We left the mansion that right now was completely covered by fire. After taking few more steps the whole construction collapsed. I looked to the side just to see that Pyrox already started burning stable and library. Horses? Fear not. After few first explosions, they started acting violently. Servants must have released them, for right now not a single animal was inside.

- “Ah! I almost forget about that!” I put my hand in the pocket of my traveling coat and took a small piece of paper. I quickly attached it to the gate “Now, we are good to go. PYROX! Come on! This is not the only building in the country that you can burn! There will always be more!”

Pyromancer stopped casting more flames, looked at me listening to what I have to say, turn one last time toward the building and threw yet another fireball. After that he joined the team.

Your party has conquered [Information Office of Inquisition]Calculating rewardsExp750

We joined Morgana and Ay few in half an hour. Just to be sure that no one was following us.

- “I am pretty sure you have something for me?”

- “Of course honey, just tell me what you prefer first? A dinner? A bath? Location of certain paladin? Or m…”

- “Will take location, please.”

- “Hmph. It’s actually Bit north from here. On our way to smuggler’s point so…”

- “… so we will move south.”

Rest of the group looked at me like on a madman

- “Then mind telling us why did you move in, tell everyone far and wide that we are nearby if…” Morgana started trying to comprehend what I wanted to achieve

- “They will likely follow us as they would only find some traces. And we would lead them south. I asked you if you have anything against playing with civilians, remember?”

- “You ask about killing innocent civilians, am I right?”

- “That sounds really bad as you name it this way… but technically you are right, we are going to un-alive them… then we would get to some trading route and move north while following us forces would be looking us in the south.”

- “Why do you think they would follow us South?”

- “Morgi, I will forgive you this time for you have no idea about geography.” Morgana resisted her urge to jump at me with her nails. She hated that nickname I gave her “But we have already moved south once – to get here, now we are about to get even further south to local village where we will make yet another show… and can some of you tell me what is even further to the south?”

- “… The vault. One of the greatest treasury of the church. It is said that every cursed item, every grimoire taken my witch hunters is stored there… but there is no way we would conquer it. It is not some small fort guarded by small army, with fortifications and…” Jason become pale on his face

- “And who is talking about taking it over? But Church doesn’t know it! All it knows is that there are witches that castle was conquered, a hundred witches freed and trails are leading south – to the vault. They have no idea how many of us are here, so most likely they will try to double the guards and would wait for an attack… but…”

- “…We would already be heading north.”

- “Of course. I am not sure at all that this is what they would do…”

- “So you are gambling again?”

- “Hey! Your enemies won’t predict what you are about to do if you yourself have no clue what you are doing!”

Morgana slowly hid her face behind her palms.

- “Please, tell me that not every witch is that crazy. Please, tell me that not every witch is that crazy. Please,…”

She started her quiet mantra.

- “To the south, team. To the south!”

We moved looking for a small village.

Messenger of a bishop was getting closer to the Inquisition office. The situation was bad. Very, very bad. They needed to send a message to the capital and local military outposts! This is why he kept rushing his horse to move faster and faster. He was pretty sure that poor creature would collapse from exhaustion at the moment they would reach it… still. He had no choice in that matter.

He moved past the last bushes stepping on the path of road leading straight to the office… Yet what he saw was raging inferno devouring buildings. His horse, on mere sight of it stood on his rear legs pushing him off his backs.

…. This can’t be happening! THIS CAN’T BE HAPPENING! The office had communication crystals that could be used to call for help but right now… right now it was impossible. Their information center has been destroyed. Maybe, maybe they managed to send a signal before the attack so… No. Bishop always says that it is best to always suspect worst case scenario to occur. He has to go back and tell him what he has just seen… But his horse won’t be able to run even a mile more! Stable… of course. Burned. He will have to move by his foot. It will make him waste a whole day, but it can’t be helped. He turned around and started matching back. There is a long road waiting.

From bushes, a small village could be seen. It was already close to dusk. I looked back upon my comrades.

- “Ay, Jason. You are going to visit this village. We need supplies…”

- “Can’t we just move as a group there? We could use some…”

- “Jason. Look at yourself and Ay. What do you see?”

- “Some crazy woman and decent, splendid civilian…” Ay just yelled half annoyed half amused hearing him talking “…Why?”

- “I see two normal people. And now look at Morgana – the bloody half demon, look at me – I am pretty sure that I am already a monster from fairy tales to scare kids..” I pointed on my hair and eyes “… Look at twins are Pyrox. Jason – only you two won’t drag too much attention. We need some food and basic equipment. You will buy it, stay for a hour or so in local inn, get a beer or two, talk with people about completely normal stuff – if roads are free from bandits, how much hiring cart cost… and then you would leave it from the other side, cuz that would be weird if you would leave the village from same direction you entered it, and get back to us. In that time we would set some basic camp and… I will start doing… something. And this is yet another reason why you don’t want to stay too long there. Get it?”

