The two make their way to Warden Kashin's estate and once they enter they are surrounded by goblins with crossbows. The two put their hands up and were brought inside to the library where Kashin was waiting. "Take a seat," he orders. They sit and Kashin calls for Charlotte. A second later she appears with a crystal ball and the images play. "You can see the smoke from here. Care to explain? Because we just recently had a fire in Krayt."
Elena and Thantor explain.
"And you didn't think to leave them alive?" Kashin questions.
"They were too dangerous, they weren't going to stop killing," Thantor explains.
Kashin sighs.
"You know something, don't you?" Elena questions.
"Indeed, I just recently learned that the Orc Counsel has begun making moves against the Dark Lady. I didn't want to but I had my position to think about, they would've been invaluable," Kashin explains.
"You bastard!" Elena screams.
"I had no knowledge of them dissecting. You honestly think I would allowed such a thing in the city of pleasure?"
Elena was silent.
"This has to be resolved quickly. The Majin Hai are out and about, they might report this to the Dark Lady considering what happened in Krayt. There was also an attack on the Dark Lady's orc tribute not too far from Krayt, no survivors and the tribute was stolen." Thantor's eyes widen surprise. The warden starts pacing back and forward around the library room. "I got it, alchemy involves powerful liquids some even unstable so they died in a freak accident, problem solved. The Majin Hai won't question it. However, Charlotte might not have been the only one watching. So Elena, for now you are forbidden to leave the estate until my say so."
"What?!"
"As for you Thantor you will depart Dabauchea at sunrise. I would ask you leave right now but it would only make you look suspicious."
"Oh come on, Master, he saved my life!" Elena was shocked that she was actually sticking up for him.
"It's for your own good, both of you, technically I don't know what occurred. I could report you to the Dark Lady and you Thantor you could've murdered them in cold blood and burn the place down."
Thantor was angry.
"Because of your record I will take your side but you must leave, I don't know what drastic measures the Majin Hai or officials of this city will take."
"Very well I shall leave in the morning," Thantor says grimly.
"Good, now that that's settled I will leave for a bit to survey the damage. Good night."
"Wait, Master!" He stops. "I need to ask you something, just the two of us."
"Very well, the rest of you out."
Once they were alone Elena speaks. "Necromancy, I've fought the undead before but can it be used to bring people back from the dead?"
Warden Kashin shakes his head, "I'm afraid it's not possible, the dead cannot come back, you can invoke spirits to talk to, you can use corpses as minions but you cannot bring the dead back into the world of the living. The dead are dead and the living are living."
"I see," Elena says grimly. So Floras was right. "I'm not sure I can continue learning the dark arts."
"Is this about Thantor?"
"No this has nothing to do with him. This is my personal feelings. Black magic involves blood rituals and I almost became one."
"Are you going to give up on killing the Dark Lady?"
"No I'll find a way."
"You do realize that you're no match, right? Even if you train through pure strength she has magic on her side."
Elena was silent.
"Elena, I'll ask you again, stay and be apart of my harem. Put all this talk of slaying the Dark Lady behind you. You'll live in pleasure every day. Here you'll be safe."
"I wasn't meant for harem life. And my people weren't meant to be subjugated."
"At least they'll still be alive."
"Not for long, don't you understand that?"
"Queen Shantora pays tribute, the Dark Lady is not interested in ruling a world full of dead people. Where's the fun in that?"
"Of course she's not interested in that, she interested in a world full of dead elves!"
Silence fell. "Elena your options are limited so choose wisely. And don't think it would be better to learn white magic..."
"I already know," she interrupts. "Learning white magic means I'll be invoking the power of the same Entity. I'll take leave now."
****
Elena was lying on the bed, but she couldn't sleep. "How can I slay the Dark Lady?" She murmurs. She tosses and turns.
She gets up and puts some clothes on and once she's done she sneaks out of the estate.
"I did the right thing," she tells herself. When sunrise came she would depart Dabauchea as well but where? There was no way she could get to her former kingdom Eftoria right now for it was crawling with Majin Hai, all routes were heavily guarded because of the Dark Lady's birthday and all the important guests that were on the way.
