Across the continent and near the harbor Ed and his crew had found an abandoned house to hole up. The town had erupted into a panic at the mention of a dragon.
The benefit to this was that no ships had left the harbor. This also meant that they couldn't go out and search either. They all stood out among the regular city residents. And because they stood out everyone looked at them cautiously. If word of their movements got back to The Dirge and their crewmates they could attack first.
Morgan smiled and rested comfortably on a pile of cushions they had found in a room. For'Ten and Loran were planning their next moves while Ostrand and Ed were trying to be civil to each other.
It wasn't that Ostrand had a problem with Ed, it was that he was very concerned with what he was caught up in. To Ostrand this human appeared to be the most normal person in the ragtag group of people he had found. If he knew the true story of this group he would have been the most cautious of Ed.
Ed sighed as he looked out a window as people nervously moved from building to building while watching the sky. They were all certain another attack was going to come from the sky. "Man, when we go someplace we really know how to make an entrance," Ed mused to himself.
Ostrand rubbed his hands together and tried to find a comfortable way to sit. HIding was making him nuts. His race tended to rush into battle, badgers were not known as ambush killers, but fierce and impatient warriors.
"We should leave under the cover of darkness," Ostrand said to Ed but looked at Morgan. "Let's send the batty elf woman out as a distraction. She can find another house full of rare demi-humans to destroy the world with."
Loran ignored him but held up her fingers in an obscene gesture. For'Ten chuckled and looked around the room. "Leaving at night may be our only option. Ed, have the dots moved?"
Ed shook his head. "Not as of this morning. It's hard to pinpoint exactly where they are because they are all clumped together."
"You don't think they know you can do that do you?" Loran said while studying a city map.
Ed tried to remember if he had told them anything about that power. He didn't recall doing that but he couldn't be certain. He shrugged as he looked out the window as he replied, "I don't think they do. If we could move I could try and find them. That skeletal kid they have is a real danger."
For'Ten looked around the room, "The pirate is a real danger too. He knows how to fight. And he knows how to get away."
Morgan gave a flourish with his hand. "Well, he is merfolk." The way he said it gave the impression to everyone else that this should have been enough answer.
Ostrand spoke up first, "Morgan old buddy. Until yesterday your race was considered a myth. Merfolk are the same way."
"Really?" Morgan was surprised that he was a myth. "I don't feel like a myth. I guess my title as emperor is no longer valid then."
"You need a group of people to be an emperor," Ostrand stared at a wall trying to imagine what his world was like back then. "So what about the merfolk then?"
Morgan started telling the story of how the fish-based demi-humans used to live in the oceans and rivers everywhere. He told how they had watched after the waters and passages and helped ferry humans and demi's all around the world. At one point they had existed in every body of water.
"I guess they live only on the other side of the world. In what is leftover of the continent there." Morgan remembered his battle and the sheer destruction he had released. He wasn't nearly as powerful now as he was then. He seriously wondered if he could even match a fraction of his previous magnificent abilities.
"Isn't that part of the world just barren anyway?" Ed asked curiously. They didn't teach much of geography in the limited education he got in Deavers.
"It used to be a lush verdant continent free of humans or demi-humans. Something happened there a very long time ago and most of the land was destroyed. Now it is sporadic islands and a few buildings from the few brave souls that have left here to call it home. If the merfolk do still exist it has to be in that side of the world." Morgan closed his eyes and remembered his battle. He hadn't talked about that time in his life before. He was instantly brought back to the battle and the sheer destructive power he had wielded.
For'Ten interrupted the silence with a cough. "Well here is my suggestion. We need to move before he all grow moss just sitting here. I think at night we should travel out in pairs and head north of the river. If my guess is right they will be heading north."
"Why north?" Ostrand gave the knight a pensive look.
"Let's think it out. Where are the last of the souls? Far north right?" He looked at Ed who just nodded. "If my instincts for criminals are right they have something they have been commanded or paid to do up north. Besides they have been traveling north. And if they think that the Demi-Humans are after them they will think they are safe on the outskirts of the human lands."
Ed couldn't argue with the logic. The souls they needed were in the far north anyway. Morgan shifted and looked around the room. "A suggestion then," He sat upright and smiled. His teeth almost glowed in the dark. "Send me during the night and I will fly north. Give me the map that Loran has and I will track them down."
A thoughtful quiet sank across the room as they each thought about the suggestion. "Why not me and Ostrand as well?" Loran was curious why he had to be alone.
"I can't fly as fast with passengers," Morgan explained.
"Now look here you pointy-eared fruitbat. You may want to leave the safety of hard soil but keep me out of your daft plans." Ostrand protested furiously as he remembered his last traumatic experience.
