An hour ago. Front of the car.
Long into the night, Abel was still reading by light, Shen was out on the first night's watch, and the rest of the family Arcane masters who had sat at the head of the car during the day were asleep.
"Abel." Shen pulled the curtain of the door, and hurriedly interrupted Abel's reading, "the Sykwibo communication, very urgent, requires you to come at once."
Abel frowned slightly. It was close to ten o 'clock in the evening, which was not usually the agreed time of communication with Secowabo. Is there something going on? A thought flashed through her mind, and Abel put down her book, put on a coat, and got out of the carriage.
Outside the car, Shen had unfurled the Arcane communications device. A folded plate was equipped with a transmitter. The transmitter was already working, a floating blue heliosphere showing a man in an Arcane costume.
Maury Nurkokin.
Member of the Sykwebo Artefact Council, leader of the Sykwebo side of this operation. Murray, a floating islander east of Insolari, was a priest on Half Moon Holy Island in his early years, specializing in various healing techniques. Then he chose Arcane city and became a member of the Council.
Murray was visibly flustered and anxious. He seemed to be directing around, and there seemed to be a faint glow of fire in the background. Abel shuddered. She thought something bad might happen. Two steps forward, directly connected to the Olympic data communication.
"What's your situation, Mr. Nurkokin?"
'What is it? Murray gave a wry smile. "As you may have seen, the team has been attacked, and I've had to pull back north now. We don't know who did it yet. We've lost a lot of troops, Mr. Deco, and I need your support, and wherever you are, I want you to reach Levi County as soon as possible and meet us. And we need more strength. Please bring all your strength. This is probably just a trial."
In the middle of Murray's words, something seemed to happen at the other end, and the whole background burst into noise. "Mr. Nurkokin? Mr. Nurkokin?" Abel tried to hear back again, but Pastor Nurkokin seemed to have no time to listen. After a loud spell, the communication device was covered with healing white light and then cut off.
Abel and Shen looked at each other, unable to make up their minds. An attack on Sykwibo's team would have been unthinkable, and it seems to have succeeded. Call Secowibo and signal for escort. That's an accomplishment. It's just that it puts April in a very awkward position, because they've never been on the road before, and now they're all over it, you know? The best outcome would be a quick climb over Mount Mugsaiya, just in time to meet the retreating Sekowebo northwards.
"Shen, get Uncle Shevell and Uncle Gordon, and Grenn, the Sellsword captain, together. We need to discuss this."
Nodding his head carefully, Abel thought for a moment, rethought the situation, pulled his coat a little tighter, and headed back to the spacious front compartment. Inside the carriage, Shen had already summoned several figures. Shevell and Gordon, both of whom wore no Arcane robes but coats like Abel, had been awakened in their sleep; Grenn was standing in the corner with Shen, holding a sword of enchantment. The Sellsword leader was also said to be an Awu. When he was young, he was hired by a noble Arcane master to kill, and then he designed a trap, and then ambushed and killed the Arcane master to kill. After that, he received more and more commissions and succeeded in killing another Arcane in an assassination mission. But he also paid a great price, the whole face was split in two by a long scar, and the horrible appearance gave him a more frightening aura. Even more famous than Grenn was the great sword he carried, an axe possessed by the material that had killed the Arcane staff in the second mission. It was called the Red Flame Blade, and it emitted flames three meters in front of the blade. In cold weapons, if the weapon is one point long, it will have a greater advantage in the process of the duel with men, let alone a long sword that can breathe fire. So Gulen became a legend in Levitzk with his formidable power and weapons to rival those of the Owuls.
Shevell and Gordon were both Deco elders, the best of Abel's generation. The Deco family's fame among the nobles of the Epi Empire is in large part because they have produced a few gifted and extraordinary men of their generation. Of course, part of the second reason is that the family attaches great importance to the training of children and is willing to let the children see a lot of experience in the market. Xavier and Gordon are both proud of the Deco family, but also the family's peak transcendent, and they are only 50 years old, for the Arcanists, at the peak of their strength is very scary, far more than Abel, a line of people only Shen can compete with them.
"Uncle Xavier, Uncle Gordon, and Mr. Grant, I'm sorry to wake you up in the middle of the night." "I will get straight to the point. I have just received a message from the Reverend Sykwibo Nurkokin that the advance party has been forced back by a surprise attack, by whom I do not know. The minister thinks it is only a temptation and wants us to come to his aid at once." After a pause, Abel continued, "This is a big deal. I can't make this decision on my own. I hope you guys can figure it out together."
With that, Shen spread out the map on the table. It was a map of the Mugsaiah Mountains, marked in great detail, except for the gorge on the left ahead, which was blank: It was McCabe's Grove, which had not been entered, let alone updated, for many years.
"From a tactical point of view, our mission is to catch the retreat of Sekwibo, and immediate rescue is necessary. At present we have but two roads, one over the hill, which will take five days to reach Levy County in a quick march; The second route is to cross McCabe and reach Levi County, then return to the regular finish line in half a day, saving more than half the time. I estimate that it will take about three days for Sekwibo to reach Mount Mugsaiya, with half a day to spare for tactical preparations. But the risk is that we are completely unfamiliar with the environment inside the forest, and according to previous records, there are Olympiads inside the forest, and the arcane effects will be very poor."
Gordon thought for a moment, then asked. "The blanket is so corrosive that even a weak Arcane could not carry it. It would take special equipment to force our way through it.
"And," cut in Grenn, "how strong is Secowibo, as an outsider can imagine, to make them cry for help? Is it gonna help if we rush over there? And this plan has gone far beyond our agreement, and I refuse to participate."
"How much do you want?" Shevell asked directly, not wanting to dwell on the subject.
Grenn made a mental calculation. "Five thousand Trinis and ten moonstones. I know you should have plenty."
"I'll give it to you at the end of the meeting, but I'd like you to provide a guide." Everyone Xavier's status is the highest, this sentence is a final sound, for everyone to make a decision, go to the forest.