Chapter 5

Humans; the very word was as foreign as the people themselves were to Ozzel-Gath Island. They came to lands that were not theirs and disturbed the balance that had been in place for millenniums, spreading over every open space and consuming everything in their path. Whatever didn’t bend to their will would be destroyed by their destructive nature.

Even their cities cried out in pain, the injured spirits of the stone and wood they had cut and chipped away echoing like a chorus of misery in the back of Cindraay’s mind as she and Cassandra weaved their way through the busy streets of Asholl. To Cindraay, who was more attuned to nature through her close relationship with Lonnta, walking through the looming stone gates of Asholl and on a carefully paved street was enough to kill even the most pleasant of moods and replace it with a bitterly sour attitude to rival the most unyielding city guards.

She could not leave this terrible place to return to the beauty of the rolling plains outside the cities, yet she had to stay in this place and search out the figures wearing gray and black that she had seen in her vision from Lonnta, if she was to shirk her duty in this she would doom her people to death or worse condemn them to suffer under the hand of the mysterious dark figure that would rise from the western part of the Island.

So she would stay and wait until Lonnta showed who her Goddess had chosen to help her save her people and all of Ozzel-Gath Island.

Cassandra touched Cindraay’s shoulder, bringing the young woman out of her thoughts, “I think I found the Inn the city guard told us of Cindraay.”

When they had entered the city Cassandra had asked for the Inn closest the small garden near the banks of the river that ran through the center of Asholl between the pair of high bridges that allowed cargo to cross the wide river. The Inn’s name, according to the lacquered sign over its door, was The Green River and seemed respectable enough to Cindraay.

The two women stepped into the Inn’s common room, which was surprisingly quiet for such a large Inn, with only about a dozen patrons sitting at scattered tables around the room.

A portly man with a spotless white apron wrapped around his waist walked up to them with a wide smile on his face, “Welcome my ladies to The Green River, I am Gadeth Bryon do you need anything to eat or are you looking to for a room for the night?”

Cindraay adjusted the hood of her cloak that she, as well as Cassandra, had pulled over her head to hide her elven heritage, “Thank you Master Bryon, we will need a room for several days and meals for the same time as well.”

Gadeth nodded happily, “Of course my lady, how long will you need the room for?”

Cindraay smiled coolly, “We do not know yet, we are waiting to meet someone, but when they arrive is still unknown.”

The Innkeeper nodded, “Of course my lady, in that case I will need a deposit for the room and at the end of each week I will collect payment for your room.”

Cindraay nodded, “Very well, how much will you require for a deposit?”

The Innkeeper paused briefly as he did calculations in his head, “Twenty gold pieces for the deposit and then fourteen for each week you stay here.”

Cindraay frowned slightly at the Innkeeper, “Good Master Bryon that seems rather high considering we will be giving you steady business, I will give you fifteen on deposit and ten for each week.”

Bryon shook his head, “Eighteen on deposit and twelve a week.”

Cindraay started to reply when Cassandra spoke up, “Our price remains that same, but in addition I will perform in your Inn every night for free.”

Bryon gave the pale, slender woman a questioning glance, “And what will be the art that you will display?”

Cassandra flashed a brief smile and threw an apple she produced for her pack into the air. As the red fruit began to fall she drew her shortsword and dagger and rapidly slashed at the fruit so that when in landed on the ground there was a scrolling pattern along the surface.

As the fruit settled to the ground she slide her blades in their sheaths, “I also perform acts of marksmanship and acrobatics, I can guarantee you will get more business whenever I perform for you.”

Bryon rubbed his chin, his eyes flashing from the apple, to Cassandra, to Cindraay, before he nodded, “Very well you have a deal, will you want me to show you to your room now to eat your meal there or would you like to eat first?”

Cindraay shook her head, “We’ll eat in our room.”

Bryon nodded, “Of course, I will have one of my servants show you to your room, is there anything else I can do for you?”

