“Nippy!” Gwalchmai said, looking up, “I’m glad to see you! This must mean that the ritual is over. Did everything come out right?”
Nippy shuffled his feet, “Seems so, yes. Loner is resting with Kramor, Georgi and Thantor are having a heart-to-heart, and Anomen seems to have free run of the keep. I never knew the old Anomen, but he seems calm enough. No more arrows in people’s backs.”
“I think he still deserves some watching, though,” Dragon Wench said, “We probably shouldn’t trust him completely, yet.”
“His ki appears to be a healthy kaleidoscope of colors these days,” Nippy said, “No one color appears to dominate. There is some turmoil, but very little. Not at all like the beast that Darkpoet had captured.”
“Well,” Gwalchmai said, rubbing his eyes, “I can’t translate this document here, the light is too bad. Some of this ancient text appears familiar - similar to ancient druidical writings. But it is clerical in nature. Maybe, Nippy, you’ll have better luck? In the meantime, I sure would like to explore these five doorways a bit more. Unfortunately, now is not the time.”
“Why not now?” asked Dragon Wench.
“Well, you’ve already been hit by one trap. I’m out of Detect Trap spells, and I’m sure you didn’t go to bed last night thinking ‘Hey, I might need nine Knock spells tomorrow!’” Gwalchmai sighed, “I never thought I’d miss Jan Janson or even Yoshimo.” He gathered a few of the journals they had found, “Besides, Jennabard’s spirit asked that we create a funeral pyre for her at the temple ruins at Ogre Falls. That should be our priority. Not to mention, our hunt for the Shadow Master.”
“I suspect that the Rai’ya mystery may hold important clues that will help us against the Shadow Master,” Dragon Wench said, “But you’re right. Jennabard should be our first priority.”
“Not everyone is needed to start a fire, are they?’ Nippy asked, “Perhaps we should go back to the keep for some rest, then decide who goes to Ogre Falls and who continues our investigation here.”
“I don’t know,” Gwalchmai thought while looking at the tapestry of the five striking young ladies (
), Jennabard’s request may require all of us being in attendance. Let’s go ask the others.”
