Chapter 130

"We're Rangers of the Ashenvale! Open the gates! Make way!" Caedmon cried, riding hard.

Riley pressed against Tobias for dear life as he compressed her body against the beast while he leaned over the reins, spurring the cockatrice on.

Grease caked her fur from being pressed up against Tobias; every scent was tinged with the miasma of sweat and effort, both human and animal.

The most frightening part was that this was becoming normal. Her brain was already passively deleting the extraneous information all as it streamed in from every sense.

This was merely the latest insult, the latest challenge to be endured until it stopped for a few moments that were all too brief.

Spying their black cloaks and human visage, or perhaps because they knew Caedmon, the gates parted, revealing an inner wall with yet another gate made of heavy jointed lumber, allowing no view into the inner courtyard.

Just behind, a structure towered up, perfectly centered within its inner walls, but from Riley's vantage, all she caught was a crystal spire that reminded her somewhat of the Ashenrealm Cathedral.

Dashing through, Caedmon pulled up the reins, causing the cockatrice to rear back and skid, almost toppling over, allowing Tobias to catch up.

A moment later, they were both stopped, with the outer gate closed behind them. Calls went out to guards manning posts up on the wall as Riley caught sight of various auras of power snap into being.

"Stand ready!" Called the soldier on the right.

"Ready on the wall!" Came an echo in chorus.

"Ranger Caedmon, where's Ranger Stithulf? Is there danger?" Asked the guard on the left, who was wearing a golden torc.

"No immediate danger, but be ready. Sithulf is gone, felled in battle, but avenged by Ranger Tobias, Riley, and I," Panting, he dismounted before indicating behind him.

"Good morrow, Ranger. Should we be expecting Riley?" The other guard asked.

Tobias eased off the saddle before gripping Riley gently, setting her on the ground.

"I'm Ranger Riley, and yes, I know I'm unusual. Second Tier, talking, hopping beast at your service," she groaned.

"The Gods and their ways!" The soldier marveled.

Everything hurt. She smelled like a mix between a human and a reptile, which caused her stomach to quiver and threaten rebellion.

"At least it's empty," She moaned pitifully as the guards regarded her with interest.

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"You must be tired. Are we safe? You came in hard!" They asked while the one on the right spied out the gate looking for trouble.

"We're safe for the moment but on a mission. I've been riding hard on a retrieval," Caedmon explained.

"And that's where you lost Sithulf. A pity, he was a good soul and will be missed." The guard said.

"He will. He was my commander," Caedmon looked down at the ground.

Terrox pressed her tail against his knees.

"He lived well and will be remembered well. Let us all hope we can honor his memory by meeting the same fate. Such a soul has nothing to fear from death. His deeds will tell the truth of him to the Gods he honored," Terrox intoned.

"Amen," Riley said, inspiring more looks from the Guard.

"Excuse me, fellows, we've tarried too long as it is. Please clear us as we have urgent business," Caedmon affirmed, rising up to his full height before pulling off his hooded mask for the first time.

Deeply bronzed skin and fierce brown eyes formed a subtle contrast to curly, raven black hair so dark it almost seemed tinted blue. White ink tattoos formed down his jaw in artful loops and crests before chasing down his neck.

"Everyone talks so fancy around here," Riley whispered to Tobias, who cracked a smirk, his white smile contrasting against his dirt-smeared face.

"May the light of the Thirteen guide you, open the gates!" The Captain of the Guard cried.

"For the Ashenrealm!" Echoed in chorus.

"Rah, rah, rah," Riley muttered under her breath.

The inner doors creaked open, revealing an oasis-like compound with a massive fountain streaming into the air, set in front of a white art deco gothic structure that screamed to Riley "Ashenrealm," complete with four towers and a crystal spire, jutting up from the back.

"I will return later. See to your business, and ready my payment," Terrox rumbled, ever focused.

"Certainly," Caedmon said with a practiced professionalism.

They both nodded content in their obfuscation before the guard.

Entering in revealed water channels radiating out from the draining fountain that fed beautiful flower gardens and cooled the air, making the evening much more pleasant.

"Come on, Riley." Tobias prompted, seeing her veer in the direction of some of the flowering clover amidst the plants.

"Whhhyyy?" She whined before firming up, finding her discipline.

Caedmon led them not through the main entrance but instead veered to the right and went in through a near-hidden door, letting them into a staircase at the back right tower.

A cool burst of air blew up from an inner staircase as he unlocked and opened the door.

The air grew humid as they descended three stories, and the wall grew dark and damp, leaving parts of the natural, rough-hewn stone gleaming under blue crystal lamplight.

Riley entered what, to her eyes, looked like a war room, and within it was the largest com crystal she had ever seen.

Dominating the back half of the large room, it towered up at least ten feet high, barely missing the ceiling by a scant few inches. Just in front on either wall were two doors, and nearest the front, sat into a corner was a massive table, with all manner of charts and scrolls spread across it, with a map of the Dracovani realm tacked to the wall.

"Ok, let's report in," Caedmon said, moving over to the table. Up against the wall were a series of chairs. He set three in a loose ring, allowing each of them to take a seat.

"I'd like to check in with Sabine first, then loop in Ranger Central with her on the line. She should be able to transfer back through the relay in Ashenvale, correct?" Tobias asked.

"Aye, oh, I suppose you'll be needing a key'd in crystal. Just a minute," he disappeared through one of the doors. Next, the sound of him rummaging through crates and drawers reached Riley's sensitive ears.

"Ah ha!" He emerged a moment later and tossed the crystal over towards Tobias, who caught it in his left hand.

"Thank you," Tobias said, turning his focus towards the crystal. It glowed clear for a moment, then, guided by his intent, flashed and finally turned a solid purple.

"Rowan, Greenbriar, Secure, Willow... Flash, Update, Forest Fire."

"Passphrase," came the familiar voice of Sabine through the crystal.

"By the light of Arctos and the power of Galdor do we walk the path in half night and high sun," Tobias replied.

"I got word you ended up in Delos. What the hell is going on, Rangers?" She snapped, sounding more worried than mad.

"A lot, verify secure? We have a lot to talk about." Tobias replied.