Cindraay nodded, “Yes do you know of an organization that has a mainly gray uniform?”

Bryon nodded, “Yes my lady, the only ones are the Ashan High Patrolmen, they have an outpost here that they use when their members are traveling outside Ashan. Generally good fellows, most of them, some say they might be some of the last decent folks with any sort of influence in Ashan left.” The Innkeeper frowned, “Are you looking for a particular High Patrolman?”

Cindraay ignored the question, “Do the High Patrolmen come to your Inn often?”

Bryon shook his head, “No they tend to stay closer to their own area on the other side of the river, close to the Port Gate.”

Cindraay dug into her purse and counted out fifteen gold coins, “Thank you Master Bryon, if any High Patrolmen do come here would you please let me know right away?”

Gadeth Bryon frowned as he took their deposit, a little unsure about the request, but with gold in his hand and the promise of more if they stayed long his sense of greed beat out his suspicious nature, “Of course my lady.” The Innkeeper turned to find a servant to show them to their room, leaving them to wait, not only for their room, but for the High Patrolman that Lonnta had shown to Cindraay in her vision.

Christoph had not been to Azi-Taz since he had been a young man who had just been accepted into the High Patrolman and had traveled to be trained by the master swordsmen found among the elves of Azi-Taz’s population. It pleased him to see that the city was still prospering and had grown in the years that had past.

But even the pleasant memories of an earlier, more carefree life could not lighten his mood as he watched Shone and Morsen carry a makeshift coffin between them with the remains of Xenathar inside. Morsen’s injury had been serious, but not life threatening once the arrow had been removed, after Christoph had healed the wound all Morsen had was another scar to brag about.

Xenathar had not been so lucky, from what Christoph could see the arrow that had hit him had been dipped in a deadly poison, the man had been dead before they had a chance to remove the arrow. Christoph had decided while in Azi-Taz to find a ship bound for Asholl to bear Xenathar’s body to Ashan so that he could be buried in the High Patrolmen cemetery, where all Patrolmen killed in the line of duty were buried.

It was late afternoon as the surviving High Patrolmen reached the outskirts of the city, joining in with the flow of traffic entering into the city for other parts of the Island.

The group headed south along the river and then crossed over the flowing stream as it turned east, entering into the Merchant Quarter of the city.

They were nearing a canal that had been dug through the middle of the Merchant Quarter near the Trade Harbor when the one of the guards ahead started whispering to his comrade and then stepped in front of Christoph, blocking his path across the bridge spanning the canal.

Christoph looked calmly at the guard, “Is there a problem?”

The guard, his expression hidden behind the bars of the decorative helmet he wore, no the less sounded surly, “Excuse me High Patrolmen, but I recognize that man you are traveling with. He is Jerethor Vale, he was a worker here in the Merchant Quarter and two nights ago he attacked four men at a local tavern. This morning an order was put out for his arrest and trial for the attacks, he’ll have to come with us.”

Christoph nodded slowly and turned to face Jerethor who was looking almost exasperated at the guard’s statement, “Is this true Jerethor?”

The younger man gaze unwaveringly at Christoph, “It is true I was involved in a fight with four men, though I only injured two when they tried to attack me after hustling me out of the tavern common room where I was staying. The leader of the group I left in the care of the tavern’s owner Jain since he was unconscious after the encounter, the second was as well, but he was carried off by his fellows.” Jerethor blinked slowly and glanced at the guard, “However, in all my time here in Azi-Taz I have never attacked anyone, except in self-defense; the last incident was the first time that anyone left with any injuries more severe than a few bruises, but the group also were using clubs when they tried to attack me.”

Christoph studied Jerethor’s face, searching for any sight of falsehood, something he had become quite accomplished at during his service in the High Patrolmen, and found none.

The veteran Lieutenant turned back to the guard, “Have you spoken with the tavern owner Jain to confirm the reports of the men who claim they were attacked by Jerethor?”

