Once Zack was sure the Queen’s army was long gone, he began the process of going through the loot. He counted over 2,000 gold pieces with even more uncounted silver and copper pieces. Hundreds of swords, axes, shields, and various pieces of armor. The army left all their tents, camping gear, and several banners across the small valley.
He found Wendriss’s personal log with detailed description of their trip from the capitol. Several articles of clothing and personal belongings. His eyes lit up with interest when he started to go through a pile of magical artifacts. However, he was soon disappointed when he realized he had no idea what most of them did.
I need to get a better understanding of how system magic and its artifacts work!
After an hour and a half of going through the soldier’s belongings he sensed a modest group of people coming from the direction of Vinstra. He thought it might be a good idea to go out and meet them before they see the Queen’s banner and make some bad assumptions.
He spotted Sophie and Sheriff Taynor in the distance walking down the path. After a few moments Sophie spotted Zack and hurried her pace. She arrived at Zack’s position a couple hundred yards ahead of everyone else.
Sophie, slightly out of breath said, “Cor, I hope you have a really good reason for dragging us all the way out here.”
Zack smiles, “Trust me I do. Who did you get to join you out here?”
Sophie looked back and replied, “Our team, Vita, Sheriff, and four of his deputies. Are you going to tell me what is going on out here?”
Zack gave her a playful glance and said as he took off running to the vacant encampment, “Better if I show you.”
Sophie huffed in annoyance as she raced after Zack. After another half mile of running, they reached the edge of the valley. Zack stood there watching Sophies eyes as they reached the valley’s edge.
Sophie’s expression went through almost every emotion starting with surprise and fear followed by anger and aggression, ending with confusion and a little smile.
Sophie looked at Zack after putting her weapons away while staring at the empty encampment for a long minute.
Sophie started and failed several sentences before making any sense. She said, “what is…uh…the queen’s banners? How did…why are you…what is this...”
Finally, she closed her mouth and eyes and took a deep breath.
Zack giggled and said, “I think you hit almost every emotion in the span of ten seconds. That was impressive.”
Sophie finally regained her composure and said, “Cor, what in the ever-living fuck am I looking at?”
Cor said, “It is a recently and hastily abandoned encampment of Queen Aadici’s soldiers.”
Sophie shot a look at Zack and said, “How recently?”
Zack smiled and said, “Eh, maybe two hours ago.”
Sophie’s posture changed to be more on guard as she looked around.
Zack noticed her change in body language and said, “Oh they left and are trying to get away from here as fast as they can.”
Sophie looked at Zack again, “Why did they leave? Wait, how did you know they were here? Wait, fuck, why did they leave?”
Zack put his hand on her shoulder and said, “I need you to take a deep breath. I assure you we are not in danger. When the others arrived, I will explain everything.”
Sophie did not look satisfied but seemed willing to wait. The others were about 100 yards away.
Suddenly, as if she remembered something she whispered, “Damn, was Zack the wizard here?
He turned to her and put his finger on the side of his nose to indicate she was right.
She looked at him in confusion, “Is there something on my face?”
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Zack laughed and said, “My bad, that was a gesture of understanding where I come from.”
As the others crested the hill to see the small valley, Zack was amused to see them all go through the same emotional whiplash as Sophie. After some wielding of swords, swearing, and general comments of disbelief the sheriff approached Zack.
Sheriff Taynor said, “Well you were not kidding when you told Sophie it was important we joined you out here. Cor, can you tell me what I am looking at?”
Cor got everyone’s attention and said, “Thank you for trusting me and Sophie. I appreciate your taking the time to trek out here. What you are looking at is the recently abandoned encampment of Queen Aadici’s soldiers. There were over 500 soldiers here. They left two hours ago, before you get all worried, that they might still be lurking about. I can tell you they are gone.”
Sophie jumped in first, “Cor, so many questions, how did you know they were here. Why did they leave. Judging by the timing you instructed us to arrive by you must have known they would be gone by the time we got here. Which means you were probably here when they were.”
Before Zack could respond the sheriff exclaimed, “Is that all their armor and weapons? They left behind all their belongings. What the hell happened?”
Zack raised his hands in the air and cleared his voice, “Folks you have many questions and I want to answer them all. Let’s take a moment, grab something to drink and I will explain.”
Everyone seemed to calm down a little bit.
