Sir Jeffrey Trailson, Knight of the Land, hurried to the hill where Vrika had said she would meet him. The invisibility potion had worn off only ten minutes or so after he had left the camp and he was grateful he'd been able to make it in time. But make it he had, and he clutched the two sceptres tightly as he jogged through the undergrowth.
Soon he arrived at the mound and he saw Vrika waiting for him at the top. She was wearing a broad grin at the sight of the sceptres and deftly climbed down the hill.
"You got them!" she said happily, reaching out. Jeffrey handed her the glistening silver rod that was the orcish sceptre. It was clearly made by human hands, as he had been told, and she turned it over in her grip. "Fine craftsmanship," she murmured. "Both these sceptres are amazing pieces."
"They are," Jeffrey agreed. "I am glad to have returned them. For the sake of preserving such wonderful items, as well as helping maintain the peace between our peoples."
Vrika grinned. "I do not think our peace would be so easily shattered; trade and friendship have made us grow closer. But you are right - it would not be good to test that. My tribe place a lot of value in this ceremony, it is true, and now we can celebrate its conclusion."
Jeffrey turned to the bandit camp. "It is a shame I could do nothing about the thieves."
"I will tell my Tribe Chieftain where the camp is, Jeffrey," Vrika said seriously. "He will want them captured for what they stole from us. If you let the Duchess know, then our people can capture them together."
"That sounds a good plan. I doubt they will realise the sceptres are missing just yet."
Vrika walked with him as Jeffrey moved into the trees where he had hidden Swift. His mount was waiting for him patiently. He attached the sceptre to her saddle so that it would be secure, then turned back to Vrika. She was not there.
He heard a noise to his left and gasped as he saw the orc emerging from the thick shrubbery behind him, leading a large, hulking lizard. It came up to Swift's shoulders, its green scales glinting in the bright afternoon sun, and wore a saddle on its back. Jeffrey had never seen such a creature, although he had heard about them.
"A salamander!" he said, shocked. "I did not think that I would ever see one."
Vrika grinned. "My tribe use them for transport. They make excellent mounts in the mountains, where horses struggle with their footing. I am surprised you do not know them, though? My people ride them to every ceremony."
"I am not from the city," Jeffrey said simply. "I am a Knight of the Land. I was called to help the Duchess and her people but I am not directly one of them."
Vrika's eyes widened slightly. "Then I am even more impressed, Jeffrey. You would not stand to lose if the sceptres had remained missing, and yet you still risked yourself to find them and protect people you did not know. You are truly an honourable man."
Jeffrey was embarrassed by her praise. He did not know how to take it. After a moment, the orc grinned at his silence and secured the orcish sceptre on her own mount. Then she turned back to him.
"I must leave, Jeffrey. My people need this sceptre returned."
Jeffrey nodded. "As must I. How long will it take your tribe to reach the castle?"
"A day. We will likely be there by tomorrow morning."
Jeffrey opened his eyes in surprise. "You travel quickly!"
The orc laughed and patted the salamander's back. "Our mounts are fast. Do not worry, though; I will travel slowly, to give you time to get back."
"Thank you, Vrika."
"Well, it would do no good for us to arrive and find your sceptre not yet delivered. No, I will wait."
"Then this is goodbye," Jeffrey said, bowing.