The guard shook his head slowly, “No we haven’t, but the men who reported the incident are fine upstanding citizens of the city, one of them is a mine foreman; we have no reason to doubt his word in this matter.”

Behind him Christoph heard Shone growl softly under his breath, “Amateurs.”

The elder of the Altwood brothers felt the same way, but kept his distain for the poorness of the guard’s investigational skills from his voice, “In that case, sir, I can not allow you to take custody of this man as it appears that you have more work to do before you charge him, not matter how upstanding the witness in the matter is.”

The guard stood straight and tightened his grip on the sword on his side, “By refusing to surrender him to us you are interfering with our arrest; that is grounds for your arrest as well sir.”

Christoph couldn’t help but smirk at the guard’s boldness, but Shone took it even further and burst out laughing, “Oh really and who do you think is going to be doing that sir, because if you’re planning on arresting my commanding officer, then you’ll have to arrest all of us as well.”

For the first time it seemed the guard shifted his glance to take in the rest of High Patrolmen, who were now looking extremely annoyed at the guard and his partner, and seemed to shrink in were he stood, “Umm, perhaps I will need to delay your arrests until I can confirm my orders to arrest Jerethor Vale.”

Shone stepped up to his brother’s side, “I’d say that’s the smartest thing you’ve said yet.” Without another word the guard marched off, leaving his partner to watch the bridge.

Shone chuckled under his breath again, “Well as fun as that was we might want to find a quick way out here or else that boy might cause us some trouble.”

Christoph nodded, “You’re probably right, but it sure would be interesting to set him and his boss straight; however, the matter we are bringing with us can not afford to be delayed.”

Leaving the lone remaining guard to watch them march by with a stony expression behind the bars of his helmet Christoph led the group over the canal into the main part of the Merchant’s Quarter. He started to turn south toward the Trade Port to find a ship bound for Asholl when he felt a hand grasp his shoulder. Turning he found Jerethor standing at his side, “What is it Jerethor?”

“I need to go to the tavern where I’ve been staying; Jain will be worried about me, especially after word of an arrest order being spread for me. Besides I don’t want her to cause trouble for herself by trying to defend my name while I’m gone.”

Christoph paused for a second then nodded slowly, “Very well, go to the tavern, but Alastor and Gerard will go with you to make sure no other overzealous guards try to stop you; once you’ve met with your friend Jain you come back here straight away, we only have so much time until that first guard comes back with enough force that simple intimidation won’t deter them.”

Jerethor nodded, “Thank you Christoph, I won’t be long.” Jerethor gathered Alastor and Gerard by eye and the three men took off into the heart of the Merchant Quarter while Christoph, followed by Shone and Morsen bearing Xenathar’s coffin, again headed south toward the Trade Port.

The Inns and shops of the Merchant Quarter were busily doing their business of every sort, from selling freshly made bread to a shop stating it had a corner on weapons from the Sandril Forest.

A fresh, salty tang hung in the air as Christoph entered into the Trade Port, ships of every size filled the port that stretched from the edge of the man-made canal to the end of the peninsula that formed the western most point of Azi-Taz. Where the ships were docked tended to dictate what job they were involved in, fishing boats looking to sell their catch docked on the western part of the port so they wouldn’t be caught up in the flow of trading ships. Incoming merchant vessels stayed closer to the middle, where they could easily reach every part of the Merchant Quarter. Finally near the canal on the eastern end of the port were docked the trading vessels looking to be loaded up for their return journeys and those looking to offer transport to people wanting to reach other parts of the island.

The Patrolmen, bearing their fallen comrade approached the bustling docks while Christoph looked over the various vessel, searching for one that looked to be of an Ashan-design, which also was common in Asholl was well.

Ashan ships were known for their double square sails from a single mast and a pair of triangular sail behind them, giving it the ability to take advantage of any wind conditions, and a sturdy hull with raised bow and stern battlements; to most people they were known as Hulks. By contrast Azi-Taz and Vice-Talz designs favored swifter, sleeker hulls with two or three masts with a large triangular sail on each, allowing for quicker maneuvering, though they couldn’t take as much damage as the studier Ashan ships; ship’s made using this design were generally called Cutters.

