“So what’s our next step?” Edison asked as soon as they were out of the jail. The fire mage was very happy having avoided landing in a cell himself and was excited about having not one but two adventuring teams looking for the missing people. Before Brivaria could speak, Alden answered.
“We head to the adventurers guild to meet up with the others. My teammates, Isolde and Tobias, should be there or be on their way with good news. If the angel’s team is there as well then we can see if they found anything. For now, you should stay with us. If the mercenaries are after you and try to make a move then we can get a lot of questions answered quickly by dragging one of them to the guard,” the warrior said.
Brivaria nodded and went along with the two men. She felt like she should say something, contribute something to the discussion but Alden was taking the lead and his suggestions sounded good to her. Brivaria had some ideas of her own but she wasn’t certain they were good ideas or worth speaking. They weren’t, she finally decided. After making a few agreeable noises, the angel leaned down to give Trixie pets. The golden was always so happy no matter where the dog was going. The angel wished some of that carefree happiness would rub off on herself.
Everyone rendezvoused at the guild. Kseniya and Nyx had done some legwork or tailwork as the case may be. Sadly, neither woman came up with anything worthwhile. It had been over a month since Grand’s disappearance so many possible leads had grown cold. That was expected and also the two stuck to the more populous areas of the city out of an abundance of caution. It was one thing for ambushes to take place on deserted streets after dark or outside the city. It was another for monsters to show up in broad daylight where guards patrolled frequently.
“We have good news!” Isolde said excitedly once the serpent and catfolk girl were done sharing their report. “Count Dancarlo approved bringing the Divine Blessing adventuring team on board immediately. Of course, I think that’s mostly due to the fact that they’re copper rank so don’t be expecting good pay.”
“Ugh, we have to hurry up and get to bronze,” Nyx complained.
“It is fine for now. As long as the Count covers our expenses for staying in the city then we will slither away no worse for wear. Plus we still have the baroness’ bounty to claim,” the sorceress consoled the cat girl. Kseniya had zero interest in becoming an adventurer before meeting Brivaria but she did like money and Brivaria was starting to realize the snake woman also loved to haggle… as was evidenced by the dangerous gleam in the woman’s eyes when Alden asked about the bounty.
The next ten minutes became a ruthless negotiation over the details of Cordelia Westlake’s cultist bounty and potential splits between the two teams should they turn anyone in. Edison also threw his proverbial hat into the ring since he was the bait for catching the kidnappers. A bit of coin made the prospect much more attractive to the fire mage as well.
Brivaria and Isolde chose not to engage in the debate. Trixie was sitting on a bench and resting her head on the table. The angel rubbed Trixie’s back and Isolde reached across the narrow table to pet the dog’s head. The golden panted happily with her pink tongue hanging out while she received attention. Her tail was moving fast enough to make an audible sound as it whipped back and forth.
The debate over the money they had yet to earn and might not earn was settled. Kseniya looked pleased and Nyx had definitely taken some notes on how to bargain. Alden also looked pleased as well. In fact, Kor was the only person at the table wearing a mildly disgruntled expression. The fire mage had definitely gotten the worst end of the deal.
“All done?” Isolde asked, giving the affectionate dog a boop on the nose before turning to the table.
“All done,” Alden confirmed.
“Good because Tobias and I had one more bit of information to go over and no one is going to like it,” she said. The bald water mage coughed, reminding everyone he was there. Tobias, like Nyx, could be very quiet when others were discussing things. Brivaria briefly wondered what the Seasoned Steel’s team dynamic was like.
“The Count requested that we cease activities in the city until he arrives,” the bald man said with an air of finality. “Count Dancarlo will arrive in three days. Given the monsters and assorted attacks, he would like to be more personally involved in the situation. If Zenith is behind any of this then he has the power to bring her before the guard and make her answer for it.”
“A bit anticlimactic if the Count just makes her confess,” Nyx complained.
“Even if she’s responsible for some of it, I don’t think she’s responsible for all of it,” Brivaria interjected.
There was a bit more discussion after that then they all went to lunch together. Brivaria was quiet throughout the meal. The angel was still thinking about what Sparrow’s Revenge told them. Kseniya excused the group after lunch saying they’d be at the Siren’s Alcove training in the meantime and Alden could drop off their pay as soon as the Count’s estate delivered it. Once they were back at the inn and away from listening ears, the snake woman spoke up.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Little angel, what is wrong? If you had your wings out then they would be drooping. It is easy when you are sad or conflicted, you know? Tell us what is bothering you,” the lamia pressed. Once more they were in the room Nyx and Brivaria shared. The angel was sitting on her bed with Trixie draped across her legs.
“The lephori on Sparrow’s Revenge said she heard a voice talking to her in the forest. She also said her team saw the golden hind. If the golden hind is a land spirit then it might have been the thing she heard. The hind might not be a mindless animal,” the angel confessed.
“Land spirit?” Nyx asked.
