Hello, Everyone!
Last time, our heroes gathered for a chat in the guest room of Reina's mansion. They hadn’t had a chance to talk among themselves at all after what’d happened with Tesaya and Trax’rion, and so Mary used the opportunity (and Bruno’s Zone of Truth spell) to ask her companions a few uncomfortable questions.
However, she didn’t expect to be asked some uncomfortable questions herself.
Stunned, Mary opened her mouth and closed it again. Why didn't she like Reina? One of the reasons was currently looking at her quizzicallly, but she'd be dead before she admitted that. Also, there had to be more than one reason. Reina was not the most likeable person.
"It's because she's rude to us," Mary said, finally, choosing her words very carefully. "To me."
But that wasn't everything, was it? The rest was petty and vain... but it was technically true. And she had to say it, if only to avoid the thing that she actually didn’t want the others to know.
"It's because she's prettier than me," she continued, "and more confident, more interesting…"
"She'd say the same thing about you, if you just spoke to her!" Aurum insisted.
"She’s also richer," Bruno offered and Mary glared at him.
"And it's because she wants to take you away frommm… the group." Mary bit her lips. She'd almost said ‘me’.
"She's not going to take me away from the group," Aurum said. "At least not right now," he added and it pricked at Mary's heart.
There was silence in the room now, so thick that it could be cut with a knife. Mary was trying not to look at the others.
"So, we're good now?" Agatha said. "The interrogation is over?"
"Almost," Aurum said. "One last thing. It was awfully suspicious, the way you appeared on our way. Was it really a coincidence?”
“Yes, it was,” Agatha said. “How did you three meet?”
Aurum thought for a bit.
“A coincidence,” he said, grinning appologetically. “But with you, it was different.”
He began talking about the giant lizard back in Ekoba, but Mary’s eyes were drawn to something in the corner of the room. A little spot moved under the window--hidden by illusion magic, same as the one in Reina’s room. It jumped down and started sneaking towards them.
Mary couldn’t allow it to hear anything important. As soon as Aurum began a sentence that was going to mention Diohastos, she shot her hand up and released an Eldritch Blast. It hit the spot and immediately poofed it out of existence.
“What the hell, Mary?!” Bruno demanded.
She turned to Aurum, her eyes burning with anger.
“Why don’t you go get Reina and ask her to join our little truth circle, instead of eavesdropping?!”
“Wh…?”
“She’s SPYING on us!”
Aurum stared at her, confused, but eventually nodded and stood up without saying a word. They waited for him for a while.
“Mary, why don’t you send your familiars to see what’s going on?” Agatha suggested.
“They take too long to conjure,” Mary said. “Plus, I don’t see the point. Aurum will either come back with Reina, or not. I don’t care exactly what they talk about in the meanwhile.”
The bard came back without Reina, and his expression was like a stormcloud.
“Gather your things,” he snarled. “We’re leaving.”
“What? Why?!”
“Mary was right. Reina was spying on us. We’re no longer welcome here.”
They said their goodbyes with Reina’s parents, Bruno making sure he left in good terms with the father as a possible future business partner. Reina never came to send them off, but Mary wasn’t holding her breath for it. The only thing she was worried about was Aurum. He looked really hurt. Had she made a mistake, being so eager to prove Reina wrong?
Just like that, in the early hours of the warm Zerakastolian morning, they were out on the street. The Devoted were standing on each corner, staring ahead of themselves and making the atmosphere even bleaker.
“So now what?” Bruno said. “Break’s over, time to go after Rasox?”
“Racox,” Mary corrected. “I guess we should.”
It wasn’t going to be easy. They needed to find out where he was and where he was headed. Tesaya had told them that he had left Pamagos a few days ago, as well as that he was going North, but they didn’t know how he was travelling... or how far he’d gotten.
And, if they were going to go against him, it'd be good to stock up on potions and other helpful stuff. Fortunately, they were in Zerakas tol, the city famous for its spellcasters. A magic shop was the easiest thing to find.
The whole time they were in the shop, Aurum was sulking on a bench outside. He’d said he didn’t need anything but he was obviously still sad about Reina.
He’ll get over it, Mary thought. In the next town, he’ll find some pretty person to console him, and he’ll be fine.
But she wasn’t sure if she believed that.
The four of them went to a small park and Bruno cast his Scrying spell. He concentrated on a crystal ball, and his eyes strained from the effort. Just when he looked like he was getting the hang of it, he suddenly pulled away, grumbling.
“He blocked me,” he said. “I’d have to try again, but not until tomorrow. This spell took a lot out of me.”
Now, there were only a couple of options they were left with. They could either stay in Zerakas tol and try spying on the guy tomorrow, or--knowing his general direction--start moving, hoping to cross his way or catch up with him.
“I wish Lady Findabair had given you the coordinates for the Frinkeltong teleportation circle,” Mary said. “It’s closer to the North than any other circle we have, and if my family is still there, I’d be able to see them.”
“From what circles we have, the closest to where Racox should be is Pamagos,” Bruno said. “I mean, we could also try flying over the Higanta mountain but I suspect it’ll be way more difficult than the Teeth.”
“So, Pamagos it is,” Aurum said, taking out the material components to draw a teleportation circle.
Sorry, everyone, we didn't have the opportunity to find out Reina's secrets this time. But isn't it even more suspicious that she threw us out at the first sign that we were going to interrogate her???
Anyway, we’ve had some fun in Zerakas tol but it’s time to go do some more important stuff. I hope that you’ve enjoyed the melodrama so far XD
Do you think we’ll reach Racox before he’s able to go to the White Queen? It’d be pretty bad to have two Ancient Dragons roaming around Eastern Erathos…
See you next time!
Take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide, the Glossaries (Part 1 and Part 2)
and the Map for the series. You're welcome!)
An important disclaimer: Mary Windfiddle's story is my notes from a D&D game turned into a narrative. All the worldbuilding and NPC encounters belong to our DM, and all the actions of the other main characters (Aurum, Bruno and Agatha) belong to my co-players. My contribution to the story is only everything Mary-related (actions, reactions, inner thoughts), as well as the writing itself.
I just knew Reina was up to no good. Spying on your supposed friends is definitely a big clue that she's up to something, and I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of her, and not in a "great to see you, how've you been, we've missed you !" kind of way 😀