Chapter 59

Cid pulled out a shovel and began digging.

Riley cocked her head towards Tobias in a scan, "Doesn't he normally get us to do that?"

"Don't curse it!" Tobias said, his words clipped and stifled, barely more than a growl.

"Do you think I'm daft, boy?" Cid asked, not bothering to slow down. His hands began to glow blue to Riley's sight before the spade pierced even deeper into the ground, cutting through tree roots like they were nothing.

"No, sir!" Tobias snapped, drawing to attention.

"Well, I'm not deaf either. No sir, not even a little bit," He paused to view the growing hole as Riley risked scanning around.

Even Zorna was watching with peak curiosity. Meanwhile, Zella just grazed.

Cid began digging again, "You're probably thinking the old man's gone round the bend. Digging a hole when we're only a few miles from the road, but you see, like always, I know something you kids don't, something you're gonna have to learn..."

He trailed off, lost in his labor, then spat angrily into the hole.

"That's about all your noble courts and finery are worth. I can show you how to survive in any damn environment, but this boy, this is going to be the real test. Can you survive their snoopin? Their politics? Their precious cockatrice shit? Because if you can, I'll slap the god damned patch on you myself. Anything you don't want rooted through goes into the hole," Cid snapped before taking a few scroll cases and a heavy leather satchel, wrapping it in a waxed cloth from his bag, and dropping it in.

"Last chance! You two, remember where this tree is. Between the three of us, we gotta shot," He grinned madly, wiping his forehead.

"Sir, we don't really have anything," Tobias replied cautiously.

"Well then, that makes it easier. You two, fill it in," Cid walked off, leaving the shovel speared into the loose earth beside the hole, wandering off into the woods, singing merrily.

"Oh, I knew a girl from Old Stratton; her heart was as big as a wagon! But for all of her gifts, she really was quite pissed, and when she fell in the well, I was saddened!"

Riley's ears flattened as she heard him sing, "He always does that when he's in a bad mood."

Tobias nodded, filling in the hole as if his life depended on it. "I know, help me here."

There was plenty of dirt for the both of them. Riley split the pile, taking up position so that she was working far from the descending spade, shoveling with her hind paws.

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"The man digs like a hyperactive mole," she complained, finding a rhythm and working her forepaws into the mix.

"Kinetic Sorcerers are like that, I guess. Lots of force," Tobias took a deep breath, already sweating in the damp mountain air.

The humidity hung like a clinging shroud soaking through fur and cloak in the coolness of the morning, chilling them both.

"Ok. That should be the last of it," Riley hopped up and down for emphasis, packing down the dirt pile, leaving a shallow imprint in the loosely packed earth.

"It's still conspicuous. How about some grass?" Tobias grinned.

"Well, I am hungry," Reaching for her power, whispering to the vines and grass, she pushed the magic into them.

Briefly referencing her map, a golden star appeared over their current location.

Waypoint marked

"I didn't know I could do that!" She exclaimed inwardly with pleased surprise.

Moments later, a gentle whooshing noise heralded a new green carpet of lush greens, hiding all traces that there was anything there.

Cid stalked out of the forest as if on cue and pushed a stick deep down into the dirt they had just filled in until only a nob was visible.

"Good work, let's go," Grabbing Zella by the bridle and patting his left leg, Zorna trotted up beside him.

"We'll be on the road in about fifteen minutes, and the stronghold isn't far. Lord Gaius is a first tier, so don't get any ideas about getting away with anything magical. Hands and paws to yourself, stay quiet, speak when spoken to, and we might all get out of this with our asses intact," Cid instructed, sounding nervous.

"Is it that bad?" She asked for the both of them.

"We're rangers, so people think we're special, think the job is nobler than it is. Don't get me wrong, we do fine work that few can do. Yet it's the legend that gets in the way.

We've been ordered to divert here to put on a show for the noble court. Politics says we go, so we go.

Monster attacks are up like I've never seen, and all the important Lords are getting nervous in their soft beds, so it's time to make the rounds. By the dead Gods, it's boring, it's cockatrice shit, and it's a distraction, but it's also part of the job," Cid said with a sigh.

Well, what happens if it all goes wrong?" Riley asked as they emerged from the wood, finding an ancient cobblestone road, chasing off towards the fortress.

Tobias has already made an enemy out of one noble, but he's just a spoiled kid. Some of these, like Gaius here, could see you buried in the most remote or dangerous posting in the whole realm. He's a proper, first tier aristocrat with ties to the throne. People disappear all the time, even rangers. You two never forget that," Cid growled.

"So we're diverting here instead of Ranger Central?" Riley perked her ears.

"I've told ya a thousand times you'll be done when you're done and not a moment before, but brace yourself, beast. These types will wine and dine ya and slit your throat while you sleep. Monsters are more honest," He paused to spit.

"I understand," Tobias replied.

"Chadrick always did say he wanted to get even. Could he know Lord Gaius? Could this be him?" Riley whispered to Tobias alone.

"Keep your eyes open, I don't know if Cid is bitter, right, or both," He replied, sharing a quick glance.

The imposing walls of Timbergarde came into view, set behind a wide canyon with a drawbridge across it.

"Good morrow, friend!" Cid called out, holding up his hand, "Ranger Cid and his trainee, with our animals, come to pay our respects to Lord Gaius as ordered!"

He stopped at the edge of the bridge as Riley cocked her head to get a better view of the rapids far below.

From where she was standing, this place seemed unassailable.

The guard held up his hand, "Good Morrow Ranger!"

As the portcullis raised, a horn sounded high above them on the wall.

"Well, hold on to your backsides," Cid whispered conspiratorially, crossing over.