Later the four sat within a large dining room. Parts of his crossbow littered the area around him. Zola and Neva had brought out a large amount of cured meat, wine, and cheese. The beastkin had listened to Fritz's story as they ate a late dinner.

"A divine quest!" Ada's eyes brightened with extreme excitement. The girl practically jumped in her seat.

"I hate this." Neva said grumpily. She crossed her arms.

"To spy upon the goddess? What have I done?" Zola asked herself. Her long, black chitinous fingers cradled her head as she took a large gulp of wine.

"Does this settle matters as to whether I have a dick or not?" Fritz asked.

"Language." Neva growled out.

"Well, at least you didn't strip me like Ada." Fritz said with a sarcastic grin.

"Ada?!" Neva squeaked out.

"I just met him! I saw him using magic in the forest! What else was I supposed to think?"

"Why didn't report this to me immediately?!" Neva immediately shot back.

"You'd think I was crazy!" Ada complained. She pointed an accusatory finger at Neva. Wine sloshed onto the table. "Besides, I didn't do anything! I touched him professionally! Professionally!"

"Stop!" Zola groaned out. Slotting the final piece of his carbon fiber crossbow, together Fritz tested the string. Watching the cams moving smoothly with the string, Fritz gave himself a mental pat on the back. Pulling back the string, he locked it in place.

"Am I in the clear now? Am I allowed to leave Falken in peace? The necromancer has been killed. Hopefully, your questions have been answered. I've already lost quite a bit of time remaining in Falken."

"Yes. Leave. I want nothing to do with any gods." Neva said grumpily. Closing her eyes, she savored her tobacco.

"Ada, still want to go?" Fritz asked, turning to the blonde wolfkin. Pointing the crossbow away, Fritz pulled the trigger letting the crossbow's string shoot forth. Satisfied, he placed the weapon away.

"No. Absolutely not. She's not leaving."

"I promised her, I'd take her with me. Besides, she asked to accompany me." Fritz replied.

"Neva. I want to go. I'm already an adult. It's not fair. I deserve to go. You can't keep me in Falken forever."

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"Ada, it's too dangerous. There's nothing in the conclaves worth visiting." Color rose to both wolfkin's cheeks as their anger started to rise.

"I don't care! I'm not dying in Falken! I'm strong enough to carve my glory in the wider world. I don't need your protection!" Ada yelled out.

"You don't even know what the conclaves are like! They're not like the silly books you read! Whatever glory you're chasing doesn't exist! All you'll find is blood and pain! Your comrades will die all around you. You'll come back home a broken woman! If your lucky to even come back!"

"That's for me to find out you hag!"

Pouring himself another glass of wine, Fritz leaned back. The arachnean tapped the table with impatience as she waited for the two to be quiet. Eventually, the two wolfkin were left to incoherent shouting and growling. Magical strands wrapped around their mouths stifling their endless argument.

"Enough! Quiet you two!" Zola said. "I will hear no more about the danger of the conclaves. Fritz? You are going to Fehrenn?"

"Yes." Fritz said confidently.

"Now, we have the perfect opportunity. Neva take Ada to Fehrenn. Accompany Fritz on his quest."

"What, you can't be serious?" The two wolfkin blurted out at the same time struggling with the magic threads of silk. Talking over each other in disbelief. Zola shut their mouths again.

"Fritz has been chosen by the gods! He is their champion! He is enacting their will in our world." Zola shouted. "We have no choice. We must help him or risk further enraging the divine!"

"Thank you, Zola." Fritz said. Draining his cup of wine, he poured himself another. Wrestling, with their magical threads, the two wolfkin tried to continue their argument.

"This a stupid quest. Quest's are stupid." Neva growled out.

"It's not stupid! It's noble! It's glorious!" Ada shot back.

"I'm leaving in the morning. Who's coming with me?" Fritz shouted over the two wolfkin. "Ada? Neva? Zola? Any takers?"

"Neva, take Ada. Keep her out of trouble. We can't ignore this. This goes beyond our own desires." Zola said quickly.

"Take her? She should stay in Falken."

"She won't, and you know it. Fritz will need help. The necromancer was targeting him. Other's may be as well. You can help, deliver him to the city and be done with it."

Chewing on her lip, Fritz watched Neva's scars dance as she wrestled with her thoughts.

"I hate them. The gods can all die for all I care. They've done nothing for me." Neva spat out.

"I know. However, ignoring their wishes will only lead to disaster. They must be appeased, regardless of what we desire. Lest we suffer their wrath at a later date." Zola countered.

"Stuck on babysitting duty." Neva grumbled.

"Does this mean I'm coming?" Ada asked incredulously.

"Of course." Fritz said.

"No." Neva growled out.

"If you leave, she won't stay put. If you don't take her with you, she will venture off on her own. Taking her with you is the only way to keep her safe." Zola countered.

Cursing to herself, Neva begrudgingly nodded to Ada. Shooting out of the room like a rocket, Ada shouted announcing her triumph.

"What about you? Coming along." Fritz asked.

"I'll be getting you some help. Neva and I still have some friends in the conclaves. Their help will be instrumental in your journey." Zola said. Her crimson eyes regarded Fritz coolly. "My apprentice will take my spot on your journey instead."

Beside Fritz, Neva took out her pipe. Calming herself with a deep inhale of tobacco and a large gulp of wine, she finally let out a deep groan of pain.

"I hate quests. Nothing good ever happens on a quest." She grumbled to herself. Outside of the room, Ada shouted herself hoarse.