Christoph found a Hulk, looming over the lower hulls of its neighbors, with the city seal of Asholl branded besides its name on the bow, the Sea Dragon. The Dragon’s captain was waiting at the side of the ship, talking to a local merchant by the man’s clothing; Christoph waited at a polite distance while the two men finished their business.

The ship’s captain shook hands with the merchant, then turned to face Christoph with the forced smile of man nervous about having three High Patrolmen waiting for him, “May I help you Patrolmen?”

Christoph nodded solemnly, “Yes Captain, I am Lieutenant Christoph de Altwood and I need you to take the body of a High Patrolman to Asholl and place it in the charge of the High Patrolmen station so they can send it back to Ashan to be buried with all the honors the man should be afforded.”

The captain took of his weather-worn cap and bowed, “Of course Lieutenant, my name is Ariza Benuli, I am would be honored to serve the High Patrolmen in any way I can.”

Christoph nodded, “Thank you Captain Ariza, if you would have one of your men show mine where they can put the body you and I can come to an agreement.”

The captain placed the cap back on his head and called onto the Dragon for a man to come down before gesturing to a makeshift desk further down the dock, “If you’ll follow me Lieutenant I have all the materials to make the necessary contract over here.”

Ariza sat down on half of a barrel that had been converted to a chair and gestured for Christoph to make use of a similar one as the Dragon’s captain pulled a piece of paper and a pen and ink from a lock box attached to the table. He opened the ink well and dipped the pen before writing a brief header across the top of the paper and made the appropriate marks to create a contract; when he finished making the necessary notations he handed the pen to Christoph, “Now if you’ll write out what you want me to do as my part of my service to you, we can come to fair price and get you and your men on your way.”

Christoph nodded as he took the pen and began to write the terms that he had described to Ariza moments ago, he had just finished outlining the major things and was looking over the document when a loud commotion began to rise from the docks behind him. He set the pen down and turned to see Jerethor, Gerard, Alastor, and woman wearing the clothes of a member of the Weather Circle rushing toward the boat with an angry mob of people charging after them shouting loudly.

Christoph glanced to the deck of the Dragon as Shone and Morsen hurried to the railing and nodded as they started down the ramp to the dock where he stood. Christoph turned and face Ariza, “Captain I’m afraid we’ll need to make our deal final while en-route as well as payment for the travel of my men and I, if there is anything you need to load onto your ship I suggest you do it quickly, this could become ugly very soon.”

As Christoph and the others headed for the Trade Port Jerethor lead Gerard and Alastor deeper into the Merchant Quarter to Jain’s tavern; the tavern was bustling with the beginnings of the midday rush with workers from the nearby Trade Port coming to get a bite to eat.

As Jerethor stepped off the street to enter the tavern’s common room a familiar face stepped out of the door and smiled when it saw him approaching.

“Jerethor, I’m glad I caught you,” smiled Robyn as she brushed one of her many little braids off her shoulder, “I heard that an arrest order had been sent out for you and I had come to see what was happening to you, Jain said you left this morning to visit your family outside the city and that she didn’t expect you to be back until late tomorrow.” For the first time she noticed the pair of High Patrolmen flaking him and the armor and weapons Jerethor was wearing, “What’s going on Jerethor, who are they and why are you wearing all that?”

Jerethor sighed, “It’s a long story Robyn, but I don’t have time to tell it all to you. But suffice to say I’m leaving Azi-Taz very soon and I just came by to say good-bye to Jain.”

Robyn’s eyes flashed darkly, “Though not to me?”

Jerethor gulped slightly, “I had hoped to see you before I left, but time is very short and I knew Jain would get herself into trouble defending my good name while I was gone when she got word of this arrest order for me, so I wanted to tell her what was happening so she wouldn’t worry.”

