"It is certainly not entirely implausible that the vampires stole the Ring of Radiance. At the very least, we should inquire with them; after all, they are the local powerbrokers and possess intimate knowledge of Dagger Valley. It would be quite reasonable to question them, wouldn't it?"
Under the cloak of night, Linda reclined with her feet perched on the table, lounging awkwardly in her chair as she idly rolled a silver coin between her fingers. Ever since rumors began to circulate about their alleged kidnappings and interrogations, Captain Alaric had prohibited them from further excursions outside the courtyard. Confined to the yard for two days, the roguish girl felt an overwhelming energy bubbling within her, desperate for release.
Yet Alaric remained indifferent to her plight. Leaning against a tree within the courtyard, he gazed blankly at the distant ruins beyond the low wall.
Once the site of the Chapel of the Light of Roshandar, this place had served as the stronghold of the Roshandar Church in Dagger Valley. However, since the Bane Church had seized control, it had been reduced to smoldering ruins. In the pale moonlight, the remnants appeared particularly desolate, yet amidst the sorrow, there lingered an air of ancient solemnity.
For a priest, witnessing the destruction of his deity's church while feeling utterly powerless could be an excruciating torment.
"Seeking out the vampires is simply out of the question. I tend to agree with Brother Alaric; the Ring of Radiance holds little value for them, and they are likely unaware of its significance. However, their prolonged presence here must have its own purpose, and if we approach carelessly, we might provoke their hostility. At such a point, it could lead to an entirely unnecessary conflict."
The mage Taderik, seated across from her, took up the discourse, yet Linda was far from courteous to him. With a deft flick of her wrist, the silver coin vanished, replaced by a dagger that she plunged into the table's surface. "Are we on particularly good terms with the vampires now? Shall we invite them to join a congregation? They are inherently evil beings; as long as they behave, we can avoid conflict. If they do not, we strike against their wickedness—what is wrong with that?"
"Perhaps you also intend to line your own pockets with the vampires' ill-gotten gains?"
"If you perish in the process, I'll gladly forgo any reward and bestow all the spoils upon you as a form of compensation," Linda shot back with a flick of her dagger before turning her attention away. "Borl, Torik, you should weigh in as well. Don't you wish to conclude this matter swiftly?"
"I defer to Priest Alaric," replied Borl, the human warrior, lifting his gaze. He had been engaged in a game of dwarven marbles with Torik and seemed disinclined to involve himself in the ongoing dispute.
Torik, for his part, remained silent, not even lifting his head.
Linda felt her patience wane; she had much more to say, but Alaric had already returned to his senses. "Linda, exercise some patience for my sake. Striking against evil is a straightforward endeavor, but it is the insidious darkness lurking beneath that poses the true challenge. Who is spreading rumors outside, and what is their intent? We remain unaware of these factors. Acting rashly could lead to fatal mistakes."
"However, waiting idly is not a solution," Linda muttered, ultimately refraining from confronting the captain directly. Just as Taderik, seated opposite her, began to grin and interject, he suddenly raised his head, his expression turning grave.
"Trouble has arisen in the town: a fire has broken out, engulfing a smuggler's dwelling. We do not yet know if there are any casualties."
The occupants of the courtyard sprang to their feet; at last, their waiting had yielded results.
"Your magic sometimes proves useful," Linda exclaimed excitedly, jumping up. "Captain, there's activity! It could be the vampires attempting to erase their tracks, or perhaps someone is trying to frame us for the blaze... Regardless of the motive, they seem unable to contain themselves, and we should move to apprehend them."
"Have your familiar monitor the scene; ensure no one escapes," Alaric responded with newfound seriousness, first issuing orders to Taderik before turning to Linda. "You should also head to the scene, but refrain from engaging immediately. Observe your surroundings carefully. Seek out any suspicious individuals; your task is reconnaissance, not combat."
"Rest assured, I'm not so reckless," Linda replied curtly, then swiftly leapt into action, heading for the door.
Understanding that her companions were not particularly adept at concealing themselves, Alaric was wary of their enemies retreating upon discovery, hence his decision to send her alone. As a rogue, Linda held considerable confidence in her ability to remain unseen; she was well-suited for this assignment.
Dagger Valley was relatively small, and Linda soon spotted her target amidst the glow of the flames. Rather than approach recklessly, she sought out a higher rooftop, deftly leaping up to conceal herself, observing the frantic crowd below.
The situation was less than ideal; the arsonists displayed notable cunning, having chosen a location close to the tavern to set their fire. Mercenaries poured forth, and among them were numerous onlookers, some even grinning as if they too were perpetrators of the crime.
Yet Linda, ever the seasoned observer, scrutinized the crowd, noting their positions. Before long, she identified a suspicious, frail figure: this individual, even in the sweltering chaos of the conflagration, wore a black hood and cloaked their body, constantly slipping behind others for cover. Even when surrounding individuals shifted, he hurriedly sought out new concealment.
Sneaky and suspicious—Linda quickly concluded that this was indeed the prime suspect.
However, just then, a vague voice emerged from behind her. Alarm bells rang in Linda's mind, but in her effort to remain hidden, she crouched atop the rooftop, leaving her no time to evade.
Black tendrils emerged from the roof, ensnaring her body and firmly binding her. A wave of despair washed over Linda: the spell cast upon her was unmistakably a fourth-level incantation, a foe far beyond her capabilities.
Before her appeared a creature clad in tattered red robes, its bald head and peculiar features unmistakably identifying it as the very vampire rumored to have stolen the Ring of Radiance.
In an instant, Linda understood the situation: the vampires had evidently caught wind of the rumors circulating in the town, and they too sought to observe the developments. They had come to inspect the scene today. However, in their eyes, the girl hiding on the rooftop, watching with intent, was the most suspicious individual.
The vampires were shrewd; they were not easily swayed by rumors. Unfortunately for them, they had stumbled upon Linda.
"I am a follower of the Dawnbringer; this is a misunderstanding. Someone is attempting to incite discord between us, and I have spotted suspicious individuals below. We can work together to unravel this situation..."
"You glowing dog." The vampire's words dripped with contempt, sending a chill racing through Linda's bones. "You have slain our master and yet dare covet his artifact? That belongs to us, and all of you sycophants deserve to perish!"
The implications of the vampire's revelation sent Linda's heart racing: they truly coveted the artifact and seemed to harbor a grudge against the Dawnbringer. She had indeed uncovered the instigator behind the scenes, but even without that provocation, the vampires harbored deep animosity toward them.
She had acquired invaluable intelligence, yet she remained uncertain if she would survive to relay it.