The world in all its glory or, at least, the maps of it lay atop a great table stretching almost sixty feet long. Every continent was put in full view, several of these maps had markings on them. The maps were of the continent Delcathim, each mark was a location at which someone had sensed Lanthim Frenost. Staring at these maps, was the boys father Nedral Frenost.
"It is a boon to us that the boy's mana projection range is so large."
A woman's voice could be heard from behind him.
"Sadly for him, it is a double-edged sword, it is simple for a person. Trying to find him to do so by standing in his zone of influence. They may not be able to find his exact location however, that would not matter, as long as we know where he is retrieving him will not be too difficult."
A remarkably beautiful elf circled from behind to his left side.
"Fienya you must have heard something interesting to bring you here."
She always seemed to appear with the same satisfied expression on her face these days. Over the past week, Lanthim had been sensed twice in the general vicinity of the great waste.
"Milty Trigel, made contact with him three days ago. It appears that he is heading further east."
There was no change in her demeanour as she gave Nedral this information. In fact, she seemed almost pleased that the boy had been found, by one of Litralia's subordinates. Making Lanthim's mother look unable to control her own son was something Fieyna had desired for some time.
"Let us hope that the wastes will remain calm, it will be difficult to retrieve him if there is a storm."
Nedral paid little attention to his wife's attempt to shift his attention to some trivial amusement of hers. From the corner of his eye, he could see her frown with displeasure.
"You do not seem interested in the information I bring you Nedral."
The air became cold around Nedral, so very cold, it seemed to him that he would get nothing done if this elf's mood degraded any further. Turning to his wife, he could feel clear as day that she was not amused with him ignoring her.
'Why must she be this way?'
Sighing to himself feeling like there was no end to this cycle.
Fienya always tried to position herself above others. Having grown up, in a society that had both sexes able to manipulate mana, marrying into where her husband was effectively beneath her in status, allowed for the use of pressure to get what she desired from him. The only person she ever had an issue trying to get her way with was Mynrea but that was common as dragons never paid much attention to lower order beings.
"I am sorry that you troubled yourself to bring me this important news, please forgive my insensitivity."
A fake smile would not work here. Annoying as it was to apologise over some small thing. It was better than sleeping alone at night. Waiting for her reply, looking to this woman who seemed about ready kill him.
"It has been a great inconvenience for me. You think I enjoy doing the job of one of your messengers?"
It was apparent that she intended to get something out of him, what that thing was he could not tell.
"I meant no offence to you in any way, it has just been a long few weeks and finding the boy continues to occupy my thoughts."
Nedral spoke the truth, giving a small nod to the maps.
"It is over forty-five thousand miles. From Litralia's estate to the Yelsoman Wastes, taking into account what we know of his limits. Such distance is not that unreasonable."
Placing his right hand on the map, tracing the distance. Lanthim in such a short amount of time had travelled such a great distance. With the both of them looking closer at the map it was without a doubt a tremendous feat that the boy achieved.
"Once he gets to the other side. It is another eighty thousand miles to the Gieltren Ocean. What he seeks that far east I can not tell."
Using his free hand, he shuffled through some reports that he had received earlier that day. Small clues here and there, mostly detailing places that Lanthim had used while on the move. Remarkable as it seemed to Nedral. Lanthim seemed to have a flaw that was exploitable. Unlike most trained witches that after years of training. Would be able to hide the residue left behind from the use of mana. Lanthim was not capable of doing this, and so the trail was there to be followed.
"It is over six hundred miles from site to site. One would think that he would have changed movements, in order to avoid detection."
Fienya looked at all the markings and saw that they ran in a perfect line running east. With such great distance covered. It began to look more like Milty finding Lanthim had been sheer luck on her part.
"Now that he is in that massive salt waste. Our choices become few."
Pulling himself away from the table, Nedral took a position beside one of the windows situated behind him.
"Either the salt will kill him, or he will disappear as he has continued to do."
Looking out seeing the capital he could see snow begging to fall.
'Another long winter, all I need is a little more time.'
As he thought this Feinya took his hand, it was so warm and comforting. Both stood close to one another looking out at the snow-covered world.
"All that is needed is Lanthim's objective, where is it he is trying to get to, once we know that we will be able to retrieve him."
Feinya spoke softly drawing closer to Nedral. She spoke the truth, not knowing what the boy was trying to achieve was causing half of Nedral's headaches.
"Would it be possible to have Litralia come to the capital? Bring the child's former caretakers with her. From what I remember being there, the four of them had the most direct chance to have such a conversation with him."
Everything was starting to come together in Nedral's mind. Having been consumed in trying to find Lanthim, he did not think to look in the obvious place.
"I think there can be arrangements made to have Litralia stay in the capital. With her children for the winter this year. I will inform my mother of this immediately."
Releasing Feinya's hand while giving a small bow Nedral departed. Feeling slightly dejected from her husband's quick exit, Feinya move back towards the maps on the table.
'I wonder how far he will run before he tires? A human child so obsessed with magic. He would leave his family has almost no real value.'
With her hands placed firmly on the table seeing all the makings and all the predictions of where he would likely end up. Feinya smiled a great cruel smile.
'I wonder, what would happen if he did not exit the Yelsoman Wastes.'