Robyn’s eyes lightened slightly as she nodded, “Well I guess so, go say what you have to say to Jain and I’ll wait here; maybe you can fill me in on what’s happening before you leave.”

Jerethor nodded and brushed past the curious Weather Mage into the tavern’s common room, immediately greeted by the familiar scents of good food cooking and the low roar of dozens of conversations blending together.

Jain was watching over the organized chaos from her usual spot near the back of the common room when Jerethor walked in, the kindly middle-aged woman spotted him the minute he had taken three steps and quickly gestured for him to come back into the kitchen with her.

Jerethor nodded and followed her into the back, being sure to keep his face low in case anyone in the common room recognized him.

When the kitchen door closed behind him Jain immediately wrapped him in a hug then growled harshly, “What is going on with you young man? First you up and leave to go see your family, them I hear that the City Guard has placed an order for you arrest, and then you show up much earlier than usual wearing armor and weapons that you know will only get you into more trouble if the usual ruffians try to start trouble with you again.”

Jerethor smiled weakly at the woman, “Jain I’m leaving Azi-Taz, not because of the arrest order, but because something attacked my family and they’ve disappeared so I’m going with a group of High Patrolmen who are investigating whose behind the attack and disappearances to help find my family, I just don’t want you to get yourself in trouble trying to defend my name about this arrest order while I’m gone. All you need is to make the City Guard angry at you for arguing with them.”

Jain crossed her arms, “You just worry about yourself Jerethor, I can handle things here fine,” Jain uncrossed her arms and clasped Jerethor’s shoulders, “you just worry about finding your family and everything else will take care of itself.”

Jain turned and grabbed a couple pieces of food lying on the table in the middle of the kitchen and wrapped them in a towel and handed it to him, “Here take this too, it should keep you for a few days while you’re on the road.”

Jerethor tucked the food in his travel bag and gave Jain another hug, “Thank you for everything Jain.”

Jerethor turned to leave go back to the common room when a loud yell rose above the roar in the common room and one of the girls that worked for Jain ducked her head into the kitchen, “Jain we need your help out here, some of the dock workers are causing trouble again.”

Jain nodded, “I’ll be right out.” She started out the door, “Come on Jerethor, you need to get going I can handle this.” Without another word she returned to the common room, with Jerethor following close behind.

Jain hustled over to the table where the dock workers were causing trouble, while Jerethor headed back to the front door when one of the workers yelled out, “Hey I know you you’re that drow that attacked those miners a few nights ago, the City Guards are looking for you!”

Jerethor hurried out the door as Jain started to deal with the workers when the same man yelled out again, “You’re going to let him get away! Come on guys we’ve got to stop him before he does something worse to someone!”

Jerethor stepped out onto the street with the sounds of people hurrying to their feet coming behind him. Robyn and the two High Patrolmen looked at Jerethor with concerned looks on their faces; Jerethor shook his head, “No time to explain we need to get back to Lieutenant Christoph now before things get worse.” Jerethor glanced at Robyn, “Go Robyn, we can catch up later, you don’t want to get caught up in this.”

Without giving Robyn a chance to argue Jerethor rushed past her and started to head south toward the Trade Port when a group of City Guardsmen rounded a corner and came running at him. They encircled him and Gerard and Alastor, lowering their spears threateningly toward them, “Stand aside High Patrolmen, this is an affair of Azi-Taz’s judgment system you have no jurisdiction here.”

Alastor and Gerard ignored the Guard’s order and simply drew their own weapons with an almost casual ease as Gerard smiled coolly, “This man is under our care and our commander would be very upset if we were to let any harm come to him, I believe he already explained the situation to one of your comrades near the canal earlier, so unless you’ve spoken to our Lieutenant then it is you that needs to stand aside or else you’ll make us late.”

Alastor twirled his sword slowly, “And we both hate to be late.”