“Land spirits are unique beings born of the land’s mana. It’s one potential outcome of a mana swell alongside other things like dungeons,” Kseniya explained. “They are extremely rare and sentient land spirits even more so. There is rumored to be one deep beneath the waves in the Sea of Solemnity south of the continent but it has not been seen in centuries if it even existed in the first place.”
“But if it’s a land spirit and it’s sapient…” Brivaria trailed off as she looked between her two party members.
“Then hunting and killing it would be murder,” Kseniya finished.
“We have to tell the Count. If he knew then he would…” Kseniya cut Nyx off before the cat girl could finish.
“Then he would order his mercenaries to guard the forest even more aggressively than usual and prevent anyone who learned about it from talking,” the lamia concluded.
That was what Brivaria was very afraid of. She had seen the value of coin on Zlithia. She still didn’t fully, truly understand the power money held to the people here but she was beginning to. People would fight for it and kill for it. If there was as much money on the line as Candice suggested when they’d first talked it over with the innkeeper then the angel wondered what lengths the people here would go to for it.
“We have to do something!” Nyx exclaimed, suddenly very distressed. “We have to tell someone!”
“Who do we tell?” the lamia asked. “Count Dancarlo rules these lands and he has a mercenary band on his side plus whatever Velkan soldiers reside within the castle. If this was true, and we don’t know that it is, then there is no one in the city who could stop him.” Even as Kseniya said those words, her orange eyes flicked toward the angel. The serpent woman paused as Brivaria had gone very silent.
“Little angel, you are not thinking of doing something very reckless, are you?” Kseniya looked at Brivaria. Nyx looked at Brivaria. The angel was petting Trixie and averting her eyes. The sorceress sighed dramatically and asked a different question. “What are you planning?” Brivaria squirmed under the stares of both her party members.
“I was thinking about flying into the forest and looking for the hind,” the angel confessed.
“Oh, of course. I’m sure the mercenaries on guard would have no problem with that. Surely you would not end up in the city jail next to those other adventurers or gone altogether if this is really happening,” the sorceress commented with equal parts sarcasm and concern.
“It sounds like they have an alarm spell on the trees. I could fly far enough into the sky that they wouldn’t even see me let alone detect me entering,” the angel explained.
“And how would you find the hind on your own?” the lamia pressed.
“I would have Trixie.” Trixie wuffed in agreement at Brivaria’s words. Well, that was how the angel interpreted it. “I don’t think the alarm is set off by animals or it would be going off nonstop. We wouldn’t have to go far. Sparrow’s Revenge said they found the hind near the city which makes a lot of sense if it was trying to talk to people.”
“You should definitely do it,” Nyx agreed while thrusting a fist into the air. Both Brivaria and Kseniya looked at her in surprise. “What? I don’t have a better plan and Brivaria can just change her appearance if she has to run for it, right? We might be worrying over nothing. It could be a wild animal and nothing more. The only way to know is to check and no one else can do it. The highest level rogue we know is in the jail and I’m no master of stealth. It’s not like we’re doing anything for the next few days anyway.”
“This is a terrible, reckless idea, you know?” Kseniya said while crossing her arms. Brivaria and Nyx said nothing and waited. The angel wore a hopeful expression. “Guh. Fine. But I will say ‘I told you so’ when something inevitably goes wrong.”
Brivaria would have hugged the sorceress if there wasn’t a dog on her lap. She felt a lot better with both of her teammates supporting her. Despite the sorceress’ comments, the angel felt Kseniya would have put her tail down if it wasn’t a somewhat viable idea.
That night Brivaria spent all of her time working on her battle form with Akashic. The demoness was strangely supportive of the angel’s plan. Brivaria felt she was starting to understand Akashic a little better after each evening they spent working together on her abilities. The demoness didn’t want the angel dead but enjoyed sowing as much chaos as possible. If there was an opportunity to encourage Brivaria to embrace her inner demon then Akashic would take it.
In fact, the demoness suggested that if the hind were a dumb animal that Brivaria kill it herself and stuff as much of its meat into her inventory as possible. The angel wasn’t ready to become a wanted criminal just yet but the demoness pointed out that was already a significant possibility if the winged girl meddled in the hunt. That was a fair point and Brivaria had no rebuttal.
The night was productive and soon morning came. Brivaria returned Kseniya and Nyx’s things to them to make room in her inventory just in case it was necessary for whatever reason. She could feel Akashic’s approval in freeing up inventory space which made it feel kind of dirty even though Brivaria intended nothing scandalous. Demonic approval was not something the angel was seeking.
The plan itself was simple. Brivaria would fly high into the sky and into the woods. Nyx and Kseniya would take Trixie to the western gate and let the dog go. Trixie would then go to Brivaria in the forest. How was Trixie supposed to find Brivaria in the woods? It was a simple plan, not a good one. Even so, Brivaria trusted in the golden sunchaser’s ability to find her. Maybe it was misplaced but she had faith in her dog. No matter what happened, Trixie would always find her.
Kseniya, Nyx, and Trixie began heading toward the gate at the same time Brivaria flew up and into the sky. Unnoticed by any members of Divine Blessing, a small blue bird perched on a nearby rooftop extended its wings and took to the air.