Sophia brought them back to silver stag and the same room they rented,while she layed the food for them.They both were surprise.
As Kurten and Halven sat down to eat the breakfast Sophia had brought, Halven couldn't help but ask, "Sophia, how did you...I mean, what's your role here?"
Sophia smiled as she poured them each a cup of tea. "I work for our...benefactor," she said. "I'm sort of a...liaison, I suppose. My job is to make sure you two have everything you need during your stay here."
Kurten's eyes narrowed. "Here? You mean at the Silver Stag Inn?"
Sophia nodded. "Yes, that's right. Our benefactor has...arrangements with the innkeeper. This is where you'll be staying until you depart for the expedition."
Halven's eyes widened. "So, Sophia, you're not actually an employee of the Silver Stag?"
Sophia's smile grew wider. "No, I'm not," she said. "But I do work closely with the innkeeper to ensure that our...guests have a comfortable stay."
As they finished their breakfast, Sophia gathered up the dishes and began to clear the table. "I'll let you two get settled in," she said. "The briefing will be in about an hour. I'll come fetch you then."
Kurten nodded, still looking a bit dazed from the events of the previous night. Halven, on the other hand, was already on his feet, pacing back and forth across the room.
"Sophia, wait," Halven said, turning to face her. "Can I ask you something?"
Sophia paused in the doorway, a look of curiosity on her face. "Of course, Halven. What is it?"
Halven hesitated for a moment before asking, "What's really going on here? What's the true purpose of this expedition?"
Sophia's expression changed, her eyes narrowing slightly as she seemed to consider her response. "I'm not at liberty to disclose that information just yet," she said finally. "But rest assured, you'll learn everything you need to know during the briefing."
Halven's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What could they possibly be getting themselves into?
As Sophia departed, Kurten turned to Halven with a look of excitement. "Can you believe it, Halven? We're actually going on an expedition!"
Halven's expression was more cautious. "I don't know, Kurten. Something about this just doesn't feel right."
Kurten chuckled. "Come on,We'll be fine."
But as they waited for Sophia to return and escort them to the briefing, Halven couldn't shake the feeling that they were in over their heads.
As they waited, Kurten began to pace back and forth across the room, his excitement growing with each passing moment. Halven, on the other hand, sat down on the bed, his eyes fixed on the floor as he tried to process everything that had happened.
Before long, Sophia returned to escort them to the briefing. "Right this way, gentlemen," she said, leading them out of the room and down a long corridor.
As they walked, Halven couldn't help but notice the strange looks they were getting from the other people as they passed.It was like they knew something that kurten and i didn't.
As they entered the briefing room, Halven's eyes scanned the space, taking in the rows of chairs and the large table at the front. The room was dimly lit, with only a few flickering candles to illuminate the space. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and dust.
Sophia led them to the table, where a large, yellowed map was spread out. The map appeared to be hand-drawn, with intricate illustrations of mountains, forests, and rivers. Halven's eyes widened as he took in the sheer scale of the map.
Their benefactor, the figure from the previous night, was already seated at the table, a smile spreading across his face as they approached. He was dressed in the same fine, black clothing as before, and his eyes gleamed with amusement in the candlelight.
"Ah, Kurten and Halven," his voice dripping with sincerity. "Welcome to the briefing. I trust you're both ready to learn more about the expedition?"
Kurten nodded eagerly, his eyes fixed on the map. Halven, on the other hand, eyed the map warily, his mind racing with questions. What were they getting themselves into?
The figure smiled again, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Good," he said. "Then let us begin. This map shows the location of the ancient city we'll be exploring. As you can see, it's deep in the heart of the nearby mountains."
Halven's eyes widened as he took in the sheer scale of the mountains. They were towering, snow-capped peaks that seemed to stretch up to the sky.
"Our expedition will involve a trek through the mountains to reach the city," the figure continued. "It won't be an easy journey, but I assure you, the rewards will be well worth it."
Kurten nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with excitement. Halven, on the other hand, felt a growing sense of unease. What kind of rewards could possibly be worth risking their lives in the mountains?
The figure smiled again, as if he could read Halven's thoughts. "I know this is a lot to take in," he said. "But I assure you, we'll provide you with all the necessary equipment and supplies. You'll be perfectly safe."
Halven raised an eyebrow, skeptical. But before he could ask any questions, the figure was already moving on to the next part of the briefing.
"Now, let's take a look at the layout of the city," he said, gesturing to the map. "As you can see, it's a large, sprawling complex with many different buildings and structures."
Halven's eyes widened as he took in the sheer scale of the city. It was massive, with towering walls and imposing buildings that seemed to stretch up to the sky.
"What's the purpose of the expedition?" Halven asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
The figure smiled again, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, that's the best part," he said. "You see, the city is said to contain many valuable artifacts and treasures. And we're not just talking about gold and jewels. No, we're talking about something much more valuable than that."
Kurten's eyes widened, his face lighting up with excitement. Halven, on the other hand, felt a growing sense of danger. What kind of treasures could possibly be worth risking their lives for?
The figure smiled again, as if he could read their thoughts. "I know this is a lot to take in," he said. "But I assure you, the rewards will be good. Now, let's move on to the next part of the briefing."
As the figure continued to talk, Halven's mind wandered back to the events of the previous night. How had they gone from discussing a business investment deal to embarking on a perilous expedition to explore an ancient city? And what did Sophia's role in all of this?
Halven's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with questions. He had a feeling that this is more than they let on, and that this expedition was going to be much more complicated than they had ever imagined.