Believing time to be of the essence, Cole ran remaining distance to the clearing after walking away from the spot where retrieved the staff piece and Kryschenn’s sword and belt. “Kayla! Carrie!” the Mentalist shouted before arriving into the clearing in a run. “Cole, how did you get over there? Where’s Abby?” Carrie asked as she and the others turned their attention to him. The last time his friends saw Cole, he was accompanied by Abigail Christian as the two entered a cavern. The Gloved Fighter believed they might find a wounded soldier, but they arrived to late to help him.
“Since she didn’t come out yet she must still be looking for a few of our friends.” Cole surmised, “You remember Kimmy don’t you, Carrie? Well, she’s inside with a pair of Outworlders you haven’t met yet, and Abby’s looking to join up with them after we had a...run in with them and with Kryschenn. She’s one of the Outworlders who arrived here along with Kayla and myself before Dungeon Master gave us our little quest. She was imprisoned in the dungeons at Yarfell but escaped through a passage leading to the tunnels. Kimmy with her new friends, and then Abigail, split up from us, but it seems Kryschenn and I found our way out of the mountains first.”
“Where is Kryschenn at now, then?” asked the Clay Dwarf. The last time Kayla saw the Highland Warrior was just before Kayla headed out to Macula in the effort to stop the Orcs from razing the town.
“She’s headed for Macula right now. I came here to snag a nag, let you know what’s up, and head out after her,” he said grabbing the reins of the horse he had rode upon earlier. As he did so he looked about his company and noticed some of them were missing. “I’m guessing Sunny, Glitter, and Matthew are looking for Blaze right now.”
“That’s right,” said Kayla confirming his summation. “They’ve been gone about as long as you and Abby, well, just Abby now.”
“And what about Uni?” Cole asked as the Unicorn was not present either.
I’m Here!
The Unicorn telepathically alerted the others to her return before emerging from the woods.
I thought I heard something not far from here and went to investigate. I drew close to the sounds of struggle, then heard them suddenly cease. Hidding in the cover of the forest, I saw a pair of self-proclaimed bounty hunters accompanied by Yarfellian troops sent out of Macula. They encountered the storyteller Rosalia, who was riding off with the body of the Lorekeeper resting limply over her steed. The bounty hunters carried away from the scene the body of a female Drow. They’re dark elves, Cole.
The Mentalist promptly lowered his hand, the question he was to ask already answered, but more were to take their place. One foot in the stirrup, Cole hopped onto the horse’s saddle. “Is Zak dead?” Cole nervously wondered, turning his steed to the direction he came from. It was bad enough that Kryschenn was heading into a still occupied Macula due to the argument they had, but the thought of Zak being killed too...
I would not wager on that. I firmly believe there’s still a good chance she will live, Uni responded to all those present.
“Really?” Cole’s expression brightened, “Are you sure?”
Where there is hope, there is life, assured the unicorn.
Cole smiled upon hearing the statement. “Speaking of which,” he said looking to the suns, “I’ve got to get going if I’m hoping to catch up with Kryschenn before she gets to Macula. I have to give her sword back to her. The guards are still there, I didn’t know that and I don’t know if she does either.”
“If you two manage to find a way into Macula, try to get to the inn Sunny, Abby, and I have been using the past few days. The only one in the town, actually. They don’t seem to mind taking in such curiously dressed renters. Abby even managed to convince a few of the people and a guard or two that we were performers.” Kayla informed him with an amused smile.
“Thanks for the tip, Kayla,” the Mentalist said waving to the group. “If we can’t do that we’ll think of some other way into town.” Cole then felt something poking his side. It was the staff piece. Cole wasn’t certain what the guards could do to him if they found it on him. He would need a safe place to hide the piece, somewhere no one would ever think of looking. He was not long in his search.
“Kayla! Catch!” he said tossing the broken rod to her. “Krys is certain it’s a piece of the Staff of Yarfell. I need you to keep it hidden for now. Your clay form is apparently malleable enough that I think you can hide it… inside of you. Who would ever think of looking for it there? Try it.”
Kayla looked uncertain of the Mentalist’s request, but trusted his judgement. Much to her own surprise, she managed to slide the device into her arm.
“See?” Cole smiled in satisfaction. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a Berserker to try catching…up with.” That being said he darted off after Kryschenn. He rode first to the spot they had their argument in woods. After glancing at the position of the mountain peaks and the shrubbery where he retrieved the broken staff piece, he reoriented himself and his horse. Now facing the direction he last saw the Berserker, he led his horse deeper into the woods hoping to find Kryschenn before she reached Macula.
