Chapter III: Search Party

"This Lendrig does not seem to be a good fellow," Hamish grimaced as Ari and Argent seemed to take turns answering what they knew.

The trio rushed through ancient halls in search of a trail, or anything, that might lead them to the remaining members of their party.

No trace had yet to be found.

Hamish's guilt stuck him like a knife as it became clearer that his daring rescue of the two elves may have doomed their other companions.

The conversation was a welcome distraction.

"You could say that, yes," Argent whispered, eyeing the nearest tunnel as he placed his ear against the wall.

"Lendrig was one of Seven powerful sorcerer kings that once ruled the world long ago," Ari continued, standing closer to Hamish as they waited for the all clear, "They and their followers were known as the Order of Magus."

"Okay," Argent said, pausing the conversation, "All clear."

The trio move forward in unison, soon finding themselves in another grand hallway.

"If ruled world, surely we would know this thing, yes?" Hamish asked, following Argent's lead as he searched the wall for any sign or possible markings Jezran or Selene left on the wall by the tunnel.

Argent shrugged, "It was long ago. History fades with enough time. Now, only the longest lived races remember it well. The rest has been lost to myth and legend."

Hamish nodded absentmindedly, he was interested in this conversation as a distraction from his guilt, but his primary focus was finding Selene.

I made a promise to keep her safe. I have no intention of leaving her alone down here.

"Anyway," Ari said, trying to finish this up as she clearly did not enjoy the conversation, "The people eventually rebelled against the Magus in a massive war that stretched across the entire world. During the war, Lendrig was supposedly slain in battle. It was said his head was separated clean from his body. The head fell into the deep pit in Lendrigol, never to be seen again. Then in the aftermath, the body was burned as an added measure."

Their conversation was again put on hold as they searched the nearby area.

No sign of their friends nor enemy patrols, so they decided to follow the main hallway for a while. Holes in the walls lead to passageways similar to the ones they found before. Each time they passed one, they gave it a few minutes of searching for any sign of the pair. It was also an opportunity to scour the passageways and determine if any rose or fell.

Given the effort needed for their method of escape, they all knew it was unlikely that Selene and Jezran escaped that chamber. Even if they had, they would be beneath the current halls they walked, unless their capture had brought them up here. So finding a path down might lead to their friends, but on the other hand, a path up could be the ticket out of here as well. So they multitasked where possible.

"I think we should keep looking," Argent declared once Hamish had rejoined them in the main hall, "This place is worn from travel, but I'm not getting a clear sign where they are heading or which way is back to their base."

"So you think this Lendrig still lives, yes?" Hamish asked, as they entered another nearby passage.

Ari nodded, "There's no doubt, not after what we've seen and what's happening back at the Hollow. I heard—" Ari stopped, then corrected herself, "Legends say Lendrig was a schemer, he rarely made any direct action on his own, preferring his minions to do the dirty work."

"Yes, but how could he survive?" Hamish asked, stopping as they waited.

Ari and Argent shared a look before Argent said, "Each of the Magus had...a strange power. It allowed each to rule a domain of creation, and it would do their bidding. This connection made them very hard to—"

Argent stopped mid sentence. He placed his ear against the nearest wall, his hand raised up. Quickly he motioned for them to follow him. He went straight down an empty passageway cut into the wall. After stepping inside, he motioned for them to be quiet.

A minute passed before the sound of marching steps echoed in the hall behind them. This was one of several patrols the trio had encountered in their search for Selene and Jezran. It was obvious these patrols were searching for them, but it was also possible that Selene and Jezran were also targets and had yet to be caught.

"Do we follow?" Hamish suggested.

Argent shook his head, "I can't tell if they have Selene or Jezran and we may just wander into their camp if we follow them blindly."

Hamish closed his eyes, sensing the aura of the departing patrol. None felt like their friends. He shook his head, "Yes. Neither of our friends are with them."

Argent eyed Hamish strangely, "Are you able to sense them?"

He shrugged, "Yes, but only if they were close recently. Aura does not last long on well travelled road. Would have said something if it seemed important."

Argent nodded, "Let me know if that changes."

Silence fell on the group as they continued their search, but still they could not find anything. Patrols came and went, and Hamish checked each of them at Argent's request. None had their friends.

Eventually, they resumed their conversation once the patrol's march no longer echoed in the distance.

"I still wonder about this Lendrig," Hamish began, whispering to Argent as they walked, "You say he survived...beheading, yes? How can this be so?"

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Argent thought for a moment, then sighed, "I don't know, exactly. Lendrig may have appeared dead, but the connection the Magus had to their domains gave rise to fear they were truly immortal and that they might return one day."

"Is that why Jezran is here?" Hamish asked, the pieces beginning to fall into place, "He is student of your friend, yes?"

Ari nodded, "Right! Kal has known about this for a long time and agreed to help us keep an ear to the ground."

"And Jezran had sent Kal a message several months ago requesting supplies for an expedition into the city," Argent continued, "Kal obliged but also sent one for us to meet with him before he left."

"You know, this story...is hard to believe," Hamish said, scratching his head.

Ari nodded, "We know. It's not something often shared outside a select group of people. Argent and I are probably the only two you've ever met who know of this."

"Why secrecy? If they could return, should not all world know?" Hamish asked.