The Guard glared at both men, his fellows tightening their grip on their spear shafts when a sudden gust of wind lifted them all off their feet and slammed them into the wall of a stone inn across the street.

Both High Patrolmen started and Gerard turned around in confusion, “What the hell?”

Jerethor turned behind them and saw Robyn walking up to them with a self-satisfied smile on her face, “Jerethor when I said I was coming with I meant it; now let’s find this Lieutenant these two were talking about before they wake up.”

Jerethor couldn’t help but laugh at her boldness, but since he couldn’t turn down help already given he looked at Alastor and Gerard and shrugged, “Well she said it, let’s get going before we draw a crowd.”

The four of them started briskly down the street, moving as fast as they could, but trying to slip away from the crowd gathering around the pile of groaning City Guards when someone yelled out behind them, “Get back here you drow devil, you just attacked members of the City Guard!”

The people around the Guards turned at the cry and started to shout in agreement.

“Quickly grab him before he does the same thing to us!” cried out a man in the crowd.

Beside him Alastor swore under his breath, “Oh hell we’re going to have to run, I hate it when the locals turn unfriendly.”

Gerard nodded, “Yep, now…go!”

At Gerard’s cry the four of them broke into a dead run down the street, leaving the gathering crowd to roar in anger as they gave chase.

Robyn kept pace with them stride for stride despite her shorter bounds, bringing up the rear of their small group, as she ran she mumbled something under her breath and made a few strange hand motions then the leading members of the crowd fell forward as if they had been tripped causing many of their friends behind them to join them on the street, however those further back jumped over the growing pile of humanity and kept up the chase.

Jerethor smiled briefly between breaths as they ran down the street, “That was helpful, do you have any more tricks up your sleeve?”

Robyn shook her head, “Anything else would require us to stop and I doubt you want to do that now, besides I haven’t had my morning’s exercise yet, this is just like a nice jog through the city.”

They reached the end of the street as they came to the docks, Jerethor pointed toward the eastern end of the docks, “If Christoph was looking for outgoing vessels he’d have gone this way, they’re all docked over here.” After only a moment’s hesitation the group turned left and continued their rapid jaunt down the docks with a growing number of angry people joining the original crowd as news of what had happened travel in the wake of the crowd.

Alastor pointed to a bulky ship up ahead, “There I see Shone on that ship the Lieutenant must not be far off!” They turned up the dock where that ship was moored and saw Christoph looking very puzzled near the ship’s gangplank with what Jerethor presumed was the vessel’s captain. They came to a stop as they reached the foot of the gangplank, all their chests heaving for air.

Christoph glanced at the approaching crowd with more than a little apprehension, “Gerard, Alastor what the hell happened?”

Gerard and Alastor rapidly explained what happened as they took gulps of air, leaving their commanding officer fuming and more than a little angry.

“Damn it you could have handled this better, both of you! Now get onboard the ship.” Christoph turned to face the ship’s captain, “Are you ready to set sail captain?”

The sea-weathered man still seemed unsettled by everything that was happening, but nodded, “Yes sir we are, whenever you’re ready.”

Christoph took one glance at the approaching mob of people and rushed up the gangplank, “Good then let’s be off before those people decide to tear you and your ship apart too and ask questions later.”

The captain sprang into motion, barking orders to his crew and getting the bulky vessel free off the docks and away from the mob of people in what Jerethor supposed to be record time.

The ship’s captain was starting to set the ship’s sails to leave Azi-Taz behind them when a loud cheer from the Trade Port drew the attention of everyone aboard the bulky vessel behind them to see a cutter also pulling away from the docks with a large number of angry people on her deck shouting as the faster cutter began to gain on the hulk they were on.

Jerethor grabbed Robyn’s shoulder, “Can you do something, speed us up or slow them down enough for us to get away?”

Robyn smiled smartly, “I should hope so, that is my job after all.” She quickly climbed up to the rear of the hulk and took the same position she had taken before when Jerethor had watched her work a few days ago.

