Mel, Rudolph and I arrived Termuzin within two days. I couldn't teleport because they were only one star mages, so we took the long hard way. I had taken a flask of the parasitic insects imprint on Lena's father and we camped on the outskirts of the clan waiting for it to react.
It wasn't long before some people came up to us. They were about a dozen, carrying torches and weapons.
"Who's there?" Their leader stopped about a metre from out tent and called out.
"Greetings, fellow mage," I replied casually, rising and cupping my hands to him, "we are from Clan Hakorhi. We are here to investigate the source of the plague that our clansfolk have been infected with,"
"What plague?" He asked roughly, "and who said it comes from here? On who's orders have you come?"
I calmly explained that I had the clan princess of Hakorhi's support.
"What weight does the orders of the clan princess of Hakorhi carry on Termuzin soil?" He spat, "we all know that there is no Hakorhi. It has been wiped out years and years ago! These people who claim to be Hakorhi are just riff-raff who want to use the prestigious name to submerge the other clans into slaves!"
The other warriors with him agreed heartily. I balled my hands into fists. He was really getting on my nerves.
"Now," he resumed, "except you and these boys with you want to be locked up, leave Termuzin soil this moment! Hakorhi filth!" He spat.
I never knew that Mel could get so mad. Within the time it takes to breathe the warrior who insulted us was rolling on the ground, grunting as Mel boxed his face.
"You can say all you want," Mel yelled, "but you must never ever insult my teacher!"
The other warriors jumped forward and rescued their leader from Mel's clutches. Holding an hand over his swollen face, the leader pointed at us furiously.
"Grab them! Throw them to the Profound Lion-Ant Tribe!"
Profound Lion-Ant Tribe? I caught the name just as the dozen warriors rushed forward and bundled us along.
Without much ado, we were tied hand and feet and pushed all the way to a precipice where they proceeded to roll us down into the entrance of a collosal looking cave.
I had communicated Mel and Rudolph through my imprint that they should not be afraid. This was what we had come to find.
When we had disappeared from view into the cave, I sensed the warriors fleeing. Snapping the mediocre ropes binding me with just a thought, I proceeded to untie Rudolph and Mel as well.
"What do we do now, teacher?" Mel asked.
"I think the source of the plague comes from this Profound Lion-Ant Tribe. Depending on their size and power, we will kill a few to use as the antidote," even as I spoke, we heard a low growl from deep witin the cave.
"This human thinks of killing my honorable Tribe members to make an antidote? Haha hahahaha!!"
Though I could not feel it, I knew waves of shock ran though my disciples spine.