"C'mon brat, move it," Pia ordered Drin to follow as she turned to head for the village. Merse gave Pia a nod and took a step in a different direction. Confused, Drin dropped his pack and, panting, looked back and forth uncertainly.
"What's going on? Why're ya splittin'?" Drin huffed out, his face red from effort. Although he had pestered Pia with questions along the journey, he was clearly still unsure about being left alone with her. Stopping, Pia trudged back, annoyed at having to explain everything.
"Look, you wanna walk in there and advertise that we're mercs?" Pia growled. "If we go in as a party, every whoreson from here to Varlstock will know before we take two steps. Merse can pass as a regular traveler, but who ever heard of a dark elf tooling about in a mining town for the fun of it? Merse'll follow, but we go in first. I'm a traveling apothecary, here to sell my wares, and you are my half-wit assistant," Pia grinned viciously as it dawned on Drin why Pia had been so accomodating when he asked her questions about herbalism along their way. Drin gave Merse a questioning glance, which met with a stare containing zero sympathy. Sighing, Drin hefted his pack and followed Pia grudgingly.
After a week of constant companions, Merse sighed in relief to find herself alone among the icy peaks. While Glasser Ridge was barely in sight, Merse maintained her distance from the city, making a wide circle and scouting out the area. She passed by a few trails, some human, some animal, some monster, and one perhaps even metabeast, but did not cross paths with more than a few huddled birds in the trees, shivering against the wind. When she was confident she was far enough from any evidence of passage, Merse ducked into a small cave, tucked in behind a rock and all but hidden. Mentally, she approached Kayl, ignoring his intense gase, and reached out just enough to turn her ears into triangular, furry wolfen ears. Twitching them a few times, Merse was satisfied she would hear anyone or anything approaching, and sat down to focus on the task at hand.
I need your help, Merse stated bluntly and without introduction, looking at Kayl. Not waiting for a response, Merse forged ahead. You're stuck with me now, but think about what that means. You still have a chance to maybe see Alra and Raka again from time to time, to make sure they stay safe. At the mention of the two, Kayl's eyes quickly narrowed and a snarl came to his lips.
I'm dead to them! Kayl snapped violently. What does it matter?
Yes, what does it matter if they end up enslaved or worse, all because you gave up? Merse sneered at him, obviously picking a fight, and nearly getting one. However, she quickly stalled him. You may not be able to be with them, but at least you can fish around for info on them, maybe look out for them if they get into danger. I can help you...but only if you help me in return. Like I said, we're stuck together. Convinced she finally had Kayl's attention, she finally brought up her proposition. I can help you look after them, but only if no one knows about me, if I can stay hidden. Just think what some slaver would do with a subjugated Soul-stealer. So, I can't be turning into whatever damn monster I just happen to kill, especially in front of others. Now, I don't want to kill any more monsters and have them running around inside my skull, but I might not have a choice. However, it looks like one critter can hold another in check in here, Merse continued, nodding over at the krake and hydra locked in their unwieldy embrace. If you keep the other souls away from me until I can deal with them with no one else around, I'll help with your family.
How many more monsters are you planning to kill? Kayl asked, eyes narrowed, and Merse remembered his discomfort at the idea of her killing metabeasts.
Well, shouldn't be any on this job, Merse stated evenly. They may see every creature as equally valid targets, only classified by the size of their purse, but most groups of bandits tend to stick with their own; probably all humans here. Kayl stared at her tone, then a mirthless grin slowly spread across his muzzle. What? Merse asked.
For all the inconvenience when you kill monsters, Kayl said dryly, there seem to be no consequences from the jealous god when you kill your own kind. Makes me wonder what creatures are the real monsters here.
Merse frowned and tried to ignore the comment, although it did bother her, sitting uncomfortably at the back of her mind. Nevertheless, satisfied that she was assured Kayl's cooperation, Merse withdrew the wolfen ears, exited the cave, and headed for Glasser Ridge.
**********
A group of hooded and cloaked individuals was joined by another similarly garbed in a forest clearing on the shores of the Byrne River, not far from Shuttlebrook. A few wards were placed, and, confident they would not be overheard, a strange conversation ensued.
"Has anyone you noted traveled in the direction of Dregsbale?" the archmage who had conducted the initial investigation into the death of the archmage Drin had killed asked.
"Hmmm..." the female archmage from the Shuttlebrook ferry considered, leafing through some written records. "There was one, I believe...a peasant and his pregnant wife, injured by orcs, they said. I spelled her, and they were the only ones I had that took that route." Although she would never go against the orders of the Conglomerate, the archmage could not help but let her boredom show. "Is this really necessary? Couldn't an apprentice handle this kind of..."
"You have your instructions," the archmage leader cut her off coldly, at which point she sighed, bowed, and headed back towards Shuttlebrook. "Well?" the leader asked, looking at the hooded figure which had been the last to join them.
"We're clutching at strings, Barvine," Archmage Tewlaine sighed. "Still, I think we stand a better chance if I could just get an explanation out of the wolfen." Barvine snorted dismissively.
"I do not have the authority to direct your investigation," Archmage Barvine glowered. "But I would caution you not to put any hope in the ramblings of metabeasts." Tewlaine nodded, more out of politeness than agreement, then turned to head back to Dregsbale.
"That spider is out there," Barvine growled to himself, watching Tewlaine's retreating back. "And I will find it!"