listened, as it turns out Tom had just sheered his sheep and had thirty bails of washed wool that he was trading with a merchant in town for some chickens, Tom had just built a barn for the chickens and he was looking forwards to having eggs for breakfast again, in general Tom had a good honest living and he was content with what he had. Kadin found himself wondering what his live could have been like had he chosen a different path, he couldn’t see himself as a farmer but he was amazed how normal Toms life seemed compared to his own.

The sun was an hour or so away from setting when as they approached Turin the rain had stopped a few hours ago and the rest of the trip was uneventful, Kadin seen the small town but it still had one wizards tower in the town itself and another out on its own on the outskirts on the other side of the small stone wall surrounded by grassland, there were a mixture of building in the town from wooden and log, to stone and brick buildings, smoke was rising for several chimneys and in all it seemed a normal quite small town. As they were approaching Kadin noticed a large cluster of carts, wagons and stalls in a field just outside of the towns walls, Turin having a very small central square this was the best they had on offer.

“Well this be me.” Tom said, as he approached a large open gate into the field, Tom then indicated a couple of hundred yeards further up the road they were on which was leading directly to a wide open gate, there were four guards standing around about the gate two outside and two on the inside of the wall, they were wearing casual brown leather each guard held a spear that was about seven feet long and at their belts they each had strapped a satchel or large pouch on one side and balanced by a wooded cudgel with metal studs at the head on the other side. Kadin glanced around and assumed that this merchant trading event happened about every month or so as the field was packed dirt with no sign or hint of grass and the guards looked more alert than he would have expected from a town this small. He was brought out of his observation as he heard Tom speak again

“if ye ha no been here afore, head straight up the main road and ye’ll get ti a small square with a fountain in the middle o it, on the left is the lone traveller Inn, on the right is the blacksmith and there be a few stores around there, a baker, butcher and a common goods shop. I’d warn ye off the butcher though he sells off cuts as prime ti the folk that’ll travel through” he finished before nodding more to himself than Kadin as if he had explained everything he thought he needed to.

Kadin thanked Tom for the ride and instructions on where to go – Kadin had passed though this village a few times.. however he decided to keep that to himself as he felt that to say so would be being ungrateful to Tom, they shook hands again and Kadin headed up the road to the gates as Tom moved his cart into the small throng of wagons and carts in the field. As he walked up the road and got to the gates one of the guards glanced at him then stopped and gave him a closer examination, he looked as if he may try to challenge or question Kadin but after a second thought better of it, he gave Kadin a curt nod before turning his attention back to the road up to the town.

He made his way up the main street there were mainly people’s homes that lined the street on this side of town, there did not seem to be much planning or organisation into the where and how the building were constructed he would pass a house of brick and stone with a tiled roof yet the next house would be built of wood and have a thatched roof to it, the other streets and alleys that led of the main road also seemed to be set in a hap hazard way going off at odd angles at one side yet a straight side street on the other. After a small time walking Kadin got to the square and looked around the butcher and bakers shops he could see from the signs above the door were already closed, but he could still hear the striking of hammer on anvil - so the smith still seemed to be working. On the other side of the square Kadin could see the lone traveller Inn a stone building that was three stories high made with some sort of red bricks, a few wide windows on the ground floor let out a lot of light and he could see movement and a general babble on the other side of the smoked glass there was also the faint sound of music and merriment coming from the door of the Inn, the building had a few benches outside that were empty, but he assumed would have been good for a lunch if the sun was out. Kadin walked to the door of the inn and as he opened it a blast of sound smell and warm air hit him, as soon as the door was opened he stepped inside and had a look around the ground floor, plain wooden boards made up the floor but these were well maintained and oiled with no cracks or gaps to the earth beneath, at the other end of the hall there was a small raised stage the had one occupant sitting on a chair playing the lute, a little beside the stage was a large hearth what had a small merry fire going in it, there were about a dozen tables spread around the room a few larger round tables that could hold ten to twelve sat in the middle and working towards the stage and windows, the rest of the room a spattering of smaller tables that would hold only four or five . Directly opposite Kadin was stairs leading up to the rooms above this was still at the other end of the building and the openness meant that no one could sneak upstairs without being seen from the main room, next to the stairs and covering the whole of the opposite wall was the bar itself a few stools sat at either end of the bar and there were stacked casks and a multitude of bottles on the wall at the back, there was also a small archway at the far side a little down from the fire this Kadin assumed lead to the kitchen. Standing at the bar Kadin could see a somewhat large man wearing a white apron and light shirt with his sleeves rolled up, the man had wide shoulders and a rounded belly, he was clean shaven and wore a ready smile as he talked to the patrons, his hair .. well to say it was thinning would be kind, there was still some hair at the sides of his head behind the temples and running back but the top only had a few long strands pulling back across his head. The mood in the inn felt merry and Kadin could see the inn keeper talking animatedly and joyfully with a few of his customers sat on the stools at the bar, he also noticed two barmaid expertly wavering in and out through the crowd, expertly dodging the occasional stray ‘grasping’ hand as they passed.

