[Magus]

Aerie squinted into the noon sun as she rose to her feet. She looked around, confused. They were back…but it was daytime. She turned around. The Hill of Lost Souls rose ahead, the vegetation wilted and rotted, the life utterly drained from the once green shoots. There was no sign of the graveyard. With the barrier closed and the artifact gone, the graveyard had disappeared once more. This time…hopefully for good.

“May your tormented souls now find peace,” Aerie whispered. She looked down at the ebon orb in her hand. It pulsated weakly as she gazed at it, as if saying a feeble goodbye to its millennia-long resting place. It still took an effort to hold it, though it was much lighter than before.

She heard the clink of metal, and turned to see a suit of plate armor clatter to the ground. Void floated above it, his eyes narrowed at her.

-What exactly do you think you were doing? Trying to be a hero? Or just a fool? You don’t even understand what just happened, do you?-

Aerie met his gaze casually. “It worked, didn’t it?” She glanced at the orb once more before tucking it in her bag of holding.

-Idiot elf! You dabble with forces you don’t understand, staking all on some flighty conjecture. Pfft…I’ve met goblins with more sense than you.-

“If you don’t like it, then why don’t you go find some friends of yours and chat to your nonexistent heart’s content about us insufferable mortals? I will find Magus no matter what it takes, and I can’t have some selfish, half-hearted summons hanging on my coattails.”

Void’s eyes darkened. -See here, fool. If it weren’t for me, you’d be dead several times over. Know this: without me you don’t have a chance of finding him. I am not your servant, and you’d best remember that. Listen to yourself. Magus would be ashamed. And he would be appalled by such reckless behavior from his very wife.-

Silence prevailed as they stood there, their eyes refusing to meet. Finally Aerie shook her head and started walking. They didn’t have time for this. They needed to get back to town. Now that they had the orb, she needed to divine where they had to go next. She would need materials for the ritual, and she had spent the last of her money on travel provisions. She would have to get a job to cover the cost, which wouldn’t be cheap. At this rate…

She shook her head, banishing the thought. Now wasn’t the time to think negatively. Just take it one step at a time. Once she earned a few coins, at least she could sleep in a nice warm bed for once…

Aerie quickened her pace, Void trailing silently behind.

* * * * *

The crescent moon waned in the sky when the two reached the outskirts of Pedsgin. Pedsgin was a small town nestled between the Hill of Lost Souls and the Forest of Wyrms, a bastion of civilization of sorts in the midst of the untamed northeast of the Western Heartlands. The nearest town, Boltswick, was a couple days’ travel to the north, a medium-sized port town sitting on the Winding Water River. The closest towns beyond that were Hill’s Edge across the River Reaching to the southeast, and Soubar on the other side of the Forest of Wyrms to the west. All in all, the towns of Boltswick and Pedsgin had to fend for themselves for the most part, and regular trade between the two sister towns provided for a steady existence, if not prosperity. The local militia kept the peace when things got out of hand, and drove away the occasional monsters that wandered out of the Forest of Wyrms or the Trielta Hills to the southwest, or the undead that sometimes ambled in from the east. Lately though, the monsters had become more troublesome, often ambushing travelers between the two towns. The militia patrolled the road when it could, but the way was still dangerous, and it was unwise to venture out without some sort of armed escort.

With the recent trouble, security was tighter than usual at the modest town gates, and the guards came to attention at Aerie’s approach.

“Hold! Who are you, and what is your business in Pedsgin?” shouted a young man in splint mail, walking forward.

Aerie drew closer. “My name is Aerie. I have traveled the night and wish only to rest my weary body and tired mind. You wouldn’t refuse a lady her rest, would you?” she asked, smiling prettily.

The young man blushed. “N-no, not at all. Have a good stay in Pedsgin. Y-you know, if you need directions…”

But Aerie had already walked off. The guard sighed wistfully as he watched her retreating back.

“Geldyn! Stop drooling and get back to your post!” yelled an older man, his face pitted and scarred from a lifetime of militia service.

“Yes sir!” He glanced one last time at the receding beauty before returning to his vigil. He didn’t see the shadow that flitted past them, following the young lady.

* * * * *

Aerie stepped through the door of the Traveler’s Haven. As the name suggested, the place was clean and tidy, deserted at this time of hour except for the grizzled old lady behind the bar, cleaning an ale mug.

“Excuse me. Ma’am?”

The stout old lady looked up. “Yes, what is it?” Her tone was flat, as if she didn’t really care whether this young wisp of a girl was a potential customer or not.

“I was wondering if you have any rooms available. I’m afraid I don’t have any money, but I have skills that might be useful to you.”

“Oh?” Raising her thick eyebrows, the lady looked her over. “I suppose you would make a comely wench. I am a bit low on hired help.”

Aerie tried to disguise her disgust. “I’m afraid you misunderstand me. I’m a cleric, and a fair hand with wizard’s magic.” She held out her hand.

“Lumina.”

A glowing ball of multicolored light appeared in her hand. She covered it with her other hand, and when she lifted it again, the light was gone.

“Hmph. You should have just said you were a trickster in the first place. Very well, you may stay here. In exchange, you will do an act when the bar opens in the evening, and again an hour before closing. Agreed?”

Aerie nodded. “Agreed.” The lady gave her the keys to her room, and Aerie climbed the stairs for a well-earned rest.

The nerve of that hag…calling me a trickster.

-You were lucky she did. She would have chased you out if she believed you were a wizard.- Void commented off-handedly.

“Hmph.” She wanted to scold him for probing others’ minds again, but she was just too tired. She just wanted to rest right now.

Could you go haunt someone else? I really need to sleep.

Void was readying a retort when he suddenly thought better of it. If that’s what she really wanted…

It seemed he might find some amusement this night after all.