She only had two choices, go alone and get as close as possible or travel together
with Thantor. She shuttered at the latter. Going with him meant pestering her for sex. But if she decided to go with him she could kill him but he said he would help her but did she really need his help? Unfortunately yes for he did save her life three times. Two against one was good odds.
She enters a tavern and orders a some elven wine. She sighs and when the drink arrives she gulps in down and orders another. She orders another one but a silver coin is tossed on the table. "That one's on me." She looks to see a man wrapped in bandages. "Hello."
"You're from Krayt?"
"Yes."
"What exactly happened there?"
"Naga, we got out as fast we could but as you can see many of us didn't get out unscathed."
"So why are you treating a total stranger to a drink? Oh wait never mind."
"It's not what you think, my name is Malek and I am looking to hire warriors."
"What makes you think I'm a warrior?"
"You have a sword."
"That's not enough."
"You're right, but I am in desperate need. Join me at my table?"
Elena nods and joins him at the table with three others, all were wrapped in bandages like him.
"This is Galvin, Shanks and Ko." All three men nod.
"I'm Jewels."
"Jewels? The one from the north?" Galvin questions.
"The same."
"Why are you here in this place?" Shanks questions. "If you don't mind me asking."
"Rumors of a relative living here but it is false," she lies.
"I see, I wouldn't want anyone I know living here either."
"But unfortunately we do," Ko says grimly.
"It's only temporarily," Malek assures. "Now on to business. Ms. Jewels, a few days ago some of our people including my sister went to Mount Dwarfense."
"Dwarfense, that's the birthplace of the Dwarfs."
"Yes but as you know, something drove them all out. Legends say that many dwarfs hid their treasures in the mountain, these treasures are not only gold, silver and other precious stones but scrolls of lost history and weapons laced with special abilities to kill the Dark Entity."
Elena eyes widen. "Weapons laced with special abilities to kill the Dark Entity? The mountain was volcanic right?"
"Yes but it's been inactive since the ending of the first age. The dwarfs had secret tunnels in the mountain and since it was a volcano it made sense to hide their treasures there because nobody in their right mind would go to an active volcano. We had pure intentions, we would have used the treasure to rebuild our town but none of them have returned."
"So I'm guessing the SOTD wouldn't help you."
"They forbid anyone from going to the mountain. We plan to let dwarfs know what we've done but if we do it now it would cause an uproar. They would see us only as brigands and wouldn't hesitate to cross into SOTD territory which would start another war."
"If it's forbidden then how did your people get to Mount Dwarfense?"
"There's a secret road that will take us there. I'm prepared to pay you a diamond and you can have whatever share of the treasure you want. So will you help us Ms. Jewels? Will you accept my proposal?"
"Yes I accept."
The men breath a sigh of relief. "Thank you Ms. Jewels."
"You said you needed warriors, right?"
"Yes."
"Well I know of one who can help, he's an orc but I own him a favor and it would help if you had an SOTD who knows the area just in case something should go wrong."
"That's great, let us retire and meet back here at sunrise, is ten a good time?"
"Ten would be fine."
"Good night Ms. Jewels."
"Good night," the other three say in unison.
****
Felicia was on the castle wall looking down at the dark forest with a grim look on her face. "I knew I would find you here."
She looks to see the soldier in training Arthur approaching. "Oh hey," She says grimly. "I assume you already know who we're up against?"
"Tomorrow you fight the YeΓ€gers."
"Yeah they're stronger than us, I feel that tomorrow is my last day in this life."
"I...I don't believe that, you'll come back, you have to! Without you I... I won't have anyone to talk to."
"There will be other people."
"They won't be you!"
Felicia blushes but looks away.
"Felicia I..."
"Don't!"
"Why not?"
"Because if you do it would be contradicting want you said."
"How's confessing contradicting myself?"
"Because you wait till now to confess."
"Should it not give you more determination to survive?" Felicia was silent and tears start streaming down. "I know everyone thinks you're weird but I like you just the way you are, a woman who fell here from another world. How I wish I could visit your world. No I want to, I want to go to your world with you." She turns to him but is shocked to see how close he was to her. "I'm sorry I'll leave."