As they all passed through the southern gate and began their journey to the crypt of Kassen, Delde and the rest of the group walked in silence. It was only when they were clear of the town that Igmar eventually spoke up.

‘So, eh… could somebody tell mae whit we’re meant tae be doin and whits goin on? Cuz I’m no entirely sure aboot whits happenin?’

Delde, feeling pity for him being so abruptly thrown into this ridiculous situation quickly spoke up before Adriana could give her speal.

‘It is a local tradition in this town, the “Quest for the Everflame” is what it is called’. She said, her voice dripping with disdain for it. ‘Simply put, every four or five years or so a group of young people on the cusp of adulthood are sent out to visit the crypt in which the town founder was laid to rest in. Within said crypt is an enchanted fire that never goes out, the “Everflame”. The group, us in this case, are expected to light a lantern and bring a part of the “Everflame” back to Kassen, and in doing so ensure good fortune stays with the town over winter and proving us all to be adults in everyone’s eyes. The entire thing is treated with far more importance than is needed in my mind, we’re essentially on an overblown camping trip cum treasure hunt for no other reason than its what has always been done here’.

It felt good to get some of her feelings about this insipid task off her chest, but Delde felt that she may have said a little too much as she heard Adriana begin to protest.

‘I think you’re being a little dismissive Miss Vangidan. The Quest for the Everflame is a vital part of our town’s history and heritage. It’s a common experience that unites all the townspeople and improves moral just as when winter is about to occur and make life harder for many of the local farmers. It also stands as a testament to our own abilities and proof that we are capable enough to be considered adults, ready for responsibility by the rest of the town’.

Adriana spoke with a clear earnestness that was imposable to deny. As far as Delde could tell she truly believed in what she was saying, Delde wasn’t sure whether she should feel pity for her or scorn. She did know that she should probably just keep her thoughts to herself and just let Adriana have the last word, no good could come from starting up an argument at the very beginning of a journey that would take a few days at least. But she just couldn’t let it go.

‘It stands as testament to nothing. I mean realistically, what does going on this journey prove to anyone? That we can camp outdoors and light a lantern? That we can get past a bunch of joke traps that some of the townspeople set up for us?’. She took a deep breath and tried to prevent herself from getting any more worked up.

‘It’s just… for example if someone has been raised as a farmer what does doing this task prove? They already have all the skills they need for their profession from their upbringing. The same goes for any other profession. And all the solemn looks and the sombre warnings we got as we left are just part of an act. There’s no real threat or danger in what we are doing’.

‘If you feel so strongly about it then why are you taking part in this year’s Quest?’ Adriana asked in a flat and neutral tone that left Delde assuming she had managed to offend her despite her best efforts.

‘Sigh. It wasn’t a matter of my own choice I assure you. My father was quite insistent that I take part in this year’s event despite my feelings on it. He views the tradition as important and he isn’t the sort of person you can refuse’.

The image of that bare patch of earth in front of the mansion came unbidden into the forefront of Delde’s mind. She pushed it back just as quick.

‘It’s not that I think that there is anything wrong about taking part in this task in itself’ she said trying to carefully manoeuvre things to not end up disliked by everyone in the group before they were even halfway to their destination. ‘It’s just that I think that if the town thinks that we can undertake this “quest” then they already see us as adults and should treat us as such rather than acting like the only way we would ever do this is if there was some great impetus for it’.

‘I suppose I can see it from your point of view’ Adriana said in the same neutral tone that made Delde suspect that they would not be forging a strong bond of friendship on this journey.

‘Eh, aright ahm gittin a better idea o whit wir meant tae be dain but could yie mebie explain it a wee bit more tae me. Yir actin like thare’s no any threat on this journey. But if that’s the case then why wis ah told tae bring ma weapons an armour?’

‘Because there are threats on this journey’.

Baye spoke over her shoulder to Igmar. She had already taken the lead and despite her short stature was already ahead of the rest of them by a few meters.

‘The mayor exaggerated a bit about the journey but not by that much. Snakes won’t be a problem so long as you don’t go diggin’ in tunnels or cave. The cold shouldn’t be too bad either so long as we make up a proper camp. But I was talkin’ to some of the trappers and hunters that go through the Fangwoods. The games been bad for this time of year. That means that there could be hungry wolves on the hunt. We’ll need to keep our eyes open. Probably have a watch going on through the night when we set up camp as well’.

Everything she said was matter of fact, like this was all routine for her. Given her attire and the way she walked with such confident purpose Delde assumed it was for Baye. She couldn’t imagine why Dal, or the rest of her family would be unhappy at her being a ranger, she certainly seemed good enough at it to her.

‘You’re ignoring the best part! Y’ see before we get to the crypt a bunch of the townsfolk head up before us and set up a load of booby traps! I’ve always wanted to try this out! Hells I’ve always wanted to try setting up some of my own, but you can’t take part in the preparations until you’ve done the whole quest thing yourself’.

