An hour of silence and the trio were at the castle gates. As expected the castle was heavily guarded. About 100 soldiers were patrolling or staying stationary at the castle. About six mages were floating around. According to a tip there is a safe house nearby that has an entrance into the castle.

The goblins found the house, which had two guards stationed in front. The king’s guards. There was a sign posted on the door.

“I’ve seen that paper before, it’s been seized by the crown,” Skrill said. “That was our only way in.”

“No, that’s all for show,” Lom said. “I was given a paper to give to the guards.”

“Give it to me,” Grillek said. “Hot damn, you mean to tell me the archmage is on this?”

The trio went up to the store.

“Sorry you three, this building is condemned by the king turn back now.”

“I believe this is for you,” Grillek said.

“Hot damn, yes, um, go right in.”

The trio entered the building. Inside the building were multiple portal rings. Floating orbs, books everywhere. A faint smell of multiple herbs filled the air. An older woman walked down the stairs. She was tall and looked to be in her sixties.

“Ah, you three, welcome, you must be here to enter the castle. Am I correct in that assumption?”

“Yes, but you aren’t the archmage,” Grillek said.

“You are correct, I’m the former archmage, I was informed of your arrival. Tell me why do you want to enter the castle?”

“Look, that’s none of your business, and quite frankly I-”

Lom touched Grillek on the shoulder. Grillek breathed in and out a long breath and then stepped back. Lom approached the mage.

“Sir, my name is Lom, the one you were talking to is Grillek and the other is Skrill.”

“Greetings, my name is Henrietta, just Henrietta. I was the archmage to the previous administration, until King Zazzel took over.”

“Nice to meet you and I’m assuming you're part of the OLC.”

“I am, now the first question, have you had enough to eat, your three look starved.”

“Look, we don’t have time to linger around, we need to save some people and you are in our way.”

“Oh, ah, do you really know if they need saving?”

“Well, several members of your order were kidnapped and we are here to rescue them,” Skrill said.

“I see, well, eat first. Please, I insist.”

Within seconds sandwiches were formed on top of a table. The goblins took to their seats and began to eat. After they were done, Henrietta opened a portal near the trio.

“Is this what you want? Are you sure you want to see this, for life isn’t exactly black and white.”

“We’ll take our chances.”

“Farewell you three.”

The trio entered the portal and emerged out into a hallway. They could hear spices and herbs, and humming? Along the hallway was various books and alchemy equipment. The goblins approached the doors, Grillek slowly opened up the doors, peeked in and then shut it.

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

“What in the underlands was that?”

“What is it, oh no, are they being tortured? But I don’t hear them scream.”

“See for yourself.”

Lom opened the doors, and gasped. The ladies weren’t in distress, they were in an alchemy lab. The ladies were either preparing ingredients, combining potions or pouring over books and manuals. Naomi looked up for her book and gasped, she ran over to the trio.

“What are you three doing here? It’s dangerous, you need to leave.”

“We came to rescue you, all of you, but what is this?” Grillek asked

“There is no time to explain, you three need to know.”

“It’s ok, they have a right to know.”

Everyone turned to the end of the room, coming out of the portal was the high mother. Grillek noticed all the ladies turned and bowed, the high mother bowed. Then everyone resumed their duties.

“My youngest can be protective, well you made it this far you must learn the truth. The king’s son has fallen ill, and any remedies have failed. So he captured us in hopes we can create a cure.”

“He what, and you are going to help that monster!”

“First off he’s practically holding the rest of the order hostage, and two, out of mercy we will serve.”

“Damn you and your slogan, you’re helping a tyrant!”

“Would you refuse to help save the life of a boy, would you enrage a man as powerful as the king?”

“Well, I hope you ladies succeed if you don’t…” Lom said.

“I didn’t mince words with the king, we aren’t sure if we could find a cure, the boy’s illness is something we haven’t seen.”

“Let me guess he threatened you if you didn’t succeed.”

“The death of a beloved wife and a dying son, it’s sombering to say the least.”

“I found it!” Naomi said

Everyone rushed over to Naomi. Beside her was a bottle of bluish liquid. Next to the bottle was a petri dish. Everyone put on their masks and gloves and crowded around the table. The trio was given masks and gloves and was welcomed at the table, only Lom took up that offer.

“I went over the symptoms of Prince Henrik, and I observed the boils on his face. I poured over some historical documents and inquired at the library, "This is ratpox.”

“Ratpox was eliminated a hundred years ago, how did the prince get it?”

“He was vulnerable to it, because of his mother. Queen Seserak was not from this region, she wasn’t from this continent. She must have caught it when King Zazzel conquered these lands.”

“The minor cold, with the occasional spots,” one of the ladies chimed.

“Yes, to us the symptoms are mild, since our bodies have a way of fighting it, but the Prince and Queen, I suppose they can’t fight it.”

The doors opened and a dozen soldiers entered the room. The arch mage entered the room, everyone was wearing masks. Beside the mage was a mini floating portal gate. Grillek peered through and saw a bedroom.

“You have the cure?” asked the mage.

“Yes, I do, it’s ratpox all along. You see what-”

“Do you have the potion ready?”

“Oh, um yes.”

“Follow me and you can bring the three meddling goblins.”

Naomi, the trio and a couple of ladies entered the portal. The room they entered was huge and dim. Only about 6 candles lit the room. In the middle of the room was a bed with a boy in it. He had boils all over, Naomi rushed to the boy.

“He’s barely alive, I hope this works.”

Naomi slowly poured the liquid into the boy’s mouth. At first nothing, then the boy started to cough. He opened his eyes and started to cough. Naomi patted the boy on the head.

“There, let it do its work, if we had a healer who could accelerate the process, that would be wonderful.”

Lom stepped forward, Grillek tried to stop him but Lom was too fast. Once the goblin reached the boy his arms began to glow. White energy poured out onto the boy within seconds the boils dissipated.

“Thank..you, everyone,” the prince said.

“Save your strength. You’ll need it to recover.”

“Henrik?”

Everyone turned to the back of the room, the king was standing, holding a candle. He looked like he had not slept in weeks. He approached the bed, everyone got out of his way, even Grillek. The king hugged his son.

“My son, my son, you are well, thank you all.”

“It was our pleasure, your majesty.”

“Tell me what it was, what was this foul disease?”

“Ratpox, your majesty.”

“Oh, oh, my wife and son, your bodies couldn’t fight it, but mine could. That cold, that swept through the castle, that was it. What have I done?”

“You didn’t do anything, your majesty.”

“Please, your honeyed words won’t comfort me.”