"It's alright we'll find out later lets move on to the next building." Cyna says stowing away the potions as well.
This ... vision unnerved Harakhty. Play with them again? "Invitations from specters are likely to be of the dangerous sort. What do you know of them?" Hardly expecting a response, Harakhty waited but a brief time before continuing back to Hasina.
"Water and bread, Hassy. Do you plan on leaving again soon? You can be reasonably safe here. The trip bake to the Jadehand may not be." The surrogate son keeps Hasina company, enjoying the time with her, but the visions of the missing pair gnawing at the back of his head. This was no hoax. Convinced the situation is real now, he seeks out the man by whose establishment it happened.
Back at Hadrinn's, he sees no sign of them, yet some of the others had returned. Succulent aromas wafted to his nostrils, and his stomach rumbled as while he'd been serving Hasina, he'd taken nothing for himself. Seeing Corda though, his mission was postponed; she should know my suspicions.
He nodded to the others and crouched down next to her, his eyes on her food. "Have you seen Skaar lately?"
"Not in the past couple of hours, he's been out with some of the others getting supplies. Why?" A slight look of concern on her face.
Drago couldn't help himself, "Have either of you thought about what we're going to say to Corda?" He blurted before he could stop it.
"I'll be here a few days yet, Harakhty," Hasina assuages the young vanara. "It has been many years since we have had time to talk. It would be unkind to leave so soon."
"I'm sure Ylrhea will take care of it," Sienna says. "She's...oh, dear gods, someone else better tell her."
"It is fine for things not to be wrong, Alethiro," Zeph says. "So tell me about yourself."
Alethiro took a deep breath, "Well, the thing is, I first came here to kill someone. If it wasn't for Arista, I probably would have. Now, I'm working on a friendship with him, and it feels...odd. What else to you want to know?"
"Do you think it will be that bad?"
"I was interested in your family, Alethiro. If you don't mind," Zeph says. "For years, I have chronicled the lives of the people of Lansing, perhaps to keep something of lasting quality. A history of it's people. So, I'd like to know what lore you bring to our people. I know it sounds quite critical but, I assure you, it's not."
"Do you think it will be that bad?"
"Depends on what mood she's in when she gets back," Sienna sighs.
Looking at the dwarf she smiles, "By tomorrow eveningish? I don't need it till I'm getting ready, and that won't be until after Esme is up in the evening. I'm sorry it's on such short notice, I only saw Asha about my wedding gown a few minutes ago because I wanted to wait for Marie to go shopping. Everything had been so chaotic lately, I guess I left alot of details until the last minute."
She stops for a moment, thinking about the rings, "Yes, I'd love to see them."
"Depends on what mood she's in when she gets back," Sienna sighs.
"Which one?" Cyna asks as they rifle through another room.
"Which what?" Sienna says, tossing a sheet to the side.
Kierk brings out two silver rings each with a sizable rose quartz, one carved to look like a crescent moon, the other appears to be a sun. "Ah thought those shapes'd be fittin'."
"Which what?" Sienna says, tossing a sheet to the side.
"Oh. I mean depends on who's mood? Ylrhea or Corda?"
"Oh, I meant Ylrhea," Sienna says. "But I guess it could go either way. Hopefully, they're both...ummm...cheerful?"
"Oh, well, if it's family lore you want, you may want to get another cup of tea." The proceeds to go into his family's history. From his clan's migration from the Everwind Isles to Talathel, how the Order of Oaken Bow was founded, his father's initiation into the Order, his mother's disappearance, his step-mother's arrival and marriage, Aliethia death, and his leaving to hunt Drago.
"Yea... We can hope." Cyna says though her tone betrays her true thoughts.
Zeph takes Alethiro's advice and gets another cup of tea. "I see. So you have much to live up to, don't you?"
***
Drago, Cyna and Sienna turn up some old clothes, some dried meat which has kept surprisingly well and a couple of copper kettles.
Arista claps her hands and starts bouncing up and down, "Ohhhh Kierk, they're better than perfect. Oh....I'm...I'm so happy right now. What...do you think Marie?" She tries to get herself under control, but her emotions seem to be overwhelming her as she tears up a bit.
As they move to the next building the magus searches through the abandoned structure looking for more that could be of use.
As the group moves to the next houses, the sounds of wagon wheels squeaking can be heard, nearing the party. It sounds like a large vehicle.
"They're beautiful," Marie says with a touch of awe.
Arista looks up at Kierk in amazement, "However do you do it? You are truly gifted Kierk. How much do I owe you for these magnificent rings? I can go ahead and take them now right?"
"They're on th' house," Kierk says. "Since ye've done so much for us in Valwick."
He hands Arista the rings.
Arista puts her arms around Kierk and hugs him tightly, nearly choking on her emotion she looks at him, "Thank you so much....it means...so much to me."
Turning to Marie she hands her the rings, "Would you mind holding onto these for me? I would like to keep them a surprise until the ceremony. I still have to figure out what to get for him as a gift for our wedding."
She looks at Marie a bit sheepishly as they head back into the village proper, "Ummm...well I sorta already got something....but, I don't know if it could be considered a "gift for him" exactly. I got the most adorable sheer nighties from Asha a day or two ago and have them hidden in my room. I thought...well, I guess I thought I would wear them for him the night...you know after the ceremony and festivities are over? What do you think? Could that really be considered his "gift", or should I find something more suitable?"
Zeph takes Alethiro's advice and gets another cup of tea. "I see. So you have much to live up to, don't you?"
Looking down at his drink, "I suppose I do. Provided they start talking to me again."
"Do you hear that?"Sādhanā says cocking her head.
"What is that?" Drago asked while instinctively flexing his fingers. The following presence seemed to grow stronger as the Dhampir mentally prepared himself.
The simian hesitates before continuing. "I saw a vision of them - shadowy - outside this place when I was returning to my guest. A ghost of a child's voice invited me to play with them." He shook his head. "It was eerie, and when I declined, there was a scream of anguish."
Probably not the best news to hear, but she should know.
Corda stopped eating and looked the Vanara in the eyes. "What are you saying Harakhty?" The young Witch asked with grave concern in her voice.
"While I've never known a man to turn down a 'gift' like that, perhaps you should get him a little trinket. Speaking of, did he give that pendant to you?" Marie asks.
***
Ahead, the party catches sight of a wagon being pushed by a carrion golem and it is flanked by eight figures in black robes. At the head of the wagon is a wrinkled old man, a ghastly smile on his face.
"I suppose he's not going to be friendly," Sienna mutters.
Cyna ducks behind the nearest wall and whispers to Sienna and Drago.
"Get down!"
Sienna does her best to hide.
Harakhty thought a moment. "If I had to guess, I'd say that Sefirous may have his hand in this. He threatened you before, after all. But I can't say weather the visions were real or merely an illusion; that's why I wanted to see if you'd been with Skaar recently."
Looking at Clara, Sādhanā stands ready, knowing that drawing the enemy's attention would give the others an opportunity to strike.
Clara nods, hand on the hilt of her blade.
Eyes narrowing, Sādhanā studies the horrific scene approaching. With a brief focus of will, she recalls a fraction of arcane energy expended earlier.