- “Ha! I presume that Jason doesn’t have any coin to spare…” Ay said casually “.. Ya think that I sleep on gold? Wait, actually… but I can’t carry all my fortune on the missions! And I still have smuggler to pay and…”

I casually drop a small bag with 50 silver coin in her direction. She caught it midair

- “Should be more than enough. But, Jason – look at me. Don’t get yourself drunk just yet…”

- “Easy kid. I waited six years, I can wait couple days more.”

- “… As you were captured… didn’t they take everything you got?” Ay raised her brow

- “There are places they didn’t search.” I smiled. It was supposed to be joke for them. The truth is that they couldn’t take my ring nor pendant. Each time they would take it off my finger it would appear on another. Soul bind, bitches. Well, they called it cursed

- “Suuure. Well, if we have a coin, then we can as well keep moving, come on Jas, we have a date!” Ay said grabbing man’s arm and leading him toward the village

- “Ok. I can I ask you to set the camp?”

- “And what will you do?” Morgi, Morgi, Morgi…. Are you that afraid that I am about to order you around while doing nothing?

- “I am going to do some magic, but I need ingredients. Mostly bones. So I am about to catch some animals, tear them apart, cook their meat for dinner and use what is left to make totems. Something more you want to know? Wanna change our tasks?”

- “I don’t mind getting dirty, if this is what you want to ask…”

- “But can you hunt something? With your magic gone, that is.”

She showed me her angry glare

- “I assure you, as soon as I would have my powers back you will be the first one I would love to inform.”

I walked by her and I patted gently her head

- “I would really love hearing about that! It would mean that you are no longer a burden! Now be a good girl, and do your part of job, you lil’ leech.”

She punched me in the thigh, but her blow was lacking any strength.

Door to inn was opened and two travelers stepped inside. Man around his forties with few days old beard. Looking bit eccentric, yet elegant. Maybe some lesser noble? He was leading quite beautiful woman… with quite a bosom… and that woman was not afraid letting everyone know that she was quite proud of her… assets, for her décolletage was at least… daring.

They were carrying small bags filled with basic equipment and food, and guessing by how many of those they were carrying they either have mercenaries waiting for them outside of village or are going on quite a journey.

- “Good sir and madam, how can I serve you?” inn keeper noticed an opportunity to earn something extra

- “Good day to you too, good man, some warm meal that you have in pot would nice, also glass of whiskey for me, and whatever my lady would desire.” Photomancer answered with polite, yet noble-like manner

- “Ah, that so sweet of you!” Ay purred hugging him bit tighter “… Glass of red wine is all I need today!”

- “Will be served in a blink, dear sir, madam. Please, take a sit!” He showed the way to the table deeper in the inn, location that was bit better separated from rest of the room

- “If that’s the only table left? Pardon us our greed, but we would love to hear some of the bard’s songs together with rest of people.” Jason said while tossing a coin to the musician in bright cloths

- “As you wish, dear sir, as you wish…”

Innkeeper helped both of his guests sit by the table by pulling the chairs with courtesy as they were taking their sits. As they were left for a moment alone Ay whispered to her partner in crime

- “Don’t forget what Zari told you. Careful with that whiskey.”

- “I am not going to fall after one glass, Ay.”

- “I am just wondering if you are ready to stop after just one glass, that’s it. You know what? I even decided to flash my tits around to keep you distracted from alcohol, yet you are still gazing over the bar every ten seconds.”

- “Trust me, your lovely bosom is the only reason why I am not looking there all the time. You can consider yourself quite successful.”

Assassin chuckled lightly

- “Your sweet words will bring you nowhere. One glass. I am watching you.”

Usually the guests would be served by one of two waitress, but as today somebody that gave silver coin to bard came… there is no way owner of this place would let those two incompetent wenches to deal with them.

- “Actually, we are moving south… is there something we have to know? Bandits? Toll collectors? Roads are good?”

- “Yes, milord, roads are great, and we consider toll collectors and bandits as one…”

As Jason was talking with innkeeper, Ay causally took a glance around. With amusement she noticed that she caused quite a commotion in the inn. Villagers were gazing on her, averting their eyes each time she would look in their direction, woman gathered together gossiping, while pointing at her.