Dal spoke with a quick pace that showed his earnestness, but at least he didn’t appear to be taking it as serious as the rest of the townspeople. He knew it was a joke, he was just willing enough to go along with it and enjoy it. She didn’t agree with his outlook, but she could at least understand it unlike Adriana’s more solemn interpretation of it.

‘Wait. Alrigh, I can unnerstaund takin a pilgrimage tae the tomb o an honoured elder. An a unnerstaund thae importance o ritual an tradtion an provin yirself tae be an adult. But yea turn the tomb of yir toons founder intae whit?... A giant funhouse? Is this a, an ah mean nae disrespect, but is this a human thing tha most toons dae? Cuz, an a truly mean nae disrespect, it just seems a wee bit odd tae me’.

‘I assure you we take it as no disrespect’ Adriana smiled beatifically in response to Igmars question. Delde suspected she was going to use this as a chance to give the history of the towns tradition and its founding to help justify the “quest” they were on.

‘You see our town was founded, as my father the mayor said in his speech, one hundred and seventy-four years ago by a great man called Ekat Kassen. He was an adventurer of some renown in his day and when he finally retired, he had amassed enough money that he was able to found our town. But he was not able to enjoy the fruits of his labours as shortly after the town was established a wicked bandit lord and his army began to attack our nascent town. They raided and pillaged, determined to raze our town to the ground. Eventually noble Kassen and some brave villagers were able to locate the base of the bandits, a long forgotten and ancient tomb. They set out to end the threat to the town once and for all and after a long and arduous battle Kassen was victorious, although not without cost. There were few survivors on either side and Kassen himself died two days after winning for our town its freedom from wounds he suffered during the battle. Afterwards he was entombed in the very crypt that he fought his last battle in, laid to rest in a place of honour, whilst the remains of the bandit lord and all his soldiers were placed at its depths in a place of shame. To this day Ekat Kassen lies in silent vigil, ensuring that the dire evil that once threatened to destroy our ancestors never again rises. And in turn the early founders of our town named it after the man who gave so much for it, along with placing an eternal flame within the crypt so that all who visited the site would know warmth and light in the darkness. It was decided long ago that the best way to honour Kassen’s adventurous spirit and resolve, along with displaying how these qualities live on in the people who live in the town that bears his name, would be for the youth to prove ourselves in this Quest for the Everflame!’

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Adriana sounded short of breath after her long-winded explanation, they were at the cusp of the Fangwoods by the time she had finished it. The young woman looked slightly abashed at having gone on for longer than she presumably intended. Delde had rolled her eyes at several points during the excessively long speech but was sure that nobody had spotted her doing so. No one, not even Igmar commented after Adriana finished speaking. Delde started to get an idea as to why a goddess would deem her worthy enough to grant power, after all if she was so zealous and devoted to an old town tradition then how devout must she have been to Sarenrae?

Before the ever-present threat of the awkward silence could arise however Baye, who was still at the head of their group stopped just short of the Fangwood. The bare tree branches clattering slowly in the growing cold wind made for an ominous setting, but Baye showed no signs of concern at that as she turned to look at the rest of them behind her.

‘So. Just to clarify, does anybody actually know where it is we’re goin?’

‘W-what?! Why did you just take the lead if you don’t know where the crypt is? I figured that ranger or somebody else told you whereabouts the path was.’

Dal sounded incredulous that Baye had just been walking headfirst with no clue as to where they were meant to be heading. But Delde suspected he was also somewhat embarrassed that he had just as quickly began following her, to be fair they all had.

‘I know how to get through the Fangwoods safely, and I know the general direction we need to be headin’ in. But it would save us all a long slog in the Fangwoods if I knew exactly where the crypt was. Does anyone know?’

Baye looked quizzically at Adriana probably expecting someone who was clearly so passionate about their present task to know more than her about it. Adriana however just looked somewhat sheepish as she replied.

‘I’m afraid to say that I don’t know the precise directions to the crypt. I have never been there myself and my father did not give me any special advice or knowledge before I departed’.

‘They widnie just send us all oot wi no way o findin the place’.

‘Let’s examine the backpacks we were given. We were told that we would be supplied with everything we needed to travel to the crypt and return. Presumably that would include a map or some other instructions.’

Delde advised the rest of the group, already in the process of removing her own and looking through it as Onyx leaped out of it as soon as it was on the ground. Gods, she hoped the townspeople had just given them a map and not some inane riddle that gave them the directions.

Looking through her pack she found, aside from the smaller pack containing her clothes, spell book and a small writing kit she had brought along, a small tent (although regrettably no instructions on how to properly set it up), a winter blanket, a full waterskin, and what seemed to be a torn strip from a map. There was also an assortment of various foodstuffs that she estimated would last her for around five days, possibly more if she rationed it well. Small, hard dark loaves of bread, dried salted meats and fish, some dried fruits, some porridge oats, and…

Delde rolled her eyes incredulously at what she found. Presumably somebody had put this in the backpack as a joke or the townspeople had perhaps seen this as another “valuable” part of their experience.

‘Does everyone else have a piece of a map?’