"If the only danger was in their return? Yes," Argent stated bluntly, "But we feared their power over the Realms might lead to further conflict, so we have allowed the truth to be forgotten over the aeon."

After some more walking down the ancient halls, they came to a dead end where the ceiling had collapsed. They had checked each and every road they could, but none seemed a wise option. The patrols were also no help, as they only ever seemed to be circling around. Likely looking for the trio, since they had escaped the trap.

"Is it possible Lendrig is affecting our minds again?" Ari asked, slumping against a particularly large boulder blocking the hall.

Argent shrugged, "Maybe ours, but Hamish was fine last time."

"Yes, but training only allows protection from direct attack," Hamish explained, "Ones that distract only senses still work. But can still find truth, if careful."

"Senses, like what?" Argent asked.

"Passage through wall, as example," Hamish demonstrated, "Only affect eyes, which can be tricked without strange mental power."

Argent nodded, pieces falling into place, "So if Lendrig didn't want us to find something, like a way out, or a path leading back to where they might keep Selene and Jezran, he could trick even you?"

Hamish nodded.

Argent looked to Ari as she thought for a moment, "Yes, that sounds right. If he can affect Hamish with that, he would know. I don't doubt it. He would then use it to his advantage and block us off."

Returning his gaze to the half-orc, Argent raised an eyebrow with an unstated question.

Hamish stroked his beard, "Could figure out, but may take time if it is cleverly hidden. Like say...what if whole room hidden in maze? Would we see? No. May take hours to find if he is clever as Ari says."

Agent sighed, finding a seat next to Ari, "Pity."

Silence fell as the trio mulled over the possibilities. They were at an impasse, as the best possible solutions slipped through their fingers. Time was wasting and their friends were likely in serious trouble right now.

Minutes passed, before finally Argent spoke.

"...I have an idea," Argent said, voice tinged with reluctance, "It's risky, but it might just work."

Ari paled, concern flashing through her eyes, "I know that tone. Nothing ever good comes when you use that tone."

Hamish ignored her, his voice resolute, "If plan can save friends, we must try."

"Agreed. So...what if...I let myself get caught?" Argent suggested.

Hamish and Ari turned to each other, making sure they both heard him correctly. They then turned back to him, visibly confused.

"Did you hit your head?" Ari asked, frustration trouncing her concern, "Before Hamish found us, we were seconds away from getting eaten by a Child of the Abyss! How do you know they won't just kill you and be done with it?"

Argent sighed, his hand reached for hers. She took it reluctantly.

"Look," Argent said, meeting her gaze, "We can't tell where Jezran and Selene are, but if they are alive and were under the same kind of mind control you and I were, it's possible they were simply taken somewhere. If I'm captured, they can take me to the others. If they try to kill me, I'll fight back, okay? We can then try and interrogate a survivor, if they can even talk."

Ari's gaze softened, but she still countered, "Which just drops us down to two, there is no way we can follow a patrol close enough to follow you."

He then looked up to Hamish, and stated, "Hamish can follow auras. If he can follow mine, you won't be caught, right?"

Hamish realized he was now drawn into this quarrel.

"Wha?" He stammered, "Y-yes. I can find friend by aura. We will not be seen and should last longer if we hold something important to him."

"Good, then you'll take this," he pulled the sheathed longsword from his belt and handed it to Hamish, "This sword was crafted by my father and I, as a mark of adulthood. It is the greatest possession I own."

Ari's eyes widened. Hamish took the sword with a kind of reverence then closed his eyes, the bond between the sword and owner was like a tether. So long as you had one, you could find the other. Hamish had never before seen a connection like this between a weapon and its owner.

Strange company I share, indeed.

"Why can't I go, then?" Ari huffed, still not on board with this plan, "The only one who can't go is Hamish, after all."

"You know I'm less valuable, Ari," Argent soothed, "If this fails, you two can come up with another tactic. Besides, if it comes down to it, I can break out far easier than you can."

Ari huffed, clearly not enthused by this strategy, but she finally relented, whispering something to him that was only meant for his ears.

Argent said nothing, but he nodded.

It did not take the party long to find another patrol. They agreed that Argent would exit from another passageway, in case part of the horde broke off to search for Ari and Hamish. The pair would then hide far removed from the conflict, but within earshot in case Argent's plan went south.

They each took their positions, and waited. It was not long.

The horde came through the hall like a crashing wave. Argent rushed to meet them.

A few noticed him and alerted the leader. It was only a moment before he was surrounded.

"You better be right about this, Illanon," Ari whispered.

Hamish and Ari, hidden away, could still hear the conversation. The horde demanded his surrender, and he obliged, sheathing his two shortswords. The horde began moving only a moment after they bound him.

Hamish waited until the last of the horde had entered another passage. From there, he stepped out into the hall and closed his eyes. The aura from the sword shined bright in his hand, matching a similar glow emanating from the ground intermixed with the horde.

"Seems fortune has shifted, my friend," Hamish said, smiling encouragingly to the worried elf woman, "I can see where he goes."

Ari breathed a sigh of relief, "Then show the way, not a moment to lose!"

Hamish nodded, and the two raced down the hall after them. Under his breath, he quietly prayed in his native tongue.

If you are still here, please...hold on a little longer, Selene.

Your friends are on their way.