“Ho Traveler!” Kadin heard through the babble of conversation he looked over to see the inn keeper waving him in with a friendly smile, Kadin started towards the man then had a quick moment of

panic ‘crap!! What was his name again?? ... Brendon, Bernard, Benjamin’ he knew the last one wasn’t right but threw it in for good measure. As he approached he was saved the trouble of having to ask though as the man spoke again.

“The name be Bernard, friend, this be my Inn – you looking to stay the night?”

“Good to meet you Bernard.” Kadin said before going on “Yeah if you still have a room available?”

“Biggest building in town!” Bernard said proudly before going on I will always guarantee a room even if I have to give you mine and sleep with the horses!” he went on happily the said “Price is one silver a night and ye get and evening meal and a breakfast in the morning.”

“what’s on the menu?” Kadin asked, he felt a little guilty for his automatic response as towns this small usually meant that the food was whatever you were given like it or not but he was surprised when the Inn keeper actually answered

“We got a nice beef stew with vegetables, or a honey glazed ham wi potatoes.” He said proudly at having an option for his guests. Kadin would normally prefer the ham but the long march on the road snd the cold wind made him pick the stew

“That will also come with an ale.” Bernard said and again offered choice “We got a nice cask o dwarven ale, or we got the freeman’s standard ale” Dwarven ale was a lot stronger than the ale made by most humans it also had a much more earthy flavour so Kadin went with the freeman’s ale. He then dug in his coin pouch to hand over his room rent and was again surprised when the inn keeper held up his hand and said “bill can be settled in the morning – I like to make sure my customers are happy afore they settle up.” He said again with his cheerful grin and went on “take a seat friend and I will bring over your food.” He gestured off to the side to an empty table in between the fire and the stage.

As he sat at his table with his back against the wall he observed the rest of the room, everything looked ok more than half the tables were occupied, a few by locals having a drink after a day in the fields or nearby woodland they talked and laughed as they drank their ale, most of the other tables were occupied by other travellers and what looked to be a group of caravan guards huddled quietly over a deck of cards by them next to the guards Kadin noticed a couple of crossbows leaning against the wall and still that all the guards were armed with swords strapped to their sides or on their backs they were travel worn and had on dark clocks and armour. However he did notice a small group of villagers they weren’t talking or laughing with everyone else they all sat quietly in the corner of the room there were eight in total at first glance Kadin thought nothing of it – a sombre conversation perhaps but he did notice that every so often one of them would glance around the room – again nothing so unusual about that but the way their eyes would linger on him before moving on he thought was a little strange, he was brought out of his thoughts as a large bowl of steaming stew and mug of ale was set out in front of him, the aroma of the stew hit a second later the sweet sharp smell of the beef and the ale in the gravy as well as the exotic sent of a mix of spices used to flavour it set off Kadin’s stomach to growl with hunger. Kadin thanked the innkeeper but then stopped him as he turned away by asking

“Bernard, who are those men” he said nodding towards the quite group of villagers, Bernard glanced over then said “Those be Ables lot, him and his sons own the largest farm round these parts. They

have been acting out o sorts lately though, they were here the night that stranger came through town he spoke to them for a bit and they aint been right since.” He finished leaning in to say the last part in little more than a whisper. That got Kadins attention, he turned to Bernard and asked “The Stranger, what can you tell me about him?” the innkeeper seemed a little taken aback by Kadins intensity so Kadin forced himself to relax then gestured to the seat opposite him for the innkeeper to sit, He looked round the room seeing everything was in hand so took the offered seat and Kadin spoke again.

“I am looking for someone, a man – very pale skin, dark hair and a green lined cloak last I seen. Was this the man that passed through?”

Bernard thought for a moment before saying

“Maybe could be him – a few days ago he came by, he be pale – but he also kept his hood up so I could nay get a good look at him. He came in got some food and a drink said he wis nay looking for a room though. After he ate he talked to Able an his lot” he said jerking his head back before continuing “they been coming here every night for the last few nights – but that aint unusual for them what’s unusual is that they have been quite since then. They are good lads and I ha known Able for years we be friends but he aint spoke to me recently.” As Bernard finished Kadin looked back over and noticed there were only four people at the table now – he scanned the room but couldn’t see the others, Bernard seemed to pick up on Kadins mood, he quickly got back to his feet and said

“sceuse me master, I got to get back to me other customers, but ge me a shout if ya be needing anything else.” He then hurried off without a backwards glance. Kadin kept a subtle eye on the other four and as he was eating two of them got up and left and by the time he finished his meal the other two had also gotten up and left. None of them seemed to give him a second glance so Kadin started to think he could be being a bit paranoid. After another mug of ale and nothing happened he decided to call it a night and went to his room, he drew a few protective spells around the windows and door to his room before going to bed, after the long day he quickly fell asleep.