After a few nervous minutes as they waited and the cutter got closer Robyn opened her eyes and smiled as she rose to her feet and stretched slightly.

Jerethor frowned, “What did you do? We’re not going any faster are we?”

Robyn shook her head, “No our speed hasn’t changed, but look at the cutter.”

Jerethor did, along with everyone else who could spare the time, and saw that a strong change in the current was cutting across the harbor pushing the cutter uncontrollably out to sea.

Robyn smiled, seemingly very satisfied with herself, “The wind today was already very light and with all that extra weigh onboard the cutter that small riptide should keep them busy for at least a few hours if they have a good crew on them, if not then they’ll be trapped until the spell wears off in about six hours.”

Jerethor sighed and leaned against the hulk’s main mast as the ship’s crew chatted amongst themselves, talking about the various things they did during their brief respite on land before setting out to sea again.

Christoph sighed in relief and turned to Jerethor, “Now would you care to explain to me why we have a Weather Mage traveling with us?”

Jerethor shrugged, “Well she and I know each other through our mutual work in the Merchant Harbor and we ran into her just as we reached Jain’s tavern; after that she just decided she was going to join us in our trip and it made it really hard for her to slip off from us after she used her magic to disable the City Guards and aid us in escaping the crowd that was so eagerly seeking my head.”

Christoph frowned, “Well I’ll be the first to say that having her aboard was useful, essential even, for our escape, I still think that things could have been handled better so we wouldn’t have needed to make an escape, now the only place where we can go is to Asholl, then we’ll need to make our way back to Azi-Taz over land; cause we won’t be welcomed back inside the city for a while now.” With one final sigh the veteran High Patrolman walked down to the lower deck where his brother and Morsen were securing Xenathar’s coffin onto the deck of the ship.

Robyn stepped up to Jerethor’s side and touched his arm gently, “Sorry if I got you in trouble there Jerethor.”

He responded to her with a smile, “It’s ok, Robyn, Christoph is an okay person, he just doesn’t like it when he puts his men in unnecessary danger.” Jerethor pointed to the rough wooden coffin that Christoph was standing by, “That was one of his men, he was killed while fighting off the creatures that had attacked my family’s home.” Jerethor gulped slightly and clenched his hands to keep them from shaking, “He and I were chasing after one of the last of them when he fired an arrow back at us, I managed to dodge to the side before I even knew he was firing, but he, Xenathar, didn’t even know what hit him; I’d been screening his view moments before I moved leaving him open to be hit.”

Robyn squeezed his arm slightly, “It doesn’t sound like there was anything you could have done, working in the field like Xenathar and Christoph do is dangerous. The people they chase down are some of the roughest and most dangerous people on the Island, but doing what they do keeps others safe from having to worry about them.”

Jerethor nodded his head slowly, “Yea I know that, it still doesn’t make knowing that the arrow that killed him might have very well been meant for me any easier to take.”

The smaller Weather Mage nodded, “So do you think that Christoph knows where you family is?”

Jerethor shrugged, “I hope so, I don’t have a clue where to look, and the only possible clue disappeared when the last creature vanished just before I got to him. But Christoph seems to think that we might have been able to find more in the foothills of the Ozzel Mountains near my family’s home. Anything we might have found will be gone when we get back to it, but maybe he’ll find something else to follow on when we get to Asholl. I have heard that the High Patrolmen have some of the best researching resources available to anyone on the Island, so if there is anything to be found Christoph will have the best chance to do it.”

Robyn nodded, her eyes turning a faint pink hue like a setting sun, “I’m sure he’ll find something that will get us closer to your family and until we do I’ll help you keep looking.”

Jerethor smiled and walked over to the side of the hulk facing the coast as the farmland surrounding Azi-Taz faded to the natural wild plains the filled the space between the cities of the Ozzel-Gath Island. Robyn followed him to the side and looked over the deep blue sea and the rolling green plains before them as the hulk slowly sailed along the coast toward Asholl.