The rest of the group were now huddled around trying to put it together. Delde packed her backpack up and went over to the rest of them with Onyx walking in tow. She wordlessly handed her strip to the rest of them and was willing to let them piece the map together themselves, she wasn’t invested in this farce. But as the group puzzled over the map, she quickly grew frustrated, it wasn’t that difficult to do. Eventually she stepped forward and took charge of restoring the map.

‘Move over I’ll show you how to do it, it’s simple you see. Don’t bother looking at the actual map itself, the map was torn into strips not cut so you can match up the torn parts much easier than trying to guess what the map itself shows. There, done. In fact, I have some spare parchment and glue in my writing kit, if I glue the map to the parchment, it will be easier to read and save having to sort out all the pieces every time, we want to see whereabouts we are’.

They all looked down at the pieced together map. In truth it didn’t have too much in the way of details or landmarks, just a small trail and a couple of points of reference. Delde didn’t see how the map could be that much use to them, she figured it would almost be easier to just wander south until they stumbled on the crypt.

‘Thanks, that helps’ Baye said in a somewhat appreciative tone, ‘I know how to get to the crypt now. We just need to follow the main path through the Fangwoods until we get to the Broken Glade. Then we can follow the old hunting trail to the Grey Lake. Once we get there, we just go from the bottommost point of the lake in a straight line south to Serpent Gorge. Doesn’t seem to be any sign on the map that there’s a specific way down the valley though. I’ve heard it’s pretty steep there so that might be tricky to do safely. Other than that though it seems fairly simple. It’ll probably be about a day and a half, maybe two days’ worth of travel dependin’ on the weather and how the rest of you all hold up.’

Baye’s relaxed but confidant tone assured Delde that the journey wouldn’t be too arduous, although she wasn’t as enthusiastic about a two-day hike in the wilderness as Baye seemed to be.

‘All we need to do is just use the ropes to help get ourselves down that gorge place. There’s plenty there and the grappling hook will probably help, that’s probably why they gave us so much’. Dal flippantly remarked. Although his statement confused Delde and apparently the others.

‘Wait, you’ve a rope with a grappling hook in your pack? Mine didn’t have one’ve those, did anyone else’s have that’.

The rest of them shook their heads.

‘Perhaps some of our resources have been shared out amongst all of us, so as to encourage us all to cooperate with one another. Outside of our camping equipment does anyone have anything additional like Dal and his rope? For example, I have three torches in my pack. I don’t believe I saw anyone else with those in their pack’.

‘I’ve a small box of tinder and a flint n’ steel to light it with’ said Baye.

‘Thur’s a potion o healin’ in ma backpack. I thocht we all had wan’.

All eyes now fell on Delde. She went into her pack to bring out her “unique item” to ensure they didn’t think she was attempting to play some foolish prank on them.

‘I appear to have selected the backpack that contained the “obligatory” bottle of alcohol’.

And with a sigh she brought out the offending item. A thickset glass bottle containing about three and a half pints of amber coloured brandy. At least that was what the label on the bottle said.

‘Eh?... ehm… perhaps its intended for medicinal purposes?’ Adriana sheepishly posited, but Dal spoke up with hurried excitement.

‘Ha! That’s a bottle of Pullman’s brandy! We sell that in the Seven Silvers a gold piece a cup! Nobody’s going to waste that on medicine! Aww I’ve always wanted to try some of it myself, Gods bless this quest and Kassen!’.

‘This is NOT an excuse for us all to get drunk and make merry! We are carrying out a noble tradition and should treat it as such! If we have been given a bottle of alcohol, then we will keep it sealed until such a time comes that we require it. Only once we have the Everflame within our possession should we even consider taking a drink in celebration!’

The righteous indignation coming from Adriana was almost palpable, like the intense heat that came from a bonfire. Her fists were clenched, and she stared down Dal as if she was trying to will him into bursting into flame. For the briefest of moments Delde genuinely feared that Adriana might draw her scimitar in anger and threaten to or actually strike him.

‘Hoo aboot we all just calm doon a wee bit?’

Igmar had placed himself in between the two at some point when she had been focusing on Adriana’s outburst. He spoke slowly and calmly but Delde could see that his left hand was close to the club on his belt.

Suddenly, Adriana came back to her senses and realised the extent of her outburst.

‘I-I’m sorry, I am sorry, I should not have gotten so worked up about that, I apologise for that unseemly display’.

She seemed to be genuinely apologetic to Delde, but of course her anger also seemed to be equally as genuine.

‘N-no, it aright. I shouldn’t have been acting as frivolous as I was. L-let’s just get moving’.

Dal seemed visibly chastised and willing to put it behind them, but as the group moved out Delde couldn’t help but notice that he kept his distance from Adriana. He either walked far ahead with Baye or slightly behind her always keeping Igmar between the two of them. Adriana on the other hand kept to the rear of the group which meant that she and Delde ended up walking together. Whether it was out of shame or just that she was finding walking in her armour more cumbersome than she expected Delde didn’t know, though she suspected it was probably both.