We were all sitting back at our table at the Inn in a somber mood. "We need to remove the camp," Gro spoke up to break the silence. Everyone nodded in agreement, "I will 'elp ya, love. I can swing a mean hammer when needed," Fenta kissed Gro on the head before she sat down. Gro smiled at her and nodded taking her hand in his. "I am a good shot with my bow. If we can sneak up i might can take out a couple of them before they even know happened," I spoke but not really looking at anyone in particular. "Cassa like sneaking. I can kill when they sleep." She beamed at her comment and i patted her head in approval. I honestly wish she wouldnt fight at all but i knew she was very strong willed and i did not want to fight her on anything, at least anything the felt this strongly about.
I think i rely to much on my bow. I need to work on my spells now. So far i have, Basic Healing, Raise The Dead, Spectral Light, Absorb Knowledge and Basic Fire. "I think i have a strategy for this. I need all your thoughts on it." Every one nodded then listented to what i had to say. Depending on the time we get there to the camp, night time means i me and Cassa would sneak through and dispatch the evil men. Daylight would mean a few snipes and then Gro and Fenta would run through smashing and slashing the ones that i missed. "Aye, lad. Tiss' a good plan for either times, but what if they get there magics a goin'?" Alzi spoke up to offer a solution, "I can help with that, Master Ered." He had his bag with him and a few more spell tombs inside it. He took out one of the books and pushed it over to me before he took a seat between Fenta and Cassa.
I looked at the book and as when i touched it, it glowed the same cloudy white color as the Spectral Light tomb. "Summon Elemental?" i looked at him confused and he smiled at me from under his wide hat. "It works in harmony with your elemental spells. You will need a crystal of the same type of element to control the golem that is created or it runs on its own." I thanked him for the book and opened its cover and the pages started glowing. Everyone covered their eyes as i placed my hand on the pages and the book disappeared in a blinding flash.
As i slowly understood the mechanics of the spell I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes. Brinda saw the blinding light and rushed over, "Every thing ok 'ere?" I didnt open my eyes and just said one word and she left for the back room. When she came back i had my fists burried in my eyes from the pain in my head. "Damn i hate this. So many spells in a short time." Brinda set the pitcher down and a cup in front of him and poured it full. he gave a curt little bow then left. Cassa to my hand and placed the cup in my grasp and i drank it all down in a few gulps. "I will be fine in a few minutes." I could feel Cassa lean over in my lap and nuzzled my stomach. After a few moments of listening to the noises of the Inn and going though the mechanics of each spell i had 'learned' and the ale having an effect as well, my headache started to ease up and looked at everyone around the table.
"I need some practice summoning before we move for the camp. I can create a flame elemental for a distraction if magic becomes involved." Every one nodded to me in agreement. "We investigated the crypt on impulse and ran through it. You could have been killed, Ered. Then we encountered those men a while ago and Cassa could have died. We need to write a letter to our families or leave them something from us to bury if it comes to that." Gro had all eyes on him after he spoke and he had to shift in his at the uncomfortable feeling he got. But, the fact was, he was not wrong by any means. "After we all make it back from this, we will visit our families together." Gro laughed a little at my statement and i could feel Cassa nodding against my stomach.
We all decided the men had to dealt with as soon as possible so we figured on training or different skills for one week before the adventure. Fenta had really impressed us all with her hammer skills and she blocked Gro's sword attacks at every turn. They were dripping with sweat after there sparing sessions and i have to say that i have seen two people so in tune with each other. They matched each other so perfectly that it was almost magical to watch them. I had trained both my summon spell and raise dead spell.
Staying at the Inn was actually good for my raise the dead spell because i asked them to save all the bones from the small animals they killed and served us. I could give the bones an 'unlife' for only a few minutes before they crumbled to dust. Alzi explained that was because of my low magical abilities and the more i practiced the stronger i would be. I did manage to summon a fire elemental for almost a minute and half by the weeks end.
Cassa also got better at her sneaking and i taught her about where to strike on a body that would get the most instant results from instant death to a slow death also major and minor injuries. I wished i could teach her the anatomy book that i learned but i knew she understood when i started noticing some of the towns folks that came to the Inn with various cuts about there necks and wrists, all wounds were very slight and hardly noticeable. I almost didn't see them until she said something. She had been sneaking around the town at night and 'killing' people while they slept as she put it. I was already a great shot with my bow but i did practice with it as well so i could use it at any angle or in any position i could think of. Better safer then dead, right?