Zack continued, “I became aware there was a small army amassing in this valley on its way to Vinstra. The queen’s Hand and her Mage were present as well.”
Everyone gasped in fear and shock.
Zack replied, “No need to worry, the mage is dead, and the rest have fled.”
Marko stuttered, “The Master Mage Hogant was here? Now he is dead?
Sheriff Taynor said, “Who did this to the queen’s army. Did you see the battle? Is there another army around here or a rival mage?”
Zack smiled patiently, “No other army or mage.”
He paused for a long second trying to get the nerve to tell them it was him. Before he could say anything, Marko exclaimed, “It must have been Zack the Wizard! His warning to them was very clear. Their presence here must have violated that warning.”
All the heads in unison turned to Zack with a hopeful look on their faces.
Sophie said very slowly with awe and disbelief, “Cor, was Zack the wizard here?”
Zack laughed for a second and said, “Yes.”
Sheriff Taynor cried, “You got to meet Zack the wizard? Damn, that would be awesome. Why didn’t he stay?”
Zack replied innocently, “Who said he left?”
Sheriff with a look of shock and awe exclaimed, “He is in the big tent down there, isn’t he?”
He took off in run down the shallow hill towards the big tent that still had smoke coming out of the top.
Zac tried to stop him, “Sheriff wait...” But his voice trailed off as the Sheriff was already halfway down the valley.
Teesa moved close to Zack with a knowing smile, “He is not in the tent, is he?”
Zack smiled and shook his head.
Teesa grabbed Zack’s arm and said, “This is fun.”
The rest of the group stood in stunned silence looking around to get a glimpse of Zack the Wizard. A few moments later the sheriff returned with a look of disappointment on his face. “Cor, I thought you said he is still here. Is he invisible?”
Zack smiled, “Ok this is too much fun.”
Realization dawned on Sophie’s face as Zack said, “Folks, I have not been entirely honest with you. For that I apologize. You have all been very kind and helpful and I really appreciate it…”
Marko interrupted, “I bet he is keeping that whole mysterious thing going, watching us from afar.”
Zack said, “I am not Cor, I am Zack the Wizard.”
Teesa squeezed his arm. Sophie let out a louder than expected half yelp have laugh. Sheriff Taynor just stared at Zack dumbfounded.
Marko gave a sly smile and said, “I knew you were hiding something.”
Vita finally spoke and said, “I scanned you. Level nine rogue with high hit points. How did you fake an identity scan?”
Zack replied, “That is an even longer story. One that will require some beverages and a meal. Suffice to say I am here, and we have some work to do.”
As he said this, he passed his arm over the encampment. “We have a lot of loot to get back to Vinstra.”
Sheriff Taynor whistled, “Yes, yes, we do. But when we get back, I want to hear the whole story.”
Zack continued, “While I was waiting for you all to arrive, I took the liberty of organizing as much as I could. I found over 2,000 gold pieces and more silver and copper pieces than I could count. There is a pile of weapons and armor over there.”
Zack paused to consider his options and finally nodded his head and pointed to the pile of magical items, “I found some magical items and made a pile over here. I am embarrassed to admit I have no idea what they do. But considering how Mage Hogant’s staff exploded when I destroyed it, I am not willing to mess with them yet.”
The group stopped and stared at Zack once again.
Marko shook his head, “You destroyed Master Mage Hogant’s staff? Was it made of oak with an emerald embedded in the top?”
Zack replied, “That’s the one.”
Marko’s face froze in realization, “You destroyed the Staff of Tazzmin, one of the most powerful magical items in the world.”
Zack snorted, “That explains the explosion that knocked us off our feet.”
Marko just shook his head with a big smile on his face.
Sheriff Taynor sent back one of the deputies to round up more men and a few wagons to gather all the items from the encampment.
Once the extra men and wagons arrived the camp was disassembled in a matter of hours. As the sun began to set all that remained was a few fire pits and trampled grass.
Everyone arrived in Vinstra late that evening. Sophie and the team wanted to head to the Dragons Eye tavern for drinks.
Zack balked and said he was tired. He needed to get some sleep. They looked disappointed but seemed to understand.
Zack promised to meet the group for breakfast in two days. Saying that he needed to take care of something outside of the town tomorrow. He bid the group farewell and said he would meet them at the Dragons Eye for breakfast in two mornings.