Morgan laughed at the idea of it. "It might be worth considering."
Ed shrugged. "Do what you are comfortable with. I think you could probably handle anything you needed without help but having another set of eyes might be a good backup. Especially if Loran can forest walk her way north past the humans. She should pass as being human enough to not get harassed. You kind of stand out."
They all nodded at the thought of Morgan walking into a village with his imposing aura and white and gold cloak. He would look like a noble lost in the village and attract the attention of unsavory characters.
The rest of the afternoon was spent planning. Loran and Morgan were going to escape north of town and take off for the far north. Ed and For'Ten agreed to head north on foot along the coast and try to keep a watch for the pirates. Ostrand was going to leave the house last and walk the ports before heading north. They set up a point to meet before they crossed the border and the date to be there.
Badgers aren't known for being the fastest creatures but over a short distance, they can be lethal. Ostrand was no stranger to violence either, so if he needed to he could defend himself. Rumors about his race were still all over, so most people would avoid him. At least that was the hope of the rest of the group.
The real problem for them was that they weren't fully sure what the pirates were doing. Ed had stressed that they didn't need to find them. He had what he needed to complete the job. For'Ten had pushed that rats will cause problems if you leave them alone. Vermin always needs to be dealt with.
If they had been able to scout out the surrounding town they would have known that the important parts of their prey had already flown the coup. The dirge took off shortly after the fight and swam along the coast to the next nearest cape. The ship knew to wait for a week before taking off. Their captain was keenly aware that the ship was at a disadvantage if they were attacked from the air. He had magic users and cannons. The threat of attack from above and the menacing nature of a dragon would cause problems with people's ability to fight back rationally.
His crew normally laughed in the face of death. Death from above was something altogether new.
Hector had ushered Joust and the skeletal Ed back onto the boat and pulled anchor. They were letting it slowly drift out to sea in the hopes that the small changes would go unnoticed. So far they were right, but only because you couldn't see the harbor well from the house they were squatting in.
It was a waiting game. The dirge took a full day's swim before he stopped and made his way back onto land. When he dried off he started walking north to a well-known cove just a few miles inland. A cave set against a wall that was stocked with supplies. He could hide out and wait for them to send a boat to pick him up before they headed north. The only problem was he was being waited for.
He couldn't have been aware of this. The occupant of the cave was someone he would have never guessed to be waiting for him. The last time he had seen the fat man he was running for his life while eating grilled god.
This time the fat man was wearing the black and gold uniform of the church. It was the outfit preferred by the inquisitor branch. They had been mostly disbanded after the incident five years previous. But the branch hadn't really died out, they had just moved south. And when Felgar wandered into their hiding town they had welcomed him back fervently. Tales of his power were still legend in some circles.
The side benefit was that they had a vast array of relics. He had taken days to pray with them and speak to the gods. The true believers praised his pious nature. If they had known he was leaching their power they would have been more careful.
Fortune was on his side this time. And he no longer feared the pirate captain now. He was not someone who kowtowed to him any longer. That didn't mean he didn't see the value in using the brigand. Quite the opposite, people of his position needed men like him. And now they needed him more than ever.
When The Dirge walked into his cave he was ushered in to a seat by two men in black and red robes. They stood at each side and politely ushered him to a chair.
"So very nice to see you again. There has been a reversal of fortunes I am afraid." Felgar was holding a relic in his hands. It was a sword said to have belonged to one of the divines. He turned it over in his hands and looked at the pirate. "Lovely isn't it? This sword was used by the one who would later become the head of all divines."
"I bet it would sell for a pretty penny." The Dirge reacted to the events like he always did, with an expression of sheer boredom. He leaned back and crossed his legs and put on a face of disinterested disgust. Inside he was patiently curious. He had no doubt he could fight his way out with only moderate injuries if needed.
"It couldn't be sold. Its power comes from belief. In the right hands, it has all the powers of the gods. We have a mutual problem. I already know about your issue in the city. I know about the dragon. He is a major problem for this whole planet. I do wonder what a dragon corpse would sell for. Or even a whole dragon slave."
The Dirge was already thinking about this. The shackles needed to bind the man would cost almost as much as he could sell him for. You need a very special buyer.
"I am sure you are right. But what about it? You seem to have all the power you need now." The Dirge forced a yawn.
"Don't be hasty, you and I need to discuss business. I have a proposition for you, to handle certain things that I can't do that I am sure you would be willing to do for the betterment of all man and beast kind. And above that, you will be rewarded handsomely." Felgar smiled in a way that showed off all of his dingy teeth.
"Well, I don't really have an option, do I? Go ahead and talk man. And maybe we can come to an agreement." The Dirge leaned back, curious to see what he was going to be offered.