They were all so dirty. Savage. Annoying. In her job she had to use her assets quite a lot. To seduce her target, to buy information. To distract her target. From all kinds of men and women, those who were drooling on mere sight of her she hated the most. To become what she is now she didn’t only have to master all kind of weapon usage, seduction techniques. She studied more subjects then many scientist. She was required to know everything about everything. You wanted to talk with her about physic? Philosophy? Art? She even know what improvements were recently added to the ships by pirates on the north, making them almost twice faster while traveling with the wind… But no. 90% of her missions required her to be half-naked. It was such a …waste!

Her thoughts were stopped by sight of innkeeper pouring another dose of whiskey to Jason glass. At first, she allowed herself to kick her partner under the table, then she said sweetly to the owner of the inn

- “Good sir, please, slow down with those drinks! There is long journey ahead of us and my sunshine needs to be in best conditions possible!”

- “Milady! Just look at your companion! I am sure that such a man can handle a whole barrel without noticing he drank anything at all!”

- “But it won’t make him smell any better, and I will be the one that will have to bear the odor! Honey, few more minutes and we will have to leave.”

- “Oh, but please! Be my guests! We have rooms upstairs!” innkeeper did all he could to keep those coin-spending-machines as long as possible

- “Pardon us, it was very pleasant, but indeed. We are in hurry… yet that whiskey is truly amazing. Good man, would you be so kind and gave us two… no, three bottles? It would improve our moods on journey ahead…” Jason paid twice as much as he was supposed to.

Innkeeper, for such wonderful evening, not only gave them one more bottle but walked them all the way to the edge of the village, humbly asking them to visit him as they wound be heading back.

- “Nice man. I almost feel bad that he has to die.” Jason sighed truly depressed

- “The war of mighty requires blood of innocent. It always works this way. Wait till Neira and Holies would start attacking each other. Dozens of such villages would be burned.”

- “… Still, I could ask him where he got that whiskey from…”

- “He would never tell you. He earns by buying cheaper and selling with profit. In the moment he would let his suppliers be known he could lose lots of coins.”

- “… in that case I am not sorry at all about his death.”

They approached small camp were their allies were resting. Well, most of them. In the middle of the camp a totem made of bones tied with tendons was raised. In front of it Zariel was sitting in lotus position. He was wearing only his pants revealing most of his skin with weird curved marks painted with blood. Between him and totem a small fireplace was raised on which he was burning some herbs. The smoke was covering both him and totem. Druid’s eyes were rolled back in his skull.

- “Did he … drug himself?”

- “It is common practice. It helps to empower connection with the spirits. They call it dining with gods…” Morgana said

White haired man suddenly raised his hands in worshipping manner toward the totem as he started singing

- “May the spirits, may the spirits answer our humble call,

Oh sleeping one, I beg thee now, don’t make us hunger!,

May the spirits, may the spirits answer our humble call,

Oh may thee don’t make us wait longer for the answer!,

May the spirits, may the spirits answer our humble call,

We beg thee now, poison this land with our anger!,

May the spirits, may the spirits answer our humble call,

As thee shall come, the sky would bleed with mightiest thunder!”

He was slowly raising from his sitting position. One of his legs was kicking the ground in the rhythm of song only he could hear.

- “Totem, song of summoning followed by ritual dance? My, my. That kid isn’t as useless as I thought. Taking in consideration his age… that’s quite impressing.” Morgana for the first time ever acknowledged Zari as something more than just a source of irritation.

Smoke was no longer coming from the fire in the middle of the totem. Instead, it was coming from Zari’s body each time he made a move. He was dancing around the totem with his eyes rolled back to his socket. Slowly, smoke was changing color, from grey into jet black. It was flying over the totem where it started getting denser and more focused slowly forming a shape of wolf’s head.

- “Who is the one that dared to disturb my slumber in this country that no longer worship mother earth! If you came to bargain for blessing for those people, then you shall face my anger!”

- “Oh, mighty thy, oh mighty thy,

It’s not the reason we have call you,

We are here, oh we are here,

To beg you for…”

- “Stop those gibberish! It makes my head split!” the creature exhaled part of smoke back on magician. It made him snap back to reality. Effect of drug was instantly gone.

- “Oh spirits of the forest, you forgotten by the people of this land, we came to offer you revenge you yearn for. I offer thee my magic, my power and spell…”

- “Don’t you dare lying to me, silly mortal. You have your own grudge against those people, otherwise you wouldn’t bother waking me up. But I hunger for blood of those who forsaken me and my brothers… If their agony is what you desire… I shall aid you, mortal. Only blood can repay this indignity! The forest shall comply to your desires…”

The phantom of wolf’s head made of darkest smoke and miasma show tarrying grin, that would made bravest shiver.