Outside the labyrinth, full night
Alexavier looked up at the moon, its black disc blocking the mist of stars behind it. He reflexively asked for Vikesh's blessings, then grimaced. Who really knew if the gods listened.
That thought would get him slapped with some serious penance, reducible via gold falcons, if the priests of some temples heard it. Elmerin was right that the temples overall had too much influence.
"What are you doing up?"
Alexavier looked around and saw Rammeld looking at him sternly. "I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep."
"Hmm. Well, I was coming to tell you the scouts have found the seed location, mostly to make sure you ate something first," Rammeld said, the last very firm. "Meet me at the labyrinth entrance when you're done waking up and eating -real food, not hard bread and jerky."
"You know way too much about adventurers."
"I worked as a camp aide in my younger days. The officer I served was the main liaison with the adventurers." Rammeld snorted. "He disregarded them if they weren't nobles, but I learned how useful you all are."
"Thanks," Alexavier said dryly.
Twenty minutes later, Alexavier was joining Rammeld at the entrance to the labyrinth -and to both their surprise, Nera was there as well, dressed in clean robes.
"I heard you found the seed?" she asked.
"The seed's location," Rammeld corrected. "According to the messengers sent back, the seed itself is in shards. CAP papers were placed on steles around it, and the area is partially purified." He checked his notes. "I think you mentioned Elmerin can use Light magic?"
Alexavier nodded. He was certain that any purification had been done by his former lover.
"H-have you found them yet?" Nera looked worried.
Flipping through some of the papers in his hands, Rammeld shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. The scouts are still searching." No need for him to ask who Nera was talking about. They were all worried about the two heroes and what they might be facing in a Bolat-contaminated labyrinth.
"Well, Falchan -Falchan said…" Nera swallowed. "He was in the healers' tent and really drunk. He was raving… he said that if Drysia showed Elmerin any of the Cothmores' secret rooms and things, Falchan would kill him and beat Drysia half to death. Sky came in during it and said I should tell you, um, Sir Rammeld."
I'd like to see him try. Alexavier swallowed down the thought and the laughter. Nera did not need levity right now. "Nobles always have their own special rooms in the labyrinth and underground retreats of the lands they govern. Why is he getting bent out of shape about that." Corrupt nobles also used such rooms to hide a multitude of sins, but Alexavier did not want to damage Nera's innocent knowledge of the world yet. It might break her.
He didn't think about that it was exactly this attitude that had landed Drysia in Falchan's hold.
Rammeld had signalled a couple of his assistants to join him and was talking to them quietly. With a quick nod, the two aides hurried off in different directions.
"Just attending to a few things," Rammeld said mildly. "The main problem is, if they are hidden in a noble safe room, we'd need Count Cothmore's cooperation to know where to search." He flipped through some of his notes. "I hope Drysia and Elmerin show up by tomorrow's noon or so, or I'll have to ask for the Cothmore labyrinth maps."
"Are we going to see the seed bed now?" Alexavier was getting irritated.
"I'm going too," Nera said firmly.
"Oh heck no," Alexavier said. "You're not even dressed properly. Those are the full priest's robe rig, aren't they? You're not going in the labyrinth without travel robes, and you're a barely-there Topaz as it is!"
"Full Topaz," came a voice from behind them. "It's already in the Guild's system, and will sync with your existing card once you check in."
Anol came strolling up, peering affectedly left and right. "By the way, Alexavier Asheburne, may I congratulate you on your promotion to Sapphire?"
"What!?!"
"Even though a Diamond and should-be Diamond took it down, your party helped hold off a Diamond-class vine monster. Based on your collective contributions, you, Kaada, and Reefka have been promoted to Sapphire, while Riyo and Seef only need a couple of minor qualifications to finish. Oh, and Sky is now Ruby, while Edwin has gotten a great amount of credit towards becoming Sapphire. Unfortunately, none of the Ruby adventurers who were with him gained sufficient credit towards leveling up."
"And what's the bad news?" Alexavier knew damn well that when Anol was so effusive with his praise, he was often gearing up to deliver some news that was not pleasant to hear.
"Of course you'd know." Anol cleared his throat. "First, based on the emergency Rammeld declared earlier, until the threat of dungeonization is completely cleared and all the Golrin members-"
Alexavier interrupted. "Golrin?"
"That's the name of that group that uses two red dragons around a staff as their symbol. Their full name, according to the personnel that have been captured, are The Followers of Golrin, The Dragon that Devastates Worlds." Anol rolled his eyes. "Quite pretentious. Anyway, until the emergency is over, only Emeralds and higher may go past the first section of the first level."
"And?" Alexavier was sure this wasn't all. Anol's little smile seemed to confirm it.
"It's Guild regulations that after fighting a monster one or more classes higher than their punching weight, the surviving adventurers must take a long rest. That's four days," he added helpfully. "The Death Eagles are restricted from entering the labyrinth until four days from when you exited the labyrinth earlier. Well, it's a bit less than four days now."
"Are. you. serious?" Alexavier snarled through gritted teeth.
"But-but we can't help them?" Nera said tearfully. "What if they were caught by those dragon people? What if they're hurt?"
Rammeld gently put a hand on her shoulder. "We've got every adventurer we can spare down in the labyrinth right now. As well as many of my men. They've trained in the underground of Korech and are quite experienced. I assure you, we will find them." He straightened. "Alexavier, will you please take Nera back to the tents? Anol and I have some things to discuss."
Watching the two depart, Rammeld said quietly, "I hadn't heard that the man the Death Eagles brought back had broken."
Anol shook his head. "Wasn't him. The Epic Storms found a couple more of the Dragons -Golrins- and sent them back with one of your patrols.
"One of them was carrying a bottle of what strongly smelled like Lustvine mucus, and something else. Threatening to break it had him spilling everything he knew. According to analysis, it's some mix of substances that is very addictive." His face was grim. "What bothers me is the other strong smell is something I've smelled in a potion Falchan often adds to his drinks."
"Interesting." Rammeld made a note -in a coded script, Anol noted. "Did this person say anything about what the goal of these Golrin people is?"
Anol rubbed his face. "You ever hear the story that Meinz and Elric claimed the Demon King had only been sealed, not killed, and the sealing spell would eventually break down?"
Of course Rammeld had. Even though various leaders and governments had tried repeatedly to repress such slander against the two survivors of the battle against the Demon King, the story always came up again. It was as though someone was devoted to making sure it was never buried.
"These Golrin people believe that story. They're devoted to making sure the Demon King has an army once he re-emerges."
"Fanatics for a dead cause." Rammeld sighed. "Quite a problem."
*******
People appearing in this chapter:
Alexavier Asheburne: Guild Rank: Sapphire
Nera
Philip Rammeld
Anol Cothmore
Groups mentioned:
The group formerly known as Red Dragons, now known as The Followers of Golrin, The Dragon that Devastates